We finally have more affordable motherboard options when it comes to building a new Ryzen 9000 series based system. The AMD X870E and X870 motherboard are still quite expensive, so having an alternative that is not slotting your Ryzen 9000 series chip into an older motherboard is definitely a plus! AMD’s B850 chipset is more budget-friendly, but still offers a great feature-set. Today we will be taking a look at the ASUS ROG STRIX B850-A Gaming WiFi which is an all-white motherboard (down to the PCB) that offers a 14+2+2 power phase design, four M.2 slots (one of which is Gen5), USB 3.2 gen 2×2 support, WiFi 7, and of course a DIY friendly design. Is this the board you need for your next Ryzen build? Read on as we find out!
Special thanks to ASUS for providing us with the ROG STRIX B850-A Gaming WiFi Motherboard to review.
Features of the ASUS ROG STRIX B850-A Gaming WiFi Motherboard
- Ready for Advanced AI PCs: Designed for the future of AI computing, with the power and connectivity needed for demanding AI applications
- AMD AM5 Socket: Ready for AMD Ryzen™ 9000, 8000 and 7000 series desktop processors
- Intelligent Control: ASUS AI Advisor, AI Networking II and AEMP to simplify setup and improve performance
- Robust Power Solution: 14+2+2 power solution rated for 80A per stage with an 8+8-pin ProCool power connector, high-quality alloy chokes, and durable capacitors to support multi-core processors
- Optimized Thermal Design: Massive heatsinks bridged to the VRMs with high-conductivity thermal pads and an integrated I/O cover
- Latest M.2 Support: One onboard PCIe® 5.0 M.2 slot and three PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, all with substantial cooling solutions
- Abundant Connectivity: USB 20Gbps Type-C®, USB 10Gbps Type-C®, USB 10Gbps Type-C® front-panel connector, six additional USB 5Gbps ports, PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlots, HDMI™ port and DisplayPort port
- High-Performance Networking: On-board WiFi 7 (802.11be) with Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet
- DIY Friendly Design: PCIe Slot Q-Release Slim, M.2 Q-Latch, M.2 Q-Release, M.2 Q-Slide, Q-Antenna, Q-Dashboard, Q-LED, BIOS FlashBack™ button, Clear CMOS button and pre-mounted I/O shield
- Immersive Audio: ROG SupremeFX ALC4080 codec with Savitech SV3H712 amplifier, along with Dolby Atmos®
- Unmatched Personalization: ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync RGB lighting, including three addressable Gen 2 headers
- Renowned Software: ASUS DriverHub, TurboV Core, ASUS GlideX, HWiNFO, Norton 360 for Gamers (60-day free trial), bundled 60-day AIDA64 Extreme trial subscription and intuitive UEFI BIOS dashboard
Packaging of the ASUS ROG STRIX B850-A Gaming WiFi Motherboard
The ROG STRIX B850-A Gaming WiFi comes in your typical ASUS motherboard box. On the front of the box we have a picture of the board and some of the main features are listed.
Flipping over to the back some of the main features are detailed, we have a run-down of the rear I/O ports, and a full list of specifications. I feel that if you were at the store you would be able to make an informed buying decision with all of the information ASUS provides on the box.
Getting everything out of the box when it comes to accessories you get a WiFi 7 antenna, two SATA cables, M.2 accessories, ROG keychain strap, ROG stickers, a set of zip-ties, and a quick start guide.
