The B650E Aorus Grasp is the flagship board from Gigabyte’s B650 lineup. Priced round $150 lower than the X670E Aorus Grasp we reviewed beforehand, it nonetheless comes effectively geared up, with a number of PCIe 5.0 M.2 sockets, 13 USB ports (together with 20 Gbps Kind-C), last-gen flagship-class audio resolution, overbuilt energy supply, and an look that appears extra premium than the worth. Whereas it’s lacking 40 Gbps ports (a characteristic few B650 boards embody), until you require this characteristic, selecting a B650-based motherboard will prevent a substantial amount of cash in comparison with X670E fashions.
Gigabyte went all in on the B650 chipset, providing a complete of 13 motherboards (in comparison with 5 X670) of various sizes and costs. You’ll discover all of the acquainted Aorus traces (Grasp, Elite, Extremely, and Professional) and a B650 Aero G for the Creators. There are additionally a few non-Aorus boards, specifically the Gaming X and DS3H SKUs. With the sheer quantity within the product stack, there’s one thing for everybody, together with MicroATX and Mini-ITX SKUs. Costs vary from $159.99 (B650M DS3H) to $349.99 with the Aorus Grasp.
Options-wise, the B650 Aorus Grasp has the identical high-level attributes as its X670E sibling, together with an 8-layer PCB, 105A SPS MOSFETs, totally strengthened slots, M.2 and PCIe EZ-latch, and extra. In reality, the B650 Grasp makes use of the identical succesful energy supply (16-phase 105A SPS MOSFETs) too. If the 13 USB ports on the rear IO (together with a 20 Gbps Kind-C port) aren’t sufficient, it’s possible you’ll wish to re-evaluate your peripherals, as you gained’t discover many boards with extra. Though the audio part makes use of a last-gen codec (Realtek ALC1220-VB) it’s a flagship mannequin, and the board contains an built-in DAC. Efficiency on B650 Aorus Grasp matched X670E boards and its friends in productiveness and gaming, so it has the entire bases coated.
We’ll have to attend till testing to seek out out if this board makes our greatest motherboards record, however on options alone, it’s one of many higher choices for the AM5 platform on the roughly $350 worth level. Earlier than we get into all the small print, here’s a full record of the B650E Aorus Grasp’s specs, direct from Gigabyte.
Specs: Gigabyte B650E Aorus Grasp
| Socket | AM5 |
| Chipset | B650E |
| Type Issue | ATX |
| Voltage Regulator | 20 Part (16x 105A SPS MOSFETs for Vcore) |
| Video Ports | (1) HDMI (v2.1) |
| USB Ports | (1) USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Kind-C |
| (4) USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) | |
| (4) USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) | |
| (4) USB 2.0 (480 Mbps) | |
| Community Jacks | (1) 2.5 GbE |
| Audio Jacks | (2) Analog + SPDIF |
| Legacy Ports/Jacks | ✗ |
| Different Ports/Jack | ✗ |
| PCIe x16 | (1) v5.0 (x16, x8) |
| (1) v4.0 (x4) | |
| (1) v4.0 (x2) | |
| PCIe x8 | ✗ |
| PCIe x4 | ✗ |
| PCIe x1 | ✗ |
| DIMM Slots | (4) DDR5 6666+(OC), 128GB Capability |
| M.2 Sockets | (4) PCIe 5.0 x4 (128 Gbps) / PCIe (as much as 80 mm) |
| Helps RAID 0/1/10 | |
| SATA Ports | (4) SATA3 6 Gbps |
| Helps RAID 0/1/10 | |
| USB Headers | (1) USB v3.2 Gen 2×2, Kind-C (20 Gbps) |
| (2) USB v3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) | |
| (2) USB v2.0 (480 Mbps) | |
| Fan/Pump Headers | (10) 4-Pin (CPU, water cooling CPU, system fan) |
| RGB Headers | (2) aRGB (3-pin) |
| (3) RGB (4-pin) | |
| Diagnostics Panel | (1) Debug LEDs (4x) |
| (1) 2-digit Debug LED | |
| Inner Button/Swap | Energy button |
| SATA Controllers | (1) ASMedia ASM1061 |
| Ethernet Controller(s) | (1) Intel i-225V (2.5 GbE) |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Mediatek RZ616 Wi-Fi 6E (2×2 ax, MU-MIMO, 2.4/5/6 GHz, 160 MHz, BT 5.2) |
| USB Controllers | Realtek RTS5411T |
| HD Audio Codec | Realtek ALC1220-VB |
| DDL/DTS | ✗ / DTS:X Extremely |
| Guarantee | 3 Years |
Contained in the Field of the Gigabyte B650E Aorus Grasp
The Aorus Grasp contains a wide range of equipment designed to assist get you began with out one other journey to the shop. It contains the standard lot of SATA cables, RGB extensions and a Wi-Fi antenna. Additionally, it comes with temperature sensors you need to use to observe case temperatures and regulate fan speeds. Not included in our pattern was a disk or USB stick for drivers. In case your retail Aorus Grasp doesn’t have drivers, you possibly can nonetheless obtain all drivers from the web site. Beneath is a whole record of the included equipment:
- Wi-Fi antenna
- (2) SATA cables
- RGB extension cables
- (2) Temperature sensors
- Speaker
- G-connector
- Velcro strips
- Stickers
- Handbook
Design of the Gigabyte B650E Aorus Grasp
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The B650E Aorus Grasp has an 8-layer matte-black PCBm with white labels on the IC’s and different bits. The VRM heatsinks are giant, have lots of mass, and sport a brushed aluminum end like the entire different heatsink surfaces. Above the VRM financial institution is the one RGB characteristic, with the Aorus Falcon branding illuminated from beneath. The chipset heatsink contrasts the entire black, with its grey shade and extra branding on high.
Total, I just like the look. The B650E Aorus Grasp offers off a premium vibe, with a lot of the PCB hidden below heatsinks and shrouds. The RGBs are tastefully applied, however in case you’re wanting so as to add extra RGB bling to your chassis, you’ll have to make use of the built-in headers.
As we have a look at the highest half of the board extra carefully, we get a greater have a look at the beefy VRM heatsinks. Not like the X670E (or Z790) Aorus Grasp, the B650E makes use of a stable chunk of steel, with cutouts as an alternative of the Fins-Array III configuration. With the mitered cutouts, there’s loads of floor space to maintain the VRMs beneath operating effectively inside their specs.
Above the VRM heatsinks are two strengthened 8-pin EPS connectors (one required) to energy the CPU. Simply previous the socket space to the appropriate are 4 strengthened DRAM slots with locking mechanisms on each side. The board helps as much as 128GB of RAM at speeds listed as much as DDR5-6666(OC). As at all times, your mileage could differ in reaching these speeds, however our board and 7950X CPU ran the DDR5-6000 sticks with minimal tweaking required.
Subsequent, we run into a number of fan and RGB headers, simply above the DRAM slots. The three 4-pin fan headers on this space (all headers) help each PWM and DC-controlled followers (by the BIOS or software program). Every header outputs as much as 2A/24W, so there’s loads of output accessible. Simply to the appropriate are three (of 5) RGB headers: two 4-pin RGBs and a 3-pin ARGB header.
Shifting down the appropriate fringe of the board, we run into the ability swap, 2-character debug show and the 24-pin ATX connector to energy the board. Slightly below which are two 4-pin fan headers (Sys Fan), the 4-LED debug space, and at last a entrance panel USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps) Kind-C port.
Energy supply of the B650E Aorus Grasp is sort of spectacular – in truth, it’s the identical because the costlier X670E Aorus Grasp. The 8-pin EPS connectors ship energy by a Renesas RAA229620 PWM controller and onto the 16 105A Renesas RAA22010540 SPS MOSFETs devoted to Vcore. The 1,680A accessible to the processor is sufficient to take our flagship Ryzen 9 7950X processor to the restrict. You’re restricted by cooling far ahead of the Aorus Grasp’s VRMs.
Working left to proper on the underside half of the board, the very first thing you run into is the audio part. Seen in all its glory is the Realtek ALC1220-VB codec, together with three audio caps. Not pictured is the ESS ES8118 DAC for front-panel audio. Whereas the codec is from the final technology, it’s the flagship of that technology, so most customers discover it greater than sufficient for his or her wants.
In the midst of the board are three full-length PCIe slots, together with 4 complete M.2 sockets hidden beneath the heatsinks. The highest full-length slot connects by the CPU and runs as much as PCIe 5.0 x16. The underside two slots join by the chipset, with the primary slot supporting PCIe 4.0 x4 and the underside PCIe 4.0 x2. When M2B/M2C_CPU sockets are populated, the PCIe 5.0 x16 slot operates at x8 mode. Any losses are negligible for these involved about graphics efficiency, as 5.0 x8 has successfully the identical bandwidth as 4.0 x16.
In the event you’re into wicked-fast storage choices, the B650E Aorus Grasp covers you in spades. There are 4 M.2 sockets, all of which help as much as PCIe 5.0 x4 (128 Gbps) modules and use EZ latches to carry the drives down. All 4 sockets join by the CPU and help as much as 110mm units. You gained’t discover many boards with 4 PCIe 5.0 sockets, particularly round this worth level. The board helps RAID0/1/10 modes for these searching for extra velocity or redundancy.
Persevering with proper, over the chipset heatsink and alongside the appropriate edge, is a vertical header for a gigabyte add-in-card, 4 SATA ports (additionally supporting RAID0/1/10 modes), and a entrance panel USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) connector. Throughout the underside of the board are a number of extra uncovered headers. You’ll discover the everyday connections right here, together with further USB ports, RGB headers, and 4-pin fan headers. Beneath is a whole record, from left to proper:
- Entrance panel audio
- 4-pin RGB header
- 3-pin ARGB header
- SPI TPM header
- (3) 4-pin System fan headers
- (2) USB 2.0 headers
- (2) 4-pin System fan headers
- Entrance Panel
- Clear CMOS jumper
The rear IO on the B650E Aorus Grasp comes pre-installed and connected to the motherboard similar to its massive brother. It has a black background with the ports labeled in white, making them simpler to learn. The Q_Flash+ button, AMD Wi-Fi 6E antenna connections, and HDMI video port are on the left. There are a complete of 13 USB ports on the rear IO. One USB Kind-C port (10 Gbps) sits on the underside, whereas surrounding them are 4 USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) and 4 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) ports, in addition to 4 USB 2.0 ports. I’d be stunned if customers might fill all of those up. You’ll additionally discover the two.5 GbE port, the audio stack sporting line out, the mic 3.5 mm ports, and a digital SPDIF.
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