Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi review: TUF enough for anything

At a look

Skilled’s Score

Professionals

Easy however full characteristic set (WiFi, DDR5, and so on.)
Minimal design aesthetic with out feeling low-cost
Some PCIe Gen 5, help for AM5 Ryzen 7000
$239 MSRP is nice in a sea of dearer choices

Cons

Solely three M.2 slots (one being PCIe Gen 5)
Gamer-heavy design and have set (content material creators might want extra I/O, USB, and so on.)

Our Verdict

The Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi is a no-frills motherboard with a surprisingly full set of options similar to Wi-Fi, DDR5, and extra. The muted design makes it really feel a bit spartan, however you possibly can’t argue with the value and avid gamers particularly will discover it a very good worth.

Value When Reviewed

$239

Finest Costs At the moment: Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi

AMD’s next-generation AM5 Ryzen 7000 CPUs carry some breakneck speeds to your PC. Whereas a number 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 fashionable ROG lineup, this sequence of motherboards is streamlined to offer you good value-to-performance. It’s focused squarely at avid gamers, because the identify 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 best stuff for the greenback—or are you higher off wanting elsewhere? Let’s discover out!

Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi: Specs and options

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ATX type issue
Help AMD AM5 Ryzen 7000 CPUs
12+2 Energy Phases 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 protect
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 avid gamers taking a look at Ryzen 7000.

It’s constructed on the muse of the B650 chipset—which is a slimmed down model of X670E. You’re additionally getting massive value 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 offers you greater than sufficient for many customers, nevertheless.

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You’ll get the standard equipment similar to Wi-Fi antenna, driver CD, and SATA cables throughout 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 individuals who will use it daily.

CPU alternative

Wish to slap within the mighty Ryzen 9 7950X? You’ll be capable of 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. Costs for DDR5 have been happening, so that they’re increasingly more accessible. AMD doesn’t supply DDR4 on AM5 not like what Intel has finished with Z790 chipset, nevertheless.

When 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 completely make the most of this. Your PCIe slots might be Gen 4, which is greater than able to tackling even the newest GPUs such because the Nvidia RTX 4090.

Storage

NVMe drives are all the trend—and also you’ll have three accessible slots on this motherboard. That is the right quantity for avid gamers wanting quick efficiency now and future expandability later. Content material creators could discover they require a pair extra, however they’ll even have entry to the 4 SATA ports for his or her plain-ol’ exhausting drives, too. Energy customers probably will discover this inadequate, so that they’ll have to up their funds.

Even with the cheaper value 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 protect.

USB ports

With eight rear USB ports, together with USB-C, you’ll have a lot for the typical gaming construct. At this value level, you’re not getting USB4’s speedy prowess, or any Thunderbolt 4. Creators needing these specs must shell out additional 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 characteristic of Ryzen 7000 CPUs is the built-in “iGPU,” permitting you to diagnose your system with out a discreet GPU connected. You’ll have each DisplayPort and HDMI out right here, which might come in useful.

Networking

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

Audio

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

Different fascinating options

Even with the cheaper value 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 protect. This makes for a way more trouble-free constructing expertise! It’d be nice to see the PCIe Q-Launch 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.

General, it’s a centered characteristic set that’s focused on the vital fundamentals that avid gamers will make the most of, with out a lot pointless additions to up the value.

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 offers this motherboard Name of Responsibility 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. Whereas on some motherboards this might make it look unfinished or low-cost, right here it really works properly with the general aesthetic.

As an alternative 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 protect space proceed with related straightforwardness. A TUF emblem is usually all that adorns the realm, which has a key characteristic: built-in I/O protect! No extra “forgetting” that one final piece whereas constructing—a really welcomed design alternative right here.

General, you’ll be pleased with the construct high quality and selection of supplies right here. For the value, you’re nonetheless getting a function pushed motherboard that doesn’t look low-cost—however feels extremely centered.

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

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

The 12+2 energy levels can deal with gaming workloads like a seasoned professional—and even some overclocking. Equally, DDR5 help offers you a number of the quickest speeds in the marketplace at present—lowering any potential bottlenecks in your efficiency pipeline.

When 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 enough for efficiency throughout the board. This implies 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 a few limitations you’ll have by having “much less” PCIe lane bandwidth in comparison with X670E.)

Are there motherboards that can will let you clock your CPU or RAM a couple of insignificant factors larger? Positive, however you’ll additionally need to pay way more—cementing the B650-Plus Gaming WiFi as a fantastic 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. Simply change parameters for RAM, CPU, exhausting drives, and loads of different choices. For these in search of a extra streamlined method, you possibly can merely pop on the “Expo” profile to your DDR5 RAM and name it a day.

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

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

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

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Do you have to purchase the Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi?

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

Whereas the intense, nearly navy design means you’re not getting big OLED screens or large PCB heatsinks, it additionally means a less expensive price. 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 need to break the financial institution, however nonetheless needs options and allure, this board is an efficient worth. Fanatic customers who want the bigger characteristic set similar to USB4 or extra NVMe slots might want to have a look at higher-priced choices.

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