Asus ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING
Third Party Review
Author: Muhamad Talha Qureshi
ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING: An all-rounder powerhouse (Review).
So, you’ve been desperately looking for an upgrade to your system’s power and had your sights set on AMD Zen-based products, but it turns out most of the offerings of this category are a bit harsher on your wallet. Well, luckily for you, we have just the product right here. Developed by ASUS, the ROG Strix B450-F Gaming motherboard is a unique concoction of performance and features, with aesthetics bound to turn many heads around. All that beauty and power come with a surprisingly affordable price tag. If you’re interested, check out our brief review of ROG Strix B450-F Gaming for more details.
Specifications
The ROG Strix B450-F Gaming motherboard falls into the mid-range tier and places immense importance on gaming features and other premium utilities. This board is compatible with SLI multi-GPU and Crossfire configurations, alongside a VRM based on the 6+2 phase. Asus implemented the SupremeFX S1220A audio (an in-house modified version of Realtek codec) for the Strix B450-F Gaming board while offering complete functionality with the entire collection of Ryzen™ processors. The board also features dual M.2 and USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A connectors to connect with other devices. As a bonus for gamers seeking to upgrade their gaming experience, ASUS implemented their exclusive Pre-mounted I/O shield technology alongside other high-quality components for enhanced endurance and efficient battery usage.
Pros & Cons
This ASUS motherboard also offers full support for Aura Sync RGB lighting tech, Intel Gigabit Ethernet, ASUS LANGuard, GameFirst, one-click optimization, and overclocking Sonic Studio III, making it reasonably versatile on paper. None of the technical components used is relatively new, so we can assure everyone that all of this is pretty good stuff. This motherboard appears to combine the powerful hardware of X370 and X470 with the more cost-efficient B350 range, producing the B450 series as a result. It all appears more like a refresh, but it offers quite the potential so far. Furthermore, it offers support for Ryzen™ 2000-series CPUs right from the get-go.
Users should be reminded that every product also comes with a cons list. And this beauty right here is no exception. While the absence of Wi-Fi, M.2 heatsinks, and high idle power consumption might pose as potential deal-breakers, it’s a still pretty valuable deal. The pros at this budget price can fairly outweigh the cons of this ASUS motherboard. This factor is more than enough for the ROG Strix B450-F Gaming motherboard to be a viable option for users, making it stand out from the rest of its competition.
Overall Verdict
Asus has placed the Strix B450-F Gaming as a mid-range gaming motherboard from its ROG series. With a price tag of $120 and compatibility with both AMD- and NVIDIA-based multi-GPU builds, it’s a desirable board packed with premium aesthetics and features, all for a good blow to your pockets. Hence, if you’re a gamer or a developer in the realms of video games, graphic designing, and architecture, who needs a powerful motherboard to run your system on a budget, this motherboard right here is exactly what you have been looking for.