{"id":610382,"date":"2023-02-21T07:49:21","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T13:49:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sellorbuyhomefast.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/21\/asus-rog-strix-b650-a-gaming-wifi-review-a-balanced-no-frills-mobo\/"},"modified":"2023-02-21T07:49:21","modified_gmt":"2023-02-21T13:49:21","slug":"asus-rog-strix-b650-a-gaming-wifi-review-a-balanced-no-frills-mobo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/21\/asus-rog-strix-b650-a-gaming-wifi-review-a-balanced-no-frills-mobo\/","title":{"rendered":"Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi review: A balanced, no-frills mobo"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<svg viewBox=\"0 0 0 0\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\" focusable=\"false\" role=\"none\" style=\"visibility: hidden; position: absolute; left: -9999px; overflow: hidden;\"><defs><filter id=\"wp-duotone-dark-grayscale\"><feColorMatrix color-interpolation-filters=\"sRGB\" type=\"matrix\" values=\" .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 \" \/><feComponentTransfer color-interpolation-filters=\"sRGB\"><feFuncR type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0 0.49803921568627\" \/><feFuncG type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0 0.49803921568627\" \/><feFuncB type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0 0.49803921568627\" \/><feFuncA type=\"table\" tableValues=\"1 1\" \/><\/feComponentTransfer><feComposite in2=\"SourceGraphic\" operator=\"in\" \/><\/filter><\/defs><\/svg><svg viewBox=\"0 0 0 0\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\" focusable=\"false\" role=\"none\" style=\"visibility: hidden; position: absolute; left: -9999px; overflow: hidden;\"><defs><filter id=\"wp-duotone-grayscale\"><feColorMatrix color-interpolation-filters=\"sRGB\" type=\"matrix\" values=\" .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 \" \/><feComponentTransfer color-interpolation-filters=\"sRGB\"><feFuncR type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0 1\" \/><feFuncG type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0 1\" \/><feFuncB type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0 1\" \/><feFuncA type=\"table\" tableValues=\"1 1\" \/><\/feComponentTransfer><feComposite in2=\"SourceGraphic\" operator=\"in\" \/><\/filter><\/defs><\/svg><svg viewBox=\"0 0 0 0\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\" focusable=\"false\" role=\"none\" style=\"visibility: hidden; position: absolute; left: -9999px; overflow: hidden;\"><defs><filter id=\"wp-duotone-purple-yellow\"><feColorMatrix color-interpolation-filters=\"sRGB\" type=\"matrix\" values=\" .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 \" \/><feComponentTransfer color-interpolation-filters=\"sRGB\"><feFuncR type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0.54901960784314 0.98823529411765\" \/><feFuncG type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0 1\" \/><feFuncB type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0.71764705882353 0.25490196078431\" \/><feFuncA type=\"table\" tableValues=\"1 1\" \/><\/feComponentTransfer><feComposite in2=\"SourceGraphic\" operator=\"in\" \/><\/filter><\/defs><\/svg><svg viewBox=\"0 0 0 0\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\" focusable=\"false\" role=\"none\" style=\"visibility: hidden; position: absolute; left: -9999px; overflow: hidden;\"><defs><filter id=\"wp-duotone-blue-red\"><feColorMatrix color-interpolation-filters=\"sRGB\" type=\"matrix\" values=\" .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 \" \/><feComponentTransfer color-interpolation-filters=\"sRGB\"><feFuncR type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0 1\" \/><feFuncG type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0 0.27843137254902\" \/><feFuncB type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0.5921568627451 0.27843137254902\" \/><feFuncA type=\"table\" tableValues=\"1 1\" \/><\/feComponentTransfer><feComposite in2=\"SourceGraphic\" operator=\"in\" \/><\/filter><\/defs><\/svg><svg viewBox=\"0 0 0 0\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\" focusable=\"false\" role=\"none\" style=\"visibility: hidden; position: absolute; left: -9999px; overflow: hidden;\"><defs><filter id=\"wp-duotone-midnight\"><feColorMatrix color-interpolation-filters=\"sRGB\" type=\"matrix\" values=\" .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 \" \/><feComponentTransfer color-interpolation-filters=\"sRGB\"><feFuncR type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0 0\" \/><feFuncG type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0 0.64705882352941\" \/><feFuncB type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0 1\" \/><feFuncA type=\"table\" tableValues=\"1 1\" \/><\/feComponentTransfer><feComposite in2=\"SourceGraphic\" operator=\"in\" \/><\/filter><\/defs><\/svg><svg viewBox=\"0 0 0 0\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\" focusable=\"false\" role=\"none\" style=\"visibility: hidden; position: absolute; left: -9999px; overflow: hidden;\"><defs><filter id=\"wp-duotone-magenta-yellow\"><feColorMatrix color-interpolation-filters=\"sRGB\" type=\"matrix\" values=\" .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 \" \/><feComponentTransfer color-interpolation-filters=\"sRGB\"><feFuncR type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0.78039215686275 1\" \/><feFuncG type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0 0.94901960784314\" \/><feFuncB type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0.35294117647059 0.47058823529412\" \/><feFuncA type=\"table\" tableValues=\"1 1\" \/><\/feComponentTransfer><feComposite in2=\"SourceGraphic\" operator=\"in\" \/><\/filter><\/defs><\/svg><svg viewBox=\"0 0 0 0\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\" focusable=\"false\" role=\"none\" style=\"visibility: hidden; position: absolute; left: -9999px; overflow: hidden;\"><defs><filter id=\"wp-duotone-purple-green\"><feColorMatrix color-interpolation-filters=\"sRGB\" type=\"matrix\" values=\" .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 \" \/><feComponentTransfer color-interpolation-filters=\"sRGB\"><feFuncR type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0.65098039215686 0.40392156862745\" \/><feFuncG type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0 1\" \/><feFuncB type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0.44705882352941 0.4\" \/><feFuncA type=\"table\" tableValues=\"1 1\" \/><\/feComponentTransfer><feComposite in2=\"SourceGraphic\" operator=\"in\" \/><\/filter><\/defs><\/svg><svg viewBox=\"0 0 0 0\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\" focusable=\"false\" role=\"none\" style=\"visibility: hidden; position: absolute; left: -9999px; overflow: hidden;\"><defs><filter id=\"wp-duotone-blue-orange\"><feColorMatrix color-interpolation-filters=\"sRGB\" type=\"matrix\" values=\" .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 \" \/><feComponentTransfer color-interpolation-filters=\"sRGB\"><feFuncR type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0.098039215686275 1\" \/><feFuncG type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0 0.66274509803922\" \/><feFuncB type=\"table\" tableValues=\"0.84705882352941 0.41960784313725\" \/><feFuncA type=\"table\" tableValues=\"1 1\" \/><\/feComponentTransfer><feComposite in2=\"SourceGraphic\" operator=\"in\" \/><\/filter><\/defs><\/svg><\/p>\n<div id=\"page\">\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/#primary\">Skip to content<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t<main id=\"primary\"><\/p>\n<article id=\"post-1491429\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2022-12-29-at-1.11.02-PM.png?w=1024\" alt=\"Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi\" data-hero  ><\/p>\n<p><span>Image: Thiago Trevisan<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"link_wrapped_content\">\n<body><\/p>\n<div id=\"review-body\">\n<p><span>At a glance<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"experts-rating\">Expert&#8217;s Rating<\/h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<h3 id=\"pros\">Pros<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Competent features for the $279 MSRP\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Understated but attractive design that fits into white-themed builds\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Good BIOS and overall build quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3 id=\"cons\">Cons<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>More demanding workstation users will need more features\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>$279 is good, but not great for a \u201cno frills\u201d motherboard\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Gamers who want a flashier visual option may want to skip this<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 id=\"our-verdict\">Our Verdict<\/h3>\n<p>The Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi is undoubtedly a good motherboard for standard PC users, but it lacks features such as USB4 and 10GbE that more powerful workstations might need. Still, its understated design, sturdy build, and affordable price make this a good option for those looking for a no-frills motherboard including next-gen PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3 id=\"price-when-reviewed\">Price When Reviewed<\/h3>\n<p>$279.99<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"best-prices-today-asus-rog-strix-b650-a-gaming-wifi\">\n\t\t\tBest Prices Today: Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi\t\t<\/h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/wp-content\/themes\/idg-base-theme\/dist\/static\/img\/amazon-logo.svg\" alt=\"Amazon\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>$279.99<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/wp-content\/themes\/idg-base-theme\/dist\/static\/img\/newegg-logo.svg\" alt=\"Newegg\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>$279.99<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Next-generation motherboards that are on the bleeding edge of new PC technologies often come with a hefty price tag. More affordable options tend to compromise on features and skimp on aesthetics.<\/p>\n<p>Asus is looking to buck that trend, with the ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi motherboard. With a focused set of features for gamers, it also comes in under $300. It will keep your eyes happy with great design aesthetics and colors, too. No ugly motherboard for the sake of meeting a price here, folks!\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ll go over the specs and features, design, and performance. If you\u2019re looking to step into AMD\u2019s next-generation AM5 platform, is this a viable option to save a few bucks and still get cutting-edge performance?<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asus-rog-strix-b650-a-gaming-wifi-features-and-specs\">Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi: Features and specs<\/h2>\n<div>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/b2c-contenthub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2022-12-29-at-1.12.37-PM.png?w=1200\" alt=\"Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi\" width=\"1200\" height=\"509\"><\/figure>\n<p>Thiago Trevisan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>ATX form factor\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>AMD B650 chipset\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Supports AMD AM5 Ryzen 7000 CPUs\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>12+2 Power Stages with 60amp per stage<\/li>\n<li>DDR5 RAM, dual channel up to 4 DIMM (up to 128GB)<\/li>\n<li>3x onboard M.2 slots with Q-Latch (1x PCIe Gen 5)<\/li>\n<li>1x PCIE 16x slot (CPU) with Q-Release (PCIe Gen 4)\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>1x PCIe 16x slot (chipset) plus two 1x slots (PCIe Gen 4)<\/li>\n<li>DisplayPort and HDMI 2.1<\/li>\n<li>9x USB ports on back\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>2.5GbE LAN<\/li>\n<li>Wi-Fi 6E\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>RGB headers for Aura Sync<\/li>\n<li>4 SATA 6Gb\/s ports\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>7 fan headers (CPU, AIO, chassis)\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>BIOS Flashback\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Preinstalled I\/O shield\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>ROG SupremeFX 7.1 ALC4080 audio codec<\/li>\n<li>MSRP $279.99<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi has an MSRP of $279, making it an attractive \u201cunder $300\u201d option. AMD\u2019s AM5 platform started off with higher platform costs with X670E. It\u2019s great to see motherboard options at these price points, while still retaining great functionality.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>AMD\u2019s B650 chipset is a slightly reduced version of the X670E\u2014but with a better value-to-performance ratio. The more expensive X670E offers more theoretical USB, SATA ports, and PCIe Gen 5 lanes, but in a practical sense, B650 will cover most use cases at a lower cost of entry.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/b2c-contenthub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2022-12-29-at-1.09.38-PM.png?w=1200\" alt=\"Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi\" width=\"1200\" height=\"690\"><figcaption>\n<p>Everything included with the Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Thiago Trevisan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3 id=\"cpu-choice\">CPU choice<\/h3>\n<p>Ryzen 7000 is on the menu here\u2014starting with the 7600X, 7700X, 7900X, and 7950X. You\u2019ll also be able to use the newer \u201cnon X\u201d variants, which have some power savings. The high-performance <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/1500093\/amd-sets-dates-and-prices-for-ryzen-7000x3d-cpus.html\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/1500093\/amd-sets-dates-and-prices-for-ryzen-7000x3d-cpus.html\">\u201cX3D\u201d variants are coming soon<\/a>\u2014and these will also be compatible. The most sensible pairing with this motherboard is likely something such as the 7700X, giving you great gaming and productivity performance for the price. (But it\u2019ll handle a Ryzen 9 7950X, too!)\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"ddr5-ram-and-pcie-gen-5\">DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 5<\/h3>\n<p>AM5 is DDR5 RAM only, and you\u2019ll be able to add four sticks for a total of 128GB of RAM. It\u2019s fast and 128GB\u00a0should be more than enough for most users\u2014both gamers and content creators should be happy here.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll get a more limited serving of PCIe Gen 5 on B650, with just a single M.2 slot. The 16x PCIe slots are both Gen 4, which is still more than enough, as the newest GPUs match it. The second 16x slot comes from the chipset, so you\u2019ll want to always put your GPU in the top CPU-sourced slot for best performance. You\u2019ll also get two 1x slots, which is useful for smaller add-in cards.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure>\n<blockquote>\n<p>It\u2019s great to see DIY-friendly features in a sub-$300 motherboard, such as Q-Latch for easy installation of M.2 drives and Q-Release for easy removal of graphics cards.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"storage\">Storage<\/h3>\n<p>NVMe slots are provided, times three! One will be PCIe Gen 5, and the other two Gen 4. You\u2019ll have good cooling thermal pads covering them, as well. Performance is super speedy\u2014and if you need more storage, four SATA ports are also available for SSDs and hard drives.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Both gamers and less-picky content creators will be happy\u2014those needing more SATA or NVMe slots will have to jump up to a more expensive motherboard class such as the Asus X670E Strix.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"usb-ports\">USB ports<\/h3>\n<p>With nine rear USB ports, including USB C, your bases will be covered. You\u2019re not getting Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 here, which are typically only available on much more expensive motherboards, as expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>DisplayPort and HDMI-out are useful here since Ryzen 7000 CPUs have built in iGPUs. While you don\u2019t want to game on these, they can serve in a pinch for some troubleshooting.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"networking\">Networking<\/h3>\n<p>Connectivity options are standard issue here, with Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5GbE LAN. This is the same networking capability offered on many motherboards costing hundreds of dollars more, so you\u2019ll be in good company.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Sure, it lacks 10GbE networking, but that\u2019s not expected at this price point. You\u2019ll have to use a high-end gaming motherboard like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/1352271\/gigabyte-x679e-aorus-extreme-motherboard-review.html\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/1352271\/gigabyte-x679e-aorus-extreme-motherboard-review.html\">Gigabyte Aorus Xtreme<\/a>, or a productivity focused board such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/1473420\/asus-proart-z790-creator-wifi-motherboard-review.html\">Asus Z790 ProArt<\/a> to get that functionality.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"audio\">Audio<\/h3>\n<p>Audio is well represented for most uses, with a good selection of ports in the back. You\u2019ll get the Asus SupremeFX 7.1 ALC4080 codec, which is also found on many higher-priced motherboards of this generation. True audiophiles may want to use external solutions for the best quality, but this will suffice for 99 percent of users.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"other-interesting-features\">Other interesting features<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s great to see DIY friendly features built into a sub-$300 motherboard class. Q-Latch for M.2 drives makes installation super easy, as those small screws are always frustrating. Q-Release for the PCIe GPU slot simplifies the process of removing a graphics card.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Integrated I\/O shields should not be underestimated. This is a great DIY inclusion. No more finishing your build and realizing that the back I\/O shield is still sitting on your desk!\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>BIOS Flashback and Q-LED are also both here\u2014very nifty features that can save you when trouble arises. While more expensive motherboards may have screens for displaying error codes, the Q-LED gives you the information needed too.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Finally, the initial unboxing experience is decent\u2014we\u2019re not expecting \u201cExtreme\u201d levels of packaging here. The included accessories, such as the Wi-Fi antenna, SATA cables, and ROG-themed goodies are all fitting for this class of motherboard.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/b2c-contenthub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2022-12-29-at-1.12.47-PM.png?w=1200\" alt=\"Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi\" width=\"1200\" height=\"745\"><figcaption>\n<p>The Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi has a sleek white, silver, and black design.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Thiago Trevisan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Asus Strix ROG B650-A Gaming WiFi blends the gaming and workstation aesthetics elegantly. It\u2019s not over the top with the typical RGB design of gamer options, but still has those accents where most important to delineate its gaming heritage.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, it shares a lot of visual cues with Asus\u2019s own \u201cPrime\u201d lineup of motherboards, which have workstation appeal.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/b2c-contenthub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2022-12-29-at-1.14.17-PM.png?w=1200\" alt=\"Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi\" width=\"1200\" height=\"712\"><figcaption>\n<p>Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi\u2019s M.2 thermal armor.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Thiago Trevisan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>As we go down the motherboard\u2019s central area, we find thermal armor placed over the M.2 drive locations. Many cheaper motherboards may have armor over just one slot\u2014so this is a nice functional and aesthetic touch. It helps that center area look more finished and purposeful.<\/p>\n<p>The lower-right also features a nice cover over the motherboard area. Every part of this motherboard\u2019s design integrates effortlessly with the overall color scheme. There are no jarring design elements to throw off this consistently pleasing look.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/b2c-contenthub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2022-12-29-at-1.13.10-PM.png?w=1200\" alt=\"Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi\" width=\"1200\" height=\"685\"><figcaption>\n<p>The Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi comes with a really good integrated I\/O shield.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Thiago Trevisan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The I\/O shield area on the top left has that excellent integrated shield already installed, plus some nice visual touches. The VRM area continues the same design up top, completing a visually agreeable look that can do no wrong!<\/p>\n<p>We can\u2019t talk about the design without mentioning the color scheme for builders who want something different: The silver and \u201cwhite\u201d elements to this motherboard will fit perfectly in a lighter, white-themed build, which is popular with many DIY enthusiasts.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, not many under-$300 motherboards offer this simple but beautiful visual design. It looks and feels premium, with high-quality surfaces and materials used throughout.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asus-rog-strix-b650-a-gaming-wifi-performance-software-and-bios\">Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi: Performance, software, and BIOS<\/h2>\n<p>The Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi has just the performance you need\u2014and none of what you don\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>12+2 power stages suffice, and while they don\u2019t look as beefy on paper as some \u201coverkill\u201d options out there, it\u2019s just what\u2019s needed here.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>No, it won\u2019t match the burly VRM you\u2019d find on something like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/1421913\/asrock-x670e-taichi-gaming-motherboard-review.html\">Asrock X670E Taichi<\/a>, but that\u2019s also not needed. While overclocking is not the main forte of this Strix, it can certainly still do it well. If you\u2019re chasing the best numbers, you know that you\u2019ll also have to face diminishing returns on your money by buying more expensive options.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Ryzen 7600X and 7700X work great here and help keep platform costs lower. New non-X SKUs such as the Ryzen 7900 also provide great performance at a lower price and power draw, which seems to match well with this $279 MSRP.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>While X670E motherboards have more stuff, you\u2019ll still find next-gen features on this motherboard. DDR5 is here to provide the fastest RAM speeds\u2014along with PCIe Gen 5. Sure, only a single M.2 slot is Gen 5, but most hardware now will barely saturate even PCIe Gen 4\u2014so you\u2019re covered.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/b2c-contenthub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2022-12-29-at-1.11.53-PM.png?w=1200\" alt=\"Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi\" width=\"1200\" height=\"727\"><\/figure>\n<p>Thiago Trevisan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The other portions of this motherboard that you can technically categorize under \u201cperformance\u201d are billed to be \u201cjust right.\u201d Plenty of USB, but of course none of the USB4 options to add to the price. Networking is fast, but for faster 10GbE you\u2019ll need to pony up big bucks. See the trend? Exactly the performance you need, and nothing that you don\u2019t!<\/p>\n<p>The Asus BIOS continues its ease-of-use excellence here. You can manually tinker as much as you\u2019d ever want. (Or as much as makes sense with modern CPUs, as most overclocking has been mostly maxed out from the factory it seems!)\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If the BIOS intimidates you, don\u2019t worry\u2014you can choose the simple option. We\u2019d recommend at least turning on the DDR5 RAM Expo profile, to make sure you\u2019re really taking advantage of the full performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>More frequent BIOS updates can be risky, but with a brand-new platform such as AMD\u2019s AM5 B650, updates can fix a lot of early teething issues. Keep in mind that some users have found boot times to be longer on AMD\u2019s new platform for the initial boot, so your mileage may vary depending on BIOS version. (Compared to what users are typically used to in previous generations)\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Stepping into software, Asus also has Armoury Crate, which self-installs upon initial boot. While historically we\u2019ve shied away from recommending vendor-provided motherboard software, things have improved drastically. The software is now much better integrated, allowing fan control, driver updates, and Aura Sync RGB goodies.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"should-you-buy-the-asus-rog-strix-b650-a-gaming-wifi\">Should you buy the Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi?<\/h2>\n<div>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/b2c-contenthub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2022-12-29-at-1.15.00-PM.png?w=1200\" alt=\"Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi\" width=\"1200\" height=\"728\"><figcaption>\n<p>The Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi has just enough features for the price.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Thiago Trevisan<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi provides exactly what you need for $279. Would it be nice to see these motherboards even cheaper? Sure, but with new included tech such as DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5, some added cost is to be expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>At least you\u2019re not paying for extra features you may never use, such as 10GbE LAN, USB4, and other frivolities. While these items may be essential for the users that need them, they\u2019re not helpful for those who just need a good motherboard.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The aesthetics are similarly straightforward. \u201cROG Strix\u201d might be a popular gamer lineup, but this model is nicely understated, so it can easily look at home in a workstation build. If you\u2019re after a white- or silver-themed build, this motherboard is sure to turn heads without breaking the bank.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Whether you are a content creator or a gamer, this is a Goldilocks board that gets it \u201cjust right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/body><\/div>\n<div id=\"link_wrapped_content\">\n<h3>\n\t\t\tBest Prices Today: Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi\t\t<\/h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/wp-content\/themes\/idg-base-theme\/dist\/static\/img\/amazon-logo.svg\" alt=\"Amazon\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>$279.99<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/wp-content\/themes\/idg-base-theme\/dist\/static\/img\/newegg-logo.svg\" alt=\"Newegg\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><span>$279.99<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t<\/main><\/p>\n<p><main id=\"primary\"><\/main><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcworld.com\/article\/1491429\/asus-rog-strix-b650-a-gaming-wifi-motherboard-review.html\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Alejandro Pepper<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Skip to content Image: Thiago Trevisan At a glanceExpert&#8217;s Rating ProsCompetent features for the $279 MSRP\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Understated but attractive design that fits into white-themed builds\u00a0Good BIOS and overall build qualityConsMore demanding workstation users will need more features\u00a0$279 is good, but not great for a \u201cno frills\u201d motherboard\u00a0Gamers who want a flashier visual option may want to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":610383,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1277,46621,46],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-610382","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gaming","8":"category-strix","9":"category-technology"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/610382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=610382"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/610382\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/610383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=610382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=610382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=610382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}