Head-to-Head · Motherboards
ASRock B650I/M Lightning WiFi (AM5) vs ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi Motherboard (LGA 1700, DDR5)
Scored Dimensions
8.8
Value for Money
9.2
7.0
Build & Ergonomics
8.8
5.8
Connectivity & Ports
7.8
5.5
Compatibility Experience
6.0
5.0
Stability
8.5
7.8
Upgrade Potential
8.8
ASRock B650I/M Lightning WiFi (AM5)
The Good
- Excellent value for money for an AM5 Mini-ITX board.
- Solid build quality and a premium feel for the price point.
- Modern connectivity including WiFi 6E, 2.5G LAN, and multiple USB ports.
- Good upgrade potential with PCIe 5.0 M.2 and robust VRMs for powerful CPUs.
The Bad
- Frequent reports of boot issues, system instability, and blue screens.
- Compatibility challenges with RAM (especially EXPO profiles) and newer CPUs often requiring BIOS updates.
- Connectivity conflicts, such as the front M.2 slot disabling the Ethernet port.
- Limited fan headers and a plastic I/O shield on some configurations were noted.
ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi Motherboard (LGA 1700, DDR5)
The Good
- Robust build quality and durable components, contributing to cool and stable operation.
- Excellent power delivery (16+1 DrMOS) reliably supports high-end Intel processors without thermal throttling.
- Extensive connectivity, including four M.2 slots, WiFi 6E, 2.5Gb LAN, and a Thunderbolt 4/USB4 header.
- Intuitive and feature-rich BIOS that facilitates XMP profile activation and overclocking.
- Offers strong value for money, providing a comprehensive feature set at its price point.
The Bad
- Frequent reports of initial driver issues for LAN and WiFi, often requiring manual installation during OS setup.
- Many users needed BIOS updates for 14th Gen Intel CPUs, sometimes necessitating an older CPU for the flashing process.
- Some experienced difficulties with memory installation due to one-sided DIMM clasps or instability when all four RAM slots were populated.
- Occasional reports of defective units, including bent CPU pins or non-functional ports, requiring returns.
The ASRock B650I/M Lightning WiFi (AM5) Verdict
This ASRock motherboard family is a compelling choice for budget-conscious SFF builders seeking AM5 capabilities, but buyers should be prepared for potential troubleshooting related to initial setup, stability, and BIOS updates.
Read the full ASRock B650I/M Lightning WiFi (AM5) consensus →The ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi Motherboard (LGA 1700, DDR5) Verdict
The ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi motherboard offers a powerful and feature-rich foundation for high-performance Intel builds, delivering strong stability and upgrade potential once initial setup hurdles, particularly with drivers and BIOS, are addressed.
Read the full ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi Motherboard (LGA 1700, DDR5) consensus →
The Bottom Line
Our pick: ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi Motherboard (LGA 1700, DDR5) · 7.9/10
Owners rate the ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi Motherboard (LGA 1700, DDR5) meaningfully higher — 7.9/10 against 6.3/10 for the ASRock B650I/M Lightning WiFi (AM5). It wins where it counts: Stability and Connectivity & Ports.
ASRock B650I/M Lightning WiFi (AM5)
$169.99
Best price the consensus found
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ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi Motherboard (LGA 1700, DDR5)
$225.00
Best price the consensus found
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How ORA built this: We read recent reviews, remove suspected bot or incentivized entries, off-topic complaints, and reviews describing the buyer's own setup problems rather than the product, then synthesize the remainder into a single unbiased verdict. Read our full methodology →