Compare Asus X670E ProArt and Hero models to see their differences.
Compare Asus X670E ProArt and Hero models to see their differences.
Many B650 boards support that functionality (PBO). You purchase the X670E for two main reasons: first, extra I/O is required, and second, it’s simply your choice. The key differences among most X670/E boards lie in I/O distribution—how slots are allocated, their connections, Thunderbolt/USB4 setup, etc. Some users desire dual PCIe slots that can operate as x8 and x8 off the CPU, while others need DP-In to feed GPU output into Thunderbolt. Not every board offers this capability. For example, my board lacks that feature but instead links the iGPU outputs directly to the Thunderbolt controller, enabling external displays via Type C ports and supporting HDMI for multiple displays from the same GPU. Ultimately, evaluate the available features and layout to choose what suits you best. Any of these boards can run a CPU with PBO.
Several B650 models handle PBO2 effectively with ample VRM capacity to support any of the 7xxx chips. As mentioned, adding IO or Gen 5 components can be appealing, or simply for a performance boost. Interestingly, AM5 boards are now built much better than before.