OPPO just gave up on its custom chip aspirations, and has abruptly down its Zeku chip design division!
OPPO Shuts Down Its Zeku Chip Design Division!
OPPO has finally given up on its custom chip aspirations! The Chinese smartphone brand is shutting down its Zeku chip design division, which it established only a few years ago.
OPPO announced the decision abruptly in a short statement, and said that “the company will properly arrange related matters and continue to deliver great products and service to users worldwide“.
Due to the uncertainties in the global economy and the smartphone industry, we have to make difficult adjustments for long-term development. Therefore, the company has decided to cease the operation of Zeku.
This decision comes after rumours swirled that OPPO is preparing to withdraw from France, and even the whole of Europe by 30 June 2023. OPPO had earlier pulled its phones from Germany due to a legal spat with Nokia in 2022, and now OPPO France employees and partners claim that they were told to stop selling OPPO phones.
While OPPO finished Q1 2023 on a strong note – as the world’s 4th largest smartphone brand, its total shipments dropped 8%. That is better than the industry average – the global smartphone market shrank by 13% that quarter. It appears that OPPO believes global demand for smartphones will continue to be weak for quite some time to come…
Zeku started in 2019 by designing co-processors for imaging and other components in OPPO smartphones, but have not been able to develop a full SoC. Its biggest success was, arguably, the MariSilicon X neural processing unit (NPU) which it introduced in December 2021.
Finalised after three years of research and development, the OPPO MariSiliconX was fabricated on the 6 nm process technology. It was designed as a dedicated imaging NPU, to accelerate AI noise reduction algorithms, and deliver greater dynamic range and better colour reproduction.
That NPU has been used in many OPPO flagship smartphones, including the latest OPPO Find N2 Flip. After that, Zeku introduced MariSilicon Y in late 2022 – a wireless audio SoC.
Despite Zeku not being able to deliver a full mobile SoC, OPPO was expected to invest more in chip design, both as a way to differentiate from other brands, as well as a way to avoid getting cut off chip supplies due to rising US-China tensions.
So the decision came as a surprise, especially when Zeku was still looking to hire more than 100 positions a month ago on LinkedIn!
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AMD introduced the B550 chipset as part of their Spring 2020 desktop Ryzen update, offering PCI Express 4.0 support at a lower price point. Here is what you need to know!
AMD B550 Chipset : Official Tech Briefing
Let’s start with the official AMD B550 tech briefing by AMD Ryzen Product Marketing Manager, Erin Maiorino.
AMD B550 Chipset : Key Features
The AMD B550 chipset is an upgrade of the B450 chipset from 18 months ago, introducing three key features :
PCI Express 4.0 support for both graphics cards and NVMe storage
Dual GPU support
PCI Express 3.0 general purpose lanes
This AMD table gives you a good idea of what the B550 chipset offers over the B450, and how it differs from the X570.
It is obvious that unless you use multiple NVMe SSDs in your system, the new AMD B550 will offer a much better value proposition than the X570.
This diagram shows what PCI Express lanes and USB ports are available through the B550 chipset, and the 3rd Gen Ryzen processor.
While AMD has been rather decent in providing backward compatibility for their newer Ryzen processors, eventually a chipset will not sufficiently support a newer processor.
Like the X570, the new B550 chipset will support future AMD Ryzen processors based on the Zen 3 microarchitecture.
AMD B550 Motherboard : Availability
AMD says that their partners have some 60 motherboard designs in the pipeline, and that you should expect some B550 motherboards to ship by 16 June 2020.
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The AMD Ryzen Desktop CPU Spring 2020 Update reveals that AMD is pushing for affordable computing and gaming in these difficult times, with two cheap Ryzen 3 processors and a new B550 chipset!
The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X is a quad-core processor that supports SMT (simultaneous multi-threading), allowing it to handle up to 8 threads.
It has a 3.8 GHz base clock with a 4.3 GHz boost clock, and comes with 2 MB of L2 cache and 16 MB of L3 cache.
The Ryzen 3 3300X has a 65 watt TDP, and comes bundled with the Wraith Stealth cooler, with a launch price of US$120 / ~£97 / ~A$190 / ~S$172 / RM 549.
The AMD Ryzen 3 3100 is a quad-core processor that supports SMT (simultaneous multi-threading), allowing it to handle up to 8 threads.
It has a 3.6 GHz base clock with a 3.9 GHz boost clock, and comes with 2 MB of L2 cache and 16 MB of L3 cache.
The Ryzen 3 3100 has a 65 watt TDP, and comes bundled with the Wraith Stealth cooler, with a launch price of US$99 / ~£80 / ~A$157 / ~S$142 / RM 449.
AMD B550 Chipset
The AMD B550 chipset introduces PCI Express 4.0 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 support at a more affordable price point. It also offers Dual GPU support, which was previously available only on the X470 / X570 chipsets.
It will also support the next-generation AMD Ryzen processors, built around the upcoming Zen 3 microarchitecture.
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AMD officially launched their B450 chipset on 31 July 2018. We had earlier shared with you our previews of the GIGABYTE B450 AORUS PRO WIFI motherboard, as well as the MSI B450 Tomahawk and B450A-Pro motherboards. Today, we will share with you details of the first AMD B450 motherboards to hit the market!
The Official AMD B450 Tech Briefing
For a primer on the AMD B450 chipset, here is the official AMD B450 tech briefing, conducted by Don Woligroski, AMD Business Development and Desktop Processor Marketing.
And here is a diagram showing what features are provided by the AMD B450 chipset, and what are provided by the AMD Ryzen processor itself.
Although these motherboards have all been announced, not all are available for purchase yet. Here are some models that are currently for sale, with their prices :
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ASRock Fatal1ty B450 Gaming K4
The ASRock Fatal1ty B450 Gaming K4 motherboard is an ATX motherboard that supports DDR4-3200, and comes with two PCIe x16 slots, two Ultra M.2 sockets, and six SATA ports.
Here are the ASRock Fatal1ty B450 Gaming K4‘s key features :
2 USB 3.1 Gen2 (Rear Type-A+C) with 6 USB 3.1 Gen1 (2 Front, 4 Rear)
Realtek Gigabit LAN
ASRock Fatal1ty B450 Gaming-ITX/ac
The ASRock Fatal1ty B450 Gaming-ITX/ac motherboard is a mini-ITX motherboard that supports DDR4-3466, and comes with one PCIe x16 slot, one Ultra M.2 socket, and four SATA ports.
Here are the ASRock Fatal1ty B450 Gaming-ITX/ac‘s key features :
Supports DDR4 3466+ (OC)
1 PCIe 3.0 x16
Graphics Output: DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0
7.1 channel HD Audio (Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec) with Creative Sound Blaster Cinema 5
4 SATA3, 1 Ultra M.2 (PCIe Gen3 x4 & SATA3)
2 USB 3.1 Gen2 (Rear Type-A+C)
4 USB 3.1 Gen1 (2 Front, 2 Rear)
Intel Gigabit LAN with Intel 802.11ac WiFi + BT 4.2
ASRock B450 Pro4
The ASRock B450 Pro4 motherboard is an ATX motherboard that supports DDR4-3200, and comes with two PCIe x16 slots, two M.2 sockets, and six SATA ports.
2 USB 3.1 Gen2 (Rear Type A+C) with 6 USB 3.1 (2 Front, 4 Rear)
Realtek Gigabit LAN
ASRock B450M Pro4
The ASRock B450M Pro4 is the micro-ATX version of the ASRock B450 Pro4 motherboard. It supports DDR4-3200, and comes with two PCIe x16 slots, two M.2 sockets, and four SATA ports.
2 USB 3.1 Gen2 (Rear Type-A+C) with 6 USB 3.1 Gen1 (2 Front, 4 Rear)
Realtek Gigabit LAN
ASRock B450M HDV
The ASRock B450 HDV motherboard is a micro-ATX motherboard that supports DDR4-3200, and comes with one PCIe x16 slot, one M.2 socket, and four SATA ports.
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ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F Gaming
The ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming is an ATX gaming motherboard with DDR4-3200 support, two M.2 sockets, three PCIe x16 slots and six SATA ports.
Here are the ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming‘s key features :
Fast memory and storage : Dual-channel DDR4 3200 MHz (OC) and NVM Express RAID supported.
Aura Sync RGB : Synchronize LED lighting with a vast portfolio of compatible PC gear.
Gaming connectivity : Dual M.2 and USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A connectors.
Gaming networking : Intel Gigabit Ethernet, plus ASUS LANGuard and GameFirst technologies.
5-Way Optimization : Automated system-wide tuning, providing overclocking and cooling profiles that are tailor-made for your rig.
Gaming audio : SupremeFX S1220A teams with Sonic Studio III to create an aural landscape that draws you deeper into the action.
Gamer’s Guardian : Pre-mounted I/O shield, ASUS SafeSlot and premium components for maximum endurance.
Here are some purchase links and prices for the ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming :
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GIGABYTE B450 AORUS PRO WIFI
We showcased the GIGABYTE B450 AORUS PRO WIFI at Computex 2018. It boasts a hybrid digital PWM, with built-in dual-band Intel 802.11ac WiFi and Gigabit LAN capability, as well as dual M.2 sockets.
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MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC
The MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC is an ATX motherboard with built-in Intel 802.11ac WiFI capability. It supports DDR4 memory speeds of up to 3466 MHz, and comes with two PCIe x16 slots, two M.2 sockets and 6 SATA ports.
Here are the MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC‘s key features :
Supports DDR4-3466+(OC) Memory
Mystic Light and Mystic Light Sync : 16.8 million colors / 17 effects in one click. Synchronize RGB/RAINBOW strips and other RGB solutions for customization.
Lightning Fast Game experience : TURBO M.2 with M.2 Shield, StoreMI, AMD Turbo USB 3.1 GEN2
Audio Boost 4 with Nahimic : Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality for the most immersive gaming experience
Set Core Power Free : Core Boost, 8+4 pin CPU power connector, Extended Heatsink Design
Core Boost : With premium layout and digital power design to support more cores and provide better performance.
DDR4 Boost : Give your DDR4 memory a performance boost with A-XMP
GAMING LAN and Wireless support, powered by Intel: The best online gaming experience with lowest latency and bandwidth management.
BIOS FLASHBACK+ : Simply use a USB key to flash any BIOS within seconds, without installing a CPU, memory or graphics card.
In-Game Weapons : Game Boost, GAMING Hotkey, X-Boost
MSI B450 Gaming Plus
The MSI B450 Gaming Plus is an ATX motherboard that supports DDR4 memory speeds of up to 3466 MHz. It comes with two PCIe x16 slots, one M.2 socket and 6 SATA ports.
Here are the MSI B450 Gaming Plus‘ key features :
Supports DDR4-3466+(OC) Memory
Lightning Fast Game experience : TURBO M.2, StoreMI, AMD Turbo USB 3.1 GEN2
Audio Boost with Nahimic : Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality for the most immersive gaming experience
Core Boost : With premium layout and digital power design to support more cores and provide better performance.
DDR4 Boost : Give your DDR4 memory a performance boost with A-XMP
The MSI B450M Gaming Plus is the micro-ATX version of the MSI B450 Gaming Plus. It supports DDR4 memory speeds of up to 3466 MHz, and comes with one PCIe x16 slot, one M.2 socket and four SATA ports.
Here are the MSI B450M Gaming Plus‘s key features :
Supports DDR4-3466+(OC) Memory
Lightning Fast Game experience : TURBO M.2, StoreMI
Audio Boost with Nahimic : Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality for the most immersive gaming experience
Core Boost : With premium layout and digital power design to support more cores and provide better performance.
DDR4 Boost : Give your DDR4 memory a performance boost with A-XMP
VR Ready : Automatically optimizes your system for VR usage, pushing for maximum performance.
BIOS FLASHBACK+ : Simply use a USB key to flash any BIOS within seconds, without installing a CPU, memory or graphics card.
In-Game Weapons : Game Boost, GAMING Hotkey, X-Boost
EZ Debug LED : Easiest way to troubleshoot
Here are some purchase links and prices for the MSI B450M Gaming Plus :
The MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC is a mini-ITX motherboard with built-in Intel 802.11ac WiFi capability. It supports DDR4 memory speeds of up to 3466 MHz, and comes with one PCIe x16 slot, one M.2 socket and four SATA ports.
Here are the MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC‘s key features :
Supports DDR4-3466+(OC) Memory
Lightning Fast Game experience : TURBO M.2, StoreMI
Audio Boost : Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality for the most immersive gaming experience
Core Boost : With premium layout and digital power design to support more cores and provide better performance.
DDR4 Boost : Give your DDR4 memory a performance boost with A-XMP
Intel Wireless support : Uses smart MU-MIMO technology, delivering AC speeds up to 433Mbps with lower CPU loading and better long-term usage.
VR Ready : Automatically optimizes your system for VR usage, pushing for maximum performance.
In-Game Weapons : Game Boost, GAMING Hotkey, X-Boost
EZ Debug LED : Easiest way to troubleshoot
Here are some purchase links and prices for the MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC :
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MSI B450 Tomahawk
The MSI B450 Tomahawk is an ATX motherboard that supports DDR4 memory speeds of up to 3466 MHz. It comes with two PCIe x16 slots, one M.2 socket and 6 SATA ports.
The MSI B450 Mortar is a micro-ATX motherboard that supports DDR4 memory speeds of up to 3466 MHz. It comes with two PCIe x16 slots, two M.2 sockets and four SATA ports.
Here are the MSI B450M Mortar‘s key features :
Supports DDR4 Memory, up to 3466+(OC) MHz
Extended Heatsink Design : MSI extended PWM and enhanced circuit design ensures even high-end processors to run in full speed.
Lightning Fast Game experience : 1x TURBO M.2, AMD Turbo USB 3.1 GEN2, Store MI technology
Core Boost : With premium layout and fully digital power design to support more cores and provide better performance.
DDR4 Boost : Advanced technology to deliver pure data signals for the best gaming performance and stability.
Mystic Light and Mystic Light Sync : 16.8 million colors / 10 effects in one click. Synchronize RGB strips and other RGB solutions for customization.
Audio Boost : Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality for the most immersive audio experience
BIOS FLASHBACK+ : Simply use a USB key to flash any BIOS within seconds, without installing a CPU, memory or graphics card.
In-Game Weapons : Game Boost, GAMING Hotkey, X-Boost
EZ Debug LED : Easiest way to troubleshoot.
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MSI B450M Mortar Titanium
The MSI B450 Mortar Titanium is basically the white version of the B450 Mortar motherboard. It supports DDR4 memory speeds of up to 3466 MHz, and comes with two PCIe x16 slots, two M.2 sockets and four SATA ports.
Here are the MSI B450M Mortar Titanium‘s key features :
Supports DDR4 Memory, up to 3466+(OC) MHz
Extended Heatsink Design : MSI extended PWM and enhanced circuit design ensures even high-end processors to run in full speed.
Lightning Fast Game experience : 1x TURBO M.2, AMD Turbo USB 3.1 GEN2, Store MI technology
Core Boost : With premium layout and fully digital power design to support more cores and provide better performance.
DDR4 Boost : Advanced technology to deliver pure data signals for the best gaming performance and stability.
Mystic Light and Mystic Light Sync : 16.8 million colors / 10 effects in one click. Synchronize RGB strips and other RGB solutions for customization.
Audio Boost : Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality for the most immersive audio experience
BIOS FLASHBACK+ : Simply use a USB key to flash any BIOS within seconds, without installing a CPU, memory or graphics card.
In-Game Weapons : Game Boost, GAMING Hotkey, X-Boost
EZ Debug LED : Easiest way to troubleshoot.
MSI B450M Bazooka
The MSI B450M Bazooka is a micro-ATX motherboard that supports DDR4 memory speeds of up to 3466 MHz. It comes with one PCIe x16 slots, one M.2 sockets and four SATA ports.
Here are the MSI B450M Bazooka‘s key features :
Supports DDR4 Memory, up to 3466+(OC) MHz
Lightning Fast Game experience : 1x TURBO M.2, Store MI technology
Core Boost : With premium layout optimized power design to support more cores and provide better performance.
DDR4 Boost : Advanced technology to deliver pure data signals for the best gaming performance and stability.
Audio Boost : Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality for the most immersive audio experience
PCI-E Steel Armor : Protecting VGA cards against bending and EMI
X-Boost : Software that auto-detects and allows you to boost the performance of any storage, Optane or USB device
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MSI B450M Bazooka Plus
The MSI B450M Bazooka Plus is a micro-ATX motherboard that supports DDR4 memory speeds of up to 3333 MHz. It comes with one PCIe x16 slots, one M.2 sockets and four SATA ports.
Here are the MSI B450M Bazooka Plus‘ key features :
Supports DDR4 Memory, up to 3333+(OC) MHz. Supports ECC UDIMM memory.
Lightning Fast Game experience : 1x TURBO M.2, Store MI technology
Extended Heatsink Design : MSI extended PWM and enhanced circuit design ensures even high-end processors to run in full speed.
Core Boost : With premium layout and fully digital power design to support more cores and provide better performance.
DDR4 Boost : Advanced technology to deliver pure data signals for the best gaming performance and stability.
Audio Boost : Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality for the most immersive audio experience.
Mystic Light and Mystic Light Sync : 16.8 million colors / 10 effects in one click. Synchronize RGB strips and other RGB solutions for customization.
Audio Boost : Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality for the most immersive audio experience
BIOS FLASHBACK+ : Simply use a USB key to flash any BIOS within seconds, without installing a CPU, memory or graphic cards
PCI-E Steel Armor : Protecting VGA cards against bending and EMI
VR Ready : Best virtual reality game experience without latency, reduces motion sickness
In-Game Weapons : Game Boost, GAMING Hotkey, X-Boost
EZ Debug LED : Easiest way to troubleshoot.
MSI B450-A Pro
The MSI B450A-Pro is an ATX motherboard that supports DDR4 memory speeds of up to 3466 MHz. It comes with two PCIe x16 slots, one M.2 socket and six SATA ports.
Audio Boost : Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality.
DDR4 Boost : Fully isolated, shielded and optimized DDR4 PCB design to give your DDR4 memory a performance boost.
Turbo M.2 : Delivering Speeds Up to 32Gb/s.
EZ Debug LED : Easiest way to troubleshoot.
PCI-E Steel Armour : Protecting VGA cards against bending for better performance, stability and strength.
BIOS FLASHBACK+ : Simply use a USB key to flash any BIOS within seconds, without installing a CPU, memory or graphics card.
X-Boost : Software that auto-detects and allows you to boost the performance of any storage or USB device.
Core Boost : With premium layout and fully digital power design to support more cores and provide better performance.
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MSI B450M Pro-VDH
The MSI B450M Pro-VDH is a micro-ATX motherboard that supports DDR4 memory speeds of up to 3466 MHz. It comes with one PCIe x16 slot, one M.2 socket and four SATA ports.
Here are the MSI B450M Pro-VDH‘s key features :
Supports DDR4-3466+(OC) Memory
Audio Boost : Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality.
DDR4 Boost : Fully isolated, shielded and optimized DDR4 PCB design to give your DDR4 memory a performance boost.
Turbo M.2 : Delivering Speeds Up to 32Gb/s.
EZ Debug LED : Easiest way to troubleshoot.
PCI-E Steel Armor : Protecting VGA cards against bending for better performance, stability and strength.
X-Boost : Software that auto-detects and allows you to boost the performance of any storage or USB device.
Core Boost : With premium layout and fully digital power design to support more cores and provide better performance.
Here are some purchase links and prices for the MSI B450M Gaming Plus :
The MSI B450M Pro-M2 is a micro-ATX motherboard that supports DDR4 memory speeds of up to 3466 MHz. It comes with one PCIe x16 slot, one M.2 socket and four SATA ports.
Here are the MSI B450M Pro-M2‘s key features :
Supports DDR4-3466+(OC) Memory
Audio Boost : Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality.
DDR4 Boost : Fully isolated, shielded and optimized DDR4 PCB design to give your DDR4 memory a performance boost.
Turbo M.2 : Delivering Speeds Up to 32Gb/s.
EZ Debug LED : Easiest way to troubleshoot.
PCI-E Steel Slot : Protecting VGA cards against bending for better performance, stability and strength.
X-Boost : Software that auto-detects and allows you to boost the performance of any storage or USB device.
Core Boost : With premium layout and fully digital power design to support more cores and provide better performance.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
We had earlier shared with you our previews of the GIGABYTE B450 AORUS PRO WIFI motherboard, as well as the MSI B450 Tomahawk and B450A-Pro motherboards. The AMD B450 chipset powering those motherboards is officially launched today, so yes, you can purchase these motherboards starting today!
In this article, we will share with you the official AMD B450 tech briefing video, as well as the full details and slides on the AMD B450 chipset. Don’t forget to share this with your friends!
The Official AMD B450 Tech Briefing
Let’s start with the official AMD B450 tech briefing, conducted by Don Woligroski, AMD Business Development and Desktop Processor Marketing.
The AMD B450 Chipset Explained!
Needless to say, the AMD B450 chipset uses Socket AM4. That means it will support every AM4 processor from their 7th Gen APUs all the way to the highest-end 2nd Gen Ryzen processors.
Key message : Future AMD desktop processors will use Socket AM4 until 2020, so they will run on your AMD B450 motherboard with a BIOS update.
Because the new AMD B450 chipset can be used with all AMD Ryzen and 2nd Gen Ryzen processors, it can be used in everything from a compact HTPC, all the way to an enthusiast-class gaming PC.
Key message : You can build an AMD gaming PC with a B450 motherboard for as low as US$350 / €300 / RM 1,400!
This table shows you all of the AMD AM4 processor families that are fully compatible with the new AMD B450 chipset. They have “suggested chipsets” for each family, but every AM4 processor will work with the new B450 chipset as well as older AM4 chipsets.
Key message :You will be able to upgrade to multiple generations of processors with a B450 motherboard.
This comparison shows you how much performance headroom you have with the B450 chipset. You can start with a low-cost AMD Ryzen 3 2200G APU and eventually upgrade to an AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, using the same motherboard.
Key message :Upgrading your AMD processor does not require you to buy a new motherboard!
For a mid-range chipset, the AMD B450 has a number of impressive features. It allows for better memory overclocking and the AMD StoreMI Technology.
Key message :The AMD B450 chipset offers better memory overclocking and a free AMD StoreMI license.
This slide just shows how AMD B450 chipset communicates with the AMD Ryzen processor through four PCI Express 3.0 lanes.
Key message :The AMD B450 chipset offers 24 PCIe Gen 3 lanes with all AMD Ryzen and 2nd Gen Ryzen processors.
This slide reinforces AMD’s messaging that they will continue to use Socket AM4 until 2020.
Key message :The AMD B450 chipset should be able to support another 3 generations of AMD processors, with the necessary BIOS updates.
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The AMD B450 Chipset Explained Part 2
Compared to the X470 chipset, the only thing you are really giving up is CPU PCIe Bifurcation. This is only necessary if you plan to use a M.2 or PCI Express expansion card, like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 card we showcased recently… or get maximum performance from two graphics cards.
Key message :The AMD B450 chipset is great value!
This slide shows how AMD offers unlocked processor overclocking, while Intel does not.
Key message :If you want to overclock, get AMD!
This slide shows just how much more affordable the AMD B450 platform is, when paired with the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G APU. If you top up your budget to the same price point, you get the Ryzen 5 2600 CPU, which can process twice the number of threads simultaneously!
Key message :AMD offers better value for comparable performance.
The AMD B450 chipset comes with AMD StoreMI, which combines your solid state drive and hard disk drive with a RAM cache, to create an incredibly fast storage solution.
Key message :AMD B450 motherboards offer a big boost to storage performance.
StoreMI works by intelligently rearranging your files so that the most-frequently used blocks are store on the fastest drive. Best of all – it’s FREE with B450 motherboards!
Key message :AMD B450 motherboards offer a FREE boost in storage performance.
This is not quite a fair comparison, since Optane Memory is a dedicated solid state cache, while StoreMI uses your own SSD. It’s not like AMD is providing you with a fast cache with the B450 motherboards.
Key message :StoreMI gives you a free boost in storage performance… if you have your own SSD.
This slide summarises the price-performance advantage of the AMD B450 platform.
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The Complete AMD B450 Presentation Slides
Here is the complete set of AMD B450 presentation slides for your perusal.
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As AMD gears up to launch the AMD Ryzen desktop processor in early Q1 2017, Intel has finalised the launch plans for their desktop Kaby Lake processors, and the accompanying 200 Series chipsets.
Although Intel has been extremely secretive, we managed to obtain the specifications and launch details of the desktop Kaby Lake processors, and the 200 Series chipsets. Check it out! 😀
It’s All Happening At CES 2017!
We can now confirm that Intel will announce the desktop Kaby Lake processors and Intel 200 Series chipsets on January 4 at CES 2017. The news conference will be held from 4:00 to 4:45 PM at the Mandalay Bay Ballroom E, but the media NDA is set to 1 AM, Pacific Standard Time on January 5, 2017.
The 8-hour delay allows the media in the rest of the world to catch up and prepare their stories for publication. So officially, the launch date for the desktop Kaby Lake processors, as well as the Intel 200 Series chipsets, is January 5, 2017.
The Desktop Kaby Lake Processors
The desktop Kaby Lake processors offer evolutionary upgrades over their desktop Skylake counterparts. The key improvements include :
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a new 14 nm+ tri-gate process technology that delivers 12% higher clock speeds
hardware decoding of H.264, HEVC Main, VP9 (10-bit and 8-bit) video.
hardware encoding of H.264, HEVC Main, VP9 (8-bit only) video.
support for HDCP 2.2 and Intel Optane Technology
improved graphics processor
Intel Speed Shift 2, which allows for faster switching of clock speeds
Here is the list of the desktop Kaby Lake (Kaby Lake-S) processors that will be announced at CES 2017.
Processor Model
Cores | Threads
Base Frequency
L3 Cache
TDP
Socket
Launch Price
Xeon E3-1205 v6
4 | 8
3.0 GHz
8 MB
TBD
TBD
TBD
Core i7-7700K
4 | 8
4.2 GHz
8 MB
95 W
LGA1151
US$ 349
Core i7-7700
4 | 8
3.6 GHz
8 MB
65 W
LGA1151
US$ 309
Core i7-7700T
4 | 8
2.9 GHz
8 MB
35 W
LGA1151
TBD
Core i5-7600K
4 | 4
3.8 GHz
6 MB
95 W
LGA1151
US$ 239
Core i5-7600
4 | 4
3.5 GHz
6 MB
65 W
LGA1151
US$ 219
Core i5-7600T
4 | 4
2.8 GHz
6 MB
35 W
LGA1151
TBD
Core i5-7500
4 | 4
3.4 GHz
6 MB
65 W
LGA1151
US$ 199
Core i5-7500T
4 | 4
2.7 GHz
6 MB
35 W
LGA1151
TBD
Core i5-7400
4 | 4
3.0 GHz
6 MB
65 W
LGA1151
US$ 189
Core i5-7400T
4 | 4
2.4 GHz
6 MB
35 W
LGA1151
TBD
Core i3-7300
2 | 4
4.0 GHz
6 MB
51 W
LGA1151
TBD
Core i3-7310T
2 | 4
3.4 GHz
6 MB
35 W
LGA1151
TBD
Pentium G4620
2 | 2
3.8 GHz
4 MB
51 W
LGA1151
TBD
Pentium G3950
2 | 2
3.0 GHz
4 MB
35 W
LGA1151
TBD
Pentium G3930
2 | 2
2.9 GHz
4 MB
35 W
LGA1151
TBD
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The Intel 200 Series Chipsets
The desktop Kaby Lake processors will be supported by these Intel 200 Series chipsets :
Chipset
Socket
Stepping
Product Code
S-Spec
Intel C422
TBD
A0
GL82C422
SR2WG
Intel X299
TBD
A0
GL82X299
SR2Z2
Intel Z270
LGA1151
A0
GL82Z270
SR2WB
Intel H270
LGA1151
A0
GL82H270
SR2WA
Intel Q270
LGA1151
A0
GL82Q270
SR2WE
Intel B250
LGA1151
A0
GL82B250
SR2WC
Intel Q250
LGA1151
A0
GL82Q250
SR2WD
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Together with the official release of the new 7th Generation AMD A-Series desktop APUs, AMD also revealed the new AMD chipsets for their new Socket AM4 platform. Let’s check out the details of the new AMD Socket AM4 chipsets!
The Socket AM4 platform is designed for both longevity and scalability. AMD will use Socket AM4 for all of their future processors, from entry-level processors all the way to the top-of-the-line AMD Zen processors.
AMD has also committed to use the Socket AM4 for many years to come. This will give users peace of mind, because they know they can upgrade on the same platform, preserving their investment for many years.
The New Socket AM4 Chipsets Revealed
In this video, Don Woligroski, Global Marketing Manager for Desktop Processors at AMD, reveal the new Socket AM4 chipsets to complement the new 7th Generation AMD A-Series desktop APUs.
Here is a simplified table of the capabilities of the three Socket AM4 chipsets announced today :
Chipset
PCI Express Support
SATA Ports
SATA Express Ports
SATA RAID Capability
USB Support
B350
PCI Express Gen. 2 (6 lanes)
2
1
0, 1, 10
USB 3.1 G2 x 2
USB 3.1 G1 x 2
USB 2.0 x 6
A320
PCI Express Gen. 2 (4 lanes)
2
1
0, 1, 10
USB 3.1 G2 x 1
USB 3.1 G1 x 2
USB 2.0 x 6
X/B/A300
None
None
None
0, 1
None
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The New Socket AM4 Chipsets Slides
For those who prefer to go through the presentation slides in detail, here they are for your perusal :
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