ASUS B650E MAX Gaming WiFi W Motherboard vs ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi (AM5)
The Good
- Offers strong value for money and a desirable white aesthetic.
- Features excellent upgrade potential with PCIe 5.0 for both GPU and primary M.2 slot.
- Provides robust connectivity, including Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5Gb LAN, and numerous USB ports.
- Many users found the BIOS straightforward and installation process intuitive.
The Bad
- A significant number of units were reported as Dead on Arrival (DOA) or failed shortly after use.
- Lacks diagnostic LEDs, making troubleshooting complex and frustrating for builders.
- Some owners experienced unusually long boot times, which worsened with memory overclocking (DOCP).
- The 'white' PCB color was described by several as more of a light grey, disappointing those seeking a pure white build.
The Good
- Exceptional build quality and premium design with robust heatsinks
- Rock-solid power delivery and stable performance, ideal for overclocking high-end CPUs
- Extensive and future-proof connectivity, including PCIe 5.0, multiple M.2 slots, and Wi-Fi 7
- User-friendly BIOS, AI-assisted tuning, and convenient DIY features like Q-Release slots
The Bad
- Persistent and widespread issues with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functionality for Linux users
- PCIe lane sharing limitations, where using certain M.2 slots downgrades GPU bandwidth
- Occasional, lengthy DDR5 memory training times and intermittent boot issues reported by some users
While praised for its feature set and aesthetic appeal at its price point, potential buyers should be aware of a notable risk of initial hardware issues and the difficulty in diagnosing problems without onboard indicators.
Read the full ASUS B650E MAX Gaming WiFi W Motherboard consensus →For Windows users building a high-performance AM5 system, the ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi offers a feature-rich and stable foundation. However, potential buyers should be aware of its significant Linux compatibility shortcomings and PCIe lane sharing nuances that can impact performance.
Read the full ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi (AM5) consensus →Our pick: ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi (AM5) · 7.4/10
Owners rate the ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi (AM5) meaningfully higher — 7.4/10 against 6.1/10 for the ASUS B650E MAX Gaming WiFi W Motherboard. It wins where it counts: Stability and Build & Ergonomics.
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