Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi: A solid motherboard for thrifty builders

Price When Reviewed

$239

Best Prices Today: Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi

AMD’s next-generation AM5 Ryzen 7000 CPUs carry some breakneck speeds for your PC. While a number of the preliminary rollout was slowed down by the upper platform prices, the introduction of the B650 chipset is bringing zippy efficiency to extra inexpensive motherboards.  

One “TUF” possibility that appears to interrupt the ice is the Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi. Slotted proper under the corporate’s well-liked ROG lineup, this collection of motherboards is streamlined to offer you good value-to-performance. It’s focused squarely at players, because the title implies. 

The motherboard packs some cool seems, and a good cooler $239 MSRP. Let’s check out its specs, options, design, and efficiency. Does this motherboard present the suitable stuff for the greenback—or are you higher off wanting elsewhere? Let’s discover out!

Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi: Specs and options

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• ATX type issue 
• Support AMD AM5 Ryzen 7000 CPUs 
• 12+2 Power Stages rated at 60A
• DDR5 RAM, twin channel as much as 4 DIMMs (as much as 128GB)
• 3x onboard M.2 slots (1x PCIe Gen 5)
• 1x PCIe 16x slot (CPU)
• 1x PCIe16x slot (chipset)
• 2x PCIe 4.0 1x slots 
• DisplayPort and HDMI
• 8x USB ports on again 
• Realtek 2.5GbE LAN
• Wi-Fi 6E 
• RGB headers for Aura Sync
• 4 SATA 6Gb/s ports 
• 7 fan headers (CPU, AIO, chassis) 
• BIOS Flashback button
• Preinstalled I/O defend 
• Realtek 7.1 audio codec
• MSRP $239.99

The Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi packs an MSRP of $239, bringing a extra inexpensive motherboard to players taking a look at Ryzen 7000. 

It’s constructed on the inspiration of the B650 chipset—which is a slimmed down model of X670E. You’re additionally getting huge value financial savings, as many options discovered on the X670E are overkill for most customers (additional USB and SATA ports, extra PCIe Gen 5 lanes, and so forth.). B650 offers you greater than sufficient for most customers, nonetheless. 

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You’ll get the standard equipment resembling Wi-Fi antenna, driver CD, and SATA cables throughout the field. We’d like to see USB driver drives on each motherboard sooner or later as an alternative! 

Let’s go over the options and why they matter for those that will use it each day.

CPU alternative 

Want to slap within the mighty Ryzen 9 7950X? You’ll have the ability to try this right here, as all new Ryzen 7000 CPUs are supported. The non-X variants work, and so will the upcoming “X3D” fashions, such because the Ryzen 7800X3D. For a gaming motherboard at this pricing tier, it’s top to pair it with CPUs such because the Ryzen 5 7600X or Ryzen 7 7700X for greatest “bang for the buck.” AM5 must also have longevity going for it, with different supported CPUs sooner or later.

DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 5

You’re getting DDR5 RAM right here with nice speeds in comparison with DDR4. Prices for DDR5 have been happening, in order that they’re increasingly more accessible. AMD doesn’t provide DDR4 on AM5 not like what Intel has completed with Z790 chipset, nonetheless. 

While you additionally get PCIe Gen 5, it’s solely on a single M.2 slot. Theoretically it’s quicker than PCIe Gen 4, however there isn’t but {hardware} proper now to completely reap the benefits of this. Your PCIe slots will likely be Gen 4, which is greater than able to tackling even the newest GPUs such because the Nvidia RTX 4090. 

Storage

NVMe drives are all the trend—and also you’ll have three obtainable slots on this motherboard. This is the proper quantity for players wanting quick efficiency now and future expandability later. Content creators might discover they require a pair extra, however they’ll even have entry to the 4 SATA ports for their plain-ol’ onerous drives, too. Power customers doubtless will discover this inadequate, in order that they’ll must up their funds. 

USB ports 

With eight rear USB ports, together with USB-C, you’ll have lots for the typical gaming construct. At this value level, you’re not getting USB4’s speedy prowess, or any Thunderbolt 4. Creators needing these specs must shell out additional cash for pricier choices sadly. 

You do get USB4 help by way of the Thunderbolt 4 header on the motherboard itself, however not on the rear natively. 

One nice characteristic of Ryzen 7000 CPUs is the built-in “iGPU,” permitting you to diagnose your system and not using a discreet GPU hooked up. You’ll have each DisplayPort and HDMI out right here, which might come in useful.

Networking

Connectivity choices are good, with Realtek 2.5Gb ethernet. As anticipated, 10Gb LAN is simply obtainable on high motherboards, however you’ll additionally get Wi-Fi 6E. The community suite right here is usually precisely what most players might want to get linked in a speedy method.  

Audio

Audio is Realtek’s 7.1 encompass sound, with loads of audio jacks obtainable on the again. This will likely be greater than sufficient for most customers—and people choosy about audio can at all times use an exterior answer.

Other fascinating options

Even with the cheaper value level, Asus contains some nice options discovered on higher-end motherboards: Q-Latch for M.2 drives, Q-LED debug codes, and the built-in I/O defend. This makes for a way more trouble-free constructing expertise! It’d be nice to see the PCIe Q-Release button for GPUs sooner or later, too. 

With each BIOS Flashback and Q-LED, it’s a lot simpler to seek out and get better from issues—including options that used to solely be on higher-end boards. 

Overall, it’s a centered characteristic set that’s focused on the essential fundamentals that players will make the most of, with out a lot pointless additions to up the worth. 

Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi: Design

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The Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi is minimalist and easy. It has a really attention-grabbing aesthetic, with out feeling low-cost. It achieves this utilizing easy, darker colours, accented solely by the occasional yellow. 

This simplicity continues with the I/O and VRM areas, extremely angular designs that just about look stealthy. It offers this motherboard Call of Duty vibes. DDR5 RAM slots are properly seen with alternating black and gray. 

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As we take a gander on the backside half of the motherboard, it’s significantly sparser. While on some motherboards this might make it look unfinished or low-cost, right here it really works properly with the general aesthetic.

Instead of leaving the M.2 slots uncovered, Asus has added some properly designed thermal covers to them. This serves each aesthetics and performance—it retains these drives cool!

The rear and I/O defend space proceed with comparable straightforwardness. A TUF emblem is usually all that adorns the realm, which has a key characteristic: built-in I/O defend! No extra “forgetting” that one final piece whereas constructing—a very welcomed design alternative right here.

Overall, you’ll be pleased with the construct high quality and selection of supplies right here. For the worth, you’re nonetheless getting a goal pushed motherboard that doesn’t look low-cost—however feels extremely centered. 

Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi: Performance, software program, and BIOS

The Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi presents itself as your “mission” companion.  In the warmth of a sport, it is going to serve any of Ryzen 7000 CPUs effectively. While one thing just like the content-creator centered Ryzen 9 7950X will do high-quality, it’s actually priced for the gamer-friendly mid-level Ryzen CPUs such because the Ryzen 5 7600X. 

The 12+2 energy levels can deal with gaming workloads like a seasoned professional—and even some overclocking. Similarly, DDR5 help offers you a number of the quickest speeds in the marketplace at present—lowering any potential bottlenecks in your efficiency pipeline. 

While you don’t have an abundance of PCIe Gen 5 lanes right here—solely a single one for the M.2—Gen 4 is greater than adequate for efficiency throughout the board. This means your GPU will nonetheless hit its max potential, and the one efficiency you’re theoretically lacking is when PCIe Gen 5 M.2 drives lastly land. (And some limitations you will have by having “less” PCIe lane bandwidth in comparison with X670E.) 

Are there motherboards that can mean you can clock your CPU or RAM a number of insignificant factors greater? Sure, however you’ll additionally should pay rather more—cementing the B650-Plus Gaming WiFi as an incredible worth. 

The BIOS is the place you’d do that mad scientist work and it’s constructed Asus “TUF.” It has loads of sturdy adjustment choices for tinkerers. Easily change parameters for RAM, CPU, onerous drives, and loads of different choices. For these searching for a extra streamlined strategy, you possibly can merely pop on the “Expo” profile for your DDR5 RAM and name it a day. 

It may do varied automated and “Ai” overclocking if you happen to’d need it to, even reflecting off your cooling answer functionality. AMD’s PBO, or Performance Boost Overdrive, auto overclocking can also be right here to offer you an additional enhance (keep in mind, it could additionally up energy draw and warmth).

If you like to depart the BIOS alone after setting your Expo DDR5 profile, Asus “Armoury Crate” software program has in-Windows tunability. This expansive motherboard software program suite can do all of it. Update your drivers mechanically? Check. Set fan profiles with Fan Xpert? Check. Configure your RGB Aura Sync settings? Double verify.

Overall, the TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi packs a lot of the important efficiency—all for a “TUF” value (as in: cheaper!).

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Should you purchase the Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi?

The Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi’s $239 MSRP lastly brings down the typical motherboard value on this era. It does so by offering simply the suitable incorporates a gamer wants, sensibly and with stability. 

While the intense, virtually army design means you’re not getting large OLED screens or huge PCB heatsinks, it additionally means a less expensive value. It does this stealthily with out showing to chop corners—by presenting a no-frills design language that works. 

For the gamer who doesn’t need to break the financial institution, however nonetheless desires options and allure, this board is an effective worth. Enthusiast customers who want the bigger characteristic set resembling USB4 or extra NVMe slots might want to have a look at higher-priced choices.