ROG Strix B660-F is a semi-budget DDR5 motherboard.
ROG Strix B660-F is a semi-budget DDR5 motherboard.
These chips work well with the MSI Z690-A Pro and many B660 boards. This model is too heavy for a 12900k; I’d still choose another option at a lower price.
Eventually I purchased an i5-12600KF along with a SanDisk 64GB USB drive as a gift from the PC parts store where I bought the CPU. I’m considering either the Z690 Tomahawk WiFi or the MPG Edge WiFi. The Edge model includes Q code LED lighting, while the Tomahawk does not. Both use DDR4 memory, and I see that DDR5 options are costly and hard to find. Many people praise the i5-12600KF for its speed and performance. I’m curious if the Arctic i35 RGB can support this CPU at stock settings.
OK, that's a more balanced pick. I don't know what you[re talking about for the Q code though, if you're referring to debug LEDs then both boards have them. If you're talking about the 7 segment displays then neither board has them. If its between those two boards, I'd go Tomahawk. As for the cooler, it'll probably run hot but it should be fine. The 12600k is hot, but not overly hot.
I need a two-digit post code indicating compatibility issues. Regarding the system, the Z690 Tomahawk supports error codes like "55," which suggests memory problems or model mismatches. The i5 12600K stays cool, which is positive. For power limits, aiming for PL2 under 225W by keeping it in auto mode seems sensible. For PL1 and PL2 values, consider typical thresholds based on cooling and performance needs.
Yeah, neither the Edge or the Tomahawk have those. The only LGA 1700 DDR4 motherboard I know of that has the 7 segment display (the POST code/Q code you're talking about) is the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro DDR4, but you should probably avoid it because of the memory issues above 3200MHz. If you're only gonna be running 3200MHz on it, then it should be fine, but since high speed memory isn't much more expensive, you probably should be going for high speed stuff. I know when I was building an Alder Lake system for a friend, It was $20 US more to go 32GB 4400MHz CL19 compared to 32GB 3200MHz CL16, and it's a noticeable performance difference between then. If it costs a lot more to go with something faster, then yeah stick to 3200MHz and go Z690 Aorus Pro DDR4, it's got a POST code and better IO, but if it's not much more to go with something faster like 3600MHz CL16 (that's usually the sweet spot for price to performance, only reason I went higher is that kit was on a really good sale) I'd stick to the Tomahawk. As for the power limits, I haven't played around with the 12600k enough to know exactly what power limits to do (it was actually cheaper to go 12700k than 12600k at my local Micro Center). I'd just play with it, its not like setting it to 4096w (I believe that's the default on MSI boards) will damage anything. The worst that will happen if its too high is that it will thermal throttle. Basically, start as high as it will go and lower it until you stop thermal throttling (if you thermal throttle to begin with). That will get you the best performance. PL1 you can leave as high as possible, since unless you're on a stock cooler you won't thermal throttle while in PL1. PL2 is what you want to play with, and try to get it as high as you can without letting temps go over 100C.
Ultimately I’ll choose the Z690 Edge WiFi DDR4 because of its two-digit POST Code, which I find handy and offers better VRM and cooling compared to Tomahawk’s setup. The MSI Dragon on the VRM heatsink also looks appealing. For the power limits of the 12600KF, I plan to set PL1 at 125W and PL2 at 225W, which I believe is perfectly acceptable.
Don't understand the details, this board lacks a POST code. All pictures show no readout for that code, and it isn't mentioned anywhere in the manual. If it existed, it would definitely be my top pick, but it doesn’t. Are we discussing the same board? https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MPG-Z690-EDGE-WIFI-DDR4 If you need a POST code and aren’t aiming for speeds over 3200MHz, consider the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro. It’s the only one on the site with DDR4 support that includes a POST code display. If it could handle memory speeds above 3200MHz easily, it would be my top choice. Those figures might be underestimated, especially for PL1, but experiment a bit and see your performance potential. You have an overclocking board and CPU—why not use it?
Other boards displaying a two-digit postcode are available on the specified site. DDR4 versions of Gigabyte models also include this feature, since Gigabyte offers a DDR4 alternative for nearly all DDR5 designs.
I feel really embarrassed! The Z690 Carbon and Force models use a two-digit POST Code, but they are DDR5 only. I’m confused about why I thought the Z690 Edge DDR4 WiFi would have that code while it doesn’t. That’s all my fault! Yes, I understand the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus PRO does have a two-digit POST Code and still has problems with memory speeds over 3200MHz, but I’ve also heard that most Gigabyte boards tend to be unreliable or mediocre. There are several reasons they might have issues—like lag in the BIOS menu, blurry font, slow boot times from BIOS to Windows… etc. I mean, the Z690 Aorus PRO looks good and has nice features, but I’m worried it might not perform as smoothly as expected. If it doesn’t boot quickly or runs smoothly, it could take much longer than 8-10 seconds, possibly up to 20 seconds or more. I’m not sure if it’s worth the trade-off.
Their BIOS menus have improved, though they lag behind most other makers. If you're limited to 3200MHz, it's still a solid board, but you might prefer the Tomahawk or Edge for better performance. For faster memory, MSI boards are my choice. If only the Z690 Edge DDR4 had a POST code...