The ASUS ROG Strix B360-G Gaming Review: A Polarizing $100 Motherboard Design

Conclusion

The B360 chipset was designed to give users a more cost effective option for Coffee Lake based CPUs, in particularly processors which are locked and do not overclock. With this in mind, many B-series boards are cheaper but still include features like M.2 slots, USB 3.1 (10 Gbps) ports, and other features frequently found on most Z370 boards. 

The ASUS B360-G Gaming offers users features that will rival most Z370 boards - this includes USB 3.1 (10 Gbps) ports, four DRAM slots, two M.2 ports, a reinforced PCIe slot, gaming-focused software, six SATA ports, robust VRM heatsinks, and costing less than a comparable board using the Z series chipset. It does have aesthetics that you really have to love, which could be a crucial part of how well this board performs in the market.

We saw already performance was solid throughout all testing on this board. In a change from other B360 boards we have reviewed, the ASUS B360-G Gaming did not throttle for any reason during testing which was good to see and allows the CPU to stretch its legs in testing without user input. The large heatsinks were able to handle the flagship i7-8700K at stock speeds without issue merely getting warm to the touch after extended heavy use and testing. The use of the SupremeFX S1220A codecs take the high-end Realtek ALC1220 codecs and improves upon them (at least on paper) with better SnR values whereas many B360 class boards tend to use a lesser Realtek codecs such as the ALC892 or ALC887. I also like the implementation of the integrated rear IO shield which gives the board a more premium feel. 

As far as improvements needed from this board, there really isn't much needed or to complain about. Performance was spot on, and POST times were impressive. I suppose more USB ports couldn't hurt though. The biggest concern with the board is the look. That stenciling across the front with all the ROG sayings really doesn't tickle my fancy and can alienate some users looking for a fairly clean design aesthetic. As was mentioned earlier, the look can be pretty polarzing. 

Overall, the ASUS B360-G Gaming MicroATX motherboard is a solid base to use any of the Coffee Lake processor it is compatible with. Performance values are right with the other board along with power use while boot times were quite fast under 17 seconds. Features wise, it includes most everything users come to expect from this class and size board, with an Intel networking port and higher-class audio. With the board priced around the $100 mark and no others with the same features priced with it, the B360-G Gaming stands as a good option in this space. 

AnandTech 8th Gen CPU Coverage

• The Intel Core i7-8086K Review: Testing Intel's Anniversary 5.0 GHz Turbo CPU
• The Anandtech Coffee Lake Review: Initial Numbers on the Core i7-8700K and Core i5-8400
• Analyzing Z370 for Intel's 8th Generation Coffee Lake: A Quick Look at 50+ Motherboard