ASRock X99 OC Formula/3.1 And Fatal1ty Professional/3.1

[Crashman]

ASRock’s latest X99 boards fill the budget gap between the high-end and premium motherboard markets, but do their features justify the extra price?

ASRock X99 OC Formula/3.1 And Fatal1ty Professional/3.1 : Read more

 

[obababoy]

That gold is beautiful! If X99 wasnt a complete waste of a gamers money I would upgrade my z97 setup.

 

[MonsterCookie]

I am wondering whether these newer Intel chipsets do actually support the VT-d extensions for virtualization?
By looking at the board, it is full with PCI-e bridge chips to enhance the number of PCI lanes the CPU can address. However, this trick is a no-go with VT-d, since you need direct access to the hardware, and it cannot sit beyond a PCI-e bridge. I have similar issues with my HP Z800 due to trashy Intel chipset.

This is why I had to buy a dirty AMD FX8350, because on AMD all features are supported. Otherwise I would have not even poked an AMD system with a 10 foot pole.


Btw, Tom's.
WHY ON EARTH does that red arrow at the top of the page occupy half of my screen vertically, and it scrolls down as I scroll down the page so I cannot get rid of it at all?
You are reviewing tiny 1080p screens, so you should know that occupying 10% of the visible area with a useless arrow is not cool.

 

[MonsterCookie]

BTW, I forgot to mention that in general Killer NICs pretty much suck. On Linux they often do not work at all, which is tragicomic considering that they actually run an embedded-Linux on the cards embedded-CPU itself.

Just throw in a good Intel Gigabit NIC, and that will rock with close to theoretical speed, no messing around with drivers, VM-ware, KVM and Xen recognize them too. Try to do that with a "Killer" NIC.

 

[popatim]

The GAMING Charts shows the CPU as an i7-4790k .

Oooppssie.

 

[Crashman]

I am wondering whether these newer Intel chipsets do actually support the VT-d extensions for virtualization?
By looking at the board, it is full with PCI-e bridge chips to enhance the number of PCI lanes the CPU can address.

No, those aren't bridge chips, they're just the electronic version of a double-pole switch. I don't know how software would even know that they're there. Unlike the bridging switches, there are no extra lanes provided, the platform always gets 40 from a 40-lane CPU or 28 from a 28-lane CPU, and these become "fixed" as soon as the device is installed. The PCH lanes are fixed without having any device installed..

 

[goinginstyle]

Another sucktastic review. Of course no matter the price ASRock will receive an award, just like MSI always does even with stability and crap software and EFI controls. What is your problem with Asus? You pretended to review the Ramage V Extreme board but really did not go into detail on it. Seems like you have a personal issue with Asus, especially noticing the lack of reviews in the last six months. The Rampage V is a much better product than the two ASRock boards and your opinion about enthusiasts wanting to save money and go with ASRock is laughable at best. You have no clue what enthusiasts want or desire. The two ASRock boards are a joke. Just read the forums and other reviews.

 

[Crashman]

What is your problem with Asus? You pretended to review the Ramage V Extreme board but really did not go into detail on it. Seems like you have a personal issue with Asus, especially noticing the lack of reviews in the last six months.

Asus sent the Rampage V Extreme specifically for O/C testing, having voiced concern that our value analysis doesn't account for the extra time and expense they put into firmware and software development. A full review would require us to buy our own sample, and we haven't gotten there yet.

 

[tpovic]

THIS SHOULD BE UNDER ALL MOTHERBOARD TESTS
so maybe in a few years us not buying this crap they turn around and inovate!

"As we all know some (if not all) Apple laptops come without a CD drive, some do not have a Ethernet jack (WiFi only), obviously everyone heard about the new laptop with USB 3.1 being the only jack on the laptop.

I am not saying Intel and motherboard manufacturers need to go to that extreme, but we have reached a point where removing some of these old ports will allow manufacturers to save money and pass them to the buyer.

Is there really a need for a PS/2 port on a performance motherboard? Why not remove all the USB 2.0 ports and maybe add 2 more USB 3.0 ports.

I recently purchased a MSI motherboards called GAMING 5, it is a gaming motherboard (duhh), marketed towards people on the gaming/performance side. Obviously anyone buying this board in the retail store is buying it with an intent to play games, and almost no one who games in 2015 uses a VGA or DVI ports, it also has PS/2 port.

I am paying for these useless features that regular people almost no longer use, let alone gamers or people who are into PC building. You can include a HDMI to VGA or DVI adapter just in case someone out there still needs them.

I think they need to start removing some of the legacy ports and chips and make boards cleaner, cheaper and more affordable to manufacture and buy."

 

[RedJaron]

Is there really a need for a PS/2 port on a performance motherboard?

Yes. A lot of gamers still refuse to use anything except a PS/2 keyboard. These are the same type of people who would shell out big money for an extreme gaming rig.

Why not remove all the USB 2.0 ports and maybe add 2 more USB 3.0 ports.

Because the X99 chipset is limited to six USB3 ports. Often this comes as four ports on the back and one for the front panel header. Adding more USB3 requires an additional USB controller chip and that costs more money. Besides, USB2 handles basic peripherals such as keyboards, mice, printers, scanners, etc more than adequately, so removing them is unnecessary. USB3 is only necessary for external high-speed storage at the moment so there's no reason to think your keyboard and mouse must use USB3.

I recently purchased a MSI motherboards called GAMING 5, it is a gaming motherboard (duhh), marketed towards people on the gaming/performance side. Obviously anyone buying this board in the retail store is buying it with an intent to play games, and almost no one who games in 2015 uses a VGA or DVI ports, it also has PS/2 port.

I said the same thing in my last review regarding VGA ports. I don't think they're necessary on a Z97 or X99 board specifically meant for power users. Having a DVI, HDMI, or DisplayPort still makes sense because even though you'll likely have a dGPU, at times you'll need to use the integrated video, say for troubleshooting. I've already covered PS/2.

I am paying for these useless features that regular people almost no longer use, let alone gamers or people who are into PC building. You can include a HDMI to VGA or DVI adapter just in case someone out there still needs them.

I think they need to start removing some of the legacy ports and chips and make boards cleaner, cheaper and more affordable to manufacture and buy."

Your situation does not apply to everybody, nor even most people. If you think premium mboards are expensive now, imagine how pricey they'd be if they had to make 10 versions of the same board just to cater to all the people who might use it. Desktop mboards have to have a LOT of different features because the same model board will often be used for many different things.

 

[tpovic]

Is there really a need for a PS/2 port on a performance motherboard?

Yes. A lot of gamers still refuse to use anything except a PS/2 keyboard. These are the same type of people who would shell out big money for an extreme gaming rig.

Why not remove all the USB 2.0 ports and maybe add 2 more USB 3.0 ports.

Because the X99 chipset is limited to six USB3 ports. Often this comes as four ports on the back and one for the front panel header. Adding more USB3 requires an additional USB controller chip and that costs more money. Besides, USB2 handles basic peripherals such as keyboards, mice, printers, scanners, etc more than adequately, so removing them is unnecessary. USB3 is only necessary for external high-speed storage at the moment so there's no reason to think your keyboard and mouse must use USB3.

I recently purchased a MSI motherboards called GAMING 5, it is a gaming motherboard (duhh), marketed towards people on the gaming/performance side. Obviously anyone buying this board in the retail store is buying it with an intent to play games, and almost no one who games in 2015 uses a VGA or DVI ports, it also has PS/2 port.

I said the same thing in my last review regarding VGA ports. I don't think they're necessary on a Z97 or X99 board specifically meant for power users. Having a DVI, HDMI, or DisplayPort still makes sense because even though you'll likely have a dGPU, at times you'll need to use the integrated video, say for troubleshooting. I've already covered PS/2.

I am paying for these useless features that regular people almost no longer use, let alone gamers or people who are into PC building. You can include a HDMI to VGA or DVI adapter just in case someone out there still needs them.

I think they need to start removing some of the legacy ports and chips and make boards cleaner, cheaper and more affordable to manufacture and buy."

Your situation does not apply to everybody, nor even most people. If you think premium mboards are expensive now, imagine how pricey they'd be if they had to make 10 versions of the same board just to cater to all the people who might use it. Desktop mboards have to have a LOT of different features because the same model board will often be used for many different things.

 

[tpovic]

My statement or theory (that I copy pasted) as I still stand by it was aimed on pc sales drop, pc parts sale drop, coused by another theory that is "good enough" .people refusing to switch from the older platforms or buying laptops because this cluter on motherboards or performance are minor comparing to cost.
Would you buy or be happy in your tests with motherboard that on tha back has 3-4 thunderbolts 3 (we know they have it) and gain a few frames in gameing , is the performance number one concern, connect your external hdd your 4k monitor on a single cable?
With no coloured heatsinks or ports just plain or maybe even a green board...
(I read about new 170, and the coments are like "nice it's white")
So I conclude that motherboards are boring and basicly the same from 96. it's like your car has an steam engine (PS2)

 

[RedJaron]

My statement or theory (that I copy pasted) as I still stand by it was aimed on pc sales drop, pc parts sale drop, coused by another theory that is "good enough" .people refusing to switch from the older platforms or buying laptops because this cluter on motherboards or performance are minor comparing to cost.

Complete rubbish. The drop in computer sales has nothing to do with "clutter" on motherboards. People aren't buying new PCs because they simply don't need them. Computing power has gone up while size and heat have gone down. Tablets and cheap laptops cover the computing needs of most people, so those get sold instead of more expensive desktop units. You're saying that the high-end enthusiast crowd, those that spend thousands on new systems and would be interested in an X99 board, are getting turned off because a mboard might be $5 more expensive due to some anodized aluminum? And the premium hardware has always been considerably more expensive than the performance increase it gives. It's been that way for over 30 years.

Would you buy or be happy in your tests with motherboard that on tha back has 3-4 thunderbolts 3 (we know they have it) and gain a few frames in gameing , is the performance number one concern, connect your external hdd your 4k monitor on a single cable?

I have no idea what you're saying here. Thunderbolt has zero effect on gaming frames, so having more of those ports doesn't make a bit of difference in performance. That's solely down to the CPU, RAM, and GPU(s).

With no coloured heatsinks or ports just plain or maybe even a green board...
(I read about new 170, and the coments are like "nice it's white")

I couldn't care less how it looks. Yes, some boards on their own look a little snazzier than others. But I prefer a windowless case because they're quieter, so it's not like I'm showing off my system. Board looks have never influenced my recommendations.

So I conclude that motherboards are boring and basicly the same from 96. it's like your car has an steam engine (PS2)

Yeah, you're right, because retaining a few legacy slots means everything else about the board must be exactly the same as 20 years ago. Tell you what, you go get your socket 7 machine out, and we'll bench it against a Z97 board, ok? I really hope your MMX instructions are up to the task. Seriously though, one moment you're complaining about mboard mfrs wasting money with lights and colors, and the next you're saying mboards are compltely boring? Make up your mind. And the steam engine is a horrible analogy. A PS/2 port doesn't actually slow down a motherboard or limit its uses. Keeping a PS/2 port is more like finding a cigarette lighter in a new car. It's old and most people use USB to charge electronics now, but that doesn't mean it's useless or taking away from the rest of the vehicle.

 

[Crashman]

My statement or theory (that I copy pasted) as I still stand by it was aimed on pc sales drop, pc parts sale drop, coused by another theory that is "good enough" .people refusing to switch from the older platforms or buying laptops because this cluter on motherboards or performance are minor comparing to cost.

Complete rubbish. The drop in computer sales has nothing to do with "clutter" on motherboards. People aren't buying new PCs because they simply don't need them. Computing power has gone up while size and heat have gone down. Tablets and cheap laptops cover the computing needs of most people, so those get sold instead of more expensive desktop units. You're saying that the high-end enthusiast crowd, those that spend thousands on new systems and would be interested in an X99 board, are getting turned off because a mboard might be $5 more expensive due to some anodized aluminum? And the premium hardware has always been considerably more expensive than the performance increase it gives. It's been that way for over 30 years.

Would you buy or be happy in your tests with motherboard that on tha back has 3-4 thunderbolts 3 (we know they have it) and gain a few frames in gameing , is the performance number one concern, connect your external hdd your 4k monitor on a single cable?

I have no idea what you're saying here. Thunderbolt has zero effect on gaming frames, so having more of those ports doesn't make a bit of difference in performance. That's solely down to the CPU, RAM, and GPU(s).

With no coloured heatsinks or ports just plain or maybe even a green board...
(I read about new 170, and the coments are like "nice it's white")

I couldn't care less how it looks. Yes, some boards on their own look a little snazzier than others. But I prefer a windowless case because they're quieter, so it's not like I'm showing off my system. Board looks have never influenced my recommendations.

So I conclude that motherboards are boring and basicly the same from 96. it's like your car has an steam engine (PS2)

Yeah, you're right, because retaining a few legacy slots means everything else about the board must be exactly the same as 20 years ago. Tell you what, you go get your socket 7 machine out, and we'll bench it against a Z97 board, ok? I really hope your MMX instructions are up to the task. Seriously though, one moment you're complaining about mboard mfrs wasting money with lights and colors, and the next you're saying mboards are compltely boring? Make up your mind. And the steam engine is a horrible analogy. A PS/2 port doesn't actually slow down a motherboard or limit its uses. Keeping a PS/2 port is more like finding a cigarette lighter in a new car. It's old and most people use USB to charge electronics now, but that doesn't mean it's useless or taking away from the rest of the vehicle.

I think, he's taking the Steve Jobs marketing tact. Fortunately, most PC builders are careful NOT to become "sheeple".

 

[tpovic]

My statement or theory (that I copy pasted) as I still stand by it was aimed on pc sales drop, pc parts sale drop, coused by another theory that is "good enough" .people refusing to switch from the older platforms or buying laptops because this cluter on motherboards or performance are minor comparing to cost.

Complete rubbish. The drop in computer sales has nothing to do with "clutter" on motherboards. People aren't buying new PCs because they simply don't need them. Computing power has gone up while size and heat have gone down. Tablets and cheap laptops cover the computing needs of most people, so those get sold instead of more expensive desktop units. You're saying that the high-end enthusiast crowd, those that spend thousands on new systems and would be interested in an X99 board, are getting turned off because a mboard might be $5 more expensive due to some anodized aluminum? And the premium hardware has always been considerably more expensive than the performance increase it gives. It's been that way for over 30 years.

Would you buy or be happy in your tests with motherboard that on tha back has 3-4 thunderbolts 3 (we know they have it) and gain a few frames in gameing , is the performance number one concern, connect your external hdd your 4k monitor on a single cable?

I have no idea what you're saying here. Thunderbolt has zero effect on gaming frames, so having more of those ports doesn't make a bit of difference in performance. That's solely down to the CPU, RAM, and GPU(s).

With no coloured heatsinks or ports just plain or maybe even a green board...
(I read about new 170, and the coments are like "nice it's white")

I couldn't care less how it looks. Yes, some boards on their own look a little snazzier than others. But I prefer a windowless case because they're quieter, so it's not like I'm showing off my system. Board looks have never influenced my recommendations.

So I conclude that motherboards are boring and basicly the same from 96. it's like your car has an steam engine (PS2)

Yeah, you're right, because retaining a few legacy slots means everything else about the board must be exactly the same as 20 years ago. Tell you what, you go get your socket 7 machine out, and we'll bench it against a Z97 board, ok? I really hope your MMX instructions are up to the task. Seriously though, one moment you're complaining about mboard mfrs wasting money with lights and colors, and the next you're saying mboards are compltely boring? Make up your mind. And the steam engine is a horrible analogy. A PS/2 port doesn't actually slow down a motherboard or limit its uses. Keeping a PS/2 port is more like finding a cigarette lighter in a new car. It's old and most people use USB to charge electronics now, but that doesn't mean it's useless or taking away from the rest of the vehicle.

 

[tpovic]

My statement or theory (that I copy pasted) as I still stand by it was aimed on pc sales drop, pc parts sale drop, coused by another theory that is "good enough" .people refusing to switch from the older platforms or buying laptops because this cluter on motherboards or performance are minor comparing to cost.

Complete rubbish. The drop in computer sales has nothing to do with "clutter" on motherboards. People aren't buying new PCs because they simply don't need them. Computing power has gone up while size and heat have gone down. Tablets and cheap laptops cover the computing needs of most people, so those get sold instead of more expensive desktop units. You're saying that the high-end enthusiast crowd, those that spend thousands on new systems and would be interested in an X99 board, are getting turned off because a mboard might be $5 more expensive due to some anodized aluminum? And the premium hardware has always been considerably more expensive than the performance increase it gives. It's been that way for over 30 years.
That's right for over 30 years it's the same, I know it since I owned a few supermicro dual xeons x58 and a quite few x79's
that costed me alot at the time, and were always backward designed (usb3, sata3)
Every few months they ad something "new" on same motherbord and market it like extreme gaming super oc furius or whatever.We all read about usb3.1.

Would you buy or be happy in your tests with motherboard that on tha back has 3-4 thunderbolts 3 (we know they have it) and gain a few frames in gameing , is the performance number one concern, connect your external hdd your 4k monitor on a single cable?

I have no idea what you're saying here. Thunderbolt has zero effect on gaming frames, so having more of those ports doesn't make a bit of difference in performance. That's solely down to the CPU, RAM, and GPU(s).
Yes, it came out wrong, i was refering to ports on the back.(i said once if I find one user that has all the audio jacks on the back ocupied I will build him a monument)I was thinking abut bettering other components that matter (vrm,pcie,sata,m2)

With no coloured heatsinks or ports just plain or maybe even a green board...
(I read about new 170, and the coments are like "nice it's white")

I couldn't care less how it looks. Yes, some boards on their own look a little snazzier than others. But I prefer a windowless case because they're quieter, so it's not like I'm showing off my system. Board looks have never influenced my recommendations.
If that's the only marketing leverage they have I must be right!

So I conclude that motherboards are boring and basicly the same from 96. it's like your car has an steam engine (PS2)

Yeah, you're right, because retaining a few legacy slots means everything else about the board must be exactly the same as 20 years ago. Tell you what, you go get your socket 7 machine out, and we'll bench it against a Z97 board, ok? I really hope your MMX instructions are up to the task. Seriously though, one moment you're complaining about mboard mfrs wasting money with lights and colors, and the next you're saying mboards are compltely boring? Make up your mind. And the steam engine is a horrible analogy. A PS/2 port doesn't actually slow down a motherboard or limit its uses. Keeping a PS/2 port is more like finding a cigarette lighter in a new car. It's old and most people use USB to charge electronics now, but that doesn't mean it's useless or taking away from the rest of the vehicle.

If your car is bugatti veyron but in this case it's a hyundai...
Nobody has a nokia 3110 anymore, have to make cuts and go forward, and rewiewers or forums or internet community have to lead!

 

[Crashman]

If your car is bugatti veyron but in this case it's a hyundai...
Nobody has a nokia 3110 anymore, have to make cuts and go forward, and rewiewers or forums or internet community have to lead!

Speaking of forward, why not remove the reverse gear on the Bugatti Veyron? I mean, it's only purpose is to go forward right?

I really don't want a bunch of extra USB 3.0 controllers on the board, they eat up too many PCIe lanes. If someone says "we have two USB 2.0 ports for your keyboard and mouse, and one fewer USB 3.0 controller" I say "Thank you" and move...forward.

 

[tpovic]

If your car is bugatti veyron but in this case it's a hyundai...
Nobody has a nokia 3110 anymore, have to make cuts and go forward, and rewiewers or forums or internet community have to lead!

Speaking of forward, why not remove the reverse gear on the Bugatti Veyron? I mean, it's only purpose is to go forward right?

I really don't want a bunch of extra USB 3.0 controllers on the board, they eat up too many PCIe lanes. If someone says "we have two USB 2.0 ports for your keyboard and mouse, and one fewer USB 3.0 controller" I say "Thank you" and move...forward.