The ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi motherboard enters the scene as a versatile choice for those seeking a reliable and aesthetically pleasing option for mid-to-high-end desktop builds. Its thoughtful design, combined with robust performance features, ensures it appeals to both enthusiasts and everyday users. The motherboard’s compatibility with AMD’s latest Ryzen processors underscores its focus on future-proofing and efficiency.
Transitioning to AMD’s AM5 socket introduces notable improvements in usability and installation, making it a user-friendly option for both experienced builders and newcomers. The inclusion of cutting-edge technologies, like PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 memory support, highlights its readiness for next-generation performance requirements. Moreover, its refined appearance with a white PCB and brushed aluminium heatsinks caters to modern preferences for sleek, minimalist designs.
Beyond its visual appeal, this motherboard delivers a solid foundation for high-performance computing. From gaming to intensive workloads, it ensures stable and consistent operation. Its comprehensive feature set, combined with ASRock’s commitment to quality, positions it as a strong contender for a wide range of desktop builds.
Design and Functionality
The ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi motherboard stands out with its clean and modern design, featuring a white PCB paired with brushed aluminium heatsinks. This aesthetic, coupled with streamlined geometric patterns, sets it apart from previous iterations that leaned on more traditional camouflage designs. The light grey colour scheme aligns with the growing trend of white-themed PC builds, making it an excellent choice for those aiming for a cohesive, minimalist look.
The AM5 socket design simplifies CPU installation with its pressure rod mechanism, inspired by Intel’s LGA socket layout. This system evenly distributes pressure across the CPU surface, reducing the chances of damage during installation or removal. It reflects ASRock’s commitment to enhancing user experience through thoughtful engineering. Builders can expect a seamless setup process with this feature in place.
Thermal management plays a significant role in the motherboard’s functionality, with large aluminium heatsinks covering the VRMs and other critical components. These heatsinks, paired with a dedicated one for the USB4 controller, ensure efficient heat dissipation during intensive operations. ASRock’s consistent approach to cost-efficient yet effective designs is evident in the shared structural similarities with other models in their lineup.
The power delivery system, featuring a 14 + 2 + 1 phase VRM design with 80A DrMOS components, is a robust setup for handling demanding workloads and overclocking. It provides consistent power delivery to AMD Ryzen processors from the 7000, 8000, and 9000 series, ensuring optimal performance even under pressure. This makes it suitable for gaming, content creation, and other high-performance tasks.
The inclusion of PCIe 5.0 and support for three M.2 NVMe SSDs caters to those seeking cutting-edge technology for storage and expansion. These features enable faster data transfer rates, smoother multitasking, and greater system responsiveness, making the motherboard a versatile choice for a wide range of applications. Additionally, its design integrates metallic reinforcements for PCIe slots, ensuring durability for heavy components like GPUs.
Connectivity is another strength of this motherboard, with features such as WiFi 7, 2.5G Ethernet, and a diverse range of USB ports. This ensures seamless networking and peripheral integration for both wired and wireless setups. Combined with its advanced functionality and stylish design, the X870 Steel Legend WiFi delivers a reliable foundation for high-end desktop systems.
Key Features
The ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi motherboard brings next-generation connectivity to the forefront with its support for WiFi 7 and 2.5G Ethernet. These features ensure fast and stable network connections, catering to gamers, streamers, and professionals requiring high-speed internet for their daily tasks. The addition of Bluetooth 5.4 further enhances its wireless capabilities, offering seamless integration with peripherals.
A standout feature is its support for AMD’s latest Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 series processors, built on the AM5 socket. This compatibility ensures users can leverage the power of Zen 4 and Zen 5 architectures, making the motherboard a future-ready choice for cutting-edge performance. Its robust power delivery system, featuring a 14 + 2 + 1 phase VRM design with 80A MOSFETs, further enhances CPU stability during demanding operations.
The motherboard’s support for PCIe 5.0 technology ensures compatibility with the latest high-speed storage and graphics solutions. Its primary M.2 slot operates at PCIe Gen5x4 speeds, enabling lightning-fast data transfer rates up to 128Gbps. Additional M.2 slots, running at Gen4x4 speeds, provide ample storage expansion options for various use cases, including gaming, content creation, and data-heavy workloads.
Memory support is another key strength, with four DDR5 DIMM slots accommodating up to 192GB of system memory. The motherboard supports both XMP and EXPO profiles, enabling users to overclock their memory modules to achieve speeds exceeding DDR5-8000. This flexibility allows users to optimise their system for either maximum performance or stability.
ARGB lighting elements are thoughtfully integrated beneath the M.2 heatsink, providing customisable lighting effects. Using ASRock’s Polychrome SYNC software or BIOS controls, users can personalise the look of their build without compromising performance. The clean, white PCB further complements these lighting features, aligning with the growing demand for visually striking components.
USB connectivity is well-covered with an array of ports, including two USB4 Type-C ports and multiple USB 3.2 options. These ports provide high-speed data transfer and device compatibility, ensuring users have plenty of options for their peripherals. The inclusion of Ultra USB Power ensures stable power delivery to connected devices, further enhancing reliability.
Audio is handled by the Realtek ALC4082 chip, offering high-definition 7.1-channel surround sound with support for S/PDIF output. This feature delivers crisp, clear audio for both gaming and entertainment. It adds an immersive dimension to the motherboard, particularly for users who value high-quality sound.
Rounding out the feature set, the UEFI BIOS interface offers a user-friendly experience with advanced system configuration options. Overclocking settings, BIOS flashing, and hardware monitoring are all easily accessible, simplifying customisation for both novice and experienced users. Together, these features position the X870 Steel Legend WiFi as a versatile and forward-thinking motherboard.
Experience Using the Product and Performance
The ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi motherboard offers an intuitive setup experience, thanks to its AM5 socket design with a pressure rod mechanism. This feature ensures even pressure on the CPU, making installation straightforward and reducing the risk of damage. Builders will appreciate how this design simplifies the process, even for those assembling a PC for the first time.
Performance remains stable across a wide range of applications, including gaming, streaming, and heavy multitasking. The 14 + 2 + 1 phase VRM power delivery system ensures the Ryzen processors operate efficiently, even under heavy workloads. Overclocking capabilities are robust, allowing users to push their system to achieve higher performance without sacrificing reliability.
Thermal management is a clear strength, with large aluminium heatsinks effectively dissipating heat from critical components. During testing, the VRMs maintained optimal temperatures, even when the CPU was under sustained load. The dedicated heatsink for the USB4 controller further highlights ASRock’s commitment to maintaining thermal stability across all areas of the board.
The inclusion of PCIe 5.0 offers a noticeable performance boost for systems using next-generation GPUs and storage devices. Paired with the M.2 Gen5x4 slot, users can achieve exceptional data transfer speeds, making it ideal for resource-intensive tasks like video editing and 3D rendering. Additional M.2 slots provide flexibility for expanding storage without compromising performance.
The memory support is equally impressive, with the ability to run DDR5 modules at speeds exceeding 8000 MT/s. In real-world use, the motherboard demonstrated excellent compatibility with EXPO profiles, ensuring memory stability and peak performance. This flexibility allows users to fine-tune their system for specific use cases, such as gaming or productivity.
Networking features, including WiFi 7 and 2.5G Ethernet, performed reliably during tests, delivering fast and stable connections. Wireless performance was particularly notable, with the WiFi 7 module providing excellent range and minimal latency. This makes the motherboard a solid choice for gamers and streamers who rely on consistent network performance.
Audio quality was another highlight, with the Realtek ALC4082 chip delivering crisp and immersive sound. Whether gaming or watching movies, the 7.1-channel audio provided clear output, adding depth to the user experience. This is further complemented by the inclusion of S/PDIF output, offering flexibility for high-end audio setups.
The ARGB lighting system adds a touch of personalisation to the motherboard. Controlled via ASRock Polychrome SYNC, the lighting effects are customisable to match the user’s build theme. This feature, combined with the sleek white PCB, ensures the motherboard stands out in any setup.
The UEFI BIOS interface provides an exceptional level of control for system optimisation. Users can easily configure settings such as overclocking, fan speeds, and hardware monitoring through its graphical interface. The ability to flash the BIOS and manage storage directly within the interface simplifies maintenance and upgrades.
The ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi delivers a stellar combination of performance, reliability, and aesthetics. Its thoughtful design and advanced features make it a standout option for users looking to build a high-performance, visually appealing PC.
Conclusion
The ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi strikes an excellent balance between performance, functionality, and aesthetics. Its support for the latest AMD Ryzen processors, PCIe 5.0, and DDR5 memory ensures it is well-equipped for both current and future computing needs. The combination of a white PCB and brushed aluminium heatsinks gives it a sleek and modern appeal, making it a great choice for white-themed builds.
Beyond its looks, this motherboard excels in delivering stable and efficient performance. The robust 14 + 2 + 1 phase VRM power design ensures smooth power delivery, even when overclocking. Effective thermal management, reinforced PCIe slots, and high-speed storage options make it a strong contender for gaming and professional workloads alike.
Connectivity is another standout feature, with WiFi 7, 2.5G Ethernet, and multiple high-speed USB ports ensuring seamless integration with modern devices. The inclusion of a user-friendly UEFI BIOS enhances the experience, providing easy access to system tuning and maintenance options. Combined with ARGB lighting, the motherboard offers a mix of style and substance.
The ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi is a well-rounded motherboard that caters to a broad audience. Whether you are a gamer, content creator, or professional user, it delivers strong performance and extensive features in a visually appealing package. Its future-proof design makes it a worthwhile investment for anyone building a high-performance PC.
