ASUS ROG STRIX X870-I GAMING WIFI Motherboard Assessment

We had an extended break from ASUS merchandise, so it’s time to catch up. This time, we take a more in-depth have a look at a motherboard that has been available on the market for a while, however continues to be the most effective ASUS ITX mannequin for the AM5 socket – the ROG STRIX X870-I GAMING WIFI. Within the upcoming weeks, we’ll current two of the newest fashions designed for players and PC fanatics. I gained’t share which of them, however you may count on they’re from the Neo sequence.

Going again to the STRIX X870-I GAMING assessment, the motherboard guarantees all the most effective within the mini-ITX kind issue. It’s additionally geared up with a strong energy part and helps quick storage and RAM. What else may we ask for from an ITX-size motherboard? You could be certain there may be extra, however I’ll cowl it in our assessment.

Let’s start with an extended listing of specs and options, and as ordinary, you may rely on some overclocking outcomes later.

Specs and Options of the ASUS ROG STRIX X870-I GAMING WIFI

The ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi integrates cutting-edge know-how right into a smooth mini-ITX kind issue, enhanced by the ROG Strix Hive II for streamlined management. It options PCIe 5.0 slots for graphics and storage, dual-channel DDR5 slots and strong energy supply for top-tier gaming and heavy workloads. In the meantime, superior cooling options keep peak efficiency, and WiFi 7 ensures ultra-fast connectivity. This platform delivers the facility and connectivity that superior AI PC functions demand.

~ASUS

The listing of key options already tells us that ASUS labored arduous to suit all the most effective within the smallest bundle. The SFF-ready motherboard gives nearly as a lot as full ATX fashions, however in a compressed ITX-size PCB.

Key Options

AMD X870 Chipset Specs

Chipset Comparability – Supply: AMD

The X870 just isn’t the flagship chipset, however the principle distinction in comparison with the E model is 8 extra PCIe lanes and extra USB and SATA ports. This implies most customers see no distinction, and the one chip matches completely on small motherboards. ASUS went a step additional, enhancing as a lot as doable to accommodate extra connectors for even higher system help on the small ITX motherboard. To make sure excessive overclocking potential, some elements had been moved to a daughter PCB and even externally, to the Hive, which connects by way of USB-C and helps improved audio and extra USB ports.

The desk above reveals the overall variations between the brand new chipsets; particulars on the STRIX X870-I GAMING are under.

ASUS ROG STRIX X870-I GAMING WIFI Specs

As I discussed within the introduction, the Strix X870-I Gaming isn’t the newest mannequin, however nonetheless the most effective ASUS gives within the mini-ITX kind issue. There may be not a lot we may enhance because it was launched a 12 months in the past. Truly, the one outdated chip appears to be the two.5 GbE Intel LAN, since most motherboards these days use 5 GbE. It’s positively not a difficulty for many customers, as WiFi appears to take over and we now have a full-speed WiFi 7 controller onboard. Each motherboard producer has a gaming ITX mannequin. Nonetheless, solely ASUS and MSI focus extra on fanatic and overclocking options than gaming. There are vital variations between these motherboards, and ultimately every consumer picks the one with some options that match their wants.

Since I discussed connectivity, the Strix X870-I gives quick Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, in addition to USB 4. The WiFi antennas join simply with easy plug connections. Nonetheless, the most important distinction is the Hive II. ASUS determined to create an exterior port heart for all the audio division, together with the ESS SABRE9260Q DAC, extra USB ports, Q-LED standing indicator, and an influence button. I gained’t cover that I didn’t like the thought within the first place, however over time I’ve seen it may be useful, and lots of customers could discover it a characteristic that leads them to decide on the Strix X870-I over different ITX motherboards. Audio can also be a weak spot of many aggressive choices. ASUS retains it high-end for this little motherboard.

The Strix X870-I helps all AM5 processors from the 7000, 8000, and 9000 sequence. Because the motherboard was launched final 12 months, it might want a BIOS improve for the brand new CPU fashions. Our assessment pattern arrived with an outdated BIOS, but it surely’s not a difficulty, as we will replace it even with out the put in CPU. For this assessment, I up to date the BIOS to the newest model. The motherboard’s BIOS was already steady and problem-free, however the brand new one included some enhancements.

The motherboard helps all DDR5 RAM sorts, together with as much as 8600 MT/s. Larger than 8200 MT/s is supported on 8000 APUs. Some refreshed Ryzen X3D chips can attain larger frequencies, however not as excessive because the 8000-series APUs. Because the specs weren’t up to date for some time, we will rely on setting an excellent larger reminiscence clock than it’s listed. Nonetheless, we’ll once more be restricted to 8000 APUs if we need to transcend the specs. Assist for CUDIMM isn’t talked about, but it surely’s additionally not formally supported by AMD, and never each CPU helps any such reminiscence. The 9800X3D, which we use for checks, doesn’t help CUDIMM, even in bypass mode.

Underneath the heatsinks, we discover a 10+2+1 power-phase design. It’s essentially the most strong energy part we discover in AM5 mini-ITX motherboards. It may possibly simply deal with even essentially the most power-hungry AM5 CPUs and allow us to overclock them.

The Strix X870-I gives two M.2 sockets. One is within the M.2 PCIe 5.0 x4 commonplace. One is the PCIe 4.0 x4. It’s commonplace for brand spanking new ITX motherboards, and solely the just lately reviewed MSI X870I EDGE TI has three of them. The ASUS FPS card may embody an extra socket, however I don’t suppose it’s vital for many customers. Each M.2 sockets are mounted on high of the PCB with a thick “sandwich”- kind heatsink that additionally cools the X870 chipset. Underneath the again I/O cowl is a bit fan, serving to to maintain our SSDs at optimum temperatures.

The PCIe 5.0 x16 slot has a singular, easy-removal design. All we now have to do is maintain the cardboard close to the ports and pull it up. The image of the right utilization could be discovered on the CPU socket. One of many pictures under reveals it.

The motherboard helps 4 USB-C ports. Two of them on the again are 40 Gbps, and one is 10 Gbps. The entrance USB-C port is 20 Gbps. This setup can also be higher than that of most, if not all, aggressive ITX motherboards.

The motherboard has two followers. One is the SSD/chipset fan talked about. The second can also be underneath the I/O cowl and cools the principle VRM heatsink. We couldn’t hear them throughout common work. Each followers are made by Delta, which is thought for top-quality followers, principally for industrial functions. The ability part temperatures had been acceptable, even when the CPU was overclocked.

ASUS ROG STRIX X870-I GAMING WIFI Options

The listing of Key Options can also be out there on ASUS’s web site.

The listing of options is sort of lengthy for an ITX-size motherboard. Most of them are shared with different, higher-series ASUS motherboards. The entire up to date listing is, as at all times, out there on the product web site. Because the description is sort of detailed, there may be not rather more so as to add.

Retail Packaging and Equipment

The motherboard arrived in a retail bundle. The bundle design and contents are an identical to these in shops.

Contained in the field is every part we’d like for the set up, together with a WiFi antenna, two SATA information cables, an easy-connect ARGB extension cable, a Hive II, a USB-C Hive II cable, a ROG keychain, Strix stickers, a fast set up information (an prolonged model of the handbook is obtainable on the web site), and the FPS card. The whole lot wanted for the set up is included within the field. The field is a typical dimension for an ASUS ITX motherboard. The bundle protects the contents nicely, and nothing is just too tight.

A Nearer Have a look at the ASUS ROG STRIX X870-I GAMING WIFI

The Strix X870-I has a typical ITX motherboard format, aside from the FPS card, which incorporates extra ports and switches. The whole lot continues to be the place it’s anticipated. The whole lot can also be straightforward to entry. The M.2/chipset heatsink is sort of massive, and we could have issues with some CPU coolers. For instance, our Arctic Freezer III couldn’t be put in, however Noctua just lately delivered their new AIO coolers, so we’re lined. The whole lot else is excellent and shouldn’t intervene with any widespread units, like tall RAM.

The motherboard is usually black, with metallic brown Strix covers that barely replicate gentle. It’s fairly an authentic design, and personally, I prefer it.

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Despite the fact that there’s a massive heatsink, the motherboard ought to match each SFF PC. All widespread SFF CPU coolers also needs to match, so we could have issues solely with coolers which can be actually massive or have a built-in offset, just like the talked about Arctic Freezer III.

Like all overclocking motherboards, the Strix X870-I has the clear CMOS button on the again. It’s useful, particularly when overclocking RAM. With a number of overclocking options, it solely asks you to push past the required limits. As well as, there’s a flash BIOS button. The Hive II additionally has a Flex button that we will program as we want.

The motherboard has three fan headers, all of which could be managed within the BIOS or ASUS software program. There are usually not lots of them, however they’re completely effective for an AIO with a number of followers and extra case followers. In brief, a typical gaming PC.

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The Strix X870-I makes use of massive heatsinks and high-performance thermal pads. On the again of the PCB is a fairly massive backplate serving to to chill the facility part.
Beneath is how the motherboard seems to be underneath the heatsinks.

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UEFI BIOS and Software program

BIOS/UEFI

The Strix X870-I BIOS isn’t a lot completely different from what ASUS used with earlier ROG motherboard sequence. The UEFI is black and purple. The whole lot is in locations we used to see in earlier motherboards. The whole lot can also be straightforward to entry and clearly described. I’d say it requires a redesign, however overclockers are used to it and select ASUS as a result of this BIOS gives the most effective choices for his or her wants.

The motherboard arrived with a barely outdated BIOS, having been a couple of months outdated. For testing, we up to date it to model 1686, which provides a couple of enhancements. It’s good to maintain the BIOS updated, as it might enhance efficiency and improve compatibility.

The BIOS gives two modes: a simple mode for customers preferring primary settings and a sophisticated mode for many who want to modify every part or require particular settings for his or her work.

Straightforward Mode – Predominant

Superior Mode – Predominant

Ai Tweaker

Superior

Q-Fan Management

Monitor

Boot

Instrument

Exit

ASUS Software program

ASUS supplies the Armoury Crate software program with all new units, which incorporates RGB adjustment, fan management, overclocking, diagnostic choices, and AI enhancements—every part we’d like in a single place.

The RGB labored with the preferred manufacturers, corresponding to G.SKILL and Kingston. The much less widespread V-Shade additionally labored effective.

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The fan management operates with out points and could be simply managed by the software program. Though the software program gives some overclocking choices, I nonetheless advocate utilizing the BIOS for overclocking and creating consumer profiles to get well shortly if something goes fallacious.

Take a look at Setup and Efficiency of the ASUS ROG STRIX X870-I GAMING WIFI

CPU and Reminiscence Efficiency

The Strix X870-I performs nicely in all reminiscence checks and achieves outcomes just like or barely higher than these of most different X870 and X870E motherboards we examined. It additionally works with barely tighter timings than ITX motherboards, such because the just lately reviewed Gigabyte X870I AORUS PRO.

The used 9800X3D CPU isn’t the most effective for RAM overclocking and efficiency comparability, but it surely’s one of the crucial widespread gaming processors. For this processor, it’s finest to set tight timings at a synchronous reminiscence controller ratio, or intention for 8200 MT/s, because it’s the restrict for many 9000 sequence chips. The Strix X870-I Gaming ought to deal with each situations nicely.

AIDA64 CPU checks present comparable outcomes on all X870 and X870E motherboards, together with the Strix X870-I. The efficiency is at the least as excessive as that of different motherboards, as anticipated. All motherboards within the comparability are prime quality, which confirms the Strix X870-I’s excessive efficiency.

AIDA64 FPU checks point out outcomes about the identical because the CPU checks. The Strix X870-I’s efficiency is excessive, and all checks move with out points.

In rendering and AI calculation checks, as soon as once more we obtain excessive scores. The little ASUS motherboard additionally performs nice in these checks.

PCMark 10 Purposes suite signifies anticipated efficiency in widespread Microsoft Workplace functions in contrast with different motherboards. Scores within the PCMark 10 benchmark are as excessive as anticipated, barely beating the comparability within the Excel and PowerPoint checks.

Gaming Efficiency

Gaming benchmarks present comparable outcomes on all new AM5 motherboards. Variations are throughout the margin of error, so the consumer’s expertise shall be comparable throughout all instances. The Strix X870-I as soon as once more reveals it’s a well-performing motherboard.

The Strix X870-I is a superb base for a high-performance SFF PC. All computation and gaming checks handed with out points, confirming this tiny motherboard is not any worse than massive ATX fashions. Due to the shorter traces, it’s generally even sooner.

Storage Efficiency

M.2 SSD

The M.2 efficiency has been examined utilizing the ADATA MARS 980 Blade 2TB NVMe PCIe 5.0 x4 SSD. It performs as marketed, delivering 14.46 GB/s sequential learn and over 2M IOPS for random reads and writes. These outcomes are barely above the typical for X870 and X870E motherboards.

USB SSD

When it comes to USB efficiency, we give attention to essentially the most vital chipset enchancment: native USB4. With a USB4 SSD, we see efficiency as anticipated. Despite the fact that the sensible restrict for USB4 is round 3.8GB/s, the SSD in use can’t attain it, solely shut to three.6GB/s. The outcomes are similar to these of different AM5 motherboards with USB4 controllers.

The Strix X870-I has two full-speed USB4 ports with out PCIe lane sharing, a transparent benefit over most AM5 motherboards available on the market.

Energy Consumption

Above, you may see our outcomes for the entire take a look at rig. It’s a typical high-end PC. The Strix X870-I makes use of barely much less energy for about the identical duties as massive ATX fashions. Because it’s an ITX mannequin, it was anticipated attributable to fewer controllers.

Overclocking with the ASUS ROG STRIX X870-I GAMING WIFI

Like all ASUS ROG motherboards, the little Strix helps each handbook and computerized settings, together with AI enhancements. We are able to use absolutely handbook, PBO, or combined modes that ought to end in optimum tuning for our CPU. After all, handbook settings will take lots of time, so most customers could follow ASUS profiles primarily based on PBO or set PBO to comparatively protected settings with +200 MHz and a detrimental curve that works with our CPU (sometimes -20/-30).

The Strix X870-I helps absolutely handbook settings, just like these on high ATX fashions. We are able to go previous the standard PBO settings, however we gained’t see a major distinction in each day duties or video games, for the reason that CPU is already quick. The motherboard helps an asynchronous PCIe bus for the CPU and different units. In consequence, we will set a excessive PCIe bus with PBO settings, which routinely adjusts the frequency from the bottom to as much as 5.7 GHz+. Most customers will follow the really useful PBO profile, which provides 200 MHz whereas protecting temperatures low and efficiency excessive.

Concerning reminiscence overclocking, we will count on 6400 MT/s at 1:1 and over 8600 MT/s+ at 1:2 IF:IMC ratio. Nonetheless, something above 8400 MT/s is proscribed to the 8000G APU sequence. The motherboard works completely with dual-rank, 2x48GB DDR5-6400 CL32 modules, which we will tighten to CL28. Single-rank modules can simply work at 8000 MT/s+, and we had been in a position to get them working at 8600 MT/s and move some lighter checks, however couldn’t keep full stability. The end result proven above was obtained with a fairly outdated Corsair Dominator 48GB 7200 MT/s reminiscence equipment, which was overclocked to 8000 MT/s CL34 with out points. The 8200 MT/s required extra relaxed timings, leading to barely worse efficiency. Our CPU doesn’t like something larger, but it surely’s clearly not the motherboard’s restrict.

Despite the fact that the competitors has launched a few new fashions within the mini-ITX kind issue, the Strix X870-I Gaming nonetheless holds the highest spot for overclocking and is very really useful if we’re planning a high-end ITX construct.

Conclusion

The Strix X870-I Gaming has been out there for some time, and it nonetheless has barely any competitors within the high-end ITX motherboards for the AM5 socket. The motherboard gives excessive efficiency, a strong energy part, a number of gaming and fanatic options, a singular design, and excessive overclocking potential. There are some things we want to change, and lots of issues aggressive motherboards nonetheless lack.

We had no compatibility or efficiency points throughout the checks, besides with the CPU cooler. The Arctic Freezer III, attributable to its offset mounting, can’t be put in. All different elements used on the motherboard labored as anticipated, together with numerous USB units, M.2 SSDs, RAM kits, and graphics playing cards.
The motherboard encompasses a strong 10+2+1 energy design and improved cooling to ship steady efficiency. We skilled no stability points underneath excessive load or overclocking, confirming that the motherboard is well-designed.

The Strix X870-I Gaming helps ARGB illumination with full management via the Armoury Crate software program. As ordinary for ITX motherboards, there isn’t any backlight for the heatsinks and the I/O cowl. There are nonetheless ARGB headers which can be absolutely appropriate with all widespread units. We had no issues with the illumination on linked followers and RAM modules of varied manufacturers.

We additionally had no issues with overclocking the CPU and RAM. The Strix X870-I helps all PBO settings, extra overclocking profiles, and performance-enhancing choices. Related choices can be found on all different ROG-series motherboards.

The ASUS Strix X870-I Gaming WIFI prices $389.99 within the Newegg on-line retailer. It’s not the most affordable ITX motherboard, however if you’d like the most effective, it’s the best choice and nonetheless fairly priced given what it gives. I’m certain not solely players, but in addition overclockers and fanatics shall be glad with the Strix X870-I Gaming.

The ASUS Strix X870-I Gaming WIFI is a tremendous motherboard, so it’s being awarded the Overclockers Permitted Stamp!

Click on the stamp for a proof of what this implies.

Bartosz Waluk – Woomack

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