Biostar’s newest entry within the motherboard area carries a reputation we’re all accustomed to within the X670E Valkryie. The Valkyrie is the flagship providing from Biostar and, in contrast to the opposite board companions, the corporate presently solely provides this one board on the X670E chipset. On paper, the Valkyrie comes with virtually the whole lot you’re more likely to be on the lookout for on the X670E platform. You get a number of PCIe 5.0 slots, a number of M.2 sockets, strong energy supply to help any AM5 processor, and a top quality audio codec. Speaking strictly specs and options, it ranks up there with all the different equally priced boards.
On the efficiency entrance, the X670E Valkyrie additionally did nicely, maintaining with the opposite examined boards throughout most of our assessments. I used to be a bit stunned with its total efficiency, as we have been pressured to run DDR5-4800 for testing as a substitute of DDR5-5600, which we usually use. Sadly, our GSkill reminiscence package didn’t work at XMP/EXPO settings to finish the complete testing suite, nor throughout stress testing. The corporate did present us with an up to date BIOS that labored with our package after we completed testing, however that doesn’t imply all points have been ironed out with the numerous DDR5 kits presently available on the market. With reminiscence compatibility nonetheless a priority (earlier critiques had comparable struggles), the Valkyrie received’t make it on our finest motherboards record, nevertheless it’s nonetheless competent at JEDEC reminiscence speeds.
Reminiscence limitations with the present BIOS apart, The Valkyrie is usually well-equipped. From the 2 PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 sockets to the 105A SPS MOSFETs, it has come to play with the large boys. You received’t discover any USB4 (40 Gbps) ports, and Wi-Fi isn’t included. In the event you require these options, you may add growth playing cards, however that may after all add to the $499.99 present real-world worth of the board (although the MSRP is “roughly $400 US”). Regardless that it had a big reminiscence velocity deficit in testing, efficiency in comparison with the opposite boards was neck and neck for probably the most half, and this board was even our quickest end in some assessments.
In the event you’re curious concerning the platform variations between B650E/B650 and X670E/X670, please discuss with the X670 Motherboard Overview article. Earlier than we get into all the main points, here’s a full record of the X670E Valkyrie’s specs direct from Biostar.
Specs: Biostar X670E Valkyrie
| Socket | AM5 |
| Chipset | X670E |
| Kind Issue | ATX |
| Voltage Regulator | 22 Part (18x 105A SPS MOSFETs for Vcore) |
| Video Ports | (1) DisplayPort (v1.4) |
| Row 5 – Cell 0 | (1) HDMI (v2.1) |
| USB Ports | (1) USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps) Kind-C |
| Row 7 – Cell 0 | (9) USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) |
| Community Jacks | (1) 2.5 GbE |
| Audio Jacks | (5) Analog + SPDIF |
| Legacy Ports/Jacks | ✗ |
| Different Ports/Jack | ✗ |
| PCIe x16 | (2) v5.0 (x16/x0, x8/x8) |
| Row 13 – Cell 0 | (1) v 4.0 (x4) |
| PCIe x8 | ✗ |
| PCIe x4 | ✗ |
| PCIe x1 | ✗ |
| CrossFire/SLI | ✗ |
| DIMM Slots | (4) DDR5 6000+(OC), 128GB Capability |
| M.2 Sockets | (1) PCIe 5.0 x4 (128 Gbps) / PCIe (as much as 80 mm) |
| Row 20 – Cell 0 | (1) PCIe 5.0 x4 (128 Gbps) / PCIe (as much as 80 mm) |
| Row 21 – Cell 0 | (2) PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps) / PCIe (as much as 80 mm) |
| U.2 Ports | ✗ |
| SATA Ports | (6) SATA3 6 Gbps (Helps RAID 0/1/10) |
| USB Headers | (1) USB v3.2 Gen 2×2, Kind-C (20 Gbps) |
| Row 25 – Cell 0 | (1) USB v3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) |
| Row 26 – Cell 0 | (2) USB v2.0 (480 Mbps) |
| Fan/Pump Headers | (6) 4-Pin (CPU, CPU water cooling System fan) |
| RGB Headers | (2) aRGB (3-pin) |
| Row 29 – Cell 0 | (1) RGB (4-pin) |
| Diagnostics Panel | (1) 2-digit Debug LED |
| Inner Button/Swap | Energy, Reset and Clear CMOS buttons, LN2 change |
| SATA Controllers | ✗ |
| Ethernet Controller(s) | (1) Intel I225-V |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | ✗ |
| USB Controllers | ✗ |
| HD Audio Codec | Realtek ALC1220 |
| DDL/DTS | ✗ / ✗ |
| Guarantee | 3 Years |
Contained in the Field of the Biostar X670E Valkyrie
The accent stack with the Valkyrie consists of solely the fundamentals and nothing further. Beneath is an entire record of the included equipment:
- (4) SATA cables
- Driver disk
- Person Guide
- Sensible connector
Design of the Biostar X670E Valkyrie
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The X670E Valkyrie sports activities a matte black 8-layer PCB design, with black heatsinks and shrouds masking nearly all of the board. Throughout the shroud above the IO bits is an RGB LED function displaying off the Valkyrie branding and a few gold accent strains. Extra RGBs are hiding underneath the chipset heatsink. Collectively, they provide off a pleasant RGB glow that may brighten up the within of your chassis. Though the Valkyrie seems good, different boards at an identical worth level do give off extra of a premium vibe with higher-end finishes.
Specializing in the highest half of the board, we get a greater have a look at the massive heatpipe-connected VRM heatsinks and the Valkyrie branding on the IO cowl. The VRM heatsinks are loaded with vast mitered cutouts to extend floor space and efficiency. Spoiler alert: These do a effective job holding the ability bits beneath operating nicely inside specification. Above the VRM heatsinks are two 8-pin EPS connectors (one required) to energy the processor.
Persevering with proper previous the socket space, we run into 4 strengthened DDR5 DRAM slots with locking mechanisms on each side. Biostar lists help as much as DDR5-6000, which is on the low facet comparatively, as many different boards help as much as DDR5-6400 or extra. That mentioned, we had a number of bother with our thest configuration, in that we may solely run the JEDEC specs steady throughout each reminiscence kits. This didn’t have an effect on efficiency in most assessments, and we do anticipate BIOS updates to mitigate the problem. For now, if purchase a set of sticks on their reminiscence QVL record and you need to be effective, nevertheless it’s additionally a brief record.
Shifting previous the DRAM slots, we run into our first three (of six) 4-pin fan headers. All headers help PWM- and DC-controlled followers, with changes coming via the BIOS or the Aurora software program. I don’t see the ability output listed on the web site or within the guide, so it’s finest to imagine the minimal of 1A/12W, which might even be on the low facet in comparison with different boards with confirmed 2A/3A 24W/36W output on not less than among the headers.
Shifting down the correct edge, we run into three RGB headers. The highest connector is 4-pin RGB, whereas the underside two are 3-pin ARGB. Management over these headers can be discovered within the BIOS or the Aurora software program. Subsequent, we run into energy and reset buttons that gentle up the “P” for energy and “R” for reset. Beneath is the 24-pin ATX connector to energy the motherboard, a entrance panel USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps) connector, and a system fan header. Not like many different boards on this era, the Valkyrie doesn’t record help for high-power/velocity PD charging by way of the entrance header. To the left of the DRAM sockets and above the highest PCIe slot is a BIOS change.
The VRMs on the X670E Valkyrie are among the extra strong and succesful we’ll see on X670. For Vcore, there are a complete of 18 phases. Energy comes from the 8-pin EPS connector(s) and onto the Renesas RAA229628 controller. Energy then strikes to the 18 105A Renesas RAA22010540 SPS MOSFETs. The 1,890A accessible for Vcore is greater than sufficient to deal with the flagship AMD Ryzen 9 7950X at inventory and whereas overclocked.
Shifting on to the underside of the board, on the left facet, hidden beneath a metallic shroud/heatsink is the Realtek ALC1220 codec, together with just a few devoted gold audio caps seen. Many boards close to this worth supply the newest era Realtek codecs (ALC4080/4082), so I want to have seen this on the Valkyrie too. That mentioned, most customers will discover the last-gen flagship codec greater than adequate for his or her audio wants.
In the course of the board are three strengthened full-length PCIe slots, together with 4 M.2 sockets blended in and across the similar space. The highest two slots supply their lanes from the CPU and run at PCIe x16/x0 or x8/x8. The underside slot procures lanes from the chipset and runs at PCIe 4.0 x4.
For M.2-type storage, the highest two CPU-connected sockets disguise between the primary two PCIe slots. Each sockets help PCIe 5.0 x4 (128 Gbps) speeds, with the highest socket (M2M_CPU_1) supporting as much as 80mm modules and the second (M2M_CPU_2) supporting as much as 110mm drives. The final two M2 sockets (M2M_SB_1/_2) join via the chipset, and each run at PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps) and deal with as much as 80mm gadgets. RAID help isn’t talked about for NVMe storage however is for the SATA ports (RAID0/1/10).
Persevering with our journey to the correct fringe of the board, we run into six SATA ports for extra conventional/slower storage wants. Right here you’ll additionally discover an LN2 change, a transparent CMOS jumper, and a transparent CMOS button. Throughout the underside of the board are a number of extra uncovered headers. Right here you’ll discover the everyday collection of extra USB ports, RGB headers, and 4-pin fan headers. Beneath is an entire record from left to proper:
- Entrance panel audio
- (2) 4-pin System Fan headers
- COME port
- Thunderbolt header
- (2) USB 2.0 headers
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 header
- Debug LED
- Entrance Panel
- Speaker header
The rear IO on the X670E Valkyrie comes pre-installed and connected to the motherboard. It sports activities a black background with white labeling on the ports, which makes issues straightforward to learn. There are 10 USB ports whole; 9 10 Gbps Kind-A ports and one 20 Gbps Kind-C port. Sadly, there are not any 40 Gbps ports. On the left are two video outputs (DisplayPort and HDMI), together with a Sensible BIOS replace button. Above the USB ports is the Wi-Fi antenna connections, however notice the board doesn’t include Wi-Fi! You’ll must buy and set up your individual within the Key-E slot. On the correct is the 5-plug analog plus SPDIF audio stack and final, the two.5 GbE port.
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