Biostar B660GTN works well together with the 12600k model.
Biostar B660GTN works well together with the 12600k model.
I'm setting up an ITX rig in the SSUPD Meshlicious. Choosing a motherboard is proving tricky. I lean toward the 12th gen Intel platform, but finding suitable options is tough. The Asus B660-I would have been ideal if not for the DDR5 dilemma. The Gigabyte B660 seems overpriced and offers only one NVMe port. That leaves me with two main choices: Biostar B660GTN and ASRock H670M-ITX/AX. The Biostar appears to be the stronger contender. From what I understand, ASRock may have limited power options due to insufficient VRM. The Biostar seems to hold its own. If the Biostar doesn't meet expectations, AMD Ryzen would be my backup, though locating an ITX board with CPU-less BIOS support could be a challenge.
There are DDR4 Z690 boards available at comparable prices. Prices range from around $330 to $230 depending on the model and brand. The Gigabyte Aorus Ultra DDR4 and ASRock Z690M-ITX offer different configurations, with the latter featuring a more robust VRM setup. The performance differences may stem from variations in the core and voltage components described.
I don't feel justified in the cost of either the Asus Z690 or DDR5 RAM. The motherboard is $477, while 32GB of 5200Mhz CL36 DDR5 costs $400. The CPU (12600k) is $340. For reference, the Ryzen 5 5600X is now $265 and B550 ix boards are about $212. I'm worried the board here is around $390 where I live.
For an SFF setup, AMD remains a strong contender mainly due to the challenges with cooling in those Alder Lake chips and the generally poor performance of Alder Lake ITX boards. Biostar offers decent power stages but often lacks solid VRM design, causing CPU throttling. I wouldn’t rely solely on their reputation; their board is functional but not optimal. The ASRock option doesn’t impress much, especially without proper cooling, so unless you’re willing to add extra components like fans and adhesives, it’s likely to throttle. A 5800X seems like a solid pick, or if budget matters, a 5600 (non-X, nearly identical for $20-30 less) and a B660 ITX would be better choices.
Thanks for the feedback. It was a bit concerning, so I’ll go with the AMD options instead. Ordered a Gigabyte B550i Aorus Pro Ax—more affordable than MSI and Asus versions and fully passive cooled. Could end up choosing the 5600X unless I convince myself to try the 5800X.
5600 costs $240, while 5600X is priced at $260. At 5700X the price jumps to $350, and 5800X reaches $380. The R5 models come with a cooler included, simplifying the purchase by allowing you to invest $260 now and focus on upgrading later if needed.