Head-to-Head · Motherboards

ASUS B650E MAX Gaming WiFi W Motherboard vs ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-Plus WiFi Motherboard (LGA 1700, DDR5)

ASUS B650E MAX Gaming WiFi W Motherboard
$164.99 63 reviews analyzed
Scored Dimensions
8.0 Value for Money 9.2
6.5 Build & Ergonomics 8.8
7.0 Connectivity & Ports 7.8
7.5 Compatibility Experience 6.0
4.0 Stability 8.5
8.5 Upgrade Potential 8.8
ASUS B650E MAX Gaming WiFi W Motherboard

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.
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 ASUS B650E MAX Gaming WiFi W Motherboard Verdict

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 →
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 6.1/10 for the ASUS B650E MAX Gaming WiFi W Motherboard. It wins where it counts: Stability and Build & Ergonomics.

ASUS B650E MAX Gaming WiFi W Motherboard
$164.99 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 →