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Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi
Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi

Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi

Overview

Welcome to our in-depth spec comparison between the Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and the Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi. These two ROG motherboards share a strong common foundation, yet diverge in meaningful ways across platform compatibility, form factor, memory capacity, and connectivity options. Whether you are building a high-performance AMD or Intel rig, understanding these distinctions is key to choosing the right board for your build.

Common Features

  • ✓ Both boards support Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), and Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be).
  • ✓ Bluetooth 5.4 is available on both products.
  • ✓ Both products feature HDMI 2.1.
  • ✓ Overclocking is supported on both boards.
  • ✓ RGB lighting is present on both products.
  • ✓ Easy BIOS reset functionality is available on both boards.
  • ✓ Both boards have 4 memory slots.
  • ✓ Both products use DDR5 memory.
  • ✓ Both boards support 2 memory channels.
  • ✓ Neither board supports ECC memory.
  • ✓ Both products have 4 USB 2.0 ports.
  • ✓ Both products include 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port.
  • ✓ Both boards feature 1 USB 4 40Gbps port.
  • ✓ Neither board has any USB 4 20Gbps ports.
  • ✓ Both products include 1 Thunderbolt 4 port.
  • ✓ Neither board has any Thunderbolt 3 ports.
  • ✓ Both boards offer 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports through expansion and 2 USB 3.0 ports through expansion.
  • ✓ Both products include 1 USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port through expansion.
  • ✓ Both boards have 4 SATA 3 connectors and no SATA 2 connectors.
  • ✓ A TPM connector is not present on either board.
  • ✓ Neither board includes a U.2 socket or mSATA connector.
  • ✓ Both boards have 1 PCIe 5.0 x16 slot.
  • ✓ Neither board has PCIe 3.0 x16, PCIe 2.0 x16, PCIe x8, PCIe x4, PCIe x1, or legacy PCI slots.
  • ✓ Both products have a signal-to-noise ratio (DAC) of 120 dB.
  • ✓ Both boards support 7.1 audio channels with 2 audio connectors.
  • ✓ An S/PDIF Out port is present on both products.
  • ✓ Both boards support RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10 (1+0).
  • ✓ RAID 0+1 is not supported on either board.

Main Differences

  • • The CPU socket is AM5 on the Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and LGA 1851 on the Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi.
  • • The chipset is B850 on the Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and B860 on the Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi.
  • • The form factor is ATX on the Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and Micro-ATX on the Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi.
  • • The board width is 305 mm on the Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and 244 mm on the Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi.
  • • The maximum supported memory is 192 GB on the Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and 256 GB on the Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi.
  • • The maximum overclocked RAM speed is 8000 MHz on the Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and 9066 MHz on the Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi.
  • • USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A) number 6 on the Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and 1 on the Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi.
  • • USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A) number 0 on the Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and 3 on the Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi.
  • • USB 2.0 ports through expansion number 4 on the Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and 3 on the Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi.
  • • Fan headers number 7 on the Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and 4 on the Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi.
  • • M.2 sockets number 5 on the Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and 4 on the Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi.
  • • A PCIe 4.0 x16 slot is present on the Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi but not available on the Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi.
Specs Comparison
Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi

Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi

Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi

Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi

General info:
CPU socket AM5 LGA 1851
chipset B850 B860
form factor ATX Micro-ATX
release date January 2025 January 2025
supports Wi-Fi ✓ ✓
Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Has Bluetooth ✓ ✓
Bluetooth version 5.4 5.4
HDMI version HDMI 2.1 HDMI 2.1
Easy to overclock ✓ ✓
has RGB lighting ✓ ✓
Easy to reset BIOS ✓ ✓
Has dual BIOS ✓ ✓
has aptX ✕ ✕
CPU sockets 1 1
Has integrated graphics ✕ ✕
warranty period 3 years 3 years
height 244 mm 244 mm
width 305 mm 244 mm
Has integrated CPU ✕ ✕

The most fundamental distinction between these two boards is platform: the ROG Strix B850-E targets the AMD AM5 ecosystem, while the B860-G is built for Intel LGA 1851. This is not a minor detail — it determines your entire CPU roadmap and is non-negotiable at purchase time. Neither decision is inherently superior here, as the specs provided do not include performance data, but buyers must commit to one ecosystem from the outset.

The second major differentiator is form factor. The B850-E is a full-size ATX board measuring 305 × 244 mm, while the B860-G is a Micro-ATX at 244 × 244 mm. The ATX format typically allows for more expansion slots, VRM phases, and connectivity headers, making it the more expansion-friendly choice for large builds. The Micro-ATX is a better fit for compact cases where space is at a premium, without sacrificing the core feature set.

Beyond those two splits, the boards are remarkably well-matched in this group: both carry Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, HDMI 2.1, dual BIOS, RGB lighting, and an identical 3-year warranty. The B850-E has a clear edge for users who want a roomier build with more potential for expansion; the B860-G wins on footprint for space-constrained setups. Platform choice, however, is the real deciding factor here.

Memory:
maximum memory amount 192GB 256GB
overclocked RAM speed 8000 MHz 9066 MHz
memory slots 4 4
DDR memory version 5 5
memory channels 2 2
Supports ECC memory ✕ ✕

The Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi both support DDR5 memory and feature four memory slots with dual memory channels. However, the maximum memory capacity differs between the two: the B850-E Gaming WiFi supports up to 192GB of memory, while the B860-G Gaming WiFi can handle up to 256GB.

In terms of overclocking potential, the B850-E Gaming WiFi offers an overclocked RAM speed of 8000 MHz, whereas the B860-G Gaming WiFi has a higher overclocked RAM speed of 9066 MHz. Both motherboards do not support ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory, which is consistent across the two models.

Overall, the two boards share many similarities in terms of memory slots, DDR version, and memory channels, with the main differences lying in the maximum memory amount and overclocked RAM speed, with the B860-G Gaming WiFi offering a higher capacity and faster speeds.

Ports:
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A) 6 1
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A) 0 3
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-C) 0 0
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C) 0 0
USB 2.0 ports 4 4
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports 1 1
USB 4 40Gbps ports 1 1
USB 4 20Gbps ports 0 0
Thunderbolt 4 ports 1 1
Thunderbolt 3 ports 0 0
has an HDMI output ✓ ✓
DisplayPort outputs 1 1
RJ45 ports 1 1
Has USB Type-C ✓ ✓
eSATA ports 0 0
DVI outputs 0 0
has a VGA connector ✕ ✕
PS/2 ports 0 0

The Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi have similar port offerings, but there are some notable differences. Both motherboards feature USB 2.0 ports (4 each), a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port (1 each), USB 4 40Gbps ports (1 each), Thunderbolt 4 ports (1 each), HDMI output, and DisplayPort output. Additionally, both boards have RJ45 Ethernet ports and support USB Type-C, though neither has USB 3.2 Gen 1 or Gen 2 ports in the USB-C format.

The key difference between the two models lies in the USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A) ports. The B850-E Gaming WiFi offers 6 USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-A ports, while the B860-G Gaming WiFi only provides 1. On the other hand, the B860-G Gaming WiFi includes 3 USB 3.2 Gen 1 USB-A ports, whereas the B850-E Gaming WiFi has none.

Both motherboards lack VGA and PS/2 ports, and neither includes eSATA or DVI outputs. Overall, while both boards offer similar port features in key areas like USB Type-C, HDMI, and networking, the B850-E Gaming WiFi has a clear advantage in the number of USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-A ports.

Connectors:
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (through expansion) 2 2
USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports (through expansion) 1 1
USB 2.0 ports (through expansion) 4 3
SATA 3 connectors 4 4
fan headers 7 4
USB 3.0 ports (through expansion) 2 2
M.2 sockets 5 4
Has TPM connector ✕ ✕
U.2 sockets 0 0
Has mSATA connector ✕ ✕
SATA 2 connectors 0 0

The Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi both offer similar connector setups, but there are some key differences. Both motherboards provide USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (2 through expansion), USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports (1 through expansion), and USB 2.0 ports (4 through expansion). However, the B850-E Gaming WiFi offers an additional USB 3.0 port (2 through expansion), while the B860-G Gaming WiFi does not mention any additional USB 3.0 ports beyond the Gen 1 ports.

Both products feature 4 SATA 3 connectors, but the B850-E Gaming WiFi includes 5 M.2 sockets, while the B860-G Gaming WiFi has 4. In terms of fan headers, the B850-E Gaming WiFi offers 7, which is more than the B860-G Gaming WiFi, which has 4 fan headers. Neither motherboard includes U.2 or mSATA connectors, and neither supports a TPM connector.

Overall, while both motherboards offer similar core connectors, the B850-E Gaming WiFi has a slight edge in the number of M.2 sockets and fan headers, while the B860-G Gaming WiFi has a bit fewer USB 2.0 ports through expansion and fewer M.2 sockets.

Expansion slots:
PCIe 4.0 x16 slots 1 0
PCIe 5.0 x16 slots 1 1
PCIe 3.0 x16 slots 0 0
PCIe x1 slots 0 0
PCI slots 0 0
PCIe 2.0 x16 slots 0 0
PCIe x4 slots 0 0
PCIe x8 slots 0 0

The Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi offer different configurations for expansion slots. The B850-E Gaming WiFi includes both a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, providing flexibility for modern GPUs. In contrast, the B860-G Gaming WiFi only has a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, with no PCIe 4.0 x16 slot available.

Both motherboards lack PCIe x1, PCI, PCIe 2.0 x16, PCIe x4, and PCIe x8 slots, focusing solely on high-bandwidth slots for GPU support. Neither motherboard includes additional expansion options beyond the PCIe x16 slots.

In summary, the main difference between the two models is that the B850-E Gaming WiFi offers both PCIe 4.0 x16 and PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, while the B860-G Gaming WiFi only provides the latter.

Audio:
Signal-to-Noise ratio (DAC) 120 dB 120 dB
audio channels 7.1 7.1
Has S/PDIF Out port ✓ ✓
audio connectors 2 2

The Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi have identical audio specifications. Both motherboards feature a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of 120 dB for their DAC, ensuring high-quality audio performance. They both support 7.1 audio channels, providing immersive sound for gaming and media consumption.

Additionally, both motherboards include an S/PDIF Out port for digital audio output and are equipped with 2 audio connectors, allowing for versatile audio connectivity options.

In summary, the audio capabilities of both boards are the same, with no differences between them in terms of SNR, audio channels, S/PDIF Out port, or audio connectors.

Storage:
Supports RAID 1 ✓ ✓
Supports RAID 10 (1+0) ✓ ✓
Supports RAID 5 ✓ ✓
Supports RAID 0 ✓ ✓
Supports RAID 0+1 ✕ ✕

The Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi have identical storage features. Both motherboards support RAID 1, RAID 10 (1+0), RAID 5, and RAID 0 configurations, allowing for a variety of storage setups tailored to performance and redundancy needs. Neither motherboard supports RAID 0+1, which is not available on either model.

In summary, both motherboards offer the same RAID support options with no differences in their storage capabilities.

Comparison Summary & Verdict

Both the Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi and the Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi deliver a solid feature set, including Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, Thunderbolt 4, and comprehensive RAID support. However, their differences point clearly to distinct audiences. The Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi is the stronger choice for AMD platform builders who need a full ATX form factor, more USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 7 fan headers, and 5 M.2 sockets for expansive storage and cooling setups. The Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi, on the other hand, suits Intel builders working within a compact Micro-ATX chassis, while still offering a higher memory ceiling of 256 GB and faster overclocked RAM speeds of up to 9066 MHz. Choose based on your CPU platform, case size, and connectivity priorities.

Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi
Buy Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi if...

Buy the Asus ROG Strix B850-E Gaming WiFi if you are building on the AMD AM5 platform and need a full ATX board with more USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 7 fan headers, and 5 M.2 sockets.

Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi
Buy Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi if...

Buy the Asus ROG Strix B860-G Gaming WiFi if you are on the Intel LGA 1851 platform and prefer a compact Micro-ATX build with a higher maximum memory capacity of 256 GB and faster overclocked RAM support up to 9066 MHz.