Table of Contents
We don’t often review motherboards in mini ITX format. Tiny AM5 motherboards are especially rare, so it’s a nice move from ASRock, which decided to give us the B850I Lightning. The motherboard seems to fit perfectly between budget and high-end options. It also promises gaming features to all those who don’t want to sacrifice quality but also can’t afford or don’t want to spend money on top motherboards. Since it supports all the available AM5 processors and various other modern devices, it feels like an interesting option for all considering building an SFF computer. You can read about how it looks and see what it looks like on our test bench. 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 Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning WiFi
The B850I Lightning is the only mini ITX motherboard from the new series, but it should satisfy even more demanding users.
The list of key features suggests multiple improvements in the new generation of motherboards. At first sight, we couldn’t say there are so many changes.
Key Features
- Supports AMD Socket AM5 Ryzen™ 9000, 8000 and 7000 Series Processors
- 10+1+1 Phase Power Design, 110A SPS for VCore
- 2 x DDR5 DIMMs
Supports Dual Channel, up to 8200+ (OC) - 1 PCIe 5.0 x16
- Graphics Output Options: 1 HDMI, 1 USB Type-C (DP-Alt)
- Realtek ALC1220 7.1 CH HD Audio Codec, Nahimic Audio
- 1 Blazing M.2 (PCIe Gen5x4)
1 Hyper M.2 (PCIe Gen4x4)
2 SATA3 - 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (Rear)*
2 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A (Rear)
1 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C (Front)
3 USB 3.2 Gen1 (1 Rear, 2 Front)
6 USB 2.0 (4 Rear, 2 Front) - Killer 2.5G LAN
- 802.11axe WiFi 6E +Bluetooth
- Supports BIOS Flashback*Supports up to 40 Gb/s with selected processors.
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 |
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 users with B650E motherboards.
The table with the general differences between the new chipsets is above, while all the details about the B850I Lightning WiFi are below.
ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning 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 – 2 x DDR5 DIMM Slots – Supports DDR5 ECC/non-ECC, un-buffered memory up to 8200+(OC)* – Max. capacity of system memory: 128GB* – Supports Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) and EXTended Profiles for Overclocking (EXPO) memory modules* *Due to the operating system limitation, the actual memory size may be less than 4GB for the reservation for system usage under Windows® 32-bit OS. For Windows® 64-bit OS with 64-bit CPU, there is no such limitation. |
| 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 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, supports DP 1.4 HBR3 and max. resolution up to 4K 60Hz (DP-alt mode supports DP1.4a) |
| 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 |
| Wireless Communications Module | – 802.11axe Wi-Fi 6E Module – Supports IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/axe – Supports Dual-Band 2×2 with extended 6GHz band* support – 2 antennas to support 2 (Transmit) x 2 (Receive) diversity technology – Supports Bluetooth 5.2 – Supports MU-MIMO *The Wi-Fi 6E 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. A 6GHz compatible router is required for 6E functionality. |
| LAN | – 2.5 Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000/2500 Mb/s – Killer E3100G – Supports Killer LAN Software |
| Expansion Slots | CPU: – 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 Slot (PCIE1), supports x16 mode* Chipset: – 1 x Vertical M.2 Socket (Key E), supports type 2230 WiFi/BT PCIe WiFi module *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 Hyper M.2 Socket (M2_2, Key M), supports type 2280 PCIe Gen4x4 (64 Gb/s) mode* – 2 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s Connectors * M2_1 is the first priority for M.2 installation. M2_1 will run at Gen5x4 with 9000 and 7000 series processors and Gen4x4 with 8000 (Phoenix 1 and Phoenix 2) series processors. Supports NVMe SSD as boot disks – Supports RAID 0 and RAID 1 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) – 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A (Rear) Chipset: – 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C (Front) – 3 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A (1 Rear, 2 Front) – 6 x USB 2.0 (4 Rear, 2 Front) * All USB ports support ESD Protection |
| Internal I/O Connectors | – 1 x Thermistor Cable Header – 2 x Addressable LED Headers* – 1 x CPU Fan Connector (4-pin) (Smart Fan Speed Control)** – 1 x Chassis Fan Connector (4-pin) (Smart Fan Speed Control)** – 1 x AIO Pump Fan Connector (4-pin) (Smart Fan Speed Control)** – 1 x 24 pin ATX Power Connector – 1 x 8 pin 12V Power Connector (Hi-Density Power Connector) – 1 x Front Panel Audio Connector – 1 x USB 2.0 Header (Supports 2 USB 2.0 ports) – 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Header (Supports 2 USB 3.2 Gen1 ports) – 1 x Front Panel Type C USB 3.2 Gen1 Header * Support in total up to 5V/3A, 15W LED Strip ** CPU_FAN1, CHA_FAN1 and AIO_PUMP support the fan power up to 3A (36W). CPU_FAN1, CHA_FAN1 and AIO_PUMP can auto detect whether 3-pin or 4-pin fan is used. |
| Back Panel Connectors | – 2 x Antenna Ports – 1 x HDMI Port – 1 x Optical SPDIF Out Port – 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A Ports (10 Gb/s)* – 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C Port (10 Gb/s) (DP-alt mode supports DP1.4a.)** – 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Port* – 4 x USB 2.0 Ports – 1 x RJ-45 LAN Port – 1 x BIOS Flashback Button – 1 x Line Out Jack (Gold Audio Jack) – 1 x Microphone Input Jack (Gold Audio Jack) * USB32_23 are Lightning Gaming Ports. ** USB32_TC1 supports a maximum speed of 40 Gb/s with selected processors. DP-alt mode supports DP1.4a. |
| Software and UEFI | Software – ASRock Motherboard Utility (Phantom Gaming Tuning) – Killer Control Center – ASRock Polychrome SYNC* UEFI *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 – 10+1+1 Power Phase, 110A SPS for VCore with Enlarged Heatsink Armor – Flexible Integrated I/O Shield Ultrafast Gaming – Killer 2.5G LAN, 802.11axe WiFi 6E Module – ASRock Lightning Gaming Ports EZ Update – BIOS Flashback Button – ASRock Auto Driver Installer |
| 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 | – Mini-ITX Form Factor: 6.7-in x 6.7-in, 17.0 cm x 17.0 cm – 8 Layer PCB |
The specifications are close to what we could see on the B850M Steel Legend WiFi motherboard. Still, everything is packed on a smaller PCB. The motherboard supports PCIe for the PCIe x16 slot and one of the M.2 sockets. It also has fast LAN and WiFi and an improved power design. Everything seems well-balanced for the end user.
The B850I Lightning supports all AM5 processors from the 7000, 8000, and 9000 series. The power design is strong enough to support the Ryzen 9 7950X and overclock it to the levels of the high motherboard series.
The motherboard supports all kinds of DDR5 RAM up to 8200MT/s. Since it has two memory slots, its total capacity is limited to 128GB, but that’s more than enough for most users. It also provides better support for high-speed RAM kits.
On the B850I Lightning, we will find two M.2 sockets. One works up to PCIe 5.0 x4 mode, and one works to PCIe 4.0 x4. M.2 sockets don’t share PCIe lanes with the PCIe x16 slot, so we can be sure all devices run at their optimal performance. Our tests also confirm this.
One more time, we wish to see a newer audio codec, as Realtek ALC1220 has been around for several years. On the other hand, it still seems to work well, and ASRock provides an improved audio design with dedicated capacitors and a separate PCB for channels. It sounds pretty good.
The main issue I see in all B850 motherboards is the lack of fast USB ports. Even though USB 4 is not required, 20Gbps USB 3.2 ports should be a standard nowadays. The B850I Lightning has only 10Gbps ports, and one of them, USB-C, gives us additionally a DP-alt mode that supports DP 1.4a.
One more thing I wish to see, but which probably was made to make more differences between lower and higher chipset options, is a WiFi controller. WiFi 7 seems to be a standard nowadays, while most B850 motherboards are equipped with WiFi 6E controllers. It’s not a big deal, as most users won’t have a WiFi 7 environment anytime soon, but it would be nice to see a newer standard.
ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning WiFi Features
| Optimized VRM Design | 10+1+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. SPS (Smart Power Stage) Dr.MOS design features the latest SPS (Smart Power Stage) technology. It’s optimized for monitoring current and temperature of each phase, thus delivering smoother and neater power to the CPU with enhanced performance and OC capability. |
| Premium PCB Solution | 8 Layer PCB |
| DDR5 XMP & EXPO Support | Derived from the “built for stable and reliable” designing concept, ASRock does not compromise on any details. This motherboard 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 Phantom Gaming 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. |
| Wi-i 6E 802.11axe | WiFi 6E technology has extended to the whole new 6GHz spectrum band, providing more WiFi capability and giving an even better and faster internet traffic. In addition to deliver higher speeds, the WiFi 6E also enhances the lower latency and supports service levels that are equivalent to 5G networks. |
| Dragon 2.5 Gb/s LAN | The intelligent Phantom Gaming 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. Automatically detects and accelerates game traffic ahead of other network traffic for smoother, stutter-free in-game performance and the competitive edge. |
| 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.
The list of features looks similar to that of other ASRock B850 motherboards. Some features are specific to the gaming series. We also have new software on the list—SignalRGB, which supports the most popular devices on the market, regardless of brand or type.
Let’s check what we get with the B850I Lightning WiFi and how the motherboard looks.
Retail Packaging and Accessories
The motherboard arrived in a retail package before the premiere. The package design and contents are the same as in stores.
Inside the box is everything we need for the installation, including WiFi antennas, SATA data cables, thermal sensor cable, a sticker/badge with the Phantom Gaming logo, a quick user’s guide (an extended version of the manual is available on the website), and two M.2 screws.
A Closer Look at the ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning WiFi
The B850I Lightning has a simple but eye-catching design. We won’t find any RGB backlights or anything else that may increase the price.
The layout feels optimal, and it reminds me of some last-generation motherboards that were pretty good. I’m glad to see the cooling is fully passive. On the other hand, it’s hard to tame the fastest M.2 PCIe 5.0 SSDs with the heatsink installed on the motherboard. The result is similar to that of coolers already installed on most PCIe 5.0 SSDs—all slightly throttled under extended load. It’s not an issue if we use a PC for mixed-load tasks, like gaming. Then, the SSD cools down occasionally and keeps acceptable temperatures.
Since the motherboard is small and some things are hard to access when installed in a PC case, I wish to see a clear CMOS button on the back, but there is only a BIOS Flashback button. We can live without it, but it complicates overclocking if we try aggressive settings close to the stability edge. The BIOS Flashback option is definitely great in case of any issues with the BIOS or when the new CPU is released, and we buy a new motherboard with an older BIOS version.
The motherboard has three fan headers, all of which can be controlled in the BIOS or ASRock software.
The B850I Lightning uses large heatsinks and high-performance thermal pads, so it handles everything without fans. There is even a backplate under the main power section. The M.2 PCIe 5.0 socket has heatsinks for both sides of an SSD. It’s possible to install an SSD with its heatsink without removing the bottom part, which also works as a chipset heatsink. The chipset is low-power, but it does not help. It’s on the back of the M.2 SSD. However, every ITX motherboard is designed this way as there is insufficient space to install it anywhere else.
The PCB reminds me more of high-end ITX motherboards than the mid-shelf options. Nothing is too tight and should be easily managed in small SFF cases. The EZ-Release for the PCIe slot could be a fine addition, but we get only a standard release switch, not even the EZ-Release Lite version like in some other ASRock B850 motherboards.
Below are additional close-ups of the ICs on the 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 B850I Lightning WiFi BIOS is dark to match the motherboard’s design. The motherboard arrived with the 3.16 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
OC Tweaker
Advanced
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 Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning WiFi
Test System Components | |
| Motherboards | ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi / Ryzen 9 7950X ASRock B850M Steel Legend 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 B850I Lightning / R9 7950X | 77987 | 79856 | 70750 | 84,9 |
| ASRock B850M Steel Legend / R9 7950X | 78124 | 79987 | 70898 | 85,2 |
| 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 |
The B850I Lightning memory performance is identical to all other ASRock B850 motherboards. It also doesn’t work at 6400MT/s and a 1:1 IMC:IF ratio, so the presented results show worse latency than that of the X870 and X870E motherboards, where it wasn’t an issue. It doesn’t matter for most users as the optimal memory speed is anything between 6000MT/s and 6400MT/s and low timings. The performance difference in games is typically around 0-1%.
| AIDA64 CPU Benchmark – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | Photo | Zlib | AES | SHA3 |
| ASRock B850I Lightning / R9 7950X | 53315 | 2462,2 | 383112 | 11168 |
| ASRock B850M Steel Legend / R9 7950X | 53126 | 2491,4 | 384156 | 11102 |
| 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 B850I Lightning performs like other AM5 motherboards, including the most expensive models with the X870E chipset.
| AIDA64 FPU Benchmark – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | Julia | Mandel | SinJulia | FP64 RT |
| ASRock B850I Lightning / R9 7950X | 248548 | 130118 | 33489 | 34101 |
| ASRock B850M Steel Legend / R9 7950X | 246897 | 130245 | 33532 | 34014 |
| 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 |
AIDA64 FPU tests show the same story as AIDA64 CPU tests. ASRock B850I Lightning performs well.
| Cinebench R23, POVRay, 7Zip – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | R23 (S) | R23 (M) | POV-Ray | 7Zip |
| ASRock B850I Lightning / R9 7950X | 1992 | 37998 | 269426 | 204,468 |
| ASRock B850M Steel Legend / R9 7950X | 1989 | 38002 | 271648 | 202,629 |
| 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 that besides the 7Zip test, all AM5 motherboards perform the same. In the 7Zip, we can see slightly worse performance because of the memory controller ratio mentioned, which affects calculations.
| PCMark 10 Applications – Raw Data | ||||
| Motherboard / CPU | Word | Excel | PowerPoint | Edge |
| ASRock B850I Lightning / R9 7950X | 10516 | 33218 | 17342 | 16097 |
| ASRock B850M Steel Legend / R9 7950X | 10561 | 33140 | 17293 | 16118 |
| ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF / CU7 265K | 8516 | 36568 | 15987 | 15918 |
| AORUS Z890 Master / CU7 265K | 8460 | 36427 | 15846 | 15942 |
| ASRock X870E Taichi / R9 7950X | 11046 | 37816 | 17422 | 16312 |
| ASRock X870 Riptide / R9 7950X | 10848 | 37289 | 17404 | 16112 |
| Biostar X870E Valkyrie / R9 7950X | 10546 | 37384 | 17189 | 16080 |
| 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 |
Word and Excel tests are lower than expected in the PCMark Applications benchmark due to the same memory performance difference as in other tests. We use the same RAM settings for all motherboards for comparison purposes, regardless of the CPU used. However, if we used a slightly lower memory frequency, all AM5 motherboards would show nearly the same results.
Gaming Performance
Gaming benchmarks show about the same results on all AM5 motherboards. As mentioned earlier, the memory settings barely affect games as AMD Ryzen operates well at 6000MT/s or higher. Different BIOS and AGESA versions may affect some test results, but they don’t affect the daily experience as 1-2FPS is still on the edge of the error margin for tests where we see over 150FPS average. The B850I Lightning performs well, and we can’t see any design issues.
Popular games run as fast on the new chipset as on earlier chipsets, and the results are similar in all cases. These results were expected as the previously reviewed ASRock B850M Steel Legend performed precisely the same.
Storage Performance
M.2 SSD
The M.2 performance has been tested using the Crucial T705 2TB NVMe PCIe 5.0 x4 SSD. It performs as well as the top AM5 motherboards, achieving over 14.2GB/s and 1.6M IOPS.
USB
The USB performance is limited due to 3.2 10Gbps ports. This seems to be one of the only disadvantages of the B850I Lightning, as it doesn’t support higher-speed USB ports. Most users won’t see it as a problem, especially when the motherboard costs significantly less than those on higher chipsets, but it can be a reason to pick another model or brand.
Network Performance
LAN
Even though most ASRock motherboards use Realtek network solutions, the B850I Lightning is equipped with the Intel E3100G 2.5Gbps LAN. The connection works well, and we had no problems with stable throughput.
Our results are close to 2380Mbps, so about the maximum we could see on a 2500Mbps cable connection.
Power Consumption
Above, you can see our results of the whole test rig. It’s a typical high-end PC, even though the motherboard is a mini ITX. Since it’s smaller, has fewer controllers, and a lower series chipset, it uses slightly less power.
Overclocking with the ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning WiFi
The motherboard gives us the same overclocking options as all ASRock AM5 motherboards. There are little differences in more advanced options, but most users won’t even need them. The Ryzen 9 7950X overclocks are as high as on top ASRock X870E motherboards and slightly better than on some competitive brands.
The BIOS has all the PBO settings we use for longer, and additionally, there are gaming profiles and PBO profiles for specific scenarios, like lower temperatures or power limits.
Regarding memory overclocking, we can count on 6200MT/s at a 1:1 IMC:IF ratio and up to 8200MT/s at a 1:2 ratio with single-rank memory modules. The optimal is the first option, which gives slightly better overall performance than anything at a 1:2 ratio, even 8000MT/s.
The latest Ryzen processors do not overclock high and don’t need special memory kits to run fast. However, if we need higher performance, we can still use ASRock motherboards for overclocking. The B850I Lightning is a tiny motherboard, but it has a robust power design and is cooled well enough to keep even the most demanding Ryzen processors above their standard settings.
Conclusion
The B850I Lightning motherboard performed well and was stable during all the tests. We had no problems with the compatibility of various devices and a couple of RAM kits. The motherboard has everything most gamers need but lacks features that some users find important when picking a new motherboard, like fast USB ports. However, for most users, the set of controllers on the B850I Lightning will be fully satisfying.
Since the motherboard is in a mini ITX form factor, it doesn’t have an RGB backlight. We wouldn’t see much in such a tight space. However, it has ARGB headers, so we can connect and manage various other devices using ASRock software. All the devices connected to the motherboard were working without issues.
The ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi motherboard costs $199.99 after rebate in the Newegg store. It’s one of the least expensive ITX gaming motherboards for AM5 processors, and considering all it offers, it is worth our recommendation.
The B850I Lightning WiFi is another ASRock motherboard that has received our Approved Stamp!
Click the stamp for an explanation of what this means.
Related Articles:
- Biostar Z690A Valkyrie (DDR4) Motherboard Review
- ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF Motherboard Review ASRock
- Phantom Gaming Z890I NOVA WiFi Motherboard Review
- Gigabyte Z890 AORUS Master Motherboard Review
- Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Elite AX Motherboard Review
- Gigabyte X870E AORUS PRO ICE Motherboard Review
- MSI MEG Z690 ACE Motherboard Review
2 replies
Loading new replies...
Benching Team Leader
Join the full discussion at the Overclockers Forums →