Is anyone really into Arrow Lake? I'm here to give you some motivation!
Is anyone really into Arrow Lake? I'm here to give you some motivation!
A lot of negative feedback surrounds the gaming performance of the 265 and 285 Arrow Lake CPUs. I'm thinking about switching from AMD to Intel for several reasons and wondering if anyone really likes them. They seem more efficient than the previous generation. The PCIe 5.0 lane issue is fixed compared to AMD, and they're still quite fast, especially for single and multi-threaded tasks. It's unlikely they'll fail, and since most gaming is GPU-dependent, many users probably won't notice real differences, particularly at high resolutions. My current game is a golf simulator and possibly Microsoft Flight Simulator... but I haven't played any games on a PC yet. Some people say Arrow Lake has more PCIe lanes than AMD, but it's hard to understand that clearly. Anyone have any insights?
The Ultra200S series provides the same 28 PCIe lanes as AM5 CPUs. The main difference lies in the chipset configuration. The X670e chipset utilizes PCIe4.0x4 from the CPU as DMI, adding 12 PCIe4.0 lanes and 8 PCIe3.0 lanes. When paired with an expandable X670e board running an AM5 CPU, you receive 24 PCIe4.0 lanes from the CPU and 12 from the chipset. The Z890 chipset, on the other hand, uses PCIe4.0x8 from the CPU as DMI, offering 28 PCIe4.0 lanes. With an ultra200S CPU, it provides 20 PCIe4.0 lanes and 28 from the chipset. Generally, the AMD platform maintains stability in expansion, with a significant gain of 8x PCIe3.0 compared to 12x PCIe4.0. This isn't a CPU limitation; it's more about chipset choices. If AMD introduces an x570 AM5 board with integrated IOD, the situation could shift. For budget-friendly and expandable options, the MSI X670e gaming plus Wi-Fi is a good choice, costing around 200$ locally. For maximum expansion, the MSI X670e Carbon is recommended. This setup is particularly useful because it addresses the concern about limited expansion potential with AM5 CPUs.
Gosh, thanks a lot for the reply! I need to review it carefully. A few abbreviations I have to memorize, like DMI, EPYC, IOD... Lanes... I'm reading about Intel's 48 lanes of 4.0, with 20 from the CPU and 28 from the chipset. For AMD, it's 36 lanes of 4.0, with 24 from the CPU and 12 from the chipset. And for 48 to 36... that's quite a difference. So, a question arises... How does this gap show up in the competing boards? I usually see more USB on the 890 boards, with up to 15 ports. That’s great, because I need at least 12. If the board already has 12 or more in stock, I probably won’t need to install a card for more. Are you recommending the 670 versus the newer 870 for any specific reason? Based on my preferences, I’d prefer Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7. Connectivity problems with my cycling gear and Garmin watch keep me frustrated, and I’ve noticed much better connections to smart lights under my newer Wi-Fi 7 router. That would push me toward the 870, assuming other factors stay the same.
It relies on the board's structure; when a board offers more PCIe lanes than expected, there are conflicts that prevent all from being utilized simultaneously.
Keep in mind, the maximum isn't always the same as actual usage—no board will use every PCIe lane, and this applies to USB ports too.
If this is the case, you won't find boards that only provide a single M2 slot and one PCIe x16 slot.
Non-USB4 ports don't require PCIe lanes, and the USB capacity of the z890 isn't superior to AMD's x670/x670x870 models.
The x670/x870/x870e boards are built by combining two B650/B650e chipsets, which increases the USB port limit for these models.
It's possible that some x670e boards offer sufficient USB ports to meet your requirements.
Ultra200s CPUs have two Thunderbolt4 ports directly, whereas AM5 CPUs don't, and they require a PCIe4.0x4 conversion to USB4 ports—this is why I don't suggest X870/X870E, as they have four fewer PCIe lanes compared to B650/X670E.
(x870 is not a dual-chip board like x670; it's B650e plus USB4).
There are also good WiFi7 x670e motherboards available.
I wasn't informed that any 670 boards support Wi-Fi 7 or Bluetooth 5.4, if that's what you meant. They were released too recently, according to Copilot!
You're asking if the 870E boards have fewer PCIe lanes compared to the earlier 670E models? I wasn't aware of that!
I need a system with more than 12 USB ports, a PCIe 4.0 x 4 slot for a PoE card to handle two high-speed swing cameras.
I'm having trouble with the AMD versus Intel choice because I'm trying to fix a graphics problem on my current setup. I've asked about it in another thread, and I'm going to follow the advice given to see what options are available...
I really like what the ROG Z890 Apex offers, although it's quite pricey. It's the only board I've seen that can accommodate two GPUs without blocking PCIe 4.0 slots. Since I already own the GPUs, using them could avoid buying a 4090 or 5090. So, surprisingly, that very expensive board doesn't seem so costly... sort of...
You've really helped me understand the PCIe lane issue. I'm going to read your comments carefully so I can fully grasp what you're suggesting. Thank you!
Do your comments suggest you have no opinion about the Arrow Lake chips? Do you like or dislike them for any reason?
I find what I see in the ultra 200 processors appealing.
At any price range, intel and amd's latest models will be on par.
There is a distinction between what a chipset can offer and what is actually used on the motherboard.
Here are the details for the Z890 chipset:
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/...tions.html
Supports up to 14 usb ports
Expansion slots can accommodate numerous additional devices of various kinds.
This depends on your requirements.
Most games rely heavily on the speed of a single master thread.
This is where X3D processors excel.
The main thread benefits from a large cache to enhance performance.
However, during other multitasking tasks, the cache is cleared and overall speed drops compared to non-X3D models.
A positive aspect is the minimal cooling needs. Airflow is sufficient.
It might take some time for windows to update the thread director to recognize the new non-hyperthreaded processor.
Non-KF-ended ultra200s CPUs include an Arc Alchemist iGPU. I'm working with A380, A770 and B580 models. These generally outperform AMD's RDNA2 iGPU in Ryzen 7000/9000 series. They're a good investment when a K-ended CPU is $30 more expensive. Another reason to favor Lunar Lake CPUs. Lunar lake CPUs feature Battlemage iGPU, which is much more powerful than Alchemist, especially since B580 surpassed A770.
Following a restful sleep, I noticed the price is now 265K for $299!
https://www.microcenter.com/product...ga...t-included
I noticed that too! I also spotted NewEgg offering the 890Apex with the 285 at a $100 discount. Hmm...
I've only come across pretty negative reviews for the 265, but I think it might actually be quicker than my current Ryzen 7700X, especially with the Apex and CUDIMMs. What do you think?
Standard benchmark results;
Single thread offers a 15 percent edge over 265K.
Multi thread provides a 64 percent advantage over 265K.
Is this suitable for your needs?