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Consumers are graced with extensive choice for the AMD AM4 socket given most X370 chipset motherboards are still available alongside newer X470 options. There's also complete backwards compatibility between Ryzen 1000 and 2000 Series CPUs and X370 and X470 motherboards, as long as motherboard vendors have issued the necessary BIOS updates.
With that in mind the ASUS ROG Strix X470-F Gaming is, like its predecessor, a competent and well-received motherboard for any (upper) mid-range system builds using AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 CPUs.
This motherboard has proven itself capable of handling a Ryzen 7 2700 CPU with a high-performance overclock (4.1GHz, 1.39v) without too much sweat and an analysis of the VRMs reveals the quality and topology of the components is definitely there.
It's not a range-topping VRM implementation as there are a few better VRMs on AM4 motherboards but these come with a larger price tag and are the few, not the many. For the mid-range market position of this motherboard the VRM will hold its own and shouldn't cause any problems.
In other areas this ROG Strix X470-F Gaming motherboard duly impresses, in typical ASUS style. Audio performance is up there with the best motherboards KitGuru has tested due to the use of high quality components across the audio pipeline while connectivity is plentiful and the effective cooling solution for M.2 drives is a genuine advantage.
Overclocking and diagnostic features are thin on the ground, aside from diagnostic LEDs, so consumers with an interest in these would benefit from stepping up to the ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero. Though it should be noted the nature of automatic overclocking (XFR2/PB2) on AMD's 2000 series Ryzen CPUs is almost rendering “traditional” overclocking a relic of the past, particularly for the flagship Ryzen 7 2700X.
Styling may prove to be a contentious point for some buyers as even though ASUS provides ample RGB lighting customisation options and a neutral black colour scheme, the use of printed text across the heatsink and PCB may not be of universal taste.
With all things considered there's little that the ASUS ROG Strix X470-F Gaming doesn't do well and anyone in the market for a solid foundation to an AMD Ryzen system would do well to shortlist this latest ASUS offering. Our only point of caution would be that, while stocks last, the predecessor ROG Strix X370-F Gaming is a better buy.
The ASUS ROG Strix X470-F Gaming has a retail price of £184.99 in the UK and is sold with a 3 year warranty as standard.
In the USA it can be had for $200 at Amazon and usually has a 2 or 3 year warranty.
Pros:
- Good “upper mid-range” VRM implementation
- Effective M.2 slot cooling
- High-performance audio solution
- Ample USB and storage connectivity
- Three optional RGB header
- Reinforced PCIe slots
Cons:
- X370 version is almost identical and less expensive
- Printed text on heatsink/PCB could be polarising
- Only one onboard RGB LED zone
KitGuru says: If you're in the market for a high-spec X470 motherboard, this ASUS ROG Strix X470-F motherboard has just about everything you might need.
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