Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi evaluate: A balanced, no-frills mobo

Next-generation motherboards which can be on the bleeding edge of latest PC applied sciences usually include a hefty price ticket. More inexpensive choices are inclined to compromise on options and skimp on aesthetics.

Asus is seeking to buck that pattern, with the ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi motherboard. With a targeted set of options for players, it additionally is available in below $300. It will preserve your eyes proud of nice design aesthetics and colours, too. No ugly motherboard for the sake of assembly a worth right here, people! 

We’ll go over the specs and options, design, and efficiency. If you’re seeking to step into AMD’s next-generation AM5 platform, is that this a viable possibility to avoid wasting a couple of bucks and nonetheless get cutting-edge efficiency?

Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi: Features and specs

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• ATX kind issue 
• AMD B650 chipset 
• Supports AMD AM5 Ryzen 7000 CPUs 
• 12+2 Power Stages with 60amp per stage
• DDR5 RAM, twin channel as much as 4 DIMM (as much as 128GB)
• 3x onboard M.2 slots with Q-Latch (1x PCIe Gen 5)
• 1x PCIE 16x slot (CPU) with Q-Release (PCIe Gen 4) 
• 1x PCIe 16x slot (chipset) plus two 1x slots (PCIe Gen 4)
• DisplayPort and HDMI 2.1
• 9x USB ports on again 
• 2.5GbE LAN
• Wi-Fi 6E 
• RGB headers for Aura Sync
• 4 SATA 6Gb/s ports 
• 7 fan headers (CPU, AIO, chassis) 
• BIOS Flashback 
• Preinstalled I/O protect 
• ROG SupremeFX 7.1 ALC4080 audio codec
• MSRP $279.99

The Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi has an MSRP of $279, making it a gorgeous “under $300” possibility. AMD’s AM5 platform began off with increased platform prices with X670E. It’s nice to see motherboard choices at these worth factors, whereas nonetheless retaining nice performance. 

AMD’s B650 chipset is a barely diminished model of the X670E—however with a greater value-to-performance ratio. The costlier X670E gives extra theoretical USB, SATA ports, and PCIe Gen 5 lanes, however in a sensible sense, B650 will cowl most use instances at a decrease price of entry.

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CPU alternative

Ryzen 7000 is on the menu right here—beginning with the 7600X, 7700X, 7900X, and 7950X. You’ll additionally be capable of use the newer “non X” variants, which have some energy financial savings. The high-performance “X3D” variants are coming quickly—and these will even be suitable. The best pairing with this motherboard is probably going one thing such because the 7700X, providing you with nice gaming and productiveness efficiency for the value. (But it’ll deal with a Ryzen 9 7950X, too!) 

DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 5

AM5 is DDR5 RAM solely, and also you’ll be capable of add 4 sticks for a complete of 128GB of RAM. It’s quick and 128GB needs to be greater than sufficient for many customers—each players and content material creators needs to be blissful right here.  

You’ll get a extra restricted serving of PCIe Gen 5 on B650, with only a single M.2 slot. The 16x PCIe slots are each Gen 4, which remains to be greater than sufficient, as the most recent GPUs match it. The second 16x slot comes from the chipset, so that you’ll wish to all the time put your GPU within the high CPU-sourced slot for greatest efficiency. You’ll additionally get two 1x slots, which is helpful for smaller add-in playing cards. 

Storage

NVMe slots are offered, instances three! One shall be PCIe Gen 5, and the opposite two Gen 4. You’ll have good cooling thermal pads masking them, as nicely. Performance is tremendous speedy—and when you want extra storage, 4 SATA ports are additionally out there for SSDs and exhausting drives. 

Both players and less-picky content material creators shall be blissful—these needing extra SATA or NVMe slots must bounce as much as a costlier motherboard class such because the Asus X670E Strix. 

USB ports

With 9 rear USB ports, together with USB C, your bases shall be lined. You’re not getting Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 right here, that are sometimes solely out there on rather more costly motherboards, as anticipated. 

DisplayPort and HDMI-out are helpful right here since Ryzen 7000 CPUs have inbuilt iGPUs. While you don’t wish to sport on these, they will serve in a pinch for some troubleshooting.

Networking

Connectivity choices are customary problem right here, with Wi-Fi 6E and a couple of.5GbE LAN. This is similar networking functionality provided on many motherboards costing lots of of {dollars} extra, so that you’ll be in good firm. 

Sure, it lacks 10GbE networking, however that’s not anticipated at this worth level. You’ll have to make use of a high-end gaming motherboard just like the Gigabyte Aorus Xtreme, or a productiveness targeted board such because the Asus Z790 ProArt to get that performance. 

Audio

Audio is nicely represented for many makes use of, with a wide selection of ports within the again. You’ll get the Asus SupremeFX 7.1 ALC4080 codec, which can also be discovered on many higher-priced motherboards of this technology. True audiophiles could wish to use exterior options for the very best quality, however this may suffice for 99 p.c of customers. 

Other fascinating options

It’s nice to see DIY pleasant options constructed right into a sub-$300 motherboard class. Q-Latch for M.2 drives makes set up tremendous simple, as these small screws are all the time irritating. Q-Release for the PCIe GPU slot simplifies the method of eradicating a graphics card. 

Integrated I/O shields shouldn’t be underestimated. This is a superb DIY inclusion. No extra ending your construct and realizing that the again I/O protect remains to be sitting in your desk! 

BIOS Flashback and Q-LED are additionally each right here—very nifty options that may prevent when bother arises. While costlier motherboards could have screens for displaying error codes, the Q-LED provides you the knowledge wanted too. 

Finally, the preliminary unboxing expertise is respectable—we’re not anticipating “Extreme” ranges of packaging right here. The included equipment, such because the Wi-Fi antenna, SATA cables, and ROG-themed goodies are all becoming for this class of motherboard.

Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi: Design

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The Asus Strix ROG B650-A Gaming WiFi blends the gaming and workstation aesthetics elegantly. It’s not excessive with the everyday RGB design of gamer choices, however nonetheless has these accents the place most essential to delineate its gaming heritage. 

Likewise, it shares a variety of visible cues with Asus’s personal “Prime” lineup of motherboards, which have workstation enchantment.

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As we go down the motherboard’s central space, we discover thermal armor positioned over the M.2 drive areas. Many cheaper motherboards could have armor over only one slot—so this can be a good purposeful and aesthetic contact. It helps that heart space look extra completed and purposeful.

The lower-right additionally incorporates a good cowl over the motherboard space. Every a part of this motherboard’s design integrates effortlessly with the general colour scheme. There are not any jarring design parts to throw off this constantly pleasing look.

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The I/O protect space on the highest left has that glorious built-in protect already put in, plus some good visible touches. The VRM space continues the identical design up high, finishing a visually agreeable look that may do no mistaken!

We can’t discuss in regards to the design with out mentioning the colour scheme for builders who need one thing completely different: The silver and “white” parts to this motherboard will match completely in a lighter, white-themed construct, which is well-liked with many DIY fanatics.

Overall, not many under-$300 motherboards supply this straightforward however lovely visible design. It appears to be like and feels premium, with high-quality surfaces and supplies used all through. 

Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi: Performance, software program, and BIOS

The Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi has simply the efficiency you want—and none of what you don’t. 

12+2 energy levels suffice, and whereas they don’t look as beefy on paper as some “overkill” choices on the market, it’s simply what’s wanted right here. 

No, it received’t match the burly VRM you’d discover on one thing just like the Asrock X670E Taichi, however that’s additionally not wanted. While overclocking will not be the principle forte of this Strix, it might definitely nonetheless do it nicely. If you’re chasing one of the best numbers, you recognize that you just’ll additionally need to face diminishing returns in your cash by shopping for costlier choices. 

The Ryzen 7600X and 7700X work nice right here and assist preserve platform prices decrease. New non-X SKUs such because the Ryzen 7900 additionally present nice efficiency at a lower cost and energy draw, which appears to match nicely with this $279 MSRP. 

While X670E motherboards have extra stuff, you’ll nonetheless discover next-gen options on this motherboard. DDR5 is right here to supply the quickest RAM speeds—together with PCIe Gen 5. Sure, solely a single M.2 slot is Gen 5, however most {hardware} now will barely saturate even PCIe Gen 4—so that you’re lined.

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The different parts of this motherboard that you could technically categorize below “performance” are billed to be “just right.” Plenty of USB, however in fact not one of the USB4 choices so as to add to the value. Networking is quick, however for quicker 10GbE you’ll have to pony up large bucks. See the pattern? Exactly the efficiency you want, and nothing that you just don’t!

The Asus BIOS continues its ease-of-use excellence right here. You can manually tinker as a lot as you’d ever need. (Or as a lot as is smart with fashionable CPUs, as most overclocking has been principally maxed out from the manufacturing unit it appears!) 

If the BIOS intimidates you, don’t fear—you possibly can select the easy possibility. We’d suggest a minimum of turning on the DDR5 RAM Expo profile, to be sure you’re actually benefiting from the complete efficiency. 

More frequent BIOS updates might be dangerous, however with a brand-new platform reminiscent of AMD’s AM5 B650, updates can repair a variety of early teething points. Keep in thoughts that some customers have discovered boot instances to be longer on AMD’s new platform for the preliminary boot, so your mileage could fluctuate relying on BIOS model. (Compared to what customers are sometimes used to in earlier generations) 

Stepping into software program, Asus additionally has Armoury Crate, which self-installs upon preliminary boot. While traditionally we’ve shied away from recommending vendor-provided motherboard software program, issues have improved drastically. The software program is now significantly better built-in, permitting fan management, driver updates, and Aura Sync RGB goodies.

Should you purchase the Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi?

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The Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi gives precisely what you want for $279. Would it’s good to see these motherboards even cheaper? Sure, however with new included tech reminiscent of DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5, some added price is to be anticipated. 

At least you’re not paying for further options you could by no means use, reminiscent of 10GbE LAN, USB4, and different frivolities. While these things could also be important for the customers that want them, they’re not useful for individuals who simply want a very good motherboard. 

The aesthetics are equally simple. “ROG Strix” could be a well-liked gamer lineup, however this mannequin is properly understated, so it might simply take a look at residence in a workstation construct. If you’re after a white- or silver-themed construct, this motherboard is certain to show heads with out breaking the financial institution. 

Whether you’re a content material creator or a gamer, this can be a Goldilocks board that will get it “just right.”