ASUS ROG STRIX B360-F Gaming Motherboard Review
Looking back to the Intel 8th generation Coffee Lake CPU launch, we got a new flagship main stream 6 Core Intel processors which when bundled with an Intel Z370 chipset based motherboard gave great computing performance along with overclocking capabilities.
But unfortunately Intel Z370 chipset based motherboards were the one and only option available if one wants to build an Intel's new Coffee Lake platform PC. But now, Intel has launched new chipsets for Coffee Lake platform, the Intel H370, B360 and H310 chipsets.
And today we got a chance to review a new ASUS ROG STRIX family motherboard based on Intel B360 chipset, the ASUS ROG STRIX B360-F Gaming Motherboard. An Intel Coffee Lake platform supporting ATX motherboard for gamer and budget PC builders who don't want overclocking features of the Intel Z370 chipset but also don't want to compromise on value.
ASUS ROG STRIX B360-F Gaming Motherboard with Intel B360 chipset offers features like Aura Sync RGB LED lighting, pre-mounted I/O shield, dual M.2, onboard M.2 heatsink, SATA 6Gbps, USB 3.1 Gen 2 and more.
Now let's see what ASUS ROG STRIX B360-F board have for us.
Features
- LGA1151 socket: Ready for 8th Gen Intel® Core™ desktop processors.
- Aura Sync RGB: Synchronize LED lighting with a vast portfolio of compatible PC gear, including RGB strips.
- Easy DIY: Pre-mounted I/O shield, ASUS SafeSlot and premium components for maximum endurance.
- 3D-printing-friendly design: Dedicated 3D mounts make quick work of fitting 3D-printed parts.
- Onboard M.2 heatsink: Cools M.2 drive to deliver consistent storage performance and enhanced reliability.
- Advanced cooling: Automated system-wide tuning and cooling profiles that are tailor-made for your rig.
- Gaming audio: SupremeFX S1220A teamed with Sonic Studio III creates immersive aural landscapes.
- Gaming connectivity: Dual M.2 and USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A and Type-C™ connectors.
- Gaming networking: Intel Gigabit Ethernet, LANGuard and GameFirst for smoother, safer, lag-free online play.
Specifications
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CPU
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Intel® Socket 1151 for 8th Generation
Coreâ„¢ Processors
Supports Intel® 14 nm CPU
Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
* The Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 support depends on the CPU types.
* Refer to www.asus.com for CPU
support list
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Chipset
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Intel® B360
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Memory
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4 x DIMM, Max. 64GB, DDR4
2666/2400/2133 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory
Dual Channel Memory Architecture
Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
* Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual
CPUs.
* Refer to www.asus.com for the
Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists).
** DDR4 2666MHz and higher memory modules will run at max. 2666MHz on Intel®
8th Gen. 6-core or higher processors.
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Graphic
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Integrated Graphics Processor- Intel®
HD Graphics support
Multi-VGA output support : HDMI/DVI-D/DisplayPort ports
- Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz
- Supports DVI-D with max. resolution 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
- Supports DisplayPort with max. resolution 4096 x 2304 @ 60 Hz *1
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Multi-GPU Support
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Supports AMD 2-Way CrossFireX
Technology
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Expansion Slots
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8th Generation Intel® Core™
Processor
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 mode)
Intel® B360 Chipset
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x4 mode) *4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1 *3
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Storage
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Intel® B360 Chipset :
1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support
(SATA & PCIE 3.0 x 2 mode)*4
1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support
(PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)
6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s)
Intel® Rapid Storage Technology supports , Intel® Optane™ Memory Ready *5
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LAN
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Intel® I219V, 1 x Gigabit LAN
Controller(s), Dual interconnect between the Integrated Media Access
Controller (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY)
Anti-surge LANGuard, ROG GameFirst Technology
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Audio
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ROG SupremeFX 8-Channel High Definition
Audio CODEC S1220A
- Dual Headphone Amplifiers
- Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
- High quality 120 dB SNR stereo playback output and 113 dB SNR recording
input
- SupremeFX Shielding Technology
- Supports up to 32-Bit/192kHz playback *6
Audio Feature :
- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel
- Sonic Radar III
- Sonic Studio III + Sonic Studio Link
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USB Ports
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Intel® B360 Chipset :
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 port(s) (1 at back panel, black, USB Type-CTM,
Support 3A power output)
Intel® B360 Chipset :
2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 port(s) (2 at back panel, red, Type-A, Support 3A power
output)
Intel® B360 Chipset :
2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 port(s) (2 at mid-board)
Intel® B360 Chipset :
6 x USB 2.0 port(s) (4 at back panel, black, 2 at mid-board)
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ROG Exclusive Features
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ROG RAMCache II, ROG CPU-Z, ROG
CloneDrive, Pre-mounted I/O Shield, Overwolf, GameFirst IV, ROG Aura
- Aura Lighting Control
- Aura RGB Strip Headers
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Special Features
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Fan Xpert4
- Fan Xpert 4 featuring Fan Auto Tuning function and multiple thermistors
selection for optimized system cooling control
Gamer's Guardian:
- ESD Guards on LAN, Audio, KBMS and USB3.1/3.0/2.0 ports
- DRAM Overcurrent Protection
- Stainless Steel Back I/O
- Highly Durable Components
- SafeSlot
AURA :
- Aura Lighting Control
- Aura RGB Strip Headers
- Aura Lighting Effects Synchronization with compatible ASUS ROG devices
ASUS Exclusive Features :
- AI Suite 3
- Ai Charger
ASUS EZ DIY :
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
- ASUS EZ Flash 3
ASUS Q-Design :
- ASUS Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)
- ASUS Q-Slot
- ASUS Q-DIMM
Gaming Aesthetics :
- 3D printing friendly
- AURA-RGB Lighting
Digi+VRM
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Back I/O Ports
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1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port(s)
1 x DVI-D
1 x DisplayPort
1 x HDMI
1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 (black)USB Type-CTM,
2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 (red)Type-A
4 x USB 2.0
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
5 x Audio jack(s)
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Internal I/O Ports
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1 x AAFP connector
1 x RGB Header(s)
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1(up to 5Gbps) connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.1
Gen 1 port(s)
1 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 2.0 port(s)
1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support
(SATA & PCIE 3.0 X2 mode)
1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M key, type 2242/2260/2280 storage devices support
(PCIE 3.0 x 4 mode)
6 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)
1 x M.2_FAN connector
1 x CPU Fan connector(s)
1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s)
2 x Chassis Fan connector(s)
1 x AIO_PUMP connector
1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s)
1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s)
1 x System panel(s)
1 x 5-pin EXT_FAN(Extension Fan) connector
1 x Thermal sensor connector(s)
1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s)
1 x 14-1 pin TPM connector
1 x COM port header
2 x 3D Mount screw port(s)
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Accessories
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User's manual
4 x SATA 6Gb/s cable(s)
1 x M.2 Screw Package
1 x Supporting DVD
1 x CABLE TIE BLACK
1 x ROG Strix stickers
1 x ROG Door Hanger(s)
1 x Extension Cable for RGB strips (80 cm)
1 x 3D printing mount package
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BIOS
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1 x 128 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS,
PnP, SM BIOS 3.1, ACPI 6.1, Multi-language BIOS, ASUS EZ Flash 3, CrashFree
BIOS 3, Secure Erase, User Profile, F6 Qfan Control, F3 My Favorites, Last
Modified log, F12 PrintScreen, , F4 AURA ON/OFF and F9 Search
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Manageability
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WOL, WOR, PXE
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Operating System
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Windows® 10 64-bit
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Form Factor
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ATX Form Factor
30.5 cm x 24.4 cm (12 x 9.6 )
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Package
Board comes in a nice black cardboard box with model number, image of the board and details about supporting technology and features.
Inside the box
ASUS ROG STRIX B360F GAMING comes with very nice set of accessories :
Looks
Board made with a black PCB of size ATX (30.5 X 24.4 cm) featuring a futuristic cyber-text pattern on whole motherboard PCB.
Layout
Detailed layout of board.
1. Intel LGA 1151 socket supporting Intel 8th Generation Processors
2. ASUS STRIX B360F is equipped with 4 DIMM DDR4 memory slots supporting max. 64GB DDR4 2666/2400/2133 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory.
3. ATX Power connector (24-pin EATXPWR)
4. ATX CPU Power Connector 8-pin ATX12V_2x4.
5. Back I/O Ports - 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port(s), 1 x DVI-D, 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s), 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 (black)USB Type-CTM, 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 (red)Type-A, 4 x USB 2.0 , 1 x Optical S/PDIF out, 5 x Audio jack(s)
6. 7. 10. 1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin), 1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin), 4 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (4 x 4 -pin)
8. Aura RGB Strip Headers
9. USB 3.1 Gen 1(up to 5Gbps) connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 port(s)
11. 6 x SATA 6Gb/s connector(s)
12. 2 x M.2 Socket 3 with M Key design, type 2242/2260/2280storage devices support (Supports both SATA & PCIE SSD)
13. EXT_Fan header.
14. System Front panel(s) (Q-Connector)
15. Temperature sensor connector and Clear CMOS jumper.
16. 2 x USB 2.0 connector
17. TPM connector
18. COM Port connector
19. Front panel Audio connector
20. Expansion Slots - 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8), 1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x4 mode), 4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1
Removing Heat-sinks
Heatsinks are made up of dense aluminum with thermal pad installed, giving great passive cooling to VRM MOSFET, B360 chipset and M.2 Storage. Armor with back I/O include a LED PCB mounted under
Component Layout
Let's now see what all components ASUS have planned for this board.
1. 2.Digital 8 +1 phase Power VRM Section controlled with ASP1400BT controller IC with set ON Semiconductor NTMFS 4C06N and 4C10N Power MOSFETS for per phase giving total up to 40A of current handling, 60A Ferrite Chokes, and 10K Black Metallic Capacitors.
3. A separate DRAM Power section
4. 5. 4 X ASM1562 chips are a 2 differential channels SuperSpeedPlus USB3.1 Gen2 Retimer for USB 3.1 Gen-I and GenII Support.
6. Intel i219v integrated GBit LAN solutions.
7. The nuvoTon NCT 6793D chip provides the super I/O functions, such as fan control and system monitoring
8. Asmedia ASM1480 PCIe bus switch chips
9. ASUS custom TPU controller chip.
10. Intel B360 Chipset.
11. UEFI BIOS is stored in a Winbond 25Q128FV 128MB chip.
12. ASUS STRIX B360F audio subsystem is based on on SupremeFX S1220 codec (a customized ALC1220) with 10 DAC channels, simultaneous 7.1-channel playback, independent 2.0-channel, multiple-stream stereo to front-panel outputs, and an EMI cover for purer audio quality.
A semi-transparent line on motherboard separates the whole audio section from the rest of the board in order to minimize interference. Audio section is having premium Nichicon Gold Capacitors for audio filtration. In addition ASUS used TI R4580I Op-amp for front audio amplification.
RightMark Audio Analyzer (RMAA) suite is used for testing test ASUS STRIX B360F audio against against Asus Xonar U7 External Sound card. You can see clearly the difference between Noise level, dynamic rang and Total harmonic distortion percentage produced by on-board audio.
RMAA Asus Xonar U7
RMAA ASUS Audio
Testing
| CPU | Intel Core i5 8400 |
| Board | ASUS STRIX B360-F |
| RAM | 2 X 8GB Corsair DDR4 2800Mhz |
| SSD | Corsair Force 240GB SSD |
| Cooler | Cooler Master Masterliquid Pro 280 |
| GFX | Strix GTX 950 |
| PSU | Cooler Master V1200 |
| Display | Acer S220HQL |
| OS | Windows 10 |
BIOS
Bundled Software
Benchmarks
Power Consumption
Wattage reading as per displayed by APC Pro 1000VA (Model no. BR1000G-IN) UPS.
Pros
- Pre-Installed I/O shield
- Nice Price
- 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2
- Great looks
- Superb Build quality
- Nice Audio
- Good bundled Software
Cons
Conclusion
With ASUS STRIX B360-F Gaming Motherboard, ASUS have provided best features for gamers. Since the board is using Intel B360 chipset, so no overclocking is available, but board will definitely attract PC builders due to its great aesthetics with board PCB having cyber text pattern on it.
Finally at a price tag Rs.10K(approx), the ASUS STRIX B360-F Gaming Motherboard offers best value for money for Intel Coffee Lake platform build, with lot of features and solid performance this motherboards is worthy of our PC TeK Reviews CHOICE Award.
Manufacturers Info
Site Link
Thanks.