Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi assessment: Potent, small, and colourful

Greatest Costs Immediately: Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi

$219.99

Small form-factor motherboards have taken on a completely new life over the previous couple of years. The extraordinary energy of contemporary {hardware} not wants an enormous monolithic construction to accommodate it. You additionally not want the treasure reserves of a medieval king to afford one!

Due to Mini-ITX motherboards such because the Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi, small builds are extra extensively accessible. Supporting a gamut of highly effective Intel CPUs, each Twelfth- and Thirteenth-gen, you’ll have good selections throughout the board. (Pun supposed.) 

A part of the diminished price is because of the B760 chipset, a scaled-back model of the Intel Thirteenth-gen Z790. When you’re getting higher pricing, there are some compromises, too. We’ll go over the options, design, and efficiency of this small form-factor motherboard. Does this board strike a satisfying steadiness of price financial savings and entry to highly effective {hardware}? Are there caveats you have to be conscious of? Let’s discover out!

Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi: The specs

• Mini-ITX type issue (170x170mm, or 6.7×6.7 inches)
• Helps Intel Twelfth- and Thirteenth-gen CPUs
• 8+1 Energy Levels with 80A 
• DDR5 RAM, twin channel as much as 2 DIMMs (as much as 64GB)
• 2x onboard M.2 slots (PCIe Gen 4)
• 1x PCIe 16x slot (PCIe Gen 5)
• HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort out 
• 8 rear USB ports on again (together with 1x 20Gb/s)
• Intel 2.5GbE LAN 
• Wi-Fi 6E With Bluetooth 5.3
• Aura Sync header for RGB
• 4 SATA 6Gb/s ports 
• 3 PWM fan headers 
• Clear CMOS 
• Pre-installed I/O defend 
• ROG SupremeFX 7.1 high-definition codec S1220A
• MSRP $219

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The Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi is available in with an MSRP of $219. Up to now, Mini-ITX parts have typically been costly—diminutive {hardware} typically provides to the fee. Right here now we have a properly featured small form-factor motherboard that also appeals to avid gamers, with some good financial savings. 

Very first thing to concentrate on is that Mini-ITX motherboards robotically have fewer options and I/O in comparison with bigger Micro-ATX and ATX motherboards. You’ll usually have solely a single PCIe 16x slot, and fewer NVMe slots, SATA ports, and USB ports. 

How does the Intel B760 chipset do with these restrictions? Characteristic-wise, it definitely retains up for many customers. Simply be aware that CPU overclocking and overkill VRMs can be for the Z790 realm. Most different customers must be greater than lined. Once more, you’ll usually get fewer PCIe lanes and issues like SATA ports, however these gained’t matter as a lot as on bigger motherboards. 

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The unboxing expertise is nice and easy. You’ll get a few necessary objects such because the Wi-Fi antenna, SATA cables, and a few ROG swag.  

CPU selection

You’ll have help for any of the Intel Twelfth- and Thirteenth-generation CPUs, starting from the meekest to the mightiest choices. On condition that overclocking just isn’t a spotlight of this motherboard and its worth class, you’ll get higher bang for buck with a few of the extra midrange CPUs such because the Intel i5-13600 or i7-13700. These searching for overclocked beasts such because the i9-13900K can be higher served by a Z790 motherboard such because the ROG Strix Z790-i. 

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DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 5

DDR5 help is right here and permits for 64GB of quick RAM. You’ll discover Mini-ITX motherboards will solely have two out there DIMM slots, which is the norm for this measurement. 

Additionally, you will get a single 16x PCIe Gen 5 slot, in your GPU. The NVMe slots can be restricted to PCIe Gen 4. GPUs additionally solely reap the benefits of PCIe Gen 4, so that you’re greater than lined right here. Gen 5 NVMe drives are simply beginning to be launched, and Gen 4 presents greater than sufficient efficiency nonetheless. 

Storage

Two included NVMe slots are greater than acceptable on a small form-factor motherboard akin to this. On condition that they’re additionally PCIE Gen 4, you’ll have greater than sufficient storage and efficiency readily available for many gaming builds. You additionally get 4 SATA ports for exhausting drives, which must also be greater than sufficient for small builds. 

USB ports

With eight rear USB ports, and 1x USB C at 20Gb/s, you’ll have incredible choices for nearly any situation right here. That is nearly on par with many ATX motherboards, so little or no in the way in which of compromises right here. When you’re after even sooner USB4 or Thunderbolt, you’ll must spend not less than twice as a lot to seek out it.  

DisplayPort and HDMI 2.1 are additionally right here in case your CPU helps built-in graphics, making it straightforward to diagnose with no discrete GPU. 

Networking

You’ll get the identical connectivity choices as most ATX motherboards. Wi-Fi 6E and Intel 2.5GbE LAN are each out there, in addition to Bluetooth 5.3. Definitely, only a few would want extra for this class of motherboard, so it’s nice to see how well-rounded these choices have change into.  

Audio

Audio is nice, with a ROG SupremeFX 7.1 codec. It additionally has a wide range of audio inputs within the again, permitting headphone and speaker connections. 

Different options of be aware

We at all times love the built-in I/O defend, because it makes the whole construct course of far more pleasant. M.2 Q-latch for simple entry to the M.2 slots is commonplace, too. You’ll even have the identical CPU cooler compatibility as LGA1700 Z690, so it’s straightforward to switch over your {hardware}. It’s incredible to see a smaller, extra reasonably priced motherboard having the identical choices as the larger fanatic motherboards do! 

Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi: Design 

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The Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi wastes no time in letting you realize that it means enterprise. Or higher but, it means gaming! With a super-colorful PCIe and I/O defend space, it’s a really engaging design. 

The second impression you’ll get is considered one of high quality. The absolutely adorned design just isn’t solely on the floor, however within the selection of supplies used, and the tactile really feel can be top-notch. The board feels hefty and substantial, despite its miniscule measurement. 

Each space is laden with both colourful and fascinating design components, or purposeful VRM and heatshield armor. The M.2 slots are properly protected and cooled—no uncovered areas right here! This total consideration to element provides to a sense of high quality and enthusiast-grade design. 

You’ll even have an Aura Sync RGB header onboard, for including a dizzying array of lights if you wish to. The motherboard itself, whereas colourful, just isn’t adorned with a lot in the way in which of RGB or particular screens. That’s a given with this worth class, you’d want a dearer and bigger motherboard for extra pizazz. That’s okay—the colourful design greater than fulfills its responsibility for eye-candy goodness. 

Different good design components are the built-in I/O defend, M.2 Q-latch, and well-labeled inputs. These small touches additional showcase the eye to element, and the truth that you don’t want a super-expensive motherboard to be an fanatic. 

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Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi: Efficiency, software program, and BIOS 

The Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi options an 8+1 VRM Energy Stage with 80A. Whereas this appears small in comparison with some beastly motherboards with 20+ Energy Levels, it’s greater than sufficient for the kinds of CPUs you’ll seemingly pair with this board. 

Efficiency is expectedly lower than with Z790 motherboards, even small form-factor ones such because the Asus ROG Strix Z790-I, which is a cousin to this board. We wouldn’t go slapping an Intel i9-13900KS on right here because you’ll waste numerous that efficiency. You’ll do wonderful with a daily i9-13900, i7-13700, and even i5-13600, nevertheless. These will nonetheless carry out properly and provide you with cooler and extra controllable efficiency, which could possibly be an enormous profit in smaller ITX builds. 

DDR5 is right here, so that you’ll be experiencing kind of the identical efficiency as with dearer motherboards. You’re restricted to 2 slots and 64GB, however that’s greater than sufficient for gaming builds of this caliber. 

PCIe Gen 5 is right here for the GPU 16x slot, however solely PCIe Gen 4 on the NVMe slots. That is removed from a difficulty, and principally precisely what you’d need for a full-fledged small gaming construct. Positive, you’re not topping out the entire specs which can be current in Intel’s Thirteenth-generation CPUs, however you’re additionally saving cash. (Each in worth, and warmth output!) 

Even in case you gained’t be overclocking on B760, it nonetheless has a nice BIOS to spend a while in. After all, it gained’t be as absolutely featured as a few of the greater Asus ROG motherboards, however you’ll have user-friendly choices right here for a lot of different objects. 

With B760 being a reasonably new chipset, it’s at all times good to replace your BIOS to catch updates with fixes rapidly. It ought to principally be a extra mature platform in comparison with when B660 was new, nevertheless. 

Exiting the BIOS, you’ll additionally discover that Asus has performed a wonderful job with its Armoury Crate software program. Gone are the times while you’d completely keep away from any sort of included motherboard software program. This one is helpful and functionally steady, with myriad choices. You’ll be able to set Aura Sync RGB profiles, fan curves, and even replace drivers. 

Do you have to purchase the Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi?

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Can you will have nearly the identical enthusiast-level Mini-ITX expertise on the cheaper $219 Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi as on pricier choices? 

For a lot of customers, you possibly can. You’ll nonetheless get the identical options akin to DDR5, some PCIe Gen 5, and CPU selections. A $219 worth just isn’t notably low cost, particularly given the boundaries you’ll have on CPU tinkering in comparison with Z790. 

For fanatic customers who wish to pair a robust, overclockable CPU such because the i9-13900K with a less expensive motherboard, B760 will not be the most suitable choice. We’d suggest sticking to the much less highly effective and non-overclockable CPUs with this motherboard.  

These limitations apart, the ROG Strix design will make lovers glad, with nice consideration to element and lots of included options that rival even some ATX motherboards. When you by no means plan to overclock, there’s not a lot compromise right here for customers who simply wish to recreation and have the suitable supporting options. No have to pay extra for options you gained’t want; and also you’ll nonetheless get respectable efficiency.