Introducing the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi motherboard: high performance at a competitive price?

Introduction: In this article, we take a detailed look at the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi, an motherboard offering impressive features for users looking to take advantage of AMD's AM5 socket without breaking the bank.

Design and aesthetics

The ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi features a similar design to the ROG Strix B550-E Gaming WiFi for AMD's AM4 processors. Both models sport an ATX PCB and black heatsinks, with a magenta stripe on the I/O panel cover and PCH cooler for added visual appeal.

Technical specifications

The technical specifications of the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi include:

• Motherboard form factor: ATX
• CPU socket: LGA AM5 (for Ryzen 7000)
• Electrical connections: 1x ATX 24-pin, 1x EPS12V 8-pin, 1x 4-pin +12V
• VRM equipment: 15 phases/MOSFET (12+2+1)
• Price: from 294 euros

This motherboard features 4x DDR5 (dual channel) memory slots, supporting up to 6400 MHz (1DPC) and a maximum memory expansion of 128 GB. It also offers various expansion options: 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 (x16) via CPU, 1x PCIe 4.0 x16 (x4) via AMD B650 (shared), and 2x PCIe 4.0 x1 via AMD B650.

Storage and USB interfaces

For storage, the ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi features 4x SATA 6 Gb/s ports via the AMD B650 chipset, 1x M.2 M-Key slot with PCIe 5.0 x4 via the CPU, and 2x M.2 M-Key slots with PCIe 4.0 x4 via the AMD B650 chipset. USB interfaces include 3x USB 3.2 Gen2 (3x external) via the CPU, as well as various other options via the chipset and the ASMedia ASM1074.

Graphics, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

For graphics connections, it offers one HDMI 2.1 port and one DisplayPort 1.4 port. WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax and Bluetooth 5.2 are supported via the AMD WiFi-6E RZ616 (MediaTek MT7922A22M), with tri-band capability and a maximum speed of 2.4 Gbps. However, there is no Thunderbolt support on this motherboard.

Local network and audio

The local network is managed by an Intel I225-V 2.5 Gbit/s LAN connection (step B3), and the Real audio codec

Audio codec and connectors

The Realtek ALC4080 8-channel audio codec is complemented by a Savitech SV3H712 amplifier. The motherboard also features five 3.5 mm audio jacks.

LED lighting and fan control

RGB LED lighting is present on the I/O panel cover, with one 4-pin RGB connector and three 3-pin ARGB connectors. For fan and water cooling management, the motherboard offers one 4-pin CPU fan connector, one 4-pin CPU OPT connector, one 4-pin AIO pump connector, and four 4-pin chassis fan connectors.

Onboard amenities

Onboard amenities include status LEDs, an external BIOS Flash button, a CPU OV jumper, and a Q unlock button.

Warranty and accessories included

The manufacturer's warranty is 3 years (only through authorized resellers). Included accessories include the motherboard manual, two SATA cables, a 2T2R Wi-Fi antenna, an M.2 Q latch, two M.2 rubber spacers, an M.2 thermal pad, seven cable ties, a ROG keychain, ROG stickers, and a ROG Strix thank you card.

Conclusion

The ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi motherboard is an attractive option for users looking to upgrade to AMD's AM5 socket without breaking the bank. It offers a good balance between price and performance, with an appealing design and a comprehensive feature set. However, it's important to note that some users might find it limiting, particularly due to the lack of Thunderbolt support and potentially fewer storage and expansion options compared to more expensive models.