ASUS PRIME B650M-A WIFI II mATX Motherboard Review: A Solid Choice for AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs
ASUS PRIME B650M-A WIFI II mATX Motherboard Review: A Solid Choice for AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs
Introduction |
Features |
Performance |
Pros & Cons |
Final Verdict
Introduction
The ASUS PRIME B650M-A WIFI II is a micro-ATX motherboard designed for AMD’s latest Ryzen 7000 series processors. It boasts a robust feature set, including support for DDR5 memory, PCIe 4.0 slots, Wi-Fi 6, and a 2.5Gb Ethernet connection. I’ve spent several weeks putting this motherboard through its paces, and in this review, I’ll share my insights on its performance, features, and overall value proposition.
Features
The PRIME B650M-A WIFI II offers a comprehensive feature set, making it suitable for a wide range of builds. Here are some of its key highlights:
| Feature | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Model | PRIME B650M-A WIFI II |
| CPU | AMD Socket AM5 for AMD Ryzen™ 9000, 8000, & 7000 Series Desktop Processors* |
| Chipset | AMD B650 Chipset |
| Memory | 4 x DIMM, Max. 192GB, DDR5 7600+(OC) to 4800Dual Channel Memory ArchitectureSupports AMD Extended Profiles for Overclocking (EXPO™)OptiMem II |
| Graphics | 1 x DisplayPort (Supports max. 8K@60Hz)1 x VGA port1 x HDMI® port (Supports 4K@60Hz) |
| Expansion Slots | 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (supports x16 mode)2 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slots (support x1 mode) |
| Storage | 2 x M.2 slots (Key M)4 x SATA 6Gb/s portsM.2_1 slot (PCIe 5.0 x4 for Ryzen 9000/7000)M.2_1 slot (PCIe 4.0 x4 for Ryzen 8000)M.2_2 slot (PCIe 4.0 x4 for B650) |
| Ethernet | 1 x Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet |
| Wireless & Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6 (2×2), Bluetooth® v5.2 |
| USB Ports | Rear:2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A)2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A)4 x USB 2.0 (Type-A)Front:1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-C®)1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header (supports 2 additional USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports)2 x USB 2.0 headers (supports 4 additional USB 2.0 ports) |
| Audio | Realtek 7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio CODECSupports up to 24-Bit/192 kHz playbackAudio Shielding, Premium audio capacitors, Dedicated audio PCB layers |
| Back Panel I/O Ports | 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A)2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A)4 x USB 2.0 (Type-A)1 x DisplayPort1 x VGA port1 x HDMI® port1 x Wi-Fi Module1 x Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet port3 x Audio jacks1 x BIOS FlashBack™ button1 x PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse combo port |
| Internal I/O Connectors | Fan and Cooling:1 x 4-pin CPU Fan header1 x 4-pin CPU OPT Fan header3 x 4-pin Chassis Fan headersPower:1 x 24-pin Main Power connector1 x 8-pin +12V Power connector1 x 4-pin +12V Power connectorStorage:2 x M.2 slots (Key M)4 x SATA 6Gb/s portsUSB:1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 connector (supports USB Type-C®)1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header (supports 2 additional USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports)2 x USB 2.0 headers (supports 4 additional USB 2.0 ports)Miscellaneous:3 x Addressable Gen 2 headers1 x Aura RGB header1 x Clear CMOS header1 x COM Port header1 x Front Panel Audio header (AAFP)1 x S/PDIF Out header1 x Speaker header1 x SPI TPM header (14-1pin)1 x 10-1 pin System Panel header |
| Special Features | ASUS 5X PROTECTION IIIASUS Q-DesignASUS Thermal SolutionASUS EZ DIYAura Sync |
| Software Features | Armoury CrateAI Suite 3ASUS CPU-ZMyASUSNorton Anti-virus software (Free Trial)WinRAR |
| BIOS | 256 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOSASUS EZ DIY: ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3ASUS EZ Flash 3ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode |
| Manageability | WOL by PME, PXE |
| Accessories | Cables:2 x SATA 6Gb/s cablesMiscellaneous:1 x ASUS Wi-Fi moving antennas1 x I/O Shield1 x Screw Package for M.2 SSDDocumentation:1 x User guide |
| Operating System | Windows® 11, Windows® 10 64-bit |
| Form Factor | mATX Form Factor (9.6 x 9.6 inches / 24.4 x 24.4 cm) |
Performance
In my testing, the PRIME B650M-A WIFI II delivered solid performance, meeting my expectations for a B650 motherboard. I paired it with an AMD Ryzen 7 7700X processor and 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory. I ran various benchmarks, including Cinebench R23, 7-Zip, and PCMark 10, and the results were consistently good.
The motherboard’s integrated Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet provided consistently high speeds, and the Wi-Fi 6 connectivity was equally impressive. I experienced no issues with wireless internet speed or reliability.
Pros & Cons
Here’s a breakdown of the PRIME B650M-A WIFI II’s strengths and weaknesses:
Pros
- Supports AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPUs with PCIe 5.0 for blazing-fast storage.
- DDR5 memory support for high-performance and low latency.
- Two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots for powerful graphics configurations.
- Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5Gb Ethernet for fast and reliable networking.
- Good thermal design with multiple fan headers.
- ASUS software suite for system optimization and customization.
- Affordable price point for its feature set.
Cons
- No integrated Thunderbolt 4 support.
- Limited RGB lighting options compared to higher-end boards.
Final Verdict
The ASUS PRIME B650M-A WIFI II is a highly recommended motherboard for building a powerful and feature-rich AMD Ryzen 7000-series PC. It offers a well-balanced combination of performance, features, and affordability. If you’re looking for a solid foundation for your next build without breaking the bank, the PRIME B650M-A WIFI II is an excellent choice. While it lacks some advanced features like Thunderbolt 4, it delivers a compelling experience for gamers, creators, and everyday users alike.
