ASRock, a global leader in motherboards, graphics cards, and gaming peripherals, has officially launched its latest B850 Challenger Series motherboards, designed to cater to casual gamers and budget-conscious PC builders. Available in two variants—B850 Challenger WiFi and B850 Challenger WiFi White—these motherboards combine modern aesthetics, robust performance, and cutting-edge features to deliver a compelling option for AMD AM5 platform users. The B850 Challenger Series is powered by AMD’s mid-range B850 chipset, offering full compatibility with Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 series processors. Whether you’re building a system around the gaming powerhouse Ryzen 7 9800X3D or a high-core-count 16-core Ryzen CPU, the 12+2+1 phase VRM design with Dr.MOS technology ensures stable power delivery. Enhanced by a large heatsink, the boards are engineered to handle intensive gaming sessions and light overclocking without thermal throttling.
Source : ASRock
ASRock has equipped the B850 Challenger Series with forward-thinking connectivity options. Both models feature Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) and Bluetooth 5.4 for ultra-fast wireless performance, alongside a 2.5Gbps Realtek LAN for reliable wired connections. The inclusion of Lightning Gaming Ports—dedicated low-latency USB ports—optimizes performance for high-polling-rate gaming peripherals, ensuring responsive inputs for competitive play.
Storage capabilities are equally impressive, with a PCIe Gen5 x4 “Blazing” M.2 slot and a Gen4 “Hyper” M.2 slot, both fitted with toolless top and bottom heatsinks to maintain optimal temperatures for high-speed NVMe SSDs. Additionally, four SATA3 ports provide ample storage expansion options. The boards support up to 256GB of DDR5 memory across four DIMM slots, with overclocking potential up to 8000 MT/s via XMP or EXPO profiles, making them ideal for enthusiasts seeking high performance on a budget.
Source : ASRock
The B850 Challenger Series stands out with its minimalist yet striking design, available in black or white color schemes. ASRock has paid meticulous attention to detail, ensuring all visible components, from connectors to accessories, are color-coordinated for a cohesive look. The boards feature hidden hexadecimal ASCII codes etched into the PCB, adding a subtle nod to tech enthusiasts who appreciate intricate design elements.
RGB customization is also a highlight, with onboard headers supporting both standard 5050 RGB and WS2812B addressable RGB LED strips. Through ASRock’s Polychrome RGB Sync and SignalRGB integration, users can create dynamic, game-reactive lighting effects to elevate their build’s aesthetic.
ASRock’s Challenger series motherboards are designed for budget-conscious systems, much like their Challenger GPUs. They feature a four-slot spacing between the two PCIe x16 slots, making them ideal for users who need ample GPU separation. ASRock has not yet disclosed pricing or exact release dates for the B850 Challenger Series.
Very cool, simple and clean design always the best.