Price When Reviewed

$239

Best Prices Today: Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi

AMD’s next-generation AM5 Ryzen 7000 CPUs carry some breakneck speeds to your PC. While a few of the preliminary rollout was slowed down by the upper platform prices, the introduction of the B650 chipset is bringing zippy efficiency to extra reasonably priced motherboards.  

One “TUF” choice that appears to interrupt the ice is the Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi. Slotted proper under the corporate’s common ROG lineup, this collection of motherboards is streamlined to offer you good value-to-performance. It’s focused squarely at players, because the title implies. 

The motherboard packs some cool seems, and an excellent cooler $239 MSRP. Let’s check out its specs, options, design, and efficiency. Does this motherboard present the precise stuff for the greenback—or are you higher off wanting elsewhere? Let’s discover out!

Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi: Specs and options

• ATX type issue 
• Support AMD AM5 Ryzen 7000 CPUs 
• 12+2 Power Stages rated at 60A
• DDR5 RAM, twin channel as much as 4 DIMMs (as much as 128GB)
• 3x onboard M.2 slots (1x PCIe Gen 5)
• 1x PCIe 16x slot (CPU)
• 1x PCIe16x slot (chipset)
• 2x PCIe 4.0 1x slots 
• DisplayPort and HDMI
• 8x USB ports on again 
• Realtek 2.5GbE LAN
• Wi-Fi 6E 
• RGB headers for Aura Sync
• 4 SATA 6Gb/s ports 
• 7 fan headers (CPU, AIO, chassis) 
• BIOS Flashback button
• Preinstalled I/O defend 
• Realtek 7.1 audio codec
• MSRP $239.99

The Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi packs an MSRP of $239, bringing a extra reasonably priced motherboard to players taking a look at Ryzen 7000. 

It’s constructed on the inspiration of the B650 chipset—which is a slimmed down model of X670E. You’re additionally getting large worth financial savings, as many options discovered on the X670E are overkill for many customers (additional USB and SATA ports, extra PCIe Gen 5 lanes, and so on.). B650 provides you greater than sufficient for many customers, nevertheless. 

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You’ll get the standard equipment akin to Wi-Fi antenna, driver CD, and SATA cables inside the field. We’d like to see USB driver drives on each motherboard sooner or later as an alternative! 

Let’s go over the options and why they matter for many who will use it day after day.

CPU alternative 

Want to slap within the mighty Ryzen 9 7950X? You’ll be capable to do this right here, as all new Ryzen 7000 CPUs are supported. The non-X variants work, and so will the upcoming “X3D” fashions, such because the Ryzen 7800X3D. For a gaming motherboard at this pricing tier, it’s top to pair it with CPUs such because the Ryzen 5 7600X or Ryzen 7 7700X for finest “bang for the buck.” AM5 also needs to have longevity going for it, with different supported CPUs sooner or later.

DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 5

You’re getting DDR5 RAM right here with nice speeds in comparison with DDR4. Prices for DDR5 have been taking place, in order that they’re an increasing number of accessible. AMD doesn’t supply DDR4 on AM5 in contrast to what Intel has finished with Z790 chipset, nevertheless. 

While you additionally get PCIe Gen 5, it’s solely on a single M.2 slot. Theoretically it’s quicker than PCIe Gen 4, however there isn’t but {hardware} proper now to totally make the most of this. Your PCIe slots will likely be Gen 4, which is greater than able to tackling even the most recent GPUs such because the Nvidia RTX 4090. 

Storage

NVMe drives are all the fashion—and also you’ll have three accessible slots on this motherboard. This is the proper quantity for players wanting quick efficiency now and future expandability later. Content creators might discover they require a pair extra, however they’ll even have entry to the 4 SATA ports for his or her plain-ol’ laborious drives, too. Power customers doubtless will discover this inadequate, in order that they’ll have to up their funds. 

USB ports 

With eight rear USB ports, together with USB-C, you’ll have a lot for the common gaming construct. At this worth level, you’re not getting USB4’s speedy prowess, or any Thunderbolt 4. Creators needing these specs must shell out extra cash for pricier choices sadly. 

You do get USB4 help by way of the Thunderbolt 4 header on the motherboard itself, however not on the rear natively. 

One nice function of Ryzen 7000 CPUs is the built-in “iGPU,” permitting you to diagnose your system with out a discreet GPU hooked up. You’ll have each DisplayPort and HDMI out right here, which may come in useful.

Networking

Connectivity choices are good, with Realtek 2.5Gb ethernet. As anticipated, 10Gb LAN is just accessible on high motherboards, however you’ll additionally get Wi-Fi 6E. The community suite right here is often precisely what most players might want to get related in a speedy method.  

Audio

Audio is Realtek’s 7.1 encompass sound, with loads of audio jacks accessible on the again. This will likely be greater than sufficient for many customers—and people choosy about audio can at all times use an exterior resolution.

Other fascinating options

Even with the cheaper worth level, Asus contains some nice options discovered on higher-end motherboards: Q-Latch for M.2 drives, Q-LED debug codes, and the built-in I/O defend. This makes for a way more trouble-free constructing expertise! It’d be nice to see the PCIe Q-Release button for GPUs sooner or later, too. 

With each BIOS Flashback and Q-LED, it’s a lot simpler to search out and get well from issues—including options that used to solely be on higher-end boards. 

Overall, it’s a targeted function set that’s focused on the necessary fundamentals that players will make the most of, with out a lot pointless additions to up the worth. 

Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi: Design

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The Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi is minimalist and easy. It has a really attention-grabbing aesthetic, with out feeling low-cost. It achieves this utilizing easy, darker colours, accented solely by the occasional yellow. 

This simplicity continues with the I/O and VRM areas, extremely angular designs that just about look stealthy. It provides this motherboard Call of Duty vibes. DDR5 RAM slots are properly seen with alternating black and gray. 

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As we take a gander on the backside half of the motherboard, it’s significantly sparser. While on some motherboards this might make it look unfinished or low-cost, right here it really works properly with the general aesthetic.

Instead of leaving the M.2 slots uncovered, Asus has added some properly designed thermal covers to them. This serves each aesthetics and performance—it retains these drives cool!

The rear and I/O defend space proceed with related straightforwardness. A TUF brand is usually all that adorns the world, which has a key function: built-in I/O defend! No extra “forgetting” that one final piece whereas constructing—a very welcomed design alternative right here.

Overall, you’ll be proud of the construct high quality and selection of supplies right here. For the worth, you’re nonetheless getting a goal pushed motherboard that doesn’t look low-cost—however feels extremely targeted. 

Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi: Performance, software program, and BIOS

The Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi presents itself as your “mission” companion.  In the warmth of a recreation, it should serve any of Ryzen 7000 CPUs effectively. While one thing just like the content-creator targeted Ryzen 9 7950X will do superb, it’s actually priced for the gamer-friendly mid-level Ryzen CPUs such because the Ryzen 5 7600X. 

The 12+2 energy phases can deal with gaming workloads like a seasoned professional—and even some overclocking. Similarly, DDR5 help provides you a few of the quickest speeds in the marketplace at the moment—lowering any potential bottlenecks in your efficiency pipeline. 

While you don’t have an abundance of PCIe Gen 5 lanes right here—solely a single one for the M.2—Gen 4 is greater than ample for efficiency throughout the board. This means your GPU will nonetheless hit its max potential, and the one efficiency you’re theoretically lacking is when PCIe Gen 5 M.2 drives lastly land. (And some limitations you’ll have by having “less” PCIe lane bandwidth in comparison with X670E.) 

Are there motherboards that may help you clock your CPU or RAM just a few insignificant factors increased? Sure, however you’ll additionally should pay way more—cementing the B650-Plus Gaming WiFi as an amazing worth. 

The BIOS is the place you’d do that mad scientist work and it’s constructed Asus “TUF.” It has loads of strong adjustment choices for tinkerers. Easily change parameters for RAM, CPU, laborious drives, and loads of different choices. For these in search of a extra streamlined method, you may merely pop on the “Expo” profile to your DDR5 RAM and name it a day. 

It may also do numerous computerized and “Ai” overclocking in the event you’d need it to, even reflecting off your cooling resolution functionality. AMD’s PBO, or Performance Boost Overdrive, auto overclocking can also be right here to offer you an additional increase (keep in mind, it could additionally up energy draw and warmth).

If you favor to go away the BIOS alone after setting your Expo DDR5 profile, Asus “Armoury Crate” software program has in-Windows tunability. This expansive motherboard software program suite can do all of it. Update your drivers robotically? Check. Set fan profiles with Fan Xpert? Check. Configure your RGB Aura Sync settings? Double verify.

Overall, the TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi packs many of the important efficiency—all for a “TUF” worth (as in: cheaper!).

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Should you purchase the Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi?

The Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi’s $239 MSRP lastly brings down the common motherboard worth on this technology. It does so by offering simply the precise contains a gamer wants, sensibly and with stability. 

While the intense, nearly navy design means you’re not getting big OLED screens or huge PCB heatsinks, it additionally means a less expensive value. It does this stealthily with out showing to chop corners—by presenting a no-frills design language that works. 

For the gamer who doesn’t wish to break the financial institution, however nonetheless desires options and appeal, this board is an effective worth. Enthusiast customers who want the bigger function set akin to USB4 or extra NVMe slots might want to have a look at higher-priced choices.