A tech enthusiast in China has demonstrated the skillful replacement of one of the ‘pins’ located in a CPU socket. Bilibili user and motherboard repair guru Mu Ziwen takes us step-by-step through the intricate process, demonstrating the success of their handiwork at the end of the brief video.

Current-gen Intel and AMD systems locate contact pins in the socket. While this makes processors more robust, we have to be more careful with motherboard sockets. Modern CPU socket ‘pins’ aren’t rigid, though. They have a thin kinked copper leaf at their business end, which exerts spring-like pressure for good contact on the corresponding CPU pad.

Damaged motherboard pins can sometimes be carefully, very carefully, pushed back into alignment with precision tools. However, there is a real danger that it can break if flexed too many times, or too strongly, because of metal fatigue. If the pin is too far gone to be prodded back into position or it breaks, as described, then most people would write off the motherboard. However, Mu Ziwen shows a full pin replacement process using a pretty basic toolset, seemingly completed pretty swiftly, too.

The damaged motherboard socket is causing the system to be unable to recognize the installed memory correctly - with just one pin out of action. That’s bad luck, as some pins aren’t needed, being functionally duplicated elsewhere, for example. The key symptom of the broken pin in this case was that one of the DIMM slots didn’t function.

Mu Ziwen takes us through the following process:

Fixing a broken pin affecting the memory bus

• Remove damaged pin – using hot air and tweezers
• Load new pin – heat gun temperature set to a little under 300 degrees Celsius
• Test pin adhesion - tweezers
• Test pin function - multimeter
• Power on test – with CPU back in place
• Success – both memory channels test OK

So, the tech enthusiast only used three affordable tools throughout the repair process: a hot air gun, tweezers, and a multimeter. A hot air station temperature of a smidgeon under 300 degrees Celsius was just right for this delicate extraction and replacement job. The Bilibili user warned that anyone wielding hot air approaching 400 degrees Celsius would be in danger of melting the motherboard socket plastics.

At the end of the video, we can see Windows Task Manager’s Process monitor confirm two of the motherboard’s DIMM slots are populated for a total of 8GB of DDR4-2666 RAM, running in dual-channel mode. This is a nice success story but be warned that skillful operators can sometimes make difficult jobs look very easy.

The motherboard is like the nervous system of every PC build. Nearly everything in your system either plugs into your motherboard or something else that plugs into your motherboard. The motherboard's form factor (typically E-ATX, ATX, Micro ATX, or Mini-ITX) also dictates the size of the PC case you'll need. And, just as importantly, the motherboard's socket and chipset determine which processors you can install in your new system.

Our motherboard picks below start with gaming motherboards for AMD Ryzen 9000, 7000 (socket AM5) CPUs. If you're after an older AMD AM4 board with more reasonably priced DDR4 (yet still much more expensive a few months ago), we've added a couple of those too, since DDR5 RAM prices are out of control due to AI demands.

Just note that stock of those boards is becoming harder to find, and we won't be updating those pages because companies aren't launching new boards for a legacy (though still lingering) platform.

You’ll find our tested picks for Intel Z890 motherboards below our AMD picks (X870, B850, and B650 chipsets). After the AMD options, you'll find the best gaming motherboards designed for Intel's 15th-gen (Arrow Lake) CPUs for the enthusiast Z890 platform. We've recently added a B860 motherboard as well. So if you're looking for a motherboard for a recent-generation CPU, one of our picks below should suit your needs well.

Sadly, we can’t test every single motherboard, and we can only go by what we’ve had in our labs and on the test bench (although we consider others in the same segment, but don’t have that hands-on experience). That said, unless you need a specific feature or port count/speed, most any motherboard will be satisfactory for a wide variety of needs. But still, some stand out among the rest for one reason or another. We’ve captured several across a variety of modern AMD and Intel chipsets. One of these should fit in with your wants and needs.

Quick List

AMD GAMING MOTHERBOARDS

INTEL GAMING MOTHERBOARDS

Best Motherboards You Can Buy Today

The Best AMD Gaming Motherboards

AMD's current flagship X870/X870E chipset brings continued support for PCIe 5.0, although no current-gen graphics cards benefit from this doubling of bandwidth over PCIe 4.0. PCIe 5.0. PCIe 5.0-based SSDs are now saturating the market and are a mainstay on modern motherboards.

One way to save money is to opt for a B850 (or B650) motherboard, which has fewer PCIe 5.0 lanes, generally only enough for one or two fast SSDs and a graphics card. However, keep an eye on price as many higher-end B850 boards approach or exceed the cost of some X870 alternatives. So shop carefully based on the features you need or are likely to use in the future. Also note that B650 has been discontinued, so stock on those more affordable options will soon become scarce. We've also added some DDR4 boards from X570 that could save you some money upgrading by using your existing RAM instead of upgrading to the super expensive DDR5.

Motherboard prices on Intel and AMD's latest platforms have improved since launch, which is typical for the product category. For AMD, we’re in the middle of the current platform’s lifecycle, and board partners are starting to release mid-cycle motherboards, which we’ll cover over the coming months. Intel is in the same boat, and we expect to see some updated processors in 2026. So far, we haven’t seen any notably updated Z890/B860 boards. Stay tuned for more reviews and perhaps some updates to this best list.

If you’re unsure which chipset you’re after or have more basic questions, you can visit our motherboard basics story to help narrow your shopping options.

Best X870E High-End Motherboard

The Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial stands at the top of the X870E stack, offering one of the most complete feature sets on the platform. With seven M.2 slots (including bundled expansion cards), dual 10 GbE networking, Wi-Fi 7, and dual USB4 ports, it delivers elite storage flexibility, ultra-fast networking, helpful ‘AI’ and EZ features, and cutting-edge connectivity in a single board. Few competitors match this level of expansion and bandwidth simultaneously, making it a clear choice for power users and high-end builders who refuse to compromise.

Beyond raw specs, its icy-white aesthetic and integrated 5-inch LCD elevate it into true flagship territory, especially for premium showcase builds. At $1,199.99, it’s built for enthusiasts who want the absolute best—maximum features, top-tier performance, and standout design—all in one uncompromising AM5 motherboard.

More: Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial Review

Best ATX X870/X870E Motherboard

ASRock’s Taichi motherboards have impressed in recent years as top values for those looking for near-flagship features, like fast ports, robust power delivery, and a premium appearance and a lower price than the competition. And the latest iteration, the ASRock X870E Taichi, receives an updated design, more powerful VRMs, USB 4.0 (40 Gbps) Type-C ports again (now a standard for the platform), updated networking to 5GbE and Wi-Fi 7, and more. And its launch price manages to be less than the previous-gen X670E Taichi. That makes it easy to recommend for those looking to build a system around an AMD Ryzen 9000 CPU.

With the jump up to X870/X870E, you get native support for Zen 5-based C{Us, USB 4.0, Wi-Fi 7, and PCIe 5.0 for both NVMe storage and graphics. The latest Taichi gets an updated look, extra DIY features, and more. Its performance in our testing was one of the fastest we've tested on the platform so far, if only by meager margins.

Priced $50 less than its direct Asus, Gigabyte, and MSI competitors, ASRock again is the best option for X870E of the boards we've tested so far. Just note that its large E-ATX form factor means it won't fit in many ATX cases.

More: ASRock X870E Taichi Review

Best $500 X870E Motherboard

The Gigabyte X870E Aero X3D Wood immediately sets itself apart with genuine wood accents on the VRM heatsink and audio shroud, complemented by leather tabs on the M.2 heatsinks and a crisp white/silver PCB. The result is a premium, design-forward motherboard that feels truly distinctive—especially for white PC builds—while still maintaining a clean, high-end aesthetic that’s sure to spark conversation inside any system.

Beyond its unique appearance, it backs up the looks with substance: four M.2 slots, dual 5 GbE LAN and Wi-Fi 7, dual USB4 (40 Gbps) Type-C ports, and strong overall performance in testing. Competitive with similarly priced flagship boards, it delivers both standout style and capability, making it an easy recommendation for buyers who want top-tier features wrapped in a uniquely refined white design with wood accents.

More: Gigabyte X870E Aero X3D Wood Review

Best ATX B850 Motherboard

The MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Wifi II is a solid refresh of an already capable motherboard. While the changes were mostly incremental, MSI cleaned up the look by ditching most of the polarizing bright yellow-green accents, added an OC Engine chip for BCLK overclocking, and upgraded to a 64MB BIOS for expanded features and long-term CPU compatibility. These additions make a more complete package for enthusiasts.

On top of the new features, the Tomahawk Max Wifi II has a comprehensive set of specifications and features that’s sure to appeal to budget-conscious buyers. There are ample USB ports on the rear IO, nine total, including three Type-C ports (though it does lack 40 Gbps ports), fast networking, including 5 GbE and Wi-Fi 7, and four M.2 sockets (though one is limited to PCIe 4.0 x2), a quality audio solution, and three full-length PCIe expansion slots are available in case you need additional functionality. All in all, if you’re building an AM5 system on a budget, the $229.99 Tomahawk MAX Wifi II is our pick for the best B850 boards available.

Read: MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Wifi II Review

Best Mini-ITX B850 Motherboard

ASRock’s B850I Lightning is an excellent value in the Mini-ITX space. For just over $200, it offers full support for AM5-based processors, including flagship-class options. Key features include capable power delivery, integrated Wi-Fi 6E, PCIe 5.0 for the M.2 and GPU slot, a solid audio solution, and outstanding out-of-the-box performance. The generally neutral design features a black PCB with Phantom Gaming purple and highlights, fitting most build themes. Given the price, there is very little to criticize.

In terms of competition, competing boards have some more premium features, like Wi-Fi 7 and faster USB, but they tend to cost a lot more, while MSI does not offer a B850 Mini-ITX board. So if you want those higher-end features and are willing to pay an extra $100 or more, boards from Asus and Gigabyte are certainly worth considering.

But for users who don't need those specific upgrades and care more about general performance and a lower price, the ASRock B850I Lighting is the clear choice for an affordable, modern, small-form-factor AMD build.

MORE: ASRock B850I Lightning Review

Best ATX B650E Motherboard

The Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX is a solid mid-range motherboard on the AM5 platform. It supports a wide variety of CPUs, including the 7000 and 9000-series desktop processors, including the latest 9850X3D and 9950X3D2 that were recently released (update your BIOS to the latest version), as well as 8000-series APUs. In our review, we loved the icy-white appearance, ample USB ports, and solid performance across our benchmarking suite. A penny under $150 gets you started on your AM5 build and includes 12 USB ports (one 20 Gbps Type-C), fast networking with 2.5 GbE and integrated Wi-Fi 6E, three M.2 sockets (one PCIe 5.0 x4) and four SATA ports, and VRMs capable of handling any compatible processor, even with overclocking.

The only noteworthy drawbacks are that it lacks a PCIe 5.0-capable slot (negligible impact compared to PCIe 5.0) and uses a budget audio codec. Outside of that, it’s one of the best motherboards still available for the B650 platform, and its current price of $149.99 takes some of the sting out of buying other, more expensive parts like RAM, video cards, and storage.

MORE: Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX Ice Review

Best DDR4 Motherboard

The Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming Wi-Fi delivers a strong mix of features and performance for the B550 platform. It offers PCIe 4.0 support for graphics, dual M.2 slots, solid connectivity, and a robust power delivery that handled a Ryzen 9 3900X and overclocking without issue. While it lacks some higher-end extras like a third M.2 slot or 20 Gbps USB, most users won’t miss them.

Performance matched that of competing boards, and the 14-phase power design proved capable, even if VRM temperatures ran slightly warmer than those of some rivals. With premium audio, 2.5 GbE LAN, and Wi-Fi 6, the B550-F Gaming Wi-Fi stands out as a well-rounded, dependable choice and a solid foundation for a B550-based system, and it helps you save money by using your existing DDR4 in the middle of this RAM apocalypse.

Read: Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming Wifi review

Best Rear-Connect Motherboard

Gigabyte’s X870 Aorus Stealth lives up to its name with a clean, all-black design and a rear-connect layout that keeps cables hidden from view, making for a clean-looking, wire-free build. Aside from the appearance, 13 USB ports (including two 40 Gbps ports) reside on the rear IO, along with Wi-Fi 7 and 5 GbE networking. It has a middling audio solution, capable power delivery, and more, all for around $299.99.

Competition in this space is fairly limited compared to non rear-connect boards, and the Aorus Stealth is our current choice over Asus’ more affordable TUF Gaming B850 BTF Wifi ($270.99) cuts back on storage count, USB connectivity and networking, while MSI’s X870E Tomahawk Max Wifi PZ ($319.99) costs more, is similarly equipped (aside from a PCIe 5.0 M.2 socket running at x2 speeds), but the Stealth’s appearance pushes it over the Tomahawk.

If you’re in the market for an AM5-based rear-connect motherboard, the X870 Aorus Stealth is where you need to start looking. Go get your BTF motherboard and start hiding those wires!

Read: Gigabyte X870 Aorus Stealth Review

The Best Intel Gaming Motherboards

Below are our tested picks for Intel Z890, Z790, and B760 motherboards.

Best Z890 High-End Motherboard

The MSI Godlike stands out as a flagship E-ATX motherboard, offering the most extensive and fastest features currently available for Intel’s latest platform. It includes 10 GbE, Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 5, and an impressive eight M.2 sockets (four of which are 5.0 with the expansion card). Beyond its top-tier hardware, it provides user-friendly EZ and AI features. Aesthetically, the board is high-end, featuring a clean design, sophisticated RGB lighting, and the unique Dynamic Dashboard III, all of which support its core functionality. While the hardware specifications appear flawless, its primary (and perhaps only) drawback is its steep price of $1,329.

The Godlike’s launch price was significantly higher than that of competitors like the Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Xtreme AI TOP and the Asus ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme. Currently, it shares price points with the Asus Z890 Extreme, both at $999.99, while the Gigabyte board can be found for just under $880. These competing boards share many high-end features with the Godlike, such as 10 GbE, Thunderbolt 5 (via included AIC), and overbuilt power delivery. Despite the cost disparity (which again has reduced since launch), the Godlike remains one of the most capable motherboards available on any consumer platform, sharing the top tier with no other board for those seeking the absolute best for their Intel processor.

Read: MSI Z890 Godlike Review

Best ATX Z890 Motherboard

The ASRock Z890 Taichi Lite is a well-performing motherboard that strikes a good balance of high-end hardware and price, at its $399.99 MSRP. It offers the same top-tier hardware as the more expensive Z890 Taichi, but cuts costs by swapping out the actively cooled, RGB-enabled VRM heatsink for a simpler design, and replacing the fancier M.2 plate heatsink on the bottom with a standard one. This results in a less luxurious, more average look, a worthwhile trade for those prioritizing performance and a lower price over aesthetics.

Ultimately, the Z890 Taichi Lite is a solid offering. Even though the inclusion of Thunderbolt/USB 4 is no longer a unique selling point, it still delivers value with its generous six M.2 slots, flagship-quality audio, and dual Ethernet ports. If you are willing to forgo premium aesthetics and a few user-friendly features to save money, the Taichi Lite, with its simple, RGB-free, mid-range appearance, is one of the best options around the $350-$400 price point.

More: ASRock Z890 Taichi Lite Review

Best Z790 High-End Motherboard

All the flagship-class Z790 motherboards offer the best of the best in terms of features and specifications, but the Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Extreme presents the best value among these top-end board. You’ll lose a couple M.2 sockets over the more-expensive flagship boards, but this bird otherwise has everything else you could ask for and more, while costing between $200 and $400 less than the competition.

The Z790 Aorus Extreme delivers 10 Gb Ethernet, 40 Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports, flagship-class audio, PCIe 5.0 GPU and M.2 support, overkill power delivery, and that high-end appearance you expect from a high-end board. MSI's Z790 Godlike offers up a few more features (like seven M.2 sockets), but costs $400 more, and it's also physically bigger, making it hard to recommend to most people unless money is no object.

The Z790 Aorus Extreme also performed well in our gaming, productivity, and overlocking tests, as you would expect from a flagship board. Just remember that this is an E-ATX model, so you'll need a case with a bit more room than standard ATX options. But you could certainly buy a bigger case with the money you'll save by opting for this board over other Z790 flagship options.

Read: Z790 Aorus Xtreme review

Best ATX Z790 Motherboard

The cost of motherboards, like so many other things, has steeply increased in recent years, so it’s nice to see ASRock offering something a bit less expensive than the flagship motherboards, but that’s still very well equipped. Priced around $350, the ASRock Z790 Taichi Lite gets you nearly everything the more expensive Taichi offers, like extremely robust power delivery, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, lots of storage options, including a PCIe 5.0 M.2 socket and eight SATA ports, premium audio, and more. What's missing here compared to pricier options is manly the high-end appearance. Taichi boards are typically adorned with 3D cogs, but here they give way to simpler heatsinks, a more visible PCB, and stenciled adornments. But this board is still recognizable as a Taichi.

There’s lots of competition in the sub-$400 space, but none of the other boards available around that price come close to the specs and features here. If you want some of the best hardware the Z790 platform offers at a more reasonable price, and your build doesn’t cry out for flagship-class looks, the Taichi Lite is a well-appointed option at a price lower than most.

Read: ASRock Z790 Taichi Lite review

Best Budget Z790 Motherboard

The Z790 Steel Legend is a great choice for users on a budget who want the flexibility of Intel's overclockable platform, but who don’t want to spend several hundred dollars to get there. Along with its black-on-silver looks and bright RGB lighting, you get all the platform offers, including a PCIe 5.0 slot and M.2 socket (and five total M.2), eight SATA ports, front-panel 20 Gbps USB Type-C, integrated Wi-Fi 6E, a basic audio codec, the eDP port for an additional monitor, and power delivery capable of handling our flagship-class processor at stock or while overclocked.

Around its $270 price, ASRock's Steel Legend is one of the most feature-packed Intel Z790 options on the market. The only real tradeoff here is the basic audio codec, which will still be fine for many users. If not, you can always opt for one of the best PC speakers that feature a built-in DACand avoid the board's internal audio entirely.
Read: ASRock Z790 Steel Legend review

Best B860 Motherboard

Intel’s B860 chipset is designed for the budget-conscious consumer who doesn’t need all the ports, connectivity, and aesthetic bits that cost a lot more money. It offers a capable platform at a more reasonable price without all the bells and whistles. If you don’t need what Z890 offers and want to save some money, B860 is here to help you spend less – or spend more where it matters to you.

At $229.99, MSI’s B860 Tomahawk is a well-rounded, well-performing solution that offers the best of the budget platform, from PCIe 5.0 slots and an M.2 socket to Wi-Fi 7 and 5GbE. You get your money’s worth, but slightly less expensive models are available with similar configurations from the competition. However, none stand out as heads above the rest. If you’re in the market for an ATX-sized B860 board, the B860 Tomahawk Wi-Fi deserves a close look.

Read: MSI MAG B860 Tomahawk Wifi review

Best B760M Micro-ATX Motherboard

If you’re after an inexpensive Micro ATX-size motherboard and won’t overclock your processor, the B760 chipset -- and the B760M Steel Legend board specifically -- is where it’s at. It's well equipped, with three M.2 sockets, at around $160, and arguably as good-looking as most of its peers. If you like bling, the bright RGBs will light up any chassis, and the eDP port is there for those who’d like to add ASRock’s 13.3-inch Side Panel Kit to make things more visually interesting in their case. Power delivery isn’t that impressive on paper, but it handled our Intel i9-13900K, even with the power limits raised.

The B760M Steel Legend's performance out of the box matches other boards that follow Intel specifications (read: slower than unlocked boards in multi-threaded and long-running benchmarks), but it is a solid gamer. Once you unlock it, you’re limited only by the CPU cooling.

Looking at the competition, the Asus Prime B760M-A AX ($168.99) is the most expensive option, but it offers nothing in terms of features over our Steel Legend. Gigabyte’s B760M Aorus Elite AX ($159.99) doesn't have the M.2 storage count (two compared to three), but it makes up for it with a more attractive appearance. MSI’s Pro B760M-A Wi-Fi ($154.99) is also worth consider, but it doesn’t cut it in the looks department and is also short on M.2 storage count. For roughly $160, ASRock’s B760M Steel Legend Wi-Fi is one of the best Micro ATX boards available for 12th-14th-generation Intel processors.

Read: ASRock B760M Steel Legend Wi-Fi review

Best B760 Motherboard

MSI’s MAG B760M Mortar Wi-Fi is great inexpensive option that supports even the flagship-class 12th and 13th-generation Intel processors. For around $190, you get a PCIe 5.0 slot for graphics, two M.2 sockets (both PCIe 4.0), a budget audio solution, and even a fast USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps) Type-C port at the back of the board. It also looks good for this price and has most of what users want in the budget space. Its performance in our testing was fine in gaming and lightly threaded work. Just note that out of the box with a high-end CPU like the Core i9-13900K we used for testing, it will thermally throttle under heavy workloads at default settings.

The MSI MAG B760M Mortar Wi-Fi is the best option among its similarly priced competition. It’s the only option in this range with a PCIe 5.0 slot and a 20 Gbps USB Type-C port around back. Its power delivery can also handle our flagship processor. But if you plan on installing a flagship CPU and pushing every core and thread for uses other than gaming, you’ll want to lower the voltage and/or use top-notch cooling to get the most out of the board.

Less expensive options are available, but opting for one of those would mean losing some important features. If you’re in the market for an inexpensive motherboard for the latest and greatest Intel has to offer and want 20 Gbps ports and a PCIe 5.0 slot, the B650M Mortar is the best choice we've tested in the sub-$200 market. The fact that it often sells for $180 makes it easy to recommend.

Read: MSI MAG B760M Mortar Wi-Fi review

Quick Best Motherboard Shopping Tips

When choosing a motherboard, consider the following:

Savings on the Best Motherboards

Whether you're buying one of the best motherboards or a different model, you may find some savings by checking our list of coupon codes, especially our list of Newegg promo codes and Micro Center coupons.

It's no secret that Gigabyte is preparing a very limited edition of the Xtreme Ice series of products. Facebook user Duy Mạnh has shared new renders of the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X Ice motherboard, which will complement the Aorus GeForce RTX 4080 Super Xtreme Ice 16G.

The Z790 Aorus Xtreme X Ice sports Intel's premium Z790 chipset and LGA1700 socket, which supports Alder Lake, Raptor Lake, and Raptor Lake Refresh processors. The motherboard has all the bells and whistles, including a gold-colored socket, a misty cover plate that protects the socket area, and a crystalized titanium texture. Since Gigabyte hasn't officially announced the motherboard, it's uncertain whether the socket is just gold in color or is gold-plated. It's a nice eye candy, but users won't appreciate it once they've installed a CPU cooler over the socket or removed it entirely for one of those aftermarket contact frames.

Guessing the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X Ice's feature set is tricky without a specification sheet. Judging by the render and the number of components on the motherboard, the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X Ice probably comes in an E-ATX form factor. The translucent cover prevents us from seeing if two or four DDR5 memory slots are on the motherboard. Since it's a limited edition product, Gigabyte has placed a gold plaque with the serial number on each motherboard.

Like many high-end motherboards, the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X Ice has a sizeable LCD screen over the I/O cover that displays the processor and power delivery subsystem's temperatures, as well as the speed of the primary fan headers. There's at least one M.2 PCIe 5.0 slot with a huge passive heatsink. We can also spot the primary PCIe 5.0 x16 expansion slot with metal shielding and a quick-release switch for easy GPU removal. There are almost certainly other M.2 slots and expansion slots under the covers, but we can't see what they are.

The Z790 Aorus Xtreme X Ice connectors, including the 24-pin power connector, four SATA III ports, and USB 3.0 headers, are angled, which will help with cable management.

According to Gigabyte, the Xtreme Ice series is a very limited-edition lineup. The company's Vietnam Sales Manager stated that only 300 bundles would be available. While we're on that topic, Gigabyte won't sell the Xtreme Ice series individually, but instead offer a bundle consisting of the Z790 Aorus Xtreme X Ice motherboard, Aorus GeForce RTX 4080 Super Xtreme Ice 16G graphics card, and a CPU cooler that hasn't broken the cover yet.

There's no word on pricing yet, but being so limited in supply and a bundle with a high-end GPU at that, the Xtreme Ice series will certainly cost thousands of dollars.

Chinese tech site Benchlife.info claims that Intel's LGA1700 socket will be succeeded by LGA1851, and that the new socket will sport the same physical dimensions – 37.5 x 45mm. The upshot of this is that, if correct, any coolers in use with a current 12th gen Intel Core processor system should be usable in a new system based around an Intel Meteor Lake (14th gen) or Arrow Lake (15th gen) CPU. But of course, take this information with a hefty pinch of salt, as so far there are no other sources sharing the same or similar information.

Intel Alder Lake processors were introduced alongside the LGA1700 socket and Intel 600-series motherboards. LGA1700 CPUs had a rectangular, rather than square, package for the first time in many generations, so they kicked up more issues with older cooler compatibility than we had grown accustomed to. 

Raptor Lake (13th gen) is expected later this year and Intel will provide a new enhanced 700-series chipset, but it is confirmed that the same LGA1700 socket will be used. There should be no issues with coolers that work on Alder Lake. According to the info, owners of 600-series chipset motherboards should also be able to save a bit of money by keeping their old platform and swapping in a 13th gen Intel Core processor.

In Benchlife's diagram with purported information about the Intel Meteor Lake and Arrow Lake processors and LGA1851 socket, the XXXX in the socket name represents the number of CPU-to-socket contact pins. Thus the newer generation sockets/CPUs will feature 1851 pins, if the source is accurate. Interestingly, the chip die is said to be the same size, with the same pin pitch, so seemingly Intel has inserted the extra 151 pins in the 'courtyard' area, which is the central gap in the land grid array.

We have previously reported that Meteor Lake introduces some big changes for Intel desktop CPUs. As well as debuting on the Intel 4 process, it will be the first desktop chip to move from monolithic to flexible tiled architecture. This move is enabled by technologies like EMIB and Foveros 3D. The mix of tiles in the Meteor Lake SoC will include a GPU fabricated by TSMC on its N3 process.

Probably the last interesting nugget from the leaked information concerns the LGA1851 chip size. Yes, it is purportedly the same length and width as LGA1700 chips like the Alder Lake CPUs we are now familiar with. But the new 14th and 15th gen parts are a tiny bit thicker, according to this leak. This might be something to do with the physical tile construction of the newer processors, or Intel has decided to strengthen the chip package. 

Alder Lake already caused a storm due to cooler pressure and some reports of subsequent bowing of the chips, resulting in sub-optimal cooler performance. This has resulted in a cottage industry for nylon washers and CPU contact frames. Perhaps Intel and its motherboard partners will take this opportunity to finesse the integrated loading mechanism (ILM) and how it works with the current crop of coolers by the time LGA1851, Meteor Lake, and 800-series chipsets arrive.

Intel's upcoming Alder Lake-S line-up of desktop processors is expected to make a debut in the very near future. To host these processors, we are about to see a major socket change in the form of the LGA 1700 CPU socket, which got pictured today.

According to the Bilibili forums, and reported by VideoCardz, we have one of the first pictures of Intel's LGA 1700 socket, codenamed 15R1, for upcoming Alder Lake-S processors. This new socket is taller than the previous LGA 1200 socket powering the current generation of Core processors codenamed Rocket Lake.

Intel has adjusted the height by adding an additional 2.5 mm, as the LGA 1700 socket has to make room for additional pins, resulting in a bigger design. It has markings noting "LGA-17XX/LGA-18XX", which alludes to this socket being able to accommodate processors with 1700 and 1800 pins. The upcoming Alder Lake-S generation is supposed to utilize 1700 pins, while the next-next generation of processors codenamed Raptor Lake will use 1800 pins. It looks likely that this socket will work for two generations of processors.

Below, you can find the table of specifications for the upcoming LGA 1700 socket, and some further details about the installation force that is listed.

As you can note, the height change from the CPU IHS to the cooler cold-plate has been changed, forcing cooler manufacturers to ship accommodating brackets for the new LGA 1700 socket. Mostly, manufacturers have been announcing that they will be providing new mounting brackets free of charge for customers who demand them.

As we await the launch of Alder Lake processors, it is important to remember that this change is one of the biggest changes that Intel has made to its platform in recent years. Primarily because the company is now using a hybrid CPU core setup of big and little cores, where the system operates similar to Arm's big.LITTLE principle. The Alder Lake generation will feature a maximum of 8 "Golden Cove" big cores with Hyper-threading and 8 small "Gracemont" cores without Hyper-threading enabled. The generation that replaces Alder Lake, called Raptor Lake, will be based on 8 big "Raptor Cove" cores, and as many as 16 "Gracemont" energy-efficient cores.

Hardware leaker ExecutableFix has provided further details on AMD's next-generation Zen 4 processor. This new information comes in hot on the heels of the recent sneak peek at the AM5 socket.

The AM5 socket has been rumored to shift over to a Land Grid Array (LGA) design, meaning the pins are in the socket instead of on the processor. If true, AM5 would mark a turning point in AMD's history. Although AMD utilizes the LGA design for its HEDT (High End Desktop) and server platforms, the chipmaker has never employed the layout on a mainstream consumer platform. It's debatable on whether a LGA design is safer over a Pin Grid Array (PGA) design for the end user. Some might argue that having the pins in the socket means you no longer have to worry about bending the processor pins during installation. On the flipside, it's not unusual for motherboards to arrive with bent pins or cases of users accidentally dropping a processor into the socket and bending the pins in the process.

According to ExecutableFix, Zen 4 (presumably Raphael) processors will be the first Ryzen mainstream chips to arrive without pins. The markup of how the processor may look appears intriguing. The leaker previously claimed that Zen 4 will employ the LGA1718 package, so the chip should have 1,718 contacts. Curiously, the contacts appear to be divided into two sections. The layout is similar to AMD's Ryzen Threadripper and EPYC processors. Although we didn't count the contacts, we can assume that each section holds 859 contacts.

Despite the increased pin count, ExecutableFix stated that the AM5 socket measures 40 x 40mm, so it should still be a square shape. What we don't know is that if the AM5 socket will retain the locking mechanism or the mounting holes. At this point, it's anyone's guess whether consumers will need to invest in a new cooler, or if existing cooling solutions are still viable with a mounting converter kit. 

AMD Zen 4 Raphael Specifications

*Specifications are unconfirmed.

Zen 4 will likely continue to leverage a chiplet design. It wouldn't surprise us one bit if AMD added another core complex die (CCD) to Zen 4 to offer more cores. Zen 3 maxes out at two CCD with eight cores each, which is how the Ryzen 9 5950X got up to 16 cores. An additional CCD would push the core count up to 24, but that is pure speculation for now. However, it would certainly explain the increased TDP (thermal design power) ratings with Zen 4 chips.

If ExecutableFix's information is accurate, the Zen 4 processors could debut with a 120W TDP. There's mention of a special edition 170W SKU, although the leaker didn't provide any details. The extra pins should help improve power delivery as well as increase I/O connectivity.

As for memory support, Zen 4 will no doubt support DDR5 memory. It seems logical since Intel is already embracing DDR5 with its upcoming 12th Generation Alder Lake processors, and AMD probably doesn't want to be left in the dust. However, Zen 4 doesn't seem to carry over support for DDR4, unlike Alder Lake.

While the rumors still have Zen 4 on the PCIe 4.0 interface, ExecutableFix believes that processors will offer 28 PCIe 4.0 lanes. For comparison, existing Zen 3 chips deliver 24 PCIe 4.0 lanes. It's only a four-lane increase, nevertheless, it should be sufficient enough for motherboard vendors to offer at least some connectivity improvements.

Intel's Alder Lake is due in late 2021 to early 2022. If leaked roadmaps are to be trusted, Zen 4 might not land until the fourth quarter of 2022. In that case, Zen 4 or Ryzen 6000's target will probably be Raptor Lake, which is the rumored successor to Alder Lake.

Hardware leaker ExecutableFix, who has a good track record, has shared the potential specifications for AMD's forthcoming AM5 socket. Nonetheless, this is the first time that we've seen anything related to AM5 so take the information with a bit of salt.

The Twitter user started his tweet with mentions of the LGA1718 socket. This is the most interesting bit since AMD has been using a Pin Grid Array (PGA) design for its mainstream chips for over a decade now. If the leaker's information is accurate, the AM5 socket might finally switch over to a Land Grid Array (LGA), just like Intel.

The current AM4 socket has a total of 1,331 contacts. The AM5 socket, on the other hand, reportedly arrives with 1,718 contacts. It's a pretty significant 29.1% increase in contacts, but still not as much as Intel's transition (41.7%) from the LGA1200 socket to LGA1700 socket. The big question on everyone's mind is whether AM5 will warrant a CPU cooler upgrade.

One of, and perhaps the most important feature that consumers will be expecting from the AM5 socket is support for DDR5 memory. It's hard not to get excited when DDR5 is expected to feature capacities up to 128GB per memory module and data rates up to DDR5-10000. Intel's 12th Generation Alder Lake processors are projected to land late 2021 or early 2022 with support for DDR5. It's unlikely that the AM5 socket will come out before this year so it appears that Intel has beaten AMD to the DDR5 chase.

The leaker claims that the AM5 socket will retain support for PCIe 4.0. It makes perfect sense since the best graphics cards and best SSDs are far from saturating the PCIe 4.0 interface. Preparing for PCIe 5.0 will just add an unneeded premium to AM5 motherboards. A fresh, new socket typically commands a new chipset. In the case of the AM5 socket, we should expect AMD to launch the corresponding 600-series chipset along with the new platform and processors.

While we're on the topic of processors, AMD's Zen 4 chips (reportedly codenamed Raphael) will in all probability be the first products to leverage the AM5 socket. We still don't know a lot about Raphael, yet but we suspect that the processors should be product of TSMC's 5nm process node, similar to AMD's EPYC Genoa parts.

As posted to the Chiphell forums by kthlon, a new mounting mechanism for Socket AM4 processors, including AMD's venerable Ryzen series, has appeared that prevents the processor from 'sticking' to the cooler when you remove it. Though the product hasn't made it to the U.S. market yet, it also comes in Noctua- and Thermaltake-compatible flavors.

While the AM4 socket is perhaps the longest-lived socket in x86 history, supporting more chips than we can recall from any other single socket, it does have one annoying tendency–When you remove a cooler, the chip can become stuck to the cooling plate due to a suction-like effect created by the thermal interface material (TIM). This results in the chip being pulled from the pin grid array (PGA) socket even though the socket arm is still firmly latched in a 'closed' position.

This problem isn't entirely dangerous if you notice the processor is stuck to the cooler (it certainly doesn't damage the socket or chip). Still, it could be dangerous if you didn't notice and sat the cooler/chip down on another surface, thus bending the pins. It also takes some patience to slide the 'stuck' processor off the edge of the cooling plate, and you risk getting TIM between the processors' pins.

Necessity is the mother of invention, though. As seen in the album above, the new ProArtist IFE2 cooler bracket is designed to completely eliminate the problem by firmly holding the processor in place via a secondary bracket that extends downward to surround the processor. A secondary mount installs over the IFE2 bracket so you can mount the cooler, but the net effect is that you can remove the heatsink without any chance of the processor coming along with it. 

The IFE2 bracket is sold as a stand-alone kit in China, but we can't find any listings for the product in the United States. According to a post by momomo_us, Noctua- and Thermaltake-compatible kits are available in China. 

You could theoretically use the bracket with other coolers, but compatibility with standard coolers might be a bit spotty due to varying standoff heights, so you'll need to make sure the cooler still has a good firm fit with acceptable mounting pressure. However, the bracket is also sold in bundles with some coolers, like ProArtist's Desserts 3, which we also can't find for sale in the western hemisphere. We wouldn't be surprised to see similar brackets eventually make their way to western shores, though.

Admittedly, removing a processor isn't a frequent task for 'normal' users unless they frequently swap processors or re-TIM the chip, and the problem is easy to fix: You can either twist the cooler as you remove it, or remove it while the chip is still warm. 

Hardware leaker @momomo_us has shared a diagram of what appears to be Intel's forthcoming LGA1200 socket. The new socket will house the chipmaker's Comet Lake-S desktop processors, which could potentially drop in the first quarter of next year.

The LGA1200 socket, also known as Socket H5, is set to replace the current LGA1151 socket that was introduced with Intel's Skylake processors. Just as its name implies, the LGA1200 socket comes with 1,200 protruding pins, 49 more than the LGA1151 socket.

The mechanical diagrams show that the LGA1200 and LGA1151 socket share similar dimensions. The mounting mechanism is most likely the same as well. This should come as music to Comet Lake adopters' ears as existing CPU coolers that support the LGA115x socket should fit just fine on the new LGA1200 socket. Sadly, they'll still need to spill out cash for a new Intel 400-series motherboard.

Intel is introducing its first mainstream 10-core desktop chip with the Comet Lake. lineup. For this reason, it's important to make sure your cooling solution is capable of handling Comet Lake's increased TDP (thermal design power) before recycling it.

@momomo_us previously tweeted a photograph of the land grid array for Comet Lake. Apparently, Intel was able to squeeze in 49 additional pins without modifying the size of the contacts by utilizing the available space on the fiberglass substrate. The added pins are suppose to improve power delivery and support expanded I/O capabilities.

The contact points and notches for the LGA1200 package are located differently in comparison to the LGA1151 package. It seems impossible to get a Comet Lake chip to work on a previous Intel motherboard.

Today AMD announced that its belated $749 Ryzen 9 3950X will barrel into the desktop PC market on November 25 with 16-cores and 32-threads for mainstream platforms. The company also dished fine-grained details, like cooling and motherboard requirements, for the new processors.

For heavier users that need more than the 3950X, AMD also revealed its new Threadripper 3000 lineup. The 24-core 48-thread Threadripper 3960X will come to market at $1,399, while the 32-core 64-thread Threadripper 3970X will debut at $1,999. Both come on November 25 and feature impressive base clocks, a 4.5 GHz boost, 72 usable lanes of PCIe Gen 4.0 connectivity, and 140MB/144MB of total cache, respectively. 

You'll need a new motherboard with the sTRX4 socket and TRX40 chipset for the new Threadrippers, which we'll cover in-depth on the following page.

AMD also announced the Athlon 3000G, a new Picasso APU with Radeon Vega graphics paired with the 12nm process and Zen+ architecture for a mere $49. The 3000G comes to market November 19 and is an iterative update to the company's Athlon 200GE. However, AMD officially unlocked overclocking this time around to please the value crowd. 

AMD's Ryzen 3000 processors need no introduction to enthusiasts: AMD has redefined our expectations for mainstream desktop chips with a new 7nm manufacturing process combined with the Zen 2 microarchitecture, while throwing in a healthy ration of industry-leading PCIe 4.0 connectivity just for good measure. Overall, the advantages of AMD's architecture brings lower pricing and power consumption paired with higher transistor density that allows AMD to cram more cores into a smaller package. Not to mention improved performance. 

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X Pricing and Specifications

Like the Ryzen 9 3900X, the 3950X wields two chiplets fused together via AMD's Infinity Fabric and an I/O die, with the primary difference being that the 3950X has all cores fully enabled. 

As AMD has already disclosed, the 16C/32T Ryzen 9 3950X easily outstrips Intel's halo 8C/16T Core i9-9900K, at least from a core count perspective, and drops into standard mainstream AM4 motherboards. Intel's next-gen Comet Lake series appears to top out at ten cores, so it looks like AMD will hold the core count advantage on the mainstream desktop for quite some time.

The Ryzen 9 3950X doesn't come with a bundled cooler, a first for a Ryzen mainstream processor, and requires beefy watercooling accommodations, which we'll cover below. 

The Ryzen 9 3950X features a 3.5 GHz base and 4.7 GHz boost clock, though like other Ryzen 3000 processors, it will come with a mix of faster and slower cores. This is AMD's premium silicon, though, so the 3950X features a 100 MHz higher boost clock than its lesser sibling, the 3900X. 

Like the 3900X, it also adheres to a 105W TDP envelope and comes armed with 64MB of L3 cache and 24 lanes of PCIe Gen 4.0. As expected with a core-heavy chip, AMD pared back the base clock to 3.5 GHz. 

The 3950X's $749 price point places it in a tier above Intel's current mainstream halo part, the $488 Core i9-9900K. Intel also has its Special Edition -9900KS on offer, but that chip is only available for a limited time so it doesn't fit into the long-term view. 

Instead, the Ryzen 9 3950X lines up against Intel's high end desktop Core i9 models, but the current-gen Skylake-X refresh products, like the Core i9-9920X and -9960X, aren't competitive at current pricing (though it does appear we will see price cuts on those models soon). 

That means we have to turn to Intel's Cascade Lake-X processors, which land later this month, for relevant comparisons. Oddly, Intel has left open a core-count gap in its HEDT lineup, so it doesn't have a 16C/32T chip that competes directly with the 3950X. 

The forthcoming 18C/36T Core i9-10980XE slots in at nearly $200 more than the 3950X, but comes with two more cores. AMD says that it fully expects the Ryzen 9 3950X to be competitive with Intel's new -10980XE, but Intel also has its 14C/28T -10940X at $784, which aligns neatly with the 3950X's pricing.  

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X Motherboard Requirements

The 3950X drops into the standard AM4 socket on X570, X470, and B450 motherboards, though it would be wise to assure the motherboard has adequate power circuitry. AMD says that the Ryzen 9 3950X has only been validated for its new 1.0.0.4B AGESA, which motherboard vendors are rolling out for existing motherboards (via a firmware update) over the course of this month. AMD strongly recommends that all users migrate to the new motherboard firmware revisions.

The new firmwares include many of the fixes we've seen for AMD's boost clock algorithms, along with even more refinements that reportedly include faster boot times. This new BIOS also unifies all the Ryzen models under the same codebase, so there won't be any more split support for some older models. 

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X Cooling Requirements

In a notable break from the Ryzen tradition, AMD isn't providing a bundled cooler for the Ryzen 9 3950X. AMD has sixteen 7nm cores and a 14nm I/O die operating under the same small heatspreader that debuted with the 8-core 14nm Ryzen models, so thermal density is a challenge even with the more efficient manufacturing process and soldered IHS. 

AMD recommends a minimum of a closed-loop (AIO) 280mm watercooler for the 3950X, though representatives stated that a 240mm water cooler could suffice.

As we've seen with the existing Ryzen 3000 models, AMD's opportunistic Precision Boost Overdrive algorithms offer more performance with better cooling, in effect overclocking themselves. Naturally, better cooling will also yield better manual and auto-overclocking with AMD's Precision Boost Overdrive feature. That means that beefier AIO radiators and custom loops will be a nice addition to 3950X systems. 

Power Consumption and New Eco-Mode Feature

AMD rates the 3950X with a 105W TDP, but as we know from our extensive testing, this number doesn't equate directly to actual power consumption. The Ryzen 9 3900X consumes up to 140W during heavy workloads, and we can expect a commensurate increase in power consumption that scales with the 3950X's four additional cores. 

However, the 7nm process enables incredible density and does afford power advantages, which AMD says equates to more than twice the performance-per-watt of Intel's Core i9-9900K and -9920X (measured at the wall). AMD also says a Ryzen 9 3950X system pulls 28W less than the Core i9-9900K. That's a notable claim because the -9900K has twice the number of cores. We'll be sure to put those power measurements to the test in our review. 

If you're looking to cram an incredible amount of horsepower into a small form factor build, like a Plexbox or DIY NAS, AMD is also rolling out a new Eco-Mode feature. This feature allows the processor to downshift from its rated TDP to the next lower 'grade,' meaning you can drop a 105W processor to 65W, or a 65W processor to 45W. AMD is making this feature available on all Ryzen models, and after the requisite firmware update, you can make the adjustments in either the BIOS or Ryzen Master. 

AMD claims the 65W mode on the 3950X offers 77% of the chip's full performance, but at a 44% power savings that results in a 7C reduction in temperatures. The easy-to-use feature should prove very handy for SFF enthusiasts, though making a few manual adjustments to the power thresholds would provide many of the same benefits. 

AMD Ryzen 9 3950X Gaming and Application Performance 

AMD shared several benchmark results, but as with all vendor-provided results, we should take these with a grain of salt.

AMD increased the 3950X's boost clock by 100 MHz over the 3900X, which equates to a slim 1% gain in single-threaded performance (as measured by Cinebench). The company also shared results that show the Ryzen 9 3950X providing comparable gaming performance to the Core i9-9900K in several game titles at the 1920x1080 resolution. However, you'll notice these are 'up to' frame rates, which means they are maximum values recorded with a GTX 2080, and not the average frame rate. That's misleading. [EDIT: AMD has confirmed that this in fact an average frame rate, and will provide further information to us about the conditions of the legalese tomorrow. As we know, AMD's Ryzen 3000 chips are more susceptible to performance variation (based on the chip you get) than other processors due to their mixture of faster and slower cores, with the latter not being a defined attribute. That could be the reason behind the 'up to' messaging. We'll update as necessary.]

The Ryzen 9 3950X really separates itself from the Intel comparables in AMD's application testing, which shows large gains over the Core i9-9900K and -9920X in a spate of heavily-threaded workloads. 

Let's take a look at the new Threadripper announcements on the following page. 

PAGE 1: AMD Unleashes the Cores

PAGE 2: Threadripper 3960X and 3970X, TRX40 Chipset, sTRX4 Socket

PAGE 3: AMD Athlon 3000G, Unlocking Overclocking on the Low End

AMD's original Threadripper launch upset the established paradigm of the high end desktop (HEDT) space, offering more cores for less money than Intel's competing products. The second-generation products improved upon that value proposition immensely, even by Intel's own admission, but the new Threadripper 3000 'Castle Peak' processors could catapult AMD far beyond Intel's reach.

That sounds like a bold prediction given that AMD isn't increasing core counts (at least not yet) beyond the 32 found on the previous-gen Threadripper 2990WX, but the real difference is in the architecture. The first-gen Threadripper models suffered from erratic performance trends due to their unique architecture, but those processors were based on the same design as the first-gen EPYC Naples data center processors. 

In contrast, the Threadripper 3000 processors are based on the EPYC Rome architecture (more information here), which is a phenomenal leap forward in almost every aspect. The EPYC Rome SoCs come with a unique design that consists of up to eight 7nm compute die with eight Zen 2 cores apiece, connected via the Infinity Fabric to a central 12nm I/O die that houses the memory and PCIe controllers. This new design eases many of the pain points of the previous-gen models, particularly in regards to providing consistent memory access to all compute die.

AMD isn't sharing details of the alterations it made to the Threadripper 3000 processors yet, but if the company employs the same design as Rome, it can tailor the number of compute chiplets, and the number of active cores, for each specific model. That means we could easily see 64-core Threadripper models in the future, though AMD might split these into a new workstation variant that has cropped up in leaks but still hasn't been officially announced.

Unlike the EPYC Rome processors, however, the new Threadripper processors are not backward compatible with the existing Socket TR4 found on X399 motherboards. Instead, AMD has created a new sTRX4 socket to provide expanded I/O functionality, so it may have made other changes to the design.

For now, AMD is withholding the finer details, but the company did share quite a bit of information about the new socket, motherboards, and processor.

AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and 3970X Price and Specifications

Just like the previous-gen models, AMD gears these chips for 'Creators' and heavy multi-taskers, and not specifically for the workstation market, which requires a specific RAS feature set. Also like their previous-gen counterparts, the Threadripper 3000 processors both feature more cores than any competing Intel HEDT processor.

The Threadripper 3970X weighs in with 32 cores and 64 threads for $1,999 and comes with 144MB of total cache (128MB L3). The chip itself exposes 88 lanes, but some of those are consumed by the new TRX40 chipset, leaving 72 usable PCIe gen 4.0 lanes for the end user. The PCIe 4.0 interface is a notable advantage of AMD's Ryzen desktop lineup, but it isn't as important as it is in the HEDT space where high-speed storage and networking devices are more likely to find their way into powerful systems. 

The 3970X features a 3.7 GHz base clock and 4.5 GHz boost. Both of these values are exceedingly high for AMD's high core-count models: For reference, the 32-core EPYC Rome models top out at a 2.8 GHz base and 3.4 GHz boost, signaling that AMD has made significant changes to tailor this chip for the consumer market. AMD isn't disclosing if these chips will also come with a mix of faster and slower cores. 

AMD didn't share the number on official slides but told us that the chip respects a 280W TDP. 

Stepping back a notch, the Threadripper 3960X offers up 24 cores and 48 threads that run at a 3.8 GHz base and 4.5 GHz boost, which is again significantly higher than its data center counterparts. This chip comes armed with 140MB of total cache, which might indicate that AMD adheres to the same chiplet provisioning design that it uses for the Rome processors (image to the right). This chip also exposes the same I/O accommodations as its sibling. 

The Threadripper 3000 processors support quad-channel DDR4-3200 memory, and we expect that to include ECC memory, though it isn't officially confirmed. 

The big takeaway is that after its gen-on-gen price cut with Cascade Lake-X, Intel doesn't have any processors for the HEDT market that weigh in at over $1,000, unless you count its $3,000 Xeon W-3175X that is absolutely not a standard HEDT product. 

AMD Threadripper 3000 TRX40 Motherboards and sTRX4 Socket

AMD promised forward compatibility with its AM4 socket until 2020, but never made that promise for the previous-gen Threadripper's TR4 (SP3) socket. That's a good thing because the new Threadripper processors require a new socket to handle the explosive growth of I/O connectivity. The socket is mechanically the same as the previous FCLGA 4094 interface, but AMD has juggled around the pin assignments to add more capabilities. 

Because the socket is mechanically the same, coolers designed for the TR4 socket are compatible. AMD says that any cooler that could satisfy the 250W TDP of older Threadripper processors will work fine with the 280W thermal dissipation from the Castle Peak chips. 

Along with the new socket comes a new chipset. The TRX40 benefits from twice the number of PCIe lanes from the processor and the move to PCIe 4.0 throughput, which now totals 16GB/s -- quadruple the bandwidth for the X399 platform. That will help with increasing data rates to bandwidth-hungry storage arrays hanging off the chipset. 

The TRX40 chipset is likely a 12nm version of the 14nm IOD chip inside the Threadripper processor, just like we see with the desktop platform, but AMD isn't sharing more details yet. 

We can see support for up to 12X USB 10Gbps ports, and that the platform exposes 72 PCIe 4.0 lanes. 

AMD Threadripper 3000 Performance

AMD provided a few benchmarks that show the Threadripper processors handily dispatching the $1,999 Core i9-9980XE in a series of heavily-threaded benchmarks, but it's notable that the real competitors, Cascade Lake-X, are not available on the market yet. 

PAGE 1: AMD Unleashes the Cores

PAGE 2: Threadripper 3960X and 3970X, TRX40 Chipset, sTRX4 Socket

PAGE 3: AMD Athlon 3000G, Unlocking Overclocking on the Low End

AMD Athlon 3000G Pricing and Specifications

AMD's Athlon 3000G rounds out AMD's APU stack, slotting in as the budget alternative to the Ryzen 3 3200G and Ryzen 5 3400G. 

The 3000G comes with Radeon Vega graphics paired with the 12nm process and Zen+ architecture for a mere $49. As an iterative update to its existing Athlon 200GE, the Athlon 3000G comes with the same dual-core quad-thread design with 1MB of L2 and 4MB of L3 cache. It also fits within the same 35W TDP envelope and follows the same motherboard support guidelines as its predecessor.

AMD did bump up the clock speeds, increasing the static base frequency to 3.5 GHz (no boost) and increasing the GPU clock speed by 100 Mhz. 

AMD previously provided all of its processors with an unlocked multiplier, meaning they were overclockable but broke that tradition with the Athlon 200GE, which came with a locked multiplier. AMD's motherboard partners allowed overclocking on the budget chips in spite of the restriction, even though that unsanctioned feature was later disabled in newer motherboard firmware revisions. 

Motherboard vendors don't have to break the rules this time around, though, as AMD is providing the processor with a fully unlocked multiplier, meaning overclocking is back on the menu provided you have a B-series motherboard, or better.

AMD Athlon 3000G Gaming Performance

As with the Athlon 200GE, AMD aims to enable a 'true playable' 720p gaming experience. This mostly consists of eSports-class games, like Fortnite and Rocket League. AMD provided a few benchmarks to back up those claims, and it goes without saying that these APUs easily beat the competing $73 Pentium G5400 in gaming. 

PAGE 1: AMD Unleashes the Cores

PAGE 2: Threadripper 3960X and 3970X, TRX40 Chipset, sTRX4 Socket

PAGE 3: AMD Athlon 3000G, Unlocking Overclocking on the Low End

A leak courtesy of WCCFTech (which certainly has a spotty track record with leaks, it has to be said) has outed several purported Core i3, i5, i7, and i9 processors, all of which are expected to be based on the 14nm Comet Lake architecture. As with all  unverified rumors, you should take this information with a shovelful of salt. That said, the expansive number of slides appear, at least on the surface, to be legitimate. However, there is no way for us to verify this information independently.  

Though this information isn't necessarily new, much of it confirms previous leaks and assumptions about Comet Lake and 10th-Gen desktop CPUs: up to 10 cores that require a new 400-series chipset and LGA 1200 socket.

*Information in table compiled by WCCFTech, not verified

The leak comes in the form of presentation slides that appear to be from Intel's IoT (Internet of Things) Group. In terms of features and specifications, we see that Comet Lake could deliver up to 10 cores, 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes (not 4.0 sadly) from the CPU, and up to 40 total lanes thanks to 24 additional PCIe lanes that hang off the PCH. 

The platform also purportedly supports WiFi 6, but that listing has been annotated with "Under Evaluation," meaning it may not make it into the final revision of hardware. Another slide says Comet Lake will have 18% higher multi-threaded performance than Coffee Lake (no word on single thread). An 18% improvement is not as big as one might expect, given the 25% increase in core count.

Unsurprisingly, the high-end Core i9-10900 is a locked SKU (meaning without a K) has ten cores and 20 MB of cache, though curiously the slide says the chip will run at a mere 65-watt TDP. Both the Core i7-8700 and i9-9900 have a 65-watt TDP, so it wouldn't be surprising if Intel also slapped a 65-watt TDP on a 10-core CPU. 

Down the line, it seems all of Intel's upcoming 10th-Gen CPUs will have Hyper-Threading and the i7, i5, and i3 branded products will have 8, 6, and 4 cores, respectively, which has been rumored and backed up by test submissions to public databases, for some time now. The leak also mentions several Xeon SKUs that are not properly named yet.

*Information in table compiled by WCCFTech, not verified

Finally, Intel is supposedly moving away from the LGA1151 socket to LGA1200, meaning Comet Lake will not be compatible with 300-series motherboards at all. The document lists the new 400-series chipsets as the Z490, the W480, the Q470, and the H410. Only Z490 supports overclocking, but W480 is otherwise identical. Q470 is missing a few SATA and USB ports, and H410 has the least lanes, USB ports, SATA ports, and display options.

According to the leak, all of this will come in the first half of 2020, which could be anywhere from January to June. Though we could not find anything obviously wrong or off about this leak, take it with some salt, same as any other leak. If this information is true, then it certainly confirms many previous Comet Lake benchmark submissions to public databases from earlier this year.

Last year we first heard that Intel might be planning do stop using the LGA (Land Grid Array) socket in favor of a BGA (Ball Grid Array) socket. While we won't be seeing all-BGA CPU's with the Haswell release, it appears that Intel is shipping three CPUs in the Haswell lineup that will have a BGA socket.

For those of you that aren't aware of it yet, a BGA socket isn't exactly a socket. A BGA socket means that the CPU is soldered to the motherboard, and thus not removable or replaceable.

The CPUs that would have the BGA socket are the Core i7 4770R, Core i5 4670R, and the Core i5 4570R. As you can tell, the R-naming makes for the BGA socket, so keep an eye out for this when buying a new PC. Beyond the BGA socket, the -R CPUs will also carry an HD 5200 GPU rather than the HD 4600 GPU found on all other Haswell chips.

The current assumption is that the -R chips will make part of the NUC (Next Unit of Computing) platform, although this remains unconfirmed. We might also be seeing these chips in laptops and all-in-one systems.

* Base clock speed of the GPUs remain unknown.

Netgear announced on Monday the upcoming release of the WiFi Booster for Mobile (WN1000RP) network access point, a device that extends and strengthens an existing local 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal (b/g/n) in a home or office. The device is slated to arrive at major retailers in summer 2012, starting at $39.99.

"Consumers today want the best connected experience, complete with the ability to enjoy online entertainment on their Wi-Fi connected mobile devices throughout the home," said Damir Skripic, product line manager for connected entertainment at Netgear. "The Netgear WiFi Booster for Mobile enables this experience by significantly increasing Wi-Fi coverage in the home, which is ideal for roaming iPads, iPhones, Android tablets, Kindle e-readers, smartphones or any other mobile WiFi devices."

Featuring a small form factor that plugs directly into an electrical socket, it provides dynamic LEDs which give users a visual guide in real time for placing the device where it can receive optimal coverage from a router or gateway. It also works with all security standards including WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, mixed mode an WEP. Even more, it's compatible with non-Netgear equipment including Belkin, Linksys, D-Link, AT&T, 2Wire, Verizon and EarthLink.

"The Netgear WiFi Booster for Mobile helps consumers reduce the risk of unforeseen mobile data plan charges by easily accessing their home WiFi networks instead of the carrier's mobile networks," the company said. "In a March 2012 report by Chetan Sharma, researchers found that 90-percent of tablet owners prefer to use WiFi, not mobile data plans, to get online at home. The Netgear WiFi Booster for Mobile enables users to surf the Internet and stream content using WiFi, unconstrained by mobile data plan usage limits."

The system requirements are minimal: Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0, Firefox 2.0, Google Chrome, or Safari 1.4 or higher, and a 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz wireless router or gateway. It's a simple install for all devices using a browser, the company claims -- no installation CD is needed. Netgear's Push ‘N’ Connect feature using Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) also allows for a quick and secure connection.

For more information about the upcoming network extender, head here.

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Asus Royal Knight

We're assuming that this cooler was designed with a "muscle car" block in mind--one of those fancy beasts that normally protrude from the car's hood. The Asus Royal Knight is somewhat attractive, sporting a set of wings that cover the 120 mm LED fan. These are connected to a copper heat sink base by way of six copper heat pipes like some kind of helium balloon. The fan itself pushes air directly onto the motherboard through a series of large fins.

The "all copper" cooler is designed for Intel LGA 775- and AMD Socket AM2/754/939/940-based CPUs. The fan itself measures speeds of up to 1,290 RPM at 12V, providing a quiet computing environment with operating levels of only 22 dBA. "With the most advanced thermal solution to support impressive overclocking capabilities, coupled with such fine aesthetics, the stunning Royal Knight is truly a crowd-pleaser in terms of looks and performance," the company says.

Scythe Mugen-2

Mounted on a CPU, the Scythe Mugen-2 (SCMG-2000) model looks like a skyscraper, offering four-sided high-density aluminum fans and enough space to insert three extra ones if needed. Compatible with Intel LGA 1366, 775, and 478, along with AMD Socket AM2, AM2+, 940, 939, and 754, the device features a nickel-plated copper base and four large exposed copper heat pipes. Packed with a 120 mm fan, the heat sink offers a low level of noise, rated for a maximum of 26.5 dBA.

In addition to its multi-fan options, the Mugen-2 incorporates the company's multiple airflow pass-through structure technology. "The newly-developed M.A.P.S. is a completely new lamellar structure, where the airflow generated by the Scythe Slip Stream 120 mm fan can be used perfectly," Scythe said.

The company also said that it was possible to mount the stock fan in four directions--that's if the user hasn't mounted fans on the other three sides. This allows the user to arrange the air flow according to the deployment area. However, consumers who wish to purchase the extra three fans will need to install additional fan clips, which are sold separately.

Thermaltake's SpinQ

This Thermaltake SpinQ CPU cooler consists of a cylindrical heat sink and 50 aluminum fins spirally configured around an 80 mm, 1,600 RPM blower, creating an impressive-looking, turbine-shaped device. In addition to the six copper heat pipes and Thermaltake's patented fin design, the copper base pulls the heat from the CPU. As seen with other CPU-cooling solutions, users can adjust the fan speed to accommodate a particular usage model, such as for heavy gaming, when the computer is in idle mode, and so on.

The company claims that its ultra-quiet 19 dBA sound level and white LED in the fan provide a "whisper-silent, stylish addition to your system."  Thermaltake also enables compatibility with multiple AMD and Intel processor interfaces.

Project: Passive

Who needs a simple cooling unit? Why not make the entire computer case one giant heat sink? According to this step-by-step instruction list, Ville "Willek" Kyrö did just that, starting with heat pipes ripped from Thermaltake's Big Typhoon and ending up with a "passively cooled" PC case mod that in itself looks like one giant CPU cooling system weighing over 20 kg. Ultimately, the project was "long and painful," but Kyrö deemed it an overall success, despite the many bumps and challenges along the way.

"[I] can't help but point out that even a little of forced airflow by a fan would have enabled the heat sinks to be much smaller. This case as a whole was a concept, to see for myself if it could be done," Kyrö said. "I never intended to use it 24/7, nor did I pay that much attention to outlooks in design. It might not have been worth it, but it sure was weird watching the computer boot up with no sound at all."

Cooler Master Mars

This unique cooler could be viewed in several ways: as a strange-looking bug with abnormally over-sized eyes or as an alien spaceship that has suddenly landed on your CPU. Either way, the Cooler Master Mars RR-CCX-W9U1-GP could add a little spice to a dull desktop setup, offering a splash of blue from each ringed "eye." Compatible with all modern AMD Athlon and Sempron CPUs and Intel Core, Pentium, and Celeron processors, the 90 mm fan is placed within the cooler, embedded in a shockproof aluminum design.

At the base is a copper heat sink with three connected heat pipes. These curl up and attach to the top without touching the aluminum fins. The built-in fan speed controller allows the end-user to choose the best performance mode, whether the situation calls for intense gaming or quiet time at night.

Prolimatech Megahalems

Here's another CPU cooler that could be mistaken for a miniature skyscraper. However, this fan-less device sports a rather unique "bow tie" look and features heat pipes vertically aligned to prevent air back draft (this allows air to pass through the heat sink body). Minimum air resistance between the fins also provides the best balance between noise and performance. The top fin is made of scratch-resistant stainless steel to preserve its factory-fresh shine.

The Prolimatech Megahalems (Rev. B) is compatible with Intel's LGA 1156, 1366, and 775, by virtue of its universal backplate. The overall heat sink dimensions are 130 mm (L) x 74 mm (W) x 158.7 mm (H) and it weighs 790 g. According to the company, customers are recommended to use a separate fan spinning at 1,600 RPM or more "for all-out performance."

Asus Silent Knight II

Made for high-performance CPUs, yet weighing in at only 610 g, the Asus Silent Knight II looks imposing with its radial design and vibrant colors. From afar, it could pass as an artsy table lamp featuring six copper heat pipes serving as its legs. Mounted on these legs is a 92 mm slide-bearing fan spinning at 2,300 RPM and encased in an array of 128 polished copper ribs. An LED is also mounted within the array, splashing the smooth copper with a blue hue that, when mixed with the red fins, creates a spectacular spectrum.

Users can adjust the fan (via motherboard BIOS) according to their thermal needs. Compatible with Intel's LGA 775 and AMD's Socket 754, 939, 940, AM2, and AM2+, the heat sink safely towers above most motherboard components, eliminating physical conflicts. The fan dimensions are 92 mm x 92 mm x 25 mm, while the overall heat sink dimensions are 115 mm (L) x 140 mm (W) x 100 mm (H). It's purportedly very quiet, rated at a mere 25 dBA.

Scythe Kama Cross

This cooler resembles a few things: a director's chair, a broken accordion, and a hot rod's protruding motor. Take your pick. Either way, the Scythe Kama Cross is a call above the standard reference cooler. Seen from a side view, this heat sink is shaped like the letter "X," with the three heat pipes creating the "legs" of this unusual design, allowing the airflow to cool the CPU, as well as the motherboard components. High-performance users can switch out the default 100 mm fan for a meatier 120 mm cooler, too.

As for compatibility, this CPU cooler can fit on AMD Socket 754, 939, 940 and AM2, as well as Intel LGA 775 and 478. Users can configure the optimized airflow direction inside the chassis without any restrictions, as a result of its four-way directional mounting. Weighing 530 g, the device measures 140 mm (W) x 120 mm (D) x 132 mm (H).

Zaward Vivo (PCJ004)

While this heat sink isn't as spectacular as the Asus Silent Knight II or Cooler Master Mars, Zaward's Vivo is a still more interesting than most reference fans. If anything, it resembles a brand-new high-rise HVAC unit with a fresh coat of white paint. Bells and whistles include a solder-free heat pipe direct-touch design, three U-shape heat pipes, and dual 92 mm fans with fan speeds of 2,000 RPM--one fan blows the air in while the other fan sucks the air out.

Weighing around 520 g, the heat sink measures 120 mm (L) x 98 mm (W) x 151 mm (H) and has a noise level of 24.7 dBA. It's also compatible with Intel LGA 775 and AMD Socket AM2, 940, and 939, thanks to a universal clip. Zaward claims that the Vivo outperforms any other air-cooling product and is as efficient as water-cooling. (Ed.: ...really? Hah!) Zaward has even thrown in its unique thermal grease that apparently enhances thermal efficiency. No word on whether it increases performance elsewhere, too.

Zalman CNPS8700 LED

Built for Intel's LGA 775 and AMD's Socket AM2, 754, 939, and 940, the Zalman CNPS8700 LED fan looks like a colorful carnival ride, without the safety harnesses or seats. A diagram provided by the company indicates that this copper heat sink cools more than just the CPU. In fact, it sends additional relief to the graphics card, northbridge, and memory, thanks to its aerodynamically optimized "tunnel" design and the 110 mm fan.

According to Zalman, the heat sink does not generate perceptible noise or vibration when set in Silent Mode. Users can adjust the fan speed using the accompanying Fan Mate 2. Other highlights include a patented curved heat pipe design. The heat sink weighs a mere 475 g and measures 120 mm (L) x 123 mm (W) x 67 mm (H). A blue LED mounted within the fan washes against the red blades, projecting an attractive blue-purple-red illumination.

Rosewill RCX-Z5-Ultra

Talk about unique. The Rosewill RCX-Z5-Ultra could pose as some kind of Transformer inside your chassis. This crazy-looking contraption consists of two adjustable 92 mm fans and fins, allowing users to direct the airflow where it's needed. Four heat pipes dissipate heat away from the CPU and up into a radially-oriented set of fins mounted between the fans, allowing the heat to be pulled away and blown out.

Beyond its unique design, the heat sink features a copper base with a nickel-plated finish, automatic fan speed control, and super-bright blue LEDs to get your bling on. Although weight is unspecified, the Rosewill device measures 113 mm (L) x 105.4 mm (W) x 135.2 mm (H) and fits Intel's LGA 775 interface, along with AMD's Sockets 754, 939, and AM2.

Zalman CNPS9900 NT

Zalman offers several versions of this CPU cooler, resembling one of the shield generators built into the Rebel Alliance's Echo Base located on Hoth. However, the Zalman CNPS9900 NT looks rather interesting, thanks to the green LEDs mounted inside and its nickel plating. It's certainly a bit more unique than your standard (and boring) CPU fan, splashing a bit of color on the inside, while giving the PC a somewhat futuristic look.

Employing a pulse-width modulation (PWM) 120 mm fan with two ball bearings, the CNPS9900 NT also features a copper base giving way to three heat pipes that extend up into a circular array of fins on each side. On the compatibility front, the device works with Intel LGA 775, 1366, and 1156 interfaces, along with AMD's Socket 754, 939, 940, AM2, AM2+, and AM3. Its fan spins between 1,000 to 2,000 RPM (± 10%) and is rated for a noise level between 19.5 dBA to 38.0 dBA (± 10%). Overall, it measures 94 mm (L) x 131 mm (W) x 152 mm (H).

Thermaltake CL-P0401 V1

Is it a fan? Is it a weird-shaped accordion? Or is it an alien weapon? Thermaltake's CL-P0401 V1 is certainly different, to say the least, and it even won the Red Dot Design Award in 2008. Its overall shape seems to stem from paper-based hand fans, and it consists of a 110 mm cooler sandwiched between three vertically-layered red fins that are positioned in a "V" shape on each side. Four heat pipes extend up from a copper base and enter into both sets of fins. There are even blue LEDs to project a red-purple-blue wash inside the chassis.

According to the company, its "side-flow design" further utilizes the system air flow to help accelerate air speed without increasing fan speed for cooling efficiency. As for compatibility, the CL-P0401 V1 fits Intel LGA 1366 and 775 interface, along with AMD Socket 754, 939, AM2, AM2+, and AM3. The fan spins between 1,300 to 2,000 RPM and is rated with a noise level of 16 dBA to 24 dBA. Weighing 637 g, its overall size is 147 mm (L) x 92 mm (W) x 143 mm (H). It also comes with a speed control knob that can be mounted on the chassis faceplate.

Noise Limit Silentflux Passive Pro

The Noise Limit Silentflux passive pro is an unusual, non-mechanical approach to heat sinks, as it delivers passive cooling using Noise Limit's "bubble pump technology." There is no fan, nor are there heat pipes to carry the heat off the CPU. Instead, it uses the heat to create hot liquid and gas bubbles within the device's tubing. These bubbles circulate through the system, carrying the heat away from the CPU, and then condensing back to repeat the process again.

"This efficient and lightweight all-aluminum design reduces the need for the typical high-power, high-noise airflow, thus creating a cooling system that is high-performance, flexible, and cost-effective with very low audible noise," the company claims.

Currently, the device only fits on Intel LGA 1366, 775, and 1156 interfaces. Weighing 282 g, it measures 145.4 mm x 138 mm. It's said to be environmentally safe, and is made of 100% recyclable materials. It's also maintenance-free thanks to its factory-filled hermetically-sealed design.

Cooler Master CM Sphere

The Cooler Master CM Sphere is hot. No, not on a thermal level, but in appearance, sporting a look that may bring out the disco dancer in any PC enthusiast (or the fashionable grenade-thrower). Rather than focusing all of its attention on the CPU, this cooler also thrusts some much-needed ventilation on surrounding hardware. Made with 100% copper, the CM Sphere offers a round shape consisting of a radial copper heat sink, four heat pipes, and a vortex fan set within a sphere of red fins. The added blue LED gives it a special touch, casting an awesome red-purple-blue hue across nearby components.

Weighing 684.54 g, this disco-ball-like device fits on Intel's LGA 775 interface and AMD Socket 754, 939, 940, and AM2-based processors. The device measures 132 mm x 113 mm, and the actual fan measures 66 mm x 68 mm and spins at up to 2,200 RPM. Other features include a multi-air outlet that supposedly makes heat dissipate more efficiently, and two-way airflow from the top and bottom inlets. It's also supposed to run quietly, operating at 22 dBA.

Thermalright IFX-14 Intel BP

This beast not only features a long name, but resembles a futuristic skyscraper that honestly looks too tall to fit within a PC chassis. Called the IFX-14 Intel BP (Inferno Fire eXtinguisher for short), this Thermalright device offers enough room for three 120 mm fans or two 140 mm fans, though it can still do its job without the optional fans. It also has four 8 mm heat pipes and a secondary heat sink that aides in CPU and motherboard underside cooling.

So how tall is this thing? The specs indicate it measures 146.2 mm (L) x 124 mm (W) x 161 mm (H) with a weight of 790 g, while the secondary heat sink measures a smaller 135.5 mm (L) x 163.5 mm (W) x 112.6 mm (H) and weighs 130 g. The main heat sink fits on Intel LGA 775 and 1366, but users will need to make sure at least 70 mm of space is free within the chassis to make room for the secondary heat sink.

Scythe Ninja-CU

Here's another skyscraper, yet it is unlike Thermalright's towering beast. Scythe's Ninja-CU is perhaps more aesthetically pleasing, with a clean, colorful design. Apparently, the version shown here is a limited edition, but the more recent Ninja 2 looks similar, sporting beefier features, but without the cool red fins. Boasting a pure copper base, six heat pipes extend up into the tower of fins. The 120 mm fan--running at speeds up to 800 RPM--is mounted on the side, blowing heat away from the tower. The device is also rather quiet, rated for a noise level of 20.50 dBA.

The actual heat sink weighs 1,015 g, while the added fan throws in another 115 g. The device's overall dimensions are 110 mm x 110 mm x 150 mm, and it is compatible with Intel LGA 775 and Socket 478, along with AMD Socket 939- and AM2-based motherboards. The newer Ninja 2 is slightly bigger, measuring 116 mm x 116 mm x 152 mm. It features a 120 mm fan running at 1,000 RPM. The newer model is also compatible with a larger range of processor interfaces, including Intel LGA 775 and Socket 478, and AMD's Socket 478, 754, 939, 940, AM2, AM2+, and AM3.

Apack Zerotherm BTF95

Feeling a bit fancy? The Apack Zerotherm BTF95 could bring a little prissiness to your chassis innards with its unique 3D butterfly shape. Considered a high-end CPU cooler, the all-copper device doesn't use a fan by default, though the company does provide an optional fan that mounts between the insect's wing tips. Seated on a polished copper case, four copper heat pipes extend up into layers of red, butterfly-shaped fins and back down to the base, creating eight lines of dissipation. The fins feature an optimized pitch for natural convection.

On a compatibility level, the BFT95 fits on Intel LGA 775 and AMD Socket 754, 939, and AM2. The device weighs 510 g without the optional fan, and measures 108 mm (L) x 81 mm (W) x 128 mm (H). It also comes with a tube of high-performance thermal grease.

Cooler Master V8

Winner of the International Forum Design Award, Cooler Master's V8 heat sink features a 120 mm, rifle-bearing fan sandwiched inside four modular sets of aluminum fins and eight diagonal heat pipes, all of which are mounted on a mirror-finish base. On a whole, the device looks like an A/C unit or a component of a futuristic engine. Either way, the V8 means serious business.

Weighing 1.91 lbs, the V8 measures 120 mm x 128 mm x 161.1 mm and is compatible with Intel LGA 1366, 1156, and 775, and AMD Socket AM2, AM2+, and AM3. The fan runs a variable speed between 800 to 1,800 RPM with an acoustic rating between 17 to 21 dBA. Throw in the adjustable fan speed control, and end-users have a quiet environment during the night while cranking up the performance during the day for gaming, work, or other tasks. The knob is mounted on the back of the chassis though, so it's a bit inconvenient to reach.

Asus Triton 88

Here's another "skyscraper" heat sink design featuring a 120 mm LED fan sandwiched between two towers of aluminum fins. Called the Asus Triton 88, the device is equipped with a massive heat-dissipation area of up to 8,000 square centimeters and uses six high-conductive 6 mm copper heat pipes, allowing for up to 180W of "overclocking fun." It also includes a PWM function that will automatically adjust the fan's speed according to the CPU's temperature. The device even blows air onto nearby circuitry, helping with system stability.

Overall, the device measures 125 mm (L) x 112 mm (W) x 153 mm (H), weighs 876 g, and is compatible with Intel LGA 775 and 1366, and AMD Socket 754, 939, 940, AM2, AM2+, and AM3. The embedded fan is variable, from 800 to 2,000 RPM. Unfortunately, there's no mention of acoustic output, despite mentions of "low acoustics." Users also have the option of installing three additional 120 mm fans, sold separately.

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