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ASRock B650 PG Lightning vs NZXT N7 B650E: Comparison
ASRock B650 PG Lightning vs NZXT N7 B650E max memory compared
The gap that matters here is max memory: ASRock B650 PG Lightning 256 GB against NZXT N7 B650E 128 GB, which puts ASRock B650 PG Lightning 50% ahead. There is a split on wi-fi onboard as well, No on the ASRock B650 PG Lightning versus Yes on the NZXT N7 B650E. They differ on pcie x16 slots too, 2 on the ASRock B650 PG Lightning versus 3 on the NZXT N7 B650E. There is a split on primary graphics slot gen as well, PCIe 4.0 on the ASRock B650 PG Lightning versus PCIe 5.0 on the NZXT N7 B650E.
Which should you buy, ASRock B650 PG Lightning or NZXT N7 B650E?
The ASRock B650 PG Lightning is the one to take for the most budget-conscious full-ATX AM5 builds and builders who don't need built-in WiFi, though it is the wrong buy for anyone who wants WiFi included without buying the separate variant and builds that want more than two M.2 slots. The NZXT N7 B650E suits builders assembling an all-NZXT system who want matching board aesthetics and clean builds where an integrated I/O shield matters, though it is not built for builders who need more than 128GB of total memory capacity and anyone who wants the highest-capacity DIMMs supported.
Where the two are identical
Where they agree, they agree completely, socket, memory slots, m.2 slots, m.2 slots onboard and form factor included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 9 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASRock B650 PG Lightning and NZXT N7 B650E differ on chipset?
Yes. Chipset reads B650 on the ASRock B650 PG Lightning versus B650E on the NZXT N7 B650E.
Is the Platform the same on the ASRock B650 PG Lightning and NZXT N7 B650E?
It is. Both are listed at AMD, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Platform
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- AMD
- NZXT N7 B650E
- AMD
Model Number
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- B650 PG Lightning
- NZXT N7 B650E
- N7 B650E
Socket
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series
- NZXT N7 B650E
- AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series
Form Factor
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- ATX
- NZXT N7 B650E
- ATX
Chipset
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- B650
- NZXT N7 B650E
- B650E
Newest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- Ryzen 9000
- NZXT N7 B650E
- Ryzen 9000
Memory Type
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 4x DDR5 DIMM, up to 256GB, dual-channel, DDR5-7200+ (OC), XMP/EXPO
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 4x DDR5, dual-channel, up to 128GB, up to DDR5-6000+ (OC), non-ECC unbuffered
Oldest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- Ryzen 7000
- NZXT N7 B650E
- Ryzen 7000
Memory Slots
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 4
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 4
Max Memory
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 256 GBBest
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 128 GB-50%
M.2 Slots
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 3
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 3
PCIe 5.0 Support
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- Yes
- NZXT N7 B650E
- Yes
Wi-Fi Onboard
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- No
- NZXT N7 B650E
- Yes
Max Memory Capacity
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 256 GBBest
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 128 GB
Max Rated Memory Speed
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 7200 MT/sBest
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 6000 MT/s
M.2 Slots Onboard
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 3
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 3
M.2 PCIe 5.0 Slots
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 1
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 1
M.2 PCIe 4.0 Slots
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 2
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 2
SATA Ports
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 4
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 4
PCIe x16 Slots
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 2
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 3
Primary Graphics Slot Gen
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- PCIe 4.0
- NZXT N7 B650E
- PCIe 5.0
Rear USB 5Gbps Ports
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 7
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 4
Rear USB 2.0 Ports
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 4
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 2
Vcore Power Stages
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 14
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 16
Power Stage Current Rating
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 60 A
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 90 A
EPS 12V Configuration
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- Two 8-pin
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 8-pin plus 4-pin
Max Ethernet Speed
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 2.5 Gbps
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 2.5 Gbps
Ethernet Port Count
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 1
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 1
Wi-Fi Standard
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- None
- NZXT N7 B650E
- Wi-Fi 6E
Audio Codec
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- Realtek ALC897, 7.1-channel HD Audio with Nahimic
- NZXT N7 B650E
- Realtek ALC1220
Expansion
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 2x PCIe 4.0 x16 (2nd slot at x2), 2x PCIe 4.0 x1; 1x M.2 PCIe 5.0 x4, 1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x2; 4x SATA III; 1x M.2 Key-E (Wi-Fi)
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU, x16 mode), 2x PCIe 4.0 x16 (chipset, x2 mode)
Connectivity
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 1x Rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C (20Gbps), 7x Rear USB 3.2 Gen1 (5Gbps), 4x Rear USB 2.0
- NZXT N7 B650E
- Integrated rear I/O shield, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, 4x USB 3.2 Gen1, 2x USB 2.0 rear
Networking
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5GbE LAN (no built-in Wi-Fi)
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 2.5GbE (Realtek RTL8125BG), Wi-Fi 6E (MediaTek MT7921K), Bluetooth 5.2
Special Features
- ASRock B650 PG Lightning
- 3x M.2 total (1x Gen5, 1x Gen4, 1x Gen4x2)
- NZXT N7 B650E
- 3x M.2 (1x Gen5 x4, 1x Gen4 x4, 1x Gen4 x2), full metal cover, NZXT CAM RGB and fan control
Which one should you pick?
Choose ASRock B650 PG Lightning if you want the higher memory slots (4 vs 4), the higher max memory (256 GB vs 128 GB) and the higher M.2 slots (3 vs 3).
Choose NZXT N7 B650E if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASRock B650 PG Lightning | NZXT N7 B650E |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | |
| Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.