• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

ASUS Announces a Pair of ROG STRIX Mini-ITX Motherboards: H270I and B250I

Raevenlord

News Editor
Joined
Aug 12, 2016
Messages
3,755 (1.22/day)
Location
Portugal
System Name The Ryzening
Processor AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Motherboard MSI X570 MAG TOMAHAWK
Cooling Lian Li Galahad 360mm AIO
Memory 32 GB G.Skill Trident Z F4-3733 (4x 8 GB)
Video Card(s) Gigabyte RTX 3070 Ti
Storage Boot: Transcend MTE220S 2TB, Kintson A2000 1TB, Seagate Firewolf Pro 14 TB
Display(s) Acer Nitro VG270UP (1440p 144 Hz IPS)
Case Lian Li O11DX Dynamic White
Audio Device(s) iFi Audio Zen DAC
Power Supply Seasonic Focus+ 750 W
Mouse Cooler Master Masterkeys Lite L
Keyboard Cooler Master Masterkeys Lite L
Software Windows 10 x64
ASUS has further increased its Intel 200-series chipset-based motherboards with the addition of two Mini-ITX motherboards. The H270I and B250I join the ROG staple of motherboards from ASUS, which means these come packed with features and are being marketed for gamers. Though the features are looking a bit thin, which was to be somewhat expected given the lack of PCB real-estate to house them.

These two motherboards do not support any kind of OC, and memory speeds are thus limited to the stock Intel 2400 MHz (and further limited to two sticks of memory up to a 32 GB total.) Furthermore, there is a single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, a gaping absence of PCI ports, but a saving grace of two M.2 ports in each motherboard. Which are, yes, very hard to see: one of them fits in the front of the PCB, under the double-decker heatsink design over the PCH that allows an M.2 drive to be stacked on top of it, which means the PCH and the M.2 drive are cooled by the top of the heatsink. The other, which we can't see in the pictures, is located on the back of the motherboard. Both M.2 connectors can handle full-speed PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSDs, as well as Intel Optane Memory, but only one of them supports SATA-based M.2 solid state drives.





Let's dive on connectivity: both motherboards have 4x SATA 6Gb/s ports and support Intel Rapid Storage Technology, although only the Strix H270I has RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 and Intel SRT capabilities. The H270I supports 8x USB 3.0 ports (6x rear, one header for 2x front ports) and the B250I supports 6x USB 3.0 ports (4x rear, one header for 2x front ports) and two USB 2.0 ports (two rear). The H270-based model also has 2x gigabit LAN ports (1x Intel I219V and 1x Realtek RTL8111H), while the B250-based model only has 1x gigabit LAN port powered by Intel's I219V controller.



Both motherboards feature on-board dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MU-MIMO, Bluetooth 4.1, and a 2x2 external antenna. Display outputs come in at 1x HDMI 1.4 and 1x DisplayPort 1.2 video for Intel's IGPs, while onboard audio duties are handled by a ROG SupremeFX eight-channel HD audio solution, based on the Realtek ALC1220A codec. There are 3x fan headers - one that supports a water pump or a high amperage fan - and access to ASUS' Fan Xpert 4 UEFI/software fan controls.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site
 
Joined
Apr 2, 2009
Messages
3,505 (0.61/day)
This... has been out for a while, no? I recall seeing them on Newegg for a while.
 

theonedub

habe fidem
Joined
Apr 30, 2009
Messages
8,027 (1.40/day)
Location
Northern CA, USA
System Name Erakith || AsRock NUCS
Processor AMD ThreadRipper 2990WX ES (32c/64t 3.5ghz@1.02v) || Intel i7 1360P Raptor Lake-P
Motherboard MSI X399 MEG Creation || AsRock OE
Cooling EK Supremacy TR4 Full Nickel, D5 w/ EK Top, 2X EK-CoolStream XTX 360 & Photon 270 Res || OE
Memory 32GB (4x8GB) Corsair Vengeance PRO RGB DDR4 3000|| 2x16GB Corsair DDR4
Video Card(s) Vega 64 EK FC|| Intel Iris Xe
Storage 250gb WD Black NVMe & (2) 2TB Intel 660p NVMe || 2TB Corsair MP600 Pro
Display(s) 34" Dell Ultrasharp U3415W
Case CaseLabs Merlin SM8 || Aluminum Unibody
Power Supply Corsair HX1000
Mouse Corsair Harpoon Wireless RGB
Keyboard Corsair Strafe RGB w/ Cherry MX Silent
Software Windows 10 Pro x64 || WIndows 11 Pro x64
Benchmark Scores WCG & F@H Only
This... has been out for a while, no? I recall seeing them on Newegg for a while.

Pretty sure only the Z version has been out and on sale at retailers- not the B or H series.
 
Joined
Mar 14, 2014
Messages
1,439 (0.36/day)
Processor 11900K
Motherboard ASRock Z590 OC Formula
Cooling Noctua NH-D15 using 2x140mm 3000RPM industrial Noctuas
Memory G. Skill Trident Z 2x16GB 3600MHz
Video Card(s) eVGA RTX 3090 FTW3
Storage 2TB Crucial P5 Plus
Display(s) 1st: LG GR83Q-B 1440p 27in 240Hz / 2nd: Lenovo y27g 1080p 27in 144Hz
Case Lian Li Lancool MESH II RGB (I removed the RGB)
Audio Device(s) AKG Q701's w/ O2+ODAC (Sounds a little bright)
Power Supply Seasonic Prime 850 TX
Mouse Glorious Model D
Keyboard Glorious MMK2 65% Lynx MX switches
Software Win10 Pro
ROG used to actually mean a little something. When I think of ROG I usually think of stuff like Ares, Poseidon, Rampage and Formula.
I guess now even B series chipsets are ROG..
 
Joined
Jun 28, 2016
Messages
3,595 (1.15/day)
ROG used to actually mean a little something. When I think of ROG I usually think of stuff like Ares, Poseidon, Rampage and Formula.
I guess now even B series chipsets are ROG..

What's wrong with these motherboards?
They have basically all the goodies that Z270 variant has - just the chipset is different.
 
Joined
Jan 31, 2012
Messages
2,675 (0.57/day)
Location
East Europe
System Name PLAHI
Processor I5-10400
Motherboard MSI MPG Z490 GAMING PLUS
Cooling 120 AIO IWONGOU
Memory 1x32GB Kingston BEAST DDR4 @ 3200Mhz
Video Card(s) PNY QUADRO RTX A2000
Storage Intel 670P 512GB
Display(s) Philips 288E2A 28" 4K + 22" LG 1080p
Case Silverstone Raven 03 (RV03)
Audio Device(s) Creative Soundblaster Z
Power Supply Fractal Design IntegraM 650W
Mouse Logitech Triathlon
Keyboard REDRAGON MITRA
Software Windows 11 Home x 64
Some tough competition for the B-version of ROG from Gigabyte's GA-B250N Phoenix-WIFI, which costs about 125 EUR. I do not see any prices here in the news, but I suppose ROG's version will cost more, while for the most part Gigabyte has a solid board as well.
 
Joined
May 5, 2014
Messages
134 (0.03/day)
Location
Hà Nội, Việt Nam
System Name Acer Aspire V3-571G
Processor Core i3 3110M Dual Core 2.4 GHz Ivy Bridge
Motherboard Intel HM77
Memory 4Gb DDR3 1333 MHz Dual Channel
Video Card(s) Intel HD Graphics 4000/NVIDIA GeForce GT630M
Storage Kingston V300 120Gb SATA3 SSD
Display(s) Asus VS239H 23-inch AH-IPS Monitor
Audio Device(s) Realtek HD with Dolby™ Digital Plus
Mouse Logitech G502 Proteus Core Tunable Gaming Mouse + Corsair MM400 Hard Plastic Gaming Mouse Mat
Keyboard Logitech G310 Atlas Dawn Mechanical Gaming Keyboard | Romer-G Switches by Omron and Logitech
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
Benchmark Scores Nah, nevermind me then xD
Now what I want is a Ryzen mITX board T.T
 
Joined
Jun 28, 2016
Messages
3,595 (1.15/day)
Some tough competition for the B-version of ROG from Gigabyte's GA-B250N Phoenix-WIFI, which costs about 125 EUR. I do not see any prices here in the news, but I suppose ROG's version will cost more, while for the most part Gigabyte has a solid board as well.
For me the key selling point of these boards are two M.2 interfaces. This is in fact an important thing in the whole ASUS lineup: they're also offering fairly affordable dual M.2 mATX boards (both connectors at the front). Most other manufacturers give you that only in ATX models.

Also the audio on ASUS ROG is usually above average..

But most significantly, ASUS mobos generally are known for long and trouble-free operation - an opinion that's fully in-line with my experience (albeit with the CSM/PRO models, not gaming stuff).
Gigabyte is trying to be a more cutting-edge manufacturer... And the only way to keep your gear up to date is to replace often...

Now what I want is a Ryzen mITX board T.T
You're not alone. I got tired of waiting and went Intel (I generally preferred Intel CPUs anyway - just wanted to see what Ryzen stuff will offer).
The rumor is that designing an AM4 mITX mobo is not easy. I find this very weird considering it's a SoC and everyone expected great scalability - important for laptops and AIOs.
Instead we get a suggestion that it was not possible to convert any of already available LGA1150 designs...
 
Last edited:
Joined
Mar 14, 2014
Messages
1,439 (0.36/day)
Processor 11900K
Motherboard ASRock Z590 OC Formula
Cooling Noctua NH-D15 using 2x140mm 3000RPM industrial Noctuas
Memory G. Skill Trident Z 2x16GB 3600MHz
Video Card(s) eVGA RTX 3090 FTW3
Storage 2TB Crucial P5 Plus
Display(s) 1st: LG GR83Q-B 1440p 27in 240Hz / 2nd: Lenovo y27g 1080p 27in 144Hz
Case Lian Li Lancool MESH II RGB (I removed the RGB)
Audio Device(s) AKG Q701's w/ O2+ODAC (Sounds a little bright)
Power Supply Seasonic Prime 850 TX
Mouse Glorious Model D
Keyboard Glorious MMK2 65% Lynx MX switches
Software Win10 Pro
I suppose ROG's version will cost more, while for the most part Gigabyte has a solid board as well.
Of course it will cost more they made a plain ass motherboard and threw on the ROG name. ROG means "money" now, not "overpacked with features" like it used to.
 
Joined
Dec 5, 2007
Messages
5,226 (0.84/day)
System Name Addison Clark
Processor Ryzen 9 7950x3D delid
Motherboard Asus X670E Hero
Cooling Custom Bykski loop CPU, GPU, 2x 360 rads, and 1x 280 rad with Arctic P12 and P14 ARGB fans
Memory G.Skill DDR5-6000 64GB CL30
Video Card(s) Gigabyte 4090 Aorus Master
Storage Kingston Fury 2TB and 4TB NVME
Display(s) Samsung 57"
Case Lian Li O11 mini
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Thermaltake 1000w SFX-L
Mouse Corsair Dark Core RGB SE
Keyboard Corsair K95 Platnium
Software Win 11 Pro
I have the Z270 of this board and it has been rock stable. The only thing I wish the Z270 had that the H270 has is the dual nic especially since Intel now offers teaming on their newest drivers.
 
Joined
Aug 14, 2013
Messages
2,373 (0.57/day)
System Name boomer--->zoomer not your typical millenial build
Processor i5-760 @ 3.8ghz + turbo ~goes wayyyyyyyyy fast cuz turboooooz~
Motherboard P55-GD80 ~best motherboard ever designed~
Cooling NH-D15 ~double stack thot twerk all day~
Memory 16GB Crucial Ballistix LP ~memory gone AWOL~
Video Card(s) MSI GTX 970 ~*~GOLDEN EDITION~*~ RAWRRRRRR
Storage 500GB Samsung 850 Evo (OS X, *nix), 128GB Samsung 840 Pro (W10 Pro), 1TB SpinPoint F3 ~best in class
Display(s) ASUS VW246H ~best 24" you've seen *FULL HD* *1O80PP* *SLAPS*~
Case FT02-W ~the W stands for white but it's brushed aluminum except for the disgusting ODD bays; *cries*
Audio Device(s) A LOT
Power Supply 850W EVGA SuperNova G2 ~hot fire like champagne~
Mouse CM Spawn ~cmcz R c00l seth mcfarlane darawss~
Keyboard CM QF Rapid - Browns ~fastrrr kees for fstr teens~
Software integrated into the chassis
Benchmark Scores 9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
Furthermore, there is a single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, a gaping absence of PCI ports, but a saving grace of two M.2 ports in each motherboard.
Some lofty expectations for ITX...
 
Joined
Oct 22, 2014
Messages
14,179 (3.80/day)
Location
Sunshine Coast
System Name H7 Flow 2024
Processor AMD 5800X3D
Motherboard Asus X570 Tough Gaming
Cooling Custom liquid
Memory 32 GB DDR4
Video Card(s) Intel ARC A750
Storage Crucial P5 Plus 2TB.
Display(s) AOC 24" Freesync 1m.s. 75Hz
Mouse Lenovo
Keyboard Eweadn Mechanical
Software W11 Pro 64 bit

Ruru

S.T.A.R.S.
Joined
Dec 16, 2012
Messages
13,122 (2.98/day)
Location
Jyväskylä, Finland
System Name 4K-gaming / console
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 5800X / Intel Core i7-6700K
Motherboard Asus ROG Crosshair VII Hero / Asus Z170-K
Cooling Alphacool Eisbaer 360 / Alphacool Eisbaer 240
Memory 32GB DDR4-3466 / 16GB DDR4-3000
Video Card(s) Asus RTX 3080 TUF OC / Powercolor RX 6700 XT
Storage 3.5TB of SSDs / several small SSDs
Display(s) Acer 27" 4K120 IPS + Lenovo 32" 4K60 IPS
Case Corsair 4000D AF White / DeepCool CC560 WH
Audio Device(s) Sony WH-CN720N
Power Supply EVGA G2 750W / Fractal ION Gold 550W
Mouse Logitech MX518 / Logitech G400s
Keyboard Roccat Vulcan 121 AIMO / NOS C450 Mini Pro
VR HMD Oculus Rift CV1
Software Windows 11 Pro / Windows 11 Pro
Benchmark Scores They run Crysis
ROG used to actually mean a little something. When I think of ROG I usually think of stuff like Ares, Poseidon, Rampage and Formula.
I guess now even B series chipsets are ROG..
Exactly. ROG seems to be the brand of almost every "gaming" product from Asus these days.. o_O
 
Joined
Jun 28, 2016
Messages
3,595 (1.15/day)
Exactly. ROG seems to be the brand of almost every "gaming" product from Asus these days.. o_O
That seems correct.
Since Kaby Lake motherboards are divided into: ROG, Prime, TUF, Commercial and Workstation.
Now ROG is the universal gaming brand (Pro Gaming was removed).
Similarly, Prime became the new consumer brand (including models that used to have no special name earlier).

These 2 mITX mobos are succeeding the (highly regarded) mITX Pro Gaming models from previous generations. They were really missed by clients.

Of course it will cost more they made a plain ass motherboard and threw on the ROG name. ROG means "money" now, not "overpacked with features" like it used to.
I don't understand your problem. They're fixing the lineup a bit and that's welcome - it was a mess lately.
Snobbery? :) You have an expensive ROG mobo and you don't want lesser stuff to share the premium name? ;)
Do you wear a ROG T-shirt? :p
 
Joined
Mar 14, 2014
Messages
1,439 (0.36/day)
Processor 11900K
Motherboard ASRock Z590 OC Formula
Cooling Noctua NH-D15 using 2x140mm 3000RPM industrial Noctuas
Memory G. Skill Trident Z 2x16GB 3600MHz
Video Card(s) eVGA RTX 3090 FTW3
Storage 2TB Crucial P5 Plus
Display(s) 1st: LG GR83Q-B 1440p 27in 240Hz / 2nd: Lenovo y27g 1080p 27in 144Hz
Case Lian Li Lancool MESH II RGB (I removed the RGB)
Audio Device(s) AKG Q701's w/ O2+ODAC (Sounds a little bright)
Power Supply Seasonic Prime 850 TX
Mouse Glorious Model D
Keyboard Glorious MMK2 65% Lynx MX switches
Software Win10 Pro
That seems correct.
Since Kaby Lake motherboards are divided into: ROG, Prime, TUF, Commercial and Workstation.
Now ROG is the universal gaming brand (Pro Gaming was removed).
Similarly, Prime became the new consumer brand (including models that used to have no special name earlier).

These 2 mITX mobos are succeeding the (highly regarded) mITX Pro Gaming models from previous generations. They were really missed by clients.


I don't understand your problem. They're fixing the lineup a bit and that's welcome - it was a mess lately.
Snobbery? :) You have an expensive ROG mobo and you don't want lesser stuff to share the premium name? ;)
Do you wear a ROG T-shirt? :p
To me this is similar to putting a new exhaust, wheels, tinted windows on a family sedan and calling it a race car. Its shameful to actual race cars. Just say its a nice car or even nicer now.
Nothing wrong with expanding product line ups.
Just don't ruin a good name by throwing in lesser names. That's how brands fail.
My next board will be an ASRock OC Formula board. Tired of gimmicks from ASUS. I had a ROG board with that GameFirst shitware and all it did was throttle my 1Gbps fiber connection, after disabling I got full speed back.
Fixing their lineup? Fixing their prices more like it. B series mobo, nothing special. Slap on special ROG and ROG becomes not so special anymore and the brand loses reputation. Then they use the STRIX name along with ROG branding, talk about messy naming schemes.

I thought B chipset could only support a single M.2 x4 drive?
 
Top