What we have for review is the ROG Strix B860-I Gaming WiFi motherboard. This is ASUS’ only ITX/SFF motherboard for the Intel B860 chipset with full support for Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors. It retails locally for ₱18,339, which is on the higher end of things for a mid-range chipset based motherboard.
Disclosure: ASUS sent the ROG Strix B860-I Gaming WiFi for the purpose of this review. They did not ask me to say anything particular about it.
Table of Contents:
Technical Specifications
The ASUS ROG Strix B860-I Gaming WiFi offers two DIMM slot for dual-channel DDR5 memory kits along with a single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot. There are two M.2 slots, one wired for PCIe 5.0 and one for PCIe 4.0. The B860-I also comes with an integrated Realtek ALC1220P audio CODEC and a collection of high-speed USB ports.
| Processor | |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra Processors(Series 2) |
| Chipset | Intel B860 |
| Socket | Intel LGA 1851 |
| Memory | |
| SDRAM | DDR5 |
| Interface | 2x LO-DIMM |
| Channel | Dual Channel |
| Speed | 9066 MT/s (Max) |
| Capacity | 128 GB |
| Graphics | |
| GPU | iGPU |
| Multi-GPU | N/A |
| Expansion | |
| PCIe | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
| Storage | |
| Interface |
|
| RAID |
|
| Network | |
| Ethernet | Intel 2.5 Gbps |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Audio | |
| DAC | Realtek ALC1220P |
| ADC | N/A |
| Amplifier | Savitech SV3H712 AMP |
| Channel | 7.1 |
| Connectivity | |
| External |
|
| Internal |
|
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 170 mm |
| Width | 170 mm |
| Height | 50 mm |
| Weight | N/A |
Packaging and Accessories
The ROG Strix B860-I Gaming WiFi is presented in a typical ASUS ROG packaging.
Scope of delivery are as follows:
- 2x SATA 6 Gb/s cables
- ROG USB2.0 splitter cable
- Panel cable
- ASUS WiFi Q-Antenna
- Cable ties package
- M.2 Q-Latch package
- Screw package for M.2 SSD
- M.2 Bracket
- ROG key chain
- ROG Strix stickers
- Quick start guide
Design, Build and Connectivity
The ASUS ROG Strix B860-I Gaming WiFi is a more streamlined SFF motherboard compared to its higher-end sibling, the X870-I Gaming WiFi. Despite its more modest positioning, ASUS hasn’t compromised on quality. The B860-I is equipped with a robust 10+1+2+1 power stage design, each rated for 80 Amps, ensuring stable power delivery. To keep thermals in check, ASUS uses substantial heatsinks connected by a heat pipe – one of which also doubles as an I/O cover. The PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slot also comes with a capable cooler as well. My only complaint there are the non-captive screws – least they got one right.
With its diminutive size, ASUS crammed the B860-I Gaming WiFi with a rear mounted M.2 slot (PCIe 4.0 x4) along with a back plate for extra PCB support and possible impact on thermals.
The B860-I Gaming WiFi motherboard offers an impressive array of connectivity options. It features full-sized HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, two USB Type-C ports – one of which supports Thunderbolt 4 – and multiple USB Type-A ports for versatile peripheral support. Additionally, it includes an RJ45 connector for the 2.5 GbE LAN, quick-connect/disconnect Wi-Fi antenna connectors, a tiny Clear CMOS button, and audio jacks for microphone-in and line-out, along with an S/PDIF optical output for high-quality digital audio.
Firmware
ASUS once again nailed it with its UEFI design on the B860-I Gaming WiFi, offering a clean, intuitive ‘splash’ interface. Nothing major to criticize here but I felt obligated to tell that as much as I like it, it is time to upgrade the interface to Full HD.
Entering Advanced Mode reveals eight sub menus, including the AI Tweaker, which provides detailed control over CPU and DRAM tuning. Alternatively, you may also select an Intel or ASUS performance profile or a bit of combination of both and then tweak as you see fit.
Q-Fan Control is a staple of ASUS ROG motherboards and this time, it gets an upgrade – now offering numerical controls along with a revamped interface. The upgrade also includes thermal data from various sensors.
The ASUS Q-Dashboard provides a basic overview of hardware connections along with relevant BIOS settings when available. While it’s fairly simple, it can serve as a handy troubleshooting aid. Interestingly, screenshots taken from the Q-Dashboard are saved as PNG files – something ASUS would be wise to adopt across the board. In today’s world, relying on Bitmap (BMP) files is just outdated and inefficient.
Software
The ASUS ROG Strix B860-I Gaming WiFi is, as expected, compatible with the Armoury Crate software suite. Additionally, it includes access to ASUS DriverHub, which I personally find more practical. DriverHub functions as a web-based download manager, making it easy to access and install the necessary drivers and software for the motherboard.
The full list of bundled software are as follows:
- ROG CPU-Z
- Dolby Atmos
- Armoury Crate
- AIDA64 Extreme (60 days free trial)
- HWiNFO
- ASUS AI Advisor
- ASUS DriverHub
- ASUS GlideX
- TurboV Core
- Adobe Creative Cloud (Free Trial)
- Norton 360 for Gamers (60 Days Free Trial)
- WinRAR (40 Days Free Trial)
Processor
Testing the B860-I Gaming WiFi motherboard’s general processing performance is a courtesy of the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU along with the TEAMGROUP T-FORCE Vulcan α DDR5-5600 memory kit. Initially, I would like to test the various modes and or profiles found within the motherboard’s UEFI, however, I found out that most of them are not 100% stable with my setup. That includes Intel’s Extreme Profile and ASUS’ DOCP II combined.
Memory
Memory performance is pretty good, considering we are only running a dual DDR5-5600 kit with XMP enabled. Like the FPU benchmarks from AIDA64, there seems to be negligible difference between the two Intel profiles from the UEFI/BIOS.
Graphics
GPGPU performance using integrated graphics is largely similar across both profiles tested, although the Intel Extreme profile does offer a slight technical advantage in speed.
Storage
The storage performance of the B860-I Gaming WiFi is consistent compared to other motherboards with the same interfaces.
Since the B860-I Gaming WiFi supports Thunderbolt 4, you can expect speeds that surpass even USB 4 – particularly when it comes to write performance.
Network
Wired network performance is on par with other 2.5 Gbps NICs I’ve tested. Keep in mind that while the B860-I Gaming WiFi supports Wi-Fi 7, my testing was limited to a Wi-Fi 5 router.
Audio
The ASUS ROG Strix B860-I Gaming motherboard features the Realtek ALC1220P audio codec paired with a Savitech SV3H712 amplifier. While onboard audio has historically been underwhelming, this setup earns a solid passing grade thanks to its respectable performance metrics – boasting a Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) of -69.4 dB and a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of 92.2 dB.
Audio input, however, leaves much to be desired in terms of fidelity. It suffers from noticeable channel imbalance and underperforms in key metrics. While it’s adequate for basic tasks, it’s far from suitable for studio or professional-grade recording. The persistent 50 to 60 Hz mains hum in particular is especially problematic.
Temperature
The B860-I Gaming WiFi delivers impressive VRM thermals for its size, peaking at just 61 °C under the Intel Extreme profile.
Power
System power consumption remains impressively low at idle across all tested profiles. Under load, however, it tells a different story – peaking at around 300 W for the entire system, with approximately 230 W drawn by the CPU package alone.
Final Thoughts
The ASUS ROG Strix B860-I Gaming WiFi is a standout option in the small form factor (SFF) motherboard space, especially for those building around Intel’s latest Core Ultra Series 2 processors. Despite being its only ITX board currently available on the B860 chipset, ASUS has ensured it doesn’t feel like a compromise – for the most part. From its premium build quality to its forward-looking connectivity options, this board is clearly designed with enthusiasts in mind.
Performance-wise, the B860-I holds its own across the board. It delivers stable power through a robust 10+1+2+1 VRM configuration, maintains excellent thermals even under load, and supports blazing-fast storage with PCIe Gen 5 and Thunderbolt 4. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5 GbE LAN ensures you’re covered for both wired and wireless networking, while the UEFI BIOS remains one of the most intuitive and feature-rich in the industry.
That said, it’s not without its flaws. The audio input quality is a weak point, making it less ideal for content creators who rely on clean microphone capture. Some BIOS profiles also showed instability with certain memory kits, which may require further tuning in order to work. And while the board is packed with features, its local price tag of ₱18,339 puts it in competition with higher-end chipset boards, which may dissuade some gamers. Lucky enough, this motherboard could be had for $214.99 USD for the rest of the world.
Still, for those who value compact builds without sacrificing performance or connectivity, the ROG Strix B860-I Gaming WiFi is a compelling choice. It’s a board that punches above its weight class and proves that ITX doesn’t have to mean compromise.
ASUS ROG Strix B860-I Gaming WiFi $214.99
Product Name: ROG Strix B860-I Gaming WiFi
Product Description: The ASUS ROG Strix B860-I Gaming WiFi is a compact, high-performance ITX motherboard designed for Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors. It features PCIe Gen 5, Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 7, and a robust VRM setup, making it ideal for powerful small form factor builds.
Brand: ASUS
Summary
The ASUS ROG Strix B860-I Gaming WiFi is a premium ITX motherboard for Intel Core Ultra Series 2 builds, offering strong performance, PCIe Gen 5, Thunderbolt 4, and Wi-Fi 7 support. A well-rounded compact motherboard despite its local price tag and some flaws.
Pros
- Excellent VRM design with efficient thermal performance
- PCIe 5.0 and dual M.2 slots (Gen 5 + Gen 4)
- Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 7, and 2.5 GbE LAN for future-proof connectivity
- High-quality UEFI BIOS with advanced tuning and Q-Fan control
- Compact ITX form factor with premium build and aesthetics
- Solid onboard audio output
Cons
- Premium local pricing for a B860 chipset board
- Audio input quality is subpar for professional use
- Some UEFI profiles may be unstable with certain memory kits
Awesome review! The ASUS ROG Strix B860-I looks like a powerhouse for compact gaming setups—perfect for anyone who wants high performance without sacrificing space. As a fan of both gaming hardware and competitive sports, I’ve found that a good rig enhances everything from esports to real-time sports analysis.