ASUS ProArt X870E-Creator Wi-Fi Review

Introduction

The ASUS ProArt Creator range has been around for a few chipset generations now, beginning on Socket AM4. The ProArt X870E-Creator Wi-Fi is currently the only model available with a new 800-series chipset. It’s possible we might also see a B850 version at some point as there were both B550 and B650 versions. Today we’re focusing on the flagship X870E chipset and what it’s version of the ProArt Creator brings to the table compared to competing motherboards, given it won’t leave you with much change from $500.

Rather than going all out with RGB lighting and aggressive heatsinks, the whole idea behind the ProArt Creator range is a more elegant design aimed at non-gamers, featuring premium I/O and networking features along with high-end components and strong overclocking potential. With the ASUS ProArt X870E-Creator Wi-Fi, you get a very attractive motherboard, styled somewhat similar to previous generations, but as well as the expected USB4, Wi-Fi 7 and PCIe SSD and GPU support, there’s the addition of 10 Gigabit Ethernet and a design that sets it apart from similarly-priced models, including a see-through I/O shroud.

There’s clearly an element of lavishness going on here, but there’s definitely a market for expensive, head-turning motherboards. Being creator-focused, though, you’d expect it to also be lavishly endowed with storage options and minimal or non-existent lane sharing to maximize expansion possibilities. After all, many other boards with creator in the name have been high-end desktop models with oodles of PCIe lanes and features. We’ll be digging a little deeper to see what’s under the heatsinks, how the ASUS ProArt X870E-Creator Wi-Fi compares to other X870E motherboards, and whether it truly is a creator-focused piece of hardware, or just a prettier example of a standard motherboard at an inflated price.

Specifications