ASUS TUF Gaming B650M-Plus Motherboard Review

ASUS is one of the biggest names in the industry, with a strong reputation for high-end gaming-focused hardware that’s proven time and time again to be worthy of your attention. However, while their flagship ROG EXTREME hardware and enthusiast gaming-focused STRIX hardware gets a lot of attention, I’m personally more of a fan of the TUF series. Not only does it cost less than the other two series, but they’re literally built to be TOUGH, while still offering all the features a typical high-end PC build is likely to need, as well as the matching TUF series aesthetic which matches up with not only the TUF products from ASUS, but also dozens of other PC brands TUF Gaming Alliance branded hardware, included cases, cools, and even peripherals.

Features

• AMD AM5 socket: Ready for AMD Ryzen 7000 Series desktop processors
• Enhanced power solution: 12+2 teamed power stages, 8+4 ProCool sockets, alloy chokes and durable capacitors for stable power delivery
• Next-gen connectivity: M.2 PCIe 5.0, USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C, front USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, USB4 support
• Made for online Gaming: WiFi 6, Realtek 2.5 Gb Ethernet and TUF LANGuard
• Two-way AI Noise Cancelation: Reduces background noise from the microphone and audio output for crystal-clear communication in games or video conferences
• Comprehensive cooling: Enlarged VRM and PCH heatsinks, M.2 heatsinks, hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert 2+ utility in Armoury Crate
• Aura Sync RGB effects: Stylish edge lighting design, addressable RGB headers and RGB strip header support.

What ASUS Had to Say

ASUS TUF GAMING B650M-PLUS takes all the essential elements of the latest AMD Ryzen 7000-series processors and combines them with game-ready features and proven durability. Engineered with military-grade components, an upgraded power solution and a comprehensive cooling system, this motherboard goes beyond expectations with rock-solid and stable performance for marathon gaming. TUF GAMING motherboards also undergo rigorous endurance testing to ensure that they can handle conditions where others may fail. Aesthetically, this model incorporates rugged off-black and geometric design elements to reflect the dependability and stability that defines the TUF GAMING series.

Armoury Crate

The ASUS-exclusive Armoury Crate centralizes easy control of supported gaming products. A single intuitive interface lets you customize RGB lighting for all compatible devices and link them to Aura Sync for unified illumination. It also offers information and control for a select and growing hardware ecosystem, with input device settings, Fan Xpert 2+ and Two-Way AI Noise Cancelation. Armoury Crate even features product registration, and a news section to stay in touch with the gaming community.