Gigabyte A620M Gaming X Review: Who Needs Bells and Whistles?
After a number of months of testing most costly motherboards, we lastly have the Gigabyte A620M Gaming X, one of many most cost-effective motherboards we have examined on our bench this 12 months. In comparison with different Ryzen 7000 motherboards we have checked out, it lacks some options. full platform options plus CPU overclocking (you possibly can overclock reminiscence). But it surely covers the fundamentals – principally.
These entry-level priced motherboards are there to get you into the platform with sufficient options to have the ability to use the newest processors. This Micro ATX motherboard prices underneath $120 and helps the newest 7000 Collection (AM5) processors, together with 170W flagship-class SKUs just like the Ryzen 9 7950X. It has 4 SATA ports, an M.2 socket, an inexpensive audio codec, and a couple of.5GbE (no wi-fi right here). However at this value, particularly with this chipset, you may solely get PCIe 4.0, not PCIe 5.0-capable M.2 sockets or PCIe slots.
Gigabyte has 4 motherboards that assist the low-end A620 chipset, all with Micro ATX motherboards like our Gaming X. If you happen to want Wi-Fi, there is a Gaming X AX, and for those who’re attempting to spend the least quantity potential, the A620M S2H and A620M H will price much less, however on the time we wrote this, availability was not but out there for all fashions within the US. If you happen to’re planning on operating high-end processors, I do not suggest going any decrease than the Gaming X, because the final two do not even present a cooler at negligible energy supply.
On the efficiency entrance, the A620M Gaming X handed or missed relying on testing. If multi-threaded, the A620M Gaming X is more likely to be common to beneath common at finest. If the check was single or flippantly threaded, it was common to above common. This finances card did properly in gaming, Procyon Workplace assessments, and had low energy utilization. Nonetheless, it was slower in Cinebench and Blender, amongst others. Total, this motherboard will not maintain you again a lot. However to get probably the most out of the processor, some voltage tweaking (reducing) might help forestall thermal throttling whereas decreasing energy utilization.
Even at $120, this board would not do our factor finest motherboards listing. However that does not imply it is not a viable choice for these trying to get into AM5 low cost. Earlier than we get into all the main points, you’ll find a full listing of A620M Gaming X specs immediately from Gigabyte right here.
Specs: Gigabyte A620M Gaming X
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| Energy level | AM5 |
| chipset | A620M |
| type issue | mATX |
| voltage regulator | 11 Part (8x 50A SPS MOSFETs for Vcore) |
| Video Ports | (1) HDMI (v2.1) |
| (1) DisplayPort (v1.4) | |
| USB Ports | (1) USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) Kind-C |
| (1) USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) | |
| (2) USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) | |
| (2) USB 2.0 (480Mbps) | |
| Community Jacks | (1) 2.5GbE |
| Audio Jacks | (3) analogue |
| Legacy Ports/Jacks | ✗ |
| Different Ports/Jack | ✗ |
| PCIe x16 | (1) v4.0 (x16) |
| PCIe x8 | ✗ |
| PCIe x4 | ✗ |
| PCIe x1 | (1) v3.0 x1 |
| DIMM Slots | (4) DDR5 6400(OC), 128GB Capability |
| M.2 Slots | (1) PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps) / PCIe (as much as 80 mm) |
| SATA Ports | (4) SATA3 6Gbps |
| Helps RAID 0/1/10 | |
| USB Headers | (1) USB v3.2 Gen 1, Kind-C (5 Gbps) |
| (1) USB v3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) | |
| (1) USB v2.0 (480Mbps) | |
| Fan/Pump Heads | (3) 4-Pin (CPU, System fan) |
| RGB Headers | (1) aRGB (3-pin) |
| (1) RGB (4-pin) | |
| Diagnostic Panel | ✗ |
| Inner Button/Swap | ✗ |
| SATA Controllers | ✗ |
| Ethernet Controller(s) | (1) Realtek RTL8125GB (2.5GbE) |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | ✗ |
| USB Controllers | ✗ |
| HD Audio Codec | Realtek ALC897 |
| DDL/DTS | ✗ / ✗ |
| Assure | 3 years |
Contents of the Gigabyte A620M Gaming X Field
Together with the motherboard, the package deal contains a number of equipment. Within the case of this excessive finances card, you get two SATA cables and a rear IO plate. There is not even a guide. You will have to get this and the drivers on-line from the web site.
Design of Gigabyte A620M Gaming X
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The Gigabyte A620M Gaming X sits on a darkish brown 6-layer PCB with white traces/patterns operating across the board. Solely the left VRM financial institution (for Vcore) is roofed by a heatsink. It’s connected to the clipboard with thumbtacks, but it surely will get the job completed. This is not stunning for an entry-level card, however I would like to see the screws regardless. These coolers want all the assistance they’ll get with a 7950X within the socket.
In case your construct requires built-in RGBs, you may have to look elsewhere or add your individual through 4-pin RGB and 3-pin ARGB headers. You possibly can regulate the lighting through Gigagbyte Management Heart software program and the in-suite RGB Fusion app. Generally, this appears like a finances board. Most customers will put it in a case with out a window, together with different finances choices that don’t stand out visually.
Wanting on the high of the board, we first see a single 8-pin EPS connector (required) to energy the processor. Slightly below that could be a small heatsink that sits above the left VRM slot, with a brushed aluminum end and light-weight grey accents that match the sample on the board. The heatsink is on the small aspect, particularly contemplating the finances MOSFETs beneath, but it surely labored (albeit with issue) in testing.
Crossing the socket space, we enter 4 unreinforced DRAM slots with this lock on one (high) aspect. Gigabyte lists assist as much as DDR5-6400(OC). Surprisingly sufficient, we bumped into points with our slower DDR5-5600 equipment, which handed the benchmark assessments with out subject. Nonetheless, stress testing with XMP enabled triggered the check to fail inside minutes. We put in our DDR5-6000 equipment and used the EXPO profile and so they labored in all circumstances.
The primary (three) 4-pin fan headers are simply above the reminiscence slots. Every header helps PWM and DC managed units and outputs as much as 2A/24W so you possibly can run a number of followers in the identical header if wanted. Don’t overload these headers or it could injury the motherboard. Happening the correct edge, we enter the 24-pin ATX connector, a second fan header, and a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) Kind-C port for powering the board.
The facility supply on the Gigabyte A620M Gaming X is probably the least succesful (on paper) we have seen. That mentioned, it ran our flagship-class Ryzen 9 7950X processor with out subject. We did not take away the VRM heatsink as two fasteners maintain it and so they do not are inclined to snap a second time with the identical strain. For Vcore we will see the Richtek RT3674AE (X+Y+Z=6, 4+1) controller feeding a complete of eight (hidden) 50A Infineon MOSFETs in a teamed configuration. The 400A out there is not a lot and so they do get scorching, however generally it is sufficient to totally energy our processor.
On the backside of the board we will see the audio part and some capacitors devoted to audio. You will not discover a Faraday cage or any DAC and Amplifier at this value level, however customers get a finances class Realtek ALC897 chip/codec. If you happen to want higher sound, you should buy a sound card and plug it into the x1 slot on the underside of the cardboard. However since it will improve the associated fee considerably, you need to most likely select a greater board at this level.
The cardboard has two PCIe slots and a single M.2 slot within the center. The highest PCIe slot is related through the CPU and runs at PCIe 4.0 x16 speeds, whereas the smaller x1 slot on the backside of the cardboard will get its lanes from the chipset operating at PCIe 3.0 x1. You will have to decide on your {hardware} properly as there is just one slot for enlargement after the first graphics slot.
PCIe slots embrace one (and solely) M.2 socket. This socket connects via the processor and operates at speeds as much as PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps) and has a small heatsink to assist cool these scorching operating units. Some customers could discover the only M.2 socket prohibitive, however there are different binary choices round this value. Once more, for those who’re on the lookout for something PCIe 5.0-based, you may should search for a (costlier) motherboard with a special chipset.
Persevering with to the correct edge over the pinned chipset heatsink, we encounter 4 SATA3 6Gbps SATA ports (helps RAID0/1/10). Within the decrease proper nook is a 19-pin entrance panel USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) header. There are just a few extra uncovered headers on the backside of the board. You will discover typical connections right here, together with extra USB ports, RGB headers, and 4-pin fan headers. Beneath is a whole listing from left to proper:
- Entrance panel audio
- SPI TPM header
- 4-pin RGB header
- 3-pin ARGB header
- (2) USB 2.0 headers
- 4-pin System fan header
- entrance panel
The rear IO on the A620M Gaming X is as sparse as you’d count on for a sub-$120 motherboard. You aren’t getting all of the quick connectivity of the extra expensive choices. You will have to put in the rear I/O plate your self, however that is to be anticipated at this value. There are six USB ports, together with 10 Gbps Kind-C and Kind-A ports, two 5 Gbps ports (blue), and two USB 2.0 ports. There’s a legacy PS/2 port and a 2.5GbE port for mouse or keyboard. On the left are your HDMI and DisplayPort video outputs for built-in graphics, whereas on the far proper is an audio stack with 3 plugs (3.5mm analog). The 5 type-A ports on the rear IO can be a trigger for concern for some customers. In any other case, issues are fairly normal right here.
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