AM5 at the (B)budget price
The X670E mainboards tested in PCGH 12/2022 mainly shared three characteristics: equipment at a new level, outrageous compromises in their implementation and prices that would be questionable even for absolutely perfect boards. Manufacturers and retailers have also realized the latter: a 160 euro discount on Gigabyte's X670E Xtreme, 150 euros on the MSI X670E Ace and at least 110 euros for Asus' Asrock X670E PG Lightning also sold so well.
B650(E): The new X570?
If you want to spend well under 300 euros for an AM5 mainboard or at least don't want to accept any major compromises on onboard sound for less than 400 euros, you're still wrong with the two-part X670(E) chipset. Based on the name in the budget range, AMD would rather sell a half-sized solution: the B650(E). This uses the same Promontory 21 silicon (designed by ASMedia, manufactured by TSMC), but only in a simple version as a classic single-chip I/O hub. Accordingly, SATA and USB options are halved, while eight out of twelve PCI-E 4.0 lanes remain: The X670(E) actually has 16, but since it consists of two chips, four lanes are used for the internal connection , which is omitted for the B650(E).
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You will find the following products in the test:
Asrock B650E PG RiptideAsus Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFiAsus TUF Gaming B650-PlusGigabyte B650E Aorus Master INFO: You can buy PCGH Plus items individually or purchase a Plus subscription.
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