Introduction

Last year, AMD released the Ryzen 5000 series desktop processors in one of the most monumental hardware launches of the modern era. This final step completed the Red brand's ascent back into the forefront of the desktop processor market that began with the launch of the first generation of Ryzen CPUs.

With the Ryzen 3000 launch in 2019 came the AMD X570 chipset. Featuring PCIe 4.0 support, X570 was an impressive leap from generations past. It was also hot, with motherboards often including chipset cooling fans, and, more significantly, expensive. The high cost of the chipset increased the average cost of X570 motherboards considerably over previous generations.

While AMD has done a great job of maintaining motherboard compatibility with new generation processors, none of the previous-generation AM4 motherboards featured official PCIe 4.0 support, not even for the storage and PCIe controlled by PCIe 4.0 compatible CPUs. Enter B550, the more value-oriented little brother of X570. While the B550 chipset is PCIe 3.0 only, B550 motherboards support PCIe 4.0 from the CPU to the primary PCIe slot as well as the primary M.2 slot (dependent on a PCIe 4.0 ready CPU). With PCIe 4.0 support also came increased cost. PCIe 4.0 devices are still rare in 2021, so for those on a budget, the tried and true B450 chipset is the way to go. What B450 lacks in cutting-edge features it makes up for in value.


The ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F Gaming II features a robust VRM cooling solution and a 8+4 VRM design. BIOS flashback has also been included, as well as ASUS's excellent BIOS designed to provide an optimal, stress-free overclocking experience. The ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F Gaming II is even compatible with the latest Ryzen 5000 series processors. All of this performance is bundled into a sleek, modern package that comes in at less than US$150.

Let's take a closer look at what the ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F Gaming II has to offer.

Specifications

Packaging and Contents

The front of the ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F Gaming II box features a black background with a nice shot of the board on the right and a stylized, multicolored ROG logo on the left. "ROG STRIX B450-F Gaming II motherboard" is in the center-left, with the ROG logo in the top-left corner. The ASUS logo and all the certification badges have been put along the bottom edge.

The back of the box has all the highlights: a top-down shot of the board, several panels detailing prominent features, a shot of the rear I/O, and the specifications list. The box design is well executed and matches the board perfectly.


The accessories are mostly standard. Notable extras include RPG extension cables and a small bag of zip-ties to help with cable management. Notably absent is any kind of rear I/O shield because the shield is integrated into the board.

The full list of accessories includes:

• Manual and support DVD
• ROG "thank you" card and sticker sheet
• 4x SATA 6 Gb/s cables
• 2x RGB extension cables
• Zip-ties
• 2x M.2 mounting hardware

Board Layout

The ROG STRIX B450-F Gaming II uses a classic ASUS design, a black PCB matched with black heat sinks and red and white accents over the chipset and the rear I/O cover.


The CPU socket is open enough for most air coolers.


There are two M.2 slots on the ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F Gaming II; one above the first PCIe x16 slot and another below the second PCIe x16 slot. The bottom slot features a full-coverage heatsink.


The ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F Gaming II offers three PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, with the top two steel-reinforced, as well as three PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots. The board has a total of six SATA 6 Gb/s ports on the side, angled 90 degrees from the board.


The ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F Gaming II has a decent I/O offering that includes an optical S/PDIF Out port and a fair amount of USB connectivity.

• RJ45 Ethernet port
• 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2
• 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
• USB 3.2 Gen 1 USB Type-C®
• BIOS FlashBack™ Button
• PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port
• DisplayPort
• HDMI port
• 2 x USB 2.0
• Optical S/PDIF Out
• 5 x Audio jacks

Networking on the ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F Gaming II is handled by Intel's I211AT Gigabit controller.