Need guidance choosing a motherboard? Let me know your requirements and I can suggest options that fit your project!
Need guidance choosing a motherboard? Let me know your requirements and I can suggest options that fit your project!
Here are the key points comparing the two options:
- **Asus B660** offers a solid build with ATX compatibility and decent performance for everyday use. It supports RGB headers, which aligns with your need for customization.
- **Asus B660M** is a micro-ATX variant, ideal if you prefer a smaller form factor and may benefit from the compact design.
For your situation—no overclocking needed and RGB headers required—the **B660** seems more suitable because it provides better flexibility for case setup and aesthetic customization. The B660M is a good choice if space is limited, but the B660’s larger size gives you more headroom for expansion and a cleaner look.
Overall, the B660 offers a stronger overall package for your current needs, making it the better pick from this pair.
It's essentially the same board except for the dimensions. The motherboard will have slightly fewer connections, so it mainly comes down to your preference for appearance. It's a decent option overall. If you're aiming for a white theme, you might want the B660 Steel Legend for an extra $10. Otherwise, the MSI Pro B660 would be a good choice.
This site doesn’t provide useful guidance for planning a build. The listed price of 12600K is completely off the mark. "359$" New Egg now offers them at 279$ for the K and 259$ for the KF. I’d recommend considering an DDR5 platform if you aim to match Ryzen 7000 performance and upgrade to 13th Gen. Of course, my personal take is just that—I’m sharing this because it’s my opinion. DDR5 isn’t inexpensive unless you opt for a smaller configuration like a 2x8GB setup, which is what I chose.
The mATX model actually offers more USB ports and PCIe x16 slots. You're right about the Asus boards having a limited color scheme, focusing mainly on white and black. The design choice was simpler, with fewer RGB headers and no AuraSync support. I appreciate your note and will consider the MSI option as well.
I'm not ready to build this yet. I'm hoping for price drops on 13th gen and 40 series, plus special offers at the end of the year. DDR5 won't be available soon either. I'd appreciate a proper answer instead of just talking about PCpartpicker.
I understand now this was about Canada PC part selection and I wasn't aware of the context until someone mentioned it. My apologies for the confusion. Most people prefer DDR5 but don't grasp the reasons, just focus on cost complaints. Since DDR4 is nearing the end of its life, a 20% performance increase with DDR5 over DDR4 is expected in the 13th Gen chips. Learn why you're sticking with DDR4, then you'll appreciate your decisions later.
Mhm matx boards typically have fewer internal connections compared to atx boards. Asrock generally comes with a lot of uncertainty about their quality, but their steel legend and taichi boards still offer good value despite this. AFAIK the aura sync is mostly software-based, so as long as the motherboard can detect it, fans should work fine. If the system recognizes the connection, it usually functions properly. The msi board seems to be a solid choice if you don’t want to stick to a particular theme.