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Benchmark Results
Our standard benchmarks and power tests are performed using the CPU’s stock frequencies (including any default boost/turbo) with all power-saving features enabled. We set optimized defaults in the BIOS and the memory by enabling the XMP profile. For this baseline testing, the Windows power scheme is set to Balanced (default) so the PC idles appropriately.
Synthetic Benchmarks
Synthetics offer a valuable method for evaluating a board's performance, as identical settings are expected to yield similar results. Turbo boost wattage and advanced memory timings are areas where motherboard manufacturers can still optimize for stability or performance, though, and these settings can impact specific testing scenarios.
Performance across our synthetic benchmarks was normal, with the Taichi OCF ending right around average, depending on the test.
Timed Applications
In our timed applications, we again saw results very close to average. So far, it is a performant option!
3D Games and 3DMark
Starting with the launch of Zen 5, we’ve updated our game tests. We’re keeping the EA’s F1 racing game and have upgraded to the most current version, F1 24. We also dropped Far Cry 6 in favor of an even more popular and good-looking game in Cyberpunk 2077. We run both games at 1920x1080 resolution using the Ultra preset (details listed above). Cyberpunk 2077 uses DLSS, while we left F1 24 to native resolution scaling. The goal with these settings is to determine if there are differences in performance at the most commonly used (and CPU/system bound) resolution with settings most people use or strive for (Ultra). We expect the difference between boards in these tests to be minor, with most falling within the margin of error differences. We’ve also added a minimum FPS value, which can affect your gameplay and immersion experience.
In gaming, it was a tale of the tests. It performed well in F1 24 and the Steel Nomad benchmark, but was slightly below average in Cyberpunk 2077 and the Speed Way benchmark. These results are jammed together with very little difference, especially in the UL benchmarks. And in most cases, wouldn’t know the difference unless you had an FPS counter on the screen.
Overall, the board passes our performance tests. It wasn’t the fastest, nor the slowest, so you have nothing to worry about.
Overclocking
Over the past few CPU generations, overclocking headroom has been shrinking on both sides of the fence while the out-of-box potential has increased. For overclockers, this means there’s less fun to have. For the average consumer, you’re getting the most out of the processor without manual tweaking. Today’s motherboards are more robust than ever, and they easily support power-hungry flagship-class processors, so we know the hardware can handle them. There are multiple ways to extract even more performance from these processors: enabling a canned PBO setting from the BIOS, manually tweaking the PBO settings, or just going for an all-core overclock. Results will vary and depend on the cooling as well. In other words, your mileage may vary. Considering all the above, we will not be overclocking the CPU. However, we will try out all our different memory kits to ensure they meet the specifications.
Overclocking the memory on this motherboard proved challenging. We again had issues with our base Kingston Fury Beast RAM kit and had to use an alternative (which could skew some results). I was hoping the two-slot config would run our Klevv DDR5-8000 kit, but it booted and failed the stress test like so many others. I shouldn’t be surprised, I suppose, as compatibility with that kit has been problematic with the latest ASRock boards. Stick to the QVL list is my suggestion.
Our RAM woes are only on this latest batch of ASRock boards/BIOS.’ They’ve been on the market since launch and worked in the first batch of ASRock motherboards. For the OCF, I know other reviewers have had better luck with kits on the QVL and overclocking RAM. It’s broken records at Hwbot, but they do seem more finicky. The OCF isn’t going to get your chip any further than most motherboards using ambient cooling. But it has some unique tools to play with regardless. But you definitely get the most out of the features when using sub-ambient cooling and really pushing the limits.
It's worth noting that ASRock left out memory profiles in the OCF, unlike its other boards, which have several per IC that you can try. I understand this is meant for manual overclocking, but there’s something to be said for leaving profiles in the BIOS. Maybe the company is making room for future processors, since the BIOS chips haven’t increased in size as we've seen on some other brands' refresh boards. Either way, it was a surprise to find they were missing here.
Power Consumption / VRM Temperatures
We used AIDA64’s System Stability Test with Stress CPU, FPU, Cache, and Memory enabled for power testing, using the peak power consumption value from the processor. The wattage reading is from the wall via a Kill-A-Watt meter to capture the entire PC (minus the monitor). The only variable that changes is the motherboard; all other parts remain the same. Please note that we have transitioned to using only the stock power use/VRM temperature charts, as this section aims to ensure the power delivery can handle flagship-class processors.
Power use peaked at 266W during the CPU/Memory stress test and idled at 95. Both values are higher than our average, but it’s to be expected from a high-end board, as there are more things to power than a mid-range or budget-class board.
VRM temperatures peaked at 44 degrees Celsius, the hottest recorded by our sensors. The “MOS” sensor in Hwinfo moved 0.5 degrees even at idle, so it was feeding us incorrect information. Still, what we gleaned from our hand-placed sensors is that the large actively cooled heatsink has no issues with our chip, nor would it with any compatible CPU. Between the high-end MOSFETs and heatsink, VRMs won’t be a worry.
Bottom Line
There is direct competition in the ‘premium overclocking’ segment. Asus has the ROG Crosshair X870E Apex ($679), and there’s the almost-vaporware Gigabyte X870 Aorus Tachyon Ice ($599). It’s tough to compare them head-to-head without reviewing each, but the Tachyon has the same style of overclocking buttons for on-the-fly adjustment, while the Asus doesn’t (though it has ways to do so in Windows, too, just not physical buttons). Gigabyte and Asus offer AI functionality to assist with the process (how useful that is for manual overclocking, I’m not sure), and their BIOSes are overall more refined.
The "premium overclocking" market is competitive, with notable contenders including the Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Apex ($679) and the practically-vaporware Gigabyte X870 Aorus Tachyon Ice ($599). A direct comparison is difficult without reviewing both. Still, a key difference is on-the-fly adjustment: the Tachyon features physical overclocking buttons, while the Asus does not (though it offers alternative methods in Windows). Both Gigabyte and Asus incorporate AI-assisted overclocking functionality (though its usefulness for extreme/manual overclocking is questionable), and both are generally noted for having more refined BIOS interfaces. It really depends on what your extreme overclocking goals are and how you want to achieve them as to which is best among them.
The Taichi OCF is priced at roughly $500, and for most users not using extreme cooling like Liquid Nitrogen, its performance will be comparable to the standard X870E Taichi. The main drawbacks of the ASRock boards are a simpler-looking (though functionally solid) BIOS and, specifically for the OCF, aesthetics that don't quite match those of other $500 overclocking motherboards. Think of the OCF as the "Taichi Plus," offering the standard Taichi's excellent features, with added tools for manual overclocking enthusiasts. It's a fantastic choice for those who love to push hardware limits without AI or PBO, as it’s the lowest-priced ‘overclocking’ motherboard. However, if you don't plan to use those specialized features, opt for the regular X870E Taichi (on our best motherboards list) to save money.
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