GIGABYTE Debuts its Own Backside Connectivity Motherboard Standard: the Stealth

[btarunr]

GIGABYTE at the 2024 Computex debuted its own standard of motherboards with backside I/O (i.e. ports and connectors located on the reverse side of the PCB). GIGABYTE is calling this brand extension "Stealth." It rivals ASUS BTF and MSI Project Zero. One of the first products to implement it is an AMD Socket AM5 motherboard, the B650E AORUS Stealth Ice. Besides backside connectors, a large shroud dominates the board in such a way that only the CPU cooler, memory, and the graphics card stick out. GIGABYTE is claiming bragging rights to this being the world's first white PCB motherboard with backside connectivity (BSC). Given that most case manufacturers are getting friendly with BSC, and are carving out huge cutouts in their motherboard trays for broad compatibility with all proprietary BSC standards, the GIGABYTE Stealth should be generally compatible with these cases.



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[azrael]

This isn't specifically aimed at Gigabyte, but a *standard* implies that more than one company supports it. I'd probably use the term "implementation".

 

[Chaitanya]

One more competiting "solution" for the "problem" of having connectors on front side of board.

This isn't specifically aimed at Gigabyte, but a *standard* implies that more than one company supports it. I'd probably use the term "implementation".

on last Stealth board and GPU Maingear was their collaborating partner.

 

[azrael]

One more competiting "solution" for the "problem" of having connectors on front side of board.


on last Stealth board and GPU Maingear was their collaborating partner.

I probably wasn't clear enough. I was thinking of manufacturers. Until all motherboard makers agree on a (common) standard it isn't one.

 

[Frode Bergeton Nilsen]

This isn't specifically aimed at Gigabyte, but a *standard* implies that more than one company supports it. I'd probably use the term "implementation".

Got it. So guys, we currently got this new "standard", that when one company introuce a "standard" it is now the "standard" to call it "implementation" until one more company uses it. We then need to call it a "standard". That is the new "standard" of how to talk about. Just for the record, axrael nor me is a company, so this "standard" on how to call an introduction of a "standard", is still an "inmplementation".

 

[PLAfiller]

Backside alright, but that front shield covers anything, but the GPU slot....I feel like people are not using their PCIe slots anymore....

 

[Frode Bergeton Nilsen]

I just wish they had done something more innovative than just flipping connection to the back of a board. What they should have done, was just to extend the MB to 305*305mm, and define a cutout for the new and extended range, and placed all headers there. That way, backwards compatability would not be broken, even for a lot of existing cases. The MB tray would be far less "cheesy".

Also, there stil is a need for fan headers on top of the board. For AIO, CPU fan, and case fans. Current designs requires the cables to be routed back to the front of the board.

Personally, I still advocate for wireless controll of say fans. And no guys, not battery driven fans or anything silly. Just a BT connected fan, that communicate fan control by BT. And RGB by some BT like control. Wish leaves us with only power to be supplied to the parts, like fans and so on. That removes the need for internal USB header, and all fan headers. There will be no need for any RGB header. Just saying. Innovation.

 

[JWNoctis]

Backside alright, but that front shield covers anything, but the GPU slot....I feel like people are not using their PCIe slots anymore....

Yeah! For a while I thought I was looking at a mockup. Why standard ATX without the slots?

Or...is it?

 

[WonkoTheSaneUK]

Yeah! For a while I thought I was looking at a mockup. Why standard ATX without the slots?

Or...is it?

Maybe there's a few extra M.2 slots under there?
If they're going this route, they should move the GPU slot to the bottom and put it on a daughter board, so no more need for riser cables to mount our GPUs upright

 

[ymdhis]

Just get a case with opaque side panels, and then all the cables will be hidden on both the front and the back of the motherboard. Problem solved.

Well, not quite, since they barely make cases like those now.

 

[Chomiq]

Just what we need, another "standard".

 

[WonkoTheSaneUK]

Just what we need, another "standard".

Obligatory:-

 

[bonehead123]

Well, somebody had to start pushing the new "implementation" or whatever you wanna call it, so it CAN become the standard, might as well be GB....

So by the time I build my next personal rig later this year, it will be just like my current desktop space: NO WIRES, oh yea

 

[WonkoTheSaneUK]

Well, somebody had to start pushing the new "implementation" or whatever you wanna call it, so it CAN become the standard, might as well be GB....

So by the time I build my next personal rig later this year, it will be just like my current desktop space: NO WIRES, oh yea

Both Asus & MSI showed this type of motherboard at CES in January. GB are playing catch up here.

Introducing BTF: an easy, clean approach to PC building that hides the cables - Edge Up

Introducing BTF gaming PC building: a clean, cable-free approach with the latest ROG and TUF motherboards for the ultimate aesthetics.

edgeup.asus.com

https://uk.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-Unveils-PROJECT-ZERO-Series-for-Cleaner--More-Attractive--and-User-Friendly-PCs-142978

 

[TechLurker]

Aesthetically, I like the design. That said, did they just trade all the PCIe slots for M2s? can it possibly run 5-6 M2s under that massive cover?

As far as BSC connectors, go, this is probably Maingear's MG-RC standard.

As a reminder, Maingear patented their version of the rear connection system as MG-RC and was working to push it as a new standard, and eventually got MSI and Gigabyte to sign on to it along with some support from Phanteks and others for cases and peripherals. They might have just been a boutique PC builder and seller, but they managed to get two major mobo makers to commit to its standard.

Meanwhile, ASUS brought out a very similar design under BTF (Back to The Future), and got CoolerMaster, Thermaltake, SilverStone, Corsair, and InWin (among others) to sign on to their version of a new design standard and develop cases and peripherals that would capitalize on ASUS' design. In competition to Maingear, there's the fact that Origin PC is now owned by Corsair too, so they too could start pushing ASUS' BTF standard through their boutique shop in the same way.

---

Currently, we have 3 of the 4 main consumer oriented mobo makers pushing some version of this new "power connectors at the rear" standard, which are 90% the same externally except for ASUS' version including a high-power connector to power GPUs compared to Maingear's standard. All that's left of the notable brand mobo makers not pushing for rear connections is AsRock, and which one it might start adopting is the question.

There's also a possibility that ASUS and Maingear join up and we get the "AMG-RC" or "MG-BTF" standard. But thus far, no word on what path component makers will ultimately go towards. Ideally, ASUS' BTF is nicer given the integration of high-power connections directly to the GPU completely eliminating the need for visible cables to the GPU, but it would require more of a shift from GPU makers to integrate the power delivery into the PCB and double up on card variants until it becomes mainstream enough. Also, there's the issue with having to make new risers that accomodate the integrated power too.

 

[bonehead123]

Both Asus & MSI showed this type of motherboard at CES in January. GB are playing catch up here.

Introducing BTF: an easy, clean approach to PC building that hides the cables - Edge Up

Introducing BTF gaming PC building: a clean, cable-free approach with the latest ROG and TUF motherboards for the ultimate aesthetics.

edgeup.asus.com

https://uk.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-Unveils-PROJECT-ZERO-Series-for-Cleaner--More-Attractive--and-User-Friendly-PCs-142978

Oh yea, I forgot about those, so apparently it is catching on after all

Aesthetically, I like the design. That said, did they just trade all the PCIe slots for M2s? can it possibly run 5-6 M2s under that massive cover?

Not unless your cpu/chipset has enough lanes to drive them as well as all your ports & GPU

As a reminder, Maingear patented their version of the rear connection system as MG-RC and was working to push it as a new standard, and eventually got MSI and Gigabyte to sign on to it along with some support from Phanteks and others for cases and peripherals. They might have just been a boutique PC builder and seller, but they managed to get two major mobo makers to commit to its standard.

Good for them !

Meanwhile, ASUS brought out a very similar design under BTF (Back to The Future), and got CoolerMaster, Thermaltake, SilverStone, Corsair, and InWin (among others) to sign on to their version of a new design standard and develop cases and peripherals that would capitalize on ASUS' design. In competition to Maingear, there's the fact that Origin PC is now owned by Corsair too, so they too could start pushing ASUS' BTF standard through their boutique shop in the same way.

---

Currently, we have 3 of the 4 main consumer oriented mobo makers pushing some version of this new "power connectors at the rear" standard, which are 90% the same externally except for ASUS' version including a high-power connector to power GPUs compared to Maingear's standard. All that's left of the notable brand mobo makers not pushing for rear connections is AsRock, and which one it might start adopting is the question.

There's also a possibility that ASUS and Maingear join up and we get the "AMG-RC" or "MG-BTF" standard. But thus far, no word on what path component makers will ultimately go towards. Ideally, ASUS' BTF is nicer given the integration of high-power connections directly to the GPU completely eliminating the need for visible cables to the GPU, but it would require more of a shift from GPU makers to integrate the power delivery into the PCB and double up on card variants until it becomes mainstream enough. Also, there's the issue with having to make new risers that accomodate the integrated power too.

Hummm.... the good ole VHS vs. BetaMax all over again, but at least it is happening, and hopefully one or the other design will end up as the winner, cause having 2 different ones would really fragment the mobo & case market, which would most likely reduce overall supply & as well as increased prices too, which is BAD for us users...

 

[trsttte]

I probably wasn't clear enough. I was thinking of manufacturers. Until all motherboard makers agree on a (common) standard it isn't one.

Good luck with that, they didn't even agree on ATX, Intel had to come and save the day with a standard with very defined rules.

Personally, I still advocate for wireless controll of say fans. And no guys, not battery driven fans or anything silly. Just a BT connected fan, that communicate fan control by BT. And RGB by some BT like control. Wish leaves us with only power to be supplied to the parts, like fans and so on. That removes the need for internal USB header, and all fan headers. There will be no need for any RGB header. Just saying. Innovation.

People kicked and screamed because of the tiny extra complexity brought to motherboards by ATX12VO (still barely being used) and you want to add bluetooth? Besides, the 2.4ghz spectrum is already pretty overused, we don't need even more devices occupying that range. What would be cool would be multiplexing the rgb signals on top of the pwm to reduce the ammount of cables but that would introduce a bunch of complexity of it's own because of something as meaningless as rgb.

 

[WonkoTheSaneUK]

The logical conclusion to this system would be to move the GPU power socket(s) to the bottom corner, furthest from the back of the case.
With higher-end GPUs, this would mean the connector(s) would hang over the edge of the motherboard, making a rear connection simples.

Personally, I still advocate for wireless controll of say fans. And no guys, not battery driven fans or anything silly. Just a BT connected fan, that communicate fan control by BT. And RGB by some BT like control. Wish leaves us with only power to be supplied to the parts, like fans and so on. That removes the need for internal USB header, and all fan headers. There will be no need for any RGB header. Just saying. Innovation.

Lian-Li just announced exactly this, running from a USB dongle. It also works with the latest iteration of their Strimer RGB cables.

Lian Li Brings New HydroShift LCD AIO Cooler, New UNI FAN Fans, and New Strimer Cables to Computex 2024

In addition to a couple of interesting PC cases that will be coming later this year, Lian Li also brought some cooling products and other accessories to the Computex 2024 show floor, including the new HydroShift LCD AIO cooler, as well as new UNI FAN fans and Strimer cables that come with...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[Caring1]

In this case, backside should be two words as it's not referring to a person's posterior, or is it?

 

[trsttte]

Lian-Li just announced exactly this, running from a USB dongle. It also works with the latest iteration of their Strimer RGB cables.

I find that so idiotic, you will need to run power anyway, why add all the complexity and cost of wireless control?!?!?!? I can understand wanting to limit the rats nest of cables going to every corner of the motherboard, but they could solve that by running USB from their centralized hub to the computer instead of using wireless, much easier and cheaper - you have to consider not just the cost of the components, but also all the wireless certifications for each market where they plan to sell this.

Did no one at lian-li ever heard of kiss?

 

[WonkoTheSaneUK]

I find that so idiotic, you will need to run power anyway, why add all the complexity and cost of wireless control?!?!?!? I can understand wanting to limit the rats nest of cables going to every corner of the motherboard, but they could solve that by running USB from their centralized hub to the computer instead of using wireless, much easier and cheaper - you have to consider not just the cost of the components, but also all the wireless certifications for each market where they plan to sell this.

Did no one at lian-li ever heard of kiss?

I never said it was a good idea, just that they had done it.

 

[chrcoluk]

Logically M.2 and maybe even RAM should be the same as well, seems a half arsed attempt with just the edge connectors.