I'm putting together a gaming setup and have ordered a Ryzen 7 9800x3d CPU, an MSI Shadow 3X OC GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, and G.Skill Ripjaws S5 64 GB DDR5-6000 RAM. For the motherboard, I went with the ASUS TUF GAMING B650E-E WIFI, which cost 155 Eur. I also considered a few other options: ASRock X870 PRO-A (199 Eur), ASRock B850 Riptide (205 Eur), MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk (206 Eur), ASUS TUF B850-PLUS (199 Eur), and MSI PRO B850-P (179 Eur). I chose the B650E because I thought it was a sensible choice for my budget, not needing features like Wi-Fi 7 or USB 4.0 anytime soon as I have a 1 Gbps wired connection and don't frequently transfer large files. However, I've faced some comments about my decision being outdated. Should I think about upgrading to a more modern motherboard instead?
2 Answers
Honestly, I'd recommend looking for another B650E option if you're sticking to that model. You've got a valid point about your current needs, but the B650E's primary PCIe slot is only 4.0. For future-proofing, a model with a 5.0 slot would be wise. Also, steer clear of AsRock boards; I’ve had my fair share of headaches with them! If I were in your shoes, I'd go for the MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk or the MSI PRO B850-P, the latter being just 24 euros more and offering better VRMs and PCIe 5.0 support. It’s the best choice from your list, for sure.
I know there's some confusion about that. I have a 5070 in a 4.0 slot, and it hasn’t caused any problems. But for a long-term upgrade, aiming for PCIe 5.0 by 2026 might be smarter.
Upgrading the BIOS is necessary for CPU support, but going with the B650E should work fine for your needs. If the board has what you require, there's no need to overspend on features you won't use. In fact, I have a similar setup with a 7800X3D on the same board, and it runs smoothly without any issues.
Thanks for the insight! Just out of curiosity, what exactly makes the B650E-PLUS a better choice compared to the B650E-E?
Quick question: Does this board really have a dedicated PCIe 5.0 slot for the GPU, or is it only 4.0 like some say?
Wait, so you're saying the B650E's main slot is only 4.0? That contradicts what I've seen on the ASUS site showing it as 5.0! Can you clarify?