I'm torn between the ROG STRIX B650E-E and the B650E AORUS MASTER.
I'm torn between the ROG STRIX B650E-E and the B650E AORUS MASTER.
I need to pick a motherboard for my new PC. I’ve checked the X670 and ruled them out because they lack PCIe 5.0. Then I considered the X670E, which almost seemed perfect. But they suggested looking at B650E boards—both the Asus ROG STRIX B650E-E GAMING WIFI and the Gigabyte B650E AORUS MASTER. The main issue is deciding between them. I plan to install a Ryzen 7700, possibly upgraded to a future X3D, with a 4090 and a couple of M2 chips. I don’t expect to need much extra storage later. The confusion comes from understanding PCIe specs: Asus lets the GPU and one M2 use PCIe 5.0 together without splitting it, while later M2s would share it. Gigabyte supports up to four M2s with PCIe 5.0, but I think they’ll split the GPU’s bandwidth if more than one is used. Since I want at least two GPUs installed, that could hurt their performance. I’m leaning toward Asus for better flexibility and Gigabyte for more storage options. Hope this clears things up!
Steve from Hardware Unboxed recently reviewed many X670 and X670E boards, highlighting their strong VRM and features. In one of his later videos, he announced a B650 board review, noting that all the boards he tested so far were quite different from his previous X670 experiences—some were disappointing. Perhaps wait a bit before watching the new video.
According to my understanding, the release of the video is still a few weeks away. I regret not having put together the PC earlier.
I believe Actually Hardcore Overclocking has a video discussing X670 motherboards and stated that most of them have overkill power designs. B650 may not be too far behind due to the AM5 socket as they increase the amount of power that can be supplied compared to AM4.
It's hard to compare the pros and cons without testing them first. You might need to check reviews or try each board yourself to see which fits your needs best.