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ASUS is back with another AM5 motherboard to shake up the gaming scene - the ROG Strix B850-F Gaming WiFi. This board promises a mix of solid features and affordability, possibly making it a great option for mid-range builds. But how does it really stack up? Let’s dive in and find out.
The B-series motherboards took a while to come to market, but for budget-conscious builders, it’s worth the wait. With the B850-F, you get most of the features of the high-end boards at a slightly lower price. That said, the Strix version is still positioned as a more premium option compared to other B-series offerings.
This is the latest addition to ASUS’s ROG line-up, built to support AMD’s Ryzen™ 7000 and 9000 series CPUs on the AM5 platform. AMD has committed to supporting this platform until at least 2027, giving you a long-term upgrade path.
The X870E and X870 motherboards are aimed at enthusiasts and professionals, offering the latest technologies such as multiple PCIe Gen 5 slots, bunch of USB 4 ports, and advanced power delivery systems for extreme overclocking. The B850 series, on the other hand, focuses on delivering essential features at a more accessible price point. While it lacks some of the high-end perks, it still provides Gen 5 support for GPUs and M.2 storage. In this motherboard you actually still get two Gen5 M.2 Slots, but we’ll discuss more about that later on. Let's get it out of the box first.
The motherboard is nicely packaged and feels hefty in the hands. I appreciate the matte finish, which not only looks great but also helps to prevent fingerprints—a small detail that enhances the overall premium feel. The B850-F Gaming Wi-Fi sticks to the signature ROG aesthetic with a sleek black PCB and angular heatsinks that feature subtle RGB accents. It’s not just about looks, though - this board packs a lot under the hood.
Feature-wise, it comes equipped with four DDR5 memory slots supporting up to 192GB of RAM and speeds up to 8000+ MT/s when overclocked. Keep in mind, though, that hitting these speeds depends on a combination of your CPU, RAM, and motherboard. For most users, you’ll still get excellent performance even at lower speeds.
Let’s move to the expansion options. The B850-F includes a single PCIe Gen 5 x16 slot connected directly to the CPU for your GPU, ensuring maximum performance. Additionally, it has one more PCIe Gen 4 times sixteen slot which connects to the chipset via 4 lanes. Do note, using this will disable bottom left M.2 slot as they share lanes.
The real standout here is the M.2 storage. ASUS has included four M.2 slots, each designed to maximize performance and flexibility for various storage configurations. The two Gen 5 x4 slots are directly connected to the CPU, offering unparalleled speed for tasks like gaming, video editing, or running virtual machines, where low latency and high bandwidth are critical. These slots are capable of taking full advantage of the latest PCIe 5.0 NVMe drives, delivering up to 128 Gbps of data throughput. Meanwhile, the two Gen 4 x4 slots are routed through the chipset, providing robust support for additional high-speed drives. This design allows for a strategic setup where the Gen 5 slots can house your primary OS and game libraries for maximum speed, while the Gen 4 slots handle bulk storage like project files or media libraries.
ASUS has also included several quality-of-life features to make the building process easier like the additional buttons for BIOS FlashBack and Clear CMOS. On the main board there is Q-Release for the PCIe slot lets you swap GPUs with just tilting the card, while the M.2 Q-Latch system eliminates the hassle of fiddly screws. Debug LEDs are another great addition for troubleshooting during the build process, especially for first-time builders.
The rear I/O offers a great mix of connectivity. There’s a USB 20Gbps Type-C port, three USB 10Gbps ports, one of which is type C, four USB 5Gbps ports, and four USB 2.0 ports. For video, you get a DisplayPort and HDMI port. Networking is covered with Wi-Fi 7 that uses nice new quick connectors and a 2.5Gb Ethernet port, while audio features include two jacks and an optical S/PDIF out.
So, is the ROG Strix B850-F Gaming worth it? I think so, if you’re looking for a solid mid-range AM5 motherboard with just enough features for now and a little bit of expansion for the future. While it lacks some of the extras found on the X870 series, it is certainly still exciting for its price point.
What are your thoughts on this? Are you excited about its features, or do you think another motherboard offers better value? Let us know in the comments.
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