ASUS Strix x370F and B350F Gaming

Solution




It depends on your priorities, required ports/connections, and preferred features. The main differences between the Strix X370-F and the Strix B350-F are outlined below:
[pre]
+---------------+-----------+-+---+----------+---+----------------------+----+----+--------+-------+-+-----+-------+-+-----------+------+-----+-----+-----+---------------------+------+-------+--------------+---------------+
| | |D| S | M2 SLOTS | | PCIE x16 SLOTS |PCIE| | | |J|TOTAL|USB|USB|U|USB HEADERS| FAN/...




It depends on your priorities, required ports/connections, and preferred features. The main differences between the Strix X370-F and the Strix B350-F are outlined below:
[pre]
+---------------+-----------+-+---+----------+---+----------------------+----+----+--------+-------+-+-----+-------+-+-----------+------+-----+-----+-----+---------------------+------+-------+--------------+---------------+
| | |D| S | M2 SLOTS | | PCIE x16 SLOTS |PCIE| | | |J|TOTAL|USB|USB|U|USB HEADERS| FAN/ |4-PIN| |SATA3|SHROUDS/REINFORCEMENT| EPS/ | FORM | THEME | |
| BRAND / MODEL |POWER PHASE|I| A | (maximum |CF/| Version & Mode | x1 |WiFi| LAN | AUDIO |A| USB |3.1|3.0|S|(MID-BOARD)| PUMP | RGB |DEBUG|PORTS|---------------------|ATX12V|FACTOR/| PCB + ACCENT | BRAND / MODEL |
| |(CPU + SoC)|M| T | speeds |SLI| (* or ^ means shared |SLOT| BT | | CODEC |C|PORTS|-+-|-+-|B|USB|USB|USB|HEADER| LED | LED |IN 90| I/O |AUDIO|PCIE|DIMM|SOCKET| SIZE | COLORS AND | |
| | |M| A |supported)| |bandwidth with others)|v2.0| | | |K|@REAR|C|A|C|A|2|3.1|3.0|2.0| |STRIP| |DEGS.|ARMOR|ARMOR|SLOT|SLOT|REQ'T.| (mm) | AMBIENT LEDS | |
+---------------+-----------+-+---+----------+---+----------------------+----+----+--------+-------+-+-----+-+-+-+-+-+---+---+---+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+------+-------+--------------+---------------+
|Asus ROG Strix | 10 |4| 8 |1 PCIe3 x4|CF/|3x: 2 PCIe3 + 1 PCIe2*| 3x*|None| i211AT |Supr.FX|5| 10x |1|1|0|6|2| 1 | 2 | 1 |4x PWM| 2x | YES | ALL | YES | NO | 2x | NO |1 8pin| ATX | Gray + Black |Asus ROG Strix |
|X370-F Gaming | [6]+[2+2] | | | |SLI|[x16//x4*],[x8/x8/x4*]| | | |S1220A | | | | | | | | | | |3x DC | | | | | | | | |305x244| RGB LED |X370-F Gaming |
+---------------+-----------+-+---+----------+---+----------------------+----+----+--------+-------+-+-----+-+-+-+-+-+---+---+---+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+------+-------+--------------+---------------+
|Asus ROG Strix | 8 |4| 6 |1 PCIe3 x4|CF |3x: 2 PCIe3 + 1 PCIe2*| 3x*|None| i211AT |Supr.FX|5| 8x |0|2|0|4|2| 0 | 1 | 2 |2x PWM| 2x | NO | ALL | NO | NO | 2x | NO |1 8pin| ATX | Gray + Black |Asus ROG Strix |
|B350-F Gaming | [4]+[2+2] | | | | |[x16//x4*],[x8/x4/x4*]| | | |S1220A | | | | | | | | | | |4x DC | | | | | | | | |305x244| RGB LED |B350-F Gaming |
+---------------+-----------+-+---+----------+---+----------------------+----+----+--------+-------+-+-----+-+-+-+-+-+---+---+---+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+------+-------+--------------+---------------+[/pre]
Note that both motherboards have the capability of OC'ing Ryzen CPU's (though the X370-F features an additional 2 CPU power phase).

If you need more than 6 SATA ports, or require 2-way Nvidia SLI or 3-way AMD CrossFire, or need a USB3.1 Type-C port and/or a USB3.1 internal header, or need more than 4x USB 3.0 rear panel ports, or require more than 6 fan headers, or prefer diagnostic/debug LEDs and want an I/O shroud/cover, then the Strix X370-F is your choice.

If 6 SATA ports is all you need, or you won't require Nvidia SLI, or Type-A USB3.1 ports is alright, or 8x total USB rear ports would suffice, or need at least 2x USB2.0 internal headers, and do not require any debug LEDs or I/O shrouds, then, the Strix B350-F will be more than enough for your needs.

Price/performance-wise, the Strix B350-F at less than $200 is worth it over the Strix X370-F at $300+, provided the aforementioned personal preferences/requirements are met. Both offer a lot of similar features and both are considered high-end performance models in the AM4 motherboard lineup.

Personally, I'd get the Strix B350-F.

For more info on comparison of other brands and models, check here: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3502839/am4-motherboard-amd-ryzen-cpu-specs-comparison-list.html
 
Solution


Thank you very much! I think I'll be going for the B350-F :) I don't really have any plans to do SLI , but what bothers me is I thought b350 had i/o shield as well.