ASRock Ditches Intel Ethernet, Cuts Price of Threadripper Pro Motherboard by $356

ASRock Ditches Intel Ethernet, Cuts Price of Threadripper Pro Motherboard by $356

ASRock Ditches Intel Ethernet, Cuts Price of Threadripper Pro Motherboard by $356

ASRock has announced that it will be ditching Intel Ethernet for its new Threadripper Pro motherboards. This move comes as a bit of a surprise, as ASRock is typically an Intel-only motherboard manufacturer. The new Threadripper Pro boards will feature Realtek 2.5GbE and 5GbE Ethernet controllers instead. ASRock says the move was made to provide “the best possible networking performance” for its high-end motherboards. Moreover, the brand is trying to please budget-conscious consumers by cutting the price of its new boards. 

Removal of the Intel Ethernet is in favor of less expensive Realtek solutions on its upcoming Threadripper Pro motherboards. This will result in a $20 price reduction for the top-end TRX40 Pro Gaming motherboard, which is now priced at just $279.99. In addition, ASRock has also announced that it will be cutting the price of its TRX40 Taichi by $356. This puts the new price at $693, which is still quite expensive but more in line with other Threadripper Pro boards on the market. It seems ASRock wants to get in on that action by offering more affordable alternatives to Intel’s offerings.

While this may not be a big deal for gamers who are used to dealing with lower-end solutions, it’s a significant change for ASRock’s high-end platform. The decision to switch to Realtek is likely since Intel’s latest X550-AT2 controller is costly and, therefore, cuts into ASRock’s margins. The move may also indicate ASRock’s larger strategy shift away from Intel chipsets and towards AMD ones. With AMD’s recent release of the Ryzen 3000 series CPUs and X570 chipset, there’s been a lot of excitement surrounding the company’s products. 

Cuts the Price of the Threadripper Pro Motherboard by $356

Repeating again, the new Threadripper Pro motherboard from ASRock is now available for just $356, a significant reduction from the previous price of $712. This change comes as ASRock ditches Intel Ethernet in favor of cheaper alternatives and supports its tight-pocket customers. The Threadripper Pro motherboard is designed for gamers and creative professionals who need the power to handle demanding tasks. 

With a thread ripper Pro processor and up to 128GB of RAM, this motherboard can easily handle even the most demanding workloads. ASRock has replaced the Intel Ethernet controller with a cheaper alternative, which has allowed them to reduce the price of the Threadripper Pro motherboard by $356. This change will not impact the motherboard’s performance or the networking experience’s quality.

ASRock’s New Threadripper Pro Motherboard

ASRock has announced a new Threadripper Pro motherboard, which features a completely redesigned layout and support for the latest TR4 processors. The board is also significantly cheaper than the previous model, coming in at just $399. The most significant change with the new board is the switch from Intel Ethernet to an Aquantia AQC107 10GbE controller. This provides up to 5x the bandwidth of standard Gigabit Ethernet despite being affordable, so excellent in terms of value for the money. 

Plus, it should be a big boon for those looking to use their Threadripper Pro for content creation or other data-intensive tasks. Other notable changes include the addition of four USB 3.1 Gen2 ports and support for NVMe RAID 0/1/10 arrays. All told, the new ASRock Threadripper Pro looks like an excellent option for those looking to build a high-end workstation on a budget. It’s packed with features and should offer excellent performance, all while coming in at a very reasonable price point.

The Pros and Cons of the ASRock Threadripper Pro

There are a few key points to consider when discussing the pros and cons of ASRock’s Threadripper Pro motherboard: 

Advantages

  1. In terms of pros, the most obvious one is the price cut – $ is a significant saving, especially considering the high-end nature of the Threadripper Pro. 
  2. The second pro is the switch to using an alternative Ethernet chip; this should provide better compatibility and performance for users, as well as future-proofing the board against any potential changes or problems with Intel’s Ethernet solutions. 
  3. The third advantage is the massive amount of features and expansion options on offer; whether you need multiple M.2 slots, extensive USB support, or want to add in extra graphics cards, the Threadripper Pro has you covered.

Disadvantages

  1. The main con that could be seen against the Threadripper Pro is the lack of built-in Wi-Fi; this isn’t really a dealbreaker, as external Wi-Fi cards are relatively inexpensive these days.
Laiba Nasir
Laiba Nasir is an experienced technical content writer at GamingDairy and PCIdeaz. She is quite attached to technology, experimenting, and trying new inventions. In addition, she has been writing all types of new, guides, tutorials, and tips for gamers, tech enthusiasts, and computer users to let them know more about tech evolution.