Dropped MSI X370 Titanium for the ASRock

SsmB_92

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jul 7, 2015
Messages
352
After laying a preorder for the X370 Titanium by MSI, it occured to me there are a number of problems in their marketing - 1. they don't advertise a backplate, which the Intel models (Z170/270) have, the VRM pictured certainly don't seem to be the same as the "Ti" branded ones on Intels and it's apparently 6+4 phase. On top of that, it's clearly more expensive than the Intel varieties, and I just got told by Mwave that it won't apprently be available until 10/3!

Anyhow I swapped my order to the ASRock Taichi. They clearly have the best power package going on, has a free WiFi card, has 2x M2 slots, is $20 cheaper. Only downfalls I could see is not much USB on rear and RAM is only really supported to 2667, but they are advertsing strong VRM for RAM anyway.

I sent an email to MSI detailing why I've made the switch, and asked why they haven't marketed these features. Anyhow I'm glad Mwave had a delay on stock, that was the final nail in the coffin.
 
Not poor choices, reading on the Taichi today it appears the second m.2 is tied to the bottom PCIE slot, so of either is used the other is disabled. Keep that in mind. I'm sure the MSI board had similar draw backs.
 
The other thing which is a bit unknown on the ASRock, the BIOS isn't shown at all. But for 329 vs 349 Xhair and 469 MSI Xpower, and seemingly best quality VRM, I can forgive a few things, but if I can't control the overclock then it's worthless lol. ANyone have experience in ASRock BIOS's? Any good?
 
Ive used both Asrock and MSI UEFI menus, the Asrock advanced mode is pretty much loke your standard AMI BIOS layout with right-left navigation through different categories and up-down navigation through the various sub-categories and features. It is a dream to navigate with just a keyboard.

The MSI EFI is a bit more out-of-the-ordinary with its quadrant-style menu that is much more difficult to navigate wothout a mouse.
 
Ive used both Asrock and MSI UEFI menus, the Asrock advanced mode is pretty much loke your standard AMI BIOS layout with right-left navigation through different categories and up-down navigation through the various sub-categories and features. It is a dream to navigate with just a keyboard.

The MSI EFI is a bit more out-of-the-ordinary with its quadrant-style menu that is much more difficult to navigate wothout a mouse.

I like a keyboard only BIOS. Very much used to that. Never used mouse on my R4E :)
 
The other thing which is a bit unknown on the ASRock, the BIOS isn't shown at all. But for 329 vs 349 Xhair and 469 MSI Xpower, and seemingly best quality VRM, I can forgive a few things, but if I can't control the overclock then it's worthless lol. ANyone have experience in ASRock BIOS's? Any good?

Their BIOS is pretty plain for my tastes, at least, when compared to the likes of MSI or ASUS. But, it is simple to navigate but it just doesn't have that nice and appealing interface.
 
The MSI board almost certainly has a higher quality VRM than ASRocks doubled 8-phase (which makes it probably a 6+2 in reality). Its nice that it has the features you want but don't fall for their silly marketing and expect something you won't really be getting, they've been the king of doubling lower quality VRM's for years. The MSI board is an 8+2 and once the heatsinks come off I think you'll find that there is a reason it has an aux 4-pin for 235W support while the Taichi doesn't.

All that said, I really liked the last few ASRock boards I've had, the BIOS were good and everything worked well. The looks of that board aren't my favorite but I hope it works well for you. I doubt the power delivery will be any sort of issue unless you're trying to push it sub-zero.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Dan_D
like this
Pardon my candure, but why 235w support on a mid-end board? to enter a LN overclock contest? Ryzen sips power AFAIK.
 
Pardon my candure, but why 235w support on a mid-end board? to enter a LN overclock contest? Ryzen sips power AFAIK.

The CHVI and the Ti and Gigabyte 7 are probably about as high end as its going to get for AM4 for quite a while. Why would they not pimp them out for extreme overclocking? The Z270 boards fill the same segment and have the same stuff on them.
 
I meant that given Ryzen power profile, only under LN overclock will a user eventually need 235w, but i doubt it anyway. I certainly would not base my buying decision over 235w support. ( typing this on a mobo that draws almost 300w under load)
 
I really wonder why MSI hasn't bothered to point out their VRM specs. Maybe they are thinking the same that Ryzen isn't as hungry therefore lower the VRM quality. And why no backplate when most recent Intel variants have them and then charge more?

The joys of preorder lmao
 
I really wonder why MSI hasn't bothered to point out their VRM specs. Maybe they are thinking the same that Ryzen isn't as hungry therefore lower the VRM quality. And why no backplate when most recent Intel variants have them and then charge more?

The joys of preorder lmao
This is typical with MSI, they do a very poor job of documenting their boards outside of their best and even then it is usually not done well.
 
This is typical with MSI, they do a very poor job of documenting their boards outside of their best and even then it is usually not done well.

Well that's cost them my immediate business, having said that now that I know there is delays with the boards (good job btw AMD on co-ordinating such an organized release!) at least I have time to see reviews and change my mind.
 
Well that's cost them my immediate business, having said that now that I know there is delays with the boards (good job btw AMD on co-ordinating such an organized release!) at least I have time to see reviews and change my mind.
Correct. I want to build RyZen but if they can't get out good boards soon or the chip flops I will be going back to Intel. The chipset means a lot to me.
 
Correct. I want to build RyZen but if they can't get out good boards soon or the chip flops I will be going back to Intel. The chipset means a lot to me.

Been seeing this post around since yesterday apparently from AMD's slides that has the 1700X slightly under-performing the 6800K in games. And the more I'm looking at Z270, the more I'm thinking it has everything I want with the chipset/lanes, whereas I'm making a sacrifice on future-proofing for the Ryzen build.
 
Been seeing this post around since yesterday apparently from AMD's slides that has the 1700X slightly under-performing the 6800K in games. And the more I'm looking at Z270, the more I'm thinking it has everything I want with the chipset/lanes, whereas I'm making a sacrifice on future-proofing for the Ryzen build.
The x370 is comparable to the Z270 if only because you get a dedicated m.2 slot from the CPU. It has upsides to its mediocre spec sheet but we have yet to read about the chipset in its entirety.
 
After laying a preorder for the X370 Titanium by MSI, it occured to me there are a number of problems in their marketing - 1. they don't advertise a backplate, which the Intel models (Z170/270) have, the VRM pictured certainly don't seem to be the same as the "Ti" branded ones on Intels and it's apparently 6+4 phase. On top of that, it's clearly more expensive than the Intel varieties, and I just got told by Mwave that it won't apprently be available until 10/3!

Anyhow I swapped my order to the ASRock Taichi. They clearly have the best power package going on, has a free WiFi card, has 2x M2 slots, is $20 cheaper. Only downfalls I could see is not much USB on rear and RAM is only really supported to 2667, but they are advertsing strong VRM for RAM anyway.

I sent an email to MSI detailing why I've made the switch, and asked why they haven't marketed these features. Anyhow I'm glad Mwave had a delay on stock, that was the final nail in the coffin.

MWave is showing the MSI Titanium as in stock all the other boards are Pre-order https://www.mwave.com.au/product/msi-x370-xpower-gaming-titanium-am4-atx-motherboard-ac02331
 
The MSI board almost certainly has a higher quality VRM than ASRocks doubled 8-phase (which makes it probably a 6+2 in reality). Its nice that it has the features you want but don't fall for their silly marketing and expect something you won't really be getting, they've been the king of doubling lower quality VRM's for years. The MSI board is an 8+2 and once the heatsinks come off I think you'll find that there is a reason it has an aux 4-pin for 235W support while the Taichi doesn't.

Lurker here... I thought the Taichi was rated for 300W according to it's spec sheet. Is that referring to something else?
 
MWave is showing the MSI Titanium as in stock all the other boards are Pre-order https://www.mwave.com.au/product/msi-x370-xpower-gaming-titanium-am4-atx-motherboard-ac02331

LOL they must have just added that an hour ago. I've been on the site all day :D

Gave PCCaseGear a miss due to their postage being insanely wrong for me, it's like $160 for express whereas Mwave's is always much cheaper.

Lurker here... I thought the Taichi was rated for 300W according to it's spec sheet. Is that referring to something else?
where is 300W written? I didn't see that?
 
Back
Top