AMD had just announced their monstrous Threadripper 2 CPU with 32 cores inside and a whooping 250W of TDP. That being said, motherboard vendor GIGABYTE previews their upcoming X399 motherboard for the Threadripper 2 CPU – the X399 AORUS Xtreme motherboard.
GIGABYTE X399 AORUS Xtreme
In an attempt to fully realize the potential of the new AMD Threadripper 2 CPU, especially with the extra TDP at 250W, the AORUS Xtreme has been realized to take on the requirements of the latest AMD CPU.
First off, it has a 10+3 VRM able to power the said Threadripper 2 CPU. Power is provided by dual 8-pin CPU power connectors, while the PCI-E slots gets an integrated 6-pin power connector. Cooling for the VRM is provided by an industrial looking copper heat fins, together with a direct touch heat-pipes.
As for the other components, GIGABYTE went with 3 LAN interfaces and a slew of USB 3.0 ports. GIGABYTE also went with an integrated IO plate design.
The board is one of the heaviest components I lifted off the show floor and there’s no denying that the backplate is one of the components that adds up to its weight. Regardless, it is a good solution to keep the back of the motherboard protected, while aiding rigidity at the same time.
GIGABYTE B450 AORUS Pro WiFi
AMD’s AM4 platform also got an update in the form of the B450 AORUS Pro WiFi motherboard. It also features an integrated IO plate design but it is oriented more towards the mainstream consumers.
The most prominent feature of the board are its shielded M.2 slots, beefed up audio solution and the onboard WiFi connectivity.
