Testing
The following system was used to test the motherboard:
– CPU: Intel 9900K @ 4.7 GHz
– RAM: Ballistix Tactical Tracer 16GB DDR4 @ 2666MHz
– GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founder’s Edition
– HDD: WD 1TB Blue
– SSD: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB
– PSU: Seasonic Snow Silent 750W Platinum
– CPU Cooler: Cooler Master MasterLiquid 240
– Case: Phanteks Enthoo Luxe
– OS: Windows 10 64-Bit (After May Update)
The processor was used with the stock frequency of 3.6 GHz and the factory turbo frequency of 4.7 GHz allowed by the Intel B365 chipset.
Software used for testing the motherboard:
– 3D Mark – FireStrike, CloudGate, IceStorm.
– CineBench r11.5
– SuperPi mod 1.5
– Metro Exodus
– Shadow of the Tomb Raider
– Grand Theft Auto V
– The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
3D Mark
Overall Score
Fire Strike
CineBench r15
SuperPi mod 1.5
Grand Theft Auto V
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Metro Exodus
Shadow Of The Tomb Raider
Final thoughts
The ASRock B365 Pro4 is an affordable motherboard that uses the mid-range Intel B365 chipset and is priced at around 96 US Dollar or Euro. This model is packed with features that are often found on high-end motherboards and at a premium in terms of pricing.
The B365 Pro4 model offers two M.2 SSD slots and a third one that is dedicated for a Wi-fi network card that can be added later on. One of the SSD Slots also has its own metallic heatsink that will provide passive cooling for the SSD. There are also six SATA 6 ports available, placed in convenient locations, and thus, helping to a degree the cable management.
The overall performance of this motherboard is good, and it is what makes this model a good choice for a mid-range gaming system. While all the testing was done using an Intel i9 9900K CPU, a mid-range CPU is recommended with this type of motherboards. This is not only because the Intel B365 chipset does not allow for CPU overclocking, but also because the VRM components were not designed for a high-power CPU.
This is showcased by the high VRM temperatures when the CPU was being used by a benchmark. The MOSFETs would reach a temperature of 100 ºC, at which point, the CPU would start thermal throttling. During gaming, the 9900K would heat up the MOSFETs to approximately 78ºC.
In conclusion, the ASRock B365 Pro4 is an affordable motherboard with a good design that will match any modern gaming system. The performance in both games and synthetic benchmarks is good and the system was stable throughout the entire testing period.
this was very informative,,,,nice
Thanks!
I would like to know if you have any ideas about adding some sort of cooling solution where a second heatsink would normally go at a right angle to the giant vrm one. I think all I could do is some sort of stick on solution as no holes are supplied to connect any sort of aluminum block type heatsink. I find it odd that they felt it was ok to not include one on this board when it’s on every other. Can you explain what their thoughts may have been. Also what is under the smaller thinner heatsink? Not the M2 one but the other. Thanks you for the review and hopefully any help you can offer.
Dan
The best and cheapest way to provide some cooling for those VRMs is to add a small copper made heatsink that is using self adhesive thermal pads. You have plenty of choices, but make sure it is a self adhesive thermal pad or strip and not glue that you have to apply on the VRM.
Their thoughts were simple, the motherboard was designed to be as cheap as possible for the end user, so they had to minimalize the cost of production without affecting the performance of the board.
As for your question, if you mean the lower right heatsink, that is cooling the chipset of the motherboard.