ASRock's range is simple at the top and crowded at the bottom. Taichi is the flagship, Steel Legend and the Phantom Gaming boards fill the middle, and Pro RS and HDV models cover the budget end. The names follow a consistent pattern once you know it, and this guide decodes what you will see on our ASRock motherboard deals page.
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The product lines, from top to entry
- Taichi: the flagship, recognisable by its cog-wheel styling, sold on the top chipsets such as X670E, X870E, Z790 and Z890. Variants have included a cheaper Taichi Lite with the same core hardware and less decoration, and a white Taichi Carrara.
- Phantom Gaming: the gaming family, often shortened to PG in the name. It spans a wide range: Nova near the top, then Riptide, then PG Lightning as the entry gaming board. On recent generations Riptide and Nova are often named without the words Phantom Gaming, as in X870 Riptide WiFi.
- Steel Legend: the mid-range all-rounder with a silver and white camouflage look. It is one of the more common ways to get a light-coloured board without paying a flagship price.
- LiveMixer: aimed at streamers and creators, with an unusually large number of USB ports. Appears on a few chipsets only.
- Pro RS and Pro4: plain mainstream boards. Pro4 was the usual name on older platforms such as AM4; Pro RS has taken over on newer ones.
- HDV and similar: the entry level, almost always micro-ATX, with basic power delivery, two or four memory slots and few extras. Fine for a modest processor; check the ports carefully.
The family name is a tier and not a platform. An X870 Steel Legend and an X870 Pro RS both take the same AM5 processors. M.2 slot count, USB speeds, WiFi version and power delivery are what change, and they vary by board.
How to read an ASRock model name
ASRock puts the chipset first, then the family, then extras after a space or a slash: B760M Pro RS/D4 WiFi is a B760 micro-ATX board, Pro RS tier, DDR4 memory, with WiFi.
| Part of the name | What it means |
|---|---|
| M after the chipset (B650M, B760M) | Micro-ATX board |
| -ITX (PG-ITX, M-ITX) | Mini-ITX board |
| WiFi | Wireless and Bluetooth built in. Older boards used /ac or /ax after the name for the same thing |
| /D4 | The DDR4 version of an Intel LGA1700 board. Some DDR5 versions are marked /D5; others carry no suffix |
| /M.2 | Seen on entry-level HDV boards to show an M.2 slot is fitted |
| R2.0 | A revised version of an earlier board |
| E after the chipset (B650E, X670E) | Part of AMD's chipset name, not an ASRock suffix. It signals guaranteed PCIe 5.0 support |
The /D4 marker matters most. LGA1700 boards take DDR4 or DDR5, never both, and ASRock's slash is easy to miss in a long Amazon title. If you are reusing memory, read the listing twice. Our DDR4 vs DDR5 guide covers the choice.
BIOS Flashback
ASRock's name for updating the BIOS without a processor is BIOS Flashback. On boards that have it, you copy the BIOS file to a USB stick, renamed as the manual instructs, plug it into the marked USB port, connect the power supply and press the Flashback button. No CPU, memory or graphics card is needed.
It is present only on some boards. Taichi and most recent Steel Legend, Riptide and Nova boards have it, and so do a fair number of Pro RS models, but entry-level HDV boards frequently do not. Check the rear-panel photo and the specification for the exact model. This matters most when you pair older stock with a newer processor, for example a B650 board made before Ryzen 9000 was released. See BIOS updates and CPU compatibility.
Warranty and support in the UK
ASRock motherboards are generally sold in the UK with a three-year manufacturer warranty, but confirm the term for the specific board, as it can vary. ASRock generally asks buyers to arrange warranty service through the seller, so the retailer is your first port of call. With Amazon that means a return or replacement through your order page.
Boards from Amazon Warehouse come under Amazon's returns policy and do not necessarily carry the full manufacturer warranty of a new board. Check the terms on the offer and test the board promptly using our used motherboard checklist. Support experiences vary with every maker, and we hold no data to rank them.
What to look for when buying
- Pick the socket and chipset first with how to choose a motherboard, then the ASRock tier.
- Read the suffixes after the slash. /D4, WiFi and R2.0 each describe a different board.
- On HDV-class boards, count the memory slots, M.2 slots and fan headers. If you plan a high-power processor, read our VRM guide first.
- PCIe 5.0 wiring, USB4 and the number of M.2 slots vary by board, not by family.
See current prices and reductions on the ASRock deals page.
Questions people ask
What does /D4 mean on an ASRock motherboard?
It marks the DDR4 version of an Intel LGA1700 board. DDR5 versions are marked /D5 or carry no memory suffix. DDR4 and DDR5 are not interchangeable, so match the board to your memory.
Where does Steel Legend sit in the ASRock range?
In the middle. It is above the Pro RS and HDV boards and below Taichi, broadly alongside the Riptide gaming boards. It is known for its silver and white styling. The exact feature set varies by chipset.
Do all ASRock boards have BIOS Flashback?
No. It is fitted to Taichi and most recent mid-range boards, but entry-level models often lack it. Check the specification for the exact board before relying on it to update the BIOS without a CPU.
Who handles an ASRock warranty claim in the UK?
Start with the retailer you bought from. For an Amazon purchase, use the returns or replacement options on your order. Amazon Warehouse boards come under Amazon’s returns policy and may not carry the full manufacturer warranty, so check the offer terms.