Asus ROG X670E Gene review: Small motherboard, big power

Price When Reviewed

$599

Best Prices Today: Asus ROG X670E Gene

AMD has some quick AM5 Ryzen 7000 CPUs that go all the way in which as much as the mighty Ryzen 9 7950X. Such powerhouse chips typically require powerhouse options, resulting in large builds to accommodate the processor and all of the accouterments that go together with it. 

The Asus ROG X670E Gene flips that notion on its head. Sporting the microATX type issue, this board hits a pleasant candy spot for builders who don’t wish to go large. Smaller than ATX, mATX opens up a world of much less girthy circumstances; however bigger than ITX means you’ll have extra options to take pleasure in. DDR5, PCIe Gen 5, all the most recent goodies are right here. It does have a couple of compromises in comparison with an ATX motherboard that’ll we’ll talk about. 

From the specs, to the options, to efficiency attributes, and design, let’s see whether or not this smaller-sized Gene can ship a high-end fanatic wallop.

Asus ROG X670E Gene: The specs

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The Asus ROG X670E Gene ask an MSRP of $599, which lands it squarely within the high-end motherboard class. It’s microATX in addition—making it nearly a mini-ROG “Extreme.” (9.6 inch x 9.6 inch, or 24.4 cm x 24.4 cm)

In addition to supporting any Ryzen 7000 CPU, the Gene has fairly the spec record. 

The X670E already carries with it extra USB port choices, SATA ports, and PCIe Gen 5 Lanes. You’ll additionally get USB4 and USB C, with monitor display-out. 

As characteristic packed because the Gene is, you’ll have a couple of compromises, comparable to 4x SATA ports, just one onboard NVMe slot, and so forth. These are usually extra plentiful on ATX motherboards. 

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The unboxing expertise is pleasurable and par the course with a $599 motherboard. After taking out the hefty, fantastically constructed Gene, you’ll discover some good equipment within the field, together with a ROG Gen-Z.2 card that permits you to add two extra NVMe drives—and makes for RAM-like ease of entry. You’ll additionally get the “ROG True Voltician” instrument for overclockers. 

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• Micro-ATX type issue 
• Support for AMD AM5 Ryzen 7000 CPUs 
• 16+2 Phase Design with 110A per stage
• DDR5 RAM, twin channel as much as 2 DIMMs (as much as 64GB)
• 1x onboard M.2 slot (PCIe Gen 5)
• 2x M.2 slots on ROG Gen-Z.2 card (1x PCIe Gen 5)
• 1x PCIE 16x slot (PCIe Gen 5) 
• Dual USB-C monitor display-out 
• 10 USB ports on again (together with USB4 40Gb/s)
• PS2 port
• Intel 2.5GbE LAN
• Wi-Fi 6E 
• RGB headers for Aura Sync
• 4 SATA 6GB/s ports 
• 7 PWM fan headers 
• BIOS Flashback and Clear CMOS
• Preinstalled I/O defend 
• ROG SupremeFX 7.1 ALC 4080 audio
• MSRP $599

Asus ROG X670E Gene: Features 

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With it’s $599 MSRP, you’d count on class-leading options, proper? And, sure, you’ll get them! Just bear in mind the one caveat: Since the Gene is microATX, it would additionally possible have much less of them than a full-sized ATX.

First, it presents the quick DDR5, however you’ll be restricted to 2 DIMM sticks, with a most of 64GB. Most ATX motherboards can assist twice the sticks and capability. This shouldn’t trouble most customers, however pure workstation jockeys might wish to select one thing else. 

Second, the Gene solely presents a single onboard NVMe slot—whereas many bigger boards usually have at the very least two or three. Again, no massive deal, because the included ROG Gen-Z.2 add-in card permits you to add one other slots, for a complete of three. We additionally like that each the onboard slot and one in every of card’s slots are PCIe Gen 5. 

You’ll get a single 16x PCIe Gen 5 slot, sufficient on your GPU, and a smaller PCIe 4x slot for some smaller add-in playing cards. The GPU launch button is a pleasant “quality-of-life” characteristic—an effective way to seize your GPU safely out of that slot! 

Ryzen 7000 CPUs gives you a built-in iGPU, which could be accessed by the USB-C display-out on the Gene. Neat, and those self same USB-C ports are USB4, at a quick 40Gb/s. The USB port choice is strong, with a complete of 10. You’ll additionally get a PS2 port, for the legacy-peripherals followers.

Wi-Fi 6E can also be right here, as is 2.5Gb LAN. We don’t count on 10Gb LAN on any such motherboard, because it’s extra “gamer” centered—but it surely’s a nice-to-have. 

Audio is nice right here, with the ROG SupremeFX 7.1 4080 codec and inputs/outputs on the again with optical S/PDIF. 

Since that is an enthusiast-gamer providing, you’ll get Clear CMOS, BIOS Flashback, plus an LED Debug code readout. It’d be good to have a couple of extra chassis fan PWM headers, however the providing right here is adequate for many smaller builds. 

Overall, the Asus ROG X670E Gene has the entire subsequent era options you’d wish to pair with Ryzen 7000, with some compromises. If you’re okay with the 64GB RAM restrict, fewer PCIe slots, and fewer whole NVMe choices, the remainder of it actually delights.  

Asus ROG X670E Gene: Design 

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Design is the place the Asus ROG X670E Gene actually excels: It’s a fully attractive motherboard packed into the microATX type issue. The RGB is robust with this one—with the I/O defend space and decrease portion of the board sporting Asus ROG results aplenty. 

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The second you bodily decide up the Gene, you’ll be impressed by its heft, and the way solidly constructed it feels. Every inch is tastefully completed, with practical cooling armor plating on the decrease areas offering pizzazz and cooler temperatures. 

The ROG Gen-Z.2 add-in card is well designed, too. It goes proper subsequent to the RAM slots and clicks-in in a similar way. Since this microATX motherboard solely presents a single NVMe slot onboard to preserve house, this can be a good inclusion. It seems to be candy, with loads of heatsinks of its personal! 

The I/O defend and VRM heatsink space additionally look purposeful and beautiful. Even when off, the lettering has rapid enchantment—which is accentuated when it’s turned on. The I/O defend is built-in as nicely, with clearly labeled ports all through. 

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The rear has no backplate, however with this microATX motherboard going into tighter areas, which may be a very good factor. (Some beefy motherboards such because the E-ATX Z690 Asus ROG Glacial Extreme is usually a tight slot in even some massive circumstances because of sure clearances.) 

Overall, it’s a fantastic design that screams fanatic gaming—and has numerous performance constructed into the design. Bravo! 

Asus ROG X670E Gene: Performance, software program, and BIOS

The Asus ROG X670E Gene is a efficiency monster! With 16+2 energy phases, the Ryzen 9 7950X shall be a chunk of cake. VRMs and heatsinks abound, with greater than adequate cooling to go round. 

If you observed the water block on the CPU above, that’s as a result of Ryzen 7000 wants as a lot CPU cooling as doable and is a good match for an customized water-cooled loop. You’ll have the motherboard VRMs as backup for overclocking and never break a sweat! 

Performance continues all through this motherboard: PCIe Gen 5 is right here within the 16x PCIe slot, plus the onboard NVMe slot, in addition to in one of many ROG Gen-Z.2 card’s slots (the opposite being Gen 4). You’re restricted to a single 16x PCIe slot and a smaller X4 slot, nevertheless. 

DDR5 is implausible reminiscence assist, with blisteringly-fast speeds. Keep in thoughts the 64GB restrict, nevertheless. This can typically be a constructive for RAM overclocking, as many enthusiast-grade boards of the previous have had restricted RAM slots as technically it’s much less connections to make—making them doubtlessly sooner. 

Elsewhere on the motherboard, even the USB ports are hyperspeed—with included USB4 at 40Gb/s. 

If you do want to enterprise additional and push overclocks, the Asus BIOS is among the greatest in the marketplace. Ryzen 7000 CPUs additionally reply nice to “Eco mode”-style tweaks to restrict energy and warmth, too. (Check out our Ryzen 7000 Eco Mode tips here)  

The included Asus Voltician instrument permits you to monitor voltage when doing all of your overclocking rounds, a pleasant inclusion for many who can admire it. 

Automatic overclocking and DDR5 Expo profiles for RAM are additionally right here for many who want to keep away from any tinkering. The Asus ROG X670E Gene is loaded with overclocking performance-oriented options, comparable to Clear CMOS, Debug LEDs, and so forth. 

For AM5 X670E motherboards—a model new chipset—Asus makes BIOS updates straightforward, which is sweet because you’re higher off doing them extra incessantly in early adopter platforms. Take observe of that if preliminary boot occasions on X670E are barely longer than regular—that ought to change over time. 

Motherboard software program is all the trend lately, at the very least from the producers’ perspective. Asus Armoury crate is included and might typically set up itself robotically with a purpose to present drivers. It also can do quite a lot of duties—comparable to Aura Sync RGB management, fan management, and straightforward driver updates. It’s an attractively designed piece of software program that’s leagues higher than motherboard software program choices of the previous. 

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Should you purchase the Asus ROG X670E Gene?

With a $599 MSRP the Gene is focused on the fanatic gamer who needs the very best—however in a smaller microATX type issue. Build high quality and aesthetics are stunningly achieved. 

There are some compromises with this being microATX and gamer centered, nevertheless. Content creators might wish to take a look at different choices. You’re restricted to 64GB of RAM and two DIMMs, a single 16x PCIe slot, and one onboard NVMe slot (with two extra on the ROG Gen-Z.2 card).

If you’ll be able to look previous these limitations, the remainder of the board screams with options and efficiency. DDR5, PCIe Gen 5, sturdy VRM cooling, and a plethora of rear I/O. And USB4 at 40Gb/s is a number of the quickest USB speeds we’ve ever seen on a motherboard! 

Overall, for the gamer who needs the ROG styling and wishes a smaller microATX motherboard to slay the Ryzen 7000 CPUs, this is a wonderful fanatic selection.