Introduction
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.
Official product link:
https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/X470%20Taichi%20Ultimate/index.asp
Packaging and accessories
The X470 Taichi Ultimate is packaged in a full color box that follows the overall clockwork design elements of the motherboard. The front side opens revealing the motherboard through a plastic window. At the middle there are printed both the ASRock name and logo as well as the name of the motherboard.
The back of the box presents in detail the features of the motherboard. The lower right corner is dedicated to the full specification of the motherboard, on the upper right corner there is a full top down photo of the motherboard and the I/O panel. The left side has the main features of the motherboard presented using artistic images of the components.
The sides of the box are simple, here only the name of the motherboard and the ASRock logo are present alongside the overall design used for the packaging.
Accessories
The product comes with the following accessories:
– 1x User Manual
– 1x Quick Installation Guide,
– 1x Support CD
– 1x I/O Shield
– 4x SATA 6 Gb/s cables
– 2x WiFi antenna
– 2x M.2 mounting screws
– 1x SLI hard bridge
– 1x ASRock sticker
– 1x ASRock branded postcard
Specifications
MODEL: X470 Taichi Ultimate
CPU SUPPORT: AMD AM4 Socket Ryzen Series CPUs (Summit Ridge, Raven Ridge and Pinnacle Ridge)
SOCKET: AM4
CHIPSET: AMD Promontory X470
POWER DESIGN:
– CPU: 16 Power Phase design
– Memory: 2 Power Phase design
FORM FACTOR: ATX 30.5 x 24.4 cm
INTEGRATED GRAPHICS: No
MEMORY: 4x DDR4 DIMM Slots
– DDR4 3466+(OC) / 3200(OC) / 2933/2667/2400/2133 ECC & non-ECC, un-buffered memory
– Max. capacity of system memory: 64GB
BIOS: 256Mb AMI UEFI Legal BIOS with GUI support
Expansion Slots:
– 2x PCI Express 3.0 x16 Slots (single at x16 (PCIE1); dual at x8 (PCIE1) / x8 (PCIE3))
– 1x PCI Express 2.0 x16 Slot (PCIE5 @ x4 mode)
– 2x PCI Express 2.0 x1 Slots (Flexible PCIe)
STORAGE:
– 6x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s Connectors, support RAID (RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID 10), NCQ, AHCI and Hot Plug
– 2x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s Connectors by ASMedia ASM1061, support NCQ, AHCI and Hot Plug
– 1x Ultra M.2 Socket (M2_1)
– 1x M.2 Socket (M2_2)
NETWORKING:
– 1x 10 Gigabit LAN (AQUANTIA® AQC107)
– 1x Intel® Gigabit LAN (1 x Intel® I211AT)
– 1x Intel® 802.11ac Wi-Fi Module
PORTS:
– 2 x Antenna Ports
– 1x PS/2 Mouse/Keyboard Port
– 1x HDMI Port
– 1x Optical SPDIF Out Port
– 1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A Port (10 Gb/s) (Supports ESD Protection)
– 1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C Port (10 Gb/s) (Supports ESD Protection)
– 6x USB 3.1 Gen1 Ports (Supports ESD Protection)
– 2x RJ-45 LAN Ports with LED (ACT/LINK LED and SPEED LED)
– 1x Clear CMOS Button
– HD Audio Jacks: Rear Speaker / Central / Bass / Line in / Front Speaker / Microphone (Gold Audio Jacks)
AUDIO: 7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection (Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec)
FAN HEADERS: 5x 4-Pin
Features:
ASRock Super Alloy
– XXL Aluminum Alloy Heatsink
– Premium 60A Power Choke
– Premium Memory Alloy Choke (Reduces 70% core loss compared to iron powder choke)
– Dual-Stack MOSFET (DSM)
– Nichicon 12K Black Caps (100% Japan made high quality conductive polymer capacitors)
– I/O Armor
– Matte Black PCB
– High Density Glass Fabric PCB
– 2oz Copper PCB
ASRock USB 3.1 Gen2
– ASRock USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A Port (10 Gb/s)
– ASRock USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C Port (10 Gb/s)
LAN
– AQUANTIA® 10G LAN
– Intel® 802.11ac WiFi
ASRock Steel Slots
ASRock Ultra M.2 (PCIe Gen3 x4 & SATA3)
ASRock Ultra USB Power
ASRock Full Spike Protection (for all USB, Audio, LAN Ports)
Visual inspection
The X470 Taichi Ultimate is one of the top of the line motherboards that uses the X470 AMD chipset. The overall design of this motherboard is centered around a mechanical system, many elements bearing similarities with the inner works of a mechanical watch. As with many high end motherboards, the Taichi Ultimate has plastic covers for both the I/O panel and the audio system.
The X470 Taichi Ultimate uses a 12 + 4 power delivery system that is composed out of Texas Instruments CSD87350 NexFET MOSFETs and a IR35201 PWM controller in 6 + 2 phase mode.
The IR35201 PWM controller phases are doubled from a 6 + 2 configuration to a 12 + 4 configuration by eight IR3598 doubles.
The memory power delivery system is a 2 phase configuration that is managed by the uPI Semi. uP1674P PWM controller. The VRM used are NexFET MOSFETs made by Texas Instruments.
The power for the CPU is delivered through a dual connector setup composed out of a single 8 Pin and a single 4 Pin connector. Both connectors combined are able to deliver well above the specification of any Ryzen CPU. The two connectors are installed on different layers of the PCB. This method is used to deliver a more stable current to the components of the board.
The VRM system is cooled by two heatsinks that feature an all-aluminum construction with a two-tone angular design and sculpted shapes and fins on all sides. Each heatsink is held in place over the VRM with two metallic screws each.
The motherboard features 5 (five) 4-pin Molex connectors, two are on the right side of the upper VRM heatsink while a third one is between the 8 + 4 Pin CPU power connectors. The other two connectors are spaced out; one is installed next to the RAM slots below the internal USB 3.0 connector. The last 4-Pin Molex connector is placed on the lower side of the motherboard next to the RGB LED connector and the USB 2.0 internal headers.
The right side features four memory DIMM slots supporting a maximum of 64GB of DDR4 RAM. The rated speeds available are starting at 2133MHz and goes up to DDR4 3466+(OC). The maximum frequency depends on the used memory Kit, settings dialed in as well as the CPU installed.
Next to the DIMM slots there is a single internal USB 3.0 header alongside the 24-Pin Power cable slot. Lower we have a single 4-Pin Molex power connector.
The two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots used in the case of the X470 Taichi Ultimate are reinforced with aluminum to reduce graphics card sagging as well as to prevent any bending of the PCIe slot.
Between the two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots there are installed the Bios battery and the MXIC 256Mbit Bios ROM chip. Around the Bios battery there are placed the ISC 9CRS4883BKLF clock generator and the ASMedia ASM1184e PCI-E hub.
On the back of the motherboard there is the NuvuTon NCT6779D SuperI/O chip, this is responsible for the system management. In the case of the X470 Taichi Ultimate, this chip is installed on the back of the PCB due to lack of space in between the PCIe slots.
The audio system uses the Realtek ALC1220 codec as well as five Nichicon electrolytic audio capacitors that are part of the Fine Gold series. The whole audio system is completely isolated from the rest of the PCB to reduce interference; the divide is done by a line that is also illuminated by LEDs when the system is powered.
The motherboard offers two SATA M.2 slots for PCI-E M.2 SSDs, the first one is positioned under the CPU socket and benefits from a preinstalled heatsink. The second and last M.2 slot is placed below the last PCIe 3.0 x16 slot.
In terms of storage options, the X470 Taichi Ultimate is equipped with six SATA3 6.0 Gb/s Connectors that support RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID 10. An extra two SATA3 6.0 Gb/s Connectors are controlled by the ASMedia ASM1061 chip. The second internal USB 3.0 header is located below the SATA connectors and is right angled to provide an easier connection.
On the backside, we have the I/O panel.
The I/O panel is as follows (from left to right):
– 2x Antenna Ports
– 1x PS/2 Mouse/Keyboard Port
– 1x HDMI Port
– 1x Optical SPDIF Out Port
– 1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A Port (10 Gb/s) (Supports ESD Protection)
– 1x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C Port (10 Gb/s) (Supports ESD Protection)
– 6x USB 3.1 Gen1 Ports (Supports ESD Protection)
– 2x RJ-45 LAN Ports with LED (ACT/LINK LED and SPEED LED)
– 1x Clear CMOS Button
– HD Audio Jacks: Rear Speaker / Central / Bass / Line in / Front Speaker / Microphone (Gold Audio Jacks)
Bios
The bios utilizes a simple interface, although most motherboards today use two Bios modes, the first one being the EZ Mode destined for casual users. The X470 Taichi Ultimate does not offer such interface. Instead, the bios will boot into the standard advanced bios of the motherboard. Like most motherboards from ASRock, the bios also has design elements from the overall style of the motherboard, in this case the light blue and grey color scheme is used in combination with a cog/sprocket wallpaper.
Testing
The following system was used to test the motherboard:
– CPU: AMD Ryzen 1700X @ 3.6GHz
– 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: Noctua NH-L9x65 SE-AM4
– Case: Phanteks Enthoo Luxe
– OS: Windows 10 64-Bit (After April Update)
The processor was used with the stock turbo frequency of 3.6 GHz and overclocked to 4 GHz with a core voltage of 1.355. The overclocking starts at 3.8 GHz and with each motherboard I try to achieve the highest safe overclocking possible.
The RAM memory was used at its default frequency
Software used for testing the motherboard:
– 3D Mark – FireStrike, CloudGate, IceStorm.
– CineBench r11.5
– SuperPi mod 1.5
– wPrime v1.55
– Grand Theft Auto V
– Deus Ex Mankind Divided
– The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
3D Mark
Overall Score
Fire Strike
Cloud Gate
Ice Storm
CineBench r15
SuperPi mod 1.5
wPrime v1.55
Grand Theft Auto V
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Deus Ex Mankind Divided
Final thoughts
The ASRock X470 Taichi Ultimate is designed from the start as a performance oriented motherboard, having one of the best VRM layout and designs on the market. The overall aesthetic of the board is similar with that of the previous Taichi motherboards but this time having a toned down color scheme.
The performance is good and the overclocking process is done with ease thanks to the 16 Power Phase design for the CPU and 2 Power Phase design for the Memory. The X470 Taichi Ultimate was able to get the Ryzen 1700X up to 4.0Ghz with no trouble. The 16 Power Phase design is aimed at extreme overclocking enthusiasts but it will offer great stability for the gamers and casual overclocking.
The main differences between the X470 Taichi Ultimate and the X470 Taichi are the onboard Power and Reset buttons as well as the 10G Ethernet port, the Aquantia 10G LAN.
In conclusion, the ASRock X470 Taichi Ultimate is an excellent choice for those who want a motherboard that can both perform in extreme overclocking and also offer all the features available on the market right now. The main feature of the X470 Taichi is the power delivery system and the overclocking potential for both CPUs and memory while also integrating a stylish design and subtle RGB elements that can be configured in the Bios or via the Software provided by the manufacturer.
