ASUS TUF Gaming A520M-PLUS (WiFi) AMD AM4 (3rd Gen Ryzen™) microATX Gaming Motherboard
Bottom line: The ASUS TUF Gaming A520M-PLUS AMD AM4 microATX Gaming Motherboard ($99.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-31 04:13 UTC): AM4 socket runs Ryzen 5000, 4000 G-Series and 3000 Series CPUs; main trade-off: A520 chipset locks out CPU overclocking, unlike B550 boards.
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-31. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ AM4 socket runs Ryzen 5000, 4000 G-Series and 3000 Series CPUs
- ✓ BIOS FlashBack button updates firmware with no CPU installed
- ✓ Onboard 32Gb/s M.2 slot plus SATA 6Gb/s for mixed storage
- ✓ 802.11ac Wi-Fi built in, no add-in card or USB dongle needed
- ✓ Triple video out: DisplayPort, HDMI and D-Sub for G-Series APUs
Cons
- ✗ A520 chipset locks out CPU overclocking, unlike B550 boards
- ✗ No PCIe 4.0 support, so Gen4 NVMe drives run at Gen3 speeds
- ✗ 802.11ac is Wi-Fi 5, a generation behind Wi-Fi 6 boards
- ✗ microATX layout limits you to fewer expansion slots than ATX
Manufacturer description
The ASUS TUF Gaming A520M-PLUS (WiFi) is a microATX AM4 motherboard built for budget Ryzen builds that still need wireless and modern storage. The AM4 socket supports Ryzen 5000 Series, 4000 G-Series, and 3000 Series desktop processors, so you can drop in a Ryzen 5 5600 today or reuse a 3rd Gen chip you already own. Storage runs through a 32Gb/s onboard M.2 slot plus SATA 6Gb/s ports, and connectivity covers 802.11ac Wi-Fi alongside TUF LANGuard and TurboLAN for wired play. A large VRM heatsink, a PCH heatsink, and Fan Xpert 2+ handle thermals in compact cases, while the BIOS FlashBack…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored ASUS TUF Gaming A520M-PLUS AMD AM4 microATX Gaming Motherboard using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the motherboards category. Compare with similarly-priced alternatives in the motherboards category before committing. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for motherboards of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this motherboard work with a Ryzen 5 5600X?
Yes. ASUS lists the A520M-PLUS as ready for Ryzen 5000 Series, 4000 G-Series, and 3000 Series desktop processors on the AM4 socket. If the board ships with older firmware, the BIOS FlashBack button lets you update without a CPU installed.
Can I overclock my CPU on this board?
No. The AMD A520 chipset does not support CPU overclocking. You get the large VRM heatsink, PCH heatsink, and Fan Xpert 2+ for cooling and fan tuning, but for manual CPU overclocking you would need a B550 or X570 board.
Does it have built-in Wi-Fi, or do I need a separate card?
Wi-Fi is built in. The board includes 802.11ac wireless, plus wired networking with TUF LANGuard and TurboLAN. That frees your PCIe slots for a graphics card or other expansion instead of a network adapter.
How many M.2 slots does it have and how fast are they?
There is one onboard M.2 slot rated at 32Gb/s, alongside SATA 6Gb/s ports for additional SSDs or hard drives. Check the product listing for the exact M.2 length support before buying a drive.
Will the DisplayPort, HDMI, and D-Sub outputs work without a graphics card?
They work when paired with a Ryzen processor that has integrated graphics, such as the 4000 G-Series. With a CPU that lacks an iGPU, you need a discrete graphics card to get video output.
Key Features
- AMD AM4 Socket: l Ready for Ryzen 5000 Series/ 4000 G-Series/ 3000 Series Desktop Processors
- Comprehensive cooling: Large VRM heatsink, PCH heatsink and Fan Xpert 2+
- Made for online gaming: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, TUF LANGuard and TurboLAN technology
- Gaming Connectivity: BIOS FlashBack button, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 32Gb/s M.2 onboard, SATA 6Gb/s, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, DisplayPort/HDMI/D-Sub
- Gaming Look and Feel: ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync RGB lighting, including RGB headers and a Gen 2 addressable RGB header for greater customization
Full Specifications
| Brand | ASUS |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4000 g |
| USB 2.0 | 2 |
| Platform | Windows 10 |
| CPU Model | Ryzen 5 |
| CPU Socket | Socket AM4 |
| Model Name | TUF GAMING A520M-PLUS WIFI |
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
| Chipset Type | AMD 785E |
| Connectivity | USB, WiFi |
| Model Number | TUF GAMING A520M-PLUS WIFI |
| AMD AM4 Socket | l Ready for Ryzen 5000 Series/ 4000 G-Series/ 3000 Series Desktop Processors |
| Chipset Family | A520 |
| Item Type Name | motherboard |
| Mfr Part Number | TUF GAMING A520M-PLUS WIFI |
| Number of Ports | 17 |
| Total Usb Ports | 4 |
| Processor Socket | Socket AM4 |
| Total PCIe Ports | 1 |
| Total SATA Ports | 4 |
| Full listing title | 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) |
Benchmark data for other processors
Ready to buy?
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) is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-31. Price and availability subject to change.
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