KIOXIA is betting big on enterprise flash storage, and demoed several of its new and already-launched NVMe products based on the company's 162-layer 3D NAND flash memory, aka 6th Generation BiCS flash. Starting off, we see several single-chip solutions, namely the BiCS5 eTLC, the BiCS Industial TLC, and the BiCS5-QLC. These are complete NVMe SSDs on a single package, targeting embedded systems, industrial PCs, and the likes. They can even be directly embedded on server motherboards to serve as boot drives, freeing up precious chassis space for the main storage devices.

The EM6 is an enterprise network-attached SSD in a 2.5-inch form-factor. This is a NAS-on-a-stick that can be deployed at large scale, and accessible as a network resource, or as an NVMe-over-Fiber device. The CM7 is a high-capacity 2.5-inch (EDSFF E3.S) SSD that comes in sizes of up to 30 TB, and has PCI-Express 5.0 x4 interface with NVMe 2.0 protocol, with endurance of up to 3 DWPD and offering FIPS 140-33 security. We also see the XD6 line of EDSFF E1.S form-factor NVMe SSDs with PCIe 4.0 interfaces, up to 3.84 TB capacity, and 1 DWPD endurance.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced a wide range of exclusive performance-focused products during the For Those Who Dare: Maxed Out virtual launch event for CES 2023. During the event, ROG showcased multiple product premieres, including impressively fast and stunning displays, powerhouse laptops with latest-gen processors and graphics, faster-than-ever routers, and a wide variety of peripherals to complete the most maxed-out gaming setups. This wide array of innovations includes the ROG Swift Pro PG248QP and ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM gaming displays; ROG Azoth gaming keyboard; ROG Raikiri Pro PC controller; ROG Destrier Ergo gaming chair; ROG G22CH gaming desktop; and much more.

This year more than ever, ROG is evolving its gaming lineup to drive performance beyond limits. New additions presented during the event include Strix Scar and Strix G series gaming laptops, in 16-, 17-, and 18-inch versions. These gaming powerhouses host up to AMD Ryzen 9 Zen 4 and 13th Gen Intel Core processors, liberating more power than ever before for maxed-out performance, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series Laptop GPUs, working in concert with a MUX Switch and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus to deliver never-before-seen performance on a laptop.

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions today unveiled the latest Intel B760 series motherboards. With enhanced XMP and hardware design of memory, the full B760 DDR5 lineup can achieve superb Z790-like memory performance of DDR5-7600. Featuring up to 16+1+1 phases of 60 amps digital power VRM design with full-coverage heatsink, GIGABYTE's B760 lineup provides premium power and thermal design for the high-frequency operation of Intel 13th gen processors. Meanwhile, the innovative PCIe and M.2 EZ-Latch technology are implemented to simplify the upgrade of graphics cards and M.2 SSDs, and to avoid accidental damage to the surrounding components. Moreover, the features of 2.5 GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type C with 20 Gbps, and up to 3 sets of PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots with armor on select models offer superb connectivity. Further with the latest GIGABYTE PerfDrive technology and GCC software platform, GIGABYTE delivers the outstanding B760 platform with the optimal hardware, software, and firmware which covers from DDR4 to DDR5 with full form factor options of ATX, Micro ATX, and Mini ITX.

In the Intel product plan, the "Z" chipset is the only platform to support CPU and memory overclocking. However, the B chipset with limited DDR frequency tuning offers more budget friendly options, especially those only require memory overclocking. In order to provide solid power for high-performance operation of CPU and XMP overclocking, GIGABYTE B760 AORUS motherboards are geared up to 16+1+1 power phases with 60 amps DrMOS design, while the well-received B760 AORUS ELITE features 12+1+1 power phases, and the leading power design of 14+1+1 phases on B760M AORUS PRO. These power designs allow GIGABYTE B760 AORUS motherboards of all configuration to deliver the most stable power, as well as to provide sufficient power when the CPU runs full loading. Meanwhile, enhanced by full-coverage heatsink, 5 W/mK thermal pad, and 2x copper PCB, B760 AORUS MASTER/ PRO/ ELITE/ GAMING X lineup covers from ATX to micro ATX models boast superb thermal design to improve the stability and keep the power supply area which is most likely to generate heat staying cool.

MSI is announcing the launch of our new Gen4 PCIe NVMe models to its SSD category - SPATIUM M461, M452 & M453 in M.2 2280 form factors that can be easily installed into compatible desktop motherboards and laptops. These new products allow MSI to continue to refine its identity as a high-performance PC brand and grow its product ecosystem by expanding SPATIUM, our high-performance storage category. Our SSDs are built with high-quality, high-density 3D NAND flash that delivers astonishing performance and endurance for professionals, content creators, and gamers.

SPATIUM M461, The Competitive PCIe 4.0 SSD for Mainstream Segment.
SPATIUM M461 was developed to meet the expectations of mainstream SSD consumers. Blazing fast speeds up to 5000 MB/sec sequential read and 4200 MB/sec sequential write speeds allow users using the latest generation of PCs to enjoy the capabilities of the PCIe Gen4 interface. Available storage capacities are 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB.

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices today, is delighted to announce the brand new B650M-SILVER motherboard. Designed based on the AMD M5 socket, the B650M-SILVER motherboard is fully stacked to enable the latest Ryzen 7000 series processors. Leveraging the latest DDR5 memory technology, it performs exceptionally well at any given task, powered by advanced design elements like support for both AMD EXPO and Intel XMP RAM modules.

The B650M-SILVER, despite its Micro-ATX form factor, offers top-shelf features like a PCI-E Gen4 x16 slot with iron protection. The SILVER series motherboard combines 14 phase (10+2+2) power design with a 90 A power stage VRM solution to match today's power-hungry hardware, thanks to the company's signature DIGITAL PWM and 90 A Dr.MOS technologies.

TECNO, a global innovative technology brand with operations in over 70 markets, recently announced the latest MEGABOOK S1 at TECNO Flagship Product Launch 2022 in Dubai, delivering its first flagship laptop to users.

In 2019, TECNO announced new efforts in building a digital product ecosystem by launching its AIoT business strategy, aiming to deliver digital to every person, home, and organization and help them create a fully- connected smart digital lifestyle. Following this vision, as the upgraded line of MEGABOOK T1, the flagship MEGABOOK S1 highlights the concept of ideas that create wonders, targeting users in professional fields like business and the creative industries, helping them work with ease while still achieving a higher efficiency.

SilverStone Technology today announced the immediate availability of the latest installment from the MILO series line, MILO 12 - a 15.6L slim and compact Mini-ITX case suitable as a HTPC system that sits next to your TV or as a high-performance workstation.

MILO 12 sports a dual-chamber internal body structure as the ML08 and RVZ03, but with few adjustments and enhancements to adhere to today's high-end hardware standards. A modular design has also been implemented which allows for all 4 panels (top, bottom, left & right side) to be removed for a simple and convenient build process.

TrendForce reports that the recent easing of tight supply for components has led to rising shipments for enterprise servers. Furthermore, ODMs for the most part have been able to sustain the momentum of data center build-out with the demand from ByteDance and the tenders issued by Chinese telecom companies. Nevertheless, the performance of the enterprise SSD market on the whole has been impacted by falling NAND Flash prices. For 3Q22, the NAND Flash industry's enterprise SSD revenue dropped by 28.7% QoQ to US$5.22 billion. Furthermore, all enterprise SSD suppliers recorded a negative performance for the period as well.

Regarding individual enterprise SSD suppliers' revenue figures for 3Q22, Samsung posted around US$2.12 billion. Its market share also shrank to 40.6% from 44.5% in 2Q22. Samsung's performance was mainly dragged down by the decline in its NAND Flash ASP. In the aspect of product development, SSDs featuring 128L NAND Flash and PCIe 4.0 will remain Samsung's main offerings for enterprise storage during 2023.

Phison Electronics Corp., a global leader in NAND flash controller and storage solutions, announced that its latest flagship enterprise PCIe 4.0 X1 SSD solution, which was developed in partnership with Seagate was awarded the 2023 Taiwan Excellence Award. "We are very pleased that Phison's enterprise PCIe 4.0 X1 SSD solution has received this honor," said K.S. Pua, CEO or Phison. "For Taiwanese products, the mark of Taiwan Excellence is associated with innovative values that are renowned in the international market for excellence and quality."

The Taiwan Excellence Awards were established by the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan in 1993. Every year, eligible candidates are subjected to a rigorous and stringent selection system that covers four major aspects of R&D, Design, Quality, and Marketing to identify outstanding products that offer "Innovative Value" while satisfying the key criterion of being "made in Taiwan." Products that have been selected for the Taiwan Excellence Awards will serve as domestic industry examples while being promoted by the government in the international market to shape the creative image for Taiwanese businesses.

Meet Ridge—an uncluttered, small form factor case designed to integrate seamlessly into people's living spaces and daily rituals. Developed for gaming and entertainment, Ridge offers generous compatibility in a space-saving format. It can house GPUs up to a length of 335 mm and has space for up to four 2.5" drives. Uncompromising accessibility and a well-structured interior layout make building in Ridge an intuitive experience. And to make it even easier, Ridge includes a PCIe 4.0 riser card, two 140 mm PWM Aspect fans and a USB type-C port.

For smooth operation, Ridge features ventilation on all six sides of the case, including a fabric front mesh and perforated top, bottom and side panels. It can also be placed horizontally or vertically, with two included feet, to flexibly integrate into gaming and entertainment spaces. An evolution of the slimline format, Ridge was developed in collaboration with gaming and entertainment enthusiasts to subtly improve their homes and enhance the small form factor PC experience.[Editor's note: Our in-depth review of the Fractal Ridge is now live]

Kingston FURY, the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced the addition of Kingston FURY Renegade SSD with Heatsink, its second-generation PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 drive for console and PC gamers. Kingston FURY Renegade SSD with Heatsink maintains speed and temperature while delivering cutting-edge performance in high capacities using the latest Gen 4x4 controller.

By maximizing the available bandwidth of PCIe 4.0, Kingston FURY Renegade SSDs achieve speeds up to 7,300/7,000 MB/s read/write and up to 1,000,000 IOPS to deliver amazing consistency for an exceptional gaming experience. The drives are optimized to reduce game and application load times, stream and capture with ease and give your system an overall boost in responsiveness. Available in high capacities up to 4 TB, users can store an extensive library of their favorite games and media and still have space for the latest titles. Kingston FURY Renegade SSD offer two options for users both with formidable speeds and massive capacities:

GIGABYTE Technology, an industry leader in high-performance servers and workstations, today announced its portfolio of products ready to support the new AMD EPYC 9004 Series Processors in the first wave of GIGABYTE solutions that will target a wide range of demanding workloads that include GPU-centric, high-density, edge, and general computing. A new x86 platform, a new socket, and a wealth of highly performant technologies provided new opportunities for GIGABYTE to tailor products for leading data centers. So far, GIGABYTE has released twenty-two new servers and motherboards to support the new AMD "Zen 4" architecture. Both single-socket and dual-socket options are available to handle big data and digital transformation. The ongoing collaboration between GIGABYTE and AMD has allowed for a comprehensive portfolio of computing solutions that are ready for the market.

The new 4th Gen AMD EPYC processors feature substantial compute performance and scalability by combing high core counts with impressive PCIe and memory throughput. In terms of out of the box performance, AMD estimates found that 4th Gen AMD EPYC CPUs are the highest performing server processors in the worldi. With the advancement to 5 nm technology and other performant innovations, the new AMD EPYC 9004 series processors move to a new SP5 socket. The new architecture leads the way to faster data insights with high performance and built-in security features, and this platform targets HPC, AI, cloud, big data, and general enterprise IT.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of next-generation Intel and AMD motherboards have incited a wave of consumer PC replacement as well as growing demand for high-efficiency PCIe 4.0 SSDs. With additional consideration towards the PS5's SSD heat dissipation requirements, ADATA Technology Co., Ltd., a leading global memory products brand, has launched the LEGEND 960 MAX as of today. The LEGEND 960 MAX SSD has won Japan's GOOD DESIGN Award and features continuous read/write speeds of up to 7,400/6,800 MB per second. Its unique 3D radiator fin design can reduce temperatures of SSDs mounted in PS5 consoles by as much as 40%. The LEGEND 960 MAX and LEGEND 960 are part of the same series of SSD products and the prior LEGEND 960 model can be installed in Intel Evo certified lightweight notebooks. In the face of Web 3.0's unlimited creative universe, this new product is expected to become the most ideal storage solution for consumers.

The LEGEND 960 MAX employs a PCIe 4.0 transmission interface conforming to NVMe 1.4 standards. The SSD features exceptional 7,400/6,800 MB per second read/write capabiliies that are 4 times that of standard PCIe 3.0 SSDs and is backward compatible with the PCIe 3.0 platform. When handling a multitude of intensive creations, the LEGEND 960 MAX delivers 750K/630K IOPS random Read/Write speeds, improving multitasking efficiency and is suitable for driving exceptional performance in the latest Intel or AMD platforms. The professionally designed thermal convection effect produced by a 3D radiator fin profile enables an additional 40% cooling on motherboard installed SSDs and is an optimal solution for highly complex design tasks such as 3D animation, game development, and visual virtualization.

Corsair has quietly launched two new SSD SKUs, the MP600 PRO NH and the MP600 GS. Although the model names seem similar, the two models couldn't be more different. Both are PCIe 4.0 x4 drives and in both cases controllers from Phison are used, but beyond both using a black PCB, the common features end here. The MP600 PRO NH is based around the Phison E18 and delivers sequential read speeds of up to 7000 MB/s, with the write speeds peaking at 6500 MB/s, depending on the storage capacity and this is where things get really interesting. Corsair is offering the MP600 PRO NH in capacities of up to 8 TB, but the SKU with the overall best performance is the 4 TB SKU. Random write performance is said to be up to 1.2 million IOPS, with random read performance topping out around 1 million IOPS. For some reason Corsair is offering a 500 GB SKU as well, but it offers fairly poor performance compared to its larger siblings. All drives use 3 TLC NAND, so we're not looking at QLC drives here.

The MP600 GS on the other hand is based on the Phison E21T, which is a DRAM-less controller that targets the more affordable drive segment. Here we're looking at only two SKUs, 500 GB or 1 TB, with the 1 TB drive offering sequential read speeds of up to 4800 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 3900 MB/s. The random read speed hits 580k IOPS with the random write speeds reaching 800k IOPS. This drive is also using 3D TLC NAND. The MP600 GS costs US$57.99 for the 500 GB SKU and US$92.99 for the 1 TB SKU. The MP600 PRO NH starts at US$72.99 for the 500 GB SKU, followed by US$112.99 for 1 TB, US$212.99 for 2 TB, US$529.99 for 4 TB and finally a rather steep US$1,074.99 for the 8 TB SKU. Both models come with a five year warranty.

GIGABYTE Technology, one of the top global manufacturers of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, announces today the latest PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD - AORUS Gen4 5000E which comes in two capacities of 500 GB and 1000 GB with 5000 MB/s read speed and 30% lower on overall power consumption. The AORUS Gen4 5000E has passed several comprehensive performance and stability tests to ensure users the most stable SSD with next-level performance.

"PCIe M.2 SSD dominates the present market with its advantages of small size and premium performance, making it the perfect choice for users to enhance storage performance, especially in the case of speedy PCIe 4.0 SSDs", said Jackson Hsu, Director of the GIGABYTE Channel Solutions Product Development Division. "Since the well-reputed PCIe 4.0 SSD first launched in 2019, GIGABYTE carries on with the belief in providing top-quality products to meet the needs of superior performance and ultra durability. AORUS Gen4 5000E SSD with 5000 MB/s read speed performs a key role in the improvement of storage performance."

Transcend, a leading brand in digital storage and multimedia products, has officially launched the advanced PCIe 4.0 M.2 solid-state drive (SSD) MTE250S. Featuring 3D NAND flash, an 8-channel controller, and DRAM cache, this SSD delivers sequential read and write speeds of up to 7200/6500 MB/s (R/W) and ample capacity of up to 2 TB. Its ultra-thin graphene heatsink ensures stable performance during non-stop operation, and its proven performance will bring gamers, content creators, and software developers a fundamental boost, helping them excel in their fields.

Fully compliant with the latest NVMe 1.4 specifications, MTE250S comes in an M.2 2280 form factor with an 8-channel controller and a fast PCIe Gen4 x4 interface, unleashing sequential R/W speeds of up to 7200/6500 MB/s and 4K random R/W speeds reaching 530K IOPS. Video editors and gamers alike will benefit from its impressive speeds, reduced downtime, and ample capacity of up to 2 TB, all of which are necessary for tackling the most demanding tasks.

Minisforum has launched a new mini PC UM690 of its Venus Series. The new UM690 featuring AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX, AMD Radeon 680M Integrated Graphics, DDR5 dual-channel memory, PCIe 4.0 SSD, and the most advanced USB4 Type-C port. It is also their first mini PC with AMD 6000 series CPU.

Ryzen 9 6900HX is one of AMD's most powerful Ryzen 6000 processors, features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a maximum turbo clock of 4.90 GHz with a default TDP targeted at 45 W. The integrated GPU, Radeon 680M, based on RDNA2 architecture, has 12 CUs up to 2.4 GHz. Thanks to liquid metal and smart fan in thermal design, UM690 can run at low noise even in full speed. UM690 supports total up to 64 GB dual-channel DDR5-4800 MHz memory, also different types of storage expansions—1×M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD and 1×2.5 inch SATA HDD Slot (SATA 3.0 6.0 Gb/s 7 mm).

Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced TrendForce has named it as the number one third-party supplier of SSDs in the channel for all of 2021. According to TrendForce, Kingston accounted for a massive 26 percent of the 127 million units shipped in 2021.

Although the pandemic continued to disrupt the supply of SSD related components in 2021, shipments through global distribution channels saw an annual growth rate of 11%. While production demand increased, shipment volume was affected when wafer supply was too limited to meet order lead time. In response, Kingston adopted a limited supply strategy as product prices rose. These findings show through Kingston's global strategy for sourcing components, the company was well ahead of its competitors considering a global pandemic and chip shortage. The results reinforced Kingston as the clear leader in SSD production, as the second-place supplier accounted for only 8 percent of the total channel market. As a category, third-party suppliers (non-semiconductor) SSD makers accounted for 58% of the total shipments in 2021.

ASUS today announced the availability of new Intel Z790 motherboards, including the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex, TUF Gaming Z790-PLUS WiFi and ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi - all of which provide DDR5 memory module support and PCIe 5.0 slots for video cards and storage.ASUS Z790 motherboards offer tremendous value to anyone assembling an Intel 13th Gen machine that includes AEMP II, AI Overclocking, AI Cooling II, PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots, Thunderbolt 4, WiFi 6E, Quick Charge 4+ technology and comprehensive connectivity. Overall, new ASUS Z790 motherboards are ideal solutions for any user who wants to build a next-gen machine or upgrade their existing system.

First up is the ROG Maximus Z790 Apex. The ultimate option for memory overclocking enthusiasts, this motherboard boasts a cutting-edge feature set. Then, for creative professionals of all kinds, ASUS offers the ProArt Z790-Creator WiFi. This motherboard offers premium connectivity and bespoke style, and it's fully ready for next-gen graphics cards and ultra-fast PCIe 5.0 storage. Finally, ASUS is bolstering its TUF Gaming lineup with the TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi, which brings DDR5 support to the family.

Furthering its mission to address future enterprise infrastructure requirements, KIOXIA America, Inc. today announced that it has expanded its broad portfolio of client, enterprise and data center SSDs with the addition of the XD7P Series. Designed for hyperscale and general server applications in the new Enterprise and Data Center Standard Form Factor (EDSFF) E1.S form factor, XD7P drives are the second generation of E1.S SSDs with Open Compute Project (OCP) Data Center NVMe SSD 2.0 specification support from KIOXIA, following its XD6 series. KIOXIA XD7P drives are now sampling to select data center customers.

"Hyperscale needs of density, power, performance and serviceability are driving PCIe 5.0, E1.S, as a form factor, and the OCP Data Center NVMe SSD specification V2.0 for the data center," said Ross Stenfort, hardware storage engineer, Meta. "The KIOXIA XD7P Series SSD supports these storage technologies to enable the next generation of hyperscale needs."

In December of 2021, we covered the appearance of Russia's home-grown Baikal-S processor, which has 48 cores based on Arm Cortex-A75 cores. Today, thanks to the famous chip photographer Fritzchens Fritz, we have the first die shows that show us exactly how Baikal-S SoC is structured internally and what it is made up of. Manufactured on TSMC's 16 nm process, the Baikal-S BE-S1000 design features 48 Arm Cortex-A75 cores running at a 2.0 GHz base and a 2.5 GHz boost frequency. With a TDP of 120 Watts, the design seems efficient, and the Russian company promises performance comparable to Intel Skylake Xeons or Zen1-based AMD EPYC processors. It also uses a home-grown RISC-V core for management and controlling secure boot sequences.

Below, you can see the die shots taken by Fritzchens Fritz and annotated details by Twitter user Locuza that marked the entire SoC. Besides the core clusters, we see that a slum of cache connects everything, with six 72-bit DDR4-3200 PHYs and memory controllers surrounding everything. This model features a pretty good selection of I/O for a server CPU, as there are five PCIe 4.0 x16 (4x4) interfaces, with three supporting CCIX 1.0. You can check out more pictures below and see the annotations for yourself.

The latest X670E motherboard platform introduced a wealth of cutting-edge features to accompany AMD's latest 7-series CPUs. Headlined by PCIe 5.0 connectivity and across-the-board DDR5 support, our X670E motherboards cater to enthusiasts ready to extract every ounce of performance they can get out of their new AMD processor. Now, mainstream PC builds can get in on the action, too. Our B650E and B650 boards offer tremendous value for anyone assembling a next-gen machine. This B650 motherboard guide walks you through our different product families to help you find the model that best fits your needs and budget.

Shopping for a gaming-first motherboard that delivers exceptional performance and exudes confident style? Start with our ROG Strix lineup. From the flagship ROG Strix B650E-E Gaming WiFi to the compact-yet-mighty ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi, these boards bring high-end features and sizzling good looks. Perhaps you'd prefer a straightforward gaming board that delivers essential features in a no-frills design? Check out our TUF Gaming family. Available in either ATX or micro-ATX form factors, these products deliver everything you need for a reliable gaming build and nothing that you don't.

Last week NZXT announced its high-end Z790 motherboard for Intel's upcoming 13th gen Core processors and this week, the company is following up that announcement with its first AM5 motherboard for the Ryzen 7000 series, in the shape of the N7 B650E. The board comes with either white or black shielding, although the PCB is black in both cases, as is the rear I/O cover. NZXT has gone for a mid-range feature set, with a 16+2+1 Smart Power Stage design rated at 90 A, which places it on par with ASRock's B650E Steel Legend. Speaking of ASRock, it has been NZXT's OEM in the past, but we can't find a board with the same general layout as the N7 B650E in ASRocks' lineup this time around, so this is either a proper custom design or NZXT has changed its OEM partner.

The board has one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, with one having four lanes of bandwidth and the other two lanes of bandwidth. The board also features three M.2 slots, one PCIe 5.0 and two PCIe 4.0, one of which is limited to two lanes of PCIe bandwidth. Other features include 2.5 Gbps Ethernet, a WiFi 6E/Bluetooth 5.2 combo module, an HDMI 2.1 port, four SATA ports and sadly what appears to be a 10 Gbps rather than a 20 Gbps USB-C port around the back. There's also a front header for another 10 Gbps USB-C port. NZXT has all the standard features you'd expect to see on a modern motherboard such as rear mounted clear CMOS and BIOS flashing buttons, debugging LEDs, albeit the basic kind and a good spread of fan headers and RGB LED connectors. A full set of audio connectors are also present and the audio chip of choice is the Realtek ALC1220. The only real hurdle for this board to become a success is going to be the price tag, as NZXT lists the board on its site for US$349.99/€429.99/£429.99, which is a very steep asking price for what's on offer here.

MSI, a world leading motherboard brand in high-performance and innovative computing, announces its brand new AMD B650 Series motherboards. MSI is not only tailored for enthusiast gamers, but also offers possibilities for content creation and office use. MSI is fully dedicated to all types of PC users by satisfying their needs. This time, we carefully prepared a variety of advanced technologies and exclusive features to help our customers create the most immersive experiences and maximize every ounce of performance.

"With DDR5 memory boost and an enhanced thermal design, MSI B650 Series motherboards are built to fully support the performance and capabilities of AMD Ryzen 7000 Series processors," said David McAfee, Corporate Vice President and General Manager, Client Channel Business Unit, AMD. "Designed specifically for gamers and content creators, MSI motherboards feature advanced technologies that take full advantage of the AM5 platform."

US retailer B&H has kindly provided the first B650 motherboard pricing and it's something of a mixed bag. The company has listed no less than seven different models from MSI, ranging in price from US$199.99 to US$329.99. It doesn't appear as if any of these boards are based on the B650E chipset, but based on information TPU were given at Computex, we know that some higher-end B650 boards will cost around the same as some lower-end B650E boards.

As B&H has only listed key features of the boards, it's hard to tell what features some of the boards offer, but the base model is the mATX Pro B650M-A WiFi, which at the very least has one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, one PCIe 4.0 x4 slot, one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot and two M.2 slots. The board obviously also has WiFi 6E and somewhat surprisingly has 2.5 Gbps Ethernet. On the other hand, it only has a front header for a USB-C port and none around the back. This type of board was supposed to start at or below the US$150 mark and we'll hopefully see a transition to there in due time.