B650 vs B650E: Which chipset should you choose?

The B650E is a middle-range chipset for Ryzen processors and unlike the X-series chipsets, the B650E and B650 have a single chip inside the chipset, while they retain similar features to the top-end chipsets, the total number of PCI Express lanes is lower. Like the X670E, the B650E chipset offers :

• 16 PCIe 5.0 lanes for the graphics ports.
• 4 PCIe 5.0 lanes for a NVMe SSD.
• 4 PCIe 5.0 (GPP) lanes can be used independently depending on the motherboard manufacturer's choice, usually a second SSD NVMe slot.

However, in addition to the 24 direct processor PCIe 5.0 lanes, the chipset has only 12 additional PCIe 4.0 and 3.0 lanes. Depending on the motherboard manufacturer, these lanes can be used to connect other components or as PCIe 4.0 NVMe ports, or extra USB port for example. The B650E chipset also supports a combination of one SuperSpeed USB 20 Gbps port and two USB 10 Gbps ports, or four SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps ports.

The B650 is a scaled-down version of the B650E chipset, although they are identical in many ways, such as the number of PCI Express lanes and SuperSpeed USB ports available. However, there is one key difference: the B650 chipset is limited to PCI Express 4.0 connectivity.

This means it doesn't offer PCIe 5.0 for either the graphics card or the SSD by default.

However, to make the user's choice easier or harder, AMD has left one option in the B650 chipset up to motherboard manufacturers - they can add an NVMe slot that supports PCI Express 5.0 (in x4 mode). Remember to check the specific motherboard you're considering if this is a feature that's important to you.

If you want to install a graphics card that takes advantage of PCIe 5.0, whether it's the latest generation of the NVIDIA RTX 50 series or a future AMD card that will supports this standard, the B650E is the obvious choice.

If you want to install a PCIe 5.0 SSD like the MP700 PRO SE, the B650E chipset is also the one to choose, and even if some motherboards with a B650 chipset are compatible, the B650E chipset gives you peace of mind without having to go through all the information on each B650 motherboard model.

If you're not planning on upgrading in the future, and are sticking with PCIe 4.0 components, the B650 chipset is the way to go if you want to save a few bucks.