Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master Motherboard Review

Today we will look at one of the latest Gigabyte motherboards with the new B650E chipset, the B650E AORUS Master. The motherboard uses an Extreme version of the chipset designed to work with PCIe 5.0 devices, so it promises it will be a great option if we are planning to build a gaming PC for a couple of years and give us a window to upgrade. AMD has promised full support for its new chipsets for at least three years (2025), and looking at the latest generations, investing in a motherboard is a way better idea than on Intel’s side, where chipsets are changing more often, but the changes are often less significant.

In this generation, AMD decided to move to DDR5 memory and only DDR5 unlike Intel whose motherboards support both. There are many other improvements compared to the previous generation, so let’s not make this introduction any longer and move to the specifications and features to check what else the B650E Master offers.

Specifications and Features of the AORUS B650E Master

The B650E Master is the flagship of the chipset and looks quite similar to the X670E Master. As you can see in the table with chipset specifications taken from the AMD website, the main difference between the X670E and B650E chipsets makes total usable PCIe lanes and available native USB ports. Let’s be honest, most users won’t need so many PCIe lanes or USB ports, so they can pick a cheaper chipset and won’t see a difference.

Below is the mentioned table with the new chipsets’ general differences.

Chipset Specifications

Chipset Comparison - source: AMD
Chipset Comparison – source: AMD

 

AMD B650E Chipset

If you are a serious gamer or creator, you will want an AMD B650E motherboard. With PCIe® 5.0 support for your NVMe drive and DDR5 support featuring AMD EXPO™ technology, AMD B650E is packed with features that help speed up your game. We can expect that motherboards with lower chipsets won’t have the same device support and may have worse specifications like additional controllers, used audio codec, or not as well-designed power delivery. As a result, lower chipsets will be used for cheaper motherboards.

The AORUS B650E Master clearly doesn’t belong to the low-end products line. The specifications and key features are impressive, which you can view below.

The specifications list is available on the Gigabyte product page.

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master Specifications

CPUAMD Socket AM5, support for: AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series Processors
ChipsetAMD B650E
Memory
  1. Support for DDR5 6666(OC) / 6600(OC) / 6400(OC) / 6200(OC) / 6000(OC) / 5600(OC) / 5200 / 4800 / 4400 MT/s memory modules
  2. 4 x DDR5 DIMM sockets supporting up to 128 GB (32 GB single DIMM capacity) of system memory
  3. Dual channel memory architecture
  4. Support for non-ECC Un-buffered DIMM 1Rx8/2Rx8/1Rx16 memory modules
  5. Support for AMD Extended Profiles for Overclocking (AMD EXPO™) and Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory modules
Onboard Graphics
Integrated Graphics Processor:

  1. 1 x HDMI port, supporting a maximum resolution of 7680×4320@60 Hz
    * Support for HDMI 2.1 version, HDCP 2.3, and HDR.

(Graphics specifications may vary depending on CPU support.)

Expansion SlotsCPU:

  1. 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, supporting PCIe 5.0* and running at x16 (PCIEX16)
    * Actual support may vary by CPU.
    * The M2B_CPU and M2C_CPU slots share bandwidth with the PCIEX16 slot. When the M2B_CPU or M2C_CPU slot is populated, the PCIEX16 slot operates at up to x8 mode.
    * For optimum performance, if only one PCI Express graphics card is to be installed, be sure to install it in the PCIEX16 slot.

Chipset:

  1. 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, supporting PCIe 4.0 and running at x4 (PCIEX4)
  2. 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, supporting PCIe 4.0 and running at x2 (PCIEX2)

Support for AMD CrossFire™ technology (PCIEX16 and PCIEX4)

Multi-GPUSupports AMD CrossFire Technology
StorageCPU:

  1. 1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 25110/2280 PCIe 5.0* x4/x2 SSD support) (M2A_CPU)
    * Actual support may vary by CPU.
  2. 3 x M.2 connectors (Socket 3, M key, type 22110/2280 PCIe 5.0* x4/x2 SSD support) (M2D_CPU, M2C_CPU, M2B_CPU)
    * Actual support may vary by CPU.

Chipset:

  1. 4 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors

RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 10 support for NVMe SSD storage devices
RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 10 support for SATA storage devices

LANIntel® 2.5GbE LAN chip (2.5 Gbps/1 Gbps/100 Mbps)
Wi-FiAMD Wi-Fi 6E RZ616 (MT7922A22M)

  1. WIFI a, b, g, n, ac, ax, supporting 2.4/5/6 GHz carrier frequency bands
  2. BLUETOOTH 5.2
  3. Support for 11ax 160MHz wireless standard and up to 2.4 Gbps data rate

(Actual data rate may vary depending on environment and equipment.)

Audio
  1. Realtek® ALC1220-VB CODEC
    * The front panel line out jack supports DSD audio.
  2. ESS ES9118 DAC chip
  3. Support for DTS:X® Ultra
  4. High Definition Audio
  5. 2/4/5.1-channel
    * You can change the functionality of an audio jack using the audio software. To configure 5.1-channel audio, access the audio software for audio settings.
  6. Support for S/PDIF Out
USBCPU:

  1. 1 x USB Type-C® port on the back panel, with USB 3.2 Gen 2 support
  2. 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports (red) on the back panel

CPU+USB 3.2 Gen 1 Hub:

  1. 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports on the back panel

CPU + USB 2.0 Hub:

  1. 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports on the back panel

Chipset:

    1. 1 x USB Type-C® port with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 support, available through the internal USB header
    2. 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports (red) on the back panel
    3. 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports available through the internal USB header
    4. 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports available through the internal USB headers
Internal I/O Connectors
    1. 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector
    2. 2 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connectors
    3. 1 x CPU fan header
    4. 1 x water cooling CPU fan header
    5. 4 x system fan headers
    6. 4 x system fan/water cooling pump headers
    7. 2 x addressable LED strip headers
    8. 2 x RGB LED strip headers
    9. 1 x CPU cooler LED strip/RGB LED strip header
    10. 4 x M.2 Socket 3 connectors
    11. 4 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
    12. 1 x front panel header
    13. 1 x front panel audio header
    14. 1 x USB Type-C® header, with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 support
    15. 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header
    16. 2 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers
    17. 1 x noise detection header
    18. 1 x THB_U4 add-in card connector
    19. 1 x Trusted Platform Module header (For the GC-TPM2.0 SPI/GC-TPM2.0 SPI

2.0 module only)

  1. 1 x power button
  2. 1 x reset button
  3. 2 x temperature sensor headers
  4. 1 x reset jumper
  5. 1 x Clear CMOS jumper
Back Panel Connectors
  1. 1 x Q-Flash Plus button
  2. 1 x Clear CMOS button
  3. 1 x HDMI 2.1 port
  4. 2 x SMA antenna connectors (2T2R)
  5. 1 x USB Type-C® port on the back panel, with USB 3.2 Gen 2 support
  6. 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports (red)
  7. 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
  8. 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
  9. 1 x RJ-45 port
  10. 1 x optical S/PDIF Out connector
  11. 2 x audio jacks
I/O Controller
iTE® I/O Controller Chip
H/W Monitoring
  1. Voltage detection
  2. Temperature detection
  3. Fan speed detection
  4. Water cooling flow rate detection
  5. Fan fail warning
  6. Fan speed control
    * Whether the fan (pump) speed control function is supported will depend on the fan (pump) you install.
  7. Noise detection
BIOS
  1. 1 x 256 Mbit flash
  2. Use of licensed AMI UEFI BIOS
  3. PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.7, WfM 2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI 5.0
Unique Features
  1. Support for GIGABYTE Control Center (GCC)
    * Available applications in GCC may vary by motherboard model. Supported functions of each application may also vary depending on motherboard specifications.
  2. Support for Q-Flash
  3. Support for Q-Flash Plus
OS SupportSupports Windows 10 64-bit and Windows 11 64-bit
Form FactorATX Form Factor; 30.5cm x 24.4cm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before I checked the detailed specifications, I thought Gigabyte sacrificed much more compared to the flagship models based on the X670E chipset. In reality, most users won’t see any difference as the B650E Master has a great power design, all the overclocking options as higher models, improved audio, high RAM frequency support, and all the features that gamers may ask for. Gigabyte prepared a YouTube video with the key features of the B650E AORUS Master, which you can see below. Later in the article, I will describe the most important features and tell you how we feel about them.

For those who don’t want to watch the video, below is a list of the most important features.

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master Features

Twin Digital VRM Design
To ensure maximum Turbo Boost and overclocking performance of AMD’s new generation CPU, the GIGABYTE AORUS series motherboard equips the best VRM design ever built with the highest quality components.

  • 16 VCORE Phases – 105A Power Stage (8+8 phases parallel power design)
  • 2 SOC Phase – 90A Power Stage
  • 2 MISC Phases – 90A Power Stage
PCIe 5.0 Design
Design Ready for PCIe 5.0
PCIe 5.0 Design supports double the bandwidth of PCIe 4.0 and ensures that compatible with cutting-edge SSDs and GPUs released in the next few years to their full capability.
EXPO & XMP Support
DDR5 EXPO & XMP Overclocking Up to 6666 and Beyond*
AORUS is offering a tested and proven platform that memory overclocking capability is able up to 6666 and beyond. All users need to do to achieve this extreme memory performance boost is to ensure that their DDR5 memory modules are AMD EXPO™/ Intel® XMP capable, the EXPO/XMP function is activated and enabled on their AORUS motherboard.
Active OC Tuner
GIGABYTE Active OC Tuner
With GIGABYTE’s exclusive Active OC Tuner BIOS function, CPU* can work with AMD P.B.O. for gaming and other light workload applications with the highest CPU boost clock, but when the applications require all CPU cores horsepower, it automatically switches to the Manual OC mode where it can utilize the high frequency for all the CPU cores.
ㆍActive OC Tuner switches profile based on user scenario automatically ㆍ6.8% performance increase

* Only available on selected AMD Ryzen™ processors with P.B.O. function featured.
Thermal Design
  • Fully Covered Thermal Design – High coverage MOSFET and integrated molding Heatsinks to improve thermal efficiency with better airflow and heat exchange.
    – 4X Large Surface – Increased surface area up to 4X larger compared to traditional heatsinks. It improves heat dissipation from the MOSFETs.

    – Real One-piece Build TMOS is a TRUE single-piece heatsink. Its one-piece design and larger surface drastically improve the cooling performance against competitors’ multi-piece design.
    – Multi-Cut Design TMOS features several channels and inlets on the heatsink. This design allows for the air flow to go through which leads to a great improvement of the heat transfer performance.

  • 8mm Mega-Heatpipe – 8mm Mega-Heatpipe has a 30% wider diameter than a traditional 6mm heatpipe and is able to transfer more heat under the same time period.
  • 7 W/mK Thermal Pad
  • 8-Layer & 2X Copper PCB – 2X COPPER PCBs design effectively lowers the component temperature by its high thermal conductivity and low impedance.
  • M.2 Thermal Guard III – M.2 Thermal Guard III constructed with 9X optimized heat dissipation surface and double-sided M.2 heatsinks to prevent throttling and bottlenecks on high-speed/ large capacity of PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSDs.
  • NanoCarbon Baseplate:
    – Base plate made of aluminum instead of traditional iron ensures 3X thermal conductivity.
    – A thin layer of NanoCarbon is coated on the base plate through electrostatic adhesion to enhance thermal radiation capability.
    – Transfer heat from the back side PCB to the base plate so the NanoCarbon base plate can dissipate heat passively.
    – Effectively lowers backside PWM component temperature by 10%.

Smart Fan 6

Smart Fan 6

Smart Fan 6 contains several unique cooling features that ensure gaming PC maintain its performance while staying cool and quiet. Multiple fan headers can support PWM/DC fan and pump, and users can easily define each fan curve based on different temperature sensors across the board via intuitive user interface.

Cooling Features
  • High Current Support

    Each fan headers support PWM and DC fan and Water Cooling Pump, and up to 24W (12V x 2A) with Over-Current Protection.

  • Precision Control

    Multiple temperature/fan speed control points for the precise fan curve

  • Dual Curve Mode

    Slope/Stair dual mode for different user scenarios

  • Fan Stop

    The fan can stop completely below the user’s specified temperature point

Noise Detection
With the new Noise Detection function, you can monitor the noise level of all devices, including fans, CPU coolers, graphics cards, etc., in real-time, and you can determine how fast your fan speed needs to be. Our bundled Noise Detection cable doesn’t include any sound recording function, it simply detects sound pressure while protecting your privacy.
Connectivity
802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E
The latest Wireless solution 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E with a new dedicated 6GHz band, enables gigabit wireless performance, provides smooth video streaming, a better gaming experience, few dropped connections, and speeds up to 2.4Gbps. Moreover, Bluetooth 5 provides a 4X range over BT 4.2 and faster transmission.
First adopter on 2.5GbE LAN onboard
2X Faster than ever
  1. The adoption of 2.5G LAN provides up to 2.5 GbE network connectivity, with at least 2X faster transfer speeds compared to general 1GbE networking, perfectly designed for gamers with the ultimate online gaming experience.
  2. Support Multi-Gig(10/100/1000/2500Mbps) RJ-45 Ethernet
Connecting the Future – Front USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C®
Featuring the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 design, which is double the performance than the previous generation of USB 3.2 Gen 2. It works up to 20Gbps ultra-fast data transfer while connecting to USB 3.2 compliant peripherals. Through the USB Type-C® connector, users can enjoy the flexibility of a reversible connection to access and store massive amounts of data rapidly.
Connecting the Future – Rear USB3.2 Gen 2 Type-C®
AMD’s native USB 3.2 Gen 2 provides USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports with speeds up to 10Gbps. With twice the bandwidth compared to its previous generation as well as backwards compatibility with USB 2.0 and USB 3.2 Gen1, the much-improved USB 3.2 Gen 2 protocol is available over the new reversible USB Type-C™ and the traditional USB Type-A connector for better compatibility over a wider range of devices.
Hi-Fi Audio
ESS SABRE reference DAC ES9118

  • ESS SABRE reference DAC (ESS 9118)
  • Hyperstream Dynamic Range (SNR 125dB)
  • High-Res music (32bit, 192KHz PCM)
  • Super low THD+N (THD+N -112db)

True High-Fidelity Music (Realtek ALC1220)
Paired with Realtek’s latest ALC1220 Codec, playback for surround sound audio and DSD enabled music are easier than ever.

Audiophile Grade Capacitors (WIMA & Premium Grade Audio)
To ensure a studio-quality experience, WIMA and Premium Grade Audio capacitors are used to provide power to the overall system.

Precision Audio Stream (TXC OSCILLATOR)
Provides precise time triggers to Digital-Analog Converters. High resistance to corrosion and oxidation.

DTS :X® Ultra
Recreates an authentic, spatially accurate 3D audio experience for gaming over any headphones or speakers. Supports channel-based, scene-based, and object-based audio. Provides out-of-the-box calibration for a range of headphones and speakers. Provides post-processing enhancements and device-level tuning for DTS® codecs. DTS Sound Unbound* Leverages Microsoft Spatial, enabling the most believable, 3D audio experience for games. Immersion through DTS Headphone:X means in the sonic landscape, stationary and moving sounds can be heard from above, below, or around the listener. Sounds pass around the listener with amazing externalization and accurate localization.

Learn more about the immersive gaming sound experience powered by DTS Sound Unbound at https://dts.com/sound-unbound

Personalization
RGB Fusion Multi-Zone Light Show Design
Now offering more LED customizations than ever, users can truly adapt their PC to represent their lifestyle. With full RGB support and a redesigned RGB Fusion 2.0 application, the user has complete control over the LEDs which surround the motherboard.
UEFI BIOS
  • Friendly User Interface – The EASY MODE shows important hardware information in one page including CPU clock, Memory, Storage, Fan.
  • My Favorites – Add constantly used items to the favorite menu for quick access.
  • Storage Information – Show all kinds of storage information, including SATA, PCIE, and M.2 interface.
  • Changelog – List all changes before saving and exiting bios. Quickly review overall settings modification.
  • Intuitive Load Line Curve – Clearly show each loadline calibration setting in an intuitive curve graph.

GIGABYTE CONTROL CENTER (GCC) is a unified software for all GIGABYTE-supported products. It provides a newly designed intuitive user interface to control all essential functions.

  • Unified software platform for all Gigabyte supported products
  • Intuitive user interface for an eased experience
  • Modularized control components only for installed hardware
  • Auto update function to keep the system up to date and support future products
Multi-key
A multi-function reset button that can be reconfigured to other functions in BIOS for different user scenarios.
  • RGB Switch – Turn off all lighting effects on the motherboard.
  • Direct-To-BIOS – Boot into the BIOS menu directly without pressing any keyboard button.
  • Safe Mode – Boot into BIOS safe mode to change a specific option without losing other BIOS settings.
ULTRA DURABLE
EZ-Latch Plus
With GIGABYTE EZ-Latch Plus, you can DIY your PC in no time, quickly and easily.
Q-Flash Plus
Update the BIOS easily without installing the CPU, memory, and graphics card.
With GIGABYTE Q-Flash Plus, you don’t need to install the CPU, memory, and graphics card or enter the BIOS menu to flash the BIOS. Just download and save a new BIOS file (rename to gigabyte.bin) on the USB flash drive, then press the dedicated Q-Flash Plus button, and you’re good to go!

 

Most competitive motherboards are not as feature-rich as the B650E Master. Especially the audio is great. Even though in use isn’t the latest codec, it’s still Realtek ALC1220-VB, which was used in the top series of the last generation motherboards. In addition, there is ESS ES9118 DAC that makes a significant difference and gives us a great, deep sound. Even audiophiles can appreciate this combo. You can count on at least the same experience as on top Z690 motherboards, which was already a huge step forward compared to earlier generations.

We can’t forget about new controllers like WiFi 6E from AMD or already widely used Intel 2.5G LAN. The connection options are for sure not the issue as everything is well-balanced and delivers high performance in the latest standards. We will also find just the right amount of 10/20Gbps USB ports for everything. Everything perfectly matches gamers’ needs.

Looking at the product website, we can see Gigabyte focuses on strong power design and cooling, pointing out durability and stability. This is what many users are searching for in high-end motherboards and is what they get with the B650E Master. There is no problem with using the highest processors and multiple devices while large heat sinks cool everything. I especially love how Gigabyte handles multiple M.2 SSD cooling with a large mono-heat sink that looks amazing, not only on the reviewed motherboard but on all high-series Gigabyte motherboards. It’s a shame that large graphics cards cover it.

Gigabyte B650E Master uses 16+2+2 power phases, of which 16 are for the CPU. In reality, it’s an 8+8 phases parallel power design. I won’t judge if it’s a better option than a typical 16-phase design. For sure, it works well on the tested motherboard, as we had no problems with power delivery or stability, even under a high load after overclocking. During the AIDA64 CPU stability test with the Ryzen 9 7950X CPU, the VRM MOS sensor showed 45°C. I was expecting more, so it was a pleasant surprise.

Now let’s check what we get with the AORUS B650E Master and how the motherboard looks.

Retail Packaging and Accessories

For some readers, it can be surprising, but most motherboard manufacturers (Asus, MSI and Gigabyte) decided not to use any plastic bags or foam fillings in the package. It’s an eco-friendly step that the industry made, or at least brands that count on the mass market. The motherboard itself is held in place by cardboard, and all the easily scuffed parts are covered by plastic foil. Especially the I/O and VRM cover with an RGB backlight is fragile as it’s made of glossy plastic and can be easily scratched. If you want to keep it in perfect condition, then you probably shouldn’t touch it.

Inside the box is everything we need for the installation, including a WiFi antenna, SATA data cables, thermal sensor cable, M.2 screws, a sticker/badge with the AORUS logo, RGB extension cable, a quick user’s guide (an extended version of the manual is available on the website), and a set of various gaming theme stickers.

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master - Package 5
Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master – Package 5

 

A Closer Look at the AORUS B650E Master

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master
Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master

Gigabyte made a huge step with the motherboard design in the last generation of Intel motherboards. I really like the way how they use large heatsinks that look modern and professional. I’m not a fan of toy-looking designs like some competitive brands keep using. The RGB also looks well on the B650E Master. It’s not too flashy but adds a spark to the black/silver motherboard color theme.

Below you can see how the motherboard looks. The layout feels optimal. All the connectors are where I would expect them and the access to buttons, switches and connectors is easy, even with installed all other components.

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The B650E uses large heatsinks and high-performance thermal pads that cause it to run cool and fanless. The backplate is made of aluminum and covered with nanocarbon. It helps with heat dissipation and also looks good.

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Below are additional close-ups of the ICs that we can find on the motherboard. Most of the additional devices use Realtek ICs like audio and multiple USB controllers.

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UEFI BIOS and Overclocking Software

BIOS/UEFI

BIOS is for sure one of the strong points of the B650E Master. The motherboard arrived with an earlier version, so we updated it to the F3b version. Even though there were no problems with the initial BIOS, it’s good to keep it up to date as it may improve the performance and help with compatibility. The BIOS has two modes, an easy mode for all those who are fine with basic settings and an advanced mode for those who like to adjust everything or need specific settings for their work.

Easy Mode

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master - BIOS - Easy Mode
Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master – BIOS – Easy Mode

 

Advanced Mode – Favorites

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master - BIOS - Advanced Mode Favorites
Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master – BIOS – Advanced Mode Favorites

 

Advanced Mode – Tweaker

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Advanced Mode – Settings

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Advanced Mode – System Info

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Advanced Mode – Boot

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Advanced Mode – Save & Exit

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Q-Flash

The motherboard supports Q-Flash Plus. In short, we can update BIOS in many ways: directly from BIOS, OS, or a prepared flash drive that can update the BIOS without even the CPU. The last option is an amazing life-saver in case any BIOS corruption occurs, or we get a new CPU and the motherboard can’t start. It saves us the need for RMA as we can fix it independently.

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master - BIOS - Q-Flash
Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master – BIOS – Q-Flash

Gigabyte Software

Gigabyte adds the Control Center software, which includes RGB adjustment, fan control, overclocking and diagnostic options, and software/firmware updates. All we need in one place.

The RGB worked with the most popular brands, like G.Skill and Kingston. Less popular Klevv was also working fine, and you can see it in the photos in this review. Corsair required dedicated software, and without it, we could see a static white backlight. The software update that was released a couple of days after I started tests fixed support for the ZADAK memory kit, so if anything doesn’t work, then first, please check if there is a software update, as it may fix everything.

Test Setup and Performance of the AORUS B650E Master

Test System Components
MotherboardsGigabyte B650E AORUS Master
ASUS Crosshair X670E Gene
Gigabyte X570 Ultra
MSI Z690 Unify-X
CPUsAMD Ryzen 9 7950X
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
Intel Core i9 12900K
CPU CoolerASUS Ryujin II RGB 360 AIO
MemoryDDR5: Essencore Klevv 2x16GB DDR5-6200 CL40@DDR5-6400 CL32 (XMP sub-timings) / Hynix M-die
DDR4: Acer Predator 2x8GB DDR4-3600 CL14@XMP / Samsung B-die
SSDSilicon Power XS70 1TB NVMe SSD (OS + Applications)
Power SupplyFSP Dagger Pro 850W 80+ Gold PSU
Video CardPowercolor RX6800XT Red Devil 16GB
Operating SystemWindows 11 Pro x64

 

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CPU and Memory Performance

AIDA64 Cache and Memory Benchmark – Raw Data
Motherboard / CPUReadWriteCopyLatency
AORUS B650E Master / R9 7950X88054939488070860.0
Crosshair X670E Gene / R9 7950X84328924868092464.2
AORUS X570 Ultra / R9 5900X54136532594880560.2
MSI Z690 Unify-X / i9 12900K93452942138542368.4

 

Gigabyte B650E Master handles RAM well. The performance out of the box is slightly higher than on ASUS Crosshair X670E Gene. The ASUS motherboard requires additional adjustments to perform at the same level. Gigabyte specifications show that the B650E Master supports DDR5-6600 or even DDR5-6666. However, I wasn’t able to set anything above DDR5-6440, even using the bclk and Corsair DDR5-6600 memory kit, which is on the official motherboard’s QVL. Those users who remember the last AMD generation probably know that only cherry-picked CPUs could run at DDR4-4000 and 1:1 IF ratio. The same story is nowadays, as only cherry-picked Ryzen 7000 CPUs will run at more than DDR5-6400. Either way, we are satisfied with fully stable DDR5-6400, especially since, for tests, I used the Klevv memory kit at quite relaxed timings.

AIDA64 CPU Benchmark – Raw Data
Motherboard / CPUQueenPhotoZlibAESSHA3
AORUS B650E Master / R9 7950X206920542472458.538437311136
Crosshair X670E Gene / R9 7950X206456532422471.238347910805
AORUS X570 Ultra / R9 5900X136611208221342.92104635296
MSI Z690 Unify-X / i9 12900K114996595121556.22067106011

 

AIDA64 FPU Benchmark – Raw Data
Motherboard / CPUJuliaMandelSinJuliaFP64 RT
AORUS B650E Master / R9 7950X2630301398733364334141
Crosshair X670E Gene / R9 7950X2560271301703325733775
AORUS X570 Ultra / R9 5900X155039851571956612843
MSI Z690 Unify-X / i9 12900K132297681721469215319

AIDA64 CPU tests also show that the Gigabyte motherboard is slightly faster than ASUS. I wonder if it’s a matter of BIOS or something else, but all the results were repeatable.

Cinebench R23, POVRay, 7Zip – Raw Data
Motherboard / CPUR23 (S)R23 (M)POV-Ray7Zip
AORUS B650E Master / R9 7950X200438384267130.4202.38
Crosshair X670E Gene / R9 7950X200238340279272.7219.22
AORUS X570 Ultra / R9 5900X159820983288281.5117.12
MSI Z690 Unify-X / i9 12900K188227480228088.1131.91

In additional tests, the results are different. As long as Cinebench R23 shows about the same scores, POV-Ray and 7Zip results are better on the ASUS motherboard.

 

Gaming Performance

Gaming benchmarks show about the same results on Gigabyte and ASUS motherboards. Differences are close to the margin of error. We can clearly say that the user’s experience will be similar in both cases. The new AMD platform performs significantly better in some games than the last-gen AMD or Intel platforms.

 

Storage Performance

M.2 SSD

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master - SSD Performance, CrystalDiskMark
Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master – SSD Performance, CrystalDiskMark

 

Performance in storage tests shows that the B650E Master can use the full potential of the currently available SSD. Even on not the best performing Windows 11, we can see a maximum bandwidth for our Silicon Power XS70 SSD and amazing performance in random operations.

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master - SSD Performance, 3DMark Storage Benchmark
Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master – SSD Performance, 3DMark Storage Benchmark

3DMark storage benchmark confirms high bandwidth and low access time in the tests based on the 3D environment.

USB

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master - USB Performance, CrystalDiskMark
Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master – USB Performance, CrystalDiskMark

USB performance is slightly worse than I was expecting. The SSD used for this test is Crucial X8 4TB, which typically reaches 1.05GB/s. On the other hand, the performance in random operations is a bit better than usual.

Network Performance

LAN

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master - LAN Performance, CrystalDiskMark
Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master – LAN Performance, CrystalDiskMark

WiFi

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master - WiFi Performance, CrystalDiskMark
Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master – WiFi Performance, CrystalDiskMark

Network performance is about as high as expected. Everything works well without delays or bandwidth drops. Gigabyte is adding software that is supposed to improve the network bandwidth and lower latency. In the test environment, there were no additional connections that could interfere, so our results were similar with or without the additional network management software.

Power Consumption

 

Above, you can see our results of the whole test rig. It’s a typical high-end PC. The gigabyte motherboard was using slightly more power in idle, while the ASUS motherboard while under load. In both cases, the results are not so far from each other, but it’s notable that the Gigabyte will save us some power during longer work.

 

Overclocking with the AORUS B650E Master

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master - CPU OC 1
Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master – CPU OC 1

There are two or even three ways to overclock new AMD processors. In the above screenshot, you can see how it looks when we set a maximum frequency for all cores. In our case, the CPU couldn’t make more than 5.35GHz. To reach this frequency, our CPU required about 1.235V. It’s still amazing results if we compare it to the previous generation.
In the below screenshot, you can see how it looks when we play with PBO settings. The multi-threaded score is better in the first case, while the single-threaded score is better in the second case scenario. The PBO adjustment with the negative curve (typically between -10 and -30) gives better results in modern games and helps lower power usage.

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master - CPU OC 2
Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master – CPU OC 2

Gigabyte also provides a feature called Active OC Tuner. In short, it switches between manual settings and PBO to provide higher frequencies at all cores and a higher boost frequency for single-core tasks. The test rig couldn’t perform any better with the Active OC Tuner, even though it was running at slightly higher frequencies. It could be caused by a used cooling or some other factors. It’s still worth trying, as it seems like the best way to gain some more free performance.

The B650E Master supports XMP and EXPO profiles. Both work without issues. Those who are into overclocking will be happy to hear that the motherboard is also great for memory overclocking.

We have two additional options in BIOS that provide high bandwidth and low latency support. As long as the high bandwidth option doesn’t help much, then the low latency automatically optimizes memory timings giving higher performance. If we decide to do everything manually, then we have a full range of timings and other settings that will help us achieve success.

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master - RAM OC
Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master – RAM OC

Above is a screenshot after quick overclocking of the Essencore Kleev DDR5-6200 CL40 memory kit. The B650E Master supports every DDR5 RAM to the limits of the current platform, and it also supports very tight timings, so we can adjust all settings as we wish.

I’m sure anyone expecting good overclocking results won’t be disappointed with the B650E Master motherboard.

 

Conclusion

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master is a well-designed motherboard that, during the tests, wasn’t causing any trouble. All the tests passed flawlessly with high scores, slightly better than on ASUS Crosshair X670E Gene. It comes with a solid 16+2+2 power design which, combined with large heat sinks, promises great results and low operating temperatures. Even though AORUS B650E Master uses a lower chipset, it doesn’t limit the motherboard, and we get a wide range of functionality and modern controllers. There is everything that gamers may need: fast USB/USB-C ports, high-quality audio, four M.2 sockets in PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 standards, four SATA ports, 2.5Gbps LAN and WiFi 6E.

For all RGB enthusiasts, there are multiple RGB headers and a backlight on the motherboard itself. Since Gigabyte is one of the leading motherboard manufacturers, then other brands care to deliver devices compatible with the Gigabyte standard. If anything doesn’t work, then updates are usually released quickly.

The B650E Master overclocks great and supports various DDR5 memory ICs. It’s a nice improvement, as the last generation had some problems with compatibility. Overclocking was very easy, and the results were as good, if not better than on the ASUS motherboard used as a reference. The CPU achieved above-average frequency, which is still great, considering it’s not the best chip. The RAM could reach the platform’s limit, so we are also very satisfied, especially that in the tests were four different memory kits.

Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master costs around $350 on Newegg.com. It’s not cheap but quite reasonable for this motherboard. ASUS or MSI competitive models cost some more. On the other hand, for the X670E motherboards, we have to pay at least $150 more. Since the difference for most users will be barely visible, then the B650E Master is a good choice for gamers and even the most demanding users who wish to save some money on a top graphics card or higher CPU. It’s a great motherboard so we can recommend it without hesitation!

 

Click the stamp for an explanation of what this means.

 

Bartosz Waluk – Woomack

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Avatar of Voodoo Rufus
Voodoo Rufus

Powder Junkie Moderator

6,947 messages 634 likes

Two things:

1. No good picture of the rear IO
2. How are the M.2's arranged in terms of lane distribution to the CPU/chipset? Does it steal from the GPU slot?

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JLK03F150

What have I done! Member

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Avatar of EarthDog
EarthDog

Gulper Nozzle Co-Owner

77,696 messages 4,355 likes

Two things:

1. No good picture of the rear IO
2. How are the M.2's arranged in terms of lane distribution to the CPU/chipset? Does it steal from the GPU slot?

B650E has 28 total pcie 5.0 lanes off the cpu. In this case, the board splits a total of 8x lanes for four m.2 5.0 modules. So it seems you can run two 5.0 x4 drives or 4x 4.0 drives and get max performance out of everything attached.

Gigabyte has a chipset diagram in the manual. Definitely good information to have in reviews. :)

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Avatar of Voodoo Rufus
Voodoo Rufus

Powder Junkie Moderator

6,947 messages 634 likes

Thanks. Some of these boards are doing weird things between PCIE slots and M.2 slots.

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Avatar of EarthDog
EarthDog

Gulper Nozzle Co-Owner

77,696 messages 4,355 likes

They are... mostly Intel boards as they don't have as many lanes off the CPU. 20 IIRC. So if there are more than two PCIe 5.0-capable M.2 sockets, it's taken from the GPU lanes. The primary socket will run 5.0 x8 and give the lanes to the M.2 socket(s).

I can see why they do that... by the time 5.0 x8 is a glass ceiling for most uses, the platform will damn near be obsolete anyway. A 4090 is hindered by ~2% with 3.0 x16 at 2560x1440.

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W
Woomack

Benching Team Leader

13,828 messages 3,139 likes

Two things:

1. No good picture of the rear IO
2. How are the M.2's arranged in terms of lane distribution to the CPU/chipset? Does it steal from the GPU slot?

1. I don't know how, but the IO photos missed the gallery. Below you have one of them.

GBB650E_pht10.jpg

2. Everything is described in the table with specifications

1 x PCI Express x16 slot, supporting PCIe 5.0* and running at x16 (PCIEX16)

* The M2B_CPU and M2C_CPU slots share bandwidth with the PCIEX16 slot. When the M2B_CPU or M2C_CPU slot is populated, the PCIEX16 slot operates at up to x8 mode.

  1. 1 x M.2 connector (Socket 3, M key, type 25110/2280 PCIe 5.0* x4/x2 SSD support) (M2A_CPU)
  2. 3 x M.2 connectors (Socket 3, M key, type 22110/2280 PCIe 5.0* x4/x2 SSD support) (M2D_CPU, M2C_CPU, M2B_CPU)

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Avatar of Voodoo Rufus
Voodoo Rufus

Powder Junkie Moderator

6,947 messages 634 likes

Great picture. So the board takes 8 lanes from the GPU slot to allocate to two of the M.2 5x4's. That's one of the downsides of lane allocation with the more budget chipsets. If you want a lot of M.2s, they have to come from somewhere.

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Avatar of EarthDog
EarthDog

Gulper Nozzle Co-Owner

77,696 messages 4,355 likes

Great picture. So the board takes 8 lanes from the GPU slot to allocate to two of the M.2 5x4's.

If you want a lot of M.2s, they have to come from somewhere.

Indeed.

But... what's the real downside to that GPU slot splitting to x8??

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Avatar of Voodoo Rufus
Voodoo Rufus

Powder Junkie Moderator

6,947 messages 634 likes

Depends what GPU you're running. If I put my 2080Ti in it, it would drop to PCIE3x8 (2x16 equivalent). Performance will suffer in some scenarios at that point.

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Avatar of EarthDog
EarthDog

Gulper Nozzle Co-Owner

77,696 messages 4,355 likes

Depends what GPU you're running. If I put my 2080Ti in it, it would drop to PCIE3x8 (2x16 equivalent). Performance will suffer in some scenarios at that point.

??....why would your 2080ti run at 3.0 x8?

It's a 3.0 x16 card, but it has 4.0 x16 bandwidth available from the 5.0 x8. AFAIK all the pathways are still active, but bandwidth is cut in half as it's rerouted by the pcie multiplexers/MUX. It doesn't drop to x8 physical. I wouldn't bet my life on that though and will reach out and confirm. Perhaps some boards make a hard cut like that, but that seems like a silly design choice (though less expensive than adding MUX chips I suppose).

Edit: Regardless, a 2080ti on 3.0 x8 bandwidth only loses 2% too (look up '2080ti pcie scaling techpowerup') ... same as 4090 on 3.0 x16... or, nothing to worry about anyway.

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