Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming Motherboard Review: Premium Looks, Budget Price
Tom’s Hardware Verdict
A gaming centric motherboard with a $120 price tag that looks good and includes a well rounded feature set assuming Wi-Fi isn’t tops on your list of needs.
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Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming Motherboard Review
The Strix B450-F Gaming is classed as a mid-range board and is part of the Republic of Gamers lineup, which places an emphasis on gaming and related premium features. The board supports both Crossfire and SLI multi-GPU configurations, has a 6+2 phase VRM and uses the SupremeFX S1220A audio (an Asus-tweaked Realtek codec) while supporting the full range of Ryzen processors, up to the flagship mainstream processor in the Ryzen 7 2700X.
Asus places the B450-F Gaming as a middle of the road gaming motherboard from its ROG lineup. With a price of $120 and support for both AMD- and NVIDIA-based multi-GPU builds, it’s a solid mid-range board, with some premium aesthetics, which we’ll delve into below.
The Asus Strix B450-F Gaming costs $119.99 at Amazon and is, for the most part, a fully featured board and based off its big brother from the X470 chipset. The B450-F gaming includes six SATA ports, two M.2 slots for storage plus an M.2 Key E slot for a Wi-Fi module, premium audio, USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) ports, as well as tastefully implemented RGB LEDs. A full list of specifications are found below.
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Specifications
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Socket | AM4 |
| Chipset | B450 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Voltage Regulator | 6+2 Phase |
| Video Ports | DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0 |
| USB Ports | USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps): 2x Type-A (Chipset)USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5Gbps): 3x Type-A + 1x Type-C (CPU)USB 2.0: 2x Type-A (Chipset) |
| Network Jacks | (1) Intel I211-AT Gigabit LAN |
| Audio Jacks | (5) Analog + S/PDIF |
| Legacy Ports/Jacks | ✗ |
| Other Ports/Jack | ✗ |
| PCIe x16 | With Ryzen 1st/2nd Gen CPU:(2) v3. 0 x16 (x16 or x8/x4)(1) v2.0 x16 (max x4 mode) — shares b/w PCIe x1_2 and PCIe x1_3With Ryzen+Vega CPU:(1) PCIe 3.0/2.0 (x8 mode) |
| PCIe x8 | ✗ |
| PCIe x4 | ✗ |
| PCIe x1 | (3) v2.0 x1 |
| CrossFire/SLI | Crossfire X (Up to 3-Way) |
| DIMM slots | (4) DDR4 |
| M.2 slots | With Ryzen 1st/2nd Gen CPU:(1) PCIe 3.0 x4 / SATA (when in use, SATA6G_5/6 are disabled)(1) PCIe 3.0 x4 (when in use, PCIE x16_1 will run at x8 mode)With Ryzen+Vega CPU:(1) PCIe 3.0 x4 / SATA (when in use, SATA6G_5/6 are disabled) |
| U.2 Ports | ✗ |
| SATA Ports | (8) 6Gb/s |
| USB Headers | (1) v3. 0, (2) v2.0 |
| Fan Headers | (5) 4-Pin |
| Legacy Interfaces | X |
| Other Interfaces | FP-Audio, RGB-LED, TPM, |
| Diagnostics Panel | ✗ |
| Internal Button/Switch | ✗ / ✗ |
| SATA Controllers | Integrated (Supports RAID 0/1/10) and ASMedia |
| Ethernet Controllers | Intel I211-AT |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | ✗ |
| USB Controllers | ✗ |
| HD Audio Codec | Realtek ALC1220-VB |
| DDL/DTS Connect | ✗ / ✗ |
| Warranty | 3 Years |
The included accessory stack is appropriate for the board and should contain what is needed to get started.
The accessories included are:
- 4x SATA cables
- M.2 screws
- RGB LED extension
- 7x zip ties
- Alternative chipset cover
- Installation manual
- Driver disk
- ROG door hanger
- ROG stickers
The board itself is matte black with shiny black stenciling around the PCI and chipsets, with ROG-related slogans, like Republic of Gamer, Hybrid, and some characters from languages other than English. It’s worth noting this design is also on the back of the board in grey, but unless you happen to have a case with a see-through motherboard tray, this isn’t something you’re going to see once the board is installed.
Covering the Rear IO area and part of the VRM heatsink is a plastic shroud with the only RGB LED implementation on the board, embedded in the ROG logo. The heatsinks for the VRMs are grey and have a fair amount of surface area to keep the heat-producing components underneath running in spec.
Asus employs its Safeslot reinforcement technology (in the form of metal slot wrappers) on the first two full-length PCIe slots, identifying the primary PCIe slots in the process.
Another design feature similar to what we saw in the PCIe area is located on the chipset heatsink as well. Asus calls this styling a “…futuristic cyber-test pattern which fuses multiple gaming cultures to create a unique identity for this generation.” according to Asus. If the brighter plate on the chipset heatsink isn’t your style a more subtle option is included. In order to swap these out, simply peel off the cover protecting the tape and stick it on.
Overall the Strix B450-F Gaming presents users with a fairly blank black slate to work in with a build theme. If the single RGB LED section isn’t enough, there are two headers on the board to expand your lighting options. Both the integrated and external RGB LEDs are controlled via the Asus Aura RGB Software.
Taking a look at the top half of the board, we’ll focus around the AM4 socket first where you’ll find VRMs and DRAM slots as well as some fan headers. On the left side, we get a better look at the shroud, which partially covers one of the two VRM heatsinks and holds the RGB LEDs under the ROG symbol.
The heatsinks themselves are tall and able to dissipate the heat generated from the 6+2 phase VRM in our testing. Just above the heatsink is a single 8-pin EPS connector for the CPU.
The VRM is 6 total phases managed by a 4+2 channel controller. The SOC uses a split/teamed 2+2 configuration. In a nutshell, we shouldn’t have an issue driving most CPUs with this setup. We didn’t have an issue with our 2700X overclocked at 4.2 GHz, which is about the end of the road for current-generation Ryzen based CPUs, anyway.
Of the board’s six total fan headers four are located on the top half, two sit on the right of the top VRMs and two more live above the PCIe x1 slot. The two located to the right of the VRMs are for the CPU fan(s), with the other two (CHA_FAN1 and AIO_PUMP) designated for case fan and an AIO pump duty. All headers on the board support both DC and PWM fans and can be controlled through the QFan in the BIOS and Fan Expert 4 in AISuite.
Just below the two fan headers is the QLED, which displays a different color LED to identify where in the boot process the board may be.
The four options are Boot (Yellow/Green), VGA (White), DRAM (Yellow), and CPU (Red). If it gets hung up in one of those areas, the LED remains lit, letting you know there is an issue in that area. This is an important feature, especially since the board doesn’t include a POST code LED debugger or beep speaker.
In addition to the fan headers to the right of the VRM, we see the first of two RGB headers — the other located across the bottom of the board next to the other fan headers. Both RGB headers connect to standard 5050 digital LED strips and will output a maximum of 3A/36W. Both the integrated and connected RGBs are controlled through the Asus Aura software.
Continuing to move right, we run into the four DRAM slots. They lack any metal protection or RGB lighting (not that we expect them at this price point) but do use a single latch to lock the memory sticks down securely. If you happen to swap out RAM frequently, you may learn to like them (as I do) for easier removal.
Either way, the sticks aren’t going anywhere once you get them latched in.
Finally, on the far right side is the 24-pin ATX connector and a front panel USB 3.1 Gen1 header.
Looking at the bottom half of the board, on the left side we find the audio bits which are separated from the rest of the board by a small yellow line. Under the shiny faraday cage labeled “SupremeFX” is the audio module with the same namesake. Marketing aside, what you’re looking at here Asus’ twist on the Realtek ALC1220. The dedicated audio capacitors (in yellow) are made by Nichicon and said to produce warm and natural audio. Pumping out the tunes to your headphones are dual op amps able to support input impedance of 32-600Ω, which is fairly typical.
In the middle of the board are three full-length PCIe slots along with three x1 length slots peppered around them. The primary GPU slots (the two using Asus’ Safeslot reinforcement) will run at x16 or x8/x4 using Ryzen 1st/2nd gen CPUs or x8 using a CPU with Ryzen + Vega integrated GPU (like the Ryzen 5 2400G). The last full-length slot sources its bandwidth from the chipset, runs at PCIe 2.0 x4, and shares bandwidth with the bottom two PCIe x1 slots.
Between the PCIe slots are two M.2 slots with the top slot, M.2_1, supporting up to 80mm SATA or PCIe 3.0 x4 based modules, while M.2_2 supports PCIe modules only up to 110mm. Unlike the Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro Wi-Fi we’re benchmarking this against, the Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming doesn’t supply heatsinks for the modules. If you plan on using an NVMe based drive with sustained writes, consider getting aftermarket heatsinks for keeping the drives cooler. But for most common workloads, like gaming and common productivity programs, storage access is mostly bursty. So for most users, M.2 heatsinks are more a nice thing to have, adding to the overall aesthetics, rather than something that’s necessary.
The top socket will disable SATA ports 5 and 6 regardless of the device type installed. Meanwhile, the second M.2 socket supports PCIe only and will force the primary PCIe slot to run in x8 mode. So choose your poison there: either disable SATA ports, or run PCIe in x8 mode.
Sliding right a bit, we can see a better shot of the chipset heatsink, as well as the six SATA ports on the far-right side of the board.
Across the bottom are several headers and ports from USB 2.0 and 3.0, front panel audio, and another RGB header. The items below are listed from left to right.
- Front Panel Audio
- Serial Port connector
- TPM connector
- 2x USB 2.0 headers
- Clear RTC RAM jumper
- RGB header (4-pin)
- Chassis fan 2 and 3 headers
- System Panel connectors
The Rear IO panel has a fairly typical assortment of ports and plugs out back, including two USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A ports, four USB 3.1 Gen1 ports (one Type-C), and two USB 2.0 ports. We found it unusual the Type-C port was running Gen 1 (5 Gbps) speeds as typically the newer connector runs Gen 2 (10 Gbps) speeds. For video outputs, the board includes a full-size DisplayPort as well as a single HDMI port. Other ports include the Intel I-211AT NIC, along with five 5-plug audio jacks and an S/PDIF port. Legacy support at the back is provided by the PS/2 port, which seemingly will never die.
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Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming Motherboard Review
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Joe Shields is a Freelance writer for Tom’s Hardware US. He reviews motherboards.
ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F Gaming Motherboard Review
Peter Donnell / 4 years ago
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1. Introduction2. A Closer Look3. How We Test4. Synthetic Benchmarks5. Overclocking6. Gaming Performance7. Final Thoughts8. View All Pages |
Next Page » |
ASUS B450
The latest wave of motherboards from AMD have just landed, and they’re out to impress. While not as feature packed as the current Ryzen flagship X470 series, they’re focusing on a balance between price and features for the mass market. Extreme overclockers and system builders will no doubt still want X470. However, for most system builders and gamers, B450 ticks all the right boxes, offering NVMe RAID support, overclocking, and much more.
With the new ASUS motherboard packing support for Aura Sync RGB lighting tech, Intel Gigabit Ethernet, GameFirst, one-click optimisation and overclocking, and the fantastic SupremeFX S1220A audio hardware and Sonic Studio III, it’s pretty robust on paper. Of course, none of this tech is particularly new either, so we know it’s all good stuff. It seems to blend the high-end hardware of X370 and X470 with the more cost-focused B350 range, leaving us with the new B450 hardware. It’s a bit of a refresh, but a promising looking one so far. Plus, it’ll offer support for 2000-series Ryzen CPUs right out of the box.
Features
- AM4 socket: Ready for AMD Ryzen™ processors
- Fast memory and storage: Dual-channel DDR4 3200MHz (OC) and NVM Express® RAID supported.
- Aura Sync RGB: Synchronize LED lighting with a vast portfolio of compatible PC gear.
- Gaming connectivity: Dual M.2 and USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A connectors.
- Gaming networking: Intel Gigabit Ethernet, plus ASUS LANGuard and GameFirst technologies.
- 5-Way Optimization: Automated system-wide tuning, providing overclocking and cooling profiles that are tailor-made for your rig.
- Gaming audio: SupremeFX S1220A teams with Sonic Studio III to create an aural landscape that draws you deeper into the action.
- Gamer’s Guardian: Pre-mounted I/O shield, ASUS SafeSlot and premium components for maximum endurance.
Specifications
For in-depth specifications, please visit the official ASUS product page here.
What ASUS Had to Say
“With ample power to fuel Ryzen’s cores, plus cooling, storage and connectivity options for a range of hardware, the ROG Strix B450-F Gaming motherboard has everything you need to build on a budget or load up with high-performance components to game in the big leagues.
” – ASUS
What’s in the Box?
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1. Introduction2. A Closer Look3. How We Test4. Synthetic Benchmarks5. Overclocking6. Gaming Performance7. Final Thoughts8. View All Pages |
Next Page » |
Topics: am4, AMD, asus, gaming, motherboard, review, rog, Ryzen, Strix
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Overview of motherboard ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING
AMD today introduced the mid-range chipset for the Socket AM4 desktop platform — AMD B450. Although motherboards based on the updated logic began to seep into online stores even before the official start of sales, we waited for the completion of the NDA and are now ready to share our impressions after testing the first motherboard based on the new chipset — ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING. nine0003
Help
Zmist
- 1 Delivery set
- 2 Design and layout
- 3 In progress
- 4 Price
Delivery set
The device comes with a user manual, a driver and software CD, four SATA cables, an RGB strip extension, an M.2 drive mount, and a set of plastic ties to keep power and interface cables neat. nine0003
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Also included in the delivery is a set of branded identification stickers, an adhesive sticker for the chipset heatsink, and a sign on the door handle warning that the owner is busy.
Design and layout
ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING has standard ATX dimensions of 305x244mm. It’s easy to tell from the model name that the board is based on the AMD B450 chipset. nine0003
In the exterior design, the designers follow the developed visual concept for the devices of the ROG STRIX line — dark tones with a minimum of color fussiness and bright contrasting elements. The black printed circuit board received a matte finish. But the PCB surfaces show decorative signatures. The area of the interface panel is covered by a plastic casing. Elements of the cooling system have a dark gray color, which hardly distinguishes them from the overall almost uniform background of the device. In general, there are no surprises here. We have already seen a similar design several times during our acquaintance with other devices of the manufacturer’s gaming series. nine0003
ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING supports the entire range of processors for the Socket AM4 platform, from the most affordable Bristol Ridge to the top 8-core Pinnacle Ridge. One of the benefits of motherboards based on AMD 400-series chipsets is native support for 2nd generation Ryzen processors even without a firmware update.
The power block of the motherboard has an 8-phase circuit with a Digi + ASP1106 control controller. For cooling all MOSFET-assemblies, additional medium-sized radiators are used. nine0003
The board has four slots for installing RAM modules. The manufacturer claims support for kits up to DDR4-3200. It is this mode that is listed in the list of validated kits even for more productive kits. The possibility of working with even faster sets will have to be determined experimentally.
DIMM connectors are expected to be designed with a one-sided module locking mechanism.
The layout of expansion slots is generally typical of full-size ATX models. The board has three full-format PCI Express x16 slots and the same number of compact PCI Express x1 slots. nine0003
When using Ryzen 1st / 2nd generation chips, the available PCI Express lanes are distributed between the two main slots in x16 + 0 or x8 + x4 modes. The third full-format slot complies with the PCI-E 2.0 standard, is serviced by the chipset and operates in x4 mode, using shared resources with PCIe x1_2 and PCIe x1_3 slots.
With Ryzen processors from the Summit Ridge/Pinnacle Ridge families, it is theoretically possible to create 3-Way CrossFireX configurations with three graphics cards based on AMD chips. By definition, the SLI mode is not supported in this case — this is the prerogative of boards based on the top AMD X370/X470, which can divide processor lines in equal proportions. nine0003
Recall that Ryzen processors with Vega graphics have 8 PCI Express 3.0 lanes, so when using such chips, one of the two main PCI-E x16 slots is available, which will work in x8 mode. Of course, the full-size chipset slot can be used in this case as well.
Note that the main slots have SafeSlot metal casings, which increase the mechanical strength of the connectors.
ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING received a good set of options for customizing the cooling system. The board has six 4-pin headers for connecting fans and liquid cooling systems. Initially, two connectors with one control channel (PWM / DC) were allocated for the processor cooler, three connectors for case fans, and one more for connecting the CBO pump. nine0003
The board supports proprietary Fan Expert 4 technology to fine-tune the control algorithms of each of the connected devices. As expected for a board from ASUS, we have extended ranges for adjusting the rotation speed.
Among the additional options, we can note the presence of one connector for connecting an external thermocouple.
Developers have already been very restrained in the issue of additional illumination of motherboard elements. In the case of the ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING, multi-color RGB LEDs are installed only under the interface panel shroud, creating a discreet glow of the ROG logo. nine0003
In case you want to light up the interior of the system unit, the board has two 4-pin connectors for connecting RGB strips with 5050 elements (12 V).
Tested, belts are working. Of course, the ability to synchronize the backlight of all AURA Sync devices is supported.
The cumulative history of the board begins with six SATA ports located at the right edge of the PCB. The ports are positioned parallel to the plane of the printed circuit board, so even a large video card will not create problems with access to the connectors. nine0003
ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING also offers two M.2 ports for high speed storage.
The M.2_1 port located in the central part of the board allows the use of devices up to 80 mm long with SATA and PCI-E data transfer interface. Regardless of the channel used, when a drive is installed in this slot, two SATA ports (SATA6G_5/6) are disabled.
The second slot, M.2_2, can be used for M.2 PCI-E drives up to 110mm in length. It should be noted that if this connector is used, then the main full-length PCI Express x16 slot will work in x8 mode. nine0003
Both M.2 ports can be used if the system is equipped with Ryzen processors from the Summit Ridge/Pinnacle Ridge families. Ryzen chips with integrated Vega graphics have fewer free PCI Express lanes, so when installing an APU, only the first M.2_1 port (PCI-E x4 or SATA) will be available.
Like motherboards on the top-end AMD X470, devices on the new AMD B450 support AMD StoreMI technology, which allows you to use hybrid storage bundles that combine SSDs and hard drives. nine0003
To connect to a wired network, the manufacturer used an Intel i211-AT gigabit controller. A reliable proven solution, which can often be found on devices of a higher class. The board also provides an additional LANGuard harness to protect the circuit from static and high-voltage breakdowns.
Of the internal connectors, we note the presence on the board of the USB 3.1 Gen1 (USB 3.0) connector for two ports, a pair of USB 2.0, COM and TPM.
In addition, the developers have worked on the SupremeFX audio subsystem, based on the modified Realtek S1220A 8-channel codec, which is hidden under a metal casing. In addition to the top-end controller, it is worth noting the partial isolation of the area to reduce interference, the use of Japanese capacitances and a pair of operational amplifiers — Texas Instruments R4580i and OPA O1688A. The latter provide a good power reserve for driving headphones with increased input impedance. nine0003
Overall sound quality is at a good level for a kit with an element base of this class, although without any revelations.
If you want, you can play around with the sliders in a supported Sonic Studio III. It must be admitted that such fun is not without meaning if you want to give impetus to the sound stage in games.
Assessing the composition of the interface panel, we immediately note the presence of a stationary plug that covers the connectors. Relatively recently, the manufacturer began to use this technique for top models, now, as we can see, the protective panel is also used for simpler devices. In this case, you will definitely not forget to install the appropriate bracket on the back of the case during system assembly. nine0003
As for the set of interface connectors, there is a combined PS / 2, a pair of USB 2.0 and four USB 3.1 Gen1 (USB 3.0), one of which has a compact symmetrical Type-C format. Nearby are also two USB 3.1 Gen2, both in Type-A format, and you can distinguish them from less high-speed ports by the red internal inserts.
Two digital video outputs are available for picture output — HDMI 2.0a and DysplayPort 1.2 with maximum modes 4096×[email protected]Hz. Of course, both ports will only be available when using hybrid APU chips with integrated graphics.
An Ethernet socket is available for network connection, and a set of five 3.5 mm jacks and optical S/PDIF are provided for connecting acoustics.
There are no surface mount elements on the back of the PCB. Designers have not left without attention this surface of the printed circuit board, decorating it with catchy appeals and slogans in various languages. If suddenly the system is assembled in a case with both transparent walls, then such design delights will not go unnoticed. nine0003
In progress
The graphical shell of the board’s BIOS is conceptually no different from that of its predecessors. The available options are quite enough for scrupulous platform settings, although some parameters can be adjusted in limited ranges.
For example, the processor supply voltage can only be changed in increments within + — 0.5 V in 0.00625 V steps (> 0. 2 V — yellow indicator, > 0.3 V — purple, > 0.4 V — red). The memory module supply voltage is 1.2–1.8 V in steps of 0.005 V.
The available arsenal of overclocking tools is not amazing, but it is quite sufficient for a good tight afterburner of the gaming platform.
The board has a TPU overclocking mechanism, but the suggested modes are not configured optimally.
When choosing TPU I, the Ryzen 7 2700 processor ran at 3400 MHz during the load on all computing units instead of 3375 MHz, shown in normal mode. The frequency increase is minimal, as is the increase in performance. nine0003
When using the TPU II mode, the processor clock frequency in similar conditions increased to 3500 MHz with the supply voltage unchanged for such conditions — 1.134 V.
The increase in performance in this case is very modest. Yes, it actually gets free and does not overload the power subsystem of the motherboard, but still, when it comes to even basic overclocking, I want to see more tangible results. Fortunately, you can use manual settings for this.
nine0003
As we have already noted, the board will not be the choice of a sophisticated overclocker, but this does not mean at all that it does not allow speeding up the processor. In the casual express mode, we managed to bring the operating frequency of the chip to a symbolic 4000 MHz under load on all blocks. In this case, the supply voltage was increased by +0.325 V (the BIOS parameter turns purple), and the CPU Load Line Calibration parameter was used in High mode. The actual voltage value in this case, obtained in CPU-Z, was 1.373 V.
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After such overclocking, the increase in performance is already clearly visible.
We also tested the board with the DDR4-3400 speed kit (G.Skill Sniper X F4-3400C16D-16GSXW) and found no problems with this kit. Therefore, the indicated limitation of DDR4-3200 is not the limit of the board. If you have good modules, you can go beyond the designated framework.
Price
The expected retail price of ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING is 4100 UAH (~$150). This is somewhat more than what I would like to pay for a motherboard based on a mid-range chipset. In such a case, the model will have to compete with the basic devices on the top PCH, but if we evaluate the equipment of specific models, then there is an understanding where the considerable price tag comes from. We hope that after the launch period, the cost of this model will still decrease.
nine0003
4.5
ITC.UA score
Pros:
Good equipment and functionality; two M.2 ports; cooling of VRM elements; the ability to overclock processors / memory; Intel network controller; improved sound subsystem; fixed plug of the interface panel; set of ports
Cons:
Price; modest TPU auto-overclocking values; lack of standard heatsinks for M.2 drives
Conclusion:
ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING is a full-format motherboard based on the new AMD B450 chipset for the Socket AM4 platform. Nominally, the mid-range model received an improved power unit and functionality that is more typical for devices of a higher class. Let’s highlight two M.2 ports for high-speed drives, a network connection with an Intel controller, and a good sound subsystem based on a top-end codec. Points to the device are added by the possibility of overclocking processors / memory, a stationary plug on the interface panel, moderate RGB backlighting with the ability to connect external tapes and cooling system tuning technologies. You will have to pay extra for additional options and, perhaps, this is almost the only complaint that can be made against a generally balanced model based on AMD B450. nine0003
Specifications
Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II
57points
Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II
Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II
Why is Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II better than others?
- RAM speed?
3200MHz vs 2656.77MHz
- PCIe 3.0 x16 slots?
2 vs 1.62 - USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-A) ports? nine0216 4 vs 3.59
- Maximum memory?
128GB vs 81.15GB - SATA 3 connectors?
6 vs 5.53 - Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)?
120dB vs 109.67dB - M.2 connectors?
2 vs 1.86 - DisplayPort outputs?
1 vs 0.46
Which comparisons are the most popular?
Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II
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MSI A520M
RELLE20 RELLE200021
Memory
maximum memory
Maximum memory (RAM).
RAM speed
3200MHz
Can support faster memory which speeds up system performance.
RAM speed
4400MHz
The motherboard supports overclocking the RAM to a higher speed. By increasing the memory speed, we increase the performance of the computer.
memory slots
The more memory slots (DIMMs), the more RAM you can add to your computer. This is relevant for the upgrade, because. The memory bar can be installed in an empty slot, rather than replacing an already installed one.
DDR memory version
Unknown. Help us offer a price.
DDR (Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) is the most common type of main memory. New versions of DDR memory support higher maximum speeds and are more energy efficient. nine0003
memory channels
More memory channels increase the speed of data transfer between memory and processor.
Supports memory troubleshooting code
✖Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II
Memory troubleshooting code can detect and fix data corruption. It is used when necessary to avoid distortion, such as in scientific computing or when starting a server.
Ports
USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A) ports
USB 3.2 Gen 2 supports speeds up to 10 Gbps. It was previously known as USB 3.1 Gen 2. These ports use the older USB-A connector.
USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-A) ports
USB 3.2 Gen 1 supports speeds up to 5 Gbps. It was previously known as USB 3.1 Gen 1 and USB 3.0. These ports use the old USB-A connector.
USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C) ports
Unknown. Help us offer a price.
USB 3.2 Gen 2 supports speeds up to 10 Gbps. It was previously known as USB 3.1 Gen 2. These ports use a USB-C connector. nine0003
USB 3. 2 Gen 1 (USB-C) ports
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USB 3.2 Gen 1 supports speeds up to 5Gbps. It was previously known as USB 3.1 Gen 1 and USB 3.0. These ports use a USB-C connector.
USB 2.0 ports
The more USB 2.0 ports, the more USB 2.0 compatible devices you can connect to your computer.
USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports
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USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 was introduced in 2019year. It supports speeds up to 20Gbps and uses a USB-C connector.
USB 4 40Gbps ports
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This version of USB 4 supports very high speeds up to 40 Gbps. Unlike USB 3.2, USB 4 can allocate bandwidth for video and data. These ports use a USB-C connector.
USB 4 20Gbps ports
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This version of USB 4 supports speeds up to 20 Gbps. Unlike USB 3.2, USB 4 can allocate bandwidth for video and data. These ports use a USB-C connector. nine0003
Thunderbolt 4 ports
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Number of Thunderbolt 4 compatible USB ports. These ports support speeds up to 40 Gb/s, including a minimum PCIe speed of 32 Gb/s. This ensures that it can support two external 4K screens (or one external 8K screen).
Connectors
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (via expansion)
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The number of USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports that can be added using the USB connectors on the motherboard. nine0003
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (via expansion)
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The number of USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports that can be added using the USB headers on the motherboard.
USB 2.0 ports (pass-through expanders)
Number of USB 2. 0 ports that can be added via pins (USB headers) on the motherboard.
SATA 3 connectors
SATA is an interface used to connect storage devices such as hard drives and Blu-ray discs. The native data transfer rate of SATA 3 is 6 Gb/s, which is twice as high as that of SATA 2. It can be useful to use an SSD, because it improves the speed. nine0003
fan headers
These are the contact surfaces on the motherboard to which fans can be connected. Fans, of course, can also be connected directly to the power supply, but by connecting them through the motherboard, we get the ability to control devices through software.
USB 3.0 ports (pass-through expanders)
The motherboard has pins in the form of male connectors to which additional USB ports can be connected.
M.2 connectors
M.2 is an interface used to connect various devices, mainly storage devices such as M. 2 SSDs. It is a revision of mSATA and supports much higher data transfer rates.
There is a TPM connector
✔Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II
Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a component that greatly improves security. For example, it enables the creation of RSA keys in a secure environment, minimizing the risk of hackers. nine0003
U.2 connectors
U.2 is an interface used to connect various types of devices, mainly storage devices. It is equal in performance to M.2, but U.2 SSD drives are made in the format of regular 2.5″ SATA drives, and because of this, they support much larger volumes than mSATA drives. PCIe slots are designed to connect peripherals to the motherboard, mainly graphics cards, less often other cards such as sound and network. «x16» indicates the number of lanes. The more lanes, the higher the data transfer rate. PCIe 3.0 offers faster speed than PCIe 2.0 and better performance.
PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
PCIe slots allow you to connect various components to the motherboard, such as graphics cards and SSDs. The number of data lanes (determined by the number after the «x») determines the data rate. PCIe 4.0 provides transfer speeds of 16GT/s, doubling the bandwidth provided by PCIe 3.0.
PCIe x1 slots
PCIe slots are designed to connect peripherals to the motherboard, mainly graphics cards, less often other cards: for example, sound and network. «x1» indicates the number of tracks. The more tracks, the higher the data transfer rate. nine0003
PCI slots
PCI slots are designed to connect peripherals to the motherboard, mainly graphics cards, less often other cards: for example, sound and network cards. PCI technology has been superseded by PCI Express technology, which offers higher data transfer speeds, but there are still many cards using PCI slots these days.
PCIe 2.0 x16 slots
PCIe slots are designed to connect peripherals to the motherboard, mainly graphics cards, less often other cards: for example, sound and network. «x16» indicates the number of tracks. The more tracks, the higher the data transfer rate. nine0003
PCIe x4 slots
PCIe slots are designed to connect peripherals to the motherboard, mainly graphics cards, less often other cards: for example, sound and network. «x4» indicates the number of tracks. The more tracks, the higher the data transfer rate.
PCIe x8 slots
PCIe slots are designed to connect peripherals to the motherboard, mainly graphics cards, less often other cards: for example, sound and network. «x8» indicates the number of tracks. The more tracks, the higher the data transfer rate. nine0003
Audio
Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)
When a digital signal is converted to analog (for example, when playing sound through speakers or headphones), a certain amount of noise is carried in the signal. Higher SNR means less noise and better audio quality when converting.
audio channels
Each channel is a separate stream of audio information. The more channels, the more realistic the experience, such as surround sound. nine0003
S/PDIF out port available
✔Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II
S/PDIF is an interface used to transmit high quality digital audio.
audio connectors
The more connectors, the more audio devices (speakers, microphones) you can connect.
Memory
RAID 1 support
✔Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II
RAID is a storage technology that combines multiple drives into one array. RAID 1 is a technology of mirror duplication of information on disks. Provides increased data storage security, as if one drive fails, the data will be available from another drive. nine0003
Support for RAID 10 (1+0)
✔Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II
RAID is a storage technology that combines multiple drives in one array. RAID 10(1+0) is a technology for striping and mirroring information on disks. Has higher processing capacity and performance compared to a single drive. It also provides increased data storage security, as if one drive fails, the data will be available from another drive. nine0003
RAID 5 support
✖Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II
RAID is a storage technology that combines multiple drives into one array. RAID 5 is a disk striping technology. It has higher performance compared to a separate disk. It also provides enhanced data storage security, as if one disk fails, the data will still be available on the other, thanks to the use of non-dedicated parity disk technology. nine0003
RAID 0 support
✔Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II
RAID is a storage technology that combines multiple drives into one array. RAID 0 is a disk striping technology. Has higher processing capacity and performance compared to a single drive.