Buying Guide
The Best Micro-ATX B650 Motherboards
We weighed four motherboards on M.2 slot count and wired network speed, and the TUF B650E-PLUS costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read4 products evaluated
Micro-ATX B650 boards keep AM5 builds compact and affordable. Every pick is a B650 or B650E Micro-ATX board, ordered from the lowest price.
The order reflects M.2 slots, wired LAN and wi-Fi from maker specifications; we did not test these motherboards ourselves, and gaps in the specs are flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Our 4 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
ASUS TUF Gaming B650E-PLUS WiFi
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.
Our take Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming B650E-PLUS WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASUS TUF Gaming B650E-E WiFi
A rear USB 20Gbps Type-C port.
Best for: Buyers who want rear USB 20Gbps Type-C port.
Our take Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming B650E-E WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ASUS ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi
A rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port.
Best for: Buyers who want rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port.
Our take Check price for ASUS ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
ASUS B650E MAX Gaming WiFi W
The top of this price range, adding a white PCB.
Best for: Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Our take Check price for ASUS B650E MAX Gaming WiFi W (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price of the group at our last check. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build. | Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming B650E-PLUS WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
| A rear USB 20Gbps Type-C port. | Buyers who want rear USB 20Gbps Type-C port. | Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming B650E-E WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
| A rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port. | Buyers who want rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port. | Check price for ASUS ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding a white PCB. | Spending more for the fullest feature set. | Check price for ASUS B650E MAX Gaming WiFi W (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 4
ASUS TUF Gaming B650E-PLUS WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The TUF B650E-PLUS uses the B650E chipset, which adds PCIe 5.0 lanes, alongside 80A power stages and BIOS Flashback.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.
Skip if
- Pass on it if wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It is a sturdy pick for a 12- or 16-core Ryzen on a budget. You get 12+2+1 power stages here, which sets it apart from the Strix B650-A and its 12+2 power stages. It uses AMD's AM5 socket, so it takes Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 chips; a board built before a CPU's launch may need a BIOS update first, so check whether it supports BIOS Flashback.
Check the manual for which M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot before filling them all. It undercut the TUF B650E-E and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 3
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Power stages: 12+2+1
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: AM5
- Chipset: B650E
Pros
- 80A DrMOS power stages
- BIOS Flashback
- PCIe 5.0 support from the B650E chipset
- 12+2+1 power stages, the only one here
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
Also Consider2 of 4
ASUS TUF Gaming B650E-E WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The TUF B650E-E pairs a USB 20Gbps Type-C port and BIOS Flashback with three M.2 slots on B650E.
Best for
- Buyers who want rear USB 20Gbps Type-C port.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7.
Why we like it
Its 8+2+1 layout suits mid-range Ryzen chips. Like the B650E MAX Gaming W, it has 8+2+1 power stages, while the TUF B650E-PLUS uses 12+2+1 power stages. It also offers 80A DrMOS power stages.
It uses AMD's AM5 socket, so it takes Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 chips; a board built before a CPU's launch may need a BIOS update first, so check whether it supports BIOS Flashback. Check the manual for which M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot before filling them all. It was priced above the TUF B650E-PLUS and below the Strix B650-A at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 3
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Power stages: 8+2+1
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: AM5
- Chipset: B650E
Pros
- Rear USB 20Gbps Type-C port
- BIOS Flashback
- 80A DrMOS power stages
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Costs more than the TUF B650E-PLUS at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 4
ASUS ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Strix B650-A offers three M.2 slots, a USB 20Gbps Type-C port and a white finish.
Best for
- Buyers who want rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi is a problem.
Why we like it
It suits light-themed builds that do not need Wi-Fi 7. 12+2 power stages is unique to it among these picks, while the TUF B650E-E uses 8+2+1 power stages. It is the only pick here with a B650 chipset; the B650E MAX Gaming W has a B650E chipset instead.
It also comes with Aura Sync lighting. It uses AMD's AM5 socket, so it takes Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 chips; a board built before a CPU's launch may need a BIOS update first, so check whether it supports BIOS Flashback. Check the manual for which M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot before filling them all. Its price falls between the TUF B650E-E and the B650E MAX Gaming W, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 3
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Power stages: 12+2
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: AM5
- Chipset: B650
Pros
- Rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port
- White and silver finish
- Aura Sync lighting
- 12+2 power stages, the only one here
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Costs more than the TUF B650E-PLUS at the time of writing
Premium Pick4 of 4
ASUS B650E MAX Gaming WiFi W on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The B650E MAX Gaming W stands out for a white PCB, and it adds a rear USB 10Gbps Type-C port.
Best for
- Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Skip if
- Pass on it if wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It also offers a 3 M.2 slot count and offers a 2.5Gbps wired network speed. Like the TUF B650E-E, it has 8+2+1 power stages, while the TUF B650E-PLUS uses 12+2+1 power stages. It also comes with BIOS Flashback.
It uses AMD's AM5 socket, so it takes Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 chips; a board built before a CPU's launch may need a BIOS update first, so check whether it supports BIOS Flashback. Check the manual for which M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot before filling them all. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Strix B650-A the nearest cheaper option. M.2 slot count is its weakest area, and the TUF B650E-PLUS covers it better at 3.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 3
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Power stages: 8+2+1
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: AM5
- Chipset: B650E
Pros
- White PCB
- Rear USB 10Gbps Type-C port
- BIOS Flashback
- The top of this price range, adding a white PCB
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Costs more than the TUF B650E-PLUS at the time of writing
How We Chose These Micro-ATX B650 Motherboards
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We set side by side four boards on M.2 slot count, wired network speed, wi-Fi and power stages from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 4, from the TUF B650E-PLUS to the B650E MAX Gaming W, state M.2 slot count, wired network speed and wi-Fi and share Wi-Fi 6E wi-Fi and AM5 socket.
- Who each pick suits
- The TUF B650E-PLUS for the lowest price of the group at our last check; the TUF B650E-E for a rear USB 20Gbps Type-C port; the Strix B650-A for a rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the TUF B650E-PLUS ($100 to $150) to the B650E MAX Gaming W ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a Micro-ATX B650 Motherboard
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Extras that separate them
The TUF B650E-PLUS: BIOS Flashback. The Strix B650-A: a white and silver finish. The B650E MAX Gaming W: a rear USB 10Gbps Type-C port.
Budget
$100 to $150 buys the TUF B650E-PLUS, the TUF B650E-E and the Strix B650-A; $150 to $250 buys the B650E MAX Gaming W at our last check.
Start from what matters most
Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build: the TUF B650E-PLUS. Spending more for the fullest feature set: the B650E MAX Gaming W.
Power delivery for high-end CPUs
Boards with more and stronger power stages run hot 16-core chips more comfortably. For eight-core gaming CPUs, most current boards are enough.
Check the rear and front I/O
Count USB ports you use every day and confirm a front USB-C header if your case has a USB-C port.
How to Choose a Micro-ATX B650 Motherboard
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build | TUF B650E-PLUS | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who want rear USB 20Gbps Type-C port | TUF B650E-E | A rear USB 20Gbps Type-C port |
| Buyers who want rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port | Strix B650-A | A rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port |
| Spending more for the fullest feature set | B650E MAX Gaming W | The top of this price range, adding a white PCB |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The TUF B650E-PLUS, the TUF B650E-E and the rest, as their makers list them.
| Board | M.2 slots | Wired LAN | Wi-Fi | Power stages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUF B650E-PLUS | 3 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 12+2+1 |
| TUF B650E-E | 3 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 8+2+1 |
| Strix B650-A | 3 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 12+2 |
| B650E MAX Gaming W | 3 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 8+2+1 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The TUF B650E-PLUS was the lowest-priced pick and the B650E MAX Gaming W the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Boards |
|---|---|
| About $100 to $150 | TUF B650E-PLUS, TUF B650E-E, Strix B650-A |
| About $150 to $250 | B650E MAX Gaming W |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the B650E MAX Gaming W our Premium Pick pick?
It earns the label for the top of this price range, adding a white PCB. It suits spending more for the fullest feature set.
Do the TUF B650E-PLUS and the TUF B650E-E differ on power stages?
The TUF B650E-PLUS uses 12+2+1; the TUF B650E-E and the B650E MAX Gaming W use 8+2+1; the Strix B650-A uses 12+2.
What extras do the TUF B650E-PLUS and the TUF B650E-E include?
The TUF B650E-PLUS: 80A DrMOS power stages. The TUF B650E-E: a rear USB 20Gbps Type-C port. The Strix B650-A: a rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port.
Who should choose the TUF B650E-PLUS?
The TUF B650E-PLUS carries our Lowest Price Here label for the lowest price of the group at our last check. It ranks first of 4 here.
Should I pick the TUF B650E-PLUS or the B650E MAX Gaming W?
The TUF B650E-PLUS suits buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build; the B650E MAX Gaming W suits spending more for the fullest feature set.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the TUF B650E-PLUS, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the TUF B650E-E for a rear USB 20Gbps Type-C port, the Strix B650-A for a rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port and the B650E MAX Gaming W for the top of this price range, adding a white PCB if those matter more to you.
Check M.2 slot count and rear USB before buying a smaller board.