ASUS ROG STRIX X470-F Gaming Motherboard Review

Final Thoughts

Pricing

The ASUS F-Gaming X470 motherboard launches today and can be picked up from the usual retailers for around £175. That makes it the most affordable X470 motherboard we’ve tested so far, which is sure to appeal to those who fear to pay over that dreaded £200 mark. Of course, you still get a lot of features for your money too, so it’s not like you’re getting less for less!

Overview

ASUS has a strong reputation for gaming hardware, and the F Gaming is a welcome addition to their arsenal. X470 is a big launch for AMD and their partner brands, and with it comes the ability to unleash the full power of the new second generation Ryzen processors. What’s surprising is just how close the three X470 motherboards we’ve tested this week are to each other, despite their rather different approach to design and features. That’s great news for ASUS though, as the cheaper of the three we’ve reviewed, it’s a bargain for enthusiast gamers.

Build Quality

ASUS did a great job with the design of this motherboard, but it’s just as practical as it is beautiful. The monochrome design works really well, as it’ll blend in with your chassis of choice easily. Of course, that also provides a nice backdrop for the built-in RGB LED lighting too, helping you choose your own colour scheme. The VRM heatsinks are nice and chunky and integrate well with the shrouds on the motherboard. The same is true of the chipset heatsink, which blends well with the M.2 shield/heatsink. The two main PCIe slots are armoured, and they’ll handle the weight of any modern GPU with ease. Furthermore, the inclusion of a pre-installed rear I/O guard is just awesome, I’m always happy to see that on modern motherboards.

Performance

When it comes to gaming, the X470 chipset and the new Ryzen CPUs are a nice step up from X370. The ASUS F Gaming is as good as any other X470 motherboard we’ve tested for gaming, and we’re confident it’ll be a big hit with system builders in this regard. However, it’s things like the dual M.2 with NMVe support, USB 3.1 and Type C, and the high-end audio that keeps it top of its game in every regard.

Should I Buy One

If you’re building a new Ryzen Gen 2 based system around the X470 chipset, you’re going to be spoilt for choice. There’s a lot of great motherboards launching today. However, given that it’s the first one under £200 that we’ve tested this week, it’s certainly appealing to those who don’t want to spend more than they have to. With great performance and stunning aesthetics, it’s sure to please ASUS fans old and new.

• AM4 Socket for AMD Ryzen™ processors
• Synchronised RGB lighting technology works with a vast portfolio of Aura Sync-capable PC gear and includes support for addressable light strips and Phillip Hue
• Onboard M.2 Heatsink provides cooling for the M.2 drive, delivering consistent storage performance and enhanced reliability
• Gaming connectivity: Intel Gigabit Ethernet, LANGaurd, dual M.2, USB 3.1 Gen 2
• 5-Way Optimisation: 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.

Pros

• Supports all the new features of Ryzen Gen 2
• Supports all AM4 socket CPUs
• Great gaming performance
• Stunning aesthetics
• Built-in RGB lighting customisation
• Pre-installed rear I/O guard
• Armoured PCIe slots
• M.2 heatsink
• Awesome SupremeFX S1220A audio
• Competitive price

Cons

• None

Neutral

• Stock CPU clock power usage seems a little high, but not so high to be of concern