Today we are writing our ASRock B650E Taichi Motherboard Review to look into another quality and enthusiast-grade motherboard. The B650E Taichi from ASRock uses the latest B650E chipset from AMD. So it supports all the latest AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors on the AM5 socket.
This product aims to reach the upper end of the general market to mid-range enthusiasts.
ASRock B650E Taichi Motherboard Packaging
Our B650E Taichi shipped in a standard-looking cardboard box that looks like the usual packaging for ASRock products.
The front of the box displays the product name, ASRock branding, and its primary features. You can find more details about it at the back of the box and refer to this section when necessary.
Inside the box is the B650E Taichi, a user manual, four SATA data cables, and a wireless dongle USB bracket. There is also an ASRock WiFi antenna, three screws for M.2 sockets, and an M.2 socket standoff.
ASRock B650E Taichi Motherboard Review – Design and Functionality
Continuing our ASRock B650E Taichi Motherboard Review, we will discuss its design and functions. We always loved the matte finish of its motherboards, so we appreciate ASRock for applying it to the B650E Taichi.
Aside from the finish, the product comes with a metal backplate along its rear. Moreover, the motherboard also has an eight-layer matte-black PCB and grey labels on a couple of headers. These elements help give the motherboard added sturdiness while optimising its cooling functions.
While writing our ASRock B650E Taichi Motherboard Review, we noticed the massive heatsinks. These are necessary to conceal the MOSFETs/VRMs at the top and left side of the product.
Heatsinks are also present to conceal the M.2 slots on the right section of the motherboard. It also covers the PCIe 5.0 x16 slots and chipsets. If you notice, there are a lot of heatsinks, which means more of these make the motherboard heavy.
The large black VRM heatsinks are actively cooled, with a small fan hidden beneath the IO shroud. You can find the Taichi branding on the shroud, plus cogs/gears representing its mantra, Infinite Potential.
The heatsinks that cover the M.2 sockets have a wavy contour with chrome accents to complete the ultra-premium look.
There are two RGB features. One lights up a symbol on the chipset heatsink, and another brightens a small strip under the SATA ports.
Both RGB lighting areas are vibrant, and the saturated colours give your chassis a nice glow. Conveniently, you can control the RGBs using the Polychrome application.
The power delivery on the motherboard is 24+2+1, and two eight-pin EPS connectors run along the top edge. The latter helps power the processor, and the Renesas RAA229628 20-phase controller also gets power from the eight-pin EPS connectors.
After the actively-cooled and heat pipe-connected heatsinks and sockets, you will see four reinforced DRAM slots. These feature locking mechanisms on both sides.
ASRock lists DDR5-6400+(OC) support – a standard limit on most AM5 motherboards.
You will see the first three (of seven) four-pin fan headers above the DRAM slots. For device control, all the headers support PWM and DC modes.
Header support varies based on the following:
CPU FAN1 outputs 1A, CHA FAN1-6 outputs 2A/24W, and CPU FAN2/WP 3A outputs up to 3A/36W.
For all your fan and water cooling needs, there are plenty of header choices sporting numerous outputs.
You will see the first M.2 socket on the right side of the DRAM slots. It is a unique location since it is under a massive heatsink. Additionally, it houses the only PCIe 5.0 x4 (128 Gbps) M.2 socket of the motherboard.
We listed the remaining slots and their breakdown.
You will find the first two (of four) RGB headers along the right edge which are both three-pin ARGB headers. On the bottom edge of the motherboard, you will also find another ARGB header and the only four-pin RGB header.
On the bottom half of the motherboard, you will notice the Realtek ALC-4082 audio codec. Specifically, it is beneath the heatsink. There are dedicated audio caps and four red WIMA caps visible under the same heatsink.
The 4082 codec is recent and, together with the ESS SABRE-9218 DAC, is one of the better audio implementations. And for your reference, it is aided by Nahimic software.
Two more M.2 sockets and two full-length reinforced PCIe slots are at the centre of the motherboard. The M.2 sockets get their PCIe 4.0 x4 (64Gbps) bandwidth from the chipset. These allow them to accommodate up to 80mm modules.
If you want to RAID the NVMe drives, the B650E Taichi supports RAID0/1/10 modes, which provide redundancy. On paper, it also claims to give insane speeds.
Strengthened and reinforced PCIe sockets prevent sagging or shearing because of the heavy graphics cards sold today. The top PCIe slot links via the CPU and works at PCIe 5.0 x16 speeds.
The reinforced bottom socket connects via the chipset and supports PCIe 4.0 x4. There is no mention of multi-GPU support, but it has the minimum bandwidth to support AMD Crossfire.
Ports, Connections, and Buttons
To the right, the four SATA ports (also supporting RAID0/1/10) are on the edge of the motherboard. These are above the gear/cog chipset design.
A small RGB LED strip hidden beneath the ports on the motherboard rear brightens up the exterior of your case. You can find more exposed headers across the bottom of the motherboard. The usual connections include additional USB ports, RGB headers, four-pin fan headers, and power/reset buttons.
Here is the complete list:
- A front-panel audio
- Two four-pin system fan headers
- Four-pin RGB header
- Three-pin ARGB header
- SPI TPM header
- Two USB 2.0 ports
- Dr Debug
- Two four-pin system fan headers
- Power/reset buttons
- Front panel header
- ASRock B650E Taichi
The rear IO of the B650E Taichi comes with a pre-installed shroud. It is linked to the motherboard and has a black background with grey port labels. The Clear CMOS and BIOS Flashback buttons and the WiFi antenna connections are on the left.
The HDMI port handles the video output. To the right of it is the 2.5 Killer-based GbE port. The two yellow USB connectors are Lightning Gaming ports from ASRock. And then, the eight blue ports stacked next to them are 5Gbps.
There is another 10Gbps Type-A port with a single 40Gbps Type-C port here. Finally, there is a 2-plug analogue and SPDIF audio stack.
Key Features of the ASRock B650E Taichi Motherboard
Smart Power Stage
Dr MOS design uses the newest and optimised Smart Power Stage or SPS technology. It is for monitoring the temperature and current of each phase to deliver smoother power to the processor. As a result, the system can offer improved performance and optimised overclocking capabilities.
24+2+1 Power Phase Design
The B650E Taichi uses premium-grade components with 24 VCORE + 2 SOC + 1 VDD_Misc power phases. These parts allow smooth power delivery to the CPU to achieve excellent performance.
Server Grade Low Loss PCB
Another feature we will discuss in this ASRock B650E Taichi Motherboard Review is its PCB which helps improve system performance. The server-grade low-loss PCB enhances signal integrity. As a result, the motherboard can support PCIe 5.0 for M.2 SSD and graphics cards. It also boosts the memory OC potential for extreme memory performance.
Eight Layer PCB
The 8-layer PCB offers stable power shapes and signal traces for better energy efficiency and lower temperature. As a result, it guarantees a reliable and long-lasting system that delivers optimal performance.
DDR5 EXPO and XMP Support
ASRock does not compromise on details. The company manufactures motherboards based on its design concept, which involves stability and reliability. All of its B650E motherboards have an 8-layer PCB with premium materials, allowing enthusiasts to enjoy the DDR5 memory boost.
Aside from memory boost, it enables overclocking up to 6600MHz and over with pre-tested profiles enabled.
Blazing OC Tuner
Blazing OC Tuner allows the AM5 CPU to switch between OC and PBO modes. The CPU current uses manual OC mode when it is above the threshold. On the other hand, it will use PBO or Precision Boost Overdrive when it is below the threshold.
This feature combines overclocking on all cores and an automatic boost on one of these. Doing so unleashes maximum CPU performance. You will not need to enter BIOS to set up since you can modify the settings under OS.
Reinforced DIMM Slot
The reinforced DIMM slot surface-mounted onto the motherboard offers increased strength and memory signal stability. This design allows overclocking of the DRAM module to significantly higher frequencies.
DIY Friendly Design of the ASRock B650E Taichi Motherboard
The DDR5 DIMM has a unique electrical architecture. It makes the memory module prone to damage when disconnected incorrectly.
ASRock implemented a protection circuit on all its DDR5 motherboards to prevent this issue. This DIY-friendly design makes building your PC easier.
PCIe 5.0 and Surface Mount Technology
While writing our ASRock B650E Taichi Motherboard Review, we also saw the SMT (Surface Mount Technology) type PCIe slot. It is a feature that allows better signal flow and maximises stability under high speed.
This technology also supports the lightning speed of the latest PCIe 5.0. Hence, the B650E Taichi can unleash the full potential of high-end graphics cards.
Killer E3100 + AX1675
The B650E Taichi uses the Killer Ethernet controller, which is optimal for performance-hungry users and competitive gamers. This motherboard has the Killer E3100 2.5G Ethernet and WiFi 6E solutions, offering improved detection and prioritisation engines.
These networking features allow the B650E Taichi to deliver the ultimate networking experience.
Killer Doubleshot Pro
Killer DoubleShot Pro enables using Killer Wireless and Killer Ethernet interfaces simultaneously. As a result, it can provide the end user max throughput as high as 4.9Gbps. It automatically uses the fastest network connection, ensuring high-priority traffic on the quicker and more reliable link.
WiFi 6E 802.11ax
WiFi 6E has extended to the 6GHz spectrum band to increase WiFi capability and faster internet traffic. It also reduces latency and supports service levels equivalent to 5G networks.
Enhanced USB4 Type-C
USB 4 technology provides versatility and speed to the most advanced USB-C. It offers a fast and simple connection for work and home use.
This technology allows high-speed data transfer rates as high as 40Gbps. It also supports up to 9V@3A 27W with PD 3.0 for ultra-fast charging.
M.2 Fan-Heatsink of the ASRock B650E Taichi Motherboard
The M.2 Fan-Heatsink for ASRock motherboards unleash the maximum potential of the newest PCIe Gen5 x4 M.2 SSD. It can deliver the highest cooling performance for stability and maintain excellent performance.
Higher Data Transfer Rates with USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
The new USB-C 3.2 Gen2x2 delivers 20Gbps data transfer rates. It offers two times the speed of the previous generation.
Lightning Gaming Ports
The Lightning Gaming Ports sourced from two different controller interfaces allow gamers to connect high-speed peripherals. These offer lower latency and less jitter.
POLYCHROME RGB
Synchronise the integrated RGB with other POLYCHROME RGB Sync-certified devices, including CPU coolers, fans, strips, etc.
Specifications
We will discuss the product specifications in our ASRock B650E Taichi Motherboard Review. Why? Because these details are essential to determine if the motherboard is compatible with your system.
The B650E Taichi has an eight-layer PCB and an EATX form factor measuring 30.5 x 26.7cm. It supports the AMD socket AM5 Ryzen 7000 series processors, and its chipset is the AMD B650.
The motherboard uses dual-channel DDR5 memory technology and has four DDR5 DIMM slots. Additionally, it has a 128GB maximum system memory capacity.
Graphics-wise, the product integrates the AMD RDNA-2 graphics. There is an HDMI 2.1 TMDS/FRL 8G compatible, which supports HDCP 2.3 and HDR. It also supports a max resolution of up to 4K 120Hz.
Then, you will see a USB4 supporting HDCP 2.3 and a max resolution of up to 8K 60Hz.
On audio, the motherboard has 5.1 CH HD audio with Realtek ALC-4082 audio codec. For front outputs, it sports WIMA audio capacitors and the ESS SABRE-9218 DAC for front panel audio.
Individual PCB layers for the L/R audio channel and impedance sensing on its rear port are present. Even Nahimic audio is on the motherboard.
You will also find a 2.5Gb LAN and an 802.11ax WiFi 6E module.
Hands-on with the ASRock B650E Taichi Motherboard
This ASRock B650E Taichi Motherboard Review will share our hands-on experience with the motherboard. We put it through some tests and used it for more than a week. Doing so allowed us to see the results it would give us under different loads.
But before looking into its performance, we will discuss its BIOS.
The BIOS of the B650E Taichi has a user-friendly interface. Like every ASRock motherboard BIOS, the first page shows the default Easy Mode, which lets you monitor the system status.
Selecting Advanced Mode displays all the other options for tweaking the CPU, memory, etc. This section allows adjusting the voltages and frequencies of these components for overclocking. It also has settings for the chipset, storage and NVMe, LEDs, plus onboard devices like audio, LAN, and Bluetooth.
The tabs of the Advanced Mode are on top of the interface, while the rest of the details are below. Most settings for overclocking are on the same page, and some power options are in another section.
Aside from a neat and user-friendly interface, it offers smooth movement and reading convenience. Overall, we have no complaints about the BIOS.
ASRock B650E Taichi Motherboard Review Summary
Like all Taichi motherboards from ASRock, the B650E Taichi has a sleek metal backplate that provides aesthetics and cooling. It also uses DDR5 DIMM slots with steel reinforcements and Surface-Mount technology on the PCIe slots for better stability. These impressive features make it one of the best B650 motherboards on the market.
With its superb elements for networking, cooling, stability, and speed, this product can deliver unparalleled performance. It was stable when overclocked, used minimal power, and performed fast, making it an excellent motherboard.
Overall, we highly recommend the B650E Taichi. Although it is the most expensive B650 option, it is one of the best.
To learn more about the B650E Taichi Motherboard, visit the official ASRock product page.