ASUS Prime B760-PLUS D4 Motherboard: LGA 1700, DDR4 and PCIe 5.0 explained

The ASUS Prime B760-PLUS D4 is an ATX motherboard for Intel's LGA 1700 socket. It supports 12th and 13th Gen Intel Core processors and uses DDR4 memory, which makes it a fit for builders reusing DDR4 RAM or planning a mainstream desktop.

Socket, chipset and memory

LGA 1700 is the socket used by 12th and 13th Gen Intel Core processors, and ASUS says the board is ready for the 13th Gen chips. The "D4" in the name means it takes DDR4 memory, not DDR5. The two types are not interchangeable, so the memory you buy must match.

ASUS also lists OptiMem, which refers to careful routing of traces and vias to preserve signal integrity and improve memory stability.

PCIe 5.0 and M.2 storage

The board offers PCIe 5.0 support, the newest generation, which doubles bandwidth over PCIe 4.0. In practice that is aimed at the main graphics slot, and today's graphics cards typically run fine on PCIe 4.0 too.

For storage there are three PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots. M.2 drives are small, gumstick-shaped SSDs that connect directly to the board. A PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD can reach several gigabytes per second, far above older SATA drives. A vertical M.2 slot (Key E) is also listed, commonly used for wireless cards.

Ports and networking

Connectivity includes:

• Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet, faster than standard gigabit if your router and cabling support it.
• Rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C, a 20Gbps standard.
• Front USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C for a case with a matching front panel connector.
• Support for a Thunderbolt (USB4) header, for an add-in card, with a DisplayPort output on the board.

Cooling and lighting

ASUS lists heatsinks over the VRM (the power circuitry), the M.2 slot and the PCH chipset, as well as hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 2plus, its fan-control software. For lighting, the board has onboard addressable Gen 2 headers and an Aura RGB header for RGB LED strips, which sync with Aura Sync-capable hardware.

Who it suits

It suits a mainstream desktop build around a 12th or 13th Gen Core processor, especially if you already own DDR4 memory or want several fast SSD slots. It is a full-size ATX board, so it needs a compatible case.

What to check before you buy

• Processor support: confirm your exact CPU model is supported, and whether the board needs a BIOS update for it. Check ASUS's support page.
• Memory type: it takes DDR4 only; check the supported speeds and capacity.
• Case size: ATX needs a case that supports it. The listing gives about 10.5 x 13 inches.
• Front-panel connectors: check that your case has USB-C if you want to use the front Type-C header.
• Display output: a CPU with integrated graphics lets you use the board's display output; otherwise you need a graphics card.
• Cooler and power supply: check socket compatibility for the CPU cooler and connector needs.

The short version

• An ATX motherboard for Intel LGA 1700, with 12th and 13th Gen Core support.
• DDR4 memory, PCIe 5.0 and three PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots.
• 2.5Gb Ethernet, rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C and a front USB-C header.
• Heatsinks on the VRM, M.2 and PCH, plus RGB headers.

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