I’ll be honest, I’ve gotten really into custom-building an all-white gaming desktop from time to time, and I’ve even come close to it a few times.
The problem is that white PC components are almost always more expensive than standard black and RGB offerings, so they remain a pipe dream.
Whether you’re looking for the perfect motherboard for your AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D to create a powerful gaming rig, or you’re looking for something to pair with the new Ryzen 8000G series chips, ASUS is here to help you with their black and white hybrid AM5 board. They welcome us.
ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi: Pricing and Availability
- how much? MSRP $279, sale price $229.99
- when? October 3, 2022
- where? ASUS Store and Third Party Retailers
ASUS is selling the ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi motherboard at the ASUS official store for a suggested retail price of $279. The board is sold by third-party retailers in the US and Canada, and is marked down to $229.99 on Amazon and $229.99 on Newegg. It will be released on October 3, 2022 and includes a small box with accessories such as a Velcro cable tie, a SATA cable, a removable Wi-Fi antenna, and an extra His M.2 Q latch.
ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi: Specifications
| Header Cell – Column 0 | ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi |
|---|---|
| socket | 5am |
| chipset | AMD B650 |
| CPU support | Ryzen 7000 Ryzen 8000 |
| memory | 4x DIMM DDR5 6400+ (OC) |
| EXPO support | ✅ |
| expansion | 2x PCIe 4.0 x16 2x PCIe 3.0/4.0 x1 |
| storage | 1x PCIe 5.0 (x4) M2-2242/2260/2280 2x PCIe 4.0 (x4) M2-2242/2260/2280 4x SATA 6Gb/s ports |
| wireless | Wi-Fi 6E 2×2 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) Bluetooth 5.2 |
| I/O | 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 4x USB-A 2.0 1x DisplayPort 1.4 1x HDMI 2.1 1x Wi-Fi 6E 1x Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet 5x audio jack 1x BIOS flashback |
| USB header | 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 2x USB 2.0 |
| fan header | 1x 4-pin CPU fan 1x 4 inch CPU OPT 1x 4-pin AIO pump 4x 4 pin chassis |
| Power | 1x 24 pin 1x 8 pin +12V 1x 4 inch +12V |
| RGB | 3x Addressable 2nd Generation 1x AURA RGB |
The official specifications on ASUS’s store page indicate support for AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors, but the latest Ryzen 8000 series are also compatible. They have been added to the expanded “CPU Support” section, and we have direct evidence from our review of the Ryzen 7 8700G and follow-up review of the Ryzen 5 8600G using this motherboard.
There are two full-sized PCIe 4.0 x16 slots for expansion cards, one controlled by the CPU and the other by the B650 chipset. The latter shares bandwidth with the third M.2 slot. This means that a compatible solid-state M.2 drive cannot be used at the same time as a secondary PCIe card in this space. This is a standard limit, but worth keeping in mind if you plan to use all three M.2 slots.
ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi: Features
The primary M.2 slot stands out with PCIe 5.0 support, a new category for solid-state hard drives, while the second and third slots are PCIe 4.0 compliant. On the audio side, five audio jacks connect to the internal ROG SupremeFX 7.1 surround sound HD audio system, supporting up to 32-bit, 384 kHz playback. However, the I/O line-out port does not support spatial audio, so you must use a front panel audio header with a compatible PC case.
Above the audio jack, you’ll find a 2.5Gb Ethernet port and a BIOS FlashBack button, as well as a set of USB-A, USB-C, and onboard video ports. I used this method on two reviews to update his BIOS using a USB stick and it worked fine. The LED blinks faster as the update begins and turns off when it is complete. This is one of the easiest ways to prepare a build with leading-edge CPUs. I still get nervous looking at BIOS updates. Don’t get me wrong. But it’s nice to have a BIOS update.
Considering that the B650 chipset is targeted at the mid-range, ASUS has included some luxuries that make custom builds much less stressful. Thanks to the advent of the “Q-Latch” system, installing M.2 drives has become slightly faster. It’s basically a rotating plastic notch that replaces the need for tiny screws that are easily dropped during construction. Anything that saves me from having to hunt around for lost screws is a win in my eyes, so even though it seems like a small thing, this is a real bonus.
The heatsink continues around the VRM and I/O, but its chunky size can interfere with rear case fans or top-mounted AIO radiators.
The Q-Latch lurks beneath some pretty chunky M.2 heatsinks, including a primary PCIe 5.0 option adorned with the advertised technology. There’s an ongoing debate about whether SSD heatsinks are worth it, but there’s no reason not to take advantage of ASUS’ silver clause here.
Besides, you are a “courageous person”, right? The heatsink is of the same design and continues around the VRM and over the built-in I/O, but its chunky size may interfere with rear case fans or top-mounted AIO radiators. The tall white “Q-Release” button on the right side of the board helps you remove a dedicated graphics card or riser cable from the first PCIe slot, and allows you to add another to the board that you probably weren’t expecting at this point. Serves as a well-received bonus. price.
From a DIY PC builder’s perspective, this motherboard looks perfect for the latest AMD processors thanks to its relatively reasonable price. However, if you’re buying one yourself, there are a few more considerations to check before dropping the cash. First, the number of 4-pin fan headers can be a key deciding factor to avoid cramming a dedicated controller unit into the back of the case, especially if you have a compact build. Around the socket there are three headers, which make the connection between the CPU and AIO pump as close as possible.
A third CPU_OPT along the top is useful for some AIO radiators, but four chassis fan headers are primarily located along the bottom edge of the motherboard, with a fourth on the side of the PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. there is. What’s cute is that it includes a small rubber cap to protect the additional header when not in use. This prevents you from accidentally bending the board when setting it into the case. Three ARGB headers can handle two front RGB case fans and one rear case fan without the need for an RGB controller, and a 12V 4-pin header connects to ASUS’ AURA RGB.
Anyone interested in overlocking a Ryzen 7000 or 8000 series CPU can benefit from 12+2 power stages rated at 60A each. Durable chokes and capacitors keep it stable, and AMD Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) in the BIOS keeps everything under control to handle rising temperatures near the voltage regulator. Dual VRM heatsinks, one under the I/O shroud, use thermal pads to transfer and reduce heat. You can use it if you want without jumping to a more expensive X670 board.
The BIOS is consistent with ASUS boards and offers “EZMode” and Advanced Mode, so you can just tinker with the settings you’re comfortable with. AMD EXPO profile activation is immediately available on the first screen that appears once memory training is complete during first boot. Still, you can go further and manually adjust the frequency if you wish. If I need an extra boost for myself other than overclocking my CPU for a review, I usually stick to the automatic OC profile. This board showed no signs of issues with the Ryzen 8000G chip.
ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi: Competitor
If you’re going for an all-white build, or just want more color consistency on your motherboard, this Gigabyte B650 AORUS ELITE AX variant comes in an “ICE” theme for an MSRP of $240. PCIe 5.0 M.2 solid state drives are still supported, but are specified as Type 25110/2580 models, which are slightly larger than the traditional M.2-2280. Still, it has three M.2 slots and three PCIe x16 lanes for expansion cards. Q-Flash Plus works like ASUS’s BIOS FlashBack, but you will lose some fan headers on Gigabyte B650 AORUS ELITE AX ICE.
Potentially faster DDR5 RAM supports up to 8000MT/s on the Gigabyte side, and there’s an “EZ-Latch” mechanism on both the PCIe lanes and M.2 slots for dedicated GPUs, allowing you to skip the small screws and Emulates the same as ASUS’ Q. -Latch and Q release. The specifics of the components you choose will determine whether you give up some conveniences for Gigabyte’s replacement. You should triple check compatibility before parting with your cash. Nevertheless, the Gigabyte B650 AORUS ELITE AX ICE is on sale at Newegg for $239.99 and is probably the closest competitor to ASUS’ ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi.
ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi: Should you buy it?
These people should buy this…
You should avoid this if…
Although the B650 motherboard is midrange in nature, ASUS has been generous enough to include hints of high-end features such as PCIe 5.0 support for the latest M.2-2280 solid state drives. The VRM and I/O heatsinks are chunky, but considering the placement of the fans and AIO radiators, it’s not a serious issue. Once all the parts are installed, the black PCB is less noticeable, but a completely white theme would have been better.
Still, it’s very useful for testing the latest AMD Ryzen 8000G processors, and in that regard it’s a top contender for one of the best motherboards for AM5, so if you can find it discounted during a sale , I easily recommend this.
ASUS ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi
If you’re looking for an affordable motherboard that supports AMD’s next-generation AM5 platform, this is my top choice whenever there’s a discount during a sale.
