ASUS TUF GAMING B760-PLUS Review
The ASUS TUF GAMING B760-PLUS stands as a cutting-edge ATX motherboard, targeting mainstream and budget-conscious gamers and PC enthusiasts. This board, part of ASUS’s robust TUF (The Ultimate Force) series, prioritizes essential gaming features and unwavering reliability while maintaining an affordable price point. In this comprehensive evaluation, we delve into the board’s design nuances, features, performance capabilities, and its overall value proposition for budget gaming configurations.
Design and Craftsmanship
Straight out of the packaging, the B760-PLUS boasts a minimalist yet commanding aesthetic inspired by military themes, a signature trait of TUF series motherboards. The black PCB seamlessly integrates with gray metal reinforcements on the CPU and memory slots, accentuated by matching gray TUF logos on the VRM heatsinks. The overall matte black and gray color palette lends the board a subdued and sophisticated appearance.
The B760-PLUS doesn’t just rely on its visual appeal; its build quality is exceptional. Employing a six-layer PCB equipped with high-quality Japanese capacitors, this board ensures superior temperature tolerance and a lifespan that’s 2.5 times longer than standard capacitors. Reinforced PCIe and DIMM slots guard against bending and shearing caused by hefty graphics cards and memory modules. Furthermore, the enlarged heatsinks, coupled with heatpipes, effectively dissipate heat from power delivery components. In essence, the TUF GAMING B760-PLUS radiates durability, engineered to endure the rigors of intense gaming over many years.
Features and Connectivity
Remarkably equipped for a budget motherboard, the B760-PLUS offers an array of features and connectivity options. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory modules via its 4 DIMM slots, accommodating the latest high-speed memory modules to enhance gaming performance. Comprehensive cooling solutions, including an enlarged VRM heatsink, M.2 heatsinks, hybrid fan headers, and Fan Xpert 4 software, guarantee optimal thermal management.
On the rear I/O front, the B760-PLUS presents a diverse range of USB ports, encompassing USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C and six USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports. Networking needs are met with an Intel 2.5Gbit LAN port, ensuring seamless online gaming experiences devoid of lag. The onboard audio setup integrates a Realtek S1200A codec, enhanced with features like DTS:X Ultra support. Storage solutions include four SATA ports and two M.2 slots, both supporting PCIe 4.0 speeds. These connectivity options are exceptionally generous for a B760 motherboard, accommodating the demands of most gaming PC setups.
ASUS TUF GAMING B760-PLUS Review
Performance Prowess
Equipped with a robust 12+1 phase VRM design, the B760-PLUS effortlessly accommodates mainstream Intel 13th gen Core processors, including the flagship i9-13900K. During rigorous testing, the VRM temperatures remained consistently low even under extended heavy loads, showcasing the effectiveness of the enlarged heatsinks.
Memory overclocking potential is commendable, with the ability to achieve speeds exceeding 4000 MHz at 1.5V on Samsung B-Die memory kits. This capability allows for significant memory overclocking, resulting in heightened gaming performance. The PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots facilitate the utilization of lightning-fast NVMe SSDs, drastically reducing game load times.
The 2.5Gbit LAN port ensures consistently low latency and high bandwidth networking performance for online gaming, with impressive ping times and download speeds when paired with a high-speed internet connection. The onboard audio solution delivers crystal-clear sound, free from distortion, and incorporates microphone noise cancellation for pristine voice communication during gaming sessions.
Software and BIOS
Utilizing ASUS’s well-established UEFI BIOS interface, the B760-PLUS provides users with intuitive access to crucial settings through a graphical interface. Tweaking memory settings, adjusting fan curves, and configuring boot orders are effortlessly manageable. Regular UEFI updates from ASUS further enhance compatibility and performance.
On the software front, Armoury Crate consolidates various system utilities, including Aura Sync RGB control, customizable RGB lighting profiles, and Fan Xpert 4 for precise fan curve management. ASUS Sonic Studio III, with intelligent noise cancellation for headsets, ensures an immersive audio experience. ASUS’s software offerings augment the board’s gaming-oriented functionality.
Value and Conclusion
With a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $189, the ASUS TUF GAMING B760-PLUS delivers exceptional performance, an array of features, and gaming utilities at an enticingly affordable price point. Its enduring military-inspired design guarantees longevity through years of intense gaming. The 12+1 teamed power stages facilitate seamless integration with high-core-count 13th gen Intel CPUs.
The board supports fast DDR5 memory, PCIe 4.0 slots, USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports, 2.5Gbit networking, SATA ports, and triple M.2 slots for expansion, catering to diverse user requirements. Enhanced with gamer-focused additions like RGB headers, bundled software utilities, BIOS Flashback, and more, the B760-PLUS strikes a harmonious balance between price and performance, making it an ideal choice for budget-conscious gaming PC builders and upgraders, earning our enthusiastic recommendation.