Price comparison between MSI motherboards with AMD X570, X470 and Intel Z390 chipset
They publish a table that compares the price of motherboards with the AMD X570, AMD X570 and Intel Z390 chipset from MSI, showing the toll of PCIe 4.0.
Before Computex 2019, MSI already warned that the price of new AMD motherboards with X570 chipset would be expensive. This threat has been materialized with extremely high prices for models even with low performance. Although most prices point to more than 200 euros, It seems that some specific model will be below.
The MSI X570-A PRO will cost 179 euros and is the cheapest of which we have evidence to date. We do not know how it will be, but it will possibly have limited VRM phases, focusing on the Ryzen 5. The more we go up in terms of performance, the more expensive they will be. But perhaps the most interesting is the Cowcotland price comparison table between X570, X470 and Intel Z390 motherboards.
AMD motherboards considerably more expensive than similar ones from Intel
During these weeks, with the price leaks, some comments said that Intel motherboards are expensive. Indeed, some top Intel Z390 models are expensive. But the reality is that there are also very cheap models. Well, the French media table makes it clear that Intel motherboards are cheaper.
We see in the table the Z390-A PRO, with a price of 139 eros, while the X570-A PRO costs 179 euros, which is an extra cost of 40 euros. If we go higher we find the MEG Z390 ACE costs 299 euros, while the similar model from AMD, the MPG X570 ACE costs 389 euros, which is an extra cost of 90 euros.
At the top of the range in Intel and AMD we have the Godlike. This motherboard with Z390 chipset costs 699 euros, while the X570 model would cost 777 euros. This supposes an extra cost of about 80 euros.
But it is that comparing with X470 motherboards, the difference is even more important. The simplest X470 model is the Gaming Plus for 149.90 euros. While MSI's most expensive model with X470 chipset is the Gaming M7 AC for 279.90 euros.
Are these prices justified by PCIe 4.0?
Obviously not. AMD's obsession with differentiating itself from Intel with the implementation of PCIe 4.0 does not make the slightest sense. This data interface for real purposes in graphics can at most give an extra 5 FPS, which does not add anything. The only part that is saved is by the M.2 NVMe SSDs that will offer higher speeds, but it is not enough justification.
All this seasoned with the fact that the chipset requires a dedicated fan for cooling. The bet of the PCIe 4.0 ends up having an impact on the pocket of the users. But on the positive side, we can buy an X470 motherboard, update the BIOS and voila.
To all this, I want to raise one thing. Is PCIe 4.0 justified for two mid-range graphics and four M.2 NVMe SSDs? (The Radeon VII does not count because it is out of market price wise and there is no stock)
