Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi review: Potent, small, and colorful

Price When Reviewed

$219.99

Best Prices Today: Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi

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 deal with it. You additionally not want the treasure reserves of a medieval king to afford one!

Thanks to Mini-ITX motherboards such because the Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi, small builds are extra broadly accessible. Supporting a gamut of highly effective Intel CPUs, each 12th- and 13th-gen, you’ll have good selections throughout the board. (Pun supposed.) 

Part of the decreased price is as a result of B760 chipset, a scaled-back model of the Intel 13th-gen Z790. While 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 stability of price financial savings and entry to highly effective {hardware}? Are there caveats try to be conscious of? Let’s discover out!

Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi: The specs

• Mini-ITX kind issue (170x170mm, or 6.7×6.7 inches)
• Supports Intel 12th- and 13th-gen CPUs
• 8+1 Power Stages 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 protect 
• 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. In the previous, Mini-ITX parts have usually been costly—diminutive {hardware} usually provides to the associated fee. Here we have now a properly featured small form-factor motherboard that also appeals to players, with some good financial savings. 

First factor to pay attention to is that Mini-ITX motherboards mechanically 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? Feature-wise, it definitely retains up for many customers. Just be aware that CPU overclocking and overkill VRMs will probably be for the Z790 realm. Most different customers ought to be greater than lined. Again, you’ll usually get fewer PCIe lanes and issues like SATA ports, however these received’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 vital gadgets such because the Wi-Fi antenna, SATA cables, and a few ROG swag.  

CPU alternative

You’ll have assist for any of the Intel 12th- and 13th-generation CPUs, starting from the meekest to the mightiest choices. Given that overclocking will not be a spotlight of this motherboard and its worth class, you’ll get higher bang for buck with a number of the extra midrange CPUs such because the Intel i5-13600 or i7-13700. Those searching for overclocked beasts such because the i9-13900Okay will probably 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 assist is right here and permits for 64GB of quick RAM. You’ll discover Mini-ITX motherboards will solely have two obtainable DIMM slots, which is the norm for this dimension. 

You will even get a single 16x PCIe Gen 5 slot, in your GPU. The NVMe slots will probably be restricted to PCIe Gen 4. GPUs additionally solely benefit from 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 affords greater than sufficient efficiency nonetheless. 

Storage

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

USB ports

With eight rear USB ports, and 1x USB C at 20Gb/s, you’ll have implausible choices for nearly any situation right here. This is sort of on par with many ATX motherboards, so little or no in the best way of compromises right here. If you’re after even quicker USB4 or Thunderbolt, you’ll need to spend a minimum of 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 and not using a discrete GPU. 

Networking

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

Audio

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

Other options of be aware

We all the time love the built-in I/O protect, because it makes your complete construct course of way more fulfilling. M.2 Q-latch for straightforward entry to the M.2 slots is customary, too. You’ll even have the identical CPU cooler compatibility as LGA1700 Z690, so it’s straightforward to switch over your {hardware}. It’s implausible to see a smaller, extra inexpensive 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 understand that it means enterprise. Or higher but, it means gaming! With a super-colorful PCIe and I/O protect space, it’s a really engaging design. 

The second impression you’ll get is certainly one of high quality. The absolutely adorned design will not be solely on the floor, however within the alternative of supplies used, and the tactile really feel can be top-notch. The board feels hefty and substantial, despite its miniscule dimension. 

Every space is laden with both colourful and attention-grabbing 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, will not be adorned with a lot in the best way 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 obligation for eye-candy goodness. 

Other sensible design components are the built-in I/O protect, 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: Performance, software program, and BIOS 

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

Performance 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 lots of that efficiency. You’ll do fantastic with an everyday i9-13900, i7-13700, and even i5-13600, nevertheless. Those will nonetheless carry out nicely and offer you cooler and extra controllable efficiency, which might be a giant profit in smaller ITX builds. 

DDR5 is right here, so that you’ll be experiencing roughly 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. This is way from a problem, and mainly precisely what you’d need for a full-fledged small gaming construct. Sure, you’re not topping out the entire specs which are current in Intel’s 13th-generation CPUs, however you’re additionally saving cash. (Both in worth, and warmth output!) 

Even when you received’t be overclocking on B760, it nonetheless has a pleasing BIOS to spend a while in. Of course, it received’t be as absolutely featured as a number of the greater Asus ROG motherboards, however you’ll have user-friendly choices right here for a lot of different gadgets. 

With B760 being a reasonably new chipset, it’s all the time good to replace your BIOS to catch updates with fixes shortly. 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 completed a fantastic job with its Armoury Crate software program. Gone are the times whenever you’d completely keep away from any sort of included motherboard software program. This one is beneficial and functionally secure, with myriad choices. You can set Aura Sync RGB profiles, fan curves, and even replace drivers. 

Should you purchase the Asus ROG Strix B760-I Gaming WiFi?

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

For many customers, you possibly can. You’ll nonetheless get the identical options comparable to DDR5, some PCIe Gen 5, and CPU selections. A $219 worth will not be significantly low cost, particularly given the boundaries you’ll have on CPU tinkering in comparison with Z790. 

For fanatic customers who need to pair a strong, overclockable CPU such because the i9-13900Okay with a less expensive motherboard, B760 might not be the best choice. We’d suggest sticking to the much less highly effective and non-overclockable CPUs with this motherboard.  

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