AMD B650 Roundup: 35 Motherboards Tested, Complete Buying Guide

Summary

In this comprehensive review, 35 AMD B650 motherboards are rigorously tested, covering specs, thermals, and value for money. The video provides detailed comparisons and recommendations, highlighting top picks like the ASRock B650M HDV M.2 for budget-conscious buyers and the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-Gaming Wi-Fi for high-end performance seekers. The guide helps viewers make informed decisions based on price, features, and thermal performance, steering clear of models with poor VRM thermals.

Takeaways

• 😲 The video presents the results of extensive testing on 35 AMD B650 motherboards, a task that took months to complete.
• 🔊 Sponsored content features Thermal Grizzly's new 12th gen CPU contact frame, which addresses uneven contact issues in the ILM of the LGA 1700 sockets.
• 📈 The video skips detailed individual reviews of each motherboard due to the large number, opting instead for a specs comparison and focus on thermal results.
• 🔥 The VRM thermal data is still relevant despite BIOS updates, as it remains accurate with the latest biases, unlike some benchmark data which may be outdated.
• 💡 The Gigabyte B650MK is advised against due to its use of discrete MOSFETs, poor VRM thermals, limited PCIe slots, and lack of PCIe 5.0 support.
• 🌟 The ASRock B650M HDV M.2 is recommended for those on a tight budget, offering better VRM, more PCIe slots, and a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot compared to the Gigabyte B650MK.
• 📶 The MSI Pro B650M-A Wi-Fi is the most affordable B650 motherboard with Wi-Fi support, boasting a solid VRM and decent expansion options.
• 🚫 Asus Prime series motherboards are generally not recommended due to their use of discrete MOSFETs, resulting in poor VRM thermals.
• 🔋 The ASRock B650 PG Lightning and PG Riptide Wi-Fi are highlighted as good options at $190, featuring robust VRM and a comprehensive set of ports and slots.
• 💻 For high-end options, the Asus ROG Strix B650E-Gaming Wi-Fi and the ASRock B650E Taichi are mentioned, with the former providing two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and the latter offering USB 4 support.
• 🏆 The best overall high-end B650 motherboard, according to the video, is the Asus ROG Strix B650E-Gaming Wi-Fi due to its feature set and price point.

Q & A

How many motherboards were tested in the video?

A total of 35 AMD B650 motherboards were tested in the video.

What is the purpose of the Thermal Grizzly's new 12th gen CPU contact frame?

The Thermal Grizzly's new 12th gen CPU contact frame is designed to replace the integrated loading mechanism (ILM) of the LGA 1700 sockets, providing a more even contact surface with the CPU's IHS and cooler base, which improves cooling performance and reduces operating temperatures.

What is the main reason the benchmark data like boot times and performance were not included in the video?

The benchmark data such as boot times and performance were not included because some of the results are outdated due to new BIOS updates, and the creator did not have the resources to retest all 35 motherboards.

Which motherboard was recommended as the best value option for the most affordable price point?

The ASRock b650m hdv m.2 was recommended as the best value option for those looking for an affordable motherboard on the AM5 platform.

What feature does the MSI Pro b650m-a Wi-Fi offer that makes it stand out at its price point?

The MSI Pro b650m-a Wi-Fi is the most affordable B650 motherboard to include Wi-Fi support, along with 11 USB 3.2 ports, three PCIe slots, and two M.2 slots, making it stand out at its price point.

Why should the Asus Prime series motherboards be avoided according to the video?

The Asus Prime series motherboards should be avoided because they use discrete MOSFETs, resulting in poor VRM thermals, with some models running at over 100 degrees during testing.

What is the main advantage of the ASRock b650 PG Lightning over the Asus Prime boards?

The ASRock b650 PG Lightning offers a superior VRM with 14 60 amp power stages for the V-core, four PCIe expansion slots, a PCIe 5.0 M.2, and a multitude of USB ports, making it a much better option compared to the Asus Prime boards at a similar price point.

What feature does the Gigabyte b650m aurus Pro ax include that is considered a standout at its price point?

The Gigabyte b650m aurus Pro ax includes PCIe 5.0 M.2 support, a robust 12 70 amp power stage VRM, and a generous number of USB 3.2 ports, making it a standout option in its price range.

Why might the MSI MPG b650 Carbon Wi-Fi be considered underwhelming at its current price point?

The MSI MPG b650 Carbon Wi-Fi might be considered underwhelming at its current price point because it lacks PCIe 5.0 support for the primary PCIe slot, and while it has an upgraded VRM with 80 amp power stages and additional features, it does not significantly outperform cheaper options.

What is the unique feature of the ASRock b650e PG Riptide Wi-Fi that makes it the most affordable option with PCIe 5.0 support for both the primary PCIe slot and primary M.2?

The unique feature of the ASRock b650e PG Riptide Wi-Fi is that it offers PCIe 5.0 support for both the primary PCIe slot and the primary M.2 at an affordable price point, making it a great value option.

Why does the Gigabyte b650e aorus Master have a high price point compared to other B650 motherboards?

The Gigabyte b650e aorus Master has a high price point due to its 16 105 amp power stage VRM, which is considered extreme overkill for most users, and its inclusion of four PCIe 5.0 enabled M.2 slots, offering a high-end feature set that justifies the higher cost.

Outlines

00:00

😀 AMD B650 Motherboard Testing Overview

The video script introduces a comprehensive testing of 35 AMD B650 motherboards, which was a significant undertaking. The sponsor for the video is Thermal Grizzly, promoting their new 12th gen CPU contact frame. The script mentions that detailed individual board reviews will be skipped due to the extensive number of boards tested. Instead, a brief specs comparison, standard options discussion, and thermal results will be presented in order of price, starting with the cheapest. Benchmark data like boot times and performance are outdated due to BIOS updates, so only VRM thermal data will be shown. Some affordable models have been covered in dedicated videos, and these will only be briefly touched upon.

05:03

😉 Affordable B650 Motherboards and Recommendations

This paragraph focuses on the more affordable B650 motherboards, highlighting the Gigabyte B650M DS3H and MSI Pro B650M-A Wi-Fi as better options than the Gigabyte B650M-K, which is criticized for its discrete MOSFETs and poor VRM thermals. The ASRock B650M HDV M.2 is recommended for its better VRM and additional features despite a slightly higher price. The MSI Pro B650M-A Wi-Fi is noted for its Wi-Fi support and solid VRM, making it a good value at $160. The paragraph also discusses the Asus Prime series, advising against them due to their poor VRM thermals.

10:04

🤔 Mid-Range B650 Motherboards: Value and Features

The script moves on to mid-range B650 motherboards, discussing options like the ASRock B650 PG Lightning and PG Riptide Wi-Fi, which offer good value at $190. These boards feature robust VRM and various expansion options. The Gigabyte B650M Aorus Elite AX is also highlighted for its 12 70 amp power stages and PCIe 5.0 support. The paragraph compares these boards to others in the $200-$210 price range, noting the lack of PCIe 5.0 support in some models but the presence of solid VRM and USB ports.

15:06

😎 High-End B650 Motherboards: Features and Price Points

This paragraph delves into high-end B650 motherboards, discussing the unique design and features of the ASRock B650 Live Mixer, which, despite its distinctive look, lacks standout features compared to its price. The ASRock B650E PG Riptide Wi-Fi is recommended for its 14 60 amp power stages, PCIe 5.0 support, and Wi-Fi 6E, making it a competitive option at $240. The paragraph also touches on the Asus Tough Gaming B650-Plus Wi-Fi and MSI PG B650 Edge Wi-Fi, noting their shortcomings in comparison.

20:06

🤑 Premium B650 Motherboards: Performance and Price Analysis

The script examines premium B650 motherboards, discussing the Asus ProArt B650 CREATOR and its elegant design but noting its lack of PCIe 5.0 support and modest VRM. The Gigabyte B650ROG is recommended as a better creator-type motherboard. The ASRock B650E Steel Legend Wi-Fi is noted for its similar features but fewer SATA and PCIe slots. The Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming Wi-Fi is criticized for needing a lower price to be competitive, while the Asus ROG Strix B650E F Gaming Wi-Fi is praised for its better value.

25:10

🔍 B650 Motherboard Testing and Recommendations

The final paragraph summarizes the testing process and results for the B650 motherboards. The script discusses the VRM temperature results, highlighting the top performers and advising against boards that run over 90 degrees. The ASRock B650M HDV M.2 is recommended for budget-conscious buyers, while the Gigabyte B650M Aorus Pro AX is the top pick for Micro ATX boards. The paragraph concludes with recommendations for the best value and high-end B650 motherboards, emphasizing the importance of considering features, price, and thermal performance when making a purchase decision.

Keywords

💡AMD B650 motherboard

The AMD B650 motherboard is a chipset designed for use with AMD Ryzen processors. It is the focus of the video, as the host has tested 35 different models to evaluate their performance, thermals, and features. This chipset is significant as it supports DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0, making it a key component for building a modern PC.

💡VRM thermals

VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) thermals refer to the heat generated by the power delivery system on a motherboard. In the video, the host emphasizes the importance of efficient VRM cooling, as high temperatures can affect the stability and longevity of a system. The script mentions that some motherboards had poor VRM thermals, which is a critical factor in choosing a motherboard.

💡PCIe slots

PCIe slots are connectors on a motherboard that allow for the attachment of expansion cards, such as graphics cards, sound cards, or network cards. The video discusses the number and type of PCIe slots on various B650 motherboards, highlighting the importance of having enough slots and the latest PCIe 5.0 support for future-proofing a system.

💡M.2 slots

M.2 slots are a type of internal connector used for attaching M.2 SSDs (Solid State Drives). These slots are crucial for high-speed data storage. The script mentions different motherboards' M.2 slot configurations, including support for PCIe 5.0, which is essential for maximizing the performance of modern SSDs.

💡USB ports

USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports are essential for connecting peripherals like keyboards, mice, and external storage devices. The video script discusses the number and type of USB ports on the tested motherboards, with a focus on USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 ports, indicating the importance of having sufficient and fast USB connectivity.

💡Wi-Fi 6E

Wi-Fi 6E is the latest standard for wireless networking, offering higher speeds and lower latency compared to previous standards. In the video, the host mentions Wi-Fi 6E support as a feature on some B650 motherboards, highlighting its value for users who require fast and reliable wireless connectivity.

💡BIOS updates

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) updates are software patches that can improve system stability, add new features, or enhance performance. The script mentions that some benchmark results were not included due to outdated BIOS updates, emphasizing the dynamic nature of system performance and the need to keep BIOS up-to-date.

💡Power stages

Power stages refer to the components in a motherboard's VRM that regulate the voltage supplied to the CPU. The video discusses the number and type of power stages, such as 50 amp or 60 amp stages, which are crucial for delivering stable power to high-performance CPUs and affecting the motherboard's thermal performance.

💡ATX and Micro ATX

ATX and Micro ATX are form factors for motherboards, with ATX being the standard size and Micro ATX being a smaller, more compact version. The script compares motherboards of both sizes, discussing their features and suitability for different types of PC builds, such as compact gaming systems or full-sized desktops.

💡Thermal Grizzly

Thermal Grizzly is a company known for its thermal solutions, such as thermal paste and coolers. In the video, Thermal Grizzly's 12th gen CPU contact frame is mentioned as a product designed to improve cooling performance by providing a more even contact surface between the CPU and the cooler, which is relevant to the video's theme of thermal management.

💡Cinebench R23

Cinebench R23 is a benchmarking software that tests a system's CPU and GPU performance. The script mentions using Cinebench R23 to stress test the systems during the thermal tests, which helps in evaluating the motherboards' ability to handle high loads and maintain stable temperatures.

Highlights

Comprehensive testing of 35 AMD B650 motherboards completed over several months.

Sponsorship by Thermal Grizzly for their new 12th gen CPU contact frame by De Bauer.

Introduction of a new product to solve uneven contact surface issues on 12th gen CPUs.

The decision to exclude outdated BIOS update benchmark data from the results.

Focus on presenting VRM thermal data as it remains accurate with the latest BIOS.

Recommendation to avoid the Gigabyte B650MK due to its use of discrete MOSFETs and poor VRM thermals.

Praise for the ASRock B650M HDV M.2 for its better VRM and additional features at a minimal price increase.

The MSI Pro B650M-A Wi-Fi is the most affordable B650 motherboard with Wi-Fi support.

ASRock B650 PG Lightning and PG Riptide Wi-Fi are recommended for their 14 60 amp power stages and feature set.

Gigabyte B650M Aorus Elite AX is highlighted for its 12 70 amp power stages and PCIe 5.0 M.2 support.

MSI Pro B650 Dash P Wi-Fi is noted for its affordability and 12 75 amp power stages.

ASRock B650 Pro RS is positioned in a competitive pricing bracket with good features.

ASRock B650 Live Mixture is an oddity with a unique design but lacks special features.

ASRock B650E PG Riptide Wi-Fi is the most affordable B650 board offering PCIe 5.0 support for both the primary PCIe slot and M.2.

ASRock B650E Steel Legend Wi-Fi is a good value option with similar features to the Aero G but at a lower price.

Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master is criticized for its high price and lack of distinguishing features.

MSI MPG B650I Edge Wi-Fi and ASUS ROG STRIX B650E-I Gaming Wi-Fi are compared for ITX motherboard options.

VRM temperature results show most B650 boards run at acceptable temperatures, with a few exceptions to avoid.

Recommendations for the best B650 motherboards at various price points, emphasizing value and features.

ASUS ROG STRIX B650E-F Gaming Wi-Fi is chosen as the best all-rounder B650E motherboard.

ASUS ROG STRIX B650E-G Wi-Fi is identified as the best high-end option for those willing to spend over $300.

Transcripts

foreign

[Music]

boxed today is the day the day when I

can finally give you my results of all

my AMD b650 motherboard testing and boy

oh boy was this one a massive

undertaking in total I have tested 35

motherboards in what has been months and

months of work

but it's finally all done and before we

get into it

today's sponsor spot is brought to you

by thermal Grizzly and their new 12th

gen CPU contact frame by De Bauer it's

well known that the integrated loading

mechanism or ilm of the LJ 1700 sockets

Ben's 12th gen CPUs leading to an uneven

contact surface that reduces cooling

performance solving this issue the

contact frame replaces the ilm allowing

for a much more even contact with the

cpu's IHS and the base of your cooler

which in turn reduces operating

temperatures installations quick and

easy and thanks to the use of anodized

aluminum the contact frame is

non-conductive and then for those of you

who wish to further maximize contact

thermal Grizzly now offers an optional

lapping tool so for more information

please check the link in the video

description

okay so since there are 35 boards in

total I'm not going to show you every

single board individually as I normally

would at least not in as much detail as

that alone would take about an hour so

instead we'll briefly do a specs

comparison we'll talk about some of the

standard options and then we'll dive

into the varum thermal results and I'll

go through the boards in order of price

starting with the cheapest and then

working our way up I also did a lot of

benchmarking for this video stuff like

boot times performance all that kind of

stuff but I've decided not to include

those results because some of them are

now outdated with the new wave of BIOS

updates and honestly I just didn't have

it in me to go back and retest most of

the boards almost all 35 of them but the

vrm thermal data is still accurate with

the latest biases so I'm happy to show

that data not keen on showing what's

possibly outdated data and this

content's really been delayed long

enough so yeah as I said don't really

have it in myself to go back and test

all of the boards again for stuff like

boot time which may or may not be

relevant to you so we're just going to

stick with the vrm thermal data the

specs comparisons and then the boards

that I recommend you purchase but if

you're wondering why there isn't more

Benchmark data like what I've included

in a few of the previous videos that's

the reason

also on that note some of the more

affordable models here from each brand

have already been covered in a dedicated

video which featured a lot more

benchmarking so given all of that I'll

briefly touch on those boards and the

most affordable of which is the gigabyte

b650mk and although this board only

costs 120 U.S it's not a particularly

great board in my opinion as it uses

discrete mosfets rather than power

stages and as a result The vrm Thermals

using a high-end processor they're not

great it also only has two pcie slots

and no PCI 5.0 support not even for the

primary m.2 it's also very light on USB

ports so despite the low price tag this

is a board I'd avoid and instead set

your sights on the ASRock b650m hdv m.2

the ASRock board costs just five dollars

more right now but it packs a

significantly better vrm using eight 50

amp power stages for the vcore along

with 3p PCI expansion slots and a pcie

5.0 m.2 you also get three more USB

ports it does only have a dual dim

configuration so just two memory slots

but for most of you I think that's going

to be fine as you'll likely purchase 32

gigabytes of ddr5 memory now and that

really should be ample for quite a few

years to come when it comes to gaming

there's also the gigabyte b650m ds3h and

that's a board that should be on your

radar it does have a solid vrm and

decent expansion options though it does

lack pcie 5.0 support but at 150 it's

well stocked and does include four dim

slots for memory expansion

moving on we find the MSI Pro

b650m-a Wi-Fi and this is the most

affordable b650 motherboard to include

Wi-Fi support along with 11 USB 3.2

ports you also get three pcie slots and

two m.2 slots though none of them are

PCA 5.0 compatible the 855 amp power

stage v-core vrm does work well so at

160 dollars US this is a pretty solid

option then we have the Asus Prime

series which includes the prime

b650m-a Wi-Fi Prime b650 Dash plus and

prime b650m a Wi-Fi 2. all of which I am

sad to say suck and should be avoided

like the ultra cheap gigabyte b650mk the

Asus Prime boards all use discrete

mosfets which result in poor vrm

thermals the b650 dash plus and

b650m-a Wi-Fi both run at over 100

degrees and our testing while the

b650m-a Wi-Fi it's a bit less garbage

but at 190 dollars it is a week offering

a much better option at this price point

is either the ASRock b650 PG lightning

or the PG Riptide Wi-Fi both of which

cost 190 dollars the lightning is an ATX

board and it packs 14 60 amp power

stages for the v-core vrm four pcie

expansion slots a PCI 5.0 m.2 and an

additional two pcie 4.0 m.2s there's

also a boatload of USBS on offer here

with support for up to 11 USB 3.2 ports

and eight USB 2.0 ports

the riptide on the other hand it is a

Micro ATX board it uses a dozen 50 amp

power stages of the vcore vrm and it

still manages to squeeze in four pcie

slots though unless you have a single

slot graphics card you're not going to

be able to use all of them there's also

just two m.2 slots but the primary slot

is pcie 5.0 compatible you also get nine

USB 3.2 ports and eight USB 2.0 ports

along with two and a half gigabit Lan

and Wi-Fi 6E though I should note that

all of the boards every single one of

the b650 b650e boards does include 2.5

gigabit lens so that's a standard

feature across all of the boards now

another viable option at this price

point is the gigabyte b650m aurus Elite

ax which includes a dozen 60 amp power

stages for the v-core vrm though just

two PCI expansion slots it does include

a PCI 5.0 enabled m.2 along with an

additional PCA 4.0 m.2 11 USB 3.2 ports

eight USB 2.0 ports and then Wi-Fi 6E

then also found at the 190 us price

point is the MSI Pro b650 Dash p Wi-Fi

with a dozen 75 amp power stages and

this is another great option that said

it does lack pcie 5.0 support but you

are getting four PCI 4.0 expansion slots

and a pair of m.2s it's also the most

affordable b650 motherboard to offer six

SATA ports

then price between 200 and 210 dollars

we have the gigabyte b650m gaming X ax

b650m auris Pro ax and MSI mag b650m

model Wi-Fi all of which are pretty

solid options the gigabyte b650m auris

Pro ax would be my pick of this Bunch

it's 12 70 amp power stages and more

than sufficient and it's the only one of

the three to offer pcie 5.0 m.2 support

and you also get 11 USB 3.2 ports and 8

USB 2.0 ports and for ten dollars less

the b650m gaming X ax it just isn't

worth it as it lacks pcie 5.0 support

and it packs a significantly weaker vrm

meanwhile the MSI mag b650m water Wi-Fi

it's decent but again it lacks pcie 5.0

m.2 support and there's less USB ports

overall

then we have the ASRock b650 Pro RS at

215 which finds itself in a competitive

pricing bracket it's an ATX board but

for just five dollars more the gigabyte

b650 Aura sleet ax b650 gaming X ax and

MSI mag b650 tomark Wi-Fi all become

available that said the b650 gaming X ax

doesn't really make sense because for

the same price the aorus elite ax it's

just a much better product packing 14 70

amp power stages for the v-core vrm pcie

5.0 m.2 support and 11 USB 3.2 ports

so in my opinion the MSI mag b650

Tomahawk Wi-Fi and gigabyte b650rs Elite

ax are both better than the ASRock b650

Pro RS with many more USB 3.2 ports and

Wi-Fi 6E support and personally I'm

again leaning more towards the gigabyte

board for its pcie 5.0 m.2 support but

really I'd be happy with either option

here as they are both very good

there's also the Asus tough gaming b650m

plus Wi-Fi it's a Micro ATX board with a

dozen 60 amp power stages for the vcore

vrm it's a decent board on paper but

doesn't really offer anything over the

b650m RS Pro ax and there are a lot less

USB 3.2 ports on offer here

moving on to the 230 us price bracket we

find the ASRock b650 live mixer which is

a bit of an oddity to say the least but

it is a very unique board and therefore

I suppose it's kind of cool basically

you'd buy this board over anything else

here simply because you like the look of

it in terms of features it's nothing

special it's price point and there are

certainly better options in my opinion

but they're not significantly better and

while the live mixer does lack Wi-Fi 6

support you do get an insane 21 USB

ports or at least support for up to 21

ports though just nine of them are of

the 3.2 standard

but if the in-your-face design of the

live mixer just isn't for you the ASRock

b650e PG Riptide Wi-Fi for just ten

dollars more is a better option anyway

you get the same 14 60 amp power stages

for your vehicle vrm but the riptide

also includes pcie 5.0 support for the

primary pcie slot as well as the primary

m.2 and it's the most affordable b650

board to offer this configuration you

also get Wi-Fi 6E support though the

number of USB 3.2 ports is reduced to

just seven so I think it's fair to say

at 240 asrock's b650e PG Riptide Wi-Fi

makes life difficult for the Asus tough

gaming b650-plus Wi-Fi and MSI PG b650

Edge Wi-Fi both of which cost 240

dollars the tough gaming in particular

just really struggles here the vrm has

been downgraded with two fewer 60 amp

power stages and there's no PCI 5.0

support beyond the primary m.2 slot so

there's really no advantage to buying

the Asus board the MSI PG b650 Edge

Wi-Fi does receive an upgraded vrm with

80 amp power stages and there are four

more USB 3.2 ports but again you are

giving up pcie 5.0 support for the

primary pcie slot The Edge Wi-Fi though

does somewhat cancel out gigabytes b650

auris Pro ax though for ten dollars more

you do get a massively upgraded vehicle

vram with 16 90 AMP power stages which

frankly is overkill but also I guess why

not so you really could go with either

of these boards but again neither really

match the value of asrock's b650e PG

Riptide Wi-Fi

now currently priced at 255 dollars is

the Asus Pro art b650 crater it's

another odd entry that doesn't really

compete that well on paper it's a cool

looking motherboard very elegant I guess

you could say at least compared to the

norm but it's also very Normy when it

comes to Features the vrm is more

typical of a 200 board with a dozen 60

amp power stages so not amazing for core

heavy work with say a 7950x though it'll

certainly work there's no pcie 5.0

support for the PCI expansion slots

though you do get a single PCI 5.0

enable m.2 with an additional two PCA

4.0 m.2s there's just eight USB 3.2

ports and really the only unique feature

on offer here is a second wired ethernet

connection but it's just a gigabit

connection and they cost basically

nothing to include via an add-on card so

that's not exactly an exciting feature

and the board misses out on Wi-Fi 6

which I do find a bit odd you do get USB

C DisplayPort so maybe that's useful not

exactly sure on that one

I'd actually say that the gigabyte

b650rog is a much better Creator type

motherboard and the vrm here is

massively upgraded with 1690 amp power

stages for the vcore you also get Wi-Fi

6E and more USB 3.2 ports so it just

seems like a better board all round

that said at this price point I'd be

eyeing off the ASRock b650e steel Legend

Wi-Fi you get the same vrm configuration

as the Aero G but the board offers pcie

5.0 support for the primary pcie slot

but beyond that the feature lists are

very similar the only odd aspect I'd say

of the steel Legend is the fact that it

supports just two SATA devices and has a

grand total of just two pcie slots

then at 280 we find the Asus Rog strix

b650-a gaming Wi-Fi and this is another

Asus board that looks a bit lost at this

price point it really does need to be

priced below 260 dollars to make sense

in my opinion again you're only getting

a dozen 60 amp power stages so a v core

VM configuration that competes better at

the 200 price point there's no pcie 5.0

support for the primary pcie slot

there's just seven USB 3.2 ports in

total and everything else is pretty

standard

and making the Rog strix b650-a gaming

Wi-Fi seem even more bizarre is the fact

that for the same 280 dollars right now

you can buy the Rog strix b650e F gaming

Wi-Fi which switches to the more

powerful 80 amp power stages it includes

PCA 5.0 support for the primary pcie

slot and it packs 10 USB 3.2 ports along

with two more USB 2.0 ports when

compared to the steel Legend you also

get twice as many pcie slots with the

addition of two times one slots which

can be useful for adding in more SATA

ports for example via an add-in card it

also competes well with msi's Flagship

b650 board the mpg b650 carbon Wi-Fi

which currently costs 290 and I think

it's a little bit underwhelming at that

price point when compared to the b650-a

gaming the carbon drops PCI 5.0 support

for the primary pcie slot but you get an

additional PCA 4.0 m.2 and two more 80

amp power state I just saw overall the

boards are pretty similar but I like the

Asus board for the superior pcie 5.0

support

but if you want to spend even more money

on an Asus b650 motherboard then we have

the Rog strix b650e E gaming Wi-Fi

pretty confusing names all of these ASU

sports but whatever this one does cost

an eye-watering 350 and the key

Advantage it has over the F gaming is

the inclusion of a second pcie 5.0 times

16 slot and a fourth m.2 it's hard to

say if that's worth the 70 premium I

kind of think not but for those of you

who wish to go all out it is a very nice

motherboard alternatively for twenty

dollars more you could buy the ASRock

b650e Tai Chi with its insane 24

105 amp power stage v-core vrm you could

say extreme Overkill I suppose there's

no chance this board even needs vrm

heatsinks but other than the insane vrm

there's really nothing amazing here and

really for a hundred dollars less this

steel Legend is basically the same

product then we have the gigabyte b650e

aorus Master which I had to price check

several times while I was making this

content as I couldn't quite believe that

it costs 430 us which it does cost at

the time making this video I believe

upon release this board was more like

350 which seems like a lot more

reasonable for what it is 430 dollars

though not so much that said as I was

about to dunk on the b650e aorus master

and its high asking price I did start to

compare it with other high-end x670e

boards and it started to become a bit

more reasonable at least for those of

you considering spending about 400 on an

am5 motherboard

firstly you do get a 16 105 amp power

stage v-core vrm which again is Extreme

Overkill but if for some reason you're

into overclocking or whatever this could

be a good board for you it does of

course include a PCI 5.0 times 16 slot

but rather than go for a second like

Asus did with the e-gaming they've

instead included not one but rather four

pcie 5.0 enabled m.2 slots personally I

would have preferred to see a second

pcie times 16 5.0 slot as that adds a

lot more flexibility to the board but

still four pcie 5.0 m.2 is kind of cool

now if you wanted to get a similar vrm

configuration from an x670e motherboard

you'd have to pay 490 for the x670e

aorus master though the MSR x670e carbon

Wi-Fi for 440 is also a great option so

at 350 the b650e auris master might make

sense but for 400 you are better served

by a simile priced x670e board in my

opinion

finally for those of you after an ITX

motherboard I have tested the MSI MPG

b650i Edge Wi-Fi and Asus Rog strix

b650e I gaming Wi-Fi the MSI model costs

270 and the Asus model 330 so both are

quite pricey since acquiring all of my

b650 motherboards or 35 of them the

gigabyte b650i aorus Ultra for 206

dollars that has become available and

the ASRock b650e pg-itx Wi-Fi for 290

dollars

now the MSI MPG b650i Edge Wi-Fi packs 8

80 amp power stages for the vehicle vrm

but no pcie 5.0 support there is a

single PCI 4.0 times 16 slot and two PCI

4.0 m.2 slots then you get 9 USB 3.2

ports two USB 2.0 ports and four SATA

ports for 60 us more the Asus Rog strix

b650e I gaming Wi-Fi that does offer PCI

5.0 support for the primary or the only

pcie times 16 slot as well as PCI 5.0 to

the m.2 the primary m.2 that is along

with a secondary PCA 4.0 m.2 you also

get eight USB 3.2 ports and four USB 2.0

ports along with two SATA connectors so

it's certainly a better equipped board

but whether or not it's worth the

premium hard to say and of course that

will be up to you to decide

okay so now that we've taken a look at

each motherboard individually it's time

to get testing and for testing all b650

boards we're using the gigabyte auris

c500 glass case with the aorus water

force x 360 millimeter AIO now for

recording temperatures I'm using a

digital thermometer with k-type

thermocouples and I'll reporting the

peak rear PCB temperature finally I'm

not reporting delta T over ambient

instead I maintain a room temperature of

21 degrees and to ensure a consistent

ambient temperature a thermocouple is

positioned next to the test system as

for the stress test I'm using the ryzen

9 7950x and for load cinebench R23 which

was looped for an hour at which point

I'm reporting the maximum PCB

temperature again recorded using k-type

thermocouples so let's go take a look at

the results

so here are the vrm temperature results

and I don't think it'll surprise anyone

to learn that the aorus master and

taiichi are the two best performing

boards though there are a number of

aorus pro and Elite models with similar

temperatures in the low 50s now I should

stress that one sparium temperatures dip

below say 70 degrees it really doesn't

matter which board runs cooler for core

heavy productivity workloads in a warm

environment all boards will perform very

well even sub 80 degree vrm temperatures

are very acceptable and really it's only

the boards running over 90 degrees that

I'd recommend you avoid especially if

you're in a warmer climate and this data

really just confirms that the vast

majority of b650 boards run at

acceptable temperatures with just three

boards in particular that you should

avoid if you're going to be running a

170 watt CPU like the 7950x even then

though regardless of the CPU plan on

using now those boards should be avoided

as you can purchase similarly equipped

boards for the same price or even less

in some instances that run at much lower

vrm temperatures

so in a nutshell any of the boards shown

here running at sub 80 degree

temperatures should be purchased based

on the price and features not how cool

they ultimately run and as an example

you wouldn't buy the MSI Tomahawk over

the ASRock PG lightning because it runs

five degrees cooler in our testing in

fact it might be wise to save 30 and get

the ASRock board especially if you don't

need Wi-Fi as the pcie 5.0 m.2 support

could be more useful to you but if

you're looking at two boards that occupy

a similar price point and offer the same

features but one run say 10 to 15

degrees cooler than the other then vrm

thermals might see you favor the cooler

running board in that example it's just

another piece of the puzzle and

depending on your needs well you'll have

to piece it all together there's just so

many b650 motherboards I tested 35 of

them which I think is pretty insane it

took a ridiculous amount of time and

even then I haven't been able to look at

all if there are a couple that either

weren't released in time for this

content or they were just unavailable

when I was rounding up all of these

boards which just getting my hands on

this many boards was a huge undertaking

in itself anyway we've now looked at 35

of the boards and I think the good news

is that most of the boards pretty much

all of them really are a couple are very

good and you can spend as little as 125

dollars and still get a really good

board that'll work under all conditions

there are a few standout options though

and the 125 ASRock b650m hdv m.2 is one

of them if you are looking at jumping on

the am5 platform but wish to spend as

little as possible while still ensuring

that you have a solid upgrade path in

the future then the hdv is the board for

you the gigabyte b650m ds3h is also a

very good board but the hdv is better in

my opinion and a little bit cheaper the

only potential advantage of the ds3h is

its extra dim slots for memory expansion

but if you don't need that then the

ASRock board is better in my opinion and

if you were going to step up to the ds3h

then the MSI Pro

b650m-a Wi-Fi it's a better buyer right

now for just 10 dollars more you get an

extra PCI expansion slot more USB 3.2

ports and Wi-Fi 6E as for the best Micro

ATX b650 motherboard my pick here is the

gigabyte b650m auris Pro ax you get pcie

5.0 m.2 support an amazing vrm and

plenty of USB 3.2 ports all for 210 us

basically it outclasses the Asus tough

gaming b650m plus Wi-Fi MSI mag b650m

water Wi-Fi and gigabytes own b650m

aurus Elite ax and b650m gaming X ax now

if you're after a more affordable ATX

b650 board there are a few options

priced between 190 dollars and 220 U.S

none of them though offer PCI 5.0 times

16 support though some of them do offer

PCI 5.0 m.2 support and those models

include the ASRock b650 PG light ASRock

b650 Pro RS and gigabyte b650 aorus

Elite ax now of those boards the PG

lightning is the cheapest and yet it

offers the most pcie slots three m.2s in

total and loads of USB ports really all

lacks relative to the competition is

Wi-Fi but if you don't care about Wi-Fi

then it is my recommendation as the best

value b650 ATX motherboard and if you

are after Wi-Fi 6E support out of the

box either the MSI Pro b650-p Wi-Fi or

gigabyte b650 or sleet ax will work

nicely now of the b650e boards the best

value option here is also the cheapest

the ASRock b650e PG Riptide Wi-Fi though

it is a little light on USB 3.2 ports

with a possible seven so if you require

more a 30 premium will be required to

acquire asrock's b650e steel Legend

Wi-Fi though be aware this board only

features two SATA ports and two pcie

slots therefore I feel the Asus Rog

strix

b650e-f gaming Wi-Fi is the best

all-rounder b650e motherboard at 280 you

get four PCI expansion slots three m.2

slots 10 USB 3.2 ports and a further 8

USB 2.0 ports and there's also four SATA

ports then beyond that it's really

either the Asus Rog strix b650e e-gaming

Wi-Fi ASRock b650e taiichi and of course

the gigabyte b650e auris Master the

auras Master just makes very little

sense right now at its current price the

Tai Chi is a decent board but it's not

amazing at anything really though it

does offer USB 4 support out of the box

so that might be useful to you anyway in

my opinion I think the Asus e-gaming is

the best high-end option here the fact

that it offers two pcie 5.0 enabled

times 16 slots is very cool mind you I'm

not saying that you particularly need

that feature but if you want it this is

the cheapest means of acquiring that

particular configuration

for example the MSI MPG

x670e carbon Wi-Fi is the most

affordable x670e motherboard to offer

two pcie 5.0 enabled times 16 slots and

it costs 440 us right now so you're

looking at an almost 100 discount with

the Asus e-gaming the e-gaming is also

the most affordable of the three boards

and although it has the weakest vrm it

is still massively Overkill peaking it

to 60 degrees with the 7950x in our

testing so the Asus Rog strix b650e

e-gaming Wi-Fi is the best high-end

board and it's what I would get if I was

looking at spending comfortably over 300

U.S on a b650 motherboard and with that

said let me know which of these b650

boards you're planning on buying or

which one maybe you've already bought so

hopefully it was one of the good ones

not one of the Asus Prime boards anyway

let me know in the comment section below

and hopefully this b650 buying guide was

useful to you and if it was please do

give it a like does help out a lot well

I think it does I don't know maybe it

does anyway help helps out my mental

state and maybe it'll encourage me to do

something like this again with future

motherboard Generations

not sure on that one I also have to try

and convince balen to do a lot of b-roll

and editing so it was a lot of work for

both of us anyway

enough waffling I think we're done with

this one if you did enjoy it you know

what to do subscribe for more content

and we have float plane and patreon I

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