ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming II WiFi Review

Conclusion

The appearance of the ROG Strix X570-E Gaming II WiFi was a bit of a surprise for us here at OC3D Towers. The X570 chipset is still current AMD tech but the time since we last saw a new one was so long ago it feels like last gen. You only have to look at the games we were using when the X570 chipset first appeared to realise how long ago it was, even if you ignore the time dilation effect the global pandemic had. With the AMD presentation due in the new year it could very well be the twilight of the X570 platform. A lot of new technologies have appeared on the market since the X570 was launched, not least DDR5 and PCI Express 5.0. The X570 chipset is somewhat limited by being made when it was, cutting edge at the time, and thus without wholly revising the formula in a fiscally ruinous manner for ASUS there is nothing much the Strix II is bringing to the party we aren’t already very familiar with.

The design also echoes other models in the ASUS range, showing how right they had their X570 designs out of the gate. In fact the Strix II reminds us of the Maximus Hero in particular, with the half-board M.2 cover and component placement. That’s definitely not a bad thing. If you’re going to make a ‘best of’ then the ROG range is a great place to start, and ASUS can do it knowing they are playing their old hits. The primary differences between those first products and the Strix II is the removal of the active chipset cooling and a more prominent lighting section above the VRM coolers. We’ve never quite worked out what to call that. It’s not a heatsink as such, but neither is it part of the IO section at the back. It’s the bridge between them. Given that everyone uses it to show off their model name and their RGB lighting perhaps we should call it the sizzle zone. If that becomes a thing I’ll take my 10%.

All of which waffle indicates that the ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming II WiFi isn’t really bringing anything new to the table that we haven’t already covered a dozen times, months ago. Nor does the performance warrant standing on the rooftops and shouting about. It’s no slouch, but then anything that comes under the ROG umbrella won’t be. About the only area that we take issue with is the same thing we bemoaned when ASUS first showed it off and that’s the broken, glitchy logo effect they have chosen to stick with. The ROG and Strix brands are so strong we wonder why anyone would consider it wise to water them down in this way. Especially as associating glitches with PCs has never been made in a positive manner, so why remind people of it. Surely you want to advertise the non-glitchiness. The reliability. But that’s why we’re in the reviewing world and not in marketing.

The ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming II WiFi is a very solid entry in to the AMD X570 motherboard lineup, with a good selection of connectivity, excellent cooling, and all the performance one would expect from this most famous of hardware brands, and wins our OC3D Gamers Choice Award.

  

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