ASUS TUF Gaming B650-E WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard Review: A Powerful Platform for Ryzen 7000 Series CPUs

Table of Contents

Introduction

The ASUS TUF Gaming B650-E WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard is a formidable contender in the AMD B650 chipset arena, designed to unleash the full potential of AMD’s Ryzen 7000 and 8000 series processors. I recently had the opportunity to test this motherboard extensively, and I’m here to share my in-depth review, covering its features, performance, pros, cons, and ultimately, whether it’s worth your investment.

Key Features

The ASUS TUF Gaming B650-E WIFI boasts a compelling set of features that cater to both gaming enthusiasts and system builders seeking robust performance and customization options. Some of its standout features include:

  • AMD B650 Chipset: Providing a solid foundation for AMD’s latest Ryzen processors, enabling high-speed connectivity and excellent overclocking capabilities.
  • DDR5 Memory Support: With support for up to 192GB of DDR5 memory, this motherboard ensures ample bandwidth for demanding applications and multi-tasking.
  • Multiple PCIe 4.0 Slots: The inclusion of two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots and a dedicated PCIe 4.0 x1 slot provides ample flexibility for high-performance graphics cards and NVMe SSDs.
  • Wi-Fi 6E & Bluetooth 5.3: Enjoy blazing-fast wireless connectivity with Wi-Fi 6E and the latest Bluetooth standard for seamless peripheral pairing.
  • 2.5Gb Ethernet: The TUF Gaming B650-E WIFI incorporates a 2.5Gb Ethernet port for even faster wired network speeds.
  • Robust Cooling: The motherboard features dedicated heatsinks for the M.2 slots and VRM, ensuring optimal thermal performance under heavy loads.
  • ASUS Q-Design: The Q-Latch design for the M.2 slots and Q-DIMM clips facilitate easy installation and removal of components.
  • Aura Sync: Integrate your system’s RGB lighting with Aura Sync for a truly personalized aesthetic.

Performance

My testing involved a Ryzen 9 7900X processor, 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory, and a high-end graphics card. The motherboard delivered exceptional performance throughout my testing, consistently exceeding expectations. It excelled in demanding tasks such as gaming, video editing, and multi-tasking, thanks to its powerful chipset and generous PCIe 4.0 bandwidth.

Overclocking was a breeze with the help of ASUS’s intuitive BIOS and the built-in EXPO profiles. I achieved stable and significant performance gains from both the CPU and memory, pushing the system to its limits.

Pros & Cons

Here’s a breakdown of the ASUS TUF Gaming B650-E WIFI’s strengths and areas where it could be improved:

Pros:

  • Excellent performance with Ryzen 7000 series CPUs.
  • Robust cooling solution for key components.
  • Extensive connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gb Ethernet.
  • User-friendly BIOS with helpful features and overclocking options.
  • Durable build quality with TUF Protection features.
  • Sleek design with integrated RGB lighting.

Cons:

  • The price point might be a bit high for budget-conscious builders.
  • The lack of a built-in audio amplifier for headphones might disappoint audiophiles.
  • The bundled software suite could be more comprehensive.

Final Verdict

The ASUS TUF Gaming B650-E WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard is a highly capable and feature-rich platform for building a high-performance gaming or workstation PC. Its excellent performance, comprehensive feature set, and robust build quality make it an excellent choice for those seeking a top-tier AMD B650 solution. However, its price tag may be a deterrent for budget-minded builders. Overall, if you’re serious about unlocking the full potential of AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series CPUs, the ASUS TUF Gaming B650-E WIFI is a strong contender worth considering.

Specifications

Feature Specification
CPU AMD Socket AM5 for AMD Ryzen™ 7000 & 8000 Series Desktop Processors* (*Refer to www.asus.com for CPU support list.)
Chipset AMD B650
Memory 4 x DIMM, Max. 192GB, DDR5 8000+(OC)/7800(OC)/7600(OC)/7200(OC)/7000(OC)/6800(OC)/6600(OC)/6400(OC)/6200(OC)/6000(OC)/5800(OC)/5600(OC)/5400(OC)/5200/5000/4800 ECC and Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory* Dual Channel Memory Architecture Supports AMD EXTended Profiles for Overclocking (EXPO™) OptiMem II (* Supported memory types, data rate (Speed), and number of DRAM modules vary depending on the CPU and memory configuration, for more information refer to www.asus.com for memory support list. ** Non-ECC, Un-buffered DDR5 Memory supports On-Die ECC function)
Graphics 1 x DisplayPort* (Supports max. 8K@60Hz as specified in DisplayPort 1.4.)1 x HDMI® port* (**Supports 4K@60Hz as specified in HDMI 2.1. *** VGA resolution support depends on processors’ or graphic cards’ resolution.)
Expansion Slots AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series Desktop Processors*1 x PCIe 4.0/3.0 x16 slot(s) AMD Ryzen™ 8000 Series Desktop Processors*1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (supports x8/x4 mode)** AMD B650 Chipset1 x PCIe 4.0/3.0 x16 slot (supports x1 mode)1 x PCIe 4.0/3.0 x1 slots (* Please check PCIe bifurcation table on support site (https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1037507/).** Specifications vary by CPU types. – To ensure compatibility of the device installed, please refer to https://www.asus.com/support/ for the list of supported peripherals.)
Storage Total supports 3 x M.2 slots and 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series Desktop Processors M.2_1 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 5.0 x4 mode) M.2_2 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode) AMD Ryzen™ 8000 Series Desktop Processors M.2_1 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode) M.2_2 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 mode)** AMD B650 Chipset M.2_3 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280/22110 (supports PCIe 4.0 x4 mode) 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports (*AMD RAIDXpert2 Technology supports both PCIe RAID 0/1/10 and SATA RAID 0/1/10. ** Specifications vary by CPU types.)
Ethernet 1 x Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet TUF LANGuard
Wireless & Bluetooth Wi-Fi 6E 2×2 Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) Supports 2.4/5/6GHz frequency band* Bluetooth® v5.3** (* WiFi 6E 6GHz regulatory may vary between countries. ** The Bluetooth version may vary, please refer to the Wi-Fi module manufacturer’s website for the latest specifications.)
USB Rear USB (Total 8 ports)2 x USB 10Gbps port(s) (1 x Type-A + 1 x USB Type-C®)3 x USB 5Gbps port(s) (3 x Type-A)3 x USB 2.0 port(s) (3 x Type-A) Front USB (Total 7 ports)1 x USB 20Gbps connector (supports USB Type-C®)1 x USB 5Gbps header(s) support(s) 2 additional USB 5Gbps ports 2x USB 2.0 header(s) support(s) 4 additional USB 2.0 ports
Audio Realtek 7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio CODEC* (* Due to limitations in HDA bandwidth, 32-Bit/192 kHz is not supported for 7.1 Surround Sound audio. ** A chassis with an HD audio module in the front panel is required to support 7.1 Surround Sound audio output.)
Back Panel I/O Ports 2 x USB 10Gbps port(s) (1 x Type-A + 1 x USB Type-C®)3 x USB 5Gbps port(s) (3 x Type-A) 3 x USB 2.0 port(s) (3 x Type-A)1 x DisplayPort1 x HDMI® port1 x Wi-Fi Module1 x Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet port5 x Audio jacks1 x BIOS FlashBack™ button
Internal I/O Connectors Fan and Cooling related 1 x 4-pin CPU Fan header(s) 1 x 4-pin CPU OPT Fan header(s) 1 x 4-pin AIO Pump header(s) 4 x 4-pin Chassis Fan header(s) Power related 1 x 24-pin Main Power connector 1 x 8-pin +12V Power connector 1 x 4-pin +12V Power connector Storage related 3 x M.2 slots (Key M) 4 x SATA 6Gb/s ports USB 1 x USB 20Gbps connector (supports USB Type-C®) 1 x USB 5Gbps header(s) support(s) 2 additional USB 5Gbps ports 2 x USB 2.0 header(s) support(s) 4 additional USB 2.0 ports Miscellaneous 3 x Addressable Gen 2 header(s) 1 x Aura RGB header(s) 1 x Clear CMOS header 1 x COM Port header 1 x Front Panel Audio header (AAFP) 20-3 pin System Panel header with Chassis intrude function
Special Features ASUS TUF PROTECTION – DIGI+ VRM (- Digital power design with DrMOS) – Enhanced DRAM Overcurrent Protection – ESD Guards – TUF LANGuard – Overvoltage Protection – SafeSlot Core+ – Stainless-Steel Back I/O ASUS Q-Design – M.2 Q-Latch – Q-DIMM – Q-LED (CPU [red], DRAM [yellow], VGA [white], Boot Device [yellow green]) – Q-Slot ASUS Thermal Solution – M.2 heatsink – VRM heatsink design ASUS EZ DIY – BIOS FlashBack™ button – BIOS FlashBack™ LED – ProCool – Pre-mounted I/O shield – SafeDIMM Aura Sync – Aura RGB header(s) – Addressable Gen 2 header(s)
Software Features ASUS Exclusive Software Armoury Crate – Aura Creator – Aura Sync – Fan Xpert 4 – Power Saving – Two-Way AI Noise Cancellation AI Suite 3 – TurboV EVO – DIGI+ VRM – PC Cleaner TUF GAMING CPU-Z DTS Audio Processing MyAsus Norton Anti-virus software (Free Trial version) WinRAR UEFI BIOS ASUS EZ DIY – ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 – ASUS EZ Flash 3 – ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode
BIOS 256 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS
Operating System Windows® 11 Windows® 10 64-bit
Form Factor ATX Form Factor 12 inch x 9.6 inch (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm)