ASUS is one of the trusted names on the market that everyone flocks to when quality products are needed. You have come to the right place if you need a gaming motherboard packed with notable features. In our ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI Motherboard review, we will discuss its premium motherboard for tiny gaming PCs.
The STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI is a high-end option released last year, catering for Ryzen 7000 processors. Our review will discuss everything from its design, functions, specs, features, and performance.
ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI Motherboard Packaging
Our motherboard shipped on time for this ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI Motherboard review. It arrived in a standard ASUS-looking box featuring an image of the product in front, its name, and the company branding. You can find more details about the motherboard at the back of the box, which you can refer to when needed.
Other than the STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI, you will find other items inside the box, including:
- 2x SATA 6Gb/s cables
- ROG USB2.0 splitter cable
- Panel Cable
- ROG FPS-II Card
- ROG STRIX HIVE
- USB Type-C power connection cable
- Additional Cooling Kit
- Thermal pad for M.2
- ASUS WiFi moving antennas
- Cable ties pack
- Rubber Package(s) for M.2
- Q-Latch package(s) for M.2
- Thank You Card
- Installation Media
- User guide
ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI Motherboard Review – Design and Functionality
The ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI has a mini-ITX form factor, making it suitable for SFF chassis. It has four mounting holes on each corner for installation.
One of the best things about this motherboard is its visually appealing design that displays the unique ASUS design. It sports the prominent ROG eye logo and the ROG STRIX branding. These elements are imprinted on the motherboard with intricate dotted art.
The polished finish enhances the motherboard’s aesthetics, making it appear gleaming and more noticeable, even with sizable heatsinks. It resembles the lustre of oiled steel, and the combination of the branding elements adds dimension to the motherboard.
While writing this ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI Motherboard review, we also noticed the heatsinks on the motherboard. These are vital elements since the product is heavy and massive for a mini-ITX.
It has 10 + 2 power stages, each with a 110A rating. The durable capacitors and bank of alloy chokes provide stable and reliable performance for the latest high-end processors. Its 8-pin CPU power connector is wrapped in metal for increased durability and fixed more solidly onto the motherboard.
Finally, it has RGB headings where you can connect LED accessories to customise your PC build.
The STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI features the ROG Strix Hive, an external audio solution. It connects to a dedicated USB port on the rear of the motherboard. Unlike most motherboards with audio components integrated into the PCB, these are separated in this model.
The ROG Strix Hive offloads audio processing to an external module. As a result, it has a more spacious CPU socket than previous mini-ITX motherboards from ASUS. Plus, the increased size of the heatsink stack provides more cooling for the M.2 ports.
Inside the ROG Strix Hive is an ALC4050 audio codec paired with an ESS SABRE 9260Q DAC. These produce clean, high-resolution sound with 94 dB SNR input and 118 dB SNR output with 32-bit / 384 kHz playback.
The audio PCB of the ROG Strix Hive uses Hyper-Grounding technology. It divides analogue and digital current return paths across separate layers. As a result, it delivers cleaner and purer audio due to reduced noise and crosstalk.
The ROG Strix Hive makes critical I/O and controls easily accessible. Instead of being cramped in an SFF chassis, these are in a compact peripheral you can place on your desktop. The diagnostic LEDs and DIY-friendly buttons are in front, at the centre, with a volume dial.
The sides of the external audio module have various groups of I/O ports for convenient connectivity. It has a S/PDIF out that supports 3.5mm microphone input. Also, it has an additional 3.5mm combo jack for headphones and microphones.
Aside from audio circuitry, controls, I/O ports, and LEDs, it has the USB BIOS Flashback button.
Mini-ITX fans will love this external audio module since it does not require additional external components. A single cable connects the controller seamlessly, making DIY PC building more convenient.
The motherboard has two DDR5 slots supporting 6400+ (OC) memory. These feature a small metal strip in the middle for reinforcement.
The M.2 heatsink is tall and works for the M.2 drive and motherboard chipset. It is also multi-layered and has a thermal pad. The latter is necessary for effective heat transfer when gaming, editing videos, or doing other high-performance tasks.
ASUS squeezed an M.2 cooling fan into the motherboard for better heat dissipation. It spins at a fixed speed and absorbs air through the rear I/O panel. We worried about its noise at first, but it was quiet during our product tests.
The lower slot is where you will find the heatsink for the PCIe 5.0 SSDs affixed to the PCB. However, you must remove the upper slot supporting the PCIe 3.0 and 4.0 SSDs to access the lower one. You can do this by unscrewing the tiny screws.
You will also find another fan with the VRM heatsink array, which you can control or disable via the BIOS. It takes some time to spin when the system is under heavy load and does not emit audible noise when operating.
The compact ROG FPS-II card is reintroduced on this motherboard. It includes USB 2 headers, front panel headers, a clear-CMOS header, and two SATA 6Gbps ports. The latter seamlessly extends from the PCB to conserve space.
Despite these convenient off-board connections, a 2-pin power button header remains on the PCB. These are present for those who prefer a streamlined appearance without the card.
Displayed beneath the DDR5 slots is a petite card known as the ROG FPS-II Card. It has USB 2 headers, a CMOS header, one CPU over-voltage header, and two SATA ports.
Positioned above is the M.2 slot, accompanied by its dedicated heatsink. The motherboard sports two additional heatsinks at the bottom and the top. These present a comprehensive stack of features in a single, integrated package.
The rear of this motherboard has several remarkable features. We immediately noticed its CPU backplate while observing the product for our ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI Motherboard Review. It looks adequately robust to support any component you would install.
In this section, you will also find a support plate at the rear of the VRM. It offers a more stable surface area and mount for the heatsinks. Plus, it has a good amount of built-in ventilation to provide more efficient cooling for the M.2 and VRM heatsinks.
It features 10x USB ports and an HDMI port for ports and connections. Also, it has a WiFi 6E module and a 2.5G LAN port for unparalleled networking speeds.
Key Features of the ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI Motherboard
Powerful Architecture
10+2+1 power stages immediately respond to load shifts. It drives the Ryzen 7000 to function effectively through any workload.
Durable Capacitors + Alloy-made Chokes
While writing this ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI Motherboard review, seeing these elements surprised us. These capacitors and chokes have a design that can handle extreme temperatures, allowing their performance to exceed industry standards.
8-Pin ProCool II Power Connector
This element is precision-built to guarantee perfect contact with the PSU power lines. It features a metal sheath for optimising heat dissipation while decreasing electrical impedance.
Digi+ Power Controls
The Digi+ VRM offers real-time control over the switching frequency, output voltage loss, and power efficiency settings. This feature lets you fine-tune the CPU voltage regulation to take advantage of top-notch performance and stability.
10-layer PCB
With the printed multi-layered circuit board design, heat around the voltage regulators improves and quickly decreases heat. It helps improve system stability while giving the CPU more overclocking headroom.
AI Overclocking
Enhanced tuning capabilities take centre stage with exceptional speed and intelligence. ASUS AI Overclocking meticulously profiles the CPU and cooling system, allowing optimal configuration to maximise its potential.
The projected values can be seamlessly activated automatically. Or, it can serve as a starting point for users to delve into further experimentation.
Dynamic OC Switcher
You can acquire improvements in lightly threaded tasks via AMD Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO). With traditional overclocking, you can push all-core frequencies to higher levels.
The Dynamic OC Switcher alternates between engaging PBO and your customised settings. It responds dynamically to CPU current or temperature.
This innovative feature lets you benefit from optimal performance in every situation. Additionally, Core Flex and PBO Enhancement collaborate with the Dynamic OC Switcher. It further enhances performance on both fronts.
Core Flex
This feature lets you push past limits by allowing you to control power, current, and thermals. We experienced this during our tests for this ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI Motherboard review, and it was fantastic.
The system can run unrestricted on lighter loads while setting breakpoints to lessen power consumption while temperatures rise. Fortunately, the system is highly adaptable enough to support numerous user-controlled functions. It can manipulate and manage parameters to personalise CPU performance based on your preference.
PBO Optimisation
This feature lets you push past limits by allowing you to control power, current, and thermals. We experienced this during our tests for this ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI Motherboard review, and it was fantastic.
The system can run unrestricted on lighter loads while setting breakpoints to lessen power consumption while temperatures rise. Fortunately, the system is highly adaptable enough to support numerous user-controlled functions. It can manipulate and manage parameters to personalise CPU performance based on your preference.
ROG STRIX Hive
The innovative STRIX Hive revolutionises accessibility. It relocates essential controls and I/O from an SFF chassis to a compact peripheral on the desktop.
DIY-friendly buttons and diagnostic LEDs take centre stage, accompanied by a sizable volume dial for easy adjustment. Its sides offer diverse I/O ports that manage audio input and output. These provide convenient connectivity for on-the-fly peripherals.
ROG FPS-II Card
The feature groups I/O on a vertically mounted card. This format saves adequate onboard space while keeping cables tidy and organised.
You can make connections before installing the card, simplifying the installation process in cramped areas.
On board, you will find the following:
- 2X SATA ports
- Front panel headers
- 2X USB 2 headers
- CPU_OV jumper
- Alternation switch
- Clear CMOS header
Dual USB 4 Ports
Every USB 4 port ensures a remarkable bidirectional bandwidth of up to 40 Gbps. This number caters to the demands of the latest high-speed devices and drives.
When one of the ports is in use, external display support extends to an impressive 8K output. Alternatively, the ports can power dual 4K displays.
Play and Enjoy with Style
The STRIX colourway matches nicely with other products under the ROG ecosystem. It lets you create fully customised gaming setups that display your personality and style.
AI Cooling II
Achieve a harmonious balance in thermal and acoustic performance with a simple click. Extraneous noise decreases through a rapid stress test. Afterwards, constant monitoring of the CPU temperature will be necessary.
The algorithm dynamically fine-tunes fan speeds, ensuring an optimal balance between thermals and acoustics.
Two-way AI Noise Cancellation
The feature leverages an in-depth learning database to decrease more than 5 million background noise. These come from incoming/outgoing audio. The feature helps guarantee clear communication in calls or games.
AI Networking
We must mention this feature in our ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI Motherboard review. GameFirst VI enhances networking performance by setting bandwidth. It refers to application use and algorithms.
Specifications
- CPU: AM5 for AMD Ryzen 7000 Series
- Chipset: X670
- DIMM Slots: 2x
- Maximum Memory Capacity: 96GB
- Memory Architecture: Dual-channel
- Expansion Slots: PCIe 5.0 x16
- Ethernet: Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet
- Wireless & Bluetooth: WiFi 6E and Bluetooth v5.2
- Audio: ROG High Definition Audio ALC4050 Codec
- Operating System: Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit)
- Form Factor: Mini-ITX
- Dimensions: 17cm x 17cm
Hands-on with the ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI Motherboard
The BIOS of the STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI features the classic ROG design for its interface. It has an extensive range of advanced settings, making it more enjoyable for enthusiasts who love tweaking their PCs. Of course, it has the EZ Mode, consisting of simplified settings for the memory, fan speeds, and more.
Q-Fan is for adjusting fan settings. You can use your mouse and keyboard to navigate this section.
The BIOS of this motherboard makes memory and CPU overclocking more convenient, with all primary figures displayed on one page. In addition, it includes EZ Flash 3, allowing for quick image backup/recovery and easy rollback.
You can also access many profiles for gaming peripherals in this BIOS to optimise your gaming experience.
ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI Motherboard Review Summary
The STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI is another impressive Z670 motherboard from ASUS. Its innovative features, including the ROG Strix Hive and the FPS-II Card, improve building and user experience. Plus, it supports PCIe 5.0 and USB 4 to meet the latest demands.
This product delivered an enjoyable experience when we tested it for this ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI Motherboard Review. Aside from fast operation with low latency, we did not worry about high power consumption and overheating. We also loved the ROG Strix Hive, which made the audio control hub more accessible.
Although its size is compact, this motherboard delivers remarkable performance that will meet the needs of the most demanding users. Aside from excellent scores, it was consistent and reliable, making it easy to recommend to anyone wanting a mini-ITX motherboard.
Learn more about the ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI Motherboard when visiting the official product page of ASUS.
