GIGABYTE B650E Aorus Master AM5 Motherboard Review – Tech Blog
GIGABYTE B650E Aorus Master AM5 Motherboard Review
Table of Contents
Introduction
The GIGABYTE B650E Aorus Master AM5 ATX Motherboard is a high-end offering for enthusiasts and gamers seeking top-tier performance and features. It’s built around the AMD B650E chipset, supporting AMD Ryzen™ 7000/8000/9000 Series Processors and packing a wealth of features that cater to demanding workloads and immersive gaming experiences. In this review, we’ll delve into its key features, performance benchmarks, and real-world usage, providing a comprehensive evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses.
Features
The GIGABYTE B650E Aorus Master AM5 boasts a comprehensive set of features designed to deliver top-notch performance and flexibility:
- AMD Socket AM5, support for AMD Ryzen™ 7000 / 8000 / 9000 Series Processors
- AMD B650E Chipset
- DDR5 Memory Support: Up to 8000(OC), 4 DIMMs, up to 256 GB, dual channel, non-ECC Un-buffered DIMM, supports AMD EXPO™ and XMP memory modules
- Integrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics, 1 x HDMI 2.1, max resolution 7680×4320@60 Hz, HDR, HDCP 2.3
- Realtek® ALC1220-VB CODEC, ESS ES9118 DAC, DTS® Ultra, supports 2/4/5.1-channel, S/PDIF Out
- Intel® 2.5GbE LAN
- AMD Wi-Fi 6E RZ616 (MT7922A22M), Bluetooth 5.2
- 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 (supports x8 mode when M2B/M2C_CPU connectors are populated), 1 x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1 x PCIe 4.0 x2
- 4 x M.2 (PCIe 5.0/4.0 depending on CPU), 4 x SATA 6Gb/s, RAID 0/1/10 for NVMe & SATA
- 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 4 x USB 2.0/1.1
- GIGABYTE Control Center (GCC), Q-Flash, Q-Flash Plus
Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Socket AM5, support for AMD Ryzen™ 7000 / 8000 / 9000 Series Processors |
| Chipset | AMD B650 |
| Memory | DDR5 up to 8000(OC), 4 DIMMs, up to 256 GB, dual channel, non-ECC Un-buffered DIMM, supports AMD EXPO™ and XMP memory modules |
| Onboard Graphics | Integrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics, 1 x HDMI 2.1, max resolution 7680×4320@60 Hz, HDR, HDCP 2.3 |
| Audio | Realtek® ALC1220-VB CODEC, ESS ES9118 DAC, DTS® Ultra, supports 2/4/5.1-channel, S/PDIF Out |
| LAN | Intel® 2.5GbE |
| Wireless | AMD Wi-Fi 6E RZ616 (MT7922A22M), Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Expansion Slots | 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 (supports x8 mode when M2B/M2C_CPU connectors are populated), 1 x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1 x PCIe 4.0 x2 |
| Storage Interface | 4 x M.2 (PCIe 5.0/4.0 depending on CPU), 4 x SATA 6Gb/s, RAID 0/1/10 for NVMe & SATA |
| USB Ports | 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 |
| Internal I/O Connectors | 24-pin ATX, 2 x 8-pin ATX 12V, 4 x system fan headers, 4 x M.2, 4 x SATA, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2 header, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header, 2 x USB 2.0 headers, RGB & LED strip headers, front panel headers |
| Back Panel | 1 x Q-Flash Plus button, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 2 x SMA antenna connectors, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 4 x USB 2.0/1.1, 1 x RJ-45, 1 x optical S/PDIF, 2 x audio jacks |
| I/O Controller | iTE® I/O Controller Chip |
| H/W Monitoring | Voltage, Temperature, Fan speed, Water cooling flow rate detection, Fan fail warning, Fan speed control, Noise detection |
| BIOS | 1 x 256 Mbit flash, AMI UEFI BIOS, PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.7, WfM 2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI 5.0 |
| Unique Features | GIGABYTE Control Center (GCC), Q-Flash, Q-Flash Plus |
| Bundled Software | Norton® Internet Security (OEM), LAN bandwidth management |
| Operating System Support | Windows 11 64-bit, Windows 10 64-bit |
| Form Factor | ATX, 30.5cm x 24.4cm |
Performance
The GIGABYTE B650E Aorus Master AM5 delivers exceptional performance, thanks to its AMD B650E chipset and PCIe 5.0 support. I tested it with a Ryzen 9 7950X processor and DDR5-6000 memory, and the results were impressive.
* **CPU Performance:** The motherboard provided a stable platform for the Ryzen 9 7950X to reach its full potential. In benchmark tests, it scored exceptionally high in multi-core workloads, making it ideal for content creation, gaming, and demanding software applications.
* **Memory Performance:** With DDR5 support, the motherboard delivered fast memory speeds and low latency, further enhancing overall system performance.
* **Storage Performance:** The PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots enabled blazing-fast storage speeds when using NVMe SSDs, significantly improving loading times for games and applications.
Pros & Cons
**Pros:**
* **Excellent Performance:** The B650E Aorus Master consistently delivers high performance across various benchmarks and real-world scenarios.
* **Extensive Features:** The motherboard is packed with features, including PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 6E, and 2.5GbE LAN, catering to demanding users.
* **Robust Cooling:** The motherboard boasts effective cooling solutions for crucial components like the CPU and VRM, ensuring stable operation even under heavy loads.
* **User-Friendly BIOS:** The BIOS interface is intuitive and well-organized, making it easy to customize settings and overclock components.
**Cons:**
* **High Price:** As a top-tier motherboard, the GIGABYTE B650E Aorus Master comes with a premium price tag.
* **Limited RGB Lighting:** While it offers RGB lighting options, it might not be as extensive as some other motherboards in its price range.
Final Verdict
The GIGABYTE B650E Aorus Master AM5 is a powerful and feature-rich motherboard that delivers exceptional performance for demanding users. Its robust cooling, PCIe 5.0 support, and extensive connectivity make it a strong contender for high-end PC builds. While its price might be a deterrent for some, it’s justified by its exceptional performance and features. If you’re looking for a top-tier motherboard to build a high-performance PC, the GIGABYTE B650E Aorus Master is a solid choice.
