New ASRock Mother Board Classifications

[parsec]

ASRock has changed the way their mother boards are displayed on their selection page, although the previous style (All of them) still exists. Check out the new categories: ASRock > Motherboard Series

We now have All, Extreme, Overclocking, Gaming, and BTC.

As I looked through these entries, a few things came to mind. I wonder what others think about this, please add your thoughts in this thread. Keep in mind the list of boards reflects only boards currently in production.

The five categories, although basically obvious to PC enthusiasts, are not described at all. Such as, what does Extreme mean? How much does one category differ from the others? Can you only OC on Overclocking boards? Should gamers only use Gaming boards?

Excluding the All category, AMD boards are not represented much in other categories. Seven AMD boards in the Extreme category, two in Gaming, and zero in Overclocking and BTC. That's 9 total AMD board, vs 31 total Intel boards.

In total, the Overclocking category has four entries. Gaming has ten entries. That is out of a total of almost 150 different boards in the All category.

The number of boards in each category (besides All) seems small to me. As a marketing tool, I didn't get the point.

OTOH, I may be looking at this wrong. Are these categories more of a reality check? No, not that AMD is not worthy as a gaming or overclocking platform, but that ASRock simply does not make any specific purpose gaming and overclocking boards on AMD platforms. Also, the number of highly specific purpose boards on Intel Platforms is not very large.

So is this refreshing honesty, or a shot a hole in their foot situation?

[Spyone1]

Re: New ASRock Mother Board Classifications

I am not sure they are not just helping us sort them out, making them easier to find for the customers.

If you look closely at the categories, it is not just "Extreme", "Gaming" etc, but "Extreme Series", "Gaming Series" etc. The word "Series" is just very small.

If you go to each category, it is the names (or in the case of Gaming, the type) of motherboard.

The Extreme category has boards with "Extreme" in the name.
The Gaming category has boards that are set up (in their thinking) for gaming, with things like the Gaming Mouse Port which is apparently a hyper-sensitive USB mouse port.
The Overclocking category has boards with OC (Overclocking) in their names.

I think they are just coming up with a new way of sorting them, tbh.

[- wardog -]

Re: New ASRock Mother Board Classifications

Cripe parsec, thats probably in response to us RTFM for replies, page hit counter gone berserk, went and rolled itself into the PR dept, someone there said lookie lookie and PR then commandeered that "old' landing page

Although I'll credit someone there at ASRockfor having a funny bone. Gonzo PSU.
(Screenie lifted from the Fatal1ty 990FX Killer User Manual:)

[profJim]

Re: New ASRock Mother Board Classifications

I want a pair of their 65,535 rpm cooling fans for my system.

[- wardog -]

Re: New ASRock Mother Board Classifications

I want a pair of their 65,535 rpm cooling fans for my system.

Nothing like having a V-22 hangered next to your desk. And no Corsair, don't even go there. The green rings are pretty and all, but ........

[parsec]

Re: New ASRock Mother Board Classifications

OMG wardog, that is... you know what hilarious!!! HWiNFO has nothing on those BIOS sensors readings!

I agree about the PR department, although they are clearly separate from the Marketing department, whom wish to sell more things, PR be danged! That is, given my theory about the categories sending potential customers elsewhere.

Oh yes, those are some mighty fine PSU voltage readings! Those boards aren't called "Killer" for nothing, maybe the point is you can't kill them with way off spec voltages. I knew that had to be from an AMD board, given the CPU temperatures at 2.00V, which I'm sure was at idle (shameless hit on AMD CPU temp readings.)

Alas ProfJim, as I'm sure you know, 65535 in decimal is FFFF in hex, and 1111111111111111 in binary, so that data word is full of 1's... Gawd what a nerd I am, and a drag... Certainly I have fans that sound like they are running at 65535 RPM.

OMG, I must throw this in for you ProfJim, my Toilet Tissue Test Testimonial.

Recently, I thought I felt air exiting a small vent on my PC case, revealing positive pressure, when I thought I had negative pressure (think about that term). How to check that... eureka, I ran to the bathroom for you know what, TP!! Sure enough, a small piece of TP would not stick to that vent, it was blown away, whereas an intake fan easily... negative pressured the TP to the intake vent. I now have a nicely cut piece of TP attached to the exhaust vent of my PSU (you know which one) to indicate if the fan is running.

To those who would jest about the TP test, try it, you may be surprised to discover which way the wind blows within your case.

OMG Spyone1, you are becoming an extreme literalist as I am, and trying to cure myself of, at least to some degree.

I agree with your opinion, I'm just saying that it may be a mistake, at least in the eyes of some people. For example, another board manufacture could say, "All our boards are great for OCing your CPU, not just a handful like...". While the ASR categories are really more honest, to the low information customer they probably won't be. Like the people that want to OC an 8350 to 5GHz on a 4 + 1 phase board, without a heat sink of the VRMs.

[profJim]

Re: New ASRock Mother Board Classifications

Negative pressure is normal on the planet Htrae aka bizaro world.

For those who haven't seen my not so famous TP post:


Making assumptions can be dangerous but I'm going to assume that certain members have a good sense of humor.

Q: profJim, what is your reference brand of TP?
A: Any 2-ply, scented, quilted brand that I have.

Q: Is one to assume this is to be accomplished using fresh off the roll, dry and FMF, sheets?
A: Use whatever makes you happy. FMF? flow microfluorometry?

Parsec said "Filters restrict air flow a lot, at least 50%."
This sounds high but it might be true.

The attached picture isn't quite what I have in mind, but it shows the fan's airflow.





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Please specify your choice of colors.

**edit**
Sorry, the response has been overwhelming and the TP Holder is sold out and is no longer available.

[parsec]

Re: New ASRock Mother Board Classifications

Aw, drat, I missed it again, how could I!?!? That's Ok, I still have my Ronco version of the TP holder, that even works with the IBuyJunk brand of PC fan TP (metric, not English measurements.)

[- wardog -]

Re: New ASRock Mother Board Classifications

Ronco, wow. One of, if not THE, original late-nite hawkers. Ron Popeil.

They still sell the Pocket Fisherman. Worse yet maybe is I still have one under a bunk in the camper, jic.