8 Best B550 Motherboards Currently Available (2020)

You are building a new custom PC or upgrading an old PC. Of course you want performance, but you also want to spend

. You have decided to use AMD CPU. Until Ryzen (or other chips, we have no judgment).

You need to make a decision on the motherboard as early as possible. You think new

It looks promising. It has been a long time since they started retailing. However, there are already more than 50 motherboard variants on the market. Well-known brands: Asus, Gigabyte, ASRock, BIOSTAR and MSI have attracted some competitors. Which one is right for you?

Don't be afraid, because that is the purpose of this review. Let's take a look at the outstanding performance of the B550 motherboard in different market segments. We distinguish them based on price, size and end user.

Most of these committees were launched recently. However, we can learn a lot from their defining functions, specification sheets and their predecessors. It is expected that it will be easier to obtain product inventory and customized boards in a few months. Because B550 seems to be coming soon

.

The motherboard is one of the core components in the construction. The specifications may cause confusion, and there may not be a difference at first. However, some research is essential. Like this guide, there are plenty of resources on the Internet.

The first question PC manufacturers need to ask themselves is: Intel or AMD? We are not in the discussion right now, but the budget gaming community has good reason to approve of AMD. Ryzen processors dominate the budget market. They can provide performance comparable to Intel processors, and the price is hundreds of dollars higher.

After checking AMD, almost all socket types are answered. You will subscribe to the AM4 slot unless you plan to use Threadripper. This means that the upcoming Ryzen 400 series CPU will be used with your B550. Of course, the current 3000 series will apply.

The next thing to consider is the external dimensions.

The figure shows the common size of a general PC. Standard or ATX most popular

with

case. Micro-or

It is smaller than ATX and can be installed on a smaller PC case. Even smaller is the Mini- or mITX, which is great if you need a compact drill. Remember: larger motherboards will have more ports and connectors available.

Which size you want to use depends on your situation. If there is not much space, please consider using mATX or mITX size. If you want a huge and powerful beast, choose ATX. You may also consider the PC case now so that there will be no compatibility issues in the future.

After the power factor appears. One of the main components of the motherboard is the VRM. VRM supplies power to other connected components. Power supply and cooling largely separate high-end and low-end motherboards. Will you overclock now or in the future? Then look for a motherboard with reliable power and cooling options. Or, if you insist on using inventory speed, then the budget selection may be sufficient.

Finally, we gained connectivity and other features. Every purchase is different, and every PC manufacturer has different needs. Audiophiles or someone using equipment to record their ASMR podcasts? Please pay close attention to the audio codec. Do you have Ethernet available, or would you rather built-in WiFi? Have a lot of M.2 SSDs? Do you need many USB ports? Planning to use APU? Ask the following questions to determine how you will use a custom PC. It is better to do some work now instead of suffering later.

The old-fashioned B450 Tomahawk from MSI is the best of its kind. This is an economical motherboard that is comparable to competitors' product prices, and its functions and performance are twice as high. of

Has better construction and functions. However, a price increase of $70 may disappoint you.

MSI is a big name in the motherboard field, and there are good reasons. The new 6-layer PCB with double copper wires (increased from 1 ounce to 2 ounces) is worth upgrading. The circuit board looks very sturdy, without fancy aesthetics. VRM can handle overclocking well, and the radiator with M.2 slot can also improve performance.

Connectivity is very good, despite having two Ethernet ports, and multiple USB ports. PCIe 4.0 is the acclaimed upgrade for all B550 motherboards. The Tomahawk looks like it will be in a fighting state in a few years, in order to get a good return.

What is missing is SLI support (despite AMD CrossFire) and WiFi. These omissions rarely make most people feel uncomfortable, but at this price point, they may already be included. In terms of price, the older brother of the B550 Tomahawk, the X570 Tomahawk, is only $20 more. It also has more features, although it is also a chipset fan. If you also consider using the X570 option, it may keep you away from this motherboard.

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It is a high-end product among Gigabyte "budget" AMD motherboards. Its closest predecessor is the B450 Aorus Pro. That person has ridiculous ratings online. The product is available in all aspects, and at this price, we can expect a lot.

The board has a subtle, low-key but still game design. It also does not skip any RGB and fan headers. There are 12 USB ports, so you won’t need a USB hub soon.

The M.2 configuration is not common because the two bottom slots share bandwidth with the top slot. All three slots have PCIe 4.0 wiring. When a device is installed in one of the bottom slots, the configuration will slide from x16 to x8 / x4 / x4. The radiator also came in handy.

Gigabyte has its unique dual BIOS settings here. This is one of the reasons why Aorus Master won the cake for us in the high-end B550 motherboard. This is a good guarantee when you overclock or modify the BIOS.

For other features, any complaints will put pressure on you. ASRock Taichi has more SATA ports, and the ASUS ROG Strix lineup has better audio codecs. Gigabyte’s own Vision D has a Thunderbolt port. But we are picky here, because the B550 Aorus Master seems to be doing everything else. Except for the price, that's it.

Want a top board and are willing to spend every penny? Considering the ASRock B550 Tai Chi, its price is an amazing 300 US dollars. Everything on the board will prompt you to push the component to the most difficult position. You will want to squeeze out every last fps provided by the build.

Tai Chi looks heavy and metallic. The neon lighting and cogwheel design are very steampunk. This motherboard does not seem to be a mid-level motherboard, it should occupy a place in the motherboard. All PCIe slots are important and provide additional protection.

One of the reasons for choosing the top B550 on the X570 was the lack of chipset fans. Over time, they are prone to noise and degradation. To compensate for the heat, Taichi's large chipset heat sink extends to the M.2 socket. The radiator extends to the rear panel through the heat pipe. The convenient 4-pin fan header means temperature is not a problem.

There are many USB ports and most SATA ports on the B550 board. Benchmark tests show that the audio crosstalk of Tai Chi is negligible.

There is nothing to say about negative numbers, except that the price crosses the X570 area. Which top B550 motherboard you will choose is a fierce competition.

For a long time, the promise of the Bx50 chipset has been a stable game at a reasonable price. If you are satisfied that the motherboard works without threatening to blow up parts, then the price of ASRock B550M-HDV is $80.

The B550M-HDV contrasts sharply with the colorfulness of most other motherboards on the list. This is the only B550 motherboard we have seen and the price is the same as the previous generation. ASRock also does this by keeping most of the features in the previous generation.

The board is suitable for commercial use, but in theory, you can squeeze some game content from it. Only two DRAM slots, a single PCIe and M.2, and poor connection options will make this job difficult. It is worth noting that the power delivery is also very poor-the slim chipset heat sink and 4-pin power connector prove this. ASRock's own B550M Pro4 provides 6-phase power for the CPU, and the price is $115. By including this configuration here, they will earn more points.

In other words, this is the cheapest option among chipsets for budget consumers. If your old components are in normal working condition, the old PS/2 and D-sub video port will be a good choice. Not everyone has to live at the forefront of technology, that's okay.

The TUF series used to belong to Asus's sturdy flagship store, and later the flashy ROG replaced them. This well-positioned mATX motherboard may prove to be a resurgence. TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS has a high hit rate.

The B550M-Plus is technically two variants. You can add WiFi6 for an extra $20. The design is black and soft gray with a sudden yellow hue. The layout is compact, just like on the mATX board.

There is an M.2 PCIe 4.0 slot without a heat sink, and a PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot connected to the chipset. You will get an enhanced PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and another PCIe 3.0 x4 chipset slot. There is a small chipset heat sink that can handle moderate temperatures.

There are RGB headers, 4-pin fan headers and Thunderbolt headers. The port selection in this form factor is impressive: there are 8 rear USB ports and 6 front USB ports. Even the combined PS/2 port is pressed in.

Although the board provides powerful functions and performance, the facts are outstanding. The 450 version of its predecessor used to be sold for only $90. Yes, the price has increased by $70, which is almost twice the original suggested retail price. Lowering the price will make the B550M-PLUS ruler of mATX board a reality.

The smallest consumer size specification mITX is an option. However, ASRock B550M-ITX/ac does not have to be so, because it is far below the mid-range level in the B550 motherboard. On paper, it also looks full of features.

If you are sold on mITX, the B550 market will greatly narrow your scope. There are some options at the high end. ASRock B550M-ITX/ac is even the only product close to the budget level. The closest alternative is GIGABYTE B550I Aorus Pro AX, which is priced at $180.

From the 802.11ac card to the four SATA ports, most things in this product are present. However, excluding 2.5G and Axe WiFi cards at the same time means you are stuck in a lower network speed.

Our main grasp of this motherboard is the weird and downright evil layout. The four SATA ports we mentioned earlier? Well, you can only connect up to two cables, so good luck in front of this. For some reason, the CPU 8-pin connector is also located at the rear. Why, ASRock, why? The audio codec is also a trivial ALC887, although forgivable in price.

If you can solve the layout problem, then this B550M-ITX/ac will provide reliable performance. When pushing your rig, the heat of mITX is another issue, so pay close attention to your situation.

ASUS ROG Strix series products are the best in many game lists. ASUS manufactures flagship products under ROG, and builds them well. ROG Strix B550-I Gaming is currently the best mITX board on the market. To be fair, it is also the most expensive.

This is the only mITX board from Asus, and it stands out in the feature list. It has a compact design, which is essential for small PCs. The back cover and the front power transfer radiator have been connected, which also covers the M.2 radiator. Unlike the ASRock motherboards on our list, the 8-pin power connector is located at the top left.

There are RGB headers and fan headers. Fortunately, all four SATA ports can be used. The port selection is also good.

The unexpected advantage of this motherboard is audio. There is a custom audio daughter board that uses the M.2 socket. There is a Type C audio port on the rear panel, which is a popular feature. The audio codec is ASUS SupremeFX S1200A, an excellent choice.

In addition to the high price, this motherboard does not have many negative effects. You won’t get as many ports as an ATX board. But you don't need it anyway.

Not every custom PC is built for gaming. Some are used for content creation. Whether you are doing video editing, designing or making music, well-built equipment is essential. This is where Vision D comes in.

The first thing about Vision D is its design. Gigabyte cleverly chose the smallest black and white look. This is different

Two full-length PCIe 4.0 slots in x16 or x8/x8 configurations are a good setup. Content creators will also be satisfied with the two M.2 slots (each with its own heat sink). Thunderbolt 3 USB 3.2 Gen-2 Type-C port is another topic. It can reach up to 40 Gbit/s, which is really impressive. The port selection is very good, including a combined PS/2 port.

Despite the existence of WiFi 6, one exception is the lack of 2.5G Ethernet. Cheaper boards, such as the $180 Tomahawk, include this, so it seems wrong to omit it for the $260 Vision D. Content creators may be frustrated by using only four SATA ports. We did not ask for as many as 8 ports of B550 Taijiquan, but 6 will do.

Not sure what some of these specifications mean? Do you have any questions before buying? This section is for you. If there are no doubts, please scroll to the last part.

Yes. along with

(PSU), the motherboard is a component that is often overlooked in the PC version. Although you don’t necessarily need the best motherboard, at least one that can comfortably handle the things you throw on it.

Probably. Before purchasing, please be sure to carefully check whether the specifications are compatible.

Yes. Mobo usually puts 2-4 SATA cables in the box.

For most users, 4 is enough and 6 is more than enough.

We researched the best B550 motherboard on the market. Now is the time to make a decision, or to wait for a while. Expect more custom boards and retail channels, especially when the Ryzen 4000 series is acquired later this year. No need to squander all the money on the motherboard. However, getting a solution that can meet all your needs can save you a lot of trouble in the future.

Still confused? Do you have any other questions? Hit us

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