The compromises made to reach this price point are astounding... this is an $60 motherboard design at best.

Dr. DroThe compromises made to reach this price point are astounding... this is an $60 motherboard design at best.

Same story on Intel side as well, this generation around too many entry level boards have been shot well above $120 price point.

Dr. DroThe compromises made to reach this price point are astounding... this is an $60 motherboard design at best.

yeah they should call it the throttling tier, lol

Higher price range is great throughout the consumer range, as even in the high price end it makes the prices more 'responsible' in that both the consumer and the manufacturer has the mindset of expectation of features and quality for the extra paid (extra as in the price difference between the cheapest option vs. The price of the high-end item).

In reality, how much power does AMD really have to force these companies to keep prices low? Gigabyte, Asus, etc aren't going to cut their profit margin, I dont think AMD has enough clout to force them to take consessions, so the only thing AMD could really do is cut their own profit margin....and I don't see that happening.....it's completely out of the realm of possibility, but it'd be an interesting idea of AMD could have a "reference" motherboard manufactured for each chipset tier to inject more competition and to act as an "anchor" with respect to prices...though we all know the other mobo manufacturers would have a fit.

Dr. DroThe compromises made to reach this price point are astounding... this is an $60 motherboard design at best.

Just out of curiosity, what are you basing that on? I'm seriously asking

Meanwhile B550 with same feature set costs $80.

But at least we are getting there.

Wow talk about a board that has been seriously cut down. Really smart putting that 1st M2 directly under the GPU too.

I really want to review one of these and see how quickly the VRM goes with a 7950X :)

AnarchoPrimitivJust out of curiosity, what are you basing that on? I'm seriously asking

The VRMs are partially heatsinked, and from there we can see that they're using discrete MOSFETs instead of proper DrMOS power stages. Also, the I/O options are relatively spartan and the M.2 SSD locations are questionable at best. Another thing is that they don't even see fit to list what sound chip is being used, as even their specs page merely list a "Realtek Audio Codec" (which could in theory be anything from the last 20+ years, but probably the low-end ALC897).

The only good design decision that I can see is that they put the 3 slots' worth of separation between the x16 slot and the sole x1 slot, as that way at least you're not restricted to a 2.0-slot card if you want to also use a PCIe WiFi card at the same time.

AnarchoPrimitivJust out of curiosity, what are you basing that on? I'm seriously asking

From a glance:

1. Seems to use a teamed 4-phase VRM, but Gigabyte refuses to disclose the specs on their page, instead citing some marketing speak on how it's a "digital VRM with unparalleled performance" and that "power stage capacity depends on Vcore phase", however this board seems to be a straight downgrade from the DS3H (which for some reason uses overkill - for this segment anyway - 60A stages).
2. Poor VRM area cooling, no heatsink over MOSFETs - instead of overspending on the VRM, build a simpler one and add proper cooling - this is a board intended for a 7600X after all
3. Hopeless audio codec (at the only segment where integrated audio mattered)
4. Pointless 2.5GbE ethernet chip (could lower the cost of the motherboard by adopting regular Gigabit, this is a very-low-budget motherboard after all)
5. No Wi-Fi (which would be preferable over 2.5GbE at this segment), in addition, the Wi-Fi card slot in the PCB is vacated and is not user upgradable, meaning you will lose an USB port or PCIe slot for this
6. Somehow the industry decided that a 2-digit LED display belongs in $350+ motherboards, and there's no basic debug LED either... hope you like troubleshooting on a beeper
7. Only two case fan headers, you will need to buy a controller to install this on almost any case
8. Limited I/O (one front USB connector, 4 SATA ports, upper M.2 will be blocked by GPU if it has a heatsink)

I'm sure if I had it in hand I could tell you more things I outright dislike about it considered its price point, most of the above could be forgiven if it had been an $80 board at most, instead of a discounted $140 one.

ir_cowI really want to review one of these and see how quickly the VRM goes with a 7950X :)

Techspot fellows did a roundup, the closest thing to this board (the DS3H) actually managed fine.

www.techspot.com/review/2633-amd-b650-motherboards/

Dr. DroFrom a glance:

1. Seems to use a teamed 4-phase VRM, but Gigabyte refuses to disclose the specs on their page, instead citing some marketing speak on how it's a "digital VRM with unparalleled performance" and that "power stage capacity depends on Vcore phase", however this board seems to be a straight downgrade from the DS3H (which for some reason uses overkill - for this segment anyway - 60A stages).
2. Poor VRM area cooling, no heatsink over MOSFETs - instead of overspending on the VRM, build a simpler one and add proper cooling - this is a board intended for a 7600X after all
3. Hopeless audio codec (at the only segment where integrated audio mattered)
4. Pointless 2.5GbE ethernet chip (could lower the cost of the motherboard by adopting regular Gigabit, this is a very-low-budget motherboard after all)
5. No Wi-Fi (which would be preferable over 2.5GbE at this segment), in addition, the Wi-Fi card slot in the PCB is vacated and is not user upgradable, meaning you will lose an USB port or PCIe slot for this
6. Somehow the industry decided that a 2-digit LED display belongs in $350+ motherboards, and there's no basic debug LED either... hope you like troubleshooting on a beeper
7. Only two case fan headers, you will need to buy a controller to install this on almost any case
8. Limited I/O (one front USB connector, 4 SATA ports, upper M.2 will be blocked by GPU if it has a heatsink)

I'm sure if I had it in hand I could tell you more things I outright dislike about it considered its price point, most of the above could be forgiven if it had been an $80 board at most, instead of a discounted $140 one.



Techspot fellows did a roundup, the closest thing to this board (the DS3H) actually managed fine.

www.techspot.com/review/2633-amd-b650-motherboards/

The choice of a x1 slot over a x4 is disgusting in this day and age when it's now the only slot available after making room for overly fat new GPUS.

I'd argue as well a board this cheap -- read not inexpensive -- isn't exactly a great candidate for a honking 40-series/7900'ish rig anyway. And given that, another x1 expansion slot could have been an option. What I'm getting at is boards like this can be used in machines not necessarily for gaming and would benefit from more PCIe slot layout flexibility.

Lots of A520m boards also had better treatment.

Yeah, a total entry-level board what it comes to features. But I guess that sooner or later there will be better boards in that price point, just as what happened with B550.

Though I like the internal USB3.0 connector's placement.

Space Lynxyeah they should call it the throttling tier, lol

There's no throttling. It has good VRMs. 7950X works perfectly. A lot of people above making assumptions and misleading people.

It looks like the same great board as the DS3H but with PCIe 5.0 removed. Wait for reviews.

Good to see better pricing on AM5, but as a 'value prospect' for an AM4 owner, 'it's got a long ways to go'.
My Asus TUF X570 Plus (Wi-Fi) was ~$110

It is understandable why AM5 is more expensive but, from the 'consumer prospective' it's largely only a value if you're upgrading from a pre-AM4 or older Intel platform.

How much longer until X770, B750, A720? I'm hoping AMD's figured out how to further cost-optimize their 'chip(let)sets', and we'll see sub-$100 boards w/ PCIe5.0.

Wow, talk about cost cutting, they couldn't even spend a 1$ on the wifi card connector!? Damn...

RegaeRevaebLots of A520m boards also had better treatment.

If this was an A620 it would be "fine" (not as this price of course lol), but it's not, it's a joke it's what it is

I see it like this:

1) Gigabyte used DS3H to experiment the edges of power usage for this concept.
2) Gigabyte decides to make a clone with the bare minimum needs. Aka the good ol' bait n switch

3) Gigabyte should now decide to not sell this board, and make a version based on exactly this, but without a very different VISUAL design. Because that is really what would seem most transperant.

Dr. DroThe compromises made to reach this price point are astounding... this is an $60 motherboard design at best.

Yeah, I wonder who they want to deceive pricing this at 125 usd while is clear a 60 usd board.

trsttteWow, talk about cost cutting, they couldn't even spend a 1$ on the wifi card connector!? Damn...


If this was an A620 it would be "fine" (not as this price of course lol), but it's not, it's a joke it's what it is

Now that you mention it, it even looks laid out like an A#20 entry-level board. -reminds me of my Asus A320M-K.

Dr. DroThe compromises made to reach this price point are astounding... this is an $60 motherboard design at best.

Absolutely agree. The AMD TAX is still enforced.

Dr. DroFrom a glance:
8. Limited I/O (one front USB connector, 4 SATA ports, upper M.2 will be blocked by GPU if it has a heatsink)

The front USB situation isn't quite that bad. There's a USB 2.0 header along the bottom edge of the motherboard, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 header at the bottom right corner, and USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type C at the bottom right of the RAM slots.

sLowEndThe front USB situation isn't quite that bad. There's a USB 2.0 header along the bottom edge of the motherboard, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 header at the bottom right corner, and USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type C at the bottom right of the RAM slots.

Thing is, the largest majority of cheap cases such as one a motherboard like this would reside within don't have much more than a couple of 2.0 ports at the front.

Dr. DroThing is, the largest majority of cheap cases such as one a motherboard like this would reside within don't have much more than a couple of 2.0 ports at the front.

I disagree. Lots of cases lack USB-C still, but most have USB 3.0 or some mix of 2.0 and 3.0 by now.

Case (pun intended) in point, the 3 cheapest cases Newegg sells atm
www.newegg.com/p/N82E16811353049
1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0

www.newegg.com/p/N82E16811353096
1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0

www.newegg.com/black-thermaltake-versa-h17-micro-gaming-chassis/p/N82E16811133364
1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0

sLowEndI disagree. Lots of cases lack USB-C still, but most have USB 3.0 or some mix of 2.0 and 3.0 by now.

Case (pun intended) in point, the 3 cheapest cases Newegg sells atm
www.newegg.com/p/N82E16811353049
1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0

www.newegg.com/p/N82E16811353096
1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0

www.newegg.com/black-thermaltake-versa-h17-micro-gaming-chassis/p/N82E16811133364
1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0

I see your point but it's an America-centric view, mate. These budget brand name cases are usually a full pricing tier above the Chinese rebrands or Aliexpress cases that are used in emergent markets. Which incidentally tend to be where such low budget motherboards are sold the most.

About a year and a half ago I've purchased the cheapest case I could find on the Brazilian market for an old Core 2 build I'm using as a server, it costs less than a third of that Thermaltake Versa here:

www.vinik.com.br/produto/gabinete-corporativo-one-m1-usb-2-0-preto/

It's some Chinese rebrand of course, but 2.0 is all it has, and there are many such cases.

Dr. DroI see your point but it's an America-centric view, mate. These budget brand name cases are usually a full pricing tier above the Chinese rebrands or Aliexpress cases that are used in emergent markets. Which incidentally tend to be where such low budget motherboards are sold the most.

About a year and a half ago I've purchased the cheapest case I could find on the Brazilian market for an old Core 2 build I'm using as a server, it costs less than a third of that Thermaltake Versa here:

www.vinik.com.br/produto/gabinete-corporativo-one-m1-usb-2-0-preto/

It's some Chinese rebrand of course, but 2.0 is all it has, and there are many such cases.

I referenced Newegg, because the article of this thread references Newegg for the price of the motherboard.

As far as Aliexpress goes, the situation doesn't change as far as I can see. These are the 3 cheapest cases I can see on the site.

www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003309672154.html
2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0

www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003446557458.html
1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0

www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004076740377.html
1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0


The site you linked to seems to block foreign IPs, so I can't view it. However, I'd imagine someone in Brazil who could afford an AM5 system likely wouldn't be scraping the bottom of the barrel for cases. I trust that paying even just a little bit more than the bare minimum will net you a case with better ports.

AnarchoPrimitivIn reality, how much power does AMD really have to force these companies to keep prices low? Gigabyte, Asus, etc aren't going to cut their profit margin, I dont think AMD has enough clout to force them to take consessions, so the only thing AMD could really do is cut their own profit margin....and I don't see that happening.....it's completely out of the realm of possibility, but it'd be an interesting idea of AMD could have a "reference" motherboard manufactured for each chipset tier to inject more competition and to act as an "anchor" with respect to prices...though we all know the other mobo manufacturers would have a fit.


Just out of curiosity, what are you basing that on? I'm seriously asking

I'm not sure why, but people seem to think that better, newer tech should not be more expensive than older, less capable tech.

Like... yeah these Ryzen 7000 DDR5 boards that were literally just released ARE more expensive than Ryzen 5000 DDR4 boards released 2 years ago.
I'm not sure what people think is going on, but better stuff tends to be more expensive.