In contrast to most Ryzen 7000 motherboards, which are infamous for being costly, the ASRock B650M-HDV/M.2 is sort of actually the least costly board out there within the B650 house. Priced at $119.99 on the time of this writing, the HDV/M.2 affords assist for flagship-class processors, together with our Ryzen 9 7950X. Whereas the board could not include the entire bells and whistles of extra expensive choices, you continue to get two M.2 sockets (one PCIe 5.0 x4) and 4 SATA ports, USB Kind-C assist on the rear IO and entrance panel, a 2.5 GbE Realtek community, and energy supply in a position to assist high-end processors.
Inevitably at this worth level, some sacrifices have to be made. First, you gained’t discover any 20 Gbps ports (or headers), so in case your construct requires quick exterior connectivity, you’ll want to purchase an add-in card. It’s additionally lacking a premium audio answer, built-in Wi-Fi (although there’s a slot), and PCIe 5.0 growth slots. Although for the latter, few will miss the elevated bandwidth. For these in search of RGB lighting, look elsewhere or purchase a third-party answer, as there’s none on the board, nor any headers so as to add your individual.
Out of the field, the B650M-HDV/M.2 units the temperature restrict to 85 levels Celsius, decrease than the default most (95 levels Celsius) for our processor, which might restrict efficiency on some purposes. That stated, it did effectively in our gaming exams, however was general slower throughout our benchmarking suite, particularly in longer-running and closely multi-threaded purposes the place the processor runs sizzling.
As reasonably priced as it’s, this board gained’t make our finest motherboards listing, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a viable MicroATX choice and the least-expensive choice for the B650 chipset. In the event you want the horsepower the 7000 sequence processors provide however don’t care concerning the quickest ‘this’ and most variety of ‘that’ in your motherboard, it’s value contemplating. Earlier than we get into all the main points, here’s a full listing of specs, direct from ASRock.
Specs: ASRock B650M-HDV/M.2
| Socket | AM5 |
| Chipset | B650 |
| Type Issue | Micro-ATX |
| Voltage Regulator | 11 Part (8x 50A Dr. MOS MOSFETs for Vcore) |
| Video Ports | (1) HDMI (v2.1) |
| (1) DisplayPort (v1.4) | |
| USB Ports | (1) USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) Kind-C |
| (2) USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) | |
| (4) USB 2.0 (480 Mbps) | |
| Community Jacks | (1) 2.5 GbE |
| Audio Jacks | (3) Analog |
| Different Ports/Jack | ✗ |
| PCIe x16 | (1) v4.0 (x16) |
| (1) v4.0 (x4) | |
| PCIe x8 | ✗ |
| PCIe x4 | ✗ |
| PCIe x1 | (1) v4.0 (x1) |
| CrossFire/SLI | AMD Crossfire |
| DIMM Slots | (2) DDR5 6400+(OC), 64GB Capability |
| M.2 Sockets | (1) PCIe 5.0 x4 (128 Gbps) / PCIe (as much as 80 mm) |
| (1) PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 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, Kind-C (10 Gbps) |
| (2) USB v3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) | |
| (2) USB v2.0 (480 Mbps) | |
| Fan/Pump Headers | (4) 4-Pin (CPU, Chassis/Water Pump fan) |
| RGB Headers | ✗ |
| Diagnostics Panel | (1) Put up Standing Checker (4 LED) |
| Inner Button/Swap | ✗ |
| SATA Controllers | ✗ |
| Ethernet Controller(s) | (1) Realtek RTL8125 (2.5 GbE) |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | ✗ |
| USB Controllers | ✗ |
| HD Audio Codec | Realtek ALC897 |
| DDL/DTS | ✗ / ✗ |
| Guarantee | 3 Years |
Contained in the Field of the ASRock B650M-HDV/M.2
The B650M-HDV/M.2, like most different boards, additionally comes with just a few equipment to start out your construct. However as you’ll think about, it doesn’t include a lot. You get two SATA cables, two M.2 screws, and a person handbook. That’s it, nevertheless it’s nonetheless about what we’d anticipate on this worth vary.
Design of the B650M-HDV/M.2
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The ASRock B650M-HDV/M.2 makes use of a matte black end on the MicroATX-size PCB. Some gray patterns are stenciled on to interrupt up the monotony of a easy one-color motherboard. Heatsinks cowl the bits that get sizzling however, as you’ll anticipate, aren’t as giant or heavy, however the VRM heatsinks do a superb job, particularly when the processor is proscribed. As soon as we restore the temperature restrict to the CPU’s default, VRM temperatures improve a number of levels, however nonetheless run inside specification.
In the event you’re in search of built-in RGBs or the power to connect some, this isn’t the board for you. Put merely, there aren’t any RGB LEDs onboard or headers so as to add your individual. It must come from third-party units. With its general look and lack of any RGBs, this board gained’t stick out in your chassis, however blends effectively with any black construct themes.
Within the top-left nook, we spy a single 8-pin EPS connector (required, and the one EPS plug) to energy the processor. Beneath, we get a greater take a look at the heatsink protecting the left VRM financial institution. It sports activities a brushed aluminum end and has the identical design theme because the PCB. Pushpins maintain the highest VRM heatsink on. Whereas not very best, that is one other cost-saving measure in comparison with extra high-end boards. The highest VRM financial institution additionally runs the warmest.
Shifting previous the socket space, we run into two unreinforced DRAM slots, with a single locking mechanism on the high. ASRock lists assist for 64GB and speeds as much as DDR5-6400. Our kits labored with out challenge by enabling the XMP/EXPO profiles discovered on our sticks and utilizing the newest BIOS.
Flanking the 2 reminiscence slots are two (of 4 complete) 4-pin fan headers. Every header helps PWM and DC-connected followers. Management over these units is dealt with by way of the BIOS or ASRock’s ATune software program. The CPU header outputs as much as 1A/12W, whereas the three chassis fan headers assist as much as 2A/24W.
Alongside the precise fringe of the board, we run into the 24-pin ATX connector to energy the board, a entrance panel USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) header, and a USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) entrance panel connector.
IMG – board5 (vrm)
Energy supply on the B650M-HDV/M.2 consists of 11 complete phases, of which eight are devoted to Vcore. Energy comes from the 8-pin EPS connector and onto a Renesas RAA229621 controller. From there, it splits to the 8x 50A Vishay Sic654 Dr. MOS MOSFETs for Vcore. The 400A out there isn’t so much however was sufficient to deal with our Ryzen 9 7950X with out challenge within the extra restricted default configuration.
On the underside half of the board, we see virtually every little thing absolutely uncovered. The highest M.2 socket has a small heatsink on it, as does the B650M chipset. Exterior of that, you see the PCB for all it’s value. On the left is a completely uncovered Realtek ALC897 codec and 4 yellow capacitors devoted to audio. Being on the acute price range facet, you gained’t discover high-end codecs or amps. With that out of the way in which, many customers will discover this answer satisfactory. Nevertheless, audiophiles will wish to look elsewhere, or go for audio system with an exterior DAC.
One other merchandise on this space value noting is the Key-E M.2 socket for Wi-Fi. Whereas the board lacks Wi-Fi out of the field, you possibly can simply buy a CNVi-based appropriate card (which typically prices round $30 or much less), drop it within the socket, and set up drivers to allow Wi-Fi. I’d prefer to see all boards embrace Wi-Fi, as most customers will wish to join their techniques wirelessly sooner or later. However I perceive a Wi-Fi card provides to the invoice of supplies and will be counterintuitive to the true price range nature of the board.
Three PCIe slots and two M.2 sockets dwell in the course of the board. The first graphics slot (high) is bolstered to stop shearing and mitigate some EMI. This slot (and the full-length backside slot) connects by way of the CPU and runs at PCIe 4.0 x16 (no PCIe 5.0 slots). The underside slot is PCIe 4.0 x4. Final, the small x1 and backside full-length slot sources its lanes by way of the chipset and runs at PCIe 4.0 x1.
The highest M.2 socket connects by way of the CPU and is your PCIe 5.0 x4 socket (128 Gbps). It has a heatsink. Nevertheless, I don’t think about it would do an important job with hot-running PCIe 4.0 x4 or newer PCIe 5.0 x4 drives, which ought to run even hotter. So when you’ve got a high-end drive, you could wish to use an aftermarket heatsink over what’s included right here to stop thermal throttling on sustained drive exercise. The second M.2 socket will get its lanes from the chipset and runs at PCIe 4.0 x4 (64 Gbps).
Persevering with proper previous the pushpin-attached chipset heatsink, we run right into a USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) entrance panel connector, together with the 4 SATA ports. The SATA ports and M.2 sockets assist RAID0/1/10 modes for many who need redundancy or extra velocity. There’s no lane sharing, so that you get the complete complement of storage choices regardless of what’s populated.
Throughout the underside of the board are a number of uncovered headers. You’ll discover the everyday fare right here, together with extra USB and 4-pin fan headers. Beneath is a whole listing from left to proper:
- Entrance panel audio
- UART header
- Thunderbolt header
- (2) 4-pin chassis fan headers
- (2) USB 2.0 headers
- Debug LED
- Clear CMOS jumper
- Speaker/Entrance Panel headers
The rear IO on the B650M-HDV/M.2 surprisingly comes with its shroud pre-installed and hooked up to the motherboard. It has a black background with the ports labeled in gray. It’s so plain, there isn’t even any branding! On the left are the DisplayPort and HDMI video outputs to make use of with built-in graphics, whereas simply above are pre-drilled holes for Wi-Fi antennas, must you select to provide your individual. There are seven USB ports, together with a Kind-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) port, two 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) ports, and 4 USB 2.0 ports. The six Kind-A out there may very well be too few for some customers (me!). Above the 5 Gbps ports is the Realtek 2.5 GbE, and to the precise are three analog plugs for audio. Final however not least is a BIOS flashback button used to replace the board and not using a processor. The latter is a pleasant contact, given how reasonably priced the board is.
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