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ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi vs ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi: Comparison
ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi vs ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi: the networking difference
Networking is the dividing line, ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi 2.5GbE , Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 against ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi 2.5GbE , Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4. Rear usb 10gbps ports is not the same on both, 3 on the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi versus 5 on the ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi. Rear usb 2.0 ports is not the same on both, 4 on the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi versus 2 on the ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi. There is a split on fan and pump headers as well, 3 on the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi versus 4 on the ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi.
Which should you buy, ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi or ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi?
it is the wrong buy for anyone wanting the heavier 10-layer PCB of the PG-ITX WiFi. It also earns its place with B850 builders who want a disclosed 110A SPS VRM at a lower price than PG-ITX. It is not the one for buyers assuming USB4 works with any Ryzen CPU on this board. it is not built for anyone needing Thunderbolt/USB4 connectivity and builds requiring more than one full-length expansion slot. The same goes for Ryzen 9000 X3D builds in Mini-ITX cases wanting AI Cache Boost tuning.
Where the two are identical
Everything else lines up. Chipset, socket, memory slots, max memory and m.2 slots read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 16 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi and ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi differ on memory type?
Yes. Memory Type reads 2x DDR5, dual-channel, up to 128GB, up to 8200+... on the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi versus 2x DDR5, up to 128GB, up to 8200+ MT/s... on the ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi.
Is the Form Factor the same on the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi and ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi?
It is. Both are listed at Mini-ITX, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Platform
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- AMD
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- AMD
Model Number
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- B850I Lightning WiFi
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
Socket
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series
Form Factor
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Mini-ITX
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- Mini-ITX
Chipset
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- B850
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- B850
Newest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Ryzen 9000
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- Ryzen 9000
Memory Type
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2x DDR5, dual-channel, up to 128GB, up to 8200+ MT/s (OC), ECC and non-ECC unbuffered
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 2x DDR5, up to 128GB, up to 8200+ MT/s (OC) with Ryzen 9000, 9600+ MT/s (OC) with Ryzen 8000
Oldest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Ryzen 7000
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- Ryzen 7000
Memory Slots
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 2
Max Memory
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 128 GB
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 128 GB
M.2 Slots
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 2
PCIe 5.0 Support
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Yes
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- Yes
Wi-Fi Onboard
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Yes
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- Yes
Max Rated Memory Speed
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 8200 MT/s
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 9600 MT/sBest
ECC Memory Support
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Unbuffered ECC
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- Unbuffered ECC
M.2 PCIe 5.0 Slots
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 1
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 2
M.2 PCIe 4.0 Slots
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 1
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 0
SATA Ports
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 2
PCIe x16 Slots
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 1
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 1
Primary Graphics Slot Gen
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
Rear USB 10Gbps Ports
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 3
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 5
Rear USB 2.0 Ports
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 4
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 2
Front USB-C Header Speed
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 5Gbps
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 10GbpsBest
Fan and Pump Headers
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 3
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 4
ARGB Headers
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 2
Vcore Power Stages
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 10
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 10
EPS 12V Configuration
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- One 8-pin
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- One 8-pin
BIOS Flashback
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Yes
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- Yes
Max Ethernet Speed
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2.5 Gbps
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 2.5 Gbps
Ethernet Port Count
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 1
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 1
Wi-Fi Standard
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth Version
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 5.2
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 5.4
Audio Codec
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Realtek ALC1220
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- Realtek ALC4080 + Savitech SV3H712 amp
Expansion
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU; Gen5 x16 with Ryzen 9000/7000, Gen4 with Ryzen 8000)
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 1x PCIe 5.0 x16
Connectivity
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C with DP-alt (up to 40Gbps with selected processors), 2x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen1, 4x USB 2.0
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- Q-Latch tool-free M.2
Networking
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2.5GbE (Killer E3100G), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- 2.5GbE (Intel), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Special Features
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- BIOS Flashback button, Blazing M.2 Gen5 slot, Nahimic Audio
- ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
- AI Cache Boost, 2x PCIe 5.0 M.2
Which one should you pick?
Choose ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi if you want the higher memory slots (2 vs 2), the higher max memory (128 GB vs 128 GB) and the higher M.2 slots (2 vs 2).
Choose ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi | ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.