I´ve been looking around for a board with proper VRM configuration for my next APU (Either 2200G or 2400G), while also having enough PCIe lanes for both GPU and a NVme drive (Samsung 970 EVO)
I am quite new to all this motherboard slang, since I never cared about the components they had, but since I saw overclocking Ryzen´s required a decent one (and messages to avoid Gigabyte and Asus) and the compatibility issues in case I choose a B350/X370 pre updated( which its not possible, since I dont have a 1xxx Ryzen CPU), guessed I should ask you guys
I am debating between the B450 Tomahawk and the B450 Mortar, both from MSI. Both cost the same in my country, the Mortar has a 8 phase VRM , and the Tomahawk a 4+2. My noob instincts tell me the Mortar would be alright but maybe I should go for the latter, since it could have better components…
Can you help me? I need a good one since I will be replacing the APU as soon as Zen 2 comes out and the new RX 6XX GPU´s get released
The Mortar doesn’t have an 8 phase VRM, it just has two of each component per phase. On a VRM basis I don’t see any issues with gigabyte but the if the UEFI is crap then it’s not a good idea. A VRM is not the be-all and end-all for overclocking- you need a decent BIOS and board layout. You can also have a good VRM but a bad VRM heatsink, making the advantage you had completely useless.
On B450 most of the VRMs are essentially the same. Just pick the board with the features you want.
Tomahawk vs Mortar though, the Tomahawk is a better board.
From personal and not so personal experience I would never recommend an MSI product when it comes to AMD. They are fine on Intel and Nvidia, but I had nothing but issues with MSI and AMD, no matter motherboards or GPUs.
Now. For an APU the important part of the VRM is what comes after the +…
For example, 4+2 means 4 phases for the CPU and 2 phases for the GPU. The GPU part needs it’s power, so I would recommend going for 3 phases on the GPU part.
The CPU is only a quad core, so even a 3 phase with decent heatsink will do just fine.
And this is what I’m going to recommend.
Asrock B450 Pro4.
It has dual componentry on the 3 phase for the cores. It have a good heatsink on it, so it’s fine. But it also have 3 phases for the GPU part with good heatsink. Basically it’s all around a decent one.
As for the NVMe that should be no issue. The upper slot is connected directly to the CPU, so you don’t use bandwidth from anywhere else. It’s a separate thing.
If you don’t like the Asrock, just make sure you have at least some kind of heatsink on the extra VRM - basically the + part.
I have had worse experiences with Gigabyte to be fair. Would the Asrock B450 Pro give me some headroom for updates in the near future? For example, say I get a 2600X instead of the 2400G, could it handle OC´s properly?
After seeing Wendell´s video the Tomahawk seems like a solid option
Well, I’m running 1700X stock on it, and it’s fine…
Look, whatever you choose, just make sure it have heatsink on the extra VRM componentry (the + part)… Most boards are 2 phases, but if you can get 3 phase with heatsink - that’s way better than 2 phases without…
The size, therefore the space, therefore the connectivity.
Asrock have basically cheaped out on the B450 boards and they have just polished up the B350 boards. And the B350 boards, the only difference is the size and the connectivity… The same VRM, the same support…
I am still debating between the 2400G and wait for Zen2 and RX 6XX or 2600X + a mid range GPU right now (1060/RX580)…
There is just a 15€ difference between both models, I am not going to plug in more than 2 drives, the NVMe and a old HDD I had from my last build. The M looks cuter and since I am not going to use those small PCIe ports I think it´s the best option
The case I am going to use just in case is the
be Quiet! Silent Base 800
Can you survive an year or so with what you have now? Zen2 is expected next year alongside Vega and the eventual 600 series or whatever they decide to name it now. But for your sake, assume full year of time before Zen2 and NAVI (600 series). Will you be fine with whatever you have now?
The case may look a bit empty with mATX in it…
If you use the non windowed version it doesn’t matter at all…
I have no PC right now, well, a X1 Thinkpad that reaches 90ºC+ temps if I try to run Hearthstone on it
You got a point right there, that´s true
It is the windowed version unfortunately, as it is cheaper on Amazon. I would prefer a non windowed one but well, I am not getting any flashy or RGB components so I guess it won´t bother me a lot, I like my builds as minimal as possible
EDIT: I guess it´s go big or go home so I´m currently looking at RX 580´s online and as soon as I see a 8GB one for 250€ I will get it, thanks for the help Psycho!
All I have is a single LED strip and it still bothers me I have a yellow part in my system.
You can make your system look nice without RGB…
Your case is already black and silver, the board is black and silver, keep going and make all components inside black and silver as much as you can.
Just make sure the ram is in the motherboard QVL - qualified vendor’s list. I have had some issues with Asrock boards and memory, that isn’t in the support list.
Excellent choice. This is beyond great PSU… 10 years warranty, silent mode of operation below 50% load, it’s very very good PSU…
If you get them you may not be able to run them at 3200, but 3000 instead, so there’s that. On the other hand it may work just fine… It’s just that Asrock haven’t tested that specific model.
I would strongly suggest sticking to the QVL, but then again, the board companies can’t test with every single stick of memory in the world.
Then the entire motherboard situation changes.
The Asrock board have basically 3 phase VRM for the CPU and 3 phace for the eventual GPU. Now with no GPU you may want to focus on the number infront of the +…
Basically 4+2 now is better than 3+3.
I guess I’m throwing too much information at you.
I must tell you, that all boards will work just fine in either situation, so the issue now is just finding something, that you would be comfortable with.
