Table of Contents
ASRock is back with its latest mid-shelf options, which are still feature-rich and should satisfy most gamers. We will start with the latest models with the AMD B850 chipset and then move to Intel B860 options. However, you have to wait a few days for that. Both chipsets are called similarly. In addition, ASRock has motherboards that are similarly specified for both chipsets, where the most significant difference is the CPU socket, so making a mistake is easy.
Today, we look closer at the B850M Steel Legend WiFi, a well-balanced option for all those who need a smaller motherboard at a lower price but don’t want to sacrifice high quality and various gaming features. You have to read our review to find out how much it offers.
Let’s begin with a long list of specifications and features, and I will describe those that are most important or refreshed in the new chipset series.
Specifications and Features of the ASRock B850M Steel Legend WiFi
The B850M Steel Legend is a lower, more budget-friendly model for the latest AMD processors, but it’s still better equipped than basic options on the market. Many features are not much different than those of the highest models with X870 and X870E chipsets. The Steel Legend is the only light-themed motherboard series from the ASRock product line with the B850 chipset, making it more interesting if anyone thinks about a white or silver PC.
The list of key features suggests multiple improvements in the new generation of more affordable motherboards. However, we feel we have already seen them somewhere, as the 800 series chipsets are not far from what we could see in the 600 series.
Key Features
- Supports AMD Socket AM5 Ryzen™ 9000, 8000 and 7000 Series Processors
- 12+2+1 Phase Power Design, Dr.MOS for VCore+SOC+MISC
- 4 x DDR5 DIMMs
Supports Dual Channel, up to 8000+ (OC) - 1 PCIe 5.0 x16, 1 PCIe 4.0 x4
- Graphics Output Options: 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort
- Realtek ALC1220 7.1 CH HD Audio Codec, Nahimic Audio
- 1 Blazing M.2 (PCIe Gen5x4)
1 Hyper M.2 (PCIe Gen4x4)
1 M.2 (PCIe Gen4x2)
4 SATA3 - 2 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A+C (Rear)
1 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C (Front)
6 USB 3.2 Gen1 (2 Rear, 4 Front)
8 USB 2.0 (4 Rear, 4 Front) - Realtek 2.5G LAN
- 802.11be WiFi 7 +Bluetooth
- Supports M.2 Bottom Heatsink, BIOS Flashback
AMD B850 Chipset Specifications
AMD B850 Chipset
The AMD B850 platform is the foundation for next-generation gaming and content creation experiences. Featuring enhanced overclocking capabilities, DDR5 memory support with AMD EXPO™ Technology, and PCIe® 5 connectivity for NVME storage, the AMD B850 platform is ready to power your desktop for years to come.
| Direct Processor PCIe® Lanes | Chipset-Provided USB and SATA | |||||||||
| GRAPHICS | NVMe (PLUS PCIe™ GPP, UP TO) | USABLE PCIe® LANES TOTAL/PCIe® 5.0(UP TO) | RYZEN PROCESSOR OVERCLOCKING ENABLED | DDR5 MEMORY OVERCLOCKING ENABLED (Supports AMD EXPO™) | SUPERSPEED USB 5Gbps (UP TO) | SUPERSPEED USB 10Gbps (UP TO) | SUPERSPEED USB 20Gbps (UP TO) | MAXIMUM SATA PORTS (OR PCIe® 3.0, UP TO) | USB 4.0 | |
| X870E | 1×16 or 2×8 PCIe® 5.0 | 1×4 PCIe® 5.0 plus 4x PCIe® GPP | 44/24 | Yes | Yes | 2 | 12 | 2 | 8 | Standard |
| X870 | 1×16 or 2×8 PCIe® 5.0 | 1×4 PCIe® 5.0plus 4x PCIe® GPP | 36/24 | Yes | Yes | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4 | Standard |
| B850 | 1×16 or 2×8 PCIe® 5.0 | 1×4 PCIe® 5.0plus 4x PCIe® GPP | 36/4 | Yes | Yes | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4 | Optional |
| B840 | 1×16 or 2×8 PCIe® 5.0 | 1×4 PCIe® 5.0plus 4x PCIe® GPP | 34/0 | No | Yes | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 | Optional |
| X670E | 1×16 or 2×8 PCIe® 5.0 | 1×4 PCIe® 5.0 plus 4x PCIe® GPP | 44/24 | Yes | Yes | 2 | 12 | 2 | 8 | Optional |
| X670 | 1×16 or 2×8 PCIe® 4.0 | 1×4 PCIe® 5.0 plus 4x PCIe® GPP | 44/8 | Yes | Yes | 2 | 12 | 2 | 8 | Optional |
| B650E | 1×16 or 2×8 PCIe® 5.0 | 1×4 PCIe® 5.0 plus 4x PCIe® GPP
| 36/24 | Yes | Yes | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4 | Optional |
| B650 | 1×16 or 2×8 PCIe® 4.0 | 1×4 PCIe® 4.0 (PCIe® 5.0 Optional) | 36/0 | Yes | Yes | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4 | Optional |
| A620 / A620A | 1×16 PCIe® 4.0 | 1×4 PCIe® 4.0 | 32/0 | No | Yes | 2 | 2 | – | 4 | Optional |
| PRO 665 | 1×16 or 2×8 | 1×4 PCIe® 4.0 (PCIe® 5.0 Optional) | 36/0 | No | No | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4 | Optional |
| PCIe® 4.0 | ||||||||||
| PRO 600 | 1×16 or 2×8 | 1×4 PCIe® 4.0 plus 4x PCIe® GPP | 28/0 | No | No | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Optional |
Chipset Comparison – Source: AMD
Looking at the chipset comparison, the B850 isn’t a direct replacement for the B650E. However, it’s also slightly better than the B650, as we get a PCIe 5.0 graphics card slot and four PCIe 5.0 lanes that will be almost always used for the first M.2 socket. It’s still not the upgrade option for all those with B650E motherboards.
The table with the general differences between the new chipsets is above, while all the details about the B850M Steel Legend WiFi are below.
ASRock B850M Steel Legend WiFi Specifications
| CPU Support | Supports AMD Socket AM5 Ryzen™ 9000, 8000 and 7000 Series Processors* * The availability of expansion slots may vary by CPU. Please refer to PCIe/M.2 Bandwidth Table for details. |
| Chipset | AMD B850 |
| Memory | – Dual Channel DDR5 Memory Technology – 4 x DDR5 DIMM Slots – Supports DDR5 ECC/non-ECC, un-buffered memory up to 8000+(OC) – Max. capacity of system memory: 256GB – Supports Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) and EXTended Profiles for Overclocking (EXPO) memory modules |
| Onboard Graphics | Integrated AMD RDNA™ graphics (Actual support may vary by CPU) – 1 x HDMI 2.1 TMDS/FRL 8G Compatible, supports HDR, HDCP 2.3 and max. resolution up to 4K 120Hz – 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC (compressed), supports HDCP 2.3 and max. resolution up to 4K 120Hz |
| Audio | – 7.1 CH HD Audio with Content Protection (Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec) – Impedance Sensing on Rear Out port – Individual PCB Layers for R/L Audio Channel – Nahimic Audio |
| LAN | – 2.5 Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000/2500 Mb/s – Dragon RTL8125BG – Supports Dragon 2.5G LAN Software – Smart Auto Adjust Bandwidth Control – Visual User Friendly UI – Visual Network Usage Statistics – Optimized Default Setting for Game, Browser, and Streaming Modes – User Customized Priority Contro |
| Wireless Communications Module | – 802.11be 2×2 WiFi 7 Module – Supports IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/axe/be – Supports 2.4GHz/5GHz/6GHz* frequency band – Supports 160MHz channel bandwidth with 6GHz* frequency band – 1 antenna to support 2 (Transmit) x 2 (Receive) diversity technology – Supports Bluetooth 5.4 – Supports MU-MIMO * The WiFi 7 module is supported by Microsoft Windows® 11 only. There is no driver available for Windows® 10. The availability of the 6GHz band will depend on the different regulation status of each country and region. It will be activated (for supported countries) through Windows® Update and software updates once available. |
| Expansion Slots | CPU: – 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 Slot (PCIE1), supports x16 mode* – 1 x PCIe 4.0 x4 Slot (PCIE2), supports x4 mode* Chipset: – 1 x Vertical M.2 Socket (Key E), supports type 2230 WiFi/BT PCIe WiFi module – 15μ Gold Contact in VGA PCIe Slot (PCIE1) * PCIE1 will run at Gen5x16 with 9000 and 7000 series processors, Gen4x8 with 8000 (Phoenix 1) series processors and Gen4x4 with 8000 (Phoenix 2) series processors. Supports NVMe SSD as boot disks |
| Storage Interface | CPU: – 1 x Blazing M.2 Socket (M2_1, Key M), supports type 2280 PCIe Gen5x4 (128 Gb/s) mode* Chipset: – 1 x M.2 Socket (M2_2, Key M), supports type 2260/2280 PCIe Gen4x2 (32 Gb/s) mode* – 1 x Hyper M.2 Socket (M2_3, Key M), supports type 2260/2280 PCIe Gen4x4 (64 Gb/s) mode* – 4 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s Connectors *Supports NVMe SSD as boot disks M2_1 is the first priority for M.2 installation. M2_1 will run at Gen5x4 with 9000 and 7000 series processors, Gen4x4 with 8000 (Phoenix 1) series processors and Gen4x2 with 8000 (Phoenix 2) series processors. – Supports RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID 10 for SATA storage devices – Supports RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID 10 for M.2 NVMe storage devices* * Requires additional M.2 NVMe expansion cards to support RAID 10 |
| USB | CPU: – 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (Rear) – 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A (Rear) – 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A (Rear (USB32_2)) Chipset: – 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C (Front) – 5 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A (1 Rear (USB32_3), 4 Front) – 8 x USB 2.0 (4 Rear, 4 Front) * All USB ports support ESD Protection |
| Internal I/O Connectors | – 1 x SPI TPM Header – 1 x Thermistor Cable Header – 1 x Power LED and Speaker Header – 1 x RGB LED Header* – 3 x Addressable LED Headers** – 2 x CPU Fan Connectors (4-pin) (Smart Fan Speed Control)*** – 3 x Chassis Fan Connectors (4-pin) (Smart Fan Speed Control)*** – 1 x 24 pin ATX Power Connector (Hi-Density Power Connector) – 1 x 8 pin 12V Power Connector (Hi-Density Power Connector) – 1 x 4 pin 12V Power Connector (Hi-Density Power Connector) – 1 x Front Panel Audio Connector – 2 x USB 2.0 Headers (Support 4 USB 2.0 ports) – 2 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Headers (Support 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 ports) – 1 x Front Panel Type C USB 3.2 Gen1 Header * Supports in total up to 12V/3A, 36W LED Strip ** Support in total up to 5V/3A, 15W LED Strip *** CPU_FAN1 supports the fan power up to 1A (12W). CPU_FAN2 and CHA_FAN1~3 support the fan power up to 3A (36W). CPU_FAN2 and CHA_FAN1~3 can auto detect if 3-pin or 4-pin fan is in use. |
| Back Panel Connectors | – 2 x Antenna Ports – 1 x HDMI Port – 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 – 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C Port (10 Gb/s) – 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A Port (10 Gb/s) – 2 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Ports – 4 x USB 2.0 Ports – 1 x RJ-45 LAN Port – 1 x BIOS Flashback Button – HD Audio Jacks: Line in / Front Speaker / Microphone |
| I/O Controller | iTE® I/O Controller Chip |
| H/W Monitoring | Voltage detection Temperature detection Fan speed detection Water cooling flow rate detection Fan fail warning Fan speed control * Whether the fan (pump) speed control function is supported will depend on the fan (pump) you install.Noise detection |
| Software and UEFI | Software – ASRock Motherboard Utility (A-Tuning) – ASRock Dragon 2.5G LAN Software – ASRock Polychrome SYNC* UEFI – ASRock EZ Mode – ASRock Full HD UEFI – ASRock Auto Driver Installer – ASRock Instant Flash *These utilities can be downloaded from ASRock Live Update & APP Shop. |
| Unique Features | Superb Productivity – PCIe Gen5 (Graphics, M.2) – Dual Channel DDR5 Rock-Solid Durability – 12+2+1 Power Phase, Dr.MOS for VCore+SOC+MISC with Enlarged Heatsink Armor – Flexible Integrated I/O Shield – 20K Long-lasting Black Caps (high quality and conductive polymer capacitors) Ultrafast Connectivity – 2.5G LAN, 802.11be WiFi 7 Module EZ Update – BIOS Flashback Button – ASRock Auto Driver Installer EZ Troubleshooter – ASRock Post Status Checker |
| Certifications | – FCC, CE – ErP/EuP ready (ErP/EuP ready power supply is required) |
| OS Support | – Microsoft Windows® 10 64-bit / 11 64-bit |
| Form Factor | – Micro ATX Form Factor: 9.6-in x 9.6-in, 24.4 cm x 24.4 cm – 2oz Copper PCB |
Specifications – Source: ASRock
The specifications seem well-balanced for gamers and all other home users. We get a fast M.2 socket and a fast graphics card slot, both PCIe 5.0 standards. Additionally, we get two more PCIe 4.0 M.2 sockets. Most users won’t ever use more than two M.2 SSDs, and additional PCIe cards are rare in modern computers, so the lack of more slots or sockets doesn’t feel like a serious disadvantage.
The B850 Steel Legend supports all AM5 processors from the 7000, 8000, and 9000 series. The power design is good enough to support the highest models without issues and allow overclocking. We had no problems with overheating or lack of stability during extended tests.
The motherboard supports all kinds of DDR5 RAM up to 8000MT/s. However, using two memory modules is recommended. The AMD design lets us use higher-performance memory kits only in two-slot configurations, so the specifications can be misleading as they suggest the maximum supported 256GB of RAM at much more than general AMD specifications. Depending on the motherboard, it’s typically between 4400MT/s and 5600MT/s.
The motherboard has quite large aluminum heatsinks. Only one of the M.2 sockets doesn’t have additional cooling. On the other hand, the PCIe 5.0 M.2 socket has a heatsink for both sides of the SSD. There is no active cooling, but the motherboard has no temperature problems.
We wish to see a newer audio codec, as Realtek ALC1220 has existed for several years. On the other hand, competitive brands use it for their top models, so seeing it in a mid-shelf product is still not bad, especially when the overall audio design is improved with individual PCB layers and separated capacitors.
The motherboard doesn’t have 20Gbps USB 3.2 ports, although the general specification suggests that at least one should be available. We wish to see faster USB ports, but this wouldn’t be possible on B850 motherboards without an additional controller. There is an optional USB4 controller, but we assume it would raise the price too much to be worth it for most users. There are still few USB4 devices, and most are overpriced.
ASRock Steel Legend uses 12+2+1 power phases, improved power design, and 20K caps, which are listed as one of the top features of all new ASRock motherboards. The overall power design is more than enough for most users, and as I have already mentioned, it shouldn’t cause any issues with all available AMD processors.
ASRock B850M Steel Legend WiFi Features
| Optimized VRM Design | Exclusive 20K Cap with 1000uF Capacitance The upgraded 20K Black capacitor not only extends the lifespan to 20,000 hours but also increases the capacitance value from 560uF to 1000uF, bringing several benefits: ●Higher Capacitance: Greater charge storage for better support under high loads. 12+2+1 Power Phase Design Featuring sturdy components and completely smooth power delivery to the CPU. Plus, it offers unmatched overclocking capabilities and enhanced performance with the lowest temperature for advanced gamers as well. Dr. MOS Dr.MOS is the integrated power stage solution which is optimized for synchronous buck-set down voltage applications! Compared to traditional discrete MOSFETs, it intelligently delivers higher current for each phase, thus providing improved thermal result and superior performance. |
| Premium PCB Solution | 2oz Copper PCB |
| DDR5 XMP & EXPO Support | Derived from the “built for stable and reliable” designing concept, ASRock does not compromise on any details. This motherboards is built with high quality materials, enthusiasts are able to enjoy the boost of DDR5 memory overclocking performance by enabling the pre-tested profiles. Make sure the memory modules are Intel® XMP/AMD EXPO™ capable and overclocking can be made so affordable, satisfying and absolutely no sweat at all. * There are certain risks involved with memory overclocking and may affect your system’s stability. Please realize that overclocking should be done at your own risk and expense. EXPO/XMP profile support may vary by different system configuration, memory modules and motherboard models. Please refer to Memory QVL for the completed support list. |
| High Speed M.2 Solution | PCIe Gen5 Blazing M.2 The Blazing M.2 accommodates the latest PCI Express 5.0 standard, performing twice the bandwidth compared to the previous generation. With a breathtaking 128Gb/s transfer speed, it is ready to unleash the full potential of future ultrafast SSDs. |
| DIY Friendly Design | Graphics Card Lite Release Equipped with an enlarged latch for easy pressing, simplifying both the installation and removal of graphics cards.M.2 Bottom Heatsink The M.2 bottom heatsink is able to dissipate heat of the M.2 SSD efficiently through the motherboard PCB, maximize performance while maintaining system stability. |
| Intelligent Cooling Design |
The first thing that catches the eye is the optimized Aluminum Heatsink Design. Heatsinks are crucial for efficient heat dissipation, especially during heavy workloads like gaming or productivity tasks. Motherboard that built with heatsinks can effectively manage thermal performance, hence ensure system stability and durability effortlessly.
ASRock fan headers automatically detect whether fans are running in DC or PWM mode, allowing users to fine-tune the fan curve and achieve quieter operation. ① CPU Fan Connector ② AIO Pump Fan Connector ③ Chassis Fan Connectors Thermistor Header The thermistor cable and thermistor header provide an additional source for temperature monitoring, offering customized thermal management solutions based on workload. Thermal management settings can be easily configured via Fan-Tastic Tuning or UEFI. Fan-Tastic Tuning ASRock A-Tuning Fan-Tastic Tuning function enables users to auto-detect the minimum duty of each fan with a single click. Users can also easily adjust the fan curve via the visualized UI interface, meeting their system’s cooling performance and noise reduction requirements. |
| WiFi 7 | WiFi 7 offers higher data throughput, lower latency, and Multi-link Operation. These features ensure a smooth and real-time interactive experience, making the VR/AR experience more immersive and connected. Latest WiFi 7 technology delivers extreme wireless internet speeds and low latency, with higher throughput and Multi-RU as well as puncturing technology. The new WiFi 7(802.11be) technology is able to accelerate cloud-based gaming, 8K video streaming, and video conferencing. Multi-link Operation (MLO) enables the simultaneous use of multiple bands and channels, boosting speed and throughput while reducing latency for a smoother, faster internet experience. |
| Dragon 2.5 Gb/s LAN | The intelligent 2.5Gb/s LAN platform is built for maximum networking performance for the demanding requirements of home networking, content creators, online gamers and high-quality streaming media. Boost networking performance up to 2.5X the bandwidth compared to the standard gigabit Ethernet, you’ll enjoy the faster and uncompromised connectivity experience for gaming, file transfers and backups. |
| More than USB Transfer Speed | Aimed for die hard gamers and enthusiasts! Lightning Gaming Ports are sourced from two different controller interfaces that assist gamers in connecting the high speed mice/keyboard with the lower jitter and latency! |
| High Definition Sound Effects | Nahimic Audio Whether you are using headphones, a headset, external or internal speakers, via USB, WiFi, analog output or even HDMI, Nahimic Audio offers you the most engaging listening experience, vibrant and rich with details. Enhance Communication Quality The Powerful algorithms to ensure the best noise-free conversation, giving a constant vocal level no matter the distance from your mic. The Nahimic audio engine dynamically clear the sound and remove interference noise and lower the voice variation. Result is a better comprehension and less fatigue. ●Static Noise Suppression ●Echo Cancellation ●Lateral Sound Cancellation ●Voice Stabilizer Ultimate Gaming Experience ●Sound Tracker ●Works on any devices! |
| POLYCHROME RGB | This motherboard features onboard RGB headers and addressable RGB headers that allow motherboard to be connected to compatible LED devices such as strip, CPU fans, coolers, chassis and so on. Users may also synchronize RGB LED devices across the Polychrome RGB Sync-certified accessories to create their own unique lighting effects. *The addressable RGB LED header supports WS2812B addressable RGB LED strip (5V/Data/GND), with a maximum power rating of 3A (5V), a max of 80 LEDs and length within 2 meters. *The RGB LED header supports standard 5050 RGB LED strip (12V/G/R/B), with a maximum power rating of 3A (12V) and length within 2 meters. |
| SignalRGB | SignalRGB unifies your RGB devices, offering seamless customization, game-reactive effects, macro automation, and system monitoring. The official partnership empowers ASRock motherboards with advanced lighting control, enhances compatibility with a diverse range of RGB devices, and provides greater customization flexibility. |
| EZ Setting | Auto Driver Installer No need to worry about lack of disk drive! Asrock preinstall LAN driver to ensure that you are able to install all drivers needed in an easier way than using SCD. step1 : Install Auto Driver Installerstep2 : Update drivers neededstep3 : Done! BIOS Flashback Get the most convenient BIOS flashing with just a simple click. Users can easily achieve the latest BIOS support with a USB and power supply, No CPU, RAM or other components required. Flexible Integrated I/O Shield Unlike most so called pre-mounted I/O shield that is only decorated with fancy color schemes. We reserve more tolerance space and allow IO shield is adjustable when installing, thus fitting chassis perfectly without any mechanical issue. |
The list of Key Features is also available on ASRock’s website.
Most Steel Legend features are standard for many other ASRock models and don’t need an introduction. All new motherboards have improved power design, easy settings, and BIOS flashback and are DIY friendly. Even if we don’t have a higher budget, we can count on getting many above-standard features with modern ASRock motherboards.
Retail Packaging and Accessories
The motherboard arrived in a retail package. The package design and contents are the same as in stores.
Everything we need for the installation is inside the box, including WiFi antennas, M.2 screws, SATA data cables, thermal sensor cable, a sticker/badge with the ASRock logo, cable stripes, and a quick user’s guide (an extended version of the manual is available on the website).
A Closer Look at the ASRock B850M Steel Legend WiFi
The B850M Steel Legend has a bright design. The PCB is white, while the heatsinks are silver. It could have white or silver slots and connectors to match better white PC builds. Some users may decide on competitive options only because of this small difference.
The layout feels optimal for a modern micro ATX motherboard. Installing M.2 SSDs or large graphics cards is no problem. The motherboard doesn’t have the EZ-Release known from higher models but an enlarged PCIe slot release called a Lite version. Even though it’s not the same, it makes removing graphics cards much more effortless.
I’m only missing the clear CMOS button on the motherboard’s back. On the back, we can find the BIOS Flashback button next to DisplayPort, HDMI, WiFi antenna headers, 2.5Gbps LAN, 7.1 audio, and multiple USB ports. It would be great to see at least one or two USB 3.2 20Gbps ports on the back, but we won’t find them on the B850M Steel Legend.
The motherboard has five fan headers, which can be controlled in the BIOS or ASRock software.
The B850M Steel Legend uses large heatsinks and high-performance thermal pads, so it handles everything without fans. The motherboard is also not designed for the most demanding users. Overclockers and computer enthusiasts probably decide on one of the higher models with X870 or X870E chipsets. More regular gamers should still have a solid base for a daily PC.
Below are additional close-ups of the motherboard ICs. There are no surprises. However, it’s worth mentioning that the controller set looks pretty good for a mid-series motherboard.
UEFI BIOS and Software
BIOS/UEFI
The new motherboard series BIOS/UEFI is similar to the last generation, and it’s still user-friendly. The B850M Steel Legend BIOS is kept in bright colors to match the motherboard design. The motherboard arrived with the 3.15 BIOS version, but before we started tests, there was a 3.18.AS01 BIOS, which we used for the review. Even though it’s a beta version, we haven’t noticed any stability issues.
The BIOS has two modes: an easy mode for all those who are okay with basic settings and an advanced mode for those who like to adjust everything or need specific settings for their work.
Easy Mode
Advanced Mode – Main
Advanced Mode – OC Tweaker
Advanced Mode – Settings
Tool
H/W Monitor
Security
Boot
Exit
ASRock Software
ASRock adds its software, which includes RGB adjustment, fan control, overclocking and diagnostic options, and software/firmware updates. We wish to see it as one application, but sadly, it’s only available for three separate applications.
The RGB worked with the most popular brands, like G.Skill and Kingston. The less popular Acer Predator also worked fine.
Fan control works without issues and can be easily managed by the software.
Most overclocking options, like the CPU ratio, won’t require a PC’s restart, which is rare in other motherboard brands.
With the new series of motherboards, ASRock also introduced SignalRGB. It’s an illumination control software that works with the most popular device brands, including PCs, monitors, and other peripherals.
If we don’t want to browse the web or the ASRock website, the Live Update & App Shop application will find software and updates compatible with our motherboard.
Test Setup and Performance of the ASRock B850M Steel Legend WiFi
Test System Components | |
| Motherboards | ASRock B850M Steel Legend WiFi / Ryzen 9 7950X ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi / Ryzen 9 7950X ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF / Core Ultra 7 265K ASRock X870E Taichi / Ryzen 9 7950X ASRock X870 Riptide / Ryzen 9 7950X Biostar X870E Valkyrie / Ryzen 7950X Gigabyte Z890 AORUS Master / Core Ultra 7 265K Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master / Ryzen 9 7950X ASUS Crosshair X670E Gene / Ryzen 9 7950X Gigabyte X570 Ultra / Ryzen 9 5900X MSI Z790 Ace MAX / Core i9 14900K |
| CPUs | AMD Ryzen 9 7950X AMD Ryzen 9 5900X Intel Core Ultra 7 265K Intel Core i9 14900K |
| CPU Cooler | Arctic Cooling Freezer III 280 RGB |
| Memory | DDR5: Kingston Renegade RGB 2x48GB@DDR5-6400 CL32@XMP / Hynix M-die DDR4: Acer Predator 2x8GB DDR4-3600 CL14@XMP / Samsung B-die |
| SSD | Acer Predator GM7000 2TB NVMe SSD (OS + Applications), Crucial T705 2TB NVMe SSD for CrystalDiskMark |
| Power Supply | FSP Hydro PTM Pro 1200W 80+ Platinum PSU |
| Video Card | Colorful RTX4080 Advanced OC 16GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro x64 |
CPU and Memory Performance
| AIDA64 Cache and Memory Benchmark – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | Read | Write | Copy | Latency |
| ASRock B850M Steel Legend / R9 7950X | 78124 | 79987 | 70898 | 85,2 |
| ASRock B850I Lightning / R9 7950X | 77987 | 79856 | 70750 | 84,9 |
| ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF / CU7 265K | 101054 | 94556 | 99164 | 80,1 |
| AORUS Z890 Master / CU7 265K | 100031 | 94112 | 98060 | 82,5 |
| ASRock X870E Taichi / R9 7950X | 82461 | 86879 | 76242 | 72,4 |
| ASRock X870 Riptide / R9 7950X | 81124 | 86045 | 75879 | 74,9 |
| Biostar X870E Valkyrie / R9 7950X | 79984 | 84872 | 73884 | 76,4 |
| AORUS B650E Master / R9 7950X | 88054 | 93948 | 80708 | 60,1 |
| CROSSHAIR X670E GENE / R9 7950X | 88328 | 92486 | 80924 | 64,2 |
| AORUS X570 Ultra / R9 5900X | 54136 | 53259 | 48805 | 60,2 |
| MSI Z790 Ace MAX / i9 14900K | 101373 | 100357 | 101427 | 65,2 |
All motherboards were tested with the same Kingston FURY Renegade 6400MT/s CL32 memory kit equipped with the most common Hynix M-die chips. As you can see, both listed B850 motherboards have lower bandwidth and higher latency than all other AM5 motherboards. It’s because we couldn’t stabilize them at a 1:1 IMC ratio. It’s not so significant in different tests, but it’s still worth mentioning if you decide on one of those motherboards. It doesn’t make a big difference in games or other applications if we set 6000MT/s or 6200MT/s at a 1:1 ratio on AM5 Ryzen processors.
The B850M Steel Legend has no problem with 8000MT/s, but because of the need for a 1:2 IMC ratio, we can count on similar or even worse results than at 6000-6400MT/s with a 1:1 ratio.
| AIDA64 CPU Benchmark – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | Photo | Zlib | AES | SHA3 |
| ASRock B850M Steel Legend / R9 7950X | 53126 | 2491,4 | 384156 | 11102 |
| ASRock B850I Lightning / R9 7950X | 53315 | 2462,2 | 383112 | 11168 |
| ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF / CU7 265K | 65524 | 1990,1 | 218158 | 9062 |
| AORUS Z890 Master / CU7 265K | 65436 | 1980,2 | 218166 | 9050 |
| ASRock X870E Taichi / R9 7950X | 52971 | 2485,6 | 386248 | 11246 |
| ASRock X870 Riptide / R9 7950X | 53244 | 2474,6 | 383448 | 11245 |
| Biostar X870E Valkyrie / R9 7950X | 52789 | 2452,8 | 381877 | 11098 |
| AORUS B650E Master / R9 7950X | 54247 | 2458,5 | 384373 | 11136 |
| CROSSHAIR X670E GENE / R9 7950X | 53242 | 2471,2 | 383479 | 10805 |
| AORUS X570 Ultra / R9 5900X | 20822 | 1342,9 | 210463 | 5296 |
| MSI Z790 Ace MAX / i9 14900K | 65661 | 2344,8 | 286739 | 8265 |
AIDA64 CPU tests show that the B850M Steel Legend performs about as well as the X870, X870E, X670E, and X650E motherboards. Considering its lower price, this is a good sign for gamers with a lower budget.
| AIDA64 FPU Benchmark – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | Julia | Mandel | SinJulia | FP64 RT |
| ASRock B850M Steel Legend / R9 7950X | 246897 | 130245 | 33532 | 34014 |
| ASRock B850I Lightning / R9 7950X | 248548 | 130118 | 33489 | 34101 |
| ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF / CU7 265K | 178912 | 84074 | 12847 | 15824 |
| AORUS Z890 Master / CU7 265K | 178901 | 84019 | 12742 | 15782 |
| ASRock X870E Taichi / R9 7950X | 258724 | 138487 | 33758 | 34278 |
| ASRock X870 Riptide / R9 7950X | 256846 | 139112 | 33688 | 34316 |
| Biostar X870E Valkyrie / R9 7950X | 257112 | 137184 | 33512 | 34088 |
| AORUS B650E Master / R9 7950X | 263030 | 139873 | 33643 | 34141 |
| CROSSHAIR X670E GENE / R9 7950X | 256027 | 130170 | 33257 | 33775 |
| AORUS X570 Ultra / R9 5900X | 155039 | 85157 | 19566 | 12843 |
| MSI Z790 Ace MAX / i9 14900K | 168473 | 84124 | 19493 | 18234 |
Our AIDA64 FPU tests performed on the B850M Steel Legend give us slightly lower results than those of other AM5 series motherboards. However, the performance difference can be seen only in Julia and Mandel’s tests.
| Cinebench R23, POVRay, 7Zip – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | R23 (S) | R23 (M) | POV-Ray | 7Zip |
| ASRock B850M Steel Legend / R9 7950X | 1989 | 38002 | 271648 | 202,629 |
| ASRock B850I Lightning / R9 7950X | 1992 | 37998 | 269426 | 204,468 |
| ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF / CU7 265K | 2174 | 35768 | 276842 | 158,224 |
| AORUS Z890 Master / CU7 265K | 2175 | 35758 | 276523 | 156,752 |
| ASRock X870E Taichi / R9 7950X | 2016 | 38852 | 282146 | 216,48 |
| ASRock X870 Riptide / R9 7950X | 1989 | 38684 | 274164 | 214,45 |
| Biostar X870E Valkyrie / R9 7950X | 1948 | 38142 | 271879 | 212,12 |
| AORUS B650E Master / R9 7950X | 2004 | 38384 | 267130,4 | 202,382 |
| CROSSHAIR X670E GENE / R9 7950X | 2002 | 38340 | 279272,7 | 219,22 |
| AORUS X570 Ultra / R9 5900X | 1598 | 20983 | 288281,5 | 117,115 |
| MSI Z790 Ace MAX / i9 14900K | 2179 | 36600 | 228088,1 | 213,144 |
The results of additional tests show barely any differences, except for 7Zip, where better RAM settings show some performance gain.
| PCMark 10 Applications – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | Word | Excel | PowerPoint | Edge |
| ASRock B850M Steel Legend / R9 7950X | 8520 | 36598 | 15928 | 15938 |
| ASRock B850I Lightning / R9 7950X | 8516 | 36568 | 15987 | 15918 |
| ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF / CU7 265K | 8460 | 36427 | 15846 | 15942 |
| AORUS Z890 Master / CU7 265K | 11046 | 37816 | 17422 | 16312 |
| ASRock X870E Taichi / R9 7950X | 10848 | 37289 | 17404 | 16112 |
| ASRock X870 Riptide / R9 7950X | 10546 | 37384 | 17189 | 16080 |
| Biostar X870E Valkyrie / R9 7950X | 11011 | 37819 | 17415 | 16234 |
| AORUS B650E Master / R9 7950X | 10924 | 37694 | 17398 | 16197 |
| CROSSHAIR X670E GENE / R9 7950X | 10914 | 37712 | 17402 | 16194 |
| AORUS X570 Ultra / R9 5900X | 11180 | 31685 | 17908 | 12932 |
| MSI Z790 Ace MAX / i9 14900K | 9618 | 38017 | 18412 | 16357 |
The B850M Steel Legend also performs well in the PCMark 10 Applications benchmark, but slightly worse results than other AM5 motherboards can be observed during the Word test.
Gaming Performance
Gaming benchmarks show about the same results on all AM5 motherboards. Differences are close to the margin of error, so the user’s experience will be similar in all cases. The only exception is the 3DMark Time Spy test, which gives us higher graphics but lower CPU test results.
Used processors significantly affect popular games at lower display resolutions, while the motherboard choice doesn’t matter much. The Steel Legend performs well compared to much more expensive models.
Storage Performance
M.2 SSD
The M.2 performance has been tested using the Crucial T705 2TB NVMe PCIe 5.0 x4 SSD. The maximum bandwidth is around 14.3GB/s, which is as high as expected and about as high as that of high X870E motherboard models.
USB
The B850M only has slower USB 3.2 ports so that we couldn’t achieve higher results than around 1GB/s. This doesn’t make a significant difference for most users, but those who expect fast USB ports have to spend more money, as the B850 chipset doesn’t support USB4 and, in the best-case scenario, is equipped with one USB 3.2 20Gbps port.
Network Performance
The B850M Steel Legend uses Realtek Dragon 2.5Gbps LAN, which performs as expected. Since reaching or passing the maximum throughput is impossible, around 2375Mbps looks like an excellent result. We also had no problems with the connection stability during longer work.
The motherboard also has a WiFi 7 module, which performs without issues. However, our test environment couldn’t test it right because of the area’s thick walls and many networks. We could still keep low access time and about 950Mbps bandwidth on a 1Gbps internet connection.
Power Consumption
Our power consumption tests suggest this motherboard uses slightly less power than other AM5 motherboards. This is mainly because it has fewer controllers and a simpler chipset design. The CPU and GPU are affecting the power draw the most.
Overclocking with the ASRock B850M Steel Legend WiFi
The ASRock B850M Steel Legend’s overclocking is not much different from other ASRock AM5 motherboards. The BIOS is similar, and most options are the same. The motherboard also behaves almost the same at automatic settings as the top X870E models.
The PBO works similarly, while manual settings give us a flat 5.4GHz clock on all CPU cores. This is also the same result as on other ASRock motherboards and slightly better than on some motherboards from different brands. The CPU had no problems boosting up to 5.8GHz on the best cores if we picked the enhanced PBO settings.
Memory overclocking is as high as ASRock declared, up to 8000MT/s. However, we couldn’t stabilize a 6400MT/s 1:1 IMC:IF ratio. The same processor and RAM could make it on previously reviewed ASRock X870 and X870E motherboards. As mentioned, it doesn’t matter much as the performance at 6000MT/s or 6200MT/s and a 1:1 ratio is not much worse.
The B850M Steel Legend performs well without overclocking, but if we wish to try our luck, we can use this motherboard for overclocking.
Conclusion
The B850M Steel Legend is not the best ASRock motherboard, but it’s hard to find anything better at the given price. The motherboard performs well, and we had no problems with compatibility or stability.
The only thing I wish to see are fast USB ports, but this does not affect the experience of many users.
The motherboard has multiple RGB headers and a backlight under the chipset heatsink. This is enough for most users, although some would probably like an additional backlight for the I/O cover. ASRock motherboards are fully compatible with most RGB devices, such as fans, LED strips, water cooling components, RAM modules, etc. There was no problem with the compatibility of our devices.
The overclocking is not much worse than that of the highest-series motherboards. The CPU could reach the same maximum frequency. RAM could reach the declared 8000MT/s (the maximum of the used CPU) but couldn’t run at a 1:1 ratio at 6400MT/s. Again, it’s not a big problem for most users, as it is with many other motherboards.
The B850M Steel Legend costs about $179.99 in the Newegg online store. This price is lower than some competitive micro ATX motherboards with the B850 chipset, so we can say it’s pretty low overall for what we get.
The ASRock B850M Steel Legend WiFi is a well-balanced motherboard that receives our recommendation!
Click the stamp for an explanation of what this means.
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