ASUS TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi Review

The ASUS TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi is a familiar-looking motherboard offering a plethora of great features for your next AMD Ryzen 9000 PC build. The TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi is equipped with strong connectivity options, versatile expansion slots, which includes Gen5 support, and speedy networking. But with a vast number of excellent B850 boards on the market, we’ve put the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi through the wringer in a series of tests to determine if it’s a worthwhile pickup.

ASUS TUF motherboards are a mainstay of any new chipset release due to their affordability and well-rounded design. They offer a great middle-ground for those looking to leverage strong features while sticking to a budget. With B850 boards coming in at a lower price than X870, the ASUS TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi already looks like a solid competitor. In this review, we analyse and test the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi to see what this competitively priced motherboard offers.

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Specification

The TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi is an ATX motherboard with slots and ports you’d expect to see on similarly sized boards. Regarding overclocking support, this board supports a max RAM capacity of 256GB and speeds that can reach 8000MT/s. It also offers a 14+2+1 VRM power phase configuration built to sustain a moderate overclock with your choice of Ryzen 9000 CPU.

Regarding expansion, the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi features a primary Gen5 graphics card slot, ready to house the latest generation of GPUs. For storage, builders have access to three slots, one Gen5 and two Gen4. I’d like to see more SSD expansion options on this motherboard, as there are similarly priced motherboards we’ve reviewed previously that offer four. However, three NVMe M.2 slots will be ample for many prospective buyers.

The front USB is pretty standard. There are four headers: one USB-C, one USB 3, and two USB 2.0. It would be great to see more USB 2.0 headers on the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi, especially since modern fans and coolers have started using this for data transmission.

Moving onto the rear IO, there are ten ports total, one USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, four USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0. The overall selection of IO is decent. It would be nice to see more high-speed ports over USB 2.0, but these ports bolster the selection, opening up options for those with plenty of peripherals.

The audio on this motherboard is somewhat better than that of other boards we’ve looked at. The five audio jacks cater to enthusiasts with more complex setups, such as interfaces or speakers. Optical S/PDIF would also be a nice addition. Furthermore, networking is also excellent, with the choice between 2.5 Gigabit LAN or WiFi 7 for gamers with a supporting router. Both are blazing-fast and ideal for lag-free gaming.

What’s in the Box?

In this section, we’ll briefly examine the box accessories. ASUS and other motherboard manufacturers often provide additional accessories inside the box to help streamline the building process or save you some money. It’s worth noting that the more premium a motherboard is, the more accessories it will have, so this B850 board will be slightly more limited than other options

The main accessory inside the box is the WiFi 7 antenna. Since motherboards have adopted WiFi, the standard for the connector has changed compared to WiFi 6E. The antenna features a quick-fit connector instead of screws. You’ll want to plug this in to extend the range of your WiFi signal.

A small bag contains some M.2 rubber, which provides cushioning for M.2 drives. ASUS has also offered two SATA data cables for builders with SATA storage drives.

Unfortunately, there aren’t anymore extra gadgets or cables found inside the box. This is ultimately down to the fact that the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi is targeted as a budget motherboard, so ASUS has likely made some cuts to offset the cost.

ASUS TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi Design

Over time, ASUS has honed their TUF brand, refining the industrial theme with a more sleek look. The entire TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi motherboard is black, with the TUF livery visible across the various heatsinks. The TUF detailing provides some nice contrast, with ASUS adopting a white look instead of yellow, as seen on previous motherboard models.

I have to admit that this motherboard is a bit more barebones than other options we’ve looked at. There are only two SSD heatsinks, which are fairly spread out, leaving a large section in the middle of the board mostly uncovered. Some buyers will see this as a deal-breaker, but I’m a fan, as it adds to this motherboard’s industrial theme.

ASUS has opted for a reasonably simple rear IO heatsink, showcasing more TUF Gaming branding instead of RGB lighting. Additionally, the RAM DIMM slots on the B850-Plus WiFi are black and grey, providing some extra contrast and a way to differentiate between the slots.

At the bottom right of the PCB, you’ll find a small strip of RGB lighting. This lighting shines through both sides of the board, making it visible from various angles. The lighting can be controlled through software like Armory Crate or SignalRGB.

Overall, I like the design. With this TUF motherboard, ASUS has stuck to its roots, adopting a sleek but familiar industrial aesthetic that will work with many other components.

Connectivity Options

Graphics Card Slots

Looking at expansion, the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi offers a single Gen5 graphics card slot equipped to handle the RTX 5000 series and AMD’s Radeon 9000 range. Towards the right of the slot is a small button which acts as a PCI-E quick-release, providing an easy way to install or remove the graphics card with minimal hassle.

It’s worth noting that the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi doesn’t feature any additional PCI-E power connectors, as this generally tends to feature on Intel boards for more intense workloads, such as AI or 3D modelling.

M.2 Slots

The TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi has three NVMe M.2 SSD slots. The primary Gen5 slot is underneath the independent heatsink towards the top of the board. This is held in by two screws and, unfortunately, isn’t tool-less.

The same applies to the two Gen4 slots near the bottom of the PCB. These are situated under a larger heatsink, again, held in by two Phillips screws. It’s great to see the inclusion of heatsinks for all of the drives, but these would offer great value if they were tool-less, minimising the use of a screwdriver and freeing up some installation time.

RAM DIMMs

Regarding RAM, the configuration on the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi is fairly standard. Because this motherboard utilises the ATX form factor, it has four full-size DIMM slots offering a max capacity of 256GB, which is four 64GB sticks. If you want to leverage more performance at the cost of stability, RAM can be overclocked to 8000MT/s. This isn’t the highest speed on a B850 motherboard, but it’s still a solid value-add.

Rear IO

The selection of rear IO on this motherboard is decent, especially considering its competitive pricing. There are ten USB ports on the rear IO, which include one 20Gbps USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C port, three USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports, four USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports, and two USB 2.0 ports. Most of the ports on this board are high-speed, which is great to see, and ten will be more than enough for those with plenty of extra devices and peripherals.

This is also one of the few motherboards we’ve seen with decent audio options. It has five 3.5mm jacks, more than just a headphone-in and microphone-out that we’re used to. As for networking, gamers can choose between 2.5 Gigabit LAN and WiFi 7, which are incredibly fast and ideal for a lag-free gaming experience.

Internal Headers

CPU and Motherboard Power

Moving onto the internal headers, the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi features a standard configuration for power. As always, the right-hand side of the PCB features a 24-pin motherboard power connector. Unfortunately, this board doesn’t offer an additional PCI-E for front USB power delivery.

At the top left of the board, you’ll find two full-size 8-pin EPS connectors instead of a four and an eight, which is much more common on low-power motherboards. Plugging in both connectors allows you to spread the power delivery more evenly, resulting in better temperatures and stronger control.

Front USB Headers

Much like the CPU and motherboard power configuration, the front USB selection on the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi is relatively standard and similar to other boards we’ve reviewed. There are four headers: one USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A header, and two USB 2.0 headers. Ultimately, this isn’t the most impressive selection, but it will be more than enough for most builders.

My only criticism is that two USB 2.0 headers are becoming too few. Modern coolers and fans often use USB 2.0 (like Corsair iCUE LINK) to provide a data interface and additional control. So, these headers can be taken up quickly if you have any of these components.

Pump and Fan Headers

Generally, most motherboards have a decent selection of fan and pump headers, and fortunately, the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi is one of these boards. There are seven PWM headers across the board. The three at the top-right are ‘CPU_Fan’, ‘CPU_Opt’ and ‘AIO_Pump’.

The four remaining chassis fan headers are predominantly located at the bottom left of the PCB, bar one, which sits next to the primary M.2 slot. Seven is enough for most builders to plug in their coolers and fans.

RGB Headers

RGB headers are a point of contention for me, as most boards only offer three. While this will be ample for some builders, it’s pretty limiting for those with multiple RGB components. You’re forced to use splitters or plug RGB into an awkwardly placed header. Unfortunately, the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi doesn’t position itself differently from the mass of motherboards with three RGB headers. While this may be to save costs, it’s a shame regardless.

Building with the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi

Modern motherboards have become incredibly easy to build with, and the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi sits in this camp. While there aren’t as many tool-less features compared to alternative market options, there are some great additions to this motherboard that enhance the building experience.

For example, plastic shielding around the headers minimises the chance of plugging cables in wrong or the risk of bending any pins. The single-clip RAM DIMMs offer extra stability for RAM sticks, reducing the risk of damage during installation. While the M.2 heatsinks aren’t toolless, they provide better thermals for drives installed underneath them. Overall, the 8-layer PCB design ensures stability and robustness. This is an excellent motherboard from a building perspective and offers a straightforward installation process that caters to first-timers.

Features We Like

Sleek Design

One of the best qualities of TUF motherboards is that they often look great, and the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi is no exception. This motherboard features a sleek black design with industrial livery and detailing. The contrasting silver/grey tones on the heatsinks make the board stand out, and the minimalist RGB at the bottom left of the PCB offers some flair and customisation for those who like to tinker with lighting effects.

Bountiful Rear IO

As we’ve alluded, the rear IO available on this motherboard is one of its key strengths. With ten USB ports to choose from, 2.5 Gigabit LAN and WiFi 7, and five 3.5mm audio jacks, this board caters to a massive range of use cases, making it fairly unique compared to other boards on the market.

Features We Don’t Like

Limited Gen5 Support

Regarding PCI-E 5.0 compatibility, there is one GPU slot and one SSD slot. I’d like to see more widespread support for this standard, especially as more Gen5 SSDs and graphics cards are on the market. It feels like a missed opportunity to make most of the slots on the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi Gen5 compatible at the bare minimum.

Lack of M.2 Tool-Less Features

While this board is easy to build with, its value would be increased with the addition of more tool-less slots and features. Being able to remove SSD heatsinks with a latch instead of screws or installing M.2 drives without any tools are design elements that we appreciate, but they are pretty lacking on the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi.

Conclusion

ASUS TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi

Product Name: TUF Gaming B850-Plus WIFi

Brand: ASUS

• Features
• Design
• Performance
• Value For Money

4.3

Summary

The ASUS TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi is a must-have for those looking to build a Ryzen 9000 gaming PC. This board offers a sleek industrial design that blends in with other dark components and provides several excellent features that make it stand out. The main ones that come to mind are the bountiful rear IO selection, which includes several high-speed ports, a fantastic set of audio options and blazing-fast networking. Additionally, this board has ample fan and pump headers and a robust and simplistic design that makes it incredibly easy to build with.

The main caveats of the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi are its lack of Gen5 support and tool-less features. The reason for there being fewer of these comes down to cost. However, having more of them would further increase the value proposition of this board. But despite this, the TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi is still a motherboard we’d recommend for a budget or mid-range build based on its competitive pricing and awesome set of features.

Pros

✅ Competitive pricing

✅ Sleek design

✅ Excellent rear IO

Cons

❌ Lack of Gen5 compatibility

❌ Minimal tool-less features

❌ Only 3 RGB headers