{"id":9419,"date":"2020-07-10T12:58:58","date_gmt":"2020-07-10T10:58:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=9419"},"modified":"2023-01-03T18:40:04","modified_gmt":"2023-01-03T17:40:04","slug":"best-b550-motherboards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-b550-motherboards\/","title":{"rendered":"Best B550 Motherboards for AMD Ryzen CPUs [Updated Guide]"},"content":{"rendered":"
TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<\/svg><\/svg><\/span><\/label>1<\/label>B550 Motherboard Overview<\/a><\/li>A Bit of History: B350 to B550<\/a><\/li>B450 vs. B550: Worth the Upgrade?<\/a><\/li>B550 vs. X570: How Much of a Downgrade?<\/a><\/li>Factors Considered for Picking the Best B550 Motherboards<\/a><\/li>Best Budget B550 Motherboards Under $150<\/a><\/li>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/a><\/li>Best $200~ B550 Motherboard (for Most Users)<\/a><\/li>Best Premium B550 Motherboards for Professionals<\/a>B550 Motherboards Priced Above $260<\/a><\/li>Best B550 Motherboard under $100<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>Wrap-up<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\nAfter numerous delays, motherboards with the B550 chipset for AMD processors have finally started popping up on the market. Were they worth the wait?<\/p>\nYes, for some, no for others. They do shake up a considerable portion of the motherboard segment, but many of them are priced way too close to pretty excellent X570 motherboard options to make them worth it.<\/p>\nSo, this time, instead of listing just the B550 motherboard recommendations, I\u2019ll add recommended X570 alternatives (if there are any) as well so you can check them both out.<\/p>\n<\/span>B550 Motherboard Overview<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t <\/th>Recommended B550\nMotherboard<\/th>Recommended X570 Alternative\nat a similar Price<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n\tBest B550 Motherboard Under $100<\/td>Gigabyte B550M DS3H (M-ATX)<\/td>-<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tBest B550 Motherboards Under $150<\/td>Gigabyte B550M Aorus Pro (M-ATX)\nMSI B550-A Pro (ATX)<\/td>-<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tBest Mid-Range Value ($150-180)<\/td>MSI B550 Tomahawk (ATX)\nGigabyte B550 Aorus Pro (ATX)<\/td>MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk Wi-Fi (ATX)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tBest Premium B550 Motherboards<\/td>ASUS B550-F Gaming (ATX)\nMSI B550 Gaming Edge Wi-Fi<\/td>MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk Wi-Fi (ATX)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tBest Premium B550 Motherboards \nFor Professionals<\/td>Gigabyte B550 Vision D (ATX)<\/td>MSI X570 Tomahawk Wi-Fi (ATX) \/\nMSI X570 Unify<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tBest $261 and Above<\/td>Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master (ATX)\nASRock B550 Taichi (ATX)<\/td>MSI X570 Unify (ATX)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n<\/span>A Bit of History: B350 to B550<\/span><\/h2>\nWhen AMD first announced Ryzen, most motherboard partners seemed skeptical as they\u2019d likely heard those tall marketing claims before. This sentiment certainly showed in the motherboards they launched too \u2013 they lacked high-end features and components that you could find on Intel motherboards.<\/p>\nWell, let\u2019s face it, at the mid to higher-end of the market at the time, Intel was what people bought.<\/p>\nWith the launch of B550, you can see motherboard partners start to recognize AMD as a serious option for the mid and high-end market.<\/p>\nThe B550 motherboards offer excellent VRMs, up to 8-layer PCBs, thicker copper traces, dual LAN, Wi-Fi 6, and so much more on a mainstream platform now. It really shows how far AMD has come when it comes to this particular market segment.<\/p>\nHere are a couple of the most premium B350 motherboards that launched with Ryzen 1st<\/sup> Generation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/noscript><\/td>\n<\/noscript><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nGigabyte AB350 Gaming 3<\/strong> and MSI B350 Gaming Pro Carbon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nAnd now, here are top and mid-tier B550 motherboards launched this time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/noscript><\/td>\n<\/noscript><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nGigabyte B550 Aorus Master<\/strong> and MSI B550 Gaming Pro Carbon.<\/strong><\/p>\nOf course, these newer boards do cost more. But the fact that motherboard partners are willing to invest some serious dime to create a more premium mainstream platform bodes well for AMD.<\/p>\n<\/span>B450 vs. B550: Worth the Upgrade?<\/span><\/h2>\nThe quality of B550 motherboards might be a good sign for AMD processors, but that doesn\u2019t mean you should immediately go out and buy one. Considering the prices, features, and many other things to decide whether to buy or not to buy was a bit more complicated than expected.<\/p>\nMany anticipated the B550 motherboards to replace the B450 lineup of motherboards. However, the launch has shaped up more like a replacement for both higher-end B450 boards as well as lower-end X570 motherboards.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re already on a B450 or an X570 motherboard and don\u2019t need access to the features on offer here (on B550), I would just skip this launch altogether.<\/p>\nBut if you\u2019re on an A320 motherboard or are building a new system from scratch, the B550 lineup does offer something to many buyers in a certain price bracket.<\/p>\n<\/span>B550 vs. X570: How Much of a Downgrade?<\/span><\/h2>\nHere\u2019s where the problems begin. Even though the X570 chipset is superior to both the B550 and B450, many low-end X570 motherboards are stripped down to the basics (understandably).<\/p>\nBefore we discuss the topic, let's take a look at the technical differences between these chipsets:\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\tChipset<\/strong><\/th>B450<\/th>B550<\/strong><\/th>X570<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n\tOfficial Processor Support <\/strong>(subject to change)<\/td>Zen 2 (Ryzen 3000)<\/td>Zen 3 (Ryzen 4000)<\/td>Zen 3 (Ryzen 4000)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tCPU - Chipset Uplink lanes<\/strong><\/td>PCI-E 3.0 (x4)<\/td>PCI-E 3.0 (x4)<\/td>PCI-E 4.0 (x4)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tUsable PCI-E 4.0 Lanes <\/strong><\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tUsable PCI-E 3.0 Lanes<\/strong><\/td>0<\/td>10<\/td>0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tUsable PCI-E 2.0 Lanes<\/strong><\/td>6<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tUSB 3.2<\/strong> (Gen 2\/Gen 1)<\/td>2\/2<\/td>2\/2<\/td>8\/0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tSATA<\/strong> (6Gbps)<\/td>2<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\nSo, now it comes down to picking what\u2019s more relevant to you, Here's the quick and dirty advice - If your workload even remotely involves the use of high-speed storage (PCI-E 4.0 SSDs\/multiple NVMe SSDs) and\/or multiple GPUs,<\/strong> skip B550 and look at mid-range X570 options<\/strong>.\nHere, by use, I mean that you\u2019re actively transferring large raw files across drives from time to time or using multi-GPU setups for rendering.<\/p>\nEven though gamers won\u2019t notice any difference in their experience if they give up on a few X570 chipset features in return for a few premium motherboard features, some top-tier B550 motherboards still don\u2019t make much sense from a pure value perspective.<\/p>\nFor example, at $280, you can buy the B550 Aorus Master from Gigabyte. A motherboard with the build quality and VRM components taken directly from one of the best X570 motherboards they offer (X570 Aorus Extreme, priced at $700).<\/p>\nNeat, but it\u2019s overkill, no doubt about it. If you spend just an additional $20, you can get yourself the MSI X570 Unify \u2013 one of the best motherboards in the X570 product stack for professionals and heavy use.<\/p>\nThe price range between $130-250~ is really where B550 boards shine and offer the most value.<\/p>\nThose looking for ultra-budget options within the B550 product stack are going to be disappointed, honestly. The motherboards at the very bottom end of the stack are pricier (than their B450 counterparts) and probably aren't worth the premium. However, for those looking to grab a Ryzen 5000 CPU, I'd say - spend that additional $10-15 to get a budget B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nI\u2019m going to assume that B450 motherboards are no longer available at reasonable prices for the purpose of this article. Also, our B450 recommendations<\/strong> from previous articles do still stand if you want to pair them with an older budget Ryzen CPU and can snag B450 motherboards for sub-$90 prices.<\/p>\n<\/span>Factors Considered for Picking the Best B550 Motherboards<\/span><\/h2>\n\nVRM Thermals and Power Delivery<\/strong>: Although even the Ryzen 9 5950x doesn\u2019t pull a lot of power, getting the best you can for your money still makes sense. Most B550 motherboards will be able to handle future upgrades without requiring a motherboard upgrade, no problem.<\/li>\nPCI-E Lane Configuration<\/strong>: Due to the B550 chipset\u2019s limited number of lanes, there are certain compromises manufacturers have had to make. If a somewhat equivalent (feature-wise) X570 motherboard exists at a similar price, I don\u2019t see a point in opting for the B550 instead.<\/li>\nRear I\/O<\/strong>: A $200 motherboard\u2019s back panel shouldn\u2019t look scant. Although you might not need too many USB ports, dual LAN, Wi-Fi, etc. right now, you might need them in the future. If a motherboard option does exist that doesn\u2019t compromise on this, no reason not to give it preference.<\/li>\nMemory Overclocking<\/strong>: Ryzen\u2019s Infinity Fabric benefits from faster memory (up to 3733). So, motherboards that have an extensive QVL for the most commonly-available speeds would be safer choices for memory kits in most regions.<\/li>\nX570 Motherboards: <\/strong>Since so many of the B550 motherboards find themselves going toe-to-toe with X570 motherboards when it comes to price, it makes sense to factor them in at those price ranges too. Yes, the chipset fan does bother some people. But unless you\u2019re maxing out the chipset lanes completely, the fans barely even spin up.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nDue to the differences in lane distribution and sharing, this time around, I\u2019ll be adding a sub-section about the PCI-E slots and M.2 slot for every B550 motherboard below.<\/p>\n<\/span>Best Budget B550 Motherboards Under $150<\/span><\/h2>\nThe budget lineup of B550 motherboards does offer a substantial upgrade over their B450 counterparts. However, it does come with a price bump as well. If you\u2019re shopping in this price region, I\u2019d recommend going for the M-ATX motherboard instead of the ATX option because they frankly offer quite incredible value.<\/p>\nNote \u2013 <\/em>If you\u2019re looking for sub-$100 B550 motherboards to run lower-core-count Ryzen CPUs, I\u2019d recommend the Gigabyte B550M DS3H ($94<\/em><\/strong>). Any good B450 motherboard will do too if you\u2019re not worried about future compatibility. However, I wouldn\u2019t recommend going this route for professional work that will require extended loads on the CPU or GPU or both. <\/em><\/p>\nGigabyte B550M Aorus Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>M-ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nComing in at an MSRP of $129, the B550 M Aorus Pro is hands-down one of the best value motherboards you can buy if you\u2019re okay with an M-ATX form factor. It just doesn\u2019t have a competitor that I could recommend in either the X570 or the B450 product lineup.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nSource - Gigabyte<\/p>\nOne of the few downsides to this motherboard is that it\u2019s understandably a bit cramped because of its form factor. The board layout image below will make this clearer. The power delivery components are reliable, and you shouldn\u2019t have a hard time even powering a Ryzen 9 5950X someday (when you can actually find one to buy?). But for heavy creator workloads, I\u2019d skip this price tier altogether and hop on to the next one.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe second M.2 slot, as well as the second PCI-E slot, sits uncomfortably close to the primary PCI-E slot of the motherboard. That said, this won\u2019t affect those who aren\u2019t running a very powerful GPU at load for extended durations. Since typical axial\/open-air GPU coolers will exhaust heat from the top and bottom of the card, an M.2 device directly under the graphics card (especially one without a heatsink) doesn\u2019t bode well for long-term performance.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Open Air-Cooled GPUs Air \/ Heat Movement<\/p><\/div>\nHowever, at this price point and with the features this motherboard offers, it\u2019s really something you can discount if you aren\u2019t looking to do professional, compute, and graphics-heavy work.<\/p>\nThe motherboard also just has 4 SATA ports, so if you need more extensibility than what this M-ATX board can offer, go for another option down the list.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe rear I\/O on the B550M Aorus Pro is pretty decent, and I really have no complaints. There are plenty of USB ports; it also comes with a USB Type-C slot to connect newer, faster devices.<\/p>\nHigh-speed networking (above 1Gbe) isn\u2019t available at this price tier, and if you want faster wired connectivity, I\u2019d recommend shopping at a higher price tier. But if you\u2019re specifically hunting for an M-ATX motherboard to use in a compact build<\/a>, I\u2019d definitely opt for this one.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 4<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots<\/strong>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nPCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMSI B550-A Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nIf you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nAlthough this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\nThe VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
After numerous delays, motherboards with the B550 chipset for AMD processors have finally started popping up on the market. Were they worth the wait?<\/p>\n
Yes, for some, no for others. They do shake up a considerable portion of the motherboard segment, but many of them are priced way too close to pretty excellent X570 motherboard options to make them worth it.<\/p>\n
So, this time, instead of listing just the B550 motherboard recommendations, I\u2019ll add recommended X570 alternatives (if there are any) as well so you can check them both out.<\/p>\n
When AMD first announced Ryzen, most motherboard partners seemed skeptical as they\u2019d likely heard those tall marketing claims before. This sentiment certainly showed in the motherboards they launched too \u2013 they lacked high-end features and components that you could find on Intel motherboards.<\/p>\n
Well, let\u2019s face it, at the mid to higher-end of the market at the time, Intel was what people bought.<\/p>\n
With the launch of B550, you can see motherboard partners start to recognize AMD as a serious option for the mid and high-end market.<\/p>\n
The B550 motherboards offer excellent VRMs, up to 8-layer PCBs, thicker copper traces, dual LAN, Wi-Fi 6, and so much more on a mainstream platform now. It really shows how far AMD has come when it comes to this particular market segment.<\/p>\n
Here are a couple of the most premium B350 motherboards that launched with Ryzen 1st<\/sup> Generation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/noscript><\/td>\n<\/noscript><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nGigabyte AB350 Gaming 3<\/strong> and MSI B350 Gaming Pro Carbon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nAnd now, here are top and mid-tier B550 motherboards launched this time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/noscript><\/td>\n<\/noscript><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nGigabyte B550 Aorus Master<\/strong> and MSI B550 Gaming Pro Carbon.<\/strong><\/p>\nOf course, these newer boards do cost more. But the fact that motherboard partners are willing to invest some serious dime to create a more premium mainstream platform bodes well for AMD.<\/p>\n<\/span>B450 vs. B550: Worth the Upgrade?<\/span><\/h2>\nThe quality of B550 motherboards might be a good sign for AMD processors, but that doesn\u2019t mean you should immediately go out and buy one. Considering the prices, features, and many other things to decide whether to buy or not to buy was a bit more complicated than expected.<\/p>\nMany anticipated the B550 motherboards to replace the B450 lineup of motherboards. However, the launch has shaped up more like a replacement for both higher-end B450 boards as well as lower-end X570 motherboards.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re already on a B450 or an X570 motherboard and don\u2019t need access to the features on offer here (on B550), I would just skip this launch altogether.<\/p>\nBut if you\u2019re on an A320 motherboard or are building a new system from scratch, the B550 lineup does offer something to many buyers in a certain price bracket.<\/p>\n<\/span>B550 vs. X570: How Much of a Downgrade?<\/span><\/h2>\nHere\u2019s where the problems begin. Even though the X570 chipset is superior to both the B550 and B450, many low-end X570 motherboards are stripped down to the basics (understandably).<\/p>\nBefore we discuss the topic, let's take a look at the technical differences between these chipsets:\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\tChipset<\/strong><\/th>B450<\/th>B550<\/strong><\/th>X570<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n\tOfficial Processor Support <\/strong>(subject to change)<\/td>Zen 2 (Ryzen 3000)<\/td>Zen 3 (Ryzen 4000)<\/td>Zen 3 (Ryzen 4000)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tCPU - Chipset Uplink lanes<\/strong><\/td>PCI-E 3.0 (x4)<\/td>PCI-E 3.0 (x4)<\/td>PCI-E 4.0 (x4)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tUsable PCI-E 4.0 Lanes <\/strong><\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tUsable PCI-E 3.0 Lanes<\/strong><\/td>0<\/td>10<\/td>0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tUsable PCI-E 2.0 Lanes<\/strong><\/td>6<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tUSB 3.2<\/strong> (Gen 2\/Gen 1)<\/td>2\/2<\/td>2\/2<\/td>8\/0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tSATA<\/strong> (6Gbps)<\/td>2<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\nSo, now it comes down to picking what\u2019s more relevant to you, Here's the quick and dirty advice - If your workload even remotely involves the use of high-speed storage (PCI-E 4.0 SSDs\/multiple NVMe SSDs) and\/or multiple GPUs,<\/strong> skip B550 and look at mid-range X570 options<\/strong>.\nHere, by use, I mean that you\u2019re actively transferring large raw files across drives from time to time or using multi-GPU setups for rendering.<\/p>\nEven though gamers won\u2019t notice any difference in their experience if they give up on a few X570 chipset features in return for a few premium motherboard features, some top-tier B550 motherboards still don\u2019t make much sense from a pure value perspective.<\/p>\nFor example, at $280, you can buy the B550 Aorus Master from Gigabyte. A motherboard with the build quality and VRM components taken directly from one of the best X570 motherboards they offer (X570 Aorus Extreme, priced at $700).<\/p>\nNeat, but it\u2019s overkill, no doubt about it. If you spend just an additional $20, you can get yourself the MSI X570 Unify \u2013 one of the best motherboards in the X570 product stack for professionals and heavy use.<\/p>\nThe price range between $130-250~ is really where B550 boards shine and offer the most value.<\/p>\nThose looking for ultra-budget options within the B550 product stack are going to be disappointed, honestly. The motherboards at the very bottom end of the stack are pricier (than their B450 counterparts) and probably aren't worth the premium. However, for those looking to grab a Ryzen 5000 CPU, I'd say - spend that additional $10-15 to get a budget B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nI\u2019m going to assume that B450 motherboards are no longer available at reasonable prices for the purpose of this article. Also, our B450 recommendations<\/strong> from previous articles do still stand if you want to pair them with an older budget Ryzen CPU and can snag B450 motherboards for sub-$90 prices.<\/p>\n<\/span>Factors Considered for Picking the Best B550 Motherboards<\/span><\/h2>\n\nVRM Thermals and Power Delivery<\/strong>: Although even the Ryzen 9 5950x doesn\u2019t pull a lot of power, getting the best you can for your money still makes sense. Most B550 motherboards will be able to handle future upgrades without requiring a motherboard upgrade, no problem.<\/li>\nPCI-E Lane Configuration<\/strong>: Due to the B550 chipset\u2019s limited number of lanes, there are certain compromises manufacturers have had to make. If a somewhat equivalent (feature-wise) X570 motherboard exists at a similar price, I don\u2019t see a point in opting for the B550 instead.<\/li>\nRear I\/O<\/strong>: A $200 motherboard\u2019s back panel shouldn\u2019t look scant. Although you might not need too many USB ports, dual LAN, Wi-Fi, etc. right now, you might need them in the future. If a motherboard option does exist that doesn\u2019t compromise on this, no reason not to give it preference.<\/li>\nMemory Overclocking<\/strong>: Ryzen\u2019s Infinity Fabric benefits from faster memory (up to 3733). So, motherboards that have an extensive QVL for the most commonly-available speeds would be safer choices for memory kits in most regions.<\/li>\nX570 Motherboards: <\/strong>Since so many of the B550 motherboards find themselves going toe-to-toe with X570 motherboards when it comes to price, it makes sense to factor them in at those price ranges too. Yes, the chipset fan does bother some people. But unless you\u2019re maxing out the chipset lanes completely, the fans barely even spin up.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nDue to the differences in lane distribution and sharing, this time around, I\u2019ll be adding a sub-section about the PCI-E slots and M.2 slot for every B550 motherboard below.<\/p>\n<\/span>Best Budget B550 Motherboards Under $150<\/span><\/h2>\nThe budget lineup of B550 motherboards does offer a substantial upgrade over their B450 counterparts. However, it does come with a price bump as well. If you\u2019re shopping in this price region, I\u2019d recommend going for the M-ATX motherboard instead of the ATX option because they frankly offer quite incredible value.<\/p>\nNote \u2013 <\/em>If you\u2019re looking for sub-$100 B550 motherboards to run lower-core-count Ryzen CPUs, I\u2019d recommend the Gigabyte B550M DS3H ($94<\/em><\/strong>). Any good B450 motherboard will do too if you\u2019re not worried about future compatibility. However, I wouldn\u2019t recommend going this route for professional work that will require extended loads on the CPU or GPU or both. <\/em><\/p>\nGigabyte B550M Aorus Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>M-ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nComing in at an MSRP of $129, the B550 M Aorus Pro is hands-down one of the best value motherboards you can buy if you\u2019re okay with an M-ATX form factor. It just doesn\u2019t have a competitor that I could recommend in either the X570 or the B450 product lineup.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nSource - Gigabyte<\/p>\nOne of the few downsides to this motherboard is that it\u2019s understandably a bit cramped because of its form factor. The board layout image below will make this clearer. The power delivery components are reliable, and you shouldn\u2019t have a hard time even powering a Ryzen 9 5950X someday (when you can actually find one to buy?). But for heavy creator workloads, I\u2019d skip this price tier altogether and hop on to the next one.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe second M.2 slot, as well as the second PCI-E slot, sits uncomfortably close to the primary PCI-E slot of the motherboard. That said, this won\u2019t affect those who aren\u2019t running a very powerful GPU at load for extended durations. Since typical axial\/open-air GPU coolers will exhaust heat from the top and bottom of the card, an M.2 device directly under the graphics card (especially one without a heatsink) doesn\u2019t bode well for long-term performance.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Open Air-Cooled GPUs Air \/ Heat Movement<\/p><\/div>\nHowever, at this price point and with the features this motherboard offers, it\u2019s really something you can discount if you aren\u2019t looking to do professional, compute, and graphics-heavy work.<\/p>\nThe motherboard also just has 4 SATA ports, so if you need more extensibility than what this M-ATX board can offer, go for another option down the list.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe rear I\/O on the B550M Aorus Pro is pretty decent, and I really have no complaints. There are plenty of USB ports; it also comes with a USB Type-C slot to connect newer, faster devices.<\/p>\nHigh-speed networking (above 1Gbe) isn\u2019t available at this price tier, and if you want faster wired connectivity, I\u2019d recommend shopping at a higher price tier. But if you\u2019re specifically hunting for an M-ATX motherboard to use in a compact build<\/a>, I\u2019d definitely opt for this one.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 4<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots<\/strong>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nPCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMSI B550-A Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nIf you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nAlthough this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\nThe VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
Gigabyte AB350 Gaming 3<\/strong> and MSI B350 Gaming Pro Carbon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nAnd now, here are top and mid-tier B550 motherboards launched this time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/noscript><\/td>\n<\/noscript><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nGigabyte B550 Aorus Master<\/strong> and MSI B550 Gaming Pro Carbon.<\/strong><\/p>\nOf course, these newer boards do cost more. But the fact that motherboard partners are willing to invest some serious dime to create a more premium mainstream platform bodes well for AMD.<\/p>\n<\/span>B450 vs. B550: Worth the Upgrade?<\/span><\/h2>\nThe quality of B550 motherboards might be a good sign for AMD processors, but that doesn\u2019t mean you should immediately go out and buy one. Considering the prices, features, and many other things to decide whether to buy or not to buy was a bit more complicated than expected.<\/p>\nMany anticipated the B550 motherboards to replace the B450 lineup of motherboards. However, the launch has shaped up more like a replacement for both higher-end B450 boards as well as lower-end X570 motherboards.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re already on a B450 or an X570 motherboard and don\u2019t need access to the features on offer here (on B550), I would just skip this launch altogether.<\/p>\nBut if you\u2019re on an A320 motherboard or are building a new system from scratch, the B550 lineup does offer something to many buyers in a certain price bracket.<\/p>\n<\/span>B550 vs. X570: How Much of a Downgrade?<\/span><\/h2>\nHere\u2019s where the problems begin. Even though the X570 chipset is superior to both the B550 and B450, many low-end X570 motherboards are stripped down to the basics (understandably).<\/p>\nBefore we discuss the topic, let's take a look at the technical differences between these chipsets:\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\tChipset<\/strong><\/th>B450<\/th>B550<\/strong><\/th>X570<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n\tOfficial Processor Support <\/strong>(subject to change)<\/td>Zen 2 (Ryzen 3000)<\/td>Zen 3 (Ryzen 4000)<\/td>Zen 3 (Ryzen 4000)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tCPU - Chipset Uplink lanes<\/strong><\/td>PCI-E 3.0 (x4)<\/td>PCI-E 3.0 (x4)<\/td>PCI-E 4.0 (x4)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tUsable PCI-E 4.0 Lanes <\/strong><\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tUsable PCI-E 3.0 Lanes<\/strong><\/td>0<\/td>10<\/td>0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tUsable PCI-E 2.0 Lanes<\/strong><\/td>6<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tUSB 3.2<\/strong> (Gen 2\/Gen 1)<\/td>2\/2<\/td>2\/2<\/td>8\/0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tSATA<\/strong> (6Gbps)<\/td>2<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\nSo, now it comes down to picking what\u2019s more relevant to you, Here's the quick and dirty advice - If your workload even remotely involves the use of high-speed storage (PCI-E 4.0 SSDs\/multiple NVMe SSDs) and\/or multiple GPUs,<\/strong> skip B550 and look at mid-range X570 options<\/strong>.\nHere, by use, I mean that you\u2019re actively transferring large raw files across drives from time to time or using multi-GPU setups for rendering.<\/p>\nEven though gamers won\u2019t notice any difference in their experience if they give up on a few X570 chipset features in return for a few premium motherboard features, some top-tier B550 motherboards still don\u2019t make much sense from a pure value perspective.<\/p>\nFor example, at $280, you can buy the B550 Aorus Master from Gigabyte. A motherboard with the build quality and VRM components taken directly from one of the best X570 motherboards they offer (X570 Aorus Extreme, priced at $700).<\/p>\nNeat, but it\u2019s overkill, no doubt about it. If you spend just an additional $20, you can get yourself the MSI X570 Unify \u2013 one of the best motherboards in the X570 product stack for professionals and heavy use.<\/p>\nThe price range between $130-250~ is really where B550 boards shine and offer the most value.<\/p>\nThose looking for ultra-budget options within the B550 product stack are going to be disappointed, honestly. The motherboards at the very bottom end of the stack are pricier (than their B450 counterparts) and probably aren't worth the premium. However, for those looking to grab a Ryzen 5000 CPU, I'd say - spend that additional $10-15 to get a budget B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nI\u2019m going to assume that B450 motherboards are no longer available at reasonable prices for the purpose of this article. Also, our B450 recommendations<\/strong> from previous articles do still stand if you want to pair them with an older budget Ryzen CPU and can snag B450 motherboards for sub-$90 prices.<\/p>\n<\/span>Factors Considered for Picking the Best B550 Motherboards<\/span><\/h2>\n\nVRM Thermals and Power Delivery<\/strong>: Although even the Ryzen 9 5950x doesn\u2019t pull a lot of power, getting the best you can for your money still makes sense. Most B550 motherboards will be able to handle future upgrades without requiring a motherboard upgrade, no problem.<\/li>\nPCI-E Lane Configuration<\/strong>: Due to the B550 chipset\u2019s limited number of lanes, there are certain compromises manufacturers have had to make. If a somewhat equivalent (feature-wise) X570 motherboard exists at a similar price, I don\u2019t see a point in opting for the B550 instead.<\/li>\nRear I\/O<\/strong>: A $200 motherboard\u2019s back panel shouldn\u2019t look scant. Although you might not need too many USB ports, dual LAN, Wi-Fi, etc. right now, you might need them in the future. If a motherboard option does exist that doesn\u2019t compromise on this, no reason not to give it preference.<\/li>\nMemory Overclocking<\/strong>: Ryzen\u2019s Infinity Fabric benefits from faster memory (up to 3733). So, motherboards that have an extensive QVL for the most commonly-available speeds would be safer choices for memory kits in most regions.<\/li>\nX570 Motherboards: <\/strong>Since so many of the B550 motherboards find themselves going toe-to-toe with X570 motherboards when it comes to price, it makes sense to factor them in at those price ranges too. Yes, the chipset fan does bother some people. But unless you\u2019re maxing out the chipset lanes completely, the fans barely even spin up.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nDue to the differences in lane distribution and sharing, this time around, I\u2019ll be adding a sub-section about the PCI-E slots and M.2 slot for every B550 motherboard below.<\/p>\n<\/span>Best Budget B550 Motherboards Under $150<\/span><\/h2>\nThe budget lineup of B550 motherboards does offer a substantial upgrade over their B450 counterparts. However, it does come with a price bump as well. If you\u2019re shopping in this price region, I\u2019d recommend going for the M-ATX motherboard instead of the ATX option because they frankly offer quite incredible value.<\/p>\nNote \u2013 <\/em>If you\u2019re looking for sub-$100 B550 motherboards to run lower-core-count Ryzen CPUs, I\u2019d recommend the Gigabyte B550M DS3H ($94<\/em><\/strong>). Any good B450 motherboard will do too if you\u2019re not worried about future compatibility. However, I wouldn\u2019t recommend going this route for professional work that will require extended loads on the CPU or GPU or both. <\/em><\/p>\nGigabyte B550M Aorus Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>M-ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nComing in at an MSRP of $129, the B550 M Aorus Pro is hands-down one of the best value motherboards you can buy if you\u2019re okay with an M-ATX form factor. It just doesn\u2019t have a competitor that I could recommend in either the X570 or the B450 product lineup.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nSource - Gigabyte<\/p>\nOne of the few downsides to this motherboard is that it\u2019s understandably a bit cramped because of its form factor. The board layout image below will make this clearer. The power delivery components are reliable, and you shouldn\u2019t have a hard time even powering a Ryzen 9 5950X someday (when you can actually find one to buy?). But for heavy creator workloads, I\u2019d skip this price tier altogether and hop on to the next one.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe second M.2 slot, as well as the second PCI-E slot, sits uncomfortably close to the primary PCI-E slot of the motherboard. That said, this won\u2019t affect those who aren\u2019t running a very powerful GPU at load for extended durations. Since typical axial\/open-air GPU coolers will exhaust heat from the top and bottom of the card, an M.2 device directly under the graphics card (especially one without a heatsink) doesn\u2019t bode well for long-term performance.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Open Air-Cooled GPUs Air \/ Heat Movement<\/p><\/div>\nHowever, at this price point and with the features this motherboard offers, it\u2019s really something you can discount if you aren\u2019t looking to do professional, compute, and graphics-heavy work.<\/p>\nThe motherboard also just has 4 SATA ports, so if you need more extensibility than what this M-ATX board can offer, go for another option down the list.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe rear I\/O on the B550M Aorus Pro is pretty decent, and I really have no complaints. There are plenty of USB ports; it also comes with a USB Type-C slot to connect newer, faster devices.<\/p>\nHigh-speed networking (above 1Gbe) isn\u2019t available at this price tier, and if you want faster wired connectivity, I\u2019d recommend shopping at a higher price tier. But if you\u2019re specifically hunting for an M-ATX motherboard to use in a compact build<\/a>, I\u2019d definitely opt for this one.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 4<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots<\/strong>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nPCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMSI B550-A Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nIf you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nAlthough this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\nThe VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
<\/p>\n
And now, here are top and mid-tier B550 motherboards launched this time:<\/p>\n
Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master<\/strong> and MSI B550 Gaming Pro Carbon.<\/strong><\/p>\nOf course, these newer boards do cost more. But the fact that motherboard partners are willing to invest some serious dime to create a more premium mainstream platform bodes well for AMD.<\/p>\n<\/span>B450 vs. B550: Worth the Upgrade?<\/span><\/h2>\nThe quality of B550 motherboards might be a good sign for AMD processors, but that doesn\u2019t mean you should immediately go out and buy one. Considering the prices, features, and many other things to decide whether to buy or not to buy was a bit more complicated than expected.<\/p>\nMany anticipated the B550 motherboards to replace the B450 lineup of motherboards. However, the launch has shaped up more like a replacement for both higher-end B450 boards as well as lower-end X570 motherboards.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re already on a B450 or an X570 motherboard and don\u2019t need access to the features on offer here (on B550), I would just skip this launch altogether.<\/p>\nBut if you\u2019re on an A320 motherboard or are building a new system from scratch, the B550 lineup does offer something to many buyers in a certain price bracket.<\/p>\n<\/span>B550 vs. X570: How Much of a Downgrade?<\/span><\/h2>\nHere\u2019s where the problems begin. Even though the X570 chipset is superior to both the B550 and B450, many low-end X570 motherboards are stripped down to the basics (understandably).<\/p>\nBefore we discuss the topic, let's take a look at the technical differences between these chipsets:\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\tChipset<\/strong><\/th>B450<\/th>B550<\/strong><\/th>X570<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\n\tOfficial Processor Support <\/strong>(subject to change)<\/td>Zen 2 (Ryzen 3000)<\/td>Zen 3 (Ryzen 4000)<\/td>Zen 3 (Ryzen 4000)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tCPU - Chipset Uplink lanes<\/strong><\/td>PCI-E 3.0 (x4)<\/td>PCI-E 3.0 (x4)<\/td>PCI-E 4.0 (x4)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tUsable PCI-E 4.0 Lanes <\/strong><\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tUsable PCI-E 3.0 Lanes<\/strong><\/td>0<\/td>10<\/td>0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tUsable PCI-E 2.0 Lanes<\/strong><\/td>6<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tUSB 3.2<\/strong> (Gen 2\/Gen 1)<\/td>2\/2<\/td>2\/2<\/td>8\/0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\tSATA<\/strong> (6Gbps)<\/td>2<\/td>4<\/td>4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\nSo, now it comes down to picking what\u2019s more relevant to you, Here's the quick and dirty advice - If your workload even remotely involves the use of high-speed storage (PCI-E 4.0 SSDs\/multiple NVMe SSDs) and\/or multiple GPUs,<\/strong> skip B550 and look at mid-range X570 options<\/strong>.\nHere, by use, I mean that you\u2019re actively transferring large raw files across drives from time to time or using multi-GPU setups for rendering.<\/p>\nEven though gamers won\u2019t notice any difference in their experience if they give up on a few X570 chipset features in return for a few premium motherboard features, some top-tier B550 motherboards still don\u2019t make much sense from a pure value perspective.<\/p>\nFor example, at $280, you can buy the B550 Aorus Master from Gigabyte. A motherboard with the build quality and VRM components taken directly from one of the best X570 motherboards they offer (X570 Aorus Extreme, priced at $700).<\/p>\nNeat, but it\u2019s overkill, no doubt about it. If you spend just an additional $20, you can get yourself the MSI X570 Unify \u2013 one of the best motherboards in the X570 product stack for professionals and heavy use.<\/p>\nThe price range between $130-250~ is really where B550 boards shine and offer the most value.<\/p>\nThose looking for ultra-budget options within the B550 product stack are going to be disappointed, honestly. The motherboards at the very bottom end of the stack are pricier (than their B450 counterparts) and probably aren't worth the premium. However, for those looking to grab a Ryzen 5000 CPU, I'd say - spend that additional $10-15 to get a budget B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nI\u2019m going to assume that B450 motherboards are no longer available at reasonable prices for the purpose of this article. Also, our B450 recommendations<\/strong> from previous articles do still stand if you want to pair them with an older budget Ryzen CPU and can snag B450 motherboards for sub-$90 prices.<\/p>\n<\/span>Factors Considered for Picking the Best B550 Motherboards<\/span><\/h2>\n\nVRM Thermals and Power Delivery<\/strong>: Although even the Ryzen 9 5950x doesn\u2019t pull a lot of power, getting the best you can for your money still makes sense. Most B550 motherboards will be able to handle future upgrades without requiring a motherboard upgrade, no problem.<\/li>\nPCI-E Lane Configuration<\/strong>: Due to the B550 chipset\u2019s limited number of lanes, there are certain compromises manufacturers have had to make. If a somewhat equivalent (feature-wise) X570 motherboard exists at a similar price, I don\u2019t see a point in opting for the B550 instead.<\/li>\nRear I\/O<\/strong>: A $200 motherboard\u2019s back panel shouldn\u2019t look scant. Although you might not need too many USB ports, dual LAN, Wi-Fi, etc. right now, you might need them in the future. If a motherboard option does exist that doesn\u2019t compromise on this, no reason not to give it preference.<\/li>\nMemory Overclocking<\/strong>: Ryzen\u2019s Infinity Fabric benefits from faster memory (up to 3733). So, motherboards that have an extensive QVL for the most commonly-available speeds would be safer choices for memory kits in most regions.<\/li>\nX570 Motherboards: <\/strong>Since so many of the B550 motherboards find themselves going toe-to-toe with X570 motherboards when it comes to price, it makes sense to factor them in at those price ranges too. Yes, the chipset fan does bother some people. But unless you\u2019re maxing out the chipset lanes completely, the fans barely even spin up.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nDue to the differences in lane distribution and sharing, this time around, I\u2019ll be adding a sub-section about the PCI-E slots and M.2 slot for every B550 motherboard below.<\/p>\n<\/span>Best Budget B550 Motherboards Under $150<\/span><\/h2>\nThe budget lineup of B550 motherboards does offer a substantial upgrade over their B450 counterparts. However, it does come with a price bump as well. If you\u2019re shopping in this price region, I\u2019d recommend going for the M-ATX motherboard instead of the ATX option because they frankly offer quite incredible value.<\/p>\nNote \u2013 <\/em>If you\u2019re looking for sub-$100 B550 motherboards to run lower-core-count Ryzen CPUs, I\u2019d recommend the Gigabyte B550M DS3H ($94<\/em><\/strong>). Any good B450 motherboard will do too if you\u2019re not worried about future compatibility. However, I wouldn\u2019t recommend going this route for professional work that will require extended loads on the CPU or GPU or both. <\/em><\/p>\nGigabyte B550M Aorus Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>M-ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nComing in at an MSRP of $129, the B550 M Aorus Pro is hands-down one of the best value motherboards you can buy if you\u2019re okay with an M-ATX form factor. It just doesn\u2019t have a competitor that I could recommend in either the X570 or the B450 product lineup.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nSource - Gigabyte<\/p>\nOne of the few downsides to this motherboard is that it\u2019s understandably a bit cramped because of its form factor. The board layout image below will make this clearer. The power delivery components are reliable, and you shouldn\u2019t have a hard time even powering a Ryzen 9 5950X someday (when you can actually find one to buy?). But for heavy creator workloads, I\u2019d skip this price tier altogether and hop on to the next one.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe second M.2 slot, as well as the second PCI-E slot, sits uncomfortably close to the primary PCI-E slot of the motherboard. That said, this won\u2019t affect those who aren\u2019t running a very powerful GPU at load for extended durations. Since typical axial\/open-air GPU coolers will exhaust heat from the top and bottom of the card, an M.2 device directly under the graphics card (especially one without a heatsink) doesn\u2019t bode well for long-term performance.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Open Air-Cooled GPUs Air \/ Heat Movement<\/p><\/div>\nHowever, at this price point and with the features this motherboard offers, it\u2019s really something you can discount if you aren\u2019t looking to do professional, compute, and graphics-heavy work.<\/p>\nThe motherboard also just has 4 SATA ports, so if you need more extensibility than what this M-ATX board can offer, go for another option down the list.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe rear I\/O on the B550M Aorus Pro is pretty decent, and I really have no complaints. There are plenty of USB ports; it also comes with a USB Type-C slot to connect newer, faster devices.<\/p>\nHigh-speed networking (above 1Gbe) isn\u2019t available at this price tier, and if you want faster wired connectivity, I\u2019d recommend shopping at a higher price tier. But if you\u2019re specifically hunting for an M-ATX motherboard to use in a compact build<\/a>, I\u2019d definitely opt for this one.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 4<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots<\/strong>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nPCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMSI B550-A Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nIf you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nAlthough this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\nThe VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
Of course, these newer boards do cost more. But the fact that motherboard partners are willing to invest some serious dime to create a more premium mainstream platform bodes well for AMD.<\/p>\n
The quality of B550 motherboards might be a good sign for AMD processors, but that doesn\u2019t mean you should immediately go out and buy one. Considering the prices, features, and many other things to decide whether to buy or not to buy was a bit more complicated than expected.<\/p>\n
Many anticipated the B550 motherboards to replace the B450 lineup of motherboards. However, the launch has shaped up more like a replacement for both higher-end B450 boards as well as lower-end X570 motherboards.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re already on a B450 or an X570 motherboard and don\u2019t need access to the features on offer here (on B550), I would just skip this launch altogether.<\/p>\n
But if you\u2019re on an A320 motherboard or are building a new system from scratch, the B550 lineup does offer something to many buyers in a certain price bracket.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s where the problems begin. Even though the X570 chipset is superior to both the B550 and B450, many low-end X570 motherboards are stripped down to the basics (understandably).<\/p>\n
Before we discuss the topic, let's take a look at the technical differences between these chipsets:\n\n<\/p>
Here, by use, I mean that you\u2019re actively transferring large raw files across drives from time to time or using multi-GPU setups for rendering.<\/p>\n
Even though gamers won\u2019t notice any difference in their experience if they give up on a few X570 chipset features in return for a few premium motherboard features, some top-tier B550 motherboards still don\u2019t make much sense from a pure value perspective.<\/p>\n
For example, at $280, you can buy the B550 Aorus Master from Gigabyte. A motherboard with the build quality and VRM components taken directly from one of the best X570 motherboards they offer (X570 Aorus Extreme, priced at $700).<\/p>\n
Neat, but it\u2019s overkill, no doubt about it. If you spend just an additional $20, you can get yourself the MSI X570 Unify \u2013 one of the best motherboards in the X570 product stack for professionals and heavy use.<\/p>\n
The price range between $130-250~ is really where B550 boards shine and offer the most value.<\/p>\n
Those looking for ultra-budget options within the B550 product stack are going to be disappointed, honestly. The motherboards at the very bottom end of the stack are pricier (than their B450 counterparts) and probably aren't worth the premium. However, for those looking to grab a Ryzen 5000 CPU, I'd say - spend that additional $10-15 to get a budget B550 motherboard.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m going to assume that B450 motherboards are no longer available at reasonable prices for the purpose of this article. Also, our B450 recommendations<\/strong> from previous articles do still stand if you want to pair them with an older budget Ryzen CPU and can snag B450 motherboards for sub-$90 prices.<\/p>\n<\/span>Factors Considered for Picking the Best B550 Motherboards<\/span><\/h2>\n\nVRM Thermals and Power Delivery<\/strong>: Although even the Ryzen 9 5950x doesn\u2019t pull a lot of power, getting the best you can for your money still makes sense. Most B550 motherboards will be able to handle future upgrades without requiring a motherboard upgrade, no problem.<\/li>\nPCI-E Lane Configuration<\/strong>: Due to the B550 chipset\u2019s limited number of lanes, there are certain compromises manufacturers have had to make. If a somewhat equivalent (feature-wise) X570 motherboard exists at a similar price, I don\u2019t see a point in opting for the B550 instead.<\/li>\nRear I\/O<\/strong>: A $200 motherboard\u2019s back panel shouldn\u2019t look scant. Although you might not need too many USB ports, dual LAN, Wi-Fi, etc. right now, you might need them in the future. If a motherboard option does exist that doesn\u2019t compromise on this, no reason not to give it preference.<\/li>\nMemory Overclocking<\/strong>: Ryzen\u2019s Infinity Fabric benefits from faster memory (up to 3733). So, motherboards that have an extensive QVL for the most commonly-available speeds would be safer choices for memory kits in most regions.<\/li>\nX570 Motherboards: <\/strong>Since so many of the B550 motherboards find themselves going toe-to-toe with X570 motherboards when it comes to price, it makes sense to factor them in at those price ranges too. Yes, the chipset fan does bother some people. But unless you\u2019re maxing out the chipset lanes completely, the fans barely even spin up.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nDue to the differences in lane distribution and sharing, this time around, I\u2019ll be adding a sub-section about the PCI-E slots and M.2 slot for every B550 motherboard below.<\/p>\n<\/span>Best Budget B550 Motherboards Under $150<\/span><\/h2>\nThe budget lineup of B550 motherboards does offer a substantial upgrade over their B450 counterparts. However, it does come with a price bump as well. If you\u2019re shopping in this price region, I\u2019d recommend going for the M-ATX motherboard instead of the ATX option because they frankly offer quite incredible value.<\/p>\nNote \u2013 <\/em>If you\u2019re looking for sub-$100 B550 motherboards to run lower-core-count Ryzen CPUs, I\u2019d recommend the Gigabyte B550M DS3H ($94<\/em><\/strong>). Any good B450 motherboard will do too if you\u2019re not worried about future compatibility. However, I wouldn\u2019t recommend going this route for professional work that will require extended loads on the CPU or GPU or both. <\/em><\/p>\nGigabyte B550M Aorus Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>M-ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nComing in at an MSRP of $129, the B550 M Aorus Pro is hands-down one of the best value motherboards you can buy if you\u2019re okay with an M-ATX form factor. It just doesn\u2019t have a competitor that I could recommend in either the X570 or the B450 product lineup.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nSource - Gigabyte<\/p>\nOne of the few downsides to this motherboard is that it\u2019s understandably a bit cramped because of its form factor. The board layout image below will make this clearer. The power delivery components are reliable, and you shouldn\u2019t have a hard time even powering a Ryzen 9 5950X someday (when you can actually find one to buy?). But for heavy creator workloads, I\u2019d skip this price tier altogether and hop on to the next one.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe second M.2 slot, as well as the second PCI-E slot, sits uncomfortably close to the primary PCI-E slot of the motherboard. That said, this won\u2019t affect those who aren\u2019t running a very powerful GPU at load for extended durations. Since typical axial\/open-air GPU coolers will exhaust heat from the top and bottom of the card, an M.2 device directly under the graphics card (especially one without a heatsink) doesn\u2019t bode well for long-term performance.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Open Air-Cooled GPUs Air \/ Heat Movement<\/p><\/div>\nHowever, at this price point and with the features this motherboard offers, it\u2019s really something you can discount if you aren\u2019t looking to do professional, compute, and graphics-heavy work.<\/p>\nThe motherboard also just has 4 SATA ports, so if you need more extensibility than what this M-ATX board can offer, go for another option down the list.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe rear I\/O on the B550M Aorus Pro is pretty decent, and I really have no complaints. There are plenty of USB ports; it also comes with a USB Type-C slot to connect newer, faster devices.<\/p>\nHigh-speed networking (above 1Gbe) isn\u2019t available at this price tier, and if you want faster wired connectivity, I\u2019d recommend shopping at a higher price tier. But if you\u2019re specifically hunting for an M-ATX motherboard to use in a compact build<\/a>, I\u2019d definitely opt for this one.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 4<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots<\/strong>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nPCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMSI B550-A Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nIf you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nAlthough this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\nThe VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
Due to the differences in lane distribution and sharing, this time around, I\u2019ll be adding a sub-section about the PCI-E slots and M.2 slot for every B550 motherboard below.<\/p>\n
The budget lineup of B550 motherboards does offer a substantial upgrade over their B450 counterparts. However, it does come with a price bump as well. If you\u2019re shopping in this price region, I\u2019d recommend going for the M-ATX motherboard instead of the ATX option because they frankly offer quite incredible value.<\/p>\n
Note \u2013 <\/em>If you\u2019re looking for sub-$100 B550 motherboards to run lower-core-count Ryzen CPUs, I\u2019d recommend the Gigabyte B550M DS3H ($94<\/em><\/strong>). Any good B450 motherboard will do too if you\u2019re not worried about future compatibility. However, I wouldn\u2019t recommend going this route for professional work that will require extended loads on the CPU or GPU or both. <\/em><\/p>\nGigabyte B550M Aorus Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>M-ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nComing in at an MSRP of $129, the B550 M Aorus Pro is hands-down one of the best value motherboards you can buy if you\u2019re okay with an M-ATX form factor. It just doesn\u2019t have a competitor that I could recommend in either the X570 or the B450 product lineup.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nSource - Gigabyte<\/p>\nOne of the few downsides to this motherboard is that it\u2019s understandably a bit cramped because of its form factor. The board layout image below will make this clearer. The power delivery components are reliable, and you shouldn\u2019t have a hard time even powering a Ryzen 9 5950X someday (when you can actually find one to buy?). But for heavy creator workloads, I\u2019d skip this price tier altogether and hop on to the next one.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe second M.2 slot, as well as the second PCI-E slot, sits uncomfortably close to the primary PCI-E slot of the motherboard. That said, this won\u2019t affect those who aren\u2019t running a very powerful GPU at load for extended durations. Since typical axial\/open-air GPU coolers will exhaust heat from the top and bottom of the card, an M.2 device directly under the graphics card (especially one without a heatsink) doesn\u2019t bode well for long-term performance.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Open Air-Cooled GPUs Air \/ Heat Movement<\/p><\/div>\nHowever, at this price point and with the features this motherboard offers, it\u2019s really something you can discount if you aren\u2019t looking to do professional, compute, and graphics-heavy work.<\/p>\nThe motherboard also just has 4 SATA ports, so if you need more extensibility than what this M-ATX board can offer, go for another option down the list.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe rear I\/O on the B550M Aorus Pro is pretty decent, and I really have no complaints. There are plenty of USB ports; it also comes with a USB Type-C slot to connect newer, faster devices.<\/p>\nHigh-speed networking (above 1Gbe) isn\u2019t available at this price tier, and if you want faster wired connectivity, I\u2019d recommend shopping at a higher price tier. But if you\u2019re specifically hunting for an M-ATX motherboard to use in a compact build<\/a>, I\u2019d definitely opt for this one.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 4<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots<\/strong>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nPCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMSI B550-A Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nIf you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nAlthough this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\nThe VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
PCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>M-ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nComing in at an MSRP of $129, the B550 M Aorus Pro is hands-down one of the best value motherboards you can buy if you\u2019re okay with an M-ATX form factor. It just doesn\u2019t have a competitor that I could recommend in either the X570 or the B450 product lineup.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nSource - Gigabyte<\/p>\nOne of the few downsides to this motherboard is that it\u2019s understandably a bit cramped because of its form factor. The board layout image below will make this clearer. The power delivery components are reliable, and you shouldn\u2019t have a hard time even powering a Ryzen 9 5950X someday (when you can actually find one to buy?). But for heavy creator workloads, I\u2019d skip this price tier altogether and hop on to the next one.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe second M.2 slot, as well as the second PCI-E slot, sits uncomfortably close to the primary PCI-E slot of the motherboard. That said, this won\u2019t affect those who aren\u2019t running a very powerful GPU at load for extended durations. Since typical axial\/open-air GPU coolers will exhaust heat from the top and bottom of the card, an M.2 device directly under the graphics card (especially one without a heatsink) doesn\u2019t bode well for long-term performance.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Open Air-Cooled GPUs Air \/ Heat Movement<\/p><\/div>\nHowever, at this price point and with the features this motherboard offers, it\u2019s really something you can discount if you aren\u2019t looking to do professional, compute, and graphics-heavy work.<\/p>\nThe motherboard also just has 4 SATA ports, so if you need more extensibility than what this M-ATX board can offer, go for another option down the list.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe rear I\/O on the B550M Aorus Pro is pretty decent, and I really have no complaints. There are plenty of USB ports; it also comes with a USB Type-C slot to connect newer, faster devices.<\/p>\nHigh-speed networking (above 1Gbe) isn\u2019t available at this price tier, and if you want faster wired connectivity, I\u2019d recommend shopping at a higher price tier. But if you\u2019re specifically hunting for an M-ATX motherboard to use in a compact build<\/a>, I\u2019d definitely opt for this one.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 4<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots<\/strong>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nPCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMSI B550-A Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nIf you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nAlthough this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\nThe VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
Form Factor \u2013 <\/strong>M-ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nComing in at an MSRP of $129, the B550 M Aorus Pro is hands-down one of the best value motherboards you can buy if you\u2019re okay with an M-ATX form factor. It just doesn\u2019t have a competitor that I could recommend in either the X570 or the B450 product lineup.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nSource - Gigabyte<\/p>\nOne of the few downsides to this motherboard is that it\u2019s understandably a bit cramped because of its form factor. The board layout image below will make this clearer. The power delivery components are reliable, and you shouldn\u2019t have a hard time even powering a Ryzen 9 5950X someday (when you can actually find one to buy?). But for heavy creator workloads, I\u2019d skip this price tier altogether and hop on to the next one.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe second M.2 slot, as well as the second PCI-E slot, sits uncomfortably close to the primary PCI-E slot of the motherboard. That said, this won\u2019t affect those who aren\u2019t running a very powerful GPU at load for extended durations. Since typical axial\/open-air GPU coolers will exhaust heat from the top and bottom of the card, an M.2 device directly under the graphics card (especially one without a heatsink) doesn\u2019t bode well for long-term performance.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Open Air-Cooled GPUs Air \/ Heat Movement<\/p><\/div>\nHowever, at this price point and with the features this motherboard offers, it\u2019s really something you can discount if you aren\u2019t looking to do professional, compute, and graphics-heavy work.<\/p>\nThe motherboard also just has 4 SATA ports, so if you need more extensibility than what this M-ATX board can offer, go for another option down the list.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe rear I\/O on the B550M Aorus Pro is pretty decent, and I really have no complaints. There are plenty of USB ports; it also comes with a USB Type-C slot to connect newer, faster devices.<\/p>\nHigh-speed networking (above 1Gbe) isn\u2019t available at this price tier, and if you want faster wired connectivity, I\u2019d recommend shopping at a higher price tier. But if you\u2019re specifically hunting for an M-ATX motherboard to use in a compact build<\/a>, I\u2019d definitely opt for this one.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 4<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots<\/strong>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nPCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMSI B550-A Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nIf you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nAlthough this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\nThe VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
Wi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nComing in at an MSRP of $129, the B550 M Aorus Pro is hands-down one of the best value motherboards you can buy if you\u2019re okay with an M-ATX form factor. It just doesn\u2019t have a competitor that I could recommend in either the X570 or the B450 product lineup.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nSource - Gigabyte<\/p>\nOne of the few downsides to this motherboard is that it\u2019s understandably a bit cramped because of its form factor. The board layout image below will make this clearer. The power delivery components are reliable, and you shouldn\u2019t have a hard time even powering a Ryzen 9 5950X someday (when you can actually find one to buy?). But for heavy creator workloads, I\u2019d skip this price tier altogether and hop on to the next one.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe second M.2 slot, as well as the second PCI-E slot, sits uncomfortably close to the primary PCI-E slot of the motherboard. That said, this won\u2019t affect those who aren\u2019t running a very powerful GPU at load for extended durations. Since typical axial\/open-air GPU coolers will exhaust heat from the top and bottom of the card, an M.2 device directly under the graphics card (especially one without a heatsink) doesn\u2019t bode well for long-term performance.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Open Air-Cooled GPUs Air \/ Heat Movement<\/p><\/div>\nHowever, at this price point and with the features this motherboard offers, it\u2019s really something you can discount if you aren\u2019t looking to do professional, compute, and graphics-heavy work.<\/p>\nThe motherboard also just has 4 SATA ports, so if you need more extensibility than what this M-ATX board can offer, go for another option down the list.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe rear I\/O on the B550M Aorus Pro is pretty decent, and I really have no complaints. There are plenty of USB ports; it also comes with a USB Type-C slot to connect newer, faster devices.<\/p>\nHigh-speed networking (above 1Gbe) isn\u2019t available at this price tier, and if you want faster wired connectivity, I\u2019d recommend shopping at a higher price tier. But if you\u2019re specifically hunting for an M-ATX motherboard to use in a compact build<\/a>, I\u2019d definitely opt for this one.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 4<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots<\/strong>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nPCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMSI B550-A Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nIf you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nAlthough this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\nThe VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
BIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nComing in at an MSRP of $129, the B550 M Aorus Pro is hands-down one of the best value motherboards you can buy if you\u2019re okay with an M-ATX form factor. It just doesn\u2019t have a competitor that I could recommend in either the X570 or the B450 product lineup.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nSource - Gigabyte<\/p>\nOne of the few downsides to this motherboard is that it\u2019s understandably a bit cramped because of its form factor. The board layout image below will make this clearer. The power delivery components are reliable, and you shouldn\u2019t have a hard time even powering a Ryzen 9 5950X someday (when you can actually find one to buy?). But for heavy creator workloads, I\u2019d skip this price tier altogether and hop on to the next one.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe second M.2 slot, as well as the second PCI-E slot, sits uncomfortably close to the primary PCI-E slot of the motherboard. That said, this won\u2019t affect those who aren\u2019t running a very powerful GPU at load for extended durations. Since typical axial\/open-air GPU coolers will exhaust heat from the top and bottom of the card, an M.2 device directly under the graphics card (especially one without a heatsink) doesn\u2019t bode well for long-term performance.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Open Air-Cooled GPUs Air \/ Heat Movement<\/p><\/div>\nHowever, at this price point and with the features this motherboard offers, it\u2019s really something you can discount if you aren\u2019t looking to do professional, compute, and graphics-heavy work.<\/p>\nThe motherboard also just has 4 SATA ports, so if you need more extensibility than what this M-ATX board can offer, go for another option down the list.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\nThe rear I\/O on the B550M Aorus Pro is pretty decent, and I really have no complaints. There are plenty of USB ports; it also comes with a USB Type-C slot to connect newer, faster devices.<\/p>\nHigh-speed networking (above 1Gbe) isn\u2019t available at this price tier, and if you want faster wired connectivity, I\u2019d recommend shopping at a higher price tier. But if you\u2019re specifically hunting for an M-ATX motherboard to use in a compact build<\/a>, I\u2019d definitely opt for this one.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 4<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots<\/strong>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nPCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMSI B550-A Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nIf you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nAlthough this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\nThe VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
Coming in at an MSRP of $129, the B550 M Aorus Pro is hands-down one of the best value motherboards you can buy if you\u2019re okay with an M-ATX form factor. It just doesn\u2019t have a competitor that I could recommend in either the X570 or the B450 product lineup.<\/p>\n
Image-Source: Gigabyte<\/p><\/div>\n
Source - Gigabyte<\/p>\n
One of the few downsides to this motherboard is that it\u2019s understandably a bit cramped because of its form factor. The board layout image below will make this clearer. The power delivery components are reliable, and you shouldn\u2019t have a hard time even powering a Ryzen 9 5950X someday (when you can actually find one to buy?). But for heavy creator workloads, I\u2019d skip this price tier altogether and hop on to the next one.<\/p>\n
The second M.2 slot, as well as the second PCI-E slot, sits uncomfortably close to the primary PCI-E slot of the motherboard. That said, this won\u2019t affect those who aren\u2019t running a very powerful GPU at load for extended durations. Since typical axial\/open-air GPU coolers will exhaust heat from the top and bottom of the card, an M.2 device directly under the graphics card (especially one without a heatsink) doesn\u2019t bode well for long-term performance.<\/p>\n
Open Air-Cooled GPUs Air \/ Heat Movement<\/p><\/div>\n
However, at this price point and with the features this motherboard offers, it\u2019s really something you can discount if you aren\u2019t looking to do professional, compute, and graphics-heavy work.<\/p>\n
The motherboard also just has 4 SATA ports, so if you need more extensibility than what this M-ATX board can offer, go for another option down the list.<\/p>\n
The rear I\/O on the B550M Aorus Pro is pretty decent, and I really have no complaints. There are plenty of USB ports; it also comes with a USB Type-C slot to connect newer, faster devices.<\/p>\n
High-speed networking (above 1Gbe) isn\u2019t available at this price tier, and if you want faster wired connectivity, I\u2019d recommend shopping at a higher price tier. But if you\u2019re specifically hunting for an M-ATX motherboard to use in a compact build<\/a>, I\u2019d definitely opt for this one.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 4<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots<\/strong>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nPCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMSI B550-A Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nIf you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nAlthough this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\nThe VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
Slot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 4<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots<\/strong>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nPCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMSI B550-A Pro<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nIf you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nAlthough this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\nThe VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
PCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nIf you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nAlthough this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\nThe VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
Form Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nIf you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nAlthough this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\nThe VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
Wi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nIf you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nAlthough this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\nThe VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
BIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nIf you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nAlthough this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\nThe VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
If you need a B550 motherboard with an ATX form factor at a budget price point, the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best options you have at below $150.<\/p>\n
Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\n
Although this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren\u2019t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI.<\/p>\n
The VRMs have been improved quite a bit compared to the X570 variant offered by MSI at around this price and should perform much better even under extended loads. Nonetheless, I\u2019d keep the 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X away from this particular board if you need to run render workloads.<\/p>\n
[1] <\/sup><\/span>Being an ATX motherboard, it does have the edge over the B550M Aorus Pro, when it comes to slot layout. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there\u2019s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot.<\/p>\nHowever, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nIf you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
However, there is a catch. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes.<\/p>\n
If you were considering lower-end X570 motherboards, the B550-A Pro is undoubtedly an excellent option. The budget X570 motherboards don\u2019t use the full power of the chipset, and their lane configuration ends up being somewhat like the configuration offered on this B550 motherboard.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s really no good reason to go for the X570 at this price point unless you're running multiple PCIe add-in cards.<\/p>\n
Slot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom)<\/strong> [1] <\/sup><\/a>\u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCI-E Slots <\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\n\nFull-length (x16) supporting PCIe 3.0 x4<\/li>\n2x PCIe 3.0 x1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180<\/span><\/h2>\nBear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\nMSI MAG B550 Tomahawk<\/a><\/h4>\nPCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
Bear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI\u2019s newly-launched X570 Tomahawk, the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus, and the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite; I will be comparing them against these X570 options.<\/p>\n
PCI-E x16 Slot Bandwidth Distribution (With all slots populated) \u2013 <\/strong>x16\/x4<\/p>\nForm Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
Form Factor \u2013 <\/strong>ATX<\/p>\nWi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
Wi-Fi \u2013 <\/strong>No<\/p>\nBIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
BIOS Flashback (CPU-less BIOS Updates) \u2013 <\/strong>Yes<\/p>\nMSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\nAt the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
MSI\u2019s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I\u2019m happy to report that the B550 release doesn\u2019t change this too much.<\/p>\n
The price bump (MSRP $179) is significant when compared to the B450 Tomahawk (MSRP $110). However, the upgrade is substantial as well, so it gives users another viable option if they were planning to go with an X570 in this price range or a slightly-cheaper B450 motherboard.<\/p>\n
At the $180 price point, the Tomahawk is directly competing against the value X570 recommendations like the X570 Aorus Elite and the X570 TUF Gaming.<\/p>\n
When it comes to power delivery and VRM temperatures, it goes toe-to-toe with more premium X570 offerings \u2013 flat out beating lower-end motherboards. Here\u2019s some data from Hardware Unboxed<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\nWell, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nThe slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n<\/noscript>Image-source: MSI<\/p><\/div>\nWhen it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\nIt offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
PCB Temperature 3900X<\/p><\/div>\n
Well, power delivery is clearly on point. Let\u2019s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier.<\/p>\n
The slot configuration looks pretty standard with no real wonky slot placements that might make intense workloads much harder to run for longer durations of time. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won\u2019t throttle under any kind of workload.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re using devices in the second (bottom) M.2 slot as well as the middle PCIe x1 slots, the full-length bottom slot will be unavailable for use, and the M.2 will support a maximum of PCIe 3.0 x2 instead of x4.<\/p>\n
When it comes to the rear I\/O, the Tomahawk delivers a decent number of USB ports for peripheral connectivity and also comes with dual LAN (!) \u2013 a feature that\u2019s very rarely seen at this price range.<\/p>\n
It offers both Realtek 2.5 Gbe and 1Gbe ports. The availability of BIOS Flashback is reassuring; it\u2019s always an outstanding feature to have on a motherboard.<\/p>\n
[2] <\/sup><\/span>If you\u2019re installing devices in the bottom M.2 slot, the first PCIe x1 slot, and the bottom full-length PCIe slot, there are a few limitations: the bottom PCIe full-length slot will be disabled, and the M.2 will only run at PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds.<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\nIn fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\nThe PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n\nThe second PCIe x16 slot<\/a> and the x1 slots support PCIe 4.0 x4 and x1 on the X570 TUF board while the B550 Tomahawk supports only PCIe 3.0 x4 and x1. This is a factor only if you plan to use an add-in card (like the ASUS Hyper M.2 X16 PCIe 4.0 X4 Expansion Card) to expand your high-speed storage way past what\u2019s available on the motherboard.<\/li>\nThe X570 TUF\u2019s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nIf neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\nSlot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n
So, if you\u2019re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I\u2019d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge.<\/p>\n
In fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices.<\/p>\n
The PCIe slot layout of the B550 Tomahawk is pretty identical to the similarly-priced X570 TUF Gaming Plus, with a couple of minor differences:<\/p>\n
If neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I\u2019d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board.<\/p>\n
Slot Configuration: <\/strong><\/p>\n\nTop M.2 \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 4.0 x4<\/li>\nSecond M.2 (Bottom) \u2013 <\/strong>PCIe 3.0 x4 [2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\nSATA Ports \u2013<\/strong> 6<\/li>\nPrimary PCIe x16 Slot<\/strong>\n\nSupports up to PCIe 4.0 x16<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\nBottom PCIe Slots <\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\n\n