X-bit labs

Surprises from ASRock 4Core1600P35-WiFi+: Good and Bad (page 2)

Category: Mainboards

by Doors4ever

[ 05/01/2008 | 08:13 PM ]

PCB Design and Functionality

When it came to discussing the PCB layout, we had to admit that the mainboard is not that brilliant any more. It is good though that it uses a 24-pin power connector and an 8-pin ATX12V connector, especially since it proudly bears “4Core” in its model name. However, we believe that the engineers could have found a much better place for the power connector, than in the middle of the PCB:

The chipset cooling system is also quite primitive, as if it had arrived from the last century. Both heatsinks, on the chipset North Bridge:

…and the chipset South Bridge heat up a lot and would be better off with some additional cooling:

This is where the next drawback comes from: there are only two fan connectors, one of which will most likely be taken y the processor cooler. And where shall we plug the additional case fans in?