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Asus has unleashed a wave of new motherboards based on AMD's B850 and B840 chipsets, offering a compelling blend of performance, features, and value for Ryzen users. In addition, it also announced two new high-end X870E motherboards, including the ROG Crosshair X870E Apex and Crosshair X870E Extreme motherboards.
The B850 chipset takes center stage, focusing on performance and connectivity. Asus's B850 motherboards pack features like PCIe 5.0 support for graphics cards and SSDs, WiFi 7, and support for high-speed DDR5 memory kits. They also simplify the building process with tool-free M.2 installation, easy troubleshooting tools, and quick graphics card release mechanisms.
The ROG Strix B850 series leads the pack with plenty of features and a gaming design. The flagship B850 model, the ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi, boasts an 8-layer PCB, a robust 16+2+2 power phase VRM, and support for AI Overclocking. It also includes a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot with the Asus PCIe Q-Release Slim mechanism for easy graphics card upgrades. Compared to its predecessor (B650E-E), the B850-E Gaming WiFi adds another PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot and a 5G Ethernet connector. It also features a USB4 connector for lightning-fast external storage connectivity and a rear-panel USB 20Gbps Type-C port with 30W Power Delivery for fast charging.
The ROG Strix B850-F Gaming WiFi offers a similar feature set but drops the USB4 port and some of the higher-end connectivity options, making it a more affordable alternative. The ROG Strix B850-A Gaming WiFi stands out with its white and silver aesthetics, while the ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi packs impressive features into a compact Mini-ITX form factor.
Moving on to the TUF Gaming B850, this series prioritises durability and essential gaming features. The TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi offers a full-featured ATX design with PCIe 5.0 support, WiFi 7, and a range of user-friendly features. The TUF Gaming B850M-Plus WiFi and TUF Gaming B850M-Plus provide microATX options for smaller builds.
For users who don't need overclocking or PCIe 5.0 support, the B840 chipset offers a more budget-friendly option. Asus's B840 motherboards, all part of the Prime series, provide a solid foundation for systems with integrated graphics or less demanding workloads. The Prime B840-Plus WiFi offers a full-sized ATX design with WiFi 6E and a 2.5G Ethernet connector, while the Prime B840M-A WiFi and Prime B840M-A provide microATX alternatives.
Users seeking a high-end X870E motherboard for their AMD CPU will have two new alternatives available this year. The first is the recently launched ROG Crosshair X870E Apex, an overclocking-focused motherboard designed to set world records. The ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme is also in the works, and more information will be available as it approaches its release date in Q1.
Asus has also updated its BIOS interface with a 1080p resolution and a new Q-Dashboard that visually maps out the motherboard's components and connections, making it easier for beginners to understand their system. To further help configure your system, Asus AI Advisor software provides helpful guidance and answers to common questions about BIOS settings and system optimisation.
KitGuru says: Interested in any of the new Asus 800-series motherboards?
