Does it support Ryzen 9000 out of the box?

It uses the AM5 socket and B850 chipset, which support Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 series. A BIOS update may be needed for the newest chips on early boards.

How is it different from an X870 board?

X870 requires USB4 and usually adds more PCIe 5.0 lanes. This B850 board keeps PCIe 5.0 for the graphics slot and one M.2 but skips mandatory USB4.

Can I use all four M.2 slots at once?

Yes, but some slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot. Check the manual before filling every slot.

Does it have USB4 or Thunderbolt?

No. It offers USB 20Gbps Type-C and USB 10Gbps ports, but not USB4 or Thunderbolt.

What memory does it take?

Four DDR5 DIMM slots with AEMP profiles for automatic tuning. High-speed kits above the JEDEC baseline may need EXPO enabled in BIOS.

Yes, WiFi 7 is integrated along with 2.5Gb Ethernet, so no add-in card is needed.

ASUS ROG STRIX B850-A GAMING WIFI R2 AMD AM5 B850 ATX motherboard

Best price now

$199.99at WalmartChecked Nov 10

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

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ASUS ROG STRIX B850-A GAMING WIFI R2 AMD AM5 B850 ATX motherboard

Best price now

$199.99at WalmartChecked Nov 10

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit Walmart

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Price facts

Last seen at $199.99 at Walmart on Nov 10.

Our take on the ASUS ROG STRIX B850-A GAMING WIFI R2 AMD AM5 B850 ATX motherboard

The ROG Strix B850-A Gaming WiFi R2 is an ATX AM5 motherboard for Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 chips, built on AMD's B850 chipset. It carries a 14+2+1 power stage design, four M.2 slots, a PCIe 5.0 x16 graphics slot, WiFi 7 and a 20Gbps USB-C port. It sits above budget B650 boards on connectivity and power delivery but below X870 boards, which add mandatory USB4. It suits builders who want strong VRM headroom, fast storage and next-gen networking without paying for the top chipset.

Best forRyzen 9000 gaming buildsMulti-M.2 storage setupsWiFi 7 home networksFirst-time AM5 builders wanting headroom

Pros

14+2+1 power stages handle high-core Ryzen chips
Four M.2 slots, one wired to PCIe 5.0
PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for current graphics cards
WiFi 7 and 2.5Gb Ethernet on board
20Gbps USB-C front-panel header
AEMP memory profiles simplify DDR5 tuning

Cons

B850 lacks the USB4 that X870 boards require
Four M.2 slots can crowd SATA and PCIe lanes
Premium Strix board, so it costs more than basic B650 options
Large ATX footprint limits small-case builds

ASUS ROG STRIX B850-A GAMING WIFI R2 AMD AM5 B850 ATX motherboard prices at every store

WalmartNew
In stockSold by Newegg Inc.Returns: Sold by a Walmart Marketplace seller; returns go to the seller under the seller's returns policy.
$199.99Free shippingChecked Nov 10
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What reviewers say

Owners of the Strix B850-A line praise the power delivery, the M.2 count and the easy BIOS setup for Ryzen. Common complaints center on lane sharing when all M.2 slots are filled and on the price premium over plain B650 boards.

What people mention

Power deliveryPraisedOwners report the VRM stays cool and stable with high-core Ryzen CPUs under long loads.
M.2 slotsMixedFour slots are welcome, but filling them can disable SATA ports or split lanes.
NetworkingPraisedWiFi 7 and 2.5Gb Ethernet are called fast and reliable by buyers.
ValueCriticisedReviewers say it costs more than basic B650 boards without adding USB4.
BIOSPraisedMemory profile presets and a clear layout make first boot and tuning easy.
ClearanceCriticisedThe chipset heatsink and I/O shroud can interfere with large air coolers.

About the ASUS ROG STRIX B850-A GAMING WIFI R2 AMD AM5 B850 ATX motherboard

The ASUS ROG STRIX B850-A GAMING WIFI R2 is an ATX motherboard for AMD AM5 processors, built on the B850 chipset. It has a 14+2+1 power stage design and supports DDR5 memory with AEMP.

For expansion and storage, it offers a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and four M.2 slots. Connectivity includes WiFi 7 and a USB 20Gbps Type-C port. It also includes ASUS AI Advisor and AI Networking II.

Brand: ASUS
Series: ROG STRIX B850-A GAMING WIFI R2
Socket: AMD AM5
Chipset: AMD B850
Form factor: ATX
Power stages: 14+2+1
Memory: DDR5 with AEMP support
Expansion: PCIe 5.0 x16
Storage: 4 x M.2
Wireless: WiFi 7
USB: USB 20Gbps Type-C
Software: ASUS AI Advisor, AI Networking II

Questions and answers

Does it support Ryzen 9000 out of the box?: It uses the AM5 socket and B850 chipset, which support Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 series. A BIOS update may be needed for the newest chips on early boards.
How is it different from an X870 board?: X870 requires USB4 and usually adds more PCIe 5.0 lanes. This B850 board keeps PCIe 5.0 for the graphics slot and one M.2 but skips mandatory USB4.
Can I use all four M.2 slots at once?: Yes, but some slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot. Check the manual before filling every slot.
Does it have USB4 or Thunderbolt?: No. It offers USB 20Gbps Type-C and USB 10Gbps ports, but not USB4 or Thunderbolt.
What memory does it take?: Four DDR5 DIMM slots with AEMP profiles for automatic tuning. High-speed kits above the JEDEC baseline may need EXPO enabled in BIOS.
Is WiFi 7 built in?: Yes, WiFi 7 is integrated along with 2.5Gb Ethernet, so no add-in card is needed.
Where is the ASUS ROG STRIX B850-A GAMING WIFI R2 AMD AM5 B850 ATX motherboard cheapest?: At Walmart, for $199.99, as of our latest check.
What do buyers say about the ASUS ROG STRIX B850-A GAMING WIFI R2 AMD AM5 B850 ATX motherboard?: Rated 5 out of 5 from 1 ratings.