At a look
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Good set of options for Mini-ITX
- Two Onboard M.2 slots, together with 1x PCIe Gen 5
- Good networking and audio
- Capable VRMs
Cons
- Noisy M.2 fan might intervene with some builds
- USB 2.0 ports must be upgraded
- $289 MSRP nonetheless excessive contemplating some limitations
Our Verdict
With the flexibility to make use of quick DDR5 RAM and assist for PCIe Gen 5 and NVMe, Asrock packs sufficient into the tiny B650E PG-ITX motherboard to maintain funds players joyful.
Best Prices Today: Asrock B650E PG-ITX
AMD has now launched the extremely anticipated Ryzen 7800X3D, which is a gaming behemoth. It’s additionally “smaller” in core rely than its 7950X3D CPU brother, but nonetheless usually sooner for gaming.
This interprets completely to Mini-ITX efficiency. You don’t want the most important footprint to be terribly nimble. Gamers are actually spoiled with a wealthy collection of CPUs starting from the environment friendly Ryzen non-X CPUs, multicore X variants, and now X3D.
Enter the Asrock B650E PG-ITX motherboard. At solely 6.7×6.7 inches, this diminutive, small form-factor contender is something but weak.
It comes packed within the B650E chipset, promising some financial savings over X670E.
We’ll go over the options, design, and efficiency. Does this motherboard comprise sufficient {hardware} to really decrease compromise in comparison with larger-scale motherboards, whereas performing nicely? This will all be considered by the ever-important lens of “price to performance,” key for an enthusiast-grade providing. It has some drawbacks and positives—let’s discover out what they’re.
Further studying: See our roundup of the most effective gaming motherboards to study competing merchandise.
What are the Asrock B650E PG-ITX specs?
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- Mini-ITX kind issue (6.7×6.7 inches, or 17x17cm)
- Supports AMD AM5 Ryzen 7000 CPUs
- 10+2+1 Phase Power Design with 10-layer PCB
- DDR5 RAM, twin channel as much as 2 DIMM (as much as 64GB)
- 2x onboard M.2 slot (Gen 5 and Gen 4)
- 1x PCIe 16x slots (PCIe Gen 5)
- HDMI-out plus eDP sign connector
- 8 USB ports on again
- Killer 2.5GbE LAN
- Killer Wi-Fi 6E
- 2x RGB headers
- 2 SATA 6Gb/s ports
- PWM fan headers
- Preinstalled I/O Shield
- Realtek 7.1 ALC 1220 Audio
- MSRP $289
The Asrock B650E PG-ITX is available in at $289, which is correct across the center when it comes to pricing for small form-factor choices. It’s cheaper than competing motherboards such because the Asus X670E Strix-I, but nonetheless costly relative to its dimension.
The B650 chipset can be a barely cut-down model of X670, but the “E” provides this motherboard a slight PCIe-lane improve. While you’re already getting much less theoretical USB, SATA, and different ports with B650, Mini-ITX imposes its personal limitations attributable to diminished dimension.
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In the field, you’ll get a fundamental set of equipment such because the Wi-Fi antenna, and a few miscellaneous gadgets resembling screws. No cool trinkets right here such as you get with the dearer motherboards, such because the exterior sound machine with the Asus fashions. Let’s transfer on to the options and see how they stack up:
CPU selection
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This is one space the place you’ll have loads of selection. You can pair the saucy new Ryzen 7800X3D with this motherboard, or maybe you’d desire to maintain the wattage down and use a non-X variant such because the 7900. Either manner, you’ll have expansive assist right here, and we’re assuming nicely into the longer term with subsequent CPU releases. CPU cooler compatibility must also shine right here, for the reason that socket space isn’t as enclosed as you usually discover.
DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 5
AM5 can be DDR5 RAM solely, and Mini-ITX will additional restrict you to solely two sticks, with 64GB complete of RAM. While it nonetheless helps quick speeds, you’ll have much less capability right here as a result of dimension.
B650 “E” signifies that you’ll have a pleasant little further allotment of PCIe Gen 5 to share with the M.2 drive. The 16x PCIe Gen 5 slot can be on your GPU, after which the opposite M.2 slot can be PCIe Gen 4.
Storage
As anticipated, you’ll solely get two onboard NVMe slots as a result of Mini-ITX kind issue. This is usually advantageous for gaming builds of this caliber, though we’d like to see a 3rd supplied. SATA can also be restricted, with solely two SATA ports—but as soon as once more, ought to fulfill the necessity of most players with small enclosures.
USB ports
With eight rear USB ports, you will have a superb amount of ports. Disappointingly, 4 of those USB ports are solely 2.0, which is a little bit of a miss on a motherboard of this worth.
HDMI- and eDP 1.4-out can also be right here to make the most of Ryzen’s built-in iGPU perform on your show when wanted.
Networking
Networking is customary fare, with Killer’s 2.5GbE Lan customary, together with Killer’s Wi-Fi 6E. This is now the anticipated suite of networking on fashionable motherboards, and it’s nice to see even smaller form-factor designs together with these with out compromise.
Audio
Audio is nice, with a 7.1 ALC 1220 codec. You can even have some inputs within the again, which is able to suffice for many customers. Optical is right here too, which may be nice for these connecting exterior audio units resembling sure audio system.
Other options of word
The built-in I/O defend is right here, which we love. Captive screws for the M.2 are additionally a superb contact.
There are a number of “misses” right here, nonetheless. No BIOS flashback button, a function that many cheaper motherboards are actually together with. You’ll additionally discover the massive M.2 fan as a dominant function, but it may be noisy if not correctly adjusted and is maybe superfluous. Most motherboards do advantageous with thermal pads solely. It’s additionally lacking a debug LED, a function some might discover helpful.
Asrock B650E PG-ITX design
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The Asrock B650E PG-ITX motherboard is an lovely motherboard—till you see that reasonably peculiar M.2 fan space. While you might mistake it for one thing extra akin to a VRM heatsink, it’s meant to chill the M.2 drive. You can take away it if you would like or if it interferes along with your PC’s inside aesthetic.
Otherwise, it’s a simple Mini-ITX design. You’ll have the colourful accents on the I/O space, but not a lot in the best way of RGB. That’s advantageous—most small form-factor builds are a bit cramped and have a tendency to dam entry to the visuals. You nonetheless have RGB headers for some further pizazz when wanted.
One good plus of the design is the positioning of the VRM heatsink. Together with the general extra open sides, this makes putting in bigger CPU coolers a lot simpler. Some small form-factor motherboards are typically very closed in, making some bigger coolers unattainable to suit. That’s a superb design component right here that advantages the person.
The protruding M.2 fan design apart, the M.2 drives can be safely tucked away and will stay cool. The rear of the I/O space has some good colourful outlines of the USB ports, together with patterned design. The remainder of the motherboard is fundamental, with the same old DDR5 RAM space largely for utility. The high is likewise sparse, with a lot of the visible motion taking place to the left aspect of the CPU with the VRM heatsink and I/O space.
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Going round to the again, it’s largely customary fare with somewhat bit of additional assist right here. While you’ll by no means see the bottom often, it’s good to know that the supplies and total end of all the motherboard usually really feel fairly good.
Asrock B650E PG-ITX efficiency, software program, and BIOS
The Asrock B650E PG-ITX motherboard features a very succesful 10+2+1 energy part with 105 amps. It might not seem as spectacular on paper as bigger ATX motherboards, but that is greater than enough for even the quickest Ryzen CPUs. It additionally packs a 10-layer PCB design—which is greater than many choices. This solidifies the connections and offers you higher-quality componentry. You’ll seemingly be extra restricted by the precise CPU cooler in a small form-factor construct than by VRM temperatures.
You can anticipate efficiency right here to be nearly on par with higher-end motherboards because you’ll have entry to the identical quick CPUs and DDR5 RAM.
DDR5 can also be obligatory on AM5—but with Mini-ITX motherboards, you’ll sometimes get solely two DIMM slots. This limits you to 64GB of RAM—which is ample for any gaming construct and even mild workstation situations.
PCIe Gen 5 assist is spectacular on such a small motherboard. You’ll get the GPU slot at 16x Gen 5, plus an M.2 Gen 5 slot. While Gen 5 parts are simply barely popping out now, you’ll have greater than sufficient future-proofing right here to improve later when the know-how is extra widespread. You’ll additionally get a second Gen 4 NVMe slot, boosting your onboard capability.
Other efficiency facets of the I/O are a little bit of a miss—particularly the USB ports. While you do get eight of them, you gained’t discover any USB4 or a big collection of sooner USB 3.0 ports. You get too lots of the older USB 2.0—which, whereas advantageous for peripherals, definitely must be upgraded on a motherboard of this worth. At least you do get some sooner USB 3.0 ports, so it’s not all unhealthy information.
To additional tweak efficiency, we’ve the Asrock BIOS. It’s largely improved from years previous, and also you’ll discover a lot of the traditional RAM and CPU tweaking choices right here. While you might not need to break any information with a Mini-ITX motherboard resembling this, it’ll definitely have some overclocking headroom relying in your cooling gear.
Most customers can be advantageous simply setting the AMD “Expo” DDR5 RAM profile on your package, and probably some auto-overclocking resembling AMD “PBO” (Performance Boost Overdrive).
Asrock additionally presents software program in Windows, like many motherboard distributors. It even presents overclocking with the “Blazing OC Tuner,” which might adapt the overclock based mostly on use. While a neat thought, we sometimes advocate avoiding a majority of these automatic-overclocking items of software program, as it could actually typically open a can of worms with stability points if something modifications. It’s more likely to simply be a safer guess to stay to the normal in-BIOS tweaks for any modification you can manually modify if wanted.
You’ll additionally get Asrock’s motherboard utility software program and Polychrome RGB. These let you modify your RGB header colours, and different helpful gadgets for adjusting choices with out utilizing BIOS. An auto-driver installer will discover your drivers—such because the community gadgets—so you possibly can have a neater time upon preliminary setup.
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We’d advocate extra frequent BIOS updates for B650E than traditional, because it’s a brand new platform and bugs get squished much more usually early on. Some customers might expertise longer than regular boot instances, which sure different AM5 motherboards have additionally skilled. Overall, it’s a good displaying on the software program aspect for individuals who need to dabble with the utility they supply.
Is the Asrock B650E PG-ITX price it?
The Asrock B650E PG-ITX is a advantageous small form-factor motherboard, with a number of limitations. AM5 began off as an costly platform for players, and it’s slowly bettering with cheaper DDR5 pricing, together with some price financial savings with the B650 chipset in lieu of the pricier X670.
Mini-ITX has some limitations proper off the bat, resembling RAM capability restricted to 64GB, and fewer “stuff” onboard. That’s no fault of the Asrock B650E PG-ITX, in fact. It does skimp in a number of areas, nonetheless—resembling USB 2.0. The M.2 fan can also be a doubtful selection, seemingly pointless, and provides to the majority (and to the noise, too—until you modify the fan curve).
While $289 MSRP is cheaper than some higher-end choices within the small-motherboard area, it’s nonetheless a bit on the costly aspect. We’d like to see extra strong options for that worth—because it stands now, it’s simply “enough” (i.e, not an overachiever).
Still, players can be pleased with the flexibility to pack quick DDR5 RAM and blazing Ryzen CPUs such because the 7800X3D in such a small unit. It’s additionally succesful with fashionable tech like a PCIe Gen 5 16x slot and NVMe assist. The B650 “E” provides it that further PCIe Gen 5 enhance over common B650.
It has sufficient options for many players to be joyful, and people in search of extra should pay a bit extra for one more possibility.
…. to be continued
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