TAIPEI (TVBS News) — ASUS unveiled on Monday (Jan. 6) its latest series of motherboards, the B850 and B840, designed for AMD processors, and the B860 series for Intel Core Ultra processors. These new offerings from the ROG Strix, TUF Gaming, and Prime families aim to provide enhanced speeds, additional ports, and expanded slots for USB devices and M.2 SSDs, catering to a wide range of PC builders.
The B850 series stands out with WiFi 7 support and robust DDR5 kit compatibility, featuring tool-free M.2 SSD installation and simplified graphics card management. ASUS targets builders not planning to overclock or use PCIe 5.0 components with the B840 series. The ROG Crosshair X870E Apex and ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme motherboards focus on overclocking, with an expected release in the first quarter.
ASUS has improved its BIOS interface resolution to 1920 x 1080, beginning with the AMD 800 series. This enhancement benefits B850 and B840 users by offering a clearer view of settings and introducing the BIOS Q-Dashboard for better hardware understanding. ASUS AI Advisor software, available for ASUS X870E/X870, B850, and B840 motherboards, provides guidance on ASUS-exclusive functions, BIOS usage, and PC setup, particularly assisting first-time PC builders.
The ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi motherboard, the top model in the ROG Strix B850 family, supports high-end AMD Ryzen CPUs. It features an 8-layer PCB, a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, AI Overclocking, and advanced connectivity options. The ROG Strix B850-F Gaming WiFi, a more affordable option, lacks some premium features of the B850-E but still supports PCIe 5.0 SSDs and graphics cards, offering a robust power design and connectivity for gaming setups.
The ROG Strix B850-A Gaming WiFi stands out with a unique white and silver design, appealing to builders seeking a visually distinct PC. Meanwhile, the ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi offers high performance in a compact Mini-ITX form factor. TUF Gaming B850 motherboards focus on essential gaming features and durability, with enhanced capacitors, corrosion-resistant panels, and TUF LANGuard technology, supporting ASUS AI Advisor for software, firmware, and hardware queries. ASUS Prime B840 motherboards cater to energy-efficient builds with mainstream CPUs, offering three M.2 slots and networking capabilities. The Prime B840M-A WiFi and Prime B840M-A provide compact options with similar features.
The B860 series for Intel Core Ultra processors, on the other hand, supports CUDIMM DDR5 memory kits and PCIe 5.0 connectivity, enhancing storage capabilities with options for four M.2 slots and PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots. The ROG Strix B860-F Gaming WiFi offers high-end features like Thunderbolt 4 and SupremeFX audio for gamers. TUF Gaming B860 motherboards combine military-grade components with gaming features, ensuring durability and performance. ASUS Prime B860 motherboards provide a range of configurations for mainstream PC builds.
ASUS continues to innovate in the motherboard market with these releases, aiming to address the diverse needs of PC builders, from gaming enthusiasts to energy-efficient system creators. The company plans to release more details in the ASUS X870E/X870 motherboard guide, promising further insights into its cutting-edge technology.