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ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi vs ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi: Comparison
ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi vs ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi: the chipset difference
They are built to different briefs, and chipset shows it, ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi B850 against ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi X870. Rear usb 2.0 ports is not the same on both, 4 on the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi versus 3 on the ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi. They differ on wi-fi standard too, Wi-Fi 6E on the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi versus Wi-Fi 7 on the ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi. They differ on bluetooth version too, 5.2 on the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi versus 5.4 on the ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi.
Which should you buy, ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi or ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi?
it is not built for anyone wanting the heavier 10-layer PCB of the PG-ITX WiFi. The same goes for B850 builders who want a disclosed 110A SPS VRM at a lower price than PG-ITX. It is the wrong buy for buyers assuming USB4 works with any Ryzen CPU on this board. Take the ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi for SFF builders who want dual USB4 and Wi-Fi 7 in a Mini-ITX X870 board. It is equally the pick for Ryzen 9000 builds in compact cases where PCIe 5.0 M.2 storage matters. Avoid it for anyone planning sustained extreme all-core overclocking, where ATX VRM headroom helps more.
Where the two are identical
Where they agree, they agree completely, socket, memory slots, max memory, m.2 slots and form factor included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 19 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi and ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi differ on networking?
Yes. Networking reads 2.5GbE , Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 on the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi versus Intel 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 on the ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi.
Is the Platform the same on the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi and ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi?
It is. Both are listed at AMD, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Platform
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- AMD
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- AMD
Model Number
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- B850I Lightning WiFi
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
Socket
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series
Form Factor
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Mini-ITX
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- Mini-ITX
Chipset
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- B850
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- X870
Newest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Ryzen 9000
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-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 X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 2x DDR5, up to 128GB, up to 8600+ MT/s (OC)
Oldest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Ryzen 7000
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- Ryzen 7000
Memory Slots
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 2
Max Memory
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 128 GB
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 128 GB
M.2 Slots
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 2
PCIe 5.0 Support
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Yes
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- Yes
Wi-Fi Onboard
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Yes
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- Yes
Max Rated Memory Speed
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 8200 MT/s
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 8600 MT/sBest
ECC Memory Support
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Unbuffered ECC
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- Unbuffered ECC
M.2 PCIe 5.0 Slots
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 1
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 1
M.2 PCIe 4.0 Slots
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 1
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 1
M.2 CPU Attached Slots
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 1
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 1
SATA Ports
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 2
PCIe x16 Slots
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 1
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 1
Primary Graphics Slot Gen
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
Rear USB 10Gbps Ports
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 3
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 5
Rear USB 2.0 Ports
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 4
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 3
Front USB-C Header Speed
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 5Gbps
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 10GbpsBest
Fan and Pump Headers
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 3
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 3
ARGB Headers
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 2
Vcore Power Stages
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 10
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 10
EPS 12V Configuration
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- One 8-pin
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- One 8-pin
BIOS Flashback
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Yes
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- Yes
Max Ethernet Speed
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2.5 Gbps
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 2.5 Gbps
Ethernet Port Count
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 1
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 1
Wi-Fi Standard
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth Version
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 5.2
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 5.4
Audio Codec
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Realtek ALC1220
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- ESS SABRE9260Q DAC
Expansion
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU; Gen5 x16 with Ryzen 9000/7000, Gen4 with Ryzen 8000)
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-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 X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 2x USB4 (40Gbps), ROG Strix Hive II support
Networking
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2.5GbE (Killer E3100G), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
- ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
- Intel 2.5GbE, 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 X870-I Gaming WiFi
- 2x M.2 (Gen5 + Gen4), compact ITX form factor
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 X870-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 X870-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.