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  - BIOSTAR X670E VALKYRIE AM5 Motherboard Review

BIOSTAR B650MT AM5 Motherboard Review

Motherboards/AMD AM5 by stefan @ 2023-12-19

The entry-level AM5 board proposal from BIOSTAR with the code name B650MT does offer the necessary components in order to build a cheap AM5 system but there are some drawbacks here due to cost saving: we could not run the RAM at either 5800MHz or 6000MHz error free, while the AUDIO codec implementation is not exactly great. Both issues are not that bad, considering that for an entry-level system 5600MHz RAM should be enough, while most people use anyway external DACs for better audio for analog headsets, while others choose to go with USB models, most of which are wireless.

Packaging, A Closer Look Part I

After trying out the high-end X670E VALKRYIE AM5 motherboard from BIOSTAR, it is now time to also look at an entry-level offering for the same socket, the B650MT. From the manufacturer’s presentation, this motherboard is oriented towards “work and play”, meaning that we should not expect the premium features of the more expensive versions, such as 2.5Gbps LAN, 7.1 dedicated channel audio ports, PCIe Gen5 M.2 interfaces, a powerful CPU VRM and so on, but all is oriented towards cost efficiency.

The Micro ATX board (22.1 x 23.5 cm) is shipped inside a rather small cardboard enclosure, which does sport the new BIOSTAR box art on the top cover:

On the side, we will note a small sticker with some board specs:

The back side does show the main product highlights, but also QR codes in order to reach different Internet resources:

On the top layer of the box, we will note the hardware bundle along with the documentation:

The bundle is quite simplified, so here we will note the I/O shield, two SATA cables, a M.2 pin holder, the driver disk but also the Quick Installation Guide:

The I/O shield format makes us remember of the boards back in the day, which did not have pre-installed shields and we need to fit this first onto the case before actually fitting the board into the computer chassis. The shield does also have cut-outs for WiFi antennas, something this board does not possess:

The guide does open up as a large document, which explains the installation procedure, together with drawings:

Here we will also note a clear description of the motherboard pin-outs/interfaces:

The BIOSTAR B650MT does feature a clean design, while the ports are placed in convenient positions in order not to have a messy cable management; the only exception to the rule are the SATA ports, which are oriented upwards instead on the side:

On the top left area of the board, we will find the CPU ATX 12V 8-pin power connector:

Nearby, we will find a RT3678BE Dual Channel PWM Controller with I2C Interface Control for AMD SVI3 CPU/GPU Core Power Supply:

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