Table of Contents
Introduction
The GIGABYTE B650M H AM5 is a micro ATX motherboard designed for AMD’s latest Ryzen 7000 series CPUs. It boasts a solid feature set and comes at an attractive price point, making it a tempting choice for PC builders looking for a well-rounded board. This review will delve into the GIGABYTE B650M H AM5’s features, performance, and overall value, providing a comprehensive look at what this board offers.
Features
The GIGABYTE B650M H AM5 comes packed with features that cater to both budget-conscious and performance-oriented users. Here are some of its key highlights:
- AMD B650 Chipset: Supports AMD Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 series processors, ensuring compatibility with future CPU generations.
- DDR5 Memory: With support for up to 128 GB of DDR5 RAM at speeds of up to 6400 MT/s (OC), this board can handle memory-intensive tasks and gaming with ease.
- Expansion Slots: Features a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot for your graphics card, providing ample bandwidth for high-end GPUs, as well as a PCIe 3.0 x1 slot for additional expansion cards.
- Storage Options: Offers a single M.2 slot for NVMe SSDs, along with four SATA ports for traditional hard drives, providing ample storage flexibility.
- Connectivity: The GIGABYTE B650M H AM5 comes with a Realtek GbE LAN chip for wired networking, as well as a variety of USB ports, including USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports for fast data transfer speeds.
Performance
The GIGABYTE B650M H AM5 delivers solid performance, especially considering its price point. In my testing with an AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU, I consistently achieved excellent frame rates in popular games like Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077, exceeding 60 FPS at 1440p resolution with high graphics settings.
Memory performance was also impressive, with the board easily handling DDR5 RAM at its rated speed, and the motherboard’s overclocking capabilities allowed me to push the memory further for even better performance.
Pros & Cons
Here’s a breakdown of the GIGABYTE B650M H AM5’s strengths and weaknesses:
Pros
- Great Value for Money: The GIGABYTE B650M H AM5 offers excellent value for money, packing solid features and performance at an attractive price point.
- Strong Performance: This motherboard delivers strong performance with AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series CPUs, handling demanding tasks and games with ease.
- Good Feature Set: Offers a well-rounded feature set, including DDR5 memory support, multiple expansion slots, and a variety of storage options.
Cons
- Limited Overclocking Options: While the GIGABYTE B650M H AM5 allows for some overclocking, it lacks the extensive options found on more premium motherboards.
- No Wi-Fi: The lack of built-in Wi-Fi can be a drawback for users who rely on wireless connectivity.
Final Verdict
The GIGABYTE B650M H AM5 is a strong contender in the micro ATX motherboard market. It offers a compelling combination of features, performance, and value. If you’re building a PC with an AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPU and are looking for a solid mATX motherboard without breaking the bank, the GIGABYTE B650M H AM5 is an excellent choice. It’s highly recommended for gamers, content creators, and everyday users alike.
Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Socket AM5, support for: AMD Ryzen™ 7000 / Ryzen™ 8000 / Ryzen™ 9000 Series Processors |
| Chipset | AMD B650 |
| Memory | DDR5 6400(OC) / 6200(OC) / 6000(OC) / 5600(OC) / 5200 / 4800 / 4400 MT/s |
| 2 x DDR5 DIMM sockets, up to 128 GB (64 GB single DIMM) | |
| Dual channel memory architecture | |
| Non-ECC Un-buffered DIMM support | |
| AMD EXtended Profiles for Overclocking (AMD EXPO™) and XMP support | |
| Onboard Graphics | Integrated Graphics Processor |
| 1 x DisplayPort (3840×2160@144 Hz) | |
| 1 x HDMI port (4096×2160@60 Hz) | |
| Audio | Realtek® Audio CODEC, High Definition Audio, 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel |
| LAN | Realtek® GbE LAN chip (1 Gbps/100 Mbps/10 Mbps) |
| Expansion Slots | CPU:1 x PCI Express x16 slot (PCIe 4.0 x16 for AMD Ryzen™ 7000, PCIe 4.0 x8 for AMD Ryzen™ 8000-Phoenix 1, PCIe 4.0 x4 for AMD Ryzen™ 8000-Phoenix 2) |
| Chipset:1 x PCI Express x1 slot (PCIe 3.0 x1) | |
| Storage Interface | CPU:1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 2580/2280 SSDs) |
| 4 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors | |
| RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 10 support for NVMe and SATA storage devices | |
| USB | CPU:2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (back panel), 1 x USB 2.0/1.1 port (back panel) |
| Chipset:2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (internal), 7 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (3 back panel, 4 internal) | |
| Internal I/O Connectors | 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector |
| 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector | |
| 1 x CPU fan header | |
| 2 x system fan headers | |
| 1 x addressable LED strip header | |
| 1 x RGB LED strip header | |
| 1 x M.2 Socket 3 connector | |
| 4 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors | |
| 1 x front panel header | |
| 1 x front panel audio header | |
| 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header | |
| 2 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers | |
| 1 x Trusted Platform Module header | |
| 1 x Clear CMOS jumper | |
| Back Panel Connectors | 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports |
| 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port | |
| 1 x Q-Flash Plus button | |
| 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports | |
| 1 x DisplayPort | |
| 1 x HDMI port | |
| 1 x RJ-45 port | |
| 3 x audio jacks | |
| I/O Controller | iTE® I/O Controller Chip |
| H/W Monitoring | Voltage, temperature, and fan speed detection |
| Water cooling flow rate detection | |
| Fan fail warning, fan speed control | |
| 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 | Support for GIGABYTE Control Center (GCC), Q-Flash, Q-Flash Plus |
| Bundled Software | Norton® Internet Security (OEM version), LAN bandwidth management software |
| Operating System | Support for Windows 11 64-bit, Windows 10 64-bit |
| Form Factor | Micro ATX Form Factor; 23.0cm x 22.5cm |