Overview
- Both the Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra and MSI MPG B650I Edge WiFi use the AM5 socket and support AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series processors.
- The Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra has a 12V RGB header and a 5V ARGB header.
- The Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra has more RGB lighting options, with a 12V RGB header and a 5V ARGB header.
The Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra and MSI MPG B650I Edge WiFi are two of the most popular mini-ITX motherboards for AMD’s AM5 platform. Both boards offer a wide range of features and capabilities, but they also have some key differences. In this blog post, we’ll compare the two boards in detail to help you decide which one is right for you.
Features
Socket and Chipset
Both the Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra and MSI MPG B650I Edge WiFi use the AM5 socket and support AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series processors. The B650 chipset offers a wide range of features, including support for PCIe 5.0, DDR5 memory, and USB 3.2 Gen 2×2.
Form Factor
Both boards use the mini-ITX form factor, which is the smallest standard motherboard size. This makes them ideal for small form factor builds.
Memory
Both boards support DDR5 memory. The Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra supports up to 128GB of memory, while the MSI MPG B650I Edge WiFi supports up to 64GB of memory.
Storage
The Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra has four SATA III ports and two M.2 slots. The MSI MPG B650I Edge WiFi has two SATA III ports and three M.2 slots. Both boards support NVMe SSDs.
Expansion Slots
The Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra has one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and one PCIe 4.0 x1 slot. The MSI MPG B650I Edge WiFi has one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and one PCIe 4.0 x4 slot.
Rear Panel I/O
The rear panel I/O on the Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra includes:
- 1x HDMI 2.1 port
- 1x DisplayPort 1.4 port
- 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-A ports
- 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports
- 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port
- 1x RJ-45 Ethernet port
- 1x Optical S/PDIF output
The rear panel I/O on the MSI MPG B650I Edge WiFi includes:
- 1x HDMI 2.1 port
- 1x DisplayPort 1.4 port
- 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-A ports
- 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports
- 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port
- 1x RJ-45 Ethernet port
- 1x Optical S/PDIF output
Networking
Both boards have a Realtek RTL8125B 2.5GbE LAN controller.
Audio
Both boards have a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec.
RGB Lighting
Both boards have RGB lighting headers. The Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra has a 12V RGB header and a 5V ARGB header. The MSI MPG B650I Edge WiFi has two 12V RGB headers and one 5V ARGB header.
Performance
In terms of performance, the Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra and MSI MPG B650I Edge WiFi are very similar. Both boards offer good overclocking support and can handle even the most demanding processors.
Price
The Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra is priced at $249, while the MSI MPG B650I Edge WiFi is priced at $229.
Final Note
The Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra and MSI MPG B650I Edge WiFi are both excellent mini-ITX motherboards for AMD’s AM5 platform. The Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra offers a few more features, such as more memory slots and RGB lighting headers, but it is also more expensive. The MSI MPG B650I Edge WiFi is a more affordable option, but it has fewer features. Ultimately, the best board for you will depend on your individual needs and budget.
Popular Questions
Q: Which board is better for overclocking?
A: Both boards offer good overclocking support, but the Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra has a slight edge in this area.
Q: Which board has more storage options?
A: The Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra has more storage options, with four SATA III ports and two M.2 slots. The MSI MPG B650I Edge WiFi has two SATA III ports and three M.2 slots.
Q: Which board has more RGB lighting options?
A: The Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra has more RGB lighting options, with a 12V RGB header and a 5V ARGB header. The MSI MPG B650I Edge WiFi has two 12V RGB headers and one 5V ARGB header.