At CES 2026 ASUS unveiled a comprehensive lineup of new AMD motherboards, including ROG X870E models and Neo refresh motherboards across the ROG Strix, TUF Gaming, and ProArt families for X870E, X870, and B850. These models support the latest Zen 5 Ryzen™ 9000 Series processors.
This refresh includes features that accelerate performance and streamline the building process. AEMP, NitroPath DRAM technology and DIMM Fit unleash DDR5 memory kits; AI Cache Boost accelerates LLM workflows; and ASUS AI Advisor is a natural-language build assistant powered by AI. Also USB4®, WiFi 7, and new EZ PC DIY functions offer performance-tuning capabilities, efficient cooling, improved connectivity, and effortless installation experiences.
This refresh also includes substantial changes to the UEFI BIOS. A higher-capacity 64-megabyte BIOS chip enables a more powerful interface and extended CPU compatibility with the latest and future AM5 processors, helping to ensure a smooth and seamless user experience.
Meanwhile, a pre-installed WiFi driver enables users to connect to the internet when installing Windows on their PC; no USB flash drive is needed for driver installation, making the setup process faster and more convenient. And for WiFi, the new ASUS MLO Wizard feature assesses a user’s network environment for Multi-Link Operation support across their devices, router, and operating system, while also visualizing the current traffic capacity on each of their router’s frequency bands.
The new ROG Strix LC IV Series coolers feature a 5.08-inch full-color display and a design that balances performance with acoustic comfort. With both standard-tubing and short-tubing variants, the lineup offers options tailored for every type of builder.
But the most groundbreaking upgrade is the new AIO Q-Connector technology. When paired with a compatible motherboard, there is no need to connect pump, fan, or LCD cables to their respective headers. Simply align the contact points, and all control signals are transmitted wirelessly through the connector — making setup easier than ever.
PCIe lane layouts optimized for today's PC users
With any motherboard, the number of available PCIe® lanes is limited by the CPU platform. For select new and refreshed AM5 motherboards, ASUS has optimized PCIe lane layouts to make it easier for users to install and connect more devices and components.
The new lane layouts are particularly ideal for gamers who want to rapidly expand their gaming library without compromising graphics card performance. The ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi7 Neo, for example, enables users to install two PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSDs and three PCIe 4.0 M.2s SSDs while still running their graphics card in PCIe 5.0 x16 mode. This is made possible by sharing bandwidth between the USB4 ports and the second M.2 slot.
The new PCIe lane layout enables advanced, game-changing motherboard configurations. For high-end gaming and streaming setups, the new ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial, winner of a 2026 CES Innovation award, lets users enjoy the full bandwidth of the first PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and two PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots while still allowing the second PCIe slot to run at PCIe 3.0 x4. This arrangement ensures maximum gaming performance while leaving sufficient bandwidth on the table for capture cards.
The new PCIe lane layout also empowers multi-GPU creative and AI workstations. For example, the ProArt B850-Creator WiFi Neo and ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial both offer a pair of PCIe x16 slots that can run in x8/x8 configurations to allow for a smooth experience in these scenarios.
A leap forward in memory performance
The new selection of ASUS AM5 motherboards features a series of manufacturing optimizations that deliver a significant leap forward in memory performance. Improvements start with a server-grade PCB design. An ultra-low-etch manufacturing process provides a specialized PCB treatment that improves material uniformity and layer flatness.
This establishes an enhanced grounding structure that reduces electrical interference, improves upstream communication and optimizes signal alignment to boost stability and overclocking potential. Meanwhile, PCB back drilling helps optimize data integrity and performance; 2-ounce copper power planes offer steadier power delivery, faster heat dissipation, and long-term reliability; and an 8-layer design sends clean and stable high-speed bus signals for DDR5 modules and PCIe 5.0 devices. The new PCB design also lets users enjoy wider compatibility with DDR5 memory kits, giving them access to larger capacities and higher frequencies.
For selected new and refreshed AM5 motherboards, NitroPath DRAM technology also provides enhanced DDR5 memory performance. Shorter gold finger pins and optimized signal pathways ensure faster data transfers between DRAM and the CPU, allowing for greater memory overclocking headroom and stability. These slots also feature enhanced durability for enthusiasts who keep their system upgraded with the fastest kits available.
Meanwhile, DIMM Fit is an ASUS-exclusive BIOS feature that precisely analyzes individual memory modules to optimize performance and pinpoint potential issues. DIMM Fit Pro, available on select models, provides additional customizability.
ASUS has worked closely with memory manufacturer G.SKILL to bring 4-rank memory support to the X870E platform using UDIMM modules. With the ROG Crosshair X870E Apex 4-RANK, users can leverage the higher per-DIMM capacity of 4-rank modules. This memory type is well-suited for heavy workloads like data-intensive AI, engineering, and content creation tasks, as it maintains strong transfer efficiency and low latency under demanding conditions while supporting extreme multitasking.
ASUS is also showcasing 4-rank memory at CES, featuring ADATA modules on the Intel® Z890 platform and G.SKILL modules on the AMD X870E platform.
Building a PC is easier than ever
Traditional AIO CPU liquid cooler designs require two visible wires, presenting a challenge to builders who prioritize clean cable management. Select ASUS AM5 motherboards included in this refresh use the wire-free AIO Q-Connector, designed to work seamlessly with compatible AIO CPU liquid coolers to significantly reduce cable clutter.
As the heatsinks and backplates of graphics cards have gotten larger and thicker over the years, ASUS has worked to replace the old, hard-to-reach plastic latch. Users will find a variety of mechanisms in these refreshed motherboards that make it easier than ever to install and remove graphics cards.
The ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial features an all-new PCIe Q-Release Switch that uses a simple lever mechanism to control two expansion slots. With a flick, the user decides which slot gets unlocked for easy hardware removal and upgrades. New versions of the ROG Q-DIMM.2 and ROG Hyper M.2 add-in cards, bundled with the ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial, also now feature a screw-less design that simplifies installation and allows for a total of seven M.2 storage devices on the motherboard.
These new motherboards also include M.2 Q-Release heatsinks, M.2 Q-Latch tool-free drive installation, and M.2 Q-Slide. And to make sure that a PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSD stays cool under pressure, a 3D vapor chamber M.2 heatsink design on the new ROG motherboards offers a larger heat dissipation area and tool-free installation. Plus, to tame the heat produced by high-performance DDR5 memory, the ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial includes an ROG Memory Q-Fan. The fan snaps into place magnetically – no tiny screws required.
Several new models also include support for front-panel USB Type-C ports with up to 60-watt Quick Charge 4+.
