At first we would like to thank ASRock for offering us a sample of their X570 Taichi AM4 Motherboard for testing and reviewing.

 

 

 

About ASRock:

 

“ASRock Inc. is established in 2002, specialized in the field of motherboards. ASRock strives to build up its own brand. With the 3C design concept, “Creativity, Consideration, Cost-effectiveness”, the company explores the limit of motherboards manufacturing while paying attention on the eco issue at the same time, developing products with the consideration of eco-friendly concept.

 

ASRock has been growing fast and become world third largest motherboard brand with headquarter in Taipei, Taiwan and branches in Europe and the USA. The young and vibrant company targets from mainstream to enthusiast MB segments for different kinds of users, owning reputation around the world market with its reliability and proficiency.”

 

Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax

Welcome to the new Wi-Fi standard! ASRock’s motherboard equipped with next generation Intel® Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax adapter. The speed will be working up to 2.4Gbps and it will also natively operate with both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz simultaneously. Significant improvement in bi-directional MU-MIMO support is another attractive feature as well.

 

STEEL SLOT WITH NEW-GEN PCI EXPRESS 4.0

The next generation PCI Express 4.0 is capable of performing twice the speed compared to previous 3rd generation. ASRock’s exclusive Steel Slot with extra anchor points are revolutionary added to ensure signal stability and also making sure heavy graphics cards to be well-installed in the PCI-E slot safely.

 

UNBEATABLE HEATSINK ARMOR WITH HYPER M.2 (GEN4 X4)

Forged with aluminum alloy heatsink top cover that effectively improves heat dissipation. Underneath is the next generation PCI Express 4.0 Hyper M.2 Socket, with twice the transfer speed of the previous 3rd Generation.

 

RULE YOUR OWN LIGHTING WAY - POLYCHROME RGB

ASRock motherboards deliver stunning performance and superior aesthetics to rule your own colorful lighting way! ASRock offers a very comprehensive control to perform the built-in RGB LEDs or the connected LED strips, CPU fans, coolers, chassis and any RGB devices smoothly. Devices can be synchronized across the Polychrome RGB Sync-certified accessories as well.

 

Flexible Integrated I/O Shield

Unlike most so called pre-mounted I/O shield that is only decorated with fancy color schemes. We reserve more tolerance space and allow IO shield is adjustable when installing, thus fitting chassis perfectly without any mechanical issue.

 

METAL BACKPLATE

Strengthens the motherboard to prevent bending caused by heavy coolers or graphics cards with better airflow and enhanced stability.

 

EBR Fan

The longer lifespan EBR bearing fan were used to ensure the best durability. Compares with normal sleeve bearing fan, EBR bearing fan has lifespan up to 50,000 hours, equivalent to 5.7 years of working under full speed.

 

14 POWER PHASE DESIGN

Featuring sturdy components and completely smooth power delivery to the CPU. Plus, it offers unmatched overclocking capabilities and enhanced performance with the lowest temperature for advanced gamers as well.

 

Dr. MOS

Dr.MOS is the integrated power stage solution which is optimized for synchronous buck-set down voltage applications! Intelligently delivering higher current and driving up to 50A continuous current for each phase, thus providing improved thermal result and superior performance.

 

Dual USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-A + Type-C)

This motherboard has a pair of onboard Type-A and Type-C USB 3.2 Gen2 ports built on the rear i/o for supporting next generation USB 3.2 Gen2 devices and to deliver up to 10 Gbps data transfer rates.

 

Front USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C

Front USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C header delivers up to 5 Gbps data transfer rate and next generation reversible USB design to the front panel of computer case.

 

PREMIUM 60A POWER CHOKE

ASRock’s premium 60A power chokes effectively make the saturation current up to three times better, thus providing enhanced and improved Vcore voltage to the motherboard.

 

BIOS Flashback

Get the most convenient BIOS flashing with just a simple click. Users can easily achieve the latest BIOS support with a USB and power supply, No CPU, RAM or other components required.

 

Thunderbolt 3 AIC Header

Thunderbolt 3 is no longer limited to certain chipset, ASRock is the first motherboard manufacturer to skillfully implement the Thunderbolt 3 technology onto AMD X570 motherboards. All you need is a Thunderbolt 3 AIC R2.0 card!

 

XXL Aluminum Alloy Heatsink

Extra large aluminum alloy heat sinks that effectively take away heat from the MOSFET and chipset so that your whole system may perform more stable.

 

Premium 60A Power Choke

Compared to traditional chokes, ASRock’s premium 60A power chokes effectively make the saturation current up to three times better, thus providing enhanced and improved Vcore voltage to the motherboard.

 

Dr. MOS

Dr.MOS is the integrated power stage solution which is optimized for synchronous buck-set down voltage applications! Intelligently delivering higher current and driving up to 50A continuous current for each phase, thus providing improved thermal result and superior performance.

 

Premium Memory Alloy Choke

Specifically designed for memory power delivery, these new alloy chokes feature a highly magnetic and heat resistant design, thus delivering more stable and reliable power to the motherboard and memory modules.

 

Combo Caps

A combination of 820uF and 100uF capacitors. Together these capacitors provide clearer, efficient and more responsive CPU Vcore power, and overclockers may achieve higher scores.

 

Nichicon 12K Black Caps

Supreme 12K black capacitors with lifespans of at least 12,000 hours. Compared to other counterparts on high-end motherboards that merely have lifespans of around 10,000 hours, ASRock applied Nichicon 12K Black Caps that offer 20% longer lifespans and provide more stability and reliability.

 

I/O Armor

A new designed protective cover for all of the crucial parts near the motherboard's rear I/O, so that they won't easily be damaged by static electricity.

 

Matte Black PCB

A new mysterious matte black and copper color scheme to match the prestigious components on ASRock's high-end motherboards.

 

High Density Glass Fabric PCB

High Density Glass Fabric PCB design that reduces the gaps between the PCB layers to protect the motherboard against electrical shorts caused by humidity.

 

Purity Sound 4

It's time to enjoy the most purified audio performance with ultra high definition. Purity Sound4 is a combination of several hardware, software audio solutions. 7.1 CH HD audio with the latest Realtek ALC1220 audio codec, individual PCB layers for R/L audio channel, 120dB SNR DAC and other technologies to deliver the crispest sound effects.

 

Full Spike Protection

Some sensitive digital components on the motherboard are vulnerable to power surges, the excessive current may cause your system to malfunction immediately. ASRock Full Spike Protection includes various technologies to prevent your motherboard’s components from being damaged by these unexpected voltage spikes.

 

Live Update & APP Shop

ASRock Live Update & APP Shop is designed for your convenience. We provide various apps and support software for users to download. You can also easily optimize your system and keep your motherboard up to date with ASRock Live Update & APP Shop.

 

For quite some time we were very curious in trying out one of the X570 boards and thanks to ASRock this became possible; the Taichi is one of the company’s high-end models, coming with highlights such as Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax interface, a solid VRM, stainless steel PCI-E 4.0 slots, no less than three M.2 PCI-E 4.0 x4 slots for additional storage, a large backplate with RGB lighting, a frontal shield for cooing the M.2 slots, an integrated I/O shield and more!

 

The product was shipped inside a large cardboard enclosure, with the Taichi-specific box art:

 

 

 

The main product features are highlighted by ASRock in the back:

 

 

 

Here we will also learn of the I/O configuration, along with the technical specifications:

 

 

 

The box is split in multiple compartments, the top one housing the motherboard itself:

 

 

 

Underneath it, we did find the product bundle:

 

 

 

First, we have the documentation, that also includes the driver disk with utilities, a sticker and a small postcard:

 

 

 

The manual is very detailed and contains all information in order to ease the installation procedure:

 

 

 

As hardware bundle, the customer will receive a SLI HB Bridge, an wireless antenna with the necessary cables, but also a plastic dock, additional screws, a screwdriver for removing the M.2 cooling plate but also four SATA 6Gb/s cables:

 

 

 

Here is how the antenna assembly along with the docking does look like:

 

 

 

Despite the multitude of interfaces, the X570 Taichi does come with a very clean design; we really dig the cog and gear theme as well:

 

 

 

The VRM components are well cooled by massive heatsinks and for this particular board we are dealing with a 6 (CPU)+1(iGPU) configuration with doublers so practically a total of 14 phases:

 

 

 

 

Power from the supply is delivered by the 8-pin + 4-pin header configuration and nearby we can also find a PWM fan header:

 

 

 

The audio solution on this board is named by ASRock “Purity Sound 4” and comes with the Realtek ALC1220 CODEC at its core. The documentation also notes the Texas Instruments NE5532 op-AMP, along with the visible Nichicon Fine Gold capacitors:

 

 

 

In the lower area of the board we have plenty of interfaces available:

 

-Front Panel header

-Power Button

-Reset Button

-Clear CMOS jumper

-2x USB 2.0 headers

-Power LED and speaker headers

-PWM fan header

-RGB LED header

-Addressable LED header

-TPM header

-Thunderbolt AIC header

-Front Panel Audio header

 

 

 

In the chipset area we can see the Taichi-specific design, but also the fan grill; most X570 boards do feature active cooling in order to avoid overheating and the fan speed can be tuned by choosing one of the preset profiles in UEFI BIOS:

 

 

 

The eight SATA3 connectors support SATA data cables with speeds up to 6.0Gb/s rates:

 

 

 

Moving on, we do have the Front Panel USB 3.2 Gen 2 header, but also another 4-pin PWM fan connector:

 

 

 

The 24-pin ATX power connector can be spotted as well:

 

 

 

Between the chipset cooling system and the memory slots we do have and AMD cooler LED header, and AMD cooler USB header but also another PWM fan connector:

 

 

 

Between the RAM slots and the VRM area we can spot the last two PWM headers:

 

 

 

After removing the screws we can lift up the monolithic heatsink for the M.2 slots; the actual interface between the ICs of the SSDs and the sink is large thermal pads. A small cable is connected to the heatsink for providing the RGB lighting effects:

 

 

 

The Flashback IC is used for performing the UEFI flashback function:

 

 

 

Further down we will find the IDT6V4 clock generator for PCIe 4.0 clocking:

 

 

 

The chipset fan can function at high RPMs and is powered from a header near the SATA ports:

 

 

 

The UEFI battery is a standard CR2032, manufactured by KTS:

 

 

 

The ASMedia ASM1184e IC is used for expanding PCIe lanes, as a hub:

 

 

 

The X570 Taichi is the first motherboard we are seeing with an integrated I/O shield; here we have:

 

-BIOS Flashback button

-Wi-Fi/BT 5.0 antenna ports

-PS2 mouse/keyboard combo port

-2x USB 3.2 Gen1 ports

-Clear CMOS button

-HDMI port

-4x USB 3.2 Gen1 ports

-LAN RJ-45 port (controlled by the Intel I211AT chipset)

-USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A port

-USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port

-analog audio connectors

-Optical SPDIF Out port

 

 

 

The back side of the PCB is fitted with a very large plate, that also features RGB lighting:

 

 

 

Here we will also find the Nuvoton NCT6796D SuperIO chip for monitoring:

 

 

 

After assembling and powering on the system, we can take a look at the RGB goodness, in different areas of the board:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The UEFI interface of the X570 Taichi does follow the design lines of the hardware as well; on the top area we ca access the main menus, in order to work with the system settings:

 

Main

OC Tweaker

DRAM Information

DRAM Timing Configuration

Advanced

CPU Configuration

 

Onboard Devices Configuration

Storage Configuration

Chipset SATA Configuration

ACPI Configuration

Trusted Computing

AMD CBS

AMD PBS

AMD Overclocking

Tool

RGB LED

 

SSD Secure Erase Tool

NVMe Sanitization Tool

H/W Monitor

Fan Configuration

FAN-Tastic Tuning

Security

Boot

Exit

 

The test system did incorporate a Ryzen 5 3600X 6-core CPU, two Trident Z RGB 3200MHz 8GB memory modules with 16-18-18-38 XMP 2.0 timings, a PowerColor Red Dragon Radeon RX 5700 video card but also a Patriot Memory P200 512GB 2.5’’ SSD. As a power supply we have chosen a Cooler Master 850W non-modular and the system was running the latest Windows 10 OS build as well.

 

With the help of the AIDA64 system reporting/benchmarking utility, we have extracted some more information regarding the system:

 

Motherboard

IMC

Chipset

Southbridge

Network adapters

 

As downloadable items, we do have the ASRock APP Shop, for easily installing utilities, but other items as well:

 

 

 

A separate tab does allow the user to download up-to-date drivers as well:

 

 

 

Settings regarding the interface language and download servers can be configured as well:

 

 

 

With the ASRock Polychrome Sync application, we can customize the RGB lighting settings of the board, but of other compatible hardware that can be paired as well (such as DRAM modules, VGA, SSDs or LED strips connected to the available headers):

 

 

 

Depending on the pair setting, we will have different effects to choose from:

 

 

 

The compatible components/peripherals lighting can be customized separately as well:

 

 

 

 

If we do press the small gear button, we can check the software version, the firmware version of the RGB controller but we can also choose if this application should be started up with Windows or not:

 

 

 

The A-Tuning application does allow further system performance tuning; we can choose quickly from three different presets:

 

 

 

Clocks and voltages can be altered from the OC Tweaker area, as we would have been in BIOS:

 

 

 

 

The System Info menu does allow the user to monitor the parameters:

 

 

 

In the next tab, we can easily customize the fan curves:

 

 

 

The last Settings menu does help the user to allow the application to run at startup:

 

 

 

While unrelated to ASRock, the supplied Realtek ALC1220 drivers do also come with a detailed console which helps the user to fine-tune the audio settings:

 

Main

Playback Devices – Speakers

Playback Devices – Realtek Digital Output

Recording Devices – Line-In

Device Advanced Settings

Information

 

AIDA64

 

Memory

 

CPU Queen

 

CPU PhotoW

CPU Zlib

CPU AES

CPU SHA3

FPU Julia

FPU Mandel

FPU SinJulia

FP32 Ray-Trace

FP64 Ray-Trace

CineBench R11.5

 

CineBench R15

 

CineBench R20

 

Blender Ryzen Render

 

PCMark 7

 

PCMark 8

 

PCMark 10

 

SuperPI XS

 

X265 Benchmark 1080P 64-bit Normal

 

3DMark Vantage

 

3DMark 11

 

3DMark 2013

 

Unigine Valley Ultra AA Off DX11 FHD

 

Ashes of the Singularity DX12 CPU Focused

 

Shadow of the Tomb Raider - Highest

 

 

The ASRock X570 Taichi AM4 audio implementation with the high-quality components and the ALC1220 CODEC succeeds with great results in RMAA:

 

BIOSTAR RACING X370GT7 16/44

BIOSTAR RACING X370GTN 16/44

ECS Z270H4-I 16/44

ECS Z370-LIGHTSABER 16/44

Gigabyte Z370 AORUS Ultra Gaming 16/44

SuperMicro SUPERO C7Z370-CG-IW 16/44

BIOSTAR Racing Z370GT6 16/44

BIOSTAR Racing X470GT8 16/44

MSI X470 Gaming M7 AC 16/44

ASRock X570 Taichi AM4 16/44

 

 

 

 

BIOSTAR RACING X370GT7 24/96

BIOSTAR RACING X370GTN 24/96

ECS Z270H4-I 24/96

ECS Z370-LIGHTSABER 24/96

Gigabyte Z370 AORUS Ultra Gaming 24/96

SuperMicro SUPERO C7Z370-CG-IW 24/96

BIOSTAR Racing Z370GT6 24/96

BIOSTAR Racing X470GT8 24/96

MSI X470 Gaming M7 AC 24/96

ASRock X570 Taichi AM4 24/96

 

The X570 Taichi AM4 motherboard from ASRock does incorporate the latest technologies and thanks to the latest AGESA microcode updates it does allow the Ryzen 3000 series to run at optimal boost speeds. While we consider that the latest AMD processors do run optimally at stock settings (by boosting depending on the usage conditions, which can be also named as automatic overclocking), enthusiasts can also use the UEFI settings for improving the system performance even more.

 

The board can be considered future proof thanks to the PCIe 4.0 support for both video cards, other expansion cards but also for M.2 storage; Wi-Fi 6 is also supported on the board thanks to the included AX200 160MHz wireless network adapter from Intel.

 

The massive cooling plate for the M.2 storage can help dissipate heat in a well cooled case, while the X570 chipset is actively cooled by a small fan. Some people were annoyed by the noise this fan was making at launch, but recently ASRock has introduced the option to adjust its speed in BIOS so if you select the Silent option the fan would become inaudible in most cases (the fan would still spin up at boot but stabilize only after a few seconds).

 

While we did have issues with Ryzen boards and XMP settings before, the X570 Taichi loaded the profile without any issues at all and we haven’t had any stability signs either, while running lots of banchmarks.

 

The X570 Taichi board can be found online for about 290 Euros.

ASRock X570 Taichi AM4 Motherboard is Recommended for:

 

 

We would like to thank again to ASRock for making this review possible!\