Review of Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi motherboard based on AMD B650 chipset

We continue to explore the features of motherboards, including their internal design, power supply capabilities, the range of supported peripherals and software intended for the end consumer.

Today we are looking at a motherboard based on the mid-budget AMD B650 chipset. Let us remind you that the top AMD X670/X670E chipsets consist of two physical chips — “upstream” and “downstream”, each of which is similar to the B650/650E. In other words, X670 = 2x B650. However, when using two B650 in tandem mode as an X670, not all the characteristics of the B650 are doubled: for example, the B650 has 8 PCIe 4.0 lanes, but the X670 has 12, not 16. In addition, the number of USB 3.2 Gen2 ports on the B650 is up to 6, while the X670 does not have up to 12, but only up to 8.

The differences between the B650 and X670 chipsets are the support for PCIe versions of the PCIe x16 slot: the B650 supports PCIe 4.0, and the B650E supports PCIe 5.0.

Here are the main differences between the B650 and X670 chipsets:

Now let's return to the motherboard itself.

Today we tested a motherboard from Asus from the expensive ROG Strix gaming series, essentially a flagship model based on the mid-budget AMD B650 chipset.

Well, here it is, Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi .

The board comes in a standard box of a proprietary design (the light colors of the box cover seem to emphasize the design feature with silver radiators). The kit is located under the board in a separate compartment.

In addition to traditional elements such as the user manual and SATA cables, the package includes spare locking levers for M.2 slots, a proprietary ROG cable tie, one set of thermal pads for the M.2 slot, black cable ties and an antenna for wireless communication.

There's no software included, but you'll still have to download it from the company's website to get the latest drivers and software.

The “plug” for the rear panel with connectors is already mounted on the board itself.

The ATX form factor has dimensions up to 305x244 mm, and E-ATX — up to 305x330 mm. The Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi motherboard has dimensions of 305x244 mm, therefore it is made in the ATX form factor, and it has 9 mounting holes for installation in the case.

The reverse side is almost empty (there is only a lone PWM controller). The textolite is processed: at all soldering points the sharp ends are cut off. There is no backplate.

You can see the ingenious delicacies of designers in decorating the back side of the PCB. A beautiful, even somewhere masterpiece, embodiment of the three-dimensional looking Strix inscription. It’s a pity that all this will only be seen briefly by the person who assembles the PC -).

Traditional table with a list of functional features.

Scheme of operation of the chipset + processor combination.

Ryzen 7000 processors support:

• 3 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C ports,
• 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A port,
• 1 USB 2.0 port,
• 28 I/O lines (including PCI-E 5.0):
  • 4 lines of them go to interact with X670/X670E,
  • 16 lines are PCI-E 5.0 slots for video cards,
  • 8 PCIe 5.0 lanes left:
    • 4 lines is an M.2 slot,
    • the remaining 4 can be configured by motherboard manufacturers to choose from.

In turn, the B650/B650E chipset supports up to:

• 6 USB 3.2 Gen2 ports,
• 1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 port,
• 6 USB 2.0 ports,
• 12 I/O lines:
  • lane distribution: 8 PCIe 4.0 + 4 PCIe 3.0;
  • PCIe 3.0 lanes can include up to 4 SATA ports.

Thus, in total from the B650/B650E+Ryzen 7000 tandem we get:

• 16 PCI-E 5.0 lines for video cards (from the processor);
• 1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 port (from the chipset);
• 10 USB 3.2 Gen2 ports (4 from the processor, 6 from the chipset);
• 7 USB 2.0 ports (1 from the processor, 6 from the chipset);
• 4 SATA 6Gb/s ports (from the chipset, included in the PCIe 3.0 lanes)
• 8 PCIe 5.0 lines (from the processor), 4 of which are per M.2 slot, 4 can form different combinations of ports and slots (depending on the motherboard manufacturer);
• 8 PCI-E 4.0 lanes (from the chipset), which can form different combinations of ports and slots (depending on the motherboard manufacturer);
• 4 PCI-E 3.0 lanes (from the chipset), which can form different combinations of ports and slots (depending on the motherboard manufacturer).

Total: up to 18 USB ports, 20 free PCI-E lines (including up to 4 SATA ports).

Let me remind you once again that the AMD B650 and B650E chipsets are completely equivalent in functionality (set of ports and lines), but the PCIe x16 slot (for video cards) receiving data from the processor in the case of the B650E receives version PCIe 5.0, and in the case of the B650 — 4.0. The absence of version 5.0 of the video card slot helps reduce the cost of motherboards in the case of the B650, because developers will be able to save on PCIe 5.0 signal amplifiers (redrivers), which are still very expensive, and also motherboards with a “non-E” chipset do not have extremely stringent requirements to the PCB layout to avoid signal distortion.

The new generation of Ryzen 7xxx supports both traditional DDR5 memory modules with Intel XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) (which, via Direct Over Clock Profile (DOCP), are adjusted to the characteristics inherent in XMP), and modules with AMD’s proprietary Expo profile.

Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi supports AMD 7000 generation processors made for socket AM5.

To install memory modules, the board has four DIMM slots (for memory to work in Dual Channel, if only 2 modules are used, they should be installed in A2 and B2). The board supports unbuffered DDR5 memory, and the maximum memory capacity is 192 GB. XMP and Expo profiles are supported.

DIMM slots do not have a metal frame, which prevents deformation of the slots and printed circuit board when installing memory modules and protects against electromagnetic interference. But at the same time, in the place of the lock on the slots (where the memory modules have a cutout), there is a metal insert that increases the reliability of installing DIMMs.

Above we examined the potential capabilities of the B650+Ryzen tandem, and now let’s see what of this and how it is implemented in this motherboard.

So, in addition to the USB ports, which we will come to later, the B650 chipset has 12 PCIe lanes. We count how many lines go to support (communication) with a particular element:

• PCIe x1_1 slot ( 1 PCIe 4.0 lane );
• PCIe x1_2 slot ( 1 PCIe 4.0 lane );
• Switch : either PCIe x16_2 slot ( 4 PCIe 4.0 lanes) or M.2_3 port ( 4 PCIe 4.0 lanes);
• SATA 0,1,2,3 ( 4 PCIe 3.0 lanes );
• Intel i225-V (Ethernet 2.5 Gb/s) ( 1 PCIe 4.0 line );
• AMD RX616 WIFI/BT (Wireless) ( 1 PCIe 4.0 lane )

12 PCIe lanes (8 version 4.0 and 4 version 3.0) were occupied, including 4 SATA ports from the B650.

Now let's look above at how processors work in this configuration. All Ryzen 7xxx have 24 PCIe lanes (plus 4 lanes for the downlink with the chipset). Let's look at the distribution:

• M.2 port (M2_1) ( 4 PCIe 5.0 lanes );
• PCIe x16_1 slot ( 16 PCIe 4.0 lanes );
• M.2 port (M2_2) ( 4 PCIe 4.0 lanes )

All lines from the processor are also busy.

Although Ryzen processors have a built-in High Definition Audio (HDA) controller (therefore, communication with older audio codecs occurs through PCI bus emulation), the Realtek RTL4080 requires a USB 2.0 line from the B650. And the Genesys Logic GL850G USB 2.0 controller uses the USB 2.0 line from the CPU (details below in the USB ports section).

Above is a complete diagram of resource distribution among PCIe slots. In total, the board has 4 PCIe slots: two “long” PCIe x16 (_1/_2) and two PCIe x1 slots (_1/_2). The first PCIe x16_1 receives data from the processor, the other three from the B650.

The second “long” PCIe x16_2 slot supports a total of 4 PCIe 4.0 lanes, receiving data from the B650, while it shares resources with the M.2_3 port (as shown in the diagram above), that is, they work in a mutually exclusive manner.

The first PCIe x16_1 slot (for video cards) has stainless steel metal reinforcement, which increases reliability (which can be important if you change video cards quite often, but more importantly: such a slot will more easily withstand bending loads in the case of installing a very heavy top-level video card In addition, such protection protects the slots from electromagnetic interference.

We again see some kind of convenient lever to release the latch on the first PCIe x16_1 slot.

Indeed, it is sometimes extremely inconvenient to reach the “tail” of the slot, where you need to press the latch to unlock the card in the slot: after all, as a rule, above the first PCIe slot there is an M.2 slot with a heatsink, and you can’t reach the latch with your finger.

The motherboard allows you to mount a CO of any size.

Since there are switches between the PCIe x16_2 slot and the M.2_3 port, multiplexers from ASMedia are in demand.

To maintain stable frequencies on the PCIe 5.0 bus, there are signal amplifiers from Phison.

Next up are storage devices.

In total, the board has 4 Serial ATA 6 Gb/s connectors + 3 slots for drives in the M.2 form factor. 4 SATA 1,2,3,4 ports are implemented via the B650 chipset and support RAID creation.

The motherboard has 3 M.2 form factor slots.

The third M.2_3 slot receives data from the B650 chipset, and the first M.2_1 receives data from the CPU (PCIe 5.0), and the second M.2_2 also from the processor (PCIe 4.0). All slots work with modules with a PCIe interface only.

Let me remind you that the PCIe x16_2 slot (supports only 4 PCIe 4.0 lanes) shares resources with the M.2_3 port, and they work in a mutually exclusive manner.

All slots support module sizes: 2242/2260/2280, and M.2_3 allows you to install modules with sizes up to 22110 inclusive. Of particular note is the way M.2 drives are secured in the slots: through twist locks installed on the stands, which eliminates the need for those very small screws that are easy to lose.

All M.2 slots have heatsinks, and each has its own separate heatsink.

Now comes USB ports and other I/O. And let's start with the back panel, where most of them are located.

Let us repeat: the B650 chipset is capable of implementing the maximum: 6 USB 3.2 Gen2/1 ports, 1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2, 6 USB 2.0 ports. The Ryzen 7000 processor is capable of implementing up to 4 USB 3.2 Gen2 and 1 USB 2.0 ports.

We also remember about the 12 PCIe lanes from the chipset, which are used to support drives, network and other controllers (I have already shown above what and how all 12 lines are used).

So what do we have? There are a total of 16 USB ports on the motherboard:

• 1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 port: implemented using the B650 and presented on the rear panel with a Type-C port;
• 5 USB 3.2 Gen2 ports: 4 are implemented via the CPU and are represented by: 3 — on the rear panel with Type-A ports (red); 1 – on the rear panel with a Type-C port; 1 more is implemented via B650 and is represented by an internal Type-C port

(for connection to the corresponding connector on the front panel of the case);

• 2 USB 3.2 Gen1 ports: implemented via B650 and represented by an internal connector

on the motherboard for 2 ports;

• 8 USB 2.0/1.1 ports: 4 implemented via Genesys Logic GL850G controller

Thus, we have 3 controllers using USB lines:

• Genesys Logic GL850G (USB 2.0 hub) ( 1 USB 2.0 line );
• Audio ( 1 USB 2.0 line);
• Bluetooth/WiFi (RZ616) ( 1 USB 2.0 line).

Let me remind you that in this case the Realtek ALC4080 audio codec uses USB 2.0 lines, not HDA.

So, high-speed USB ports are implemented through the B650 chipset:

• + 1 dedicated USB 3.2 Gen2x2;
• + 1 dedicated USB 3.2 Gen2;
• + 2 dedicated USB 3.2 Gen1

= 4 high speed ports . Plus 4 dedicated and 2 USB 2.0 ports for providing controllers. A total of 10 USB ports are implemented .

Well, 12 PCIe lanes allocated to support other peripherals. In total, the B650 in this case has 16 high-speed ports .

All fast USB Type-C ports are equipped with re-drivers that provide a stable voltage that can ensure fast charging of mobile gadgets through them.

Now about networking matters.

The motherboard is decently equipped with communication facilities. There is one high-speed Ethernet controller: Intel I226-V, capable of operating according to the 2.5 Gbit/s standard.

There is also a comprehensive wireless adapter on the MediaTek MT7922A22M controller (AMD RZ616), through which Wi-Fi 6E (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) and Bluetooth 5.2 are implemented. It is installed in the M.2 (E-key) slot, and its connectors for screwing in external antennas are located on the rear panel.

The plug, traditionally placed on the back panel, in this case is already put on and is shielded from the inside to reduce electromagnetic interference.

We know that in almost all modern motherboards the audio codec is a product from Realtek, providing audio output at circuits up to 7.1, most recently this has become the ALC4080 with 32-bit / 384 kHz characteristics. Asus designers sometimes hide the codec markings with a cover, declaring it as SupremeFX protection.

The audio subsystem also has a Savitech SV3H712 operational amplifier.

The audio circuits of the board use “audiophile” Nichicon Fine Gold capacitors.

The audio path is located on the corner part of the board and does not intersect with other elements. All audio connectors on the rear panel have the usual color scheme.

S/PDIF in this case is implemented as an internal connector.

To power the board, there are 3 connectors on it: in addition to the 24-pin ATX (it is on the right side of the board (on the left in the photo), there are two more EPS12V (8-pin and 4-pin).

Externally, the power supply circuit looks like 13+2+1: 13 phases — processor core, 2 phases — SoC (Ryzen I/O chiplet), 1 phase — VDD_MISC (integrated graphics output).

The VCore and VDD_MISC phases are controlled by a proprietary digital controller Digi ASP 2208 from Asus (we don’t know which controller is actually hidden under this marking). There is some information that it is capable of directly working with a maximum of 16 power phases, but there is no exact information.

Each phase VCore and VDD_MISC has an AOZ5311NQI transistor assembly from Alpha&Omega (up to 55A).

The two power phases of the SoC have transistor assemblies already from Renesas — ISL99390 (up to 90A).

And these phases are controlled by their own PWM controller, also from Renesas.

Now about cooling.

As usual, all potentially very hot elements have their own heat sinks.

As we can see, the chipset is cooled using a separate small radiator. The VRM section has its own two radiators, and they are not connected.

The VRM heatsink running along the rear port block has a backlit shroud.

This motherboard has a backlight effect in the form of a logo on the housing of the rear output ports. We also remember about 4 connectors for connecting external lighting, and all this can be controlled through the Armory Crate program.

Of course, if anyone doesn’t like this beauty, you can always turn off the backlight through the software.

All software can be downloaded from the manufacturer's website asus.com.

It should be said about the Armory Crate utility, which is a kind of manager-supervisor of all Asus software, monitoring timely updates, managing the backlight (Aura Sync is now integrated into Armory Crate) and new features, and is also responsible for synchronizing the operation of all Asus devices.

Its installer is located in the UEFI BIOS. By default, the installation setting for this program is enabled, so do not be surprised if, after loading Windows, you are asked whether you want to install Armory Crate or not.

The program first of all finds all compatible hardware.

Through this utility, you can configure backlight effects when the motherboard is turned off (when the PC is turned off, but the power supply still supplies power to the motherboard). Of course, you can separately configure the ARGB and RGB connectors on the motherboard.

The utility can recognize all branded Asus elements equipped with backlighting, including memory modules. You can also download Aura Creator and use it to create your own backlight scenarios.

In this case, work with the motherboard was carried out on the eve of Halloween, so Asus programmers added a special option to the set of backlight scenarios in honor of this event (at the end of the material there is a video demonstrating this scenario).

Connectors for addressable RGB strips have the richest selection of backlight modes (for connectors for regular RGB strips, the choice of modes is much simpler). You can set the backlight both for individual elements and for the entire group as a whole, and also record the selected backlight algorithms in profiles so that you can easily switch between them later.

The program has a new function: controlling fans on the motherboard (this no longer applies to the CBO, but specifically to the motherboard!). If previously this was managed by the AI Suite program, now FanExpert has migrated to Armory Crate.

Armory Crate monitors the updating of all software for the motherboard, including drivers for various subsystems, proprietary utilities and BIOS versions.

All modern boards now have UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface), which are essentially operating systems in miniature. To enter the settings when booting the PC, you traditionally need to press the Del or F2 key.

We find ourselves in a general “simple” menu, where essentially there is only one information, but you can set memory profiles, create a list of boot drives, and set the “advanced” auto-overclocking mode. For everything else, press F7 and get to the “advanced” menu.

The Advanced menu mainly controls peripherals. There are many interesting positions where you can control each USB port. How to change the operating modes of PCIe and M.2 slots.

Particular attention should be paid in the section on managing M.2 and PCIe slots.

Monitoring and boot menu options are well known to everyone. There is also a Q-Fan utility for configuring the operation of fan sockets.

The board belongs to the ROG Strix gaming series, it is also intended for overclockers (not extreme sports enthusiasts) and similar enthusiasts who like to “tweak” motherboards; all essentially standard options are available within the framework of what processors and RAM support .

There are a lot of options, as expected for the ROG line. However, for modern top-end processors the lion's share of these options are useless, because the processor itself already operates at higher frequencies (using AMD PBO, etc.).

Of course, there are options to disable auto-overclocking of the processor if you want to work only at the minimum standard frequency (for example, for the sake of quiet operation of the CO).

We start everything in default mode. Then we load it with standard OCCT stress tests.

We see that auto-overclocking worked well for the Ryzen 9 7900X 3D (up to 5.4 GHz — this is a good level for a motherboard not only on a mid-budget chipset, but also for top-end solutions too). It is worth noting that in all these tests we did not receive any complaints about the operation of the accompanying units; there were no overheating or strange phenomena.

Now let's load it even harder — we'll strengthen the stress test from OCCT (as you know, along with AIDA, this is the most severe tester for processors and RAM; if the load for even 10 minutes did not cause failures or overheating, then there is already a 100% guarantee that the hardware will withstand tasks of any complexity).

As we can see, the built-in protection system lowered the operating frequencies, although it was still possible to periodically observe bursts of up to 5.0 GHz on individual cores. And again, there were no complaints about the work as a whole.

The Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi motherboard is a powerful gaming solution from the company’s prestigious line, available at a price of about 30 thousand rubles. Although it is not part of the flagship ROG Maximus series, it still has a sufficient set of settings in the BIOS Setup, although it does not have advanced hardware overclocking capabilities.

The board provides a wide selection of ports for connecting devices — 16 USB ports of various types, including 1 USB 3.2 Gen2×2 port, and 5 USB 3.2 Gen2 ports. It also offers 2 PCIe x16 slots (one of them is connected to the processor with 16 PCIe 4.0 lanes, and the second is connected to the chipset and runs on four lanes), 2 PCIe x1 slots, 3 M.2 slots (two of them are connected to the processor with lanes PCIe 4.0/5.0, third to the B650 chipset with PCIe 4.0 lanes), 4 SATA ports and 7 fan headers. This is excellent peripheral support for the mid-range.

It should be noted that there are two network controllers: wired (2.5 gigabit) and wireless (Wi-Fi 6), which provides various connection options.

The processor power system ensures stable operation of compatible processors with some margin for overclocking. The board also has an effective cooling system for most heating elements, including drives in the M.2 slots. Among the advantages, it is worth highlighting the wide possibilities for connecting additional RGB devices and attractive lighting of the rear ports.