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ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II AM4 motherboard: features and specs
An ATX AM4 motherboard for Ryzen 5000 and earlier CPUs, with dual M.2 slots, BIOS Flashback, 8+2 power stages and Aura Sync RGB. What the specs mean.
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The ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II is an ATX motherboard for AMD processors on the AM4 socket. ASUS says it offers a feature set usually found on higher-end ROG boards, and it suits people building or upgrading a Ryzen desktop who want dual M.2 storage, RGB lighting and a straightforward BIOS update.
Socket and CPU support
AM4 is AMD's long-running desktop socket. This board supports Ryzen 5000 series and 3rd, 2nd and 1st Gen Ryzen CPUs. ASUS notes that your BIOS must be up to date to run a Ryzen 5000 CPU. On an older BIOS version the board may not start with it. The ASUS support page for the model has the latest BIOS under Drivers and Tools.
BIOS Flashback
BIOS Flashback lets you update the BIOS from a USB drive without installing a processor or memory, which matters when you buy a new CPU for a board that shipped with older firmware. Check the manual for the exact steps. The board also has a 256Mb BIOS flash ROM, which provides room for the firmware of newer CPUs.
Power and cooling
ASUS describes 8+2 DrMOS power stages (the listing title says 8+4) with alloy chokes and durable capacitors to supply high-core-count CPUs. Extended VRM and PCH heatsinks, M.2 heatsinks, hybrid fan headers and the Fan Xpert utility handle cooling and fan control.
Storage, expansion and ports
The board has dual M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs and two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots. The listing mentions HDMI 2.0b (4K at 60Hz) and DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, which are used with processors that have built-in graphics. Ports include a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port and USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A and Type-C ports. A pre-mounted I/O shroud is fitted.
Audio and lighting
The audio uses a SupremeFX S1220A codec with DTS Sound Unbound and Sonic Studio III, playing up to 32-bit/192kHz. ASUS AI Noise Cancelling Mic technology is for voice chat. Lighting is controlled through Aura Sync and the Armoury Crate utility, with two RGB headers and one Gen 2 addressable RGB header.
Who it suits
It suits builders pairing a Ryzen processor with a mid-range graphics card, and upgraders moving up within AM4. Anyone wanting DDR5 or the newest platform features would need a different socket and board.
What to check before you buy
- CPU and BIOS: confirm your exact processor is supported and whether the board needs a BIOS update first.
- Integrated graphics: the video outputs only work with CPUs that have built-in graphics.
- Case: this is a full ATX board of about 12 x 9.6 inches.
- Memory: check the supported memory type and speeds on ASUS's support page.
- Offer text: the listing mentions an Adobe trial that expired in 2022, so don't count on it.
- Handling: switch off and unplug the PC before installation.
The short version
- ATX AM4 board for Ryzen 5000 and earlier Ryzen CPUs; BIOS update may be needed.
- BIOS Flashback, 256Mb flash ROM and DIY-friendly design.
- Dual M.2 slots, two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, HDMI 2.0b and DisplayPort 1.2.
- SupremeFX S1220A audio and Aura Sync RGB.
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