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ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi vs ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi: Comparison

ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi vs ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi max memory compared

Start with max memory, because it is the widest measured gap between them: ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi 128 GB against ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi 96 GB, 25% in favour of ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi. Rear usb 2.0 ports is not the same on both, 4 on the ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi versus 2 on the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi. They differ on vcore power stages too, 8 on the ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi versus 10 on the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi.

ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi vs ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi: which one fits your build

it is not the pick for extreme overclockers who need more than 60A-rated VRM stages. It is equally the pick for budget-conscious AM5 ITX builders who still want a Gen5 M.2 upgrade path. It is the wrong buy for anyone wanting a PCIe 5.0 GPU slot or premium ALC1220-tier audio. The ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi suits builders who value tool-free M.2 installation in a cramped case, though it is not built for anyone who needs Thunderbolt/USB4 or 5GbE+ networking. The same goes for mainstream Ryzen ITX builds that want PCIe 5.0 without paying for X870E features. It is not the one for extreme overclockers who want more VRM headroom than a mainstream ITX board offers.

What ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi and ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi have in common

The common ground is wider than the gap: socket, memory slots, m.2 slots, form factor and platform are identical here. They match on 14 further specifications as well.

Frequently asked questions

Do the ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi and ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi differ on chipset?

Yes. Chipset reads B650 on the ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi versus B650E on the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi.

Is the Newest CPU Family Supported the same on the ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi and ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi?

It is. Both are listed at Ryzen 9000, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.

Specs and benchmarks

  • Platform

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    AMD
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    AMD
  • Model Number

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    B650I Lightning WiFi
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
  • Socket

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series
  • Form Factor

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    Mini-ITX
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    Mini-ITX
  • Chipset

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    B650
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    B650E
  • Newest CPU Family Supported

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    Ryzen 9000
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    Ryzen 9000
  • Memory Type

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    2x DDR5 DIMM, dual-channel, up to 128GB, DDR5-7200+ (OC), XMP/EXPO
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    2x DDR5, up to 96GB, up to 8000+ MT/s (OC)
  • Oldest CPU Family Supported

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    Ryzen 7000
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    Ryzen 7000
  • CPU Overclocking Supported

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    Yes
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    Yes
  • Memory Slots

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    2
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    2
  • Max Memory

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    128 GBBest
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    96 GB-25%
  • M.2 Slots

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    2
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    2
  • PCIe 5.0 Support

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    Yes
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    Yes
  • Wi-Fi Onboard

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    Yes
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    Yes
  • Max Rated Memory Speed

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    7200 MT/s
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    8000 MT/sBest
  • M.2 PCIe 5.0 Slots

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    1
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    1
  • M.2 PCIe 4.0 Slots

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    1
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    1
  • SATA Ports

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    2
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    2
  • PCIe x16 Slots

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    1
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    1
  • Primary Graphics Slot Gen

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    PCIe 4.0
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    PCIe 5.0
  • Rear USB 10Gbps Ports

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    4
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    5
  • Rear USB 2.0 Ports

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    4
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    2
  • Vcore Power Stages

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    8
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    10
  • EPS 12V Configuration

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    One 8-pin
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    One 8-pin
  • Max Ethernet Speed

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    2.5 Gbps
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    2.5 Gbps
  • Ethernet Port Count

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    1
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    1
  • Wi-Fi Standard

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    Wi-Fi 6E
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    Wi-Fi 6E
  • Bluetooth Version

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    5.2
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    5.2
  • Audio Codec

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    Realtek ALC897, 7.1-channel HD Audio
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    Realtek ALC4080 + Savitech SV3H712 amp
  • Expansion

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    1x PCIe 4.0 x16; 1x M.2 PCIe 5.0 x4 (Blazing), 1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 (Hyper); 2x SATA III; 1x M.2 Key-E (Wi-Fi)
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    1x PCIe 5.0 x16
  • Connectivity

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    3x Rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A (10Gbps), 1x Rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (10Gbps), 4x Rear USB 2.0
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    Q-Latch tool-free M.2, BIOS FlashBack
  • Networking

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    2.5GbE (Intel), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
  • Special Features

    ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi
    Gen5 M.2 despite Gen4-only GPU slot
    ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    2x M.2 (Gen5 + Gen4), SupremeFX audio

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose ASRock B650I Lightning WiFi if you want the higher memory slots (2 vs 2), the higher max memory (128 GB vs 96 GB) and the higher M.2 slots (2 vs 2).

    Choose ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Price comparison

    RetailerASRock B650I Lightning WiFiASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming WiFi
    AmazonView on AmazonView on Amazon
    NeweggView on NeweggView 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.

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