ASUS TUF Gaming A520M-PLUS (WiFi) AMD AM4 (3rd Gen Ryzen™) microATX Gaming Motherboard (M.2 Support, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, DisplayPort, HDMI, D-Sub, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A and Aura Addressable Gen 2 headers)
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AI Verdict
This is a rock-solid, no-frills microATX board for budget builders who want to drop a Ryzen 5000 CPU into a cheap system without caring about PCIe 4.0 or overclocking.
This board makes perfect sense if you are pairing it with a PCIe 3.0 GPU or an APU like the Ryzen 5 5600G on a strict budget. The lack of PCIe 4.0 and CPU overclocking means it severely limits upgrade paths for higher-end components.
If you plan to use a PCIe 4.0 graphics card or want a second M.2 slot, step up to a B550 chipset motherboard instead.
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Pros
- Includes a BIOS FlashBack button so you can update for Ryzen 5000 CPUs without needing an older processor installed
- Features a dedicated VRM heatsink, which keeps temperatures stable even if you drop in a 65W Ryzen 7 5700X
- Offers four DDR4 RAM slots supporting up to 128GB, unlike many budget A520 boards that only give you two
- Comes with built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, saving you $25 on a separate PCIe wireless card
Cons
- Locked to PCIe 3.0 speeds, which will bottleneck budget GPUs with limited lanes like the Radeon RX 6500 XT
- Only provides a single M.2 slot for NVMe storage, limiting your future drive expansion options
- The A520 chipset completely locks you out of manual CPU overclocking
- The pre-installed Wi-Fi card is trapped under a metal shroud, making it incredibly frustrating to upgrade later
Dimension Scores
The dedicated VRM heatsink handles 65W and 105W stock Ryzen CPUs fine, but the A520 chipset prevents overclocking anyway.
Including BIOS FlashBack, Wi-Fi 5, and 4 RAM slots is excellent for a sub-$100 entry-level board.
You are limited to a single M.2 slot and PCIe 3.0 speeds across the board.
The ASUS UEFI BIOS remains intuitive, and the physical FlashBack button is a lifesaver for AM4 compatibility.
Best For
- First-time PC builders putting together a sub-$600 1080p gaming rig with a Ryzen 5 5600G
- Living room media center PCs using a compact microATX case
- Office workstations that need reliable Wi-Fi and lots of USB ports (7 on the rear I/O)
Not Recommended For
- Enthusiasts planning to manually overclock their CPU
- Gamers buying an RX 6400 or RX 6500 XT graphics card that requires PCIe 4.0 for full performance
- Video editors who need multiple high-speed M.2 NVMe drives for scratch disks
Watch Out For
- BIOS FlashBack is extremely picky about USB drives — you need an older USB 2.0 drive formatted to FAT32 or the update light will just stay solid green and fail.
- The Wi-Fi module is an older Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) standard, and replacing it requires unscrewing a stubborn metal housing on the rear I/O.
- Ryzen 5000G series APUs like the 5600G might not boot out of the box without a BIOS update first.
- There are no PCIe 4.0 lanes anywhere on this board, meaning your Gen4 NVMe SSDs will be capped at half their maximum speed.
Full Specifications
| RAM | DDR4 |
| ASIN | B0997N7P12 |
| Brand | ASUS |
| Series | TUF GAMING A520M-PLUS WIFI |
| Voltage | 12 Volts |
| Platform | Windows 10 |
| CPU Model | Ryzen 5 |
| Processor | ryzen_5 |
| CPU Socket | Socket AM4 |
| Model Name | TUF GAMING A520M-PLUS WIFI |
| Item Weight | 1.27 pounds |
| Chipset Type | AMD 785E |
| Manufacturer | ASUS |
| Memory Speed | 2133 MHz |
| Wireless Type | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Item model number | TUF GAMING A520M-PLUS WIFI |
| Compatible Devices | Personal Computer |
| Memory Clock Speed | 2133 MHz |
| Product Dimensions | 2.75 x 10.75 x 11 inches |
| Compatible Processors | AMD 3rd Generation Ryzen |
| RAM Memory Technology | DDR4 |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 2.75 x 10.75 x 11 inches |
| Number of USB 2.0 Ports | 2 |
What Buyers Say
The biggest lifesaver on this budget board is the BIOS FlashBack button, which buyers constantly rely on to get newer Ryzen 5000 CPUs to post. Many users buy this specifically for the four RAM slots, which is a rare find on A520 microATX boards that usually only offer two. The VRM heatsink gets frequent praise for keeping temperatures in check even with 8-core CPUs like the 5700X. A recurring frustration is the Wi-Fi card; it's an older Wi-Fi 5 module, and the metal shroud covering it makes upgrading to a Wi-Fi 6 card a massive headache. Several buyers learned the hard way that the lack of PCIe 4.0 severely bottlenecks budget GPUs like the RX 6500 XT.
“Bought this for a cheap 5600G build and it works great, but updating the bios was a nightmare until I found an ancient 2GB usb 2.0 drive in my drawer because the flashback button hated my new sandisk.”
Common Praise
- BIOS FlashBack button allows CPU-less updates for newer Ryzen chips
- Four DDR4 DIMM slots allow for easy memory upgrades up to 128GB
- VRM heatsink keeps power delivery cool enough for a stock Ryzen 7 5700X
- Includes 7 USB Type-A ports on the rear I/O, which is plenty for peripherals
Common Complaints
- BIOS FlashBack is notoriously picky and often rejects newer USB 3.0 flash drives
- No PCIe 4.0 support limits the performance of Gen4 NVMe drives and certain GPUs
- Only one M.2 slot means you have to rely on slower SATA drives for extra storage
- The metal housing over the Wi-Fi module is incredibly difficult to unscrew if you want to swap the card
Ownership Tips
- The primary PCIe x16 slot is positioned lower down, giving excellent clearance between the CPU cooler and the graphics card.
- The built-in Realtek Wi-Fi 5 card can drop Bluetooth connections if the included antennas aren't positioned perfectly.
- Armoury Crate software will aggressively prompt you to install it on first boot unless you disable the feature in the BIOS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this support Ryzen 5000 series out of the box?
It depends on when the specific box was manufactured. If it doesn't, you can use the BIOS FlashBack button on the rear I/O to update it using just a USB drive and power supply.
Can I overclock my CPU on this motherboard?
No. The A520 chipset completely disables manual CPU overclocking, though your RAM can still be overclocked using DOCP/XMP profiles.
Will a PCIe 4.0 graphics card work on this board?
Yes, but it will run at PCIe 3.0 speeds. This is fine for most GPUs, but cards with only 4 PCIe lanes like the RX 6500 XT will suffer a massive performance drop.
How many M.2 SSDs can I install?
Just one. There is a single PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot located right above the primary PCIe x16 slot.
Does it have RGB headers?
Yes. It includes two standard 12V RGB headers and one 5V Addressable Gen 2 RGB header for syncing case fans via ASUS Aura Sync.
Can I upgrade the built-in Wi-Fi card?
Technically yes, it uses an M.2 E-key slot. Users report the metal housing over the Wi-Fi module is very difficult to remove.
Buying Guide
When buying an A520 motherboard, you are trading future-proofing for immediate cost savings. You will not be able to overclock your processor, and you are permanently locked to PCIe 3.0 speeds. This means you shouldn't pair this board with high-end Gen4 SSDs or graphics cards that rely on PCIe 4.0 bandwidth. It is strictly a drop-in-and-forget board for budget builds, APU systems, or office PCs.
A520 Chipset
This is the brain of the motherboard. The 'A' series is AMD's most basic tier, meaning it blocks you from turning up your CPU's clock speeds for extra performance.
PCIe 3.0 vs 4.0
Think of PCIe lanes like a highway for your data. PCIe 3.0 has a lower speed limit, which is fine for most current graphics cards, but will slow down the newest ultra-fast SSDs.
BIOS FlashBack
This is a physical button on the back of the board that lets you update the system software using just a USB stick, without needing a working processor installed first.
Alternatives
If you need PCIe 4.0 support for a newer graphics card or want a second M.2 slot for more fast storage, search for a B550 microATX motherboard instead.
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