A slew of new AMD X870E and X870 motherboards from the Prime, TUF Gaming, ProArt and ROG line-ups have been announced by ASUS at Gamescom 2024.

With AMD's "Zen 5" Ryzen 9000 series of processors now on the shelves at your nearest PC hardware retailer, ASUS has unveiled its new AMD X870E and X870 motherboard line-up, which sport support for both the latest Ryzen 9000 series processors and older Ryzen 7000/8000 series products as well.

Overclocking & Performance Management Features

With ASUS's new X870E and X870 motherboards, users will have access to the following features:

• AI Overclocking: Allows end-users to boost CPU clocks with a single-click, and also monitors the efficiency of the processor's cooler as well as changes in the operating environment of a PC system - ASUS claims that this allows for the system to better tune its parameters over time for the best performance, given each end-user's unique combination of PC components
  
• Dynamic OC Switcher: For more advanced performance tweakers, this feature automatically toggles between AMD's built-in Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) feature and a manual all-core overclock to give users "the best performance for the task at hand"
• Core Flex: With Core Flex, end-users can manipulate power, current, and temperature limits for their processors independently to match their usage scenarios
• AI Cooling II: Allows end-users to optimise their PC's cooling system setup to achieve the best possible cooling performance while keeping noise levels manageable, based on a system's load and current temperature levels
• AI Networking II: Integrated into ASUS's Armoury Crate app, ASUS states that AI Networking II uses AI-enhanced identification and boost technology to ensure faster and smarter network optimisation. A new Traffic Monitor feature tracks WiFi channel usage and makes it easy for one to switch to a less-congested channel
  

According to ASUS, all features above can be found on ROG, TUF Gaming, and ProArt X870E and X870 motherboards. The Prime X870-P WiFi however, comes only with AI Cooling II and AI Networking II, while the Prime X870-P comes with just AI Cooling II.

NitroPath DRAM Technology

With the ROG Crosshair X870E Hero and ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi, ASUS debuts NitroPath DRAM Technology, which according to the brand, offers enhanced durability and longevity with structural reinforcements, and also reduces noise interference via shorter gold finger pins and optimized signal pathways within the motherboard. In doing so, the brand claims that "the optimized layout ensures faster data transfers between the DRAM and CPU, maximising a system’s overall performance."

WiFi 7-ready Motherboards

Compared to WiFi 6, WiFi 7 is up to 4.8 times faster, thanks to technology like 320 MHz channels on the 6 GHz band and 4K QAM. Multi-Link Operation (MLO) allows devices to connect simultaneously on multiple bands for faster speeds and increased reliability. With the sole exception of the ASUS Prime X870-P, a motherboard that comes without an onboard wireless module, every ASUS X870E and X870 board offers WiFi 7 support.

Next-gen Connectivity with USB4

A pair of onboard USB4 ports comes standard with every ASUS X870E and X870 motherboard. Offering up to 40 Gbps of bi-directional bandwidth, users can also hook up a display with a maximum resolution of 8K @ 30 Hz (as specified in DisplayPort™ 1.4) to a USB4 port. Alternatively, users can also connect multiple displays and devices to one USB4 port via daisy-chaining; with one single cable, two displays and three devices (such as a mouse, keyboard, or USB headset) can be connected, thereby allowing for better cable management.

PC DIY Made Easier

With ASUS's new X870E and X870 motherboards, the display resolution of the BIOS interface has been increased to 1920 x 1080. In addition, a new BIOS Q-Dashboard interface has been introduced to help bridge the gap between settings in the BIOS and the physical layout of these new motherboards. According to ASUS. this gives users a bird's-eye view of the user’s exact motherboard model right inside the BIOS, with vital components and connections neatly labeled.

ASUS has also introduced features to make the installation and removal of graphics cards and M.2 drives easier. The new PCIe Slot Q-Release Slim mechanism (available on ASUS X870E and X870 ROG, ROG Strix, and ProArt models) lets users remove a graphics card without releasing a latch or even pushing a button, while the new M.2 Q-Slide (available with select motherboards) features a mechanism that slides along a track and snaps into place to securely hold an M.2 device of varying lengths. ASUS has also refreshed the tried-and-true tool-free M.2 Q-Latch system for compatibility with various M.2 lengths (e.g. M.2 2280, 2260, 2242 etc). For the brand's ROG Crosshair, ROG Strix and ProArt X870E motherboards, a M.2 Q-Release heatsink is included for the primary drive slot, which allows end-users to detach the heatsink with the press of a button; reattaching the heatsink involves snapping the said heatsink back in place.

ASUS is also debuting DriverHub, which the brand touts as a one-stop solution that streamlines the process of installing and managing ASUS drivers and utilities.

ROG Crosshair X870E Hero

ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero (Image Credit: ASUS)

The ROG Crosshair X870E Hero represents the pinnacle of ASUS's X870E and X870 lineup. It comes with 18+2+2 power stages, ProCool II power connectors, MicroFine alloy chokes, and premium metallic capacitors.

The board also features the new NitroPath DRAM Technology that allows end-users to push their DDR5 kits to the limits, and a pair of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots that provide support for the fastest graphics cards of today and tomorrow, where these slots can be run in an x8/x8 configuration to support end-users who may require dual graphics cards for their workflows. Five M.2 slots are included as well, of which three slots support the PCIe 5.0 standard. Quality-of-life features for installing and removing M.2 drives, such as the new M.2 Q-Latch, M.2 Q-Release and M.2 Q-Slide, are included with the board too.

For networking, ASUS has included WiFi 7 support and dual Ethernet ports, while also including a pair of onboard USB4 ports. Powering the board's audio experience is a SupremeFX 7.1 Surround Sound audio solution with integrated amplifiers and op-amps. The audio circuit design uses premium capacitors, interference shielding and discrete traces for the left and right channels. Auto impedance detection lets users connect high-impedance audiophile headphones for crystal-clear, distortion-free output. An ESS ES9219 Quad DAC is also included with the board, pumping out top-notch audio to the front-panel output with support for 32-bit/384 kHz playback, perfect for plugging in a high-end headset.

ROG Strix for the Everyday Gamer

The ROG Strix series of motherboards represents a step-down from the ROG Crosshair series, where it retains key elements of the style and performance of the Crosshair series while avoiding specialised features that everyday users might not need. In total, ASUS is offering four ROG Strix X870E/X870 motherboards:

ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi

ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WIFI (Image Credit: ASUS)

As the pinnacle product offering of the X870E/X870 ROG Strix family, the ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi comes with 18+2+2 power stages and the full suite of ROG overclocking technologies for optimising CPU performance: AI Overclocking, Dynamic OC Switcher, Core Flex, Asynchronous Clock and PBO Enhancement.

As with the ROG Crosshair X870E Hero, users will also get the all-new NitroPath DRAM technology that helps users get the most out of their high-end DDR5 memory kits. The ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi also offers a convenient mounting location for a 60 mm fan to direct extra cooling across memory modules.

The board comes with a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for a graphics card, as well as five M.2 slots, of which three of these M.2 slots support the PCIe 5.0 standard. A PCIe Slot Q-Release Slim mechanism helps make the removal of a graphics card from a completed build an easier affair, while WiFi 7 support and 5 Gigabit Ethernet come as standard features. A pair of USB4 ports are also included with the motherboard for next-gen connectivity.

ROG Strix X870-F Gaming WiFi and ROG Strix X870-A Gaming WiFi

ASUS ROG Strix X870-F Gaming WiFi (Image Credit: ASUS)

According to ASUS, the ROG Strix X870-F Gaming WiFi and ROG Strix X870-A Gaming WiFi are offerings catered towards builders on the lookout for a more-mainstream feature set with a high-end aesthetic. With 16+2+2 power stages, two onboard USB4 ports, a header for a front-panel USB 20Gbps port and six USB 10Gbps ports, ASUS has also included WiFi 7 and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet support for network connectivity purposes.

ASUS ROG Strix X870-A Gaming WiFi (Image Credit: ASUS)

The only difference between the ROG Strix X870-F Gaming WiFi and the ROG Strix X870-A Gaming WiFi comes down to colours: the X870-F features a black-themed aesthetic, whereas the X870-A comes in a white-and-silver colourway for end-users intending to build a white-coloured PC.

ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi

ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi (Image Credits: ASUS)

The ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi comes with a VRM heatsink with a dedicated fan, an L-shaped backplate and a fan for the M.2 and chipset heatsink. A PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for a graphics card comes included, alongside two onboard M.2 slots, with one slot supporting the PCIe 5.0 standard and the other supporting the PCIe 4.0 standard. Network connectivity is by means of a WiFi 7 module and a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet controller.

Included with the board is a ROG FPS card that gives easy access to front-panel headers, 2 SATA ports, a header enabling CPU overvoltage and a PCIe mode switch for legacy expansion cards, as well as ROG Strix Hive II, an external control device that puts the motherboard's gaming features right at a user’s fingertips. The Hive also houses an ESS Sabre 9260Q DAC, along with an integrated volume knob with press-to-mute functionality.

The ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi offers two USB 10 Gbps ports — one USB Type-A and one USB Type-C, and also includes ASUS Q-LED that allows end-users to quickly diagnose PC build issues, a physical power button for the PC and a FlexKey button.

TUF Gaming X870-Plus WiFi

ASUS TUF Gaming X870-Plus WiFi (Image Credit: ASUS)

The TUF Gaming X870-Plus WiFi comes with a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for a graphics card and a total of four M.2 slots, with two M.2 slots wired for PCIe 5.0 connectivity and two for PCIe 4.0. Quality-of-life features that come with the board include PCIe Slot Q-Release and ASUS's new M.2 Q-Latch. Wireless networking is powered by an onboard WiFi 7 module, while wired internet connectivity is courtesy of a Realtek 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet controller.

ProArt X870E-Creator WiFi

ASUS ProArt X870E-Creator WiFi (Image Credit; ASUS)

The ProArt line-up of product offerings are targeted at creative professionals such as engineers, designers, videographers, animators and game developers - in this regard, the ProArt X870E-Creator WiFi comes with two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots that can operate in an x8/x8 configuration so that end-users can take full advantage of a pair of graphics cards for their productivity workloads. ASUS has also equipped this board with four M.2 slots, of which two slots support the PCIe 5.0 standard.

As a productivity-oriented motherboard offering, ASUS has opted to include a Marvell AQtion 10 Gigabit Ethernet controller that provides ultra-high-bandwidth access to resources on a local network, such as a NAS device -  standard internet connectivity is by means of an onboard WiFi 7 module and an Intel 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet controller.

As creative professionals would need to rely on a wide range of peripherals for their workstations, ASUS has packed the ProArt X870E-Creator WiFi with two onboard USB4 ports, a broad selection of high-speed USB ports and a header for a front-panel USB 20 Gbps port with 30-watt USB Power Delivery 3.0 and Quick Charge 4+.

Prime X870-P WiFi and Prime X870-P

ASUS Prime X870-P WiFi (Image Credit: ASUS)

The Prime series comprises a line-up of no-frills motherboard offerings, and the Prime X870-P WiFi and Prime X870-P motherboards offer access to the X870 chipset with less bells and whistles. Both boards come with a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, two USB4 ports as well as four M.2 slots, of which one slot supports the PCIe 5.0 standard. Wireless connectivity is a key difference between the X870-P WiFi and X870-P, where the X870-P WiFi comes with an onboard WiFi7 module.