6 Best B650E Motherboards [2023]

With motherboard prices soaring above our wildest expectations, the higher-end X670E and X670 chipsets will be completely out of the question for most people. However, AMD has not completely left budget gamers in the dark with the introduction of budget chipsets such as the B650 and the B650E.

While we might address these chipsets as “budget-friendly,” they are by no means cheap, with the cheapest AM5 board coming with an MSRP of 170 US dollars. That too for the B650 chipset, which compromises on a lot of the new-gen features, with some manufacturers even going as far as to exclude PCIe Gen 5.0 support with the entry-level B650 chipset.

Following are our selections for the Best B650E Motherboards:

Last update on 2023-12-13

To make matters even worse, AMD has limited potential buyers to only using DDR5 memory with these newer motherboards. This is why we are here with a complete buying guide going through the Best B650E Motherboards in 2023 to help you pick a decent mid-range motherboard for your new processor.

Given the high prices these AM5 motherboards come with, it is clear that not everyone is going to opt for the top-of-the-line X670 or X670E chipsets. That is exactly what makes the B650E chipset a great deal for consumers who want to take advantage of the new features of the AM5 socket while also not completely breaking the bank.

Best B650E Motherboard

Here are our picks for the Best B650E Motherboards in 2023 that you can currently purchase.

• ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi
• Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master
• ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi
• ASRock B650E PG RIPTIDE WiFi
• ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFI 
• ASRock B650E Taichi

ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi

Best Overall B650E Motherboard

Specifications: CHIPSET: AMD B650E Chipset | MEMORY: 4 x DIMM, 128GB MAX DDR5 DISPLAY OUTPUTS: HDMI, Display Port | REAR USB PORTS: 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 4 x USB 2.0|  Network: 1 x Intel 2.5Gb, WiFi 6E | Storage: 3x M.2,  4 x SATA III 

ASUS’ ROG Strix Series of motherboards have always prevailed in more than just one aspect; their latest B650E motherboards are no exception to this. The all-new ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi brings the best of both worlds, offering an excellent set of features at a comparatively lower price.

Since the B650E chipset powers it, we did not expect much in terms of the feature it offers; however, ASUS has managed to surprise us yet again with the astounding number of features the B650E-F Gaming brings. With build quality on par with some of the higher-end X670E boards, the ROG Strix B650E-F is a worthy contender for taking up the spot as the Best Overall.

Much like the rest of the ROG Strix lineup of B650E boards, the Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi is also equipped with a decent VRM setup. With a 12+2 power phase design, the B650E-F Gaming WiFI will satisfy most of your overclocking needs, providing you with enough overclocking headroom to get a bit more performance out of your Ryzen processor.

It is evident that ASUS has paid a great deal of attention to its thermal design, loading it with a ton of heatsinks to ensure that your VRMs and NVME drives do not exceed the recommended temperature level. Furthermore, high-conductivity thermal pads are also used to improve heat dissipation, reducing the overall temperatures as a result.

Apart from its decent performance, it almost feels unfair, not to mention its well-balanced design. With the ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFI, you get just the right amount of RGB to complement its already great design. Additionally, a pink diagonal stripe can be found on top of the PCH heatsink as well as the rear I/O.

Moving on to the expansion slot layout, the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi uses a single full-sized Gen 5.0 x 16 slot, which acts as the primary slot for the motherboard, responsible for housing the graphics card. In addition to that, two other PCIe Gen 4.0 slots are also present underneath the primary slot.

For all of your storage needs, it comes with a single Gen 5 M.2 slot as well as two separate Gen 4 slots. Moreover, four SATA 6G ports are also included to account for all of your 2.5-inch spinning hard drives.

What We Liked

The ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFI ensures reliable power delivery to your processor with its 12+2 Power Stages. Naturally, next-gen features such as PCIe gen 5.0, DDR5 memory support up to 6400 Mhz, and PCIe Gen 5.0 M.2 slots are also present. It is also worth mentioning that it comes with a total of 10 USB Type-A ports on the rear I/O, which is always a nice inclusion, especially on budget boards.

What We Disliked

While its performance falls slightly behind some of the higher-end X670 offerings, its reasonable price completely makes up for the lack of some features, such as Native USB 4.0 support. It is clear that its positives greatly outweigh the negatives, leaving us with little to nothing to complain about.

What Sets The ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi Apart From Its Competitors?

What really makes the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFI stand out is the staggering amount of features it manages to pack at a reasonable price. It comes with three M.2 slots, one of which is a Gen 5 x 16 slot that allows you to take advantage of blisteringly fast speeds. In addition to that, a single Gen 5.0 PCIe slot is also included, along with three other standard PCIe Gen 4 slots.

Verdict

ASUS has left no stone unturned with the B650E-F Gaming WiFi, equipping it with the best possible features in the budget. From a great 14-phase VRM setup to an excellent selection of rear I/O ports. The B650E-F Gaming WiFi offers everything you would need from an entry-level B650E board, making it the Best Overall B650E Motherboard. 

Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master

Best High-End B650E Motherboard

Specifications: CHIPSET: AMD B650E Chipset | MEMORY: 4 x DIMM, 128GB MAX (DDR5) 6600 MHz DISPLAY OUTPUTS: HDMI 2.1 | REAR USB PORTS: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 4 x USB 2.0|  Network: 1 x Intel 2.5Gb, WiFi 6E| Storage: 4 x M.2,  4 x SATA III 

Gigabyte is recognized as one of the biggest brands in the industry; with the reputation that Gigabyte has gained, they have a lot to live up for with each new motherboard release. For the new B650E chipset, Gigabyte has unveiled a capable lineup of B650E boards, which also includes the B650E Aorus Master.

To start off, let’s take a look at the B650E Aorus Master’s design. Coming in with a black PCB with a few silver accents on the heatsinks, It shares a very similar look to its predecessor, the B550 Aorus Master. However,  it does bring a few changes to the layout and configuration of the heatsinks as well the as the M.2 slots.

Speaking of the M.2 slots, Gigabyte has equipped this board with a total of four Gen 5×4 M.2 slots, which is surprising considering that even the higher-end X670 boards fail to offer as many Gen 5 M.2 slots.

Apart from that, we see substantial improvements being made in terms of the VRM, with the Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master completely blowing the competition out of the water with its 16+2+2 Twin Digital VRM configuration, assigning 16 Phases to the processor, two phases to the SOC phase, and the other two to the MISC Phases.

To cool down its monstrous VRM, Gigabyte has allocated a great amount of space to the heatsinks alone, allowing its VRM setup to maintain adequate levels of temperature at all times. Furthermore, we see Gigabyte’s “Advance Thermal Solution” come into play here, which features Covered MOSFET heatsinks, a NanoCarbon Aluminum Backplate, as well as a 7 W/mk Thermal Conduccitvity Pad.

Setting aside the VRM setup, let’s move on to the PCIe slots that come with the B650E Aorus Master. Its primary PCIe slot is a Gen 5.0 x 16 one that allows you to take full advantage of Gen 5 speeds. Additionally, a secondary PCIe Gen 4 x 4 slot is also present, along with a Gen 4 x 2 slot at the very bottom of the board.

What We Liked

The Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master shows an overwhelming uplift of raw performance, making it a perfectly capable motherboard for supporting even the highest-end processors that you can currently find. Furthermore, its overclocking capabilities far exceed that of a standard B650E motherboard thanks to its powerful VRM setup.

While its overclocking performance is nowhere near that of X670E boards, Gigabyte has demonstrated a great set of features that include support for DDR5 memory up to 6600 MHz, a primary PCIe Gen 5.0 x 16 slot, as well as an impressive thermal design that allows it to perform exponentially better than most of its competitors. 

What We Disliked

The Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master is a truly impressive motherboard to which some might even refer to as the pinnacle of all B650E boards; however, all of that additional performance does come at a premium cost. Being one of the most expensive boards, its value proposition begins to fade away, especially with cheaper B650E motherboards already present.

What Sets The Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master Apart From Its Competitors?

Gigabyte has set the bar high with the B650E Aorus Master, equipping it with a robust 16+2+2 VRM setup and an incredible cooling solution to cool it all down. Furthermore, the inclusion of 4 PCIe Gen 5.0 x4 M.2 sockets makes it an even better option for a B650E board.

Verdict

If you are not constrained by your budget, then the Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master Gaming WiFI should be your go-to choice when it comes to picking a high-end B650E motherboard. On top of all of its previously mentioned features, its beyond-exceptional cooling performance, coupled with its fantastic VRM design, makes the Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master an ideal pick as the Best High-End B650E Motherboard.

ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi

Best White B650E Motherboard

Specifications: CHIPSET: AMD B650E Chipset | MEMORY: 4 x DIMM, 128GB MAX (DDR5) DISPLAY OUTPUTS: HDMI, Display Port | REAR USB PORTS: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 4 x USB 2.0|  Network: 2.5G LAN, WiFi 6E | Storage: 3x M.2,  2 x SATA III 

ASRock has garnered an amazing reputation over the past couple of years, with their name being held right up there with other tech giants such as ASUS and MSI. A large reason behind their positive reception is thanks to them manufacturing outstanding products. That remains true for their new lineup of motherboards as well.

With their new lineup of B650E motherboards, ASRock has set their mind on not getting outdone in the budget department, providing us with the ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFI, which offers the most bang for your buck.

The recently unveiled ASRock B650E Steel Legend brings a host of note-worthy features, including PCIe Gen 5.0 support and DDR5 memory. Instead of going for a generic toned-down black and gray look that appeals to a wider audience, ASRock seems to have spiced things up with the design of this motherboard. 

It sports a unique design, with a huge chunk of the board being covered in a white coating that includes the PCH heatsink, rear I/O, and VRM heatsinks. Furthermore, RGB can also be found underneath the chipset heatsink and on top of the rear I/O as well.

Of course, it takes more than just a great design to make it onto our list of B650E Motherboards. To ASRock’s credit, they have equipped it with a great set of features to back its great design up.

Starting with the VRM, the ASRock B650E Steel Legend benefits from an impeccable VRM design which comes with 19 phases in total in a 16+2+1 configuration. It designates a good amount of space for the heatsinks, which ensures that the VRMs operate at low temperatures. Speaking of cooling, M.2 heatsinks can also be found on all of the sockets, with the primary M.2 Gen 5.0 slot coming with a much larger heatsink than the rest. 

Adding on, the B650E Steel Legend comes equipped with two PCIe slots, with the primary PCIe slot being a Gen 5 x 16 slot. On the other hand, the secondary PCIe slot is a Gen 3 x 16 slot. For your storage needs, ASRock has included three M.2 slots, with one of them operating at Gen 5 x 4 speeds. Additionally, it also comes with two SATA ports for your spinning Hard drives and 2.5-inch SSDs.

If you would like to pair the ASRock B650E Steel Legend with white build components, then make sure to check out our article on the Best White PC Case and the Best White CPU Cooler.

What We Liked

The ASRock B650E Steel Legend comes with a 16+2+1 VRM Design with 60A power stages, which is already a huge upgrade compared to other B650E boards. Not only that, but it also comes with a reliable 8-layered PCB and support for DDR5 memory up to 6600 MHz.

One of its main highlights includes support for Gen 5 M.2 slots. The M.2 slot does operate at Gen 5 x4 speeds; it also comes with adequate cooling for both the Gen 5 M.2 slot as well as the VRMs, to ensure that they both operate at safe temperatures.

What We Disliked

We would like to point out the amount of SATA connections present. With only two SATA ports, the B650E Steel Legend falls way behind the competition since most other motherboards in a similar price range offer at least four of these SATA 6G connections.

While the number of SATA ports on the board might not be of huge importance to some people, they can prove to be especially helpful for people who have not completely switched over to using M.2 slots. Furthermore, it does not come with any USB 3.2 Gen 2 x2 type-c ports, restricting users to only USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports; this can be a deal-breaker to some people.

What Sets The ASRock Steel Legend Apart From Its Competitors?

ASRock is not subtle about the B650E Steel Legend’s design elements. While they might not be everyone’s cup of tea, its over-the-top design choices are what make it stand out from the rest of the list. The inclusion of a full-sized PCIe Gen 5.0 x 16 pick makes this an even better pick.

Verdict

Pair its great design with a remarkable host of features, and you get a motherboard that is not only capable of supporting the latest Ryzen 7000 series of processor but also stand out with its stunning design. 

Coming with support for new-gen features such as PCIe 5.0 support as well as a 16+2+1-phase VRM design that stands out from the competition, the ASRock Steel LEgend B650E is one of the best B650E motherboards one can come across. These features, coupled with its white design, make it the Best White B650E Motherboard. 

ASRock B650E PG RIPTIDE WiFi

Best Value B650E Motherboard

Specifications: CHIPSET: AMD B650 Chipset | MEMORY: 4 x DIMM, 128GB MAX (DDR5) DISPLAY OUTPUTS: HDMI| REAR USB PORTS: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 6 x USB 2.0|  Network: 1 x Killer 2.5Gb, WiFi 6E | Storage: 3x M.2,  4 x SATA III 

As mentioned previously, ASRock has not dialed back down on the budget side of things with the launch of their new B650E boards, providing us with offerings such as the ASRock B650E PG RIPTIDE WiFi, which brings great features at a comparatively lower price than the competition.

ASRock has not done anything particularly impressive with the design of the B650E PG RIPTIDE WiFi,  Ditching RGB entirely; ASRock has gone with a much simpler look with the B650E PG Riptide. While the PCB itself is completely black, we see hints of a blue accent on the chipset heatsink and the rear I/O.

Compared to its predecessor, the VRMs are where we see the most improvements being made; of course, that is to ensure smooth power delivery to the monstrous Ryzen 7000 series of processors. Having said that, the ASRock B650E PG Riptide WiFi comes with a 14+2+1 power design with Smart Power Stage technology.

Its efficient and effective VRM cooling solution is what allows it to operate at lower temperatures. Additionally,  ASRock has marketed the B650E RipTide WiFi as having a “premium PCB design,” coming with an 8-layer PCB with 2 oz copper layers. It also comes with a relatively modest set of ports on the rear I/O.

Apart from that, its PCIe expansion slot configuration remains one of its strong suits, with a clear edge over the competition. It features a single full-sized PCIe Gen 5.0 x 16 slot and an additional PCIe 3.0 x 16 slot. ASRock has also included a third PCIe 3.0 x 1 slot, which is always nice to see on budget boards.

Much like most ATX boards, 4 DIMM slots are also present with support for DDR5 memory up to 6600 MHz. Of course, you also get your standard features, such as the BIOS flashback Button, WiFi 6E for wireless connectivity, and a 2.5G ethernet port powered by the Killer 802.11ax chip.

What We Liked

The Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master showcases a promising set of features that stand out from the competition, of course, that includes a 14+2+1 phase VRM design and a total of three M.2 slots, with one of them being a Gen 5.0 slot. In addition to all that, you also get a PCIe gen 5.0 x 16 slot as your primary PCIe slot.

What We Disliked

Being one of the cheaper B650E-based motherboards, ASRock had to compromise on some of its features. ASRock has ditched the USB 3.2 Gen 2s2 port on the rear I/O, which can be a deal breaker for people working with large files. To make up for the lack of USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports, ASRock has included internal 3.2 Gen 2×2 connectors.

What Sets The ASRock B650E PG RIPTIDE WIFI Apart From Its Competitors?

With most motherboards coming with an MSRP that equals that of a mid-range processor, it comes as no surprise that the problem with most AM5 motherboards is their absurd pricing; however, ASRock seems to have tackled that issue with the B650E PG RIPTIDE WiFi, launching it at a relatively lower price all the while providing most of the features as the more premium X670E boards.

Verdict

While it may not be the best-performing board on this list, the ASRock B650E still packs a punch when it comes to its VRM configuration and heatsinks design. Furthermore, it provides all of those next-gen features at a relatively lower price than the competition, making it the Best Value B650E Motherboard.

ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFI 

Best Mini-ITX B650E Motherboard

Specifications: CHIPSET: AMD B650E Chipset | MEMORY: 4 x DIMM, 128GB MAX (DDR5) DISPLAY OUTPUTS: HDMI | REAR USB PORTS: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C, 5 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB 2.0|  Network: 1 x Intel 2.5Gb, WiFi 6E | Storage: 2 x M.2,  2 x SATA

Refreshed with a new set of features, the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi is ASUS’ take on an entry-level Mini-ITX board that provides all of the features of the premium X670E variant at a reasonable price. It is designed specifically for people that want the most out of a Mini-ITX board without spending too much.

To start off, let’s take a look at the storage option it offers. Coming with two M.2 slots in total, the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi definitely does not disappoint you with its storage. Of course, one of the M.2 slots is taking full advantage of those PCIe Gen 5.0 speeds. As impressive as that already is, ASUS has also added two SATA 6G ports to the board.

What is equally as impressive is its VRM design; the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFI comes with a 10+2 VRM design, with each of the power stages rated at 60A. Fortunately, a rather sizable heatsink is present to cool down its VRM. As far as the PCIe expansion slots are concerned, You get a single full-sized PCIe Gen 5.0 x 16 slot to house your graphics card.

An important thing to point out with these small form factor boards is the number of connectivity options present on the rear I/O. Since the limiting form factor of this board restricts ASUS from loading it with all of the USB connectivity options, ASUS has gone ahead and added only the most important ones, which include USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C ports as well as five USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports.

Much like the rest of the ROG Strix lineup of B650E motherboards, ASUS has included their Supreme FX Audio Solution with the B650E-I Gaming WiFi.

What We Liked

As mentioned previously, some of its features are very reminiscent of its X670E counterpart, with a few downgrades in terms of connectivity options as well as with the VRM design. ASUS seems to have not skimped out on any aspect of the board, from its storage to connectivity options, the B650E-I Gaming WiFI comes with a reasonable mix of features.

What We Disliked

Since it has such a small footprint, it becomes difficult to criticize ASUS for the lack of connectivity options on the rear I/O; however, it would have been nice to see a separate hub that added more connectivity options. Apart from a few minor nitpicks, there is not really anything to dislike about the ASU ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi.

What Sets The ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi Apart From Its Competitors?

With the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFI, ASUS has gone out of their way to offer performance and functionality that rivals that of higher-end boards in a much smaller form factor. Taking its decent VRM setup and great cooling into consideration, the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi is more than capable of handling even 8-core beasts such as the Ryzen 7 7700x or even the higher-end processors.

Despite its small footprint, you will not be missing out on any of the internal connections as well with the B650E-I Gaming WiFI since ASUS has equipped it with plenty of fan and RGB headers. While overclocking is certainly not its strong suit, ASUS has included a 12-phase VRM design with the B650E-I Gaming WiFi, which should perform fairly well in most instances. 

Verdict

Overall, ASUS has done a splendid job with the ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi, packing it with most of the features you would need out of a mid-range Mini-ITX board. Its great aesthetics, in combination with the powerful VRM, make it one of the better B650E boards to get. Being one of the only Mini-ITX B650E boards that offers this much functionality, we have titled it the Best Mini-ITX B650E Motherboard. 

ASRock B650E Taichi

Best Overclocking B650E Motherboard

Specifications: CHIPSET: AMD B650 Chipset | MEMORY: 4 x DIMM, 128GB MAX (DDR5) DISPLAY OUTPUTS: HDMI, Display Port | REAR USB PORTS: 1 x USB 4 Type-C, 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 8x USB 3.2 Gen 1|  Network: 1 x Intel 2.5Gb, WiFi 6E | Storage: 3x M.2,  4 x SATA III 

ASRock is undeniably one of the biggest names when it comes to the PC industry, and with this being the third ASrock motherboard on this list, the company itself does not need much of an introduction so let’s get right to its core features of their upper-midrange motherboard, the ASRock B650E Taichi.

The ASRock B650E Taichi shares a strikingly similar design to the higher-end X670E Taichi, with a few minute little differences. Some of those differences include the realignment of the cog on the bottom right side of the board as well as the change in the position of the two PCIe expansion slots.

With its design out of the way, Let’s move on to the technical aspects of the board. Starting with its main highlight, the VRM configuration. The ASRock B650E Taichi undoubtedly features one of the most impressive VRM configurations we have seen by far on any B650E board. We are talking a 24+2+1 VRM design with 105A Smart power stages and a good amount of cooling to back it up.

In addition to its phenomenal VRM design, ASRock has also managed to equip the B650E Taichi with two PCIe Gen 5.0 x 16 slots. Not only that, but three M.2 slots are also included, with one of them operating at PCIe Gen 5 x 4 speeds. Moreover, you can also find four SATA connections right next to the chipset heatsink.

The selection of rear I/O ports isn’t where ASRock has decided to hold back either, with the B650E Taichi coming with a USB 4 Type-C port which provides transmission speeds up to 40 Gbps. Of course, it doesn’t end just there, with the rear I/O also including three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports and eight USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports.

What We Liked

Out of all the features outlined on ASRock’s official website, its exceptional power phase design is the one that stands out the most, putting even premium X670 boards to shame. With the number of features it comes with, it almost becomes difficult to differentiate it from an X670 board.

It is clear ASRock has gone out with the B650E Taichi; its robust VRM design alone is enough of an indicator to show the sheer value the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi provides. To say that its great design impresses us would be an understatement; ASUS has managed to jam-pack the B650E-I Gaming WiFI with almost every function possible.

What We Disliked

The ASRock B650E Taichi also suffers from the same problem as many other AM5 boards, which is their price. While its high price is completely justified thanks to the ton of features it offers, it still can be a deal-breaker for most buyers unless they need the board specifically for overclocking.

What Sets The ASRock B650E Taichi Apart From Its Competitors?

Overclocking is where the ASRock B650E Taichi truly excels, with its overclocking capabilities exceeding that of every other B650E motherboard we have seen. That is, thanks to its insanely powerful 26-phase VRM setup, as well as its brilliantly manufactured design which is fully loaded with heatsinks to help maintain lower VRM temperatures.

ASRock has also incorporated an excellent design with the B650E Taichi, making it stand out from its competitors. You also get two PCIe Gen 5.0 x 16 slots, which is very uncommon for B650E boards. Furthermore, three M.2 slots, as well as four SATA 6G ports, are included for all of your storage needs.

Verdict

Providing features on par with X670E boards, the ASRock B650E Taichi is one of the best-performing B650E boards you can get your hands on. From two PCIe Gen 5.0 x 16 slots to an incredible 26-phase VRM setup, the ASRock B650E Taichi offers it all. With all of that in mind, it would almost be unfair not to rank the ASRock B650E Taichi as the Best Overclocking B650E Motherboard.

B650E vs B650 Chipset Motherboards

With the new AM5 socket, the B650 Motherboard is the absolute minimum required to make use of the Ryzen 7000 series processors. Being the baseline chipset, the B650E compromises on a lot of its features, offering less functionality compared to other high-end chipsets such as the B650E, X670, and the top-of-the-line X670E chipset.

Before moving on to our picks for the B650E motherboards that you can currently purchase in 2023, let’s first analyze the difference between the two entry-level chipsets.

Support for PCIe Gen 5.0 is one factor of the biggest factor that sets both of these chipsets apart. The budget-friendly B650 chipset only comes with 18 PCIe 5.0 lanes which means some manufacturers can elect to exclude the full-sized PCIe Gen 5 x 16 slot in favor of faster Gen 5.0 M.2 slots.

Furthermore, AMD has made it clear that manufacturers can even choose to completely remove Gen 5.0 support from their B650 motherboards. B650E, on the other hand, is much more generous with the distribution of PCIe lanes, offering 20 PCIe Gen 5.0 lanes in total, allowing you to take advantage of faster speeds for both your graphic cards and M.2 slots.

On top of including all of the basic features that the B650 chipset offers, the B650E chipset adds a lot more functionality, including more PCIe Gen 5.0 lanes, an increase in the number of rear I/O ports, and more M.2 slots.

Compared to the B650E, the B650 takes also takes a major hit in terms of its overclocking capabilities. With B650 boards, you can expect much weaker VRM designs along with worse heatsinks across the board, which have a lot of impact on the total overclocking performance of your motherboard.

In conclusion, it is apparent that the B650E chipset has a clear lead in terms of its performance and core features over the B650 chipset; however, if you are on a budget and don’t mind missing out on some of the newer features exclusive to the AM5 chipset, then the B650 chipset should serve you just fine.  

Our Criteria 

Here are a few things you need to consider before purchasing the best B550E motherboard.

VRM

While some buyers might overshadow its importance, the Voltage Regulator Module is essentially one of the most crucial factors to consider when purchasing a new motherboard. Responsible for ensuring the smooth delivery of power to your processor, the VRM has a lot of impact on the overclocking performance of your processor. Not only that but opting for a weaker VRM can also put your processor’s lifespan at risk.

Overclocking Potential

While Overclocking potential is not determined by one factor, the VRM configuration is undeniably one of the more important parameters that affect the overall overclocking capabilities of your processor. Anyone interested in pushing their processor to its limit should opt for a motherboard with a powerful VRM configuration.

Heatsink – Cooling 

To avoid issues such as thermal throttling, which subsequently lead to worse overall performance, motherboards come equipped with a decent amount of heatsinks to cool down VRM and M.2 NVMEs. Of course, the VRM receives a separate heatsink which varies in size depending on the motherboard you end up going with.

Features

The number of features you get with your motherboards is completely dependent on the manufacturer and the chipset. With the B650E chipset, most manufacturers manage to incorporate a reasonable amount of features that include PCIe Gen 5.0 connectivity, Gen 5.0 M.2 slots, and DDR5 memory support.

The number of rear I/O ports and internal connectors present also varies for each motherboard. Naturally, going for a higher-end B650E board will get you more SATA ports, more internal headers as well as a decent amount of USB ports on the rear I/O.

Price

While the B650E chipset is marketed as a “mid-range” chipset, motherboards that are powered with this chipset come at different prices, with some almost matching the price of X670 boards. Having said that, it is still possible to get a motherboard that satisfies your needs at a reasonable price. However, going for a cheaper board will lead to a decrease in its overall features.

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