Best B650 Motherboards For AM5 Socket CPUs

I can say this out loud without any worry Motherboards are the most delicate and important hardware component inside your PC., and this is where you should be careful about spending your bucks.
Don’t skimp on the quality or cheap out because you are budget limited if your motherboard gets compromised, it’s going to take down your whole PC. Being in a competitive market since the launch of the AMD 7000 series, you only have 2 choices left.
It’s either X670 or B650, both of which have their target audience. Let’s talk about B650 first being a much more affordable option for AMD 7000 series users. We can take a look at these motherboards and what are they going to offer in their price range.
Key Points:
- Detailed comparisons between different B650 motherboards that are manufactured by different vendors
- Price-to-performance ratio and other premium features that give a B650 motherboard an edge over other vendors
- What you are buying and what is going to be more cost-effective while being the most delivering product
Best B650 Motherboard – Specs Comparison
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GIGABYTE B650 AORUS Elite AX |
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ASUS Prime B650-PLUS |
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MSI PRO B650-P |
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MSI MPG B650 Edge |
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MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk |
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ASUS ROG Strix B650-A |
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A quick look at the best b650 motherboards:
- GIGABYTE B650 AORUS Elite AX (NeoGamr’s Pick)
- ASUS Prime B650-PLUS (Best Value)
- MSI PRO B650-P (Best Budget)
- MSI MPG B650 EDGE (Premium Pick)
- MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk (Universal Pick)
- ASUS ROG Strix B650-A (Best Thermals)
Best B650 Motherboard
So now you know what you are going to read going onwards. B650 is the minimum option available for people who are looking forward to purchasing 7000 series processors.
Consider this as a modestly budgeted option for casual users, but there are some variants that are top quality and feature performance on par with X670 motherboards
That being said, let’s have a look at the best options available right now for you to purchase from the online and offline markets.
#1- GIGABYTE B650 AORUS Elite AX

– Specifications:
- Platform: AM5
- Chipset: X670
- CPU compatibility: AMD Ryzen 7000 processors
- Power: 14+2+1 digital VRM
- Storage: 4x M.2 and 4x SATA
- Form Factor: ATX
- Memory 4x DIMM Slots Supports 128Gb DDR5 6666+ (OC)
- Video Output: 1x HDMI 2.1
- Network: AMD RZ616 Wi-Fi 6E; Realtek 2.5G LAN
- Expansion Slot: 1x PCI-E 4.0 x16 slot
– Advantages:
- The B650 Aorus elite AX is the perfect motherboard if you don’t like spending too much on motherboards.
- It doesn’t burn that much of a hole in your pocket and still offers good reading and writing speeds, networking speeds, storage speeds, great performance for gaming, and good support for overclocking.
- It has balanced features with an ideal price for its performance.
– Drawbacks:
- B650 Elite AX is a well-balanced motherboard with a build focused on performance durability, but it is mid-range, so don’t expect stuff like a PCIe Gen 5.0 × 16 slots.
The B650 Aorus elite AX is the first motherboard on this list that is equipped with AMD’s B650 chip, because of this chipset and its AM5 type socket, Gigabyte’s Aorus elite AX is only compatible with AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series of processors and nothing else.
It is a midrange board with quite a few personalization options and doesn’t burn that much of a hole in your pocket.
VRM and Thermal
Gigabyte Aorus Elite AX is equipped with twin 14+2+1 digital VRM design and smart power stages of 70 amperes current, but their maximum current capacity is based on the VCORE phase.
The exceptional thermal design of this motherboard is its biggest quality. It includes high coverage MOSFET heatsink with three times the usual area, a real one-piece build, and a multi-cut design.
Apart from this, there are also integrated molding heatsinks for better thermal efficiency and airflow, along with other features like M.2 thermals guards and high-quality thermal pads for heat regulation.
Performance And Overclocking
As soon as you install the B650 Aorus Elite AX, you’ll see that it is an excellent work-station grade equipment that can handle almost anything you throw at it with ease.
It has exceptional reading and writing speeds and doesn’t falter even when it comes to memory, all the while bringing out the best of the CPU.
As for its overclocking, it is from Gigabyte, so yes, of course, it delivers on that end. To deal with the heat generated from overclocking, it employs an exceptional thermal design to keep the system at an optimum temperature.
#2- ASUS Prime B650-PLUS

– Specifications:
- Socket: AMD Socket AM5
- CPU compatibility: Ryzen 7000 series desktop processors
- Form factor: ATX
- Memory support: 4x DDR5 DIMM, Max 128GB / At 6400+ MHz (OC)
- Storage: 3x M.2, 4x SATA
- Display: 1x DP 1.4. 1x HDMI 2.1
- Networking: Realtek 2.5G LAN, WiFi 6
- Audio: Realtek S1200A
- Expansion Slot: 1x PCI-E 5.0 x16 slot
– Advantages:
- Whether you are looking for a replacement or are building on a budget, the ASUS Prime B650 Plus is one board that should be on your list either way.
- For a lesser price, it is still very much able to leverage the power contained inside AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors to support gaming or high-level editing.
– Drawbacks:
- B650 plus is a good product for your money, but it is difficult to overclock. Overclocking is easy in most motherboards and can be done with one click, but that’s not the case with the B650 most of the time.
The second motherboard on the list with a B650 chipset is ASUS’s Prime B650-Plus. ASUS is rumored to be the best when it comes to making motherboards, and they claim that their prime series is built for unleashing the full potential of the Ryzen 7000 series processors with their robust power design and comprehensive cooling options. We shall know in a bit.
VRM and Thermal
The B650 Plus has powerful VRMs, which also happen to be under intelligent control. It has a Digi+ Voltage Regulator Module feature, via which it delivers real-time control over the voltage droop and automatically switches frequency and power efficiency settings.
The thermal design is also excellent, making use of multiple heatsinks. The M.2 heatsink is flexible and takes care of both M.2 slots and wards off throttling, while the VRM heatsinks and quality thermal pads improve heat transfer from MOSFETs and choke to better cool off the system.
Performance And Overclocking
ASUS states that their ‘Prime’ series was launched keeping in mind the high number of cores and bandwidth demands of the AMD Ryzen 7000 processors, and each member of the series can provide all fundamentals to boost the daily productivity of the PC.
This provides the system with stable power and makes it ready for actions like intuitive cooling and flexible transfer of file data.
It is also unlocked for overclocking, and you can increase the clock count of the CPU as you please because the B650 Plus is reliable and can bring out the full potential of your processor.
#3- MSI PRO B650-P

– Specifications:
- Socket: AMD Socket AM5
- CPU compatibility: AMD Ryzen 7000 desktop processors
- Form factor: ATX
- Memory support: 4x DDR5 DIMM, Max 128GB / At 6400+ MHz (OC)
- Storage: 2x M.2 / 6x SATA 6G
- Display: 1x HDMI 2.1 / 1x DisplayPort 1.4
- Networking: Realtek 8125BG 2.5G LAN / AMD Wi-Fi 6E
- Audio: Realtek ALC897 7.1-Channel
- Expansion Slot: 1x PCI-E 4.0 x16 slot
– Advantages:
- The Pro B650 is a good motherboard, with its greatest feature being its extensive and comprehensive cooling design which offers a heat-free environment inside the PC.
- The second best thing about it is its price tag. It is a more than viable option if you are building on a budget.
– Drawbacks:
- Though this might be a better option for a budget build, it is not able to overclock as well as one might expect it to.
The third nominee on this list of motherboards with the B650 chipset is MSI’s Pro B650-P. It’s from their Pro lineup, and MSI claims that this series is designed for ‘professionals from all walks of life.’
Their lineup does indeed feature impressive features and high-quality products, which offer nothing short of an incredible experience owing to their design, build, and efficiency.
VRM and Thermal
Pro B650-P’s VRM is strong and reliable and can handle the increased voltage requirements during overclocking with ease without overheating because it has been augmented by a thermal design containing an extended heatsink with an enlarged area for more efficient heat dissipation during heavy load performance.
The M.2 shield froze solution helps keep the SSD safe while the heavy-plated VRM heatsink covers the upper MOS. The MOSFET and choke thermal pads also absorb extra heat, while the chipset heatsink keeps the chip at an optimum temperature for proper function.
Performance And Overclocking
The MSI Pro B650-P so far has been everything that MSI promised all the products of its PRO lineup would be. It is a flashy motherboard with a pleasant look, but it is more performant than it seems.
It has good networking, equally good reading and writing speeds, and speeds for accessing storage are just as satisfactory. All this performance is even more enhanced by overclocking. There is an easy overclocking option in the motherboard with an EXPO profile.
The expo was established by MSI after thorough testing with every popular memory brand, and you can enable the expo profile with auto power settings to get the best performance.
#4- MSI MPG B650 EDGE

– Specifications:
- Socket: AMD Socket AM5
- CPU compatibility: AMD Ryzen 7000 desktop processors
- Form factor: ATX
- Memory support: 4x DDR5 DIMM, Max 128GB / At 6600+ MHz (OC)
- Storage: 3x M.2 / 6x SATA 6G
- Display: 1x HDMI 2.1 / 1x DisplayPort 1.4
- Networking: Realtek RTL8125BG / Wi-Fi 6E
- Audio: Realtek ALC4080 7.1-Channel
- Expansion Slot: 1x PCI-E 4.0 x16 slot
– Advantages:
- The B650-Edge has excellent component quality offered at an incredibly valuable price, and though it has exceptional looks, it does not lack performance either.
- It has good connectivity, 4 SATA Ports, great hardware, and a direct power phase which makes it an asset to be desired.
– Drawbacks:
- Even after so many great features, it lacks a display port and has no PCIe 5.0 16x because of its chipset. No RGB lighting on PCB, either.
The fourth entry on this list of motherboards equipped with AMD’s B650 Chipset is perhaps the most dazzling of all the nominees yet. Coming in style and with a silver-white scheme, it is the MSI MPG B650-Edge.
It is hard not to admire its pleasing looks and design, especially the dragon stamped on the extended heatsink in a purple and teal-blue color scheme. It is not all looks, however.
VRM and Thermal
Like all MSI boards, the MPG B650-edge has the same reliable voltage regulation mechanism. MSI boards have a reputation for being flashy and robust, especially this one, and all that is achieved through a steady current/power supply maintained by a reliable potential difference.
Not just that, but it also has an excellent thermal design to maintain a steady optimum temperature. The design employs an extended heatsink with an enlarged surface area on which the dragon logo is stamped.
M.2 shield froze to protect SSD and remove throttling along with pump fan supports and six layers of server-grade PCB.
Performance And Overclocking
The B650-Edge is extremely performant with MSI gen 4.0 PCIe representing the bandwidth of 64 gigs per second of an x16 interface, double that of the previous gens.
It has fast and advanced storage, with the board supporting the latest storage standards allowing users to connect to different fast storage devices and using USB 3.2 devices has never been faster with any board.
You can connect and boost your USB devices and enjoy USB transfer speeds of up to 20 Gigabytes per second. It also has the Expo Profile for overclocking your PC.
#5- MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk

– Specifications:
- Socket: AMD Socket AM5
- CPU compatibility: AMD Ryzen 7000 desktop processors
- Form factor: ATX
- Memory support: 4x DDR5 DIMM, Max 128GB / At 6600+ MHz (OC)
- Storage: 3x M.2 / 6x SATA 6G
- Display: 1x HDMI 2.1 / 1x DisplayPort 1.4
- Networking: Realtek RTL8125B LAN / Wi-Fi 6E
- Audio: Realtek ALC4080 7.1 Chanenl
- Expansion Slot: 2x PCI-E 4.0 x16 slot
– Advantages:
- The Tomahawk is built nicely with the high-speed transmission, a premium thermal solution, and above all that, it goes easy on the eye and is a piece of military equipment in your hand.
- It even offers studio-grade audio along with easy overclocking and MSI center.
– Drawbacks:
- Even after being extremely affordable and efficient, it lacks a PCIe 5.0 slot and offers no support for it.
The Tomahawk is the fifth nominee on this list equipped with a B650-type chipset. Its lineup, i.e., ‘The MAG Series,’ was launched by MSI with a re-envisioned focus on performance durability so that the boards developed can handle better gaming load without much effort and overheating, and as per MSI, the components utilized were ‘Military inspired.’
VRM and Thermal
Voltage regulation of the Tomahawk is decent, and it aptly distributes all the potential that it receives from the power supply unit and establishes stable connectivity.
Concerning the thermal design, there is an extended heatsink of increased surface area as compared to previous generations for efficient dissipation and temperature control.
Along with the main heatsink, The M.2 Frozr heat sinks also ward off any case of throttling in the SSD slots. Their strength is increased by a pump fan support and 7 W/mK thermal pads of high quality.
Performance And Overclocking
The Tomahawk is anything but dull and responds actively. It has an MSI lightning Gen 4.0 PCIe with an x16 interface that boasts a bandwidth of 64 GBs per second and is reinforced with steel armor.
The storage speeds are also faster, which makes your games load faster and gives you an upper hand on your opponents. Along with this, USB transfer speeds are also exceptional.
The motherboard is also unlocked for overclocking, and there is a feature of “1-second Overclocking,” which you can enable via the MSI Game Boost option, and it will boost your PC for the best gaming performance.
#6- ASUS ROG Strix B650-A

– Specifications:
- Socket: AMD Socket AM5
- CPU compatibility: AMD Ryzen 7000 desktop processors
- Form factor: ATX
- Memory support: 4x DDR5 DIMM, Max 128GB / At 6600+ MHz (OC)
- Storage: 3x M.2 / 4x SATA 6G
- Display: 1x HDMI 2.1 / 1x DisplayPort 1.4
- Networking: 1x Intel 2.5Gb LAN / Wi-Fi 6E
- Audio: ROG SupremeFX 7.1 Channel
- Expansion Slot: 1x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot
– Advantages:
- It offers easy installation of GPUs and SSDs and has simple, uncomplicated BIOS updates. Lightning-fast storage is in your arsenal with a PCIe 5.0 and 2 PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, all with separate heatsinks.
- It also has high-end alloy chokes with quality capacitors and 6 layered PCB
– Drawbacks:
- It is on the pricey side of things and lacks USB ports of speed 40 Gbps. Moreover, the third M.2 slot fights bandwidth with the bottom PCIe 4.0 x16 slot.
The last of the boards on this list to incorporate a B650 chipset is the B650-A from the Republic of Gamers lineup of ASUS.
The company is known for making quality motherboards, but its ROG lineup maintains a tight emphasis on gaming performance, design, and product durability, making its products a continuation of their lasting legacy.
VRM and Thermal
As is expected of ASUS, their products deliver a steady link between all the different components joined because of the correct regulation and modulation of the voltage supplied by VRMs.
Voltage drops across resistors dissipate a lot of heat, but thankfully, due to the intensive thermal planning involved in the board, it stays cool and stable.
It has heatsinks to take care of the VRMs, three different heatsinks for all the M.2 slots to chase off any throttling with the SSDs, and a heatsink to keep the temperature of the chipset low too.
Performance And Overclocking
The B650-A delivers where it is needed and is more than capable of handling the increased power demands of the new Ryzen processors.
Though it may get a little hot when you use something like the 7950X, the heavy plates heatsinks take care of that. Overall, the B650-A has fast reading and writing speeds, lightning access to memory, and thunderous networking.
It is unlocked for overclocking, and you can increase the CPU voltage and, consequently, current to increase performance opportunistically via AMD’s Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO).
What Should You Consider While Picking The Best B650 Motherboard?
Since we are talking about B650 motherboards, I can assume that price might be the biggest factor that could come into play while looking at these motherboards because otherwise, you would have chosen the X670 chipset ( which is significantly costlier ).
You should be looking for the best motherboard available at a minimal price. Bonus points if you can score a great discount on any holiday.
And, of course, cheap motherboards aren’t reliable when it comes to quality, so you have to strike a balance between these two factors
Heatsink And Cooling Performance
Imagine you finished building your PC, and you are now gearing up for a high-quality gaming experience. Afterwhile you start noticing lag, thermal throttling, unstable temps, and Voltage.
You are now worried that even after spending a lot of money, you are not getting what you were expecting.
This is what you can call the result of poor heatsinks and poor-quality VRMs. Always research and pick the best option you can, even if you have to increase your budget.
Features Overall Value
This is mostly dependent on the vendors and different variants of the same motherboard, but it is worth looking forward to. B650 is a budget option for most gamers, but even this motherboard offers amazing features and support.
You can see in most variants premium features like PCIe 5.0 connectivity, DDR5 memory, and M.2 Slots. As you increase your budget, you will get more expansion slots, USB ports, and other convenient options for connectivity.
Overclocking Support, And Speed
VRM is not related to or influential in overclocking, but it does play a role in providing stable potential overall. Every motherboard does support overclocking, but very few offer stability and consistency, which plays a huge role in a performance gain.
If you love to experiment with your processor and RAM by overclocking them to their full potential, go for B650, which has a powerful VRM and premium heatsinks for VRM
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My Final Verdict:
One thing is certain, you are going for B650 instead of X670 chipsets because of affordability. But some variants of B650 offer features on par with X670 chipsets while staying cheaper.
You can get yourself a motherboard in your comfortable range that will satisfy your needs and erase any concerns. My pick from this recommendation list would be ASUS prime B650-Plus.
It is affordable, not expensive, and yet offers great features and overclocking potential. Perfect choice for gamers, streamers, and editors. Go for this if you want to save up on money and don’t want to spend more on the motherboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Are B650 motherboards good?
Despite being cheaper than X670, b650 motherboards are a great choice for gamers who are looking forward to enjoying premium features without spending more.
Question 2: Does B650 support DDR5?
B650 does support DDR5 RAM. DDR5 ram provides 50% faster performance than DDR4 RAM. B650 motherboards also provide support for overclocking DDR5 RAMs.
Question 3: Does B650 support DDR4?
According to AMD, there are currently no plans of introducing DDR4 RAM for AMD 7000 series chipsets. AMD users have no choice but to purchase DDR5 RAM, which is quite expensive when compared to DDR4.
Question 4: Is B650 better than Z690?
There can be no comparison made between these two motherboards because both are entirely different chipsets made by different manufacturers, B650 supports AMD Zen4 processors and Z690 is the intel motherboard with Alder lake 13th Gen support.
Question 5: Will B650 support AM4?
There is no support available for AM4 architecture processors right now. B650 will only accommodate AMD 7000 series processors along with the only support of DDR5 RAM.