ASUS vs. ASRock motherboards: What’s the better choice? The motherboard is a central component at the heart of any PC build. While you’ll spend time looking over the details of your CPU, GPU, and RAM, the motherboard is equally as important.
ASUS has long held a reputation for packing loads of features into its motherboards. ASRock is similar in many regards, with a wide range of available motherboards at many price points. Before you start piecing together your next build, you might as well see which of these is the real winner.
ASUS vs. ASRock Motherboards: Side-by-Side Comparison
| ASUS Motherboards | ASRock Motherboards | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Mid to high-end pricing | Low to mid-range pricing |
| Additional Features | Generally supply plenty of USB ports, extra PCI-E slots, and RGB lighting on specific motherboards | Plenty of USB ports, an average number of PCI-E lanes, and RGB lighting are available on select gaming models |
| Socket Support | AMD and Intel | AMD and Intel |
| BIOS Support | ASUS updates motherboards regularly for BIOS | ASRock maintains its motherboards at an acceptable rate |
| Software Support | ASUS AI Suite III | ASRock Live Update and App Shop |
| Warranty | Five-year limited warranty | Two-year limited warranty serviced by authorized distributors |
There are some similarities between these two companies, but you’ll also note some stark differences.
ASUS vs. ASRock Motherboards: What’s the Difference?
ASUS and ASRock both provide motherboards at acceptable price points for a variety of users. However, comparisons aren’t any fun without a clear winner, so it’s time for a deeper dive.
Performance
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Performance is generally one of the lesser concerns to have with a motherboard. When looking at two comparable models using the same socket, RAM, and GPU, you won’t see much difference in how they operate.
That said, ASUS can occasionally coax a little more performance out of its motherboards. This might be thanks to higher-grade materials used for the likes of the trace and PCI-E lanes. However, that’s just pure speculation.
ASRock will serve admirably as the centerpiece of a build. You aren’t really losing much aside from perhaps an extra 1% or so of performance. ASUS does have considerably more room for overclocking on its gaming motherboards, which might be an important consideration if you’re the tinkering sort.
Features
The included features of a given motherboard are where you can see some real differences start to arise between these two companies. ASUS generally packs its motherboards to the brim with extra features. The Prime Z390-A is a great example of this.
It uses the LGA1151 socket, meaning you’ve got support for eighth and ninth-generation Intel processors. You’ve got six SATA ports, meaning you’ve got room to spare for additional storage devices.
- 2400 MHz memory clock speed
- Designed for 9th and 8th generation Intel Core processors
- 8-channel HD Gaming Audio
- 4 memory slots
A comparable ASRock would be the Z390 Extreme4. It uses the same LGA1151 socket as the ASUS motherboard but has some important distinctions. You’ll have access to four USB 3.1 ports. This gives you 10 Gbps throughput on external storage devices.
It also has an M.2 slot for an additional wireless adapter, leaving your USB and PCI-E lanes free. Both ASUS and ASRock seem to understand packing devices to the brim with extras to entice a potential customer.
Pricing
You’ll generally pay a bit more for an ASUS motherboard than you will an ASRock. This isn’t a considerable difference. Returning to the previous example, you can readily find the ASUS motherboard for around $210.
The ASRock motherboard retails for around $179.99. Now, this isn’t a huge difference, all things said. However, if you’re looking to save a little extra to invest elsewhere, then ASRock might be the way to go. Pricing isn’t everything when it comes to motherboards.
However, every build has a budget. You can’t go wrong with either choice, but the ASRock offerings will generally come out as a little bit cheaper.
Software Support
When it comes to overall software support, the update process between both motherboard manufacturers is roughly equal. You’re going to have access to updates that install natively through Windows without having to prep a thumb drive and boot into your UEFI instance.
Where ASUS diverges is in RGB support. Call it garish if you will, but ASUS’s RGB support is the best in class when it comes to motherboards. ASUS’s native RGB software allows for selections of up to nine colors.
Compare this to ASRock’s offering, which only offers up to seven colors. This isn’t a huge consideration but it can still be rather important if you’re looking to get the best bang for your buck when setting up your case’s lighting.
BIOS Support
Both ASUS and ASRock support UEFI BIOS installations. The software management allows for routine BIOS updates to be conducted with ease. Both motherboard manufacturers also have options for fast booting.
- LGA 1151 CPU socket
- Supports 8th and 9th Generation Intel Core Processors
- 64 GB DDR4 RAM
- 4 memory slots
You’ll need your operating system configured to install UEFI, but that’s very much the standard these days for Windows and Linux alike. Where they diverge is in the support for overclocking. You’ll be doing most of your overclocking through the BIOS, at least for the CPU.
ASRock’s overclocking support is average; you’ve got plenty of options for tinkering around. ASUS is arguably the best manufacturer around when it comes to overall overclocking support. The BIOS itself has guides to natively aid you in attempting overclocking.
Warranty
The final consideration is the warranty coverage, which is quite a stark difference. ASUS has one of the best warranties in the business with five years of limited coverage for any sort of manufacturing defects. This is universal among all of its motherboards, from the low-end to the most expensive on the market.
ASRock’s warranty is adequate but comes off as rather lacking by comparison. You’ve only got two years of coverage with one of these motherboards. Now, that’s fine and dandy if you upgrade constantly. However, given the general price of components these days, that is a bit of a rarity.
You’ll find yourself high and dry with the ASRock warranty far sooner than you ever would with an ASUS motherboard. If you want to safeguard your purchase, ASUS is the way to go.
ASUS vs. ASRock Motherboards: 6 Must-Know Facts
- ASUS manufactures a wide variety of motherboards for business, personal, and gaming usage.
- ASUS has one of the best motherboard warranties around with five years of coverage.
- ASUS has better native support for overclocking CPUs and RAM compared to others.
- ASRock makes affordable motherboards, with the gaming segment shining in particular.
- ASRock has an average warranty, providing only two years of overall coverage for your motherboard.
- ASRock motherboards are generally cheaper, but not considerably so.
ASUS vs. ASRock Motherboards: Which One Wins? Which One Should You Choose?
So, which of these motherboard manufacturers is the real winner? While ASRock has attractive offerings, it falls short in many key areas. The warranty, in particular, is a sticking point, as you can find other motherboards with longer coverage durations.
ASUS takes the cake in this comparison. This is because it offers motherboards across multiple market segments, stellar warranty support, and overclocking support. If you’re the sort of PC gamer who loves tinkering and maximizing performance, then the ROG series from ASUS has you covered.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Pafnuti/Shutterstock.com.
