ASUS has long been a trusted brand for our CGM test benches, and with the ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi now available, it’s worth examining if it maintains their standard of excellence. This motherboard feels tailor-made for the enthusiast PC builder looking to harness the power of AMD’s Ryzen 7000 and 8000 series processors. Featuring a modern monochromatic aesthetic, robust power delivery, and a comprehensive feature set, this board aims to be the foundation of your next high-performance gaming rig.
Given that the ASUS ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi is not one of their top-end boards, the unboxing experience is a bit more subdued than some we have reviewed in the past. Upon opening the box, you’re greeted with the motherboard securely nestled in an anti-static bag and cradled by protective foam inserts. Accompanying the board are the usual accessories: SATA cables, a WiFi antenna, an ROG-branded I/O shield, and various documentation. What sets this unboxing apart is the inclusion of an ASUS Hyper M.2 card and a ROG graphics card holder, thoughtful additions that emphasize the board’s focus on expandability and aesthetics.
Looking at the board, the ROG STRIX B650-A makes a striking first impression with its black and silver colour scheme. The VRM and chipset heatsinks feature an angular, almost futuristic design, while the integrated I/O shield and shroud over the rear ports lend a clean, seamless look to the board. RGB lighting is tastefully implemented, with subtle accents around the chipset heatsink and a backlit ROG logo. It is slightly more understated than some other ROG mainboards, but it looks slick, especially when dropped into a white case and still manages to have a style that stands out when lit up with RGB lighting.
Even though I like the look of the board, the design is made to be more than just for aesthetics and is made to provide a solid system experience. The heatsinks make ample contact with the VRMs and chipset, ensuring effective cooling under load. The PCIe and DIMM slots are reinforced to prevent sagging from heavy GPUs and to provide secure seating for your RAM sticks. There was thought and attention to detail put into this board, and it shows, giving a product that not only looks good but actually has a reason behind the style.
As mentioned earlier, the aesthetic of the ROG STRIX B650-A will appeal to a wide range of builders. Its monochromatic colour scheme allows it to blend with various build themes, while the angular design and RGB lighting give it a distinctly gaming-oriented flavour. It’s a design that manages to be both understated and eye-catching at the same time. With so many black motherboards on the market, it’s refreshing to see ASUS mix it up, and this one delivers a look that I personally love.
Picking up the ROG STRIX B650-A, I was struck by its heft and solid build quality. This is a substantial piece of hardware with a thick and sturdy PCB. The heatsinks are solidly constructed, the rear I/O shield is integrated into the board for a seamless fit, and the various connectors and slots all feel securely anchored. I’ll be honest: most of this heft is unnecessary for the average PC builder. While it’s nice to see and provides a sense of security knowing it won’t break easily when building or using a heavy GPU, it’s often not needed. Even so, I appreciate the solid construction, even when the board isn’t at the top of their range.
Looking at the back of the board, the ROG STRIX B650-A covers all the bases and then some when it comes to I/O. You get a generous selection of USB ports, including four USB 2.0 ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port, and multiple USB 3.2 Gen 1 and Gen 2 ports. There’s an Intel 2.5 Gb Ethernet port for wired networking and an Intel WiFi 6E module for wireless connectivity. For audio, you get a ROG Supreme FX Surround Sound audio codec, an optical S/PDIF out, and both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 ports to round things off.
“…the aesthetic of the ROG STRIX B650-A will appeal to a wide range of builders. Its monochromatic colour scheme allows it to blend with various build themes, while the angular design and RGB lighting give it a distinctly gaming-oriented flavour.”
Looking at the expansion options, you get two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, one of which is wired for x4 mode, allowing for dual GPU setups. There are also four M.2 slots, all of which support PCIe 4.0 SSDs, and two that support PCIe 5.0 x4. With support for up to 128GB of DDR5 RAM across four DIMM slots, this board is primed for builds with serious memory and storage requirements. It also features three aRGB headers to ensure you can keep all your lighting in sync.
On the power delivery side, the ROG STRIX B650-A features an 18-phase VRM for the system, with 16 phases dedicated to Vcore. It includes 12+2 power stages, each rated at 60A, ensuring solid and stable power delivery throughout the system. While it may not match the power delivery of some other boards in the same category, it provides more than enough power for even the flagship AMD Ryzen CPUs, meaning you should never be wanting for power when pushing your system.
ASUS’s BIOS is a well-designed and intuitive affair. Upon entering the BIOS, you’re greeted with an Easy Mode that provides a clear overview of your system’s key settings and allows for simple adjustments to boot priority, fan profiles, and XMP settings. Switching to Advanced Mode reveals a wealth of options for tweaking everything from voltages and clock speeds to DRAM timings and onboard device configuration.
For the overclocking enthusiast, the ROG STRIX B650-A’s BIOS is a playground. The AI Overclocking feature allows for easy one-click overclocking, while the Precision Boost Overdrive and Curve Optimizer settings allow for fine-grained control over your Ryzen CPU’s performance. The BIOS also includes a suite of hardware monitoring tools, allowing you to keep tabs on temperatures, voltages, and fan speeds.
Once everything was set up and booted, the system was incredibly stable, and the ports on offer made for a solid mid-level system. There are always some quality-of-life aspects I would have loved to see, including more USB ports since for any of our test systems, we use a lot of devices, especially when it comes to capture and production work, but the eight on the rear I/O should be more than enough for the average gamer. It also does not feature nearly as much lighting as some other boards in the ROG range, but it is a fraction of what some of that cost, so I can forgive it this time.
Speaking of price, at an MSRP of $279.99, the ASUS ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi sits at the higher end of the B650 motherboard market. It’s pricier than more basic offerings like the MSI PRO B650-P WIFI or the Gigabyte B650 AORUS Elite AX, but it justifies its premium with a more robust power delivery system, more extensive cooling, and a more comprehensive feature set. Additionally, the silver-on-black design is particularly appealing, although that is a personal preference.
The ASUS ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi is a motherboard that knows its audience. It’s a board for enthusiasts, for those who want a solid foundation for a high-performance, highly expandable AMD Ryzen system. With its robust power delivery, extensive cooling, generous I/O, and thoughtful inclusion of extras like an ASUS Hyper M.2 card, it’s a board that’s ready to grow with you as your needs and ambitions expand.
While it may not be the cheapest B650 option on the market, the ROG STRIX B650-A justifies its premium price with a premium feature set and build quality. It’s a board that feels like it’s punching above its weight class, offering features and performance that you might expect from a more expensive X670 board.
If you’re in the market for a high-end B650 motherboard for your next AMD Ryzen build, the ASUS ROG STRIX B650-A Gaming WiFi is definitely worth considering. This board prioritizes performance, expandability, and style, delivering on all three fronts. Whether you’re building a gaming rig, a content creation workstation, or a high-performance all-rounder, this board is a solid choice. And let’s be honest, the silver-on-black aesthetic is just fantastic!
