I'm a complete newbie at building PCs, so I might be a bit off, but I noticed that the ASRock B850 Pro RS motherboard is priced lower than the Gigabyte B650M. I thought the B850 was newer. Can someone explain this price difference and which motherboard is better overall?
4 Answers
Are you comparing the non-WiFi version of the B850 with a WiFi version of the B650? That could be why one is cheaper. Just keep in mind, if you get a no-WiFi board, you'd need to connect your internet via cable.
Honestly, I'd advise you to avoid ASRock boards if you can prevent it. Some users have reported issues like frying CPUs with those boards. Safety and reliability are key, especially when you're building your first PC!
The B650 chipset isn't being produced anymore, which can drive up its price due to scarcity. It's interesting how that works! Just because something's scarce, though, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a better deal. Lots of people might be trying to take advantage of that with higher prices for the B650.
Exactly! You might find the B650 priced higher due to demand, but if you can snag the B850 with equivalent features, definitely go for it.
Always check which model of Gigabyte you're looking at. If it's an Aorus model, that's a more premium option and naturally more expensive. Also, ASRock boards aren't always the best with newer CPUs like the X3D series, so keep that in mind when deciding.
I was considering the Aorus, thank you for pointing that out! I think I’ll pass on the ASRock since I have no idea how to handle BIOS updates. It feels a bit overwhelming!
Oh, got it! So if I pick a non-WiFi motherboard, I can't connect to WiFi without an adapter? I'm really trying to build on a budget, so thanks for clarifying!