Today we’ll be taking a look at the ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS WiFi Motherboard. This motherboard utilizes AMD’s B650 chipset supporting all of AMD’s latest Rzyen 7000 series of processors on the AM5 socket. It’s targeted at gamers who want decent features with performance to match, and supports CPU overclocking and AMD’s EXPO for memory profiles.
It supports DDR5 ram with speeds of up to DDR5-6400+ OC, and comes with comes 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot with ASUS SafeSlot Core+ for your graphics card, 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16/x4 slot, and 2 x PCIe 4.0 x1 slot.
The motherboard features a 12+2 power stage design and is rated to handle up to 60 amps. It combines both high-side and low-side MOSFETS, and drivers into a single package to deliver power, efficiency and stable performance for all compatible AMD processors. The enlarged VRM Heatsink gives it an extensive surface area that covers the VRMs and chokes to improve heat dissipation.
For storage, it comes 1 x PCIe 5.0 M.2 Gen5x4 slot and 2 x M.2 PCIE Gen4x4 slots which are cooled by a pair of dedicated M.2 heatsinks, and you also get 4 SATA ports for your SSDs. For connectivity, it features the Realtek 2.5 Gigabit LAN, as well as an onboard WiFi 6 module that’s compatible with the 802.11ax standard.
There are a total of 8 ports at the rear, which includes 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port(s), 1 x USB Type-C, 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port(s) (2 x Type-A + 1 x USB Type-C), 4 x USB 2.0 port(s) (4 x Type-A). At the front, you get a total of 7 ports … 1 x USB 3.2Gen 1 connector (supports USB Type-C),1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 2 x USB 2.0 header(s) support(s) additional 4 USB 2.0 ports.
And finally, this motherboard comes with all the usual TUF Gaming features from Asus, which includes the Safeslot Core+ & SafeDIMM, ESD Guards, TUF LANGuard, Stainless Steel Back I/O Panel, ASUS EZ DIY, Aura Sync, Addressable Gen 2 headers, but no onboard RGB lighting.
As you all know the B650 chipset is one of four chipsets offered by AMD in their 600-series, and it’s targeted at the mainstream market. It supports all the latest Ryzen 7000 series of processors on the new AM5 socket (LGA1718), but only provides a total of only 36 usable PCIE lanes. However, have said that, it does supports some CPU overclocking and AMD’s EXPO for optimized memory profiles, as well as DDR5 memory support, PCIE Gen5x4 for M.2 SSDs (optional), but sadly no PCIE 5 slot for GPUs. Let’s take a closer look below …
AMD B650 Chipset
An AMD B650 motherboard is your foundation for must-have gaming performance. Usher in the new age of DDR5 memory, AMD EXPO™ technology, and optional PCIe® 5.0 support for an NVMe drive with an AMD B650 motherboard.
The B650 chipset offers a total of only 36 usable PCIE lanes, and only support PCIE 4.0 slot for graphics card (no PCIE 5.0). It can support upto 4 SATA ports 6Gbps and 6 x SUPERSPEED USB 10Gbps and up to 1 x SUPERSPEED USB 20Gbps.
I would like to thank Asus for providing the review sample. This is a snippet from what Asus has to say about TUF Gaming on their website:
I would like to thank Asus for providing the review sample. This is a snippet from what Asus has to say about TUF Gaming on their website:
TUF Gaming is the all-new force for those who demand superior durability, dependable stability and great value in PC gaming. We’ve created an extensive range of motherboards, laptop and desktop PCs, cases, keyboards, mice and headsets, with many more exciting innovations on the way.
Every TUF Gaming product is rigorously tested for stability and durability, loaded with gamer-pleasing features, and exhibits unique and distinctive style. We’ve also teamed up with major component manufacturers to form the TUF Gaming Alliance, a burgeoning ecosystem of products that guarantee compatibility and aesthetic harmony.
TUF Gaming Alliance is the marque of collaboration between ASUS and major PC-component brands. A wide range of compliant parts, from PC cases and power supplies to CPU coolers and memory kits, guarantee both compatibility and aesthetic harmony. We’re also continually increasing our partnerships to make the TUF Gaming Alliance ever stronger, and require that components carrying the marque are tested to standards that are higher than the industry standards — for better compatibility, stability and durability.
I’m excited to see what this motheboard can do in terms of performance, so let’s get right to it. We’ll be testing the Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi
OK, let’s a closer look at the specifications and features in our next page. You can buy the Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi
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