Tag: PCIe 5.0

  • Minisforum BD790i: Mobile AMD X3D Chips for Desktop Use

    Minisforum BD790i: Mobile AMD X3D Chips for Desktop Use

    Key Takeaways

    1. Mobile AMD X3D APU: The BD790i X3D features the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D, a powerful mobile processor optimized for desktop use.

    2. Unique Cooling Solution: Unlike typical mini PC motherboards, it has a robust heatsink and supports a 12 cm active fan for improved cooling.

    3. Enhanced Thermal Management: The motherboard effectively manages heat with dedicated cooling for VRM, memory slots, and M.2 SSDs, making it suitable for NAS setups.

    4. Robust Expansion Options: It includes a full-sized PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for a discrete GPU, along with various connectivity options like HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB 3.2.

    5. Pre-order and Pricing: The BD790i X3D is available for pre-order at $599, with a $50 discount, and is expected to ship by mid-March.

    The Minisforum MoDT lineup has welcomed a fresh member: the BD790i X3D. As the name suggests, this model brings the mobile AMD X3D APU into the desktop realm, starting with the Ryzen 9 7945HX3D. If you’re not already acquainted with this platform, it’s essentially a desktop board that utilizes mobile processors.

    Unique Cooling Solution

    In contrast to standard mobile motherboards commonly found in mini PCs or laptops, the MoDT range from Minisforum does not come with a built-in heat spreader. Instead, they have combined the mobile chip with a more robust heatsink. The cooling arrangement on the new BD790i X3D even supports a 12 cm active fan, although it remains unclear if third-party coolers can also work with the motherboard.

    Enhanced Thermal Management

    The cooler that comes installed is also responsible for managing the heat produced by the VRM and memory slots. Moreover, there’s a dedicated fan and heatsink for the two M.2 slots, which makes this motherboard a great choice for a NAS setup that can truly benefit from PCIe 5.0 SSDs.

    The Ryzen 9 7945HX3D, which is soldered onto the board, ranks among the quickest mobile gaming processors currently on the market, thanks to its 3D V-Cache technology. It also includes the Radeon 610M, but since this RDNA 2 integrated GPU only has 2 compute units, it is best suited for basic rendering tasks.

    Robust Expansion Options

    On the plus side, the Minsiforum BD790i X3D features a full-sized PCIe 5.0 x16 slot that allows users to add a discrete GPU for enhanced gaming performance (PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 7600 currently priced at $249.99 on Amazon). The motherboard also boasts a solid variety of connectivity options, including one HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort 1.4, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, one 2.5G Ethernet, and two USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports. For wireless features, it includes built-in Bluetooth 5.3 and WiFi 6E.

    Minisforum has started accepting pre-orders for the new BD790i X3D motherboard, with introductory pricing set at $599, which offers a $50 discount off the standard price. The pre-ordered products are anticipated to begin shipping in the middle of March.

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    Minisforum BD790i: Mobile AMD X3D Chips for Desktop Use
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  • Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition Launches in China

    Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition Launches in China

    The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition has made its debut in China. This laptop is among the first in the world to come with a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, which promises faster data transfer speeds. To put it in perspective, a PCIe Gen 5 SSD can provide about twice the performance of a PCIe 4.0 SSD due to the new interface’s higher data transfer rate of 3,938 MB/s per lane compared to the 1,969 MB/s of its predecessor.

    The Need for Cooling Solutions

    Despite the benefits of the faster data transfer, there are challenges that come with it. Specifically, PCIe 5.0 SSDs need effective cooling to maintain their enhanced performance, and Lenovo seems to have tackled this with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Aura. The laptop is equipped with a Gen 5 SSD that includes a dedicated heatsink, reducing the likelihood of thermal throttling. For instance, the 1 TB PNY CS3150 XLR8 Gen 5 SSD is currently priced at $152.99 on Amazon.

    Impressive Storage Capabilities

    The SSD that comes in the 2025 ThinkPad X1 Carbon Aura is said to be the SK hynix PCB01, launched back in March. Featuring the Alistar ACNT093 controller, the 2 TB version of this SSD boasts a sequential read speed of up to 14,000 MB/s and a write speed that reaches up to 12,000 MB/s.

    In addition, Lenovo is also providing the 2025 ThinkPad X1 Carbon Aura with a 1 TB storage option, which appears to utilize the same Gen 5 SSD. Beyond the high-speed storage, the laptop is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, a capable mid-range processor from the Lunar Lake series.

    Additional Features and Pricing

    Among other noteworthy features of the laptop are its OLED display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, a 57 Wh battery, 32 GB of LPDDR5x RAM, a magnesium alloy chassis, and a variety of ports. The starting price is set at CNY 15,999, which is approximately $2,200. Lenovo has already rolled it out to the global market, and it made its first appearance at IFA 2024.

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