AMD is ruling the gaming category after the initial introduction of the Ryzen processor in the global market. The Ryzen processors have changed the landscape of the gaming industry forever because of many contributing reasons. Advanced Micro Devices was known for launching processors at an affordable price, and they added a ton of price-to-performance value. The APU-series started many years ago, but they sort of mastered it in Ryzen-series.
ASUS introduced ROG because it is a premium line for desktop components, and this time they brought Zenith II Extreme under TRX40 chipset. We are using AUS ROG components for a while, and it is one of the best you can get your hands on it. However, they come at an expensive price tag, and if you are planning to stick with the machine for a long time, then it is a good investment.
Zenith II Extreme is a powerful motherboard equipped with premium components like VRM that serve different purposes. Your board will stand against heavy electrical and thermal challenges. You got dedicated VRM heatsink and chipset heatsink to ensure that they are getting fried up during the workload.
In short, you got a dedicated cooling system in place on SoC VRM, M.2 SSD Slot, active-cooling on the chipset. You have a high-quality cooling system with a fan in place, and Aura Sync shines up the board, and it makes everything worth it.
PC builders can take advantage of the ROG Water-Cooling Zone to give you information on the board statistics. ASUS always focused on adding extra extension lines for fans to get the Fan Extension Card II and connect up to eight more fans to the system.
We cannot argue that ASUS ROG brings high-quality components like Zenith II Extreme has 10K Japanese-made black metallic capacitors, Infineon TDA21472 power stage, MicroFine alloy chokes (45 amps), and dual 8-pin & one 6-pin ProCool II power connectors. Every component in the TRX40 chipset-based motherboard is premium.
You are spending a premium for TRX40 chipset-based solution, and you are entitled to get the best out of it.
The Taiwanese-based manufacturer improved the audio department by introducing it.
SupremeFX S1220 codec that has a high-end ESS Sabre DAC. The on-board audio technology supported DTS® Sound Unbound technology for the virtual surround system and paired it with the Sonic Studio III control panel for personalization.
If you are buying this bad boy for gaming, you will be happy to learn that it supports RBG and light up the board with the Aura Sync control panel. You don't have to stick to one preset and customize the lights with different color combinations.
The package includes the Game First V Network Control & RAMCache III control panel, which will maintain the connectivity stability & storage stability during the workload. The RAMCache supports the latest NVM Express storage technology, so you can take full advantage of the Read/Write speeds.
Memory: You can connect eight DDR4 RAM modules on the board, and they all support Quad Channel technology up to 4733 Mhz. If you want the highest memory count, then the maximum capacity is 256GB.
Storage: You got two M.2 SSD Slots that support SATA & PCI-E 4.0, two M.2 Socket 3, four SATA 6GBs, four ASMEDIA SATA 6GBs, and more.
Connectivity: You can connect to a nearby wireless router with Wi-Fi 6 AX200 technology, and it has inbuilt Bluetooth 5.0 support. Intel's Wi-Fi 6 has a maximum of 1.73 GBPS transfer speed support. LAN connectivity is vital for the build, and that's why ASUS brought Intel® I211-AT and Gigabit LAN Controller based on Aquantia AQC-107 10G.
PCI-E: ASUS ROG board has PCIe 4.0 generation slots and they are (x16, x16/x16), (x16/x8/x16), and (x16/x8/x16/x8).
I/O Ports: There are so many options here, and we want to highlight ASMEDIA four USB 3.2 (Gen 1) ports and one ASMedia USB 3.2 (Gen2x2) controller that has a 20 GBPS transfer speed rate.
Overall, the ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme has everything you need for gaming, workstation, and even it has the power to handle enterprise-level servers.
ASRock is a reputed Taiwanese-based manufacturer, and MB TRX40 Creator is the budget-oriented motherboard for 3rd gen Threadripper processors. Please don't take this component lightly; it has powerful functions and builds quality that will withstand for years to come. Of course, there are a few drawbacks, but it doesn't something that you would be bothered by it as you are getting it under a budget.
The MB TRX40 Creator brings a lot of value to the table, and where you can see the four Quad Channel RAM slots in the board and four PCI-e slots. We want to bring the construction specification on the table like XXL Aluminum Alloy heatsink, and it has a heat pipe design with EBR Bearing Fan up to 50,000 HR lifespan. The dedicated fan will keep the components cooler during heavy, high-speed data transfers, and whatever you have connected in the I/O ports.
The build quality shines through everything when you can clear the 15U Gold Contact in DIMM slots and VGA PCI-e slots. You can add GPU, RAM, and other components to the board, and it will give you maximum performance. The PCI-e slots are made from steel for ultra durability and reliability. The 15U Gold Contacts will increase the lifespan of the slots and also give you sturdy fitting.
We have to take a look at the Smart CPU Power Connector Design. ASRock separated the two 8-pin power connectors placed side-by-side in traditional motherboards, but they avoided it in this model. The brand split the pair into two sides for the power efficiency of CPU VRM throughout the PCB, and it will also keep the temperature lower on the entire PCB, which is a smart move.
If you have purchased ASRock solutions before, then you might have heard about Dr.MOS. The single package design enables the motherboard to take maximum energy during the CPU intensive tasks, but it reduces power losses and maintains a cooler environment on the board.
The board might be the cheapest for Threadripper, but it offers modern features like USB 3.2 (Gen2x2) Type-C port in the solution, and you can transfer files at 20 GB per second speed.The PCB is made out of 8 layers, and it has 4 sets of 2-ounce copper inner layers to maintain a lower temperature, stabilize signal traces and higher energy efficiency for overclocking. That's how you can take advantage of DDR4 RAM module technology.
Memory: Users can add four DDR4 RAM and overclock them up to 4666+ Mhz in OC Mode. ASRock solution supports maximum memory of 256GB and supports the latest Quad Channel DDR4 memory technology.
Storage: You won't feel limited here because you can install eight SATA 3, two Hyper M.2 SSD, one Hyper M.2 SSD to the machine. The motherboard supports the latest storage technology called "NVMe," and you can add them as boot disks.
Connectivity: Connect your router with Wi-Fi 6 technology, and pair it with Bluetooth 5.0 technology. LAN is important for such build, and it has 10 Gigabit LAN 100 based on AQUANTIA AQC107 technology.
PCI-e: Four PCIe 4.0 x16 Safeslots and they are (x16), (x16/x16), (x16/x8/x8), and (x16/x8/16/x8).
I/O Ports: Connect your storage devices and other devices on one USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, seven USB 3.2 (Gen 2), six Type-A, one Type-C, four USB 3.2 (Gen 1), and four Type-A.
ASRock MB TRX40 Creator is a value-for-money motherboard for customers looking for a budget-oriented yet powerful board for Threadripper build.
GIGABYTE is a reputed Taiwanese manufacturer, who have introduced TRX40 Designare for (3rd gen) Threadripper machines. GIGABYTE bundled a good product under the price bracket, and it does add value to your build for years to come. Many aspects make the entire bundle worth checking out, and that's what we are going to look at it.
The TRX40 Designare is an easy-to-remember name, and it does bring a lot of value because it is a quality piece of technology and comes under the $600 price bracket. Build quality is solid on this one, and everything is covered with high-quality components like RAM slots, I/O shields, PCI-e connectors, and more.
The PCI-e is covered with Thermal Guards that will prevent dust from entering, and it will protect the slots from overheating. The 4.0 ports are constructed with durable steel, and it will put the graphics card or any component in place.
The 24-pin CPU power connector and 8+8 pin ATX power connector are constructed using metal, and that will ensure durability and protect it from wear & tear for years to come.
You are not missing any cooling functions like the ball bearing silent chipset fan that doesn't make any noise. The fan will keep in spinning to keep the chipset cool during the intensive tasks, and the 8mm mega-Heatpipe delivers excellent cooling movement.
The Taiwanese manufacturer placed LAID Thermal Conductivity Pad for better cooling in the most temperature prone part of the PCB. The M.2 SSD slot is not avoided because you got protective M.2 heatsink in place.
Gigabyte has always been good at following customer's hearts and added RGB Fusion 2.0 on this board. The board I/O box will light up with colors of your choice, and you can customize it through the RGB Fusion 2.0 software. The software will also become a control panel for support lights, and it means that the board supports third-party light strips.
Audio is another major factor here, where Realtek introduced ALC1220-VB, and Gigabyte added it to this model. The manufacturer did not want cheap scape here and equipped the board with High-End WIMA & Audio Capacitors. The DTS X Ultra technology produces immersive surround sound in your machine, and it is one of the best AMD Threadripper motherboards.
Speaking of technology, you have seven internal temperature sensors on the board, which will help you monitor the machine temps. We were a bit surprised to have two external temperature sensors that will give you a broad idea of the situation.
Gigabyte went with two copper layers PCB to maintain low temperature and stable overclocking experience. ASRock model went with six layers of PCB engineering in MB TRX40 Creator, which should be the case at this price point. But, if you don't plan to overclock the CPU or GPU anytime soon, then this should get the job done.
The latest DDR4 technology does not seem to have limits because the two copper layers of PCB can overclock the RAM module up to 4400 MHz. None of the system administrators will have problems running stock clocks like 3200 MHz.
Memory: No more limitations and add eight RAM modules up to 256GB memory capacity. The board supports overclocking, and you can push the memory module up to 4400 MHz, and it supports Quad Channel technology. You can install 2133 MHz DDR4 RAM in the board and push the module to its maximum capacity.
Storage: The TRX40 Designare supports RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 10. Add two M.2 SSD drives on the board, and they support SATA and PCIe 4.0 technology. You have one more M.2 connector for 2280 SATA and PCIe 4.0 drives. There are total M.2 connectors based on M2M, M2Q, M2P, and M2C.
Connectivity: LAN connectivity is important for Threadripper to build, and this board has two Intel GbE LAN chipset (10/100/1000 Mbit). Wireless connectivity is essential these days, and you are welcomed by Wi-Fi 6 technology with Bluetooth 5.0 technology.
PCI-e: You got two PCI Express 4.0 x16 slots, running at x16 (PCIEX16_1) and (PCIEX16_2). If that's not enough, then you got two more PCI Express 4.0 x16 slots, running at x8 (PCIEX8_1), and (PCIEX8_2). At last, you have one PCI Express 4.0 x1 slot to install smaller components.
I/O Ports: You can connect storage devices, drives, and devices in USB Type-C (back panel), Type-C (USB Header), USB 3.2 (gen 1), USB 3.2 (gen 2), and six USB 2.0 ports.
Gigabyte TRX40 Designare supports high-end functions and has everything you need to make the
Threadripper build powerful and sturdy. Of course, the motherboard price is $599, and you can go with the ASRock solution, but the availability is a major question.
Ryzen Threadripper is a series of processors that are competing with Intel in the server business. No doubt that the red brand is superior in terms of performance, price, and technology compared to the blue brand, and this is why you are looking for the best motherboards to set up a powerful machine.
We cannot avoid this part, where we will elaborate on the Ryzen Threadripper series. None of us wants the readers to spend an extra dime on something completely unnecessary. There are massive chances that you are falling for a marketing stint and end up buying something that you don't need in the first place, so we are going to Threadripper processor existence.
1. Core Count
Ryzen 9-series have 16-cores, and 32-threads, which should be enough to take on any task. The CPU has good single-core performance and multi-core performance, but Threadripper 3970X comes with 32-cores & 64-threads, which makes it a beast in terms of good single-core performance and multi-core performance. If you indulge in a business that requires higher CPU power, you have to get your hands on (3rd gen) 3960X and (3rd gen) 3970X.
2. Multiple GPU
Nowadays, you get SLI or CrossFire cables in the GPU box, and you can install two Graphics Card in one machine using the cross connectivity technology. It is a challenging part of regular machines, but you can do it in most of the high-end AMD AMD4 machines.
However, you have the option to expand the GPU power by adding multiple GPUs up to 4 – 5 using SLI & CrossFire technology. AMD's Threadripper series brings this function for high-end servers so that customers can run any graphical intensive tasks without issues.
3. Quad Channel RAM Slots
Threadripper series used for building a workstation, and it has incredible potential to upgrade the RAM and take full advantage of the Quad Channel that increases bandwidth. Most of the regular rig comes with Dual Channel RAM slots, but in the workstation, you get Quad Channel technology designed to take on larger applications.
4. PCI-E Slots
We are talking about workstations to host multiple servers, applications and run intensive programs on it. Most of the components are manufactured around PCI-E 4.0, and you get more slots compared to traditional A320M, B450, X570, or other motherboards.
You got plenty of things to add in the workstation like GPU's, Ethernet Cards, Sound Cards, Storage, Wi-Fi Cards, and other important components. In Threadripper motherboards, you have plenty of space to install larger components, which is a necessity. Nvidia's high-end graphics card consumes a lot of space, and you can get multiple cards in the workstation without limitations.
5. Form Factor
The Threadripper series is a primary choice for workstation servers and other powerful enterprise-level tasks. Many company's IT department keeps form factor in mind because they want to save the cost of infrastructure and maintenance as lower as possible.
Customers have plenty of options available in the market, such as Mini-ATX, Micro-ATX, Standard-ATX, E-ATX, and XL-ATX. You got every size of the motherboard that meets your requirements.
The XL-ATX stands out as it allows more room for larger components installed in the rig like GPU and RAM. The second meanest motherboard is E-ATX, which is smaller than the XL sized solution but offers a minimum of three PCI-E slots, and Quad Channel RAM technology in such a small form factor.
Most of the readers are already aware of the Mini-ATX, Micro-ATX, and Standard-ATX motherboards. Every regular rig has Standard-ATX or Micro-ATX series board, and that's a common pick for gaming PC builders. You can open the PC's side bracket and check out the size yourself, type your board model online, and find out the ATX version.
6. I/O Ports
What makes the Threadripper series powerful over regular builds? You can check out the I/O ports, and you get so many options here that will leave you surprised. We have picked up this information from a TRX40 motherboard.
a) 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and you get 4 at the back panel.
b) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, and you get front panel connector ports.
c) 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and there are 3 at the back panel, including 2 x Type-A+1 x Type-C for comfort.
d) Connect your old flash drive or storage device in 3 x USB 2.0 ports available on the board.
e) Asus bundles proprietary ASMedia USB 3.2 Gen 1 controller that comes with 8 x USB 3.2 (1st gen) port, and there are 4 at the back panel.
f) Asus introduced the ASMedia USB 3.2 (2nd gen) controller that has 1 x USB 3.2 (2nd gen) that has 20Gbps transfer speed. You get this piece of technology in the form of a traditional USB port and Type-C port in the back panel.
We have covered the E-ATX motherboard for this part, and you can notice that there's a lot of I/O ports here that fill the gap. If you are working on a server, you need many ports to connect, transfer, and make everything work.
AMD Threadripper series is for CPU + GPU intensive tasks, but we don't recommend it for gaming as you got Ryzen 9-series and RTX 2080 Ti & RTX 3000 series on the shelves. If you are looking to build a machine for server or enterprise purposes, this is for you.
Put up a good budget that meets your requirements because AM4 &TRX40 boards available in the market to build your rig. We will cover the best Threadripper motherboard that will run your business smoothly.
We have listed the best AMD Threadripper motherboards that will give you price-to-performance output. You cannot buy any cheap motherboard because it is the entire ship's body, and if the body structure & engineering is not efficient, then your ship will collapse & submerge in deep waters.