ASRock X99 Taichi (with Broadwell-E)

[cadaveca]

Sometimes, we need a calming moment, and sometimes such can be provided by your PC! ASRock's X99 Taichi takes a whole new twist on motherboard design, going for aesthetics and form over function while still keeping functionality in the foreground. This board doesn't focus on anything other than providing you a simple, easy-to-use, calming experience.

Show full review

 

[Ubersonic]

Needs more PCI-E slots, anyone using a PCI-E SSD (or any other expansion card) is either going to have to wedge it between the GPU and RAM/Heatsink or put it under the GPU and block airflow.

 

[Vego]

Had it, build PC on it and it was fine.
Very good pump control, better than Maximus VIII Formula, much better. Final product was very "atractive"

 

[msamelis]

I am really loving the aesthetics of this board, they even kept the theme on the I/O shield. I also really appreciate the fact that it is not lit up like a Christmas tree with RGB lighting and all.

 

[newtekie1]

Needs more PCI-E slots, anyone using a PCI-E SSD (or any other expansion card) is either going to have to wedge it between the GPU and RAM/Heatsink or put it under the GPU and block airflow.

If you're only using one GPU, then they have 4 other slots to use. What more do you need? If they are running two GPUs, than any extra slots would be covered anyway, so they wouldn't do any good.

 

[Ubersonic]

If you're only using one GPU, then they have 4 other slots to use. What more do you need? If they are running two GPUs, than any extra slots would be covered anyway, so they wouldn't do any good.

There are basically two slots missing from this board, it just looks very budget for something being aimed at high end. By comparison my Rampage IV Gene has better slot placement/choice and that's MATX.

 

[cadaveca]

There are basically two slots missing from this board, it just looks very budget for something being aimed at high end. By comparison my Rampage IV Gene has better slot placement/choice and that's MATX.

Maybe you missed the <$250 USB price tag. That's not exactly high-end for HEDT... high-end is more around $500. The ASUS board you mention actually cost MORE, so yeah, you'd expect more out of it (along with the worst support possible in the NA region).

You can buy this board now on Newegg for about $220.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157719

 

[RejZoR]

No Sabertooth X99 in the comparison chart? :/

 

[cadaveca]

No Sabertooth X99 in the comparison chart? :/

ASUS neglects on sending me review samples at this point, so they will not appear in any comparisons until they do. It is impossible for me to have results of products I have never touched.

If you want to see such results, send ASUS an email and tell them so do something about it.


IIRC you have this board, so just run the benchmarks and you can make your own compares. That's the only option I have for you. If you need some data on what versions of benchmarks I use, etc, send me a PM.

 

[newtekie1]

There are basically two slots missing from this board, it just looks very budget for something being aimed at high end. By comparison my Rampage IV Gene has better slot placement/choice and that's MATX.

Yes, but they are slots that you've already admitted wouldn't be used. One would be directly under the top GPU, which will never be used. And the other would be directly under the 2nd GPU slot, which would not be able to be used if you had a 2nd GPU and if you didn't have a 2nd GPU, just use the 2nd x16 slot for your card and move on. I'm still not sure why you are complaining...

And the Rampage IV Gene has 3 x16 slots just like this board, and one x8 slot right under the first x16 that would be almost guaranteed to be blocked by the GPU. The 3rd x16 slot would also be blocked completely by a 2nd GPU. This AsRock has 3 completely usable x16 slots, even usable with 2 GPUs installed, as well as 2 usable x1 slots that are also still usable with 2 GPUs installed. So how exactly is the ASUS a better configuration that the AsRock board?

 

[Vayra86]

Best looking board of 2016. I would almost not want to put anything in those PCIE slots.

 

[Beastie]

I hope this board sells by the truckload and starts a craze for not having RGB .

 

[mrw1986]

Really glad I bought this board last week to replace my now RMA'd for the FOURTH time MSI X99A SLI Krait Edition.

This review solidifies my choice.

 

[RejZoR]

ASUS neglects on sending me review samples at this point, so they will not appear in any comparisons until they do. It is impossible for me to have results of products I have never touched.

If you want to see such results, send ASUS an email and tell them so do something about it.


IIRC you have this board, so just run the benchmarks and you can make your own compares. That's the only option I have for you. If you need some data on what versions of benchmarks I use, etc, send me a PM.

I just thought because Sabertooth X99 seems quite popular, not because I have it. But if ASUS gives you no love, yeah...

 

[cadaveca]

I just thought because Sabertooth X99 seems quite popular, not because I have it. But if ASUS gives you no love, yeah...

Sorry man, but there's not much I can do about it. I would really love if everyone flooded ASUS support in every global region with real emails and helped change that. That's all I got.

In the meantime, ASRock makes some pretty damn good boards. So stop buying ASUS, move to ASRock, or MSI. ECS or Biostar work well if you're on a budget, too. Gigabyte has some good stuff as well. But ASRock for crazy boards with engineering that you'd never expect. MSI for gaming. ASRock for gaming with Creative Audio.

 

[RejZoR]

AsRock Creative audio? Aren't all AsRocks based on Realtek (Purity Sound)? It's MSI that had Creative on several boards.

I have great experience with ASUS in general (this is my 3rd top of the line board (P5E Deluxe, Rampage II Gene and now Sabertooth X99). But for the initial Skylake build I had in my view, AsRock's Z170 Extreme 7+ was my top contender. AsRock came a long way from cheap, almost cheesy boards to what they offer now.

 

[cadaveca]

AsRock Creative audio? Aren't all AsRocks based on Realtek (Purity Sound)? It's MSI that had Creative on several boards.

LoL. Not really these days. MSI with Z97, sure. MSI now uses Realtek with Nahamic Audio software. ASRock Fatal1ty boards have Creative Audio. You'll see another ASRock X99 board review soon with it.

 

[Farmer Boe]

Thanks for the review Dave. Always look forward to your motherboard and RAM articles!

 

[jihadjoe]

> Cons

• No built-in lighting

IMO this is a Plus!

 

[lukart]

> Cons

• No built-in lighting

IMO this is a Plus!

True that!
Great motherboard..

 

[Vellinious]

Thinking about giving this board a go....my ASUS X99-A II died on me tonight....meh

 

[cadaveca]

Thinking about giving this board a go....my ASUS X99-A II died on me tonight....meh

Stop thinking and DO!

 

[Vellinious]

Just bought it. The dual M.2 slots is intriguing enough for me to give it a go, while I wait on ASUS RMA.

 

[Vellinious]

New board is up and running. Haven't played in the bios yet....that'll decide if I keep it or not.

Looks good. Seems solidly built. So far, so good.

 

[Vellinious]

Went back to the ASUS board when it came back from RMA. I favor the ASUS bios tweaking a lot more. Was a super nice board, though. Superb entry level X99 motherboard.