ASUS is preparing a refreshed wave of AMD AM5 motherboards under its B850 and X870 chipsets, introducing the new NEO designation across ROG Strix, TUF Gaming, and ProArt product families. These boards are positioned as direct successors to the existing B850 and X870 series, retaining the same chipset segmentation while incorporating a number of underlying improvements aimed at usability, expandability, and long-term platform support.
Compared to their non-NEO counterparts, the new revisions focus on practical enhancements rather than radical redesigns. ASUS appears to have refined PCIe lane allocation, storage behaviour, BIOS capacity, and board-level convenience features, addressing limitations found on earlier models. The result is a more streamlined AM5 experience, particularly for high-speed storage configurations, modern GPUs, and first-time system setup.
Key Differences and Upgrades Over Older Models
• Increased BIOS ROM capacity on select models, enabling bundled driver support and improved firmware flexibility
• Improved PCIe lane management to maintain full bandwidth on the primary PCIe 5.0 graphics slot when multiple M.2 devices are installed
• Updated PCIe Q-Release mechanism for easier graphics card removal
• Refined memory topology and tuning support for higher DDR5 stability and compatibility
• Additional internal headers and layout refinements to improve DIY installation and cable management
• Incremental power delivery and board-level optimisations across gaming and creator-focused models
ASUS B850 & X870 NEO Motherboard Lineup
• ROG STRIX X870E-E GAMING WIFI7 NEO
• ROG STRIX X870E-A GAMING WIFI7 NEO
• TUF GAMING X870-PRO WIFI7 W NEO
• ROG STRIX B850-F GAMING WIFI7 NEO
• ROG STRIX B850-A GAMING WIFI7 NEO
• TUF GAMING B850-PRO WIFI7 W NEO
• ProArt B850-CREATOR WIFI NEO
ASUS has yet to officially confirm release dates or pricing for the B850 and X870 NEO motherboards, with further details expected closer to launch.
