Asrock B650E PG-ITX review: A small but mighty motherboard

Price When Reviewed

$349.99

Best Prices Today: Asrock B650E PG-ITX

AMD has now launched the extremely anticipated Ryzen 7800X3D, which is a gaming behemoth. It’s additionally “smaller” in core rely than its 7950X3D CPU brother, however nonetheless usually sooner for gaming. 

This interprets completely to Mini-ITX efficiency. You don’t want the largest footprint to be terribly nimble. Gamers are actually spoiled with a wealthy choice of CPUs starting from the environment friendly Ryzen non-X CPUs, multicore X variants, and now X3D. 

Enter the Asrock B650E PG-ITX motherboard. At solely 6.7×6.7 inches, this diminutive, small form-factor contender is something however weak. 

It comes packed within the B650E chipset, promising some financial savings over X670E. 

We’ll go over the options, design, and efficiency. Does this motherboard comprise sufficient {hardware} to really decrease compromise in comparison with larger-scale motherboards, whereas performing effectively? This will all be seen by way of the ever-important lens of “price to performance,” key for an enthusiast-grade providing. It has some drawbacks and positives—let’s discover out what they’re. 

Further studying: See our roundup of the best gaming motherboards to find out about competing merchandise.

What are the Asrock B650E PG-ITX specs?

• Mini-ITX kind issue (6.7×6.7 inches, or 17x17cm)
• Supports AMD AM5 Ryzen 7000 CPUs 
• 10+2+1 Phase Power Design with 10-layer PCB
• DDR5 RAM, twin channel as much as 2 DIMM (as much as 64GB)
• 2x onboard M.2 slot (Gen 5 and Gen 4)
• 1x PCIe 16x slots (PCIe Gen 5) 
• HDMI-out plus eDP sign connector 
• 8 USB ports on again 
• Killer 2.5GbE LAN 
• Killer Wi-Fi 6E 
• 2x RGB headers 
• 2 SATA 6Gb/s ports 
• PWM fan headers 
• Preinstalled I/O Shield 
• Realtek 7.1 ALC 1220 Audio
• MSRP $289

The Asrock B650E PG-ITX is available in at $289, which is true across the center when it comes to pricing for small form-factor choices. It’s cheaper than competing motherboards such because the Asus X670E Strix-I, however nonetheless costly relative to its measurement. 

The B650 chipset shall be a barely cut-down model of X670, however the “E” offers this motherboard a slight PCIe-lane improve. While you’re already getting much less theoretical USB, SATA, and different ports with B650, Mini-ITX imposes its personal limitations as a result of lowered measurement. 

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In the field, you’ll get a fundamental set of equipment such because the Wi-Fi antenna, and a few miscellaneous gadgets equivalent to screws. No cool trinkets right here such as you get with the costlier motherboards, such because the exterior sound system with the Asus fashions. Let’s transfer on to the options and see how they stack up: 

CPU selection

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This is one space the place you’ll have loads of selection. You can pair the saucy new Ryzen 7800X3D with this motherboard, or maybe you’d want to maintain the wattage down and use a non-X variant such because the 7900. Either manner, you’ll have expansive assist right here, and we’re assuming effectively into the longer term with subsequent CPU releases. CPU cooler compatibility must also shine right here, because the socket space isn’t as enclosed as you usually discover. 

DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 5

AM5 shall be DDR5 RAM solely, and Mini-ITX will additional restrict you to solely two sticks, with 64GB whole of RAM. While it nonetheless helps quick speeds, you’ll have much less capability right here because of the measurement. 

B650 “E” implies that you’ll have a pleasant little additional allotment of PCIe Gen 5 to share with the M.2 drive. The 16x PCIe Gen 5 slot shall be in your GPU, after which the opposite M.2 slot shall be PCIe Gen 4. 

Storage

As anticipated, you’ll solely get two onboard NVMe slots because of the Mini-ITX kind issue. This is often high quality for gaming builds of this caliber, though we’d like to see a 3rd provided. SATA can also be restricted, with solely two SATA ports—however as soon as once more, ought to fulfill the necessity of most players with small enclosures. 

USB ports

With eight rear USB ports, you might have a superb amount of ports. Disappointingly, 4 of those USB ports are solely 2.0, which is a little bit of a miss on a motherboard of this value. 

HDMI- and eDP 1.4-out can also be right here to make the most of Ryzen’s built-in iGPU perform in your show when wanted. 

Networking

Networking is customary fare, with Killer’s 2.5GbE Lan customary, together with Killer’s Wi-Fi 6E. This is now the anticipated suite of networking on trendy motherboards, and it’s nice to see even smaller form-factor designs together with these with out compromise. 

Audio

Audio is sweet, with a 7.1 ALC 1220 codec. You may even have some inputs within the again, which is able to suffice for many customers. Optical is right here too, which will be nice for these connecting exterior audio gadgets equivalent to sure audio system. 

Other options of be aware

The built-in I/O protect is right here, which we love. Captive screws for the M.2 are additionally a superb contact. 

There are a couple of “misses” right here, nonetheless. No BIOS flashback button, a characteristic that many cheaper motherboards are actually together with. You’ll additionally discover the massive M.2 fan as a dominant characteristic, however it may be noisy if not correctly adjusted and is maybe superfluous. Most motherboards do high quality with thermal pads solely. It’s additionally lacking a debug LED, a characteristic some might discover helpful. 

Asrock B650E PG-ITX design 

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The Asrock B650E PG-ITX motherboard is an lovely motherboard—till you see that slightly peculiar M.2 fan space. While you could mistake it for one thing extra akin to a VRM heatsink, it’s meant to chill the M.2 drive. You can take away it if you’d like or if it interferes together with your PC’s inside aesthetic. 

Otherwise, it’s an easy Mini-ITX design. You’ll have the colourful accents on the I/O space, however not a lot in the way in which of RGB. That’s high quality—most small form-factor builds are a bit cramped and have a tendency to dam entry to the visuals. You nonetheless have RGB headers for some additional pizazz when wanted. 

One good plus of the design is the positioning of the VRM heatsink. Together with the general extra open sides, this makes putting in bigger CPU coolers a lot simpler. Some small form-factor motherboards are usually very closed in, making some bigger coolers inconceivable to suit. That’s a superb design aspect right here that advantages the consumer. 

The protruding M.2 fan design apart, the M.2 drives shall be safely tucked away and may stay cool. The rear of the I/O space has some good colourful outlines of the USB ports, together with patterned design. The remainder of the motherboard is fundamental, with the standard DDR5 RAM space largely for utility. The high is likewise sparse, with many of the visible motion taking place to the left aspect of the CPU with the VRM heatsink and I/O space. 

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Going round to the again, it’s largely customary fare with just a little bit of additional assist right here. While you’ll by no means see the bottom regularly, it’s good to know that the supplies and general end of all the motherboard typically really feel fairly good. 

Asrock B650E PG-ITX efficiency, software program, and BIOS 

The Asrock B650E PG-ITX motherboard features a very succesful 10+2+1 energy section with 105 amps. It might not seem as spectacular on paper as bigger ATX motherboards, however that is greater than satisfactory for even the quickest Ryzen CPUs. It additionally packs a 10-layer PCB design—which is greater than many choices. This solidifies the connections and provides you higher-quality componentry. You’ll probably be extra restricted by the precise CPU cooler in a small form-factor construct than by VRM temperatures. 

You can anticipate efficiency right here to be virtually on par with higher-end motherboards because you’ll have entry to the identical quick CPUs and DDR5 RAM. 

DDR5 can also be necessary on AM5—however with Mini-ITX motherboards, you’ll usually get solely two DIMM slots. This limits you to 64GB of RAM—which is ample for any gaming construct and even mild workstation eventualities. 

PCIe Gen 5 assist is spectacular on such a small motherboard. You’ll get the GPU slot at 16x Gen 5, plus an M.2 Gen 5 slot. While Gen 5 parts are simply barely popping out now, you’ll have greater than sufficient future-proofing right here to improve later when the expertise is extra widespread. You’ll additionally get a second Gen 4 NVMe slot, boosting your onboard capability.

Other efficiency elements of the I/O are a little bit of a miss—specifically the USB ports. While you do get eight of them, you gained’t discover any USB4 or a big choice of sooner USB 3.0 ports. You get too most of the older USB 2.0—which, whereas high quality for peripherals, definitely must be upgraded on a motherboard of this value. At least you do get some sooner USB 3.0 ports, so it’s not all dangerous information. 

To additional tweak efficiency, we’ve the Asrock BIOS. It’s largely improved from years previous, and also you’ll discover many of the ordinary RAM and CPU tweaking choices right here. While you could not wish to break any data with a Mini-ITX motherboard equivalent to this, it would definitely have some overclocking headroom relying in your cooling gear. 

Most customers shall be high quality simply setting the AMD “Expo” DDR5 RAM profile in your package, and probably some auto-overclocking equivalent to AMD “PBO” (Performance Boost Overdrive).

Asrock additionally provides software program in Windows, like many motherboard distributors. It even provides overclocking with the “Blazing OC Tuner,” which might adapt the overclock primarily based on use. While a neat thought, we usually suggest avoiding these kind of automatic-overclocking items of software program, as it may possibly typically open a can of worms with stability points if something adjustments. It’s prone to simply be a safer guess to stay to the standard in-BIOS tweaks for any modification which you could manually regulate if wanted. 

You’ll additionally get Asrock’s motherboard utility software program and Polychrome RGB. These mean you can regulate your RGB header colours, and different helpful gadgets for adjusting choices with out utilizing BIOS. An auto-driver installer will discover your drivers—such because the community gadgets—so you may have a neater time upon preliminary setup. 

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We’d suggest extra frequent BIOS updates for B650E than ordinary, because it’s a brand new platform and bugs get squished much more usually early on. Some customers might expertise longer than regular boot instances, which sure different AM5 motherboards have additionally skilled. Overall, it’s an honest exhibiting on the software program aspect for many who wish to dabble with the utility they supply. 

Is the Asrock B650E PG-ITX value it?

The Asrock B650E PG-ITX is a high quality small form-factor motherboard, with a couple of limitations. AM5 began off as an costly platform for players, and it’s slowly bettering with cheaper DDR5 pricing, together with some price financial savings with the B650 chipset in lieu of the pricier X670. 

Mini-ITX has some limitations proper off the bat, equivalent to RAM capability restricted to 64GB, and fewer “stuff” onboard. That’s no fault of the Asrock B650E PG-ITX, after all. It does skimp in a couple of areas, nonetheless—equivalent to USB 2.0. The M.2 fan can also be a doubtful selection, probably pointless, and provides to the majority (and to the noise, too—until you regulate the fan curve). 

While $289 MSRP is cheaper than some higher-end choices within the small-motherboard area, it’s nonetheless a bit on the costly aspect. We’d like to see extra strong options for that value—because it stands now, it’s simply “enough” (i.e, not an overachiever). 

Still, players shall be proud of the power to pack quick DDR5 RAM and blazing Ryzen CPUs such because the 7800X3D in such a small unit. It’s additionally succesful with trendy tech like a PCIe Gen 5 16x slot and NVMe assist. The B650 “E” offers it that additional PCIe Gen 5 increase over common B650. 

 It has sufficient options for many players to be blissful, and people searching for extra must pay a bit extra for one more possibility.