ASUS today announced that the ROG Strix, Prime and TUF Gaming series motherboards built on the AMD B450 chipset and supporting the latest AMD Ryzen processors are now available. AMD’s Ryzen platform offers an incredible desktop compute experience with multithreaded horsepower plus accessible overclocking and gaming prowess. Earlier this year AMD launched the second-generation Ryzen family with the updated X470 chipset designed to further enhance the performance of higher-end gaming and content creation rigs. Now, AMD is launching the B450 chipset for a new generation of affordable motherboards.
The B450 is streamlined for straightforward builds and smaller form factors, and ASUS has a complete collection available now. ROG Strix B450-I and B450-F Gaming elevate the platform with signature features for serious gamers, TUF B450-Plus and B450M-Plus Gaming focus on essentials and durability, and Prime B450-Plus, B450M-A and B450M-K put a more professional face on the platform.
Despite differences within the series, the ASUS B450 family is bound together by common features and capabilities honed over nearly 30 years of making motherboards. From intelligent tuning to cooling to personalization, ASUS has designed these new motherboards to help users maximize their PC’s potential.
ROG Strix raises the game
ROG is the original gaming motherboard brand, with roots that go back more than a decade to the very first Crosshair, which was also built for AMD processors. The latest ROG Strix X470-I Gaming and ROG
Strix X470-F Gaming motherboards bring the enhanced features and functionality users expect to both mini-ITX and full-size ATX form factors. Both motherboards feature predominantly blacked-out designs inscribed with cyber-text patterns that match other recent ROG hardware.
While ROG Strix B450-I Gaming has the right ingredients for small integrated graphics builds. The two-DIMM setup combines with exclusive ASUS DRAM OC Profiles to drive memory up to DDR4-3600 or beyond. Integration is key for this form factor, which is why B450-I adds dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi that provides cable-free connectivity right out of the box. Storage and sound share the stage in ROG Strix B450-I Gaming, whose M.2 Audio Combo card stacks components vertically to compensate for the compact Mini-ITX footprint.
ROG Strix B450-F Gaming stretches across a larger area with more expansion capacity for well-balanced builds. With comprehensive cooling, customization and connectivity options, dual PCIe 3.0 M.2 slots, improved DDR4 memory stability, Aura Sync and much more, this motherboard delivers excellent performance with room left in the budget for accompanying hardware. ROG Strix B450-F Gaming offers guided performance tuning and optimization via intuitive ROG software that makes it easy for experienced and first-time system builders alike to create a unique gaming rig.
TUF Gaming’s new Ryzen recruits
More than just motherboards, TUF has grown into family of gaming components that includes ASUS products alongside hardware from industry partners in the TUF Gaming Alliance. Battle-hardened styling permeates the lineup, letting gamers easily put together a distinctive system that matches inside and out.
While styling sets TUF Gaming apart aesthetically, it also matches the military-grade components populating the PCB. High quality TUF Components comprising MOSFETs, chokes, and capacitors help to ensure long-term durability.
For B450, ASUS created the TUF B450-Plus Gaming and TUF B450M-Plus Gaming motherboards based on ATX and micro-ATX form factors. They share the same basic specs, with support for up to 64GB of DDR4-3200 memory, dual graphics cards in CrossFireX, 8-channel HD audio with DTS, and extensive connectivity options.
It’s prime time for a Ryzen upgrade
The Prime series stands apart from gaming-oriented designs with more understated styling suitable for those seeking to apply Ryzen’s considerable horsepower to content creation and everyday productivity. The geometric aesthetic channels architectural inspirations to create a retro-modern look that invites closer inspection without calling undue attention.
The Prime B450-Plus marries a businesslike demeanor with enthusiast sensibilities. It’s well-equipped with a wide range of connectivity options, Fan Xpert 4 Core, 5X Protection III safeguards, premium 8-Channel HD audio and an Aura Sync RGB header.
With less real estate and entry-level affordability, the micro-ATX Prime B450M-A and B450M-K motherboards are more minimalist, yet still designed for a wide variety of users. They scale back on connectivity options, but still retain core ASUS features like Fan Expert, 5X Protection III and DIGI+ VRM circuitry that delivers reliable power, and overvoltage protection that guards against damage from spikes.