B650 motherboard guide: ROG Strix, TUF Gaming, ProArt, and Prime bring PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 to everyone

The latest X670E motherboard platform introduced a wealth of cutting-edge features to accompany AMD’s latest 7-series CPUs. Headlined by PCIe 5.0 connectivity and across-the-board DDR5 support, our X670E motherboards cater to enthusiasts ready to extract every ounce of performance they can get out of their new AMD processor. Now, mainstream PC builds can get in on the action, too. Our B650E and B650 boards offer tremendous value for anyone assembling a next-gen machine. This B650 motherboard guide walks you through our different product families to help you find the model that best fits your needs and budget.

Shopping for a gaming-first motherboard that delivers exceptional performance and exudes confident style? Start with our ROG Strix lineup. From the flagship ROG Strix B650E-E Gaming WiFi to the compact-yet-mighty ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi, these boards bring high-end features and sizzling good looks. Perhaps you’d prefer a straightforward gaming board that delivers essential features in a no-frills design? Check out our TUF Gaming family. Available in either ATX or micro-ATX form factors, these products deliver everything you need for a reliable gaming build and nothing that you don’t.

Gamers aren’t the only folks out there looking at everything that AMD’s new chips have to offer. For the creative professionals out there—and anyone who aspires to take their talents in CGI, filmmaking, engineering, or design to the next level—the ProArt B650-Creator offers great connectivity and sophisticated style. Last but not least, our wide range of ASUS Prime motherboards offer everything you need for an all-around-excellent PC.

Raised to the power of five

Our B650E and B650 motherboards bring a wealth of next-gen features. Even the CPU socket received an upgrade for the occasion. The all-new AM5 socket is an LGA-style socket, so the pins are on the motherboard, not the CPU, making any accidental bending or damage to the pins less likely. AM5 supports up to a 170W TDP, enabling exceptional compute performance for high-core-count CPUs in heavy workloads.

But it’s not just the CPU socket that’s enjoying a next-gen upgrade. B650E and B650 motherboards support the latest DDR5 RAM. With data rates 50% faster than previous-generation DDR4 memory, DDR5 unleashes a new tier of performance, and our motherboards offer a host of hardware and firmware optimizations that enable users to overclock capable kits to the absolute limit.

B650E and B650 motherboards also boast PCIe 5.0 connectivity. Every option in our lineup includes at least one onboard PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot ready for the fastest storage drives on the market. To prep your PC to take full advantage of next-gen PCIe 5.0 graphics cards, pick up one of our B650E motherboards. These higher-end options boast at least one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot. And with double the link speeds of PCIe 4.0, the new standard provides us with the bandwidth to deck out our B650E and B650 motherboards with a comprehensive selection of high-speed ports. Every ROG Strix, TUF Gaming, and ProArt B650 motherboard offers an onboard high-speed USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port.

Go big on performance and style with ROG Strix

The ROG Strix line takes the high-end ROG DNA and distills it into gaming-first motherboards that are ready for anything. Whether you’re building a decked-out ATX gaming rig or a compact Mini-ITX machine, you’ll find the motherboard you need right here. Whichever ROG Strix board you choose, you’ll find high-end circuitry, convenient design elements, and features built to boost your gaming experience. Integrated I/O shields ease the installation process and look gorgeous behind your case’s side window. High-end VRMs stand ready to drive the entire swath of today’s Ryzen chips, while Intel-powered 2.5Gb Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6E offer cutting-edge networking. And our industry-leading gaming audio immerses you like never before with an ALC4080 codec and a Savitech SV3H712 amplifier.

Interested in tuning and tweaking your new AMD Ryzen CPU for maximum performance? Out of all our B650E and B650 motherboards, the ROG Strix models are best equipped for overclocking. A quick trip into their UEFI BIOS is all it takes to boost light-load clocks through Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO)—a move that enhances overall system responsiveness for most builders. Looking for more manual control over your CPU’s performance? We primed the ROG Strix B650E-E Gaming WiFi and ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi to satisfy your thirst for pushing your processor to its limits. Both offer particularly robust power solutions and access to our Dynamic OC Switcher and Core Flex tools.

ROG Strix B650E-E Gaming WiFi

Atop the stack sits the flagship ROG Strix B650E-E Gaming WiFi. The premium option for any builder intending to take the B650E platform to its limits, this decked-out motherboard offers a premium selection of features. Its optimized power solution readies you to overclock your Ryzen CPU with 16+2 teamed power stages with 8+8 ProCool power connectors. Two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots stand ready for next-gen add-on cards. Four onboard M.2 slots—two of which are wired for PCIe 5.0—make it a breeze to install a lightning-quick storage array for your gaming library. To keep it all cool, each M.2 slot has its own high-performance heatsink, and massive VRM heatsinks with high-conductivity thermal pads silently use the cooling air moving through your case to keep the circuitry operating comfortably.

The ROG Strix B650E-E Gaming WiFi goes above and beyond to make your build process easy and intuitive. The dedicated PCIe Slot Q-Release button makes it a breeze to release your graphics card from the primary PCIe 5.0 x16 slot. Our M.2 Q-Latch system ensures that you’ll never again lose a tiny M.2 screw while installing a drive. BIOS FlashBack™ support gets your new build up and running without a hitch by letting you update your board’s firmware with nothing more than a power supply and a USB flash drive. And with a premium connectivity selection including 19 USB ports, DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 ports, and a Thunderbolt 4 header, you’ll have no trouble assembling your full battlestation.

We also took advantage of this new platform to augment the audio solution that we offer in our mainstream ROG Strix motherboards. We’ve upgraded to the USB-based ALC4080 audio codec—and we’ve included a high-performance Savitech SV3H712 AMP to drive audiophile-grade sound to your headset. DTS Sound Unbound serves up immersive spatial audio, and our Sonic Studio III+ suite gives you precise control over the output.

	ROG Strix B650E-E Gaming WiFi
Size	ATX
Memory	4 x DIMM, up to 128GB, DDR5
PCIe	2 x PCIe 5.0 x16 (@x16 or x8/x4) 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (x4)
Storage	1 x 22110 (PCIe 5.0 x4) 1 x 2280 (PCIe 5.0 x4) 2 x 2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4)
Networking	1 x 2.5Gb Ethernet WiFi 6E
Audio	Realtek ALC 4080 Savitech SV3H712 AMP
USB4® Support	1 x Thunderbolt™ (USB4®) header
Rear I/O	3.2 Gen 2×2: 1 x USB Type-C® 3.2 Gen 2: 6 x USB Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C® 2.0: 4 x USB Type-A
Front I/O	3.2 Gen 2: 1 x USB Type-C® 3.2 Gen 1: 2 x USB Type-A 2.0: 4 x USB Type-A
Aura	3 x Addressable Gen 2 headers 1 x Aura RGB header
Cooling	8 x fan headers

ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi

Perhaps you love the aesthetics and overall feature set of the ROG Strix B650E-E Gaming WiFi, but you don’t have an immediate need for two PCIe 5.0 X16 slots and two PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots. Check out the ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi. In many ways, this motherboard is a mirror image of its elder sibling, but it offers one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and one slot for a next-gen PCIe 5.0 M.2 drive—just the ticket for many a mainstream gaming PC.

Otherwise, you’ll find a broadly similar feature set between the two motherboards. The same stealthy black finish adorns their massive VRMs, shrouds, and heatsinks, similar Aura Sync RGB LED accents provide a bold flourish of color, and they offer the same suite of DIY-friendly design features.

	ROG Strix B650E-E Gaming WiFi
Size	ATX
Memory	4 x DIMM, up to 128GB, DDR5
PCIe	1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 (@x16) 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (@x4)
Storage	1 x 2280 (PCIe 5.0 x4) 2 x 22110 (PCIe 4.0 x4)
Networking	1 x 2.5Gb Ethernet WiFi 6E
Audio	Realtek ALC 4080 Savitech SV3H712 AMP
Rear I/O	3.2 Gen 2×2: 1 x USB Type-C® 3.2 Gen 2: 2 x USB Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C® 3.2 Gen 1: 4 x USB Type-A 2.0: 4 x USB Type-A
Front I/O	3.2 Gen 2: 1 x USB Type-C® 3.2 Gen 1: 2 x USB Type-A 2.0: 4 x USB Type-A
Aura	3 x Addressable Gen 2 headers 1 x Aura RGB header
Cooling	7 x fan headers

ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi

If you’re building a PC for your home entertainment center or dorm room—or anywhere that space is a primary limiting factor—an ATX system might just be too large for your needs. To support the Mini-ITX build of your dreams, we offer the ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi. This compact motherboard might fit easily into one hand, but it offers a high-end set of gaming features.

As a B650E board, it boasts both a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, making it ready for the fastest graphics cards of today and tomorrow. Its versatile and high-end connectivity selection, including a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port with DisplayPort ALT mode, gives you everything you need for your build. And conveniences like the pre-mounted I/O shield simplify the process of building in the tight confines of a Mini-ITX case.

	ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
Size	Mini-ITX
Memory	2 x DIMM, up to 64GB, DDR5
PCIe	1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 (@x16)
Storage	1 x 2280 (PCIe 5.0 x4) 1 x 2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4)
Networking	1 x 2.5Gb Ethernet WiFi 6E
Audio	Realtek ALC 4080 Savitech SV3H712 AMP
USB4® Support	1 x Thunderbolt™ (USB4®) header
Rear I/O	3.2 Gen 2×2: 1 x USB Type-C® 3.2 Gen 2: 4 x USB Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C® 2.0: 2 x USB Type-A
Front I/O	3.2 Gen 2: 1 x USB Type-C® 3.2 Gen 1: 2 x USB Type-A 2.0: 2 x USB Type-A
Aura	1 x Addressable Gen 2 headers 1 x Aura RGB header
Cooling	3 x fan headers

ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi

No offense to those who prefer the classic black aesthetic for their gaming PCs, but there’s something special about a white-themed build. White finishes focus and amplify the RGB LED illumination of your build—or provide a clean, cohesive aesthetic on their own merits. For the foundation of your next white build, look no further than the ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi.

As with all our B650E and B650 motherboards, the ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi boasts an onboard PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot and DDR5 support. If a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot strikes you as more of a nice-to-have than a need-to-have feature for your next PC, this motherboard might be a better fit for you than the higher-end ROG Strix B650E motherboards. Its PCIe 4.0 x16 slot is more than capable of getting you in the game with a high-end graphics card.

	ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi
Size	ATX
Memory	4 x DIMM, up to 128GB, DDR5
PCIe	1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (@x16) 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (@x4)
Storage	1 x 2280 (PCIe 5.0 x4) 1 x 2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4) 1 x 22110 (PCIe 4.0 x4)
Networking	1 x 2.5Gb Ethernet WiFi 6E
Audio	Realtek ALC 4080 Savitech SV3H712 AMP
USB4® Support	1 x Thunderbolt™ (USB4®) header
Rear I/O	3.2 Gen 2×2: 1 x USB Type-C® 3.2 Gen 2: 3 x USB Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C® 2.0: 4 x USB Type-A
Front I/O	3.2 Gen 2: 1 x USB Type-C® 3.2 Gen 1: 2 x USB Type-A 2.0: 4 x USB Type-A
Aura	3 x Addressable Gen 2 headers 1 x Aura RGB header
Cooling	7 x fan headers

Get ready for action with battle-forged TUF Gaming motherboards

If your top priorities for a motherboard are reliable operation, sensible good looks, and essential gaming performance, then our TUF Gaming lineup was built for you. We designed these boards to give gamers high-quality options ready to go the distance.

Our TUF Gaming B650 motherboards offer a powerful value proposition for a next-gen AMD Ryzen gaming build. Available in either ATX or micro-ATX form factors, these boards offer DDR5 support, a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot for blazing-fast storage, and an onboard USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 USB Type-C® port for fast, versatile connectivity. High-bandwidth 2.5Gb Ethernet comes standard, and WiFi 6 is available for those who need it.

Looking to complement your TUF Gaming motherboard with an array of components and peripherals with the same aesthetic? The TUF GAMING Alliance is a collaboration between ASUS and trusted PC component brands to ensure compatibility across a wide range of parts, such as PC cases, power supplies, CPU coolers, memory kits and more. With new partnerships and components being added regularly, the TUF Gaming Alliance will continue to grow even stronger.

	TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi	TUF Gaming B650-Plus	TUF Gaming B650M-Plus WiFi	TUF Gaming B650M-Plus
Size	ATX		Micro-ATX
Memory	4 x DIMM, up to 128GB, DDR5
PCIe	1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (@x16) 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (max @x4)
Storage	1 x 2280 (PCIe 5.0 x4) 1 x 22110 (PCIe 4.0 x4) 1 x 2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4)		1 x 2280 (PCIe 5.0 x4) 1 x 2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4)
Networking	1 x 2.5Gb Ethernet WiFi 6	1 x 2.5Gb Ethernet	1 x 2.5Gb Ethernet WiFi 6	1 x 2.5Gb Ethernet
Audio	Realtek ALC S1200A		Realtek ALC897
USB4® Support	1 x Thunderbolt™ (USB4®) header
Rear I/O	3.2 Gen 2×2: 1 x USB Type-C® 3.2 Gen 2: 2 x USB Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C® 2.0: 4 x USB Type-A		3.2 Gen 2×2: 1 x USB Type-C® 3.2 Gen 2: 2 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1: 1 x USB Type-A 2.0: 4 x USB Type-A
Front I/O	3.2 Gen 1: 2 x USB Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C® 2.0: 4 x USB Type-A		3.2 Gen 1: 2 x USB Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C® 2.0: 4 x USB Type-A
Aura	3 x Addressable Gen 2 headers 1 x Aura RGB header
Cooling	7 x fan headers		6 x fan headers

ProArt empowers creators with powerful performance and sophisticated style

Gamers aren’t the only ones planning new builds around AMD’s latest Ryzen CPUs. Creative professionals like engineers, designers, videographers, animators, and game developers all tend to have workflows ready to take full advantage of multicore CPUs, high-bandwidth DDR5 RAM, and speedy PCIe 5.0 storage. For these creators and more, ProArt motherboards provide superb connectivity, plentiful high-speed storage options, and professional style.

The ProArt B650-Creator carries on that tradition with a feature set that provides incredible value for a budget-conscious creative build. DDR5 support lets you take advantage of the raw bandwidth provided by the latest high-end kits, and a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot allows you to enjoy the dizzying transfer rates of a cutting-edge drive.

Looking for a motherboard that can harness more than one graphics card? The ProArt B650-Creator has what you need. Its twin PCIe 4.0 x16 slots can operate in an x8/x8 configuration so that you can take full advantage of a pair of graphics cards.

Versatile connectivity is a must for any creative workstation, so the ProArt B650-Creator includes a connector for a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port—and it’s wired for Quick Charge 4+ so that you can use it to conveniently and speedily recharge your other devices. We’ve also wired one of the USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports on the rear I/O panel to support an alternate mode that provides DisplayPort 1.4 output up to 8K/60Hz.* Whether you want to use the port for high-speed 10Gbps file transfers or connecting an additional high-resolution display, the choice is yours.

	ProArt B650-Creator
Size	ATX
Memory	4 x DIMM, up to 128GB, DDR5
PCIe	2 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (@x16 or x8/x8) 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (max at X4)
Storage	1 x 2280 (PCIe 5.0 x4) 1 x 22110 (PCIe 4.0 x4) 1 x 2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4)
Networking	1 x Realtek 2.5Gb 1 x Realtek 1Gb
Audio	Realtek ALC 897
USB4® Support	1 x Thunderbolt™ (USB4®) header
Rear I/O	3.2 Gen 2 with DP Alt Mode: 1 x USB Type-C ® 3.2 Gen 2: 3 x USB Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C® 2.0: 2 x USB Type-A
Front I/O	3.2 Gen 2×2: 1 x USB Type-C® with Quick Charge 4+ 3.2 Gen 1: 2 x USB Type-A 2.0: 4 x USB Type-A
Aura	3 x Addressable Gen 2 headers 1 x Aura RGB header
Cooling	7 x fan headers

ASUS Prime covers all the bases

Our ROG Strix, TUF Gaming, and ProArt families serve gamers and power users ready to extract every last drop of performance from their systems. While our Prime boards offer many of the same enthusiast-grade features, they’re also quite content to serve as reliable platforms for your work and everyday computing. For anyone building a budget-friendly PC that melds all-around capability and subtle style, a Prime board is the ideal choice.

For B650, we’re offering Prime motherboards in four variations. Pick between the ATX and micro-ATX form factors, make a judgment call on whether you need wireless networking, and you’re ready to go. Regardless of your choice, you’ll enjoy high-speed wired networking through a Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet controller, a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, and DDR5 support.

Our Prime B650 motherboards will also make it easy for you to upgrade your processor down the road. Through BIOS FlashBack™, you’ll be able to quickly update your board’s firmware with nothing more than a power supply and a USB flash drive. This will pave the way for you to stay up to date with AMD’s subsequent generations of Ryzen CPUs for as long as AMD maintains backward compatibility, all the while using the same Prime B650 motherboard.

	Prime B650 Plus	Prime B650M-A AX	Prime B650M-A WiFi	Prime B650M-A
Size	ATX	Micro-ATX
Memory	4 x DIMM, up to 128GB, DDR5
PCIe	1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (@x16) 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (max @x4)	1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (@x16)
Storage	1 x 22110 (PCIe 5.0 x4) 1 x 22110 (PCIe 4.0 x4)	1 x 2280 (PCIe 5.0 x4) 1 x 2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4)
Networking	1 x Realtek 2.5Gb	1 x Realtek 2.5Gb WiFi 6		1 x Realtek 2.5Gb
Audio	Realtek ALC 897
USB4® Support	1 x Thunderbolt™ (USB4®) header	N/A
Rear I/O	3.2 Gen 2: 3 x USB Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C® 3.2 Gen 1: 2 x USB Type-A 2.0: 2 x USB Type-A	3.2 Gen 2: 2 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1: 2 x USB Type-A 2.0: 4 x USB Type-A
Front I/O	3.2 Gen 1: 2 x USB Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C® 2.0: 4 x USB Type-A	3.2 Gen 1: 2 x USB Type-A, 1 x USB Type-C® 2.0: 4 x USB Type-A
Aura	3 x Addressable Gen 2 headers 1 x Aura RGB header
Cooling	6 x fan headers	5 x fan headers

Source: ASUS