ASUS Prime B650-PLUS WiFi AM5 Motherboard: features and specs

The ASUS Prime B650-PLUS WiFi is an ATX motherboard for AMD's AM5 platform, built around the B650 chipset. ASUS positions it for people building their own desktop PC with a Ryzen 7000, 8000 or 9000 series processor. Below is what its main features mean for a build.

Socket and processor support

AM5 is AMD's current desktop socket, and it works with DDR5 memory only. ASUS lists support for Ryzen 9000, 8000 and 7000 series processors, with a note that a BIOS update may be needed for the 9000 and 8000 series. That matters if the board shipped with older firmware than your chip needs.

BIOS FlashBack

This is the feature that answers that problem. ASUS explains that you copy the BIOS file onto a FAT32 USB stick, plug it into the dedicated BIOS FlashBack port and press the button. The brand says this works even with no memory or processor installed, so you can update before the first boot.

Storage and memory

The listing mentions M.2 PCIe 5.0 support. PCIe 5.0 doubles the bandwidth of PCIe 4.0 per lane, though the gain in everyday use depends on the drive. SATA 6 Gbps ports cover older drives and optical hardware. ASUS highlights OptiMem II, its approach to routing memory traces and grounding to keep signals clean, which it says helps memory overclocking. Overclocking is never guaranteed and depends on the memory kit and processor.

Connectivity

ASUS lists Wi-Fi 6E, Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet, a 10Gbps USB Type-C port and a front-panel 5Gbps Type-C connector. There is also a Thunderbolt 4 header. A header is only a connection point on the board: it works with a compatible add-in card, which is a separate purchase.

Cooling and lighting

Heatsinks cover the VRM (the power circuitry around the processor), the M.2 slot and the chipset. Hybrid fan headers can run either three-pin or four-pin fans, and ASUS's Fan Xpert 2+ software helps tune them. For lighting, the board has addressable Gen 2 headers and an Aura RGB header, which sync with other Aura Sync-capable parts.

What to check before you buy

• Processor: confirm your CPU is an AM5 chip, and whether it needs a BIOS update.
• Memory: AM5 uses DDR5 only, so DDR4 kits won't fit.
• Case: it is ATX, so make sure your case supports that size.
• Storage: count the M.2 and SATA slots against the drives you plan to install.
• Wi-Fi and ports: check the rear ports against your peripherals.
• Thunderbolt: if you want it, you'll need a compatible add-in card for the header.
• Cooler: confirm your CPU cooler's AM5 mounting.

The short version

• ATX motherboard for AMD AM5 with the B650 chipset.
• Works with Ryzen 9000, 8000 and 7000 series, with a possible BIOS update.
• DDR5, PCIe 5.0 M.2, Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gb Ethernet.
• BIOS FlashBack updates without a CPU or memory installed.
• Heatsinks, hybrid fan headers and Aura RGB support.

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