9 Best B550 Motherboards In 2023 [Value, Budget, High-End]

When it comes to performance and credibility in a motherboard based on an AMD AM4 chipset, especially on a tight budget, the B550 motherboard is there to help. The B550 motherboard will power up any high-end Ryzen CPU with ease; even powering the mighty AMD RYZEN 9 5950X is a walk in the park for the majority of AMD B550 motherboards. When we were drowning in a sea of pricey X570 Motherboards and low-end B450 boards, AMD B550 boards came to our rescue.

Best B550 Motherboards 

To ensure that you choose the Best B550 motherboard for the price without sacrificing performance or future-proofing, you may need to do a lot of research. With all of the innovation, you’ll be perplexed as to which board to choose, which is why we’ve produced a list of the B550 Motherboards for your Ryzen CPUs. Take a look below:

Last update on 2023-12-13

Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master

Best B550 Motherboard for Ryzen 9 5900X

Specifications: Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5400 | USB Ports: 12x rear IO, 6x internal | Network: 1x Intel 2.5 GbE LAN, Intel WiFi 6 | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA

If you want power and an immersive experience, the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master is the way to go. Gigabyte has pushed the boundaries with their new B550 motherboard, with a power phase of 16 stages at 70A; the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master is a powerhouse in its own right. The Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master is the ultimate B550 ATX Motherboard due to its thermal solution and raw power capabilities.

With its black and grey color scheme and integrated RGB lighting, the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master is one of the best-looking boards in the B550 series. The Aorus logo and words are carved into the heatsinks to add to the motherboard’s importance. The board also features plenty of connectivity and storage possibilities for high-end users who want to get the most out of their job. With a total of 12x USB ports, including USB 3.2 Gen 2 and USB 3.2 Gen 1, the possibilities for connecting devices are limitless. Users will also find 6x SATA ports and 3x M.2 sockets, all of which are cooled by Gigabyte’s Thermal Guard technology.

The board is best for content creators and gamers who always have to find themselves connected to the world wide web; with the help of Intel’s 2.5GbE LAN and the onboard WiFi 6 card, nobody will have to face disconnections or lag.

What do we like about the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master?

The Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master is equipped with 4x DIMM slots; you can install up to 128GB of RAM @ a maximum frequency of 5400Mhz. To offer strength to all those massive RTX cards, the PCIe x16 slot is outfitted with durable protection. 16 stages at 70A VRM design is more than enough to even Overclock Ryzen 9 5950x at decent frequency. Users may also improve their RGB experience by using the RGB fusion AI, which has a vast number of settings and 16.1 million colors to pick from.

What do we dislike about the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master?

With all these features and options, the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master is not cheap; the price tag almost touches that of any X570 board, making us think twice before making a decision.

Verdict

The Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master is a motherboard for people who want to get the most out of their components. Connectivity options are immense with outstanding; that’s why we considered the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master as the best B550 motherboard for Ryzen 9 5900X.

Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming (WI-FI)

Best B550 Motherboard for Ryzen 7 3700X

Specifications: Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5100 | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 6x internal | Network: 1x Intel 2.5Gb LAN, 1x WiFi 6 | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA

If you want to get the most out of your Ryzen 7 3700X, you should pair it with the Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming (WiFi) motherboard, which is specially designed for the ultimate gaming performance. The Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming (WiFi) has a VRM power rating of 12+2 power stages, allowing it to operate any Ryzen CPU to its maximum capacity. However, you can even overclock Ryzen 7 3700X with a decent AIO liquid cooler. The Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming (WiFi) has a Full ATX form factor, which means plenty of connection and storage choices. With 6x SATA 6GB/s connectors and 2x M.2 sockets, gamers won’t have to compromise one game for another.

The Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming (Wi-Fi) embodies the ROG spirit with eye-catching details like the ROG eye logo and embedded cybertext patterns inscribed on the I/O cover, ensuring that the ROG aesthetics does not ruin gamers’ gaming rigs. These new designs carry ROG Strix boldly into the future while deeply rooted in the series’ gaming past. The motherboard also provides gamers with extra memory options, with 4x DIMM slots supporting up to 128GB of ram at 5100Mhz.

Furthermore, the Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming (WiFi) provides gamers with various connectivity choices, allowing them to connect all of their gaming peripherals simultaneously. The Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming has 8x USB ports on the back, with 6x USB ports accessible via the front headers.

What do we like about the Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming (WiFi)?

To get the most out of their computers, gamers frequently need to modify various settings; with the Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi, this may be a simple operation. With the ROG UEFI BIOS, you may discover all the miracles of optimization. Gamers will also get 6x SATA 6GB/s ports, which means that big titles like Call of Duty Modern Warfare will not give them nightmares with the updates. Asus has also made installation simple; the Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi comes with a pre-installed I/O shield and Q-LEDs that alert us to any missing components or errors. Furthermore, the Asus SafeSlot is the ideal solution for your valuable graphics cards. SupremeFX audio technology is also presented to gamers; the sound is so clear that you will no longer be punished for not hearing enemy footsteps.

What do we dislike about the Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi?

Some gamers may be disappointed with only two M.2 sockets; the connectivity possibilities may have been expanded since rival boards give well over ten ports on the rear I/O and many front header options.

Verdict

Finally, the Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming is the best choice for gamers; it is also one of the few B550 motherboards with WiFi. Thus, the Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi is the Best B550 Motherboard for their Ryzen 7 3700X because of its competent VRM for overclocking, better PCB design coupled with fantastic Gaming aesthetics.

Asus TUF Gaming B550 Plus

Best B550 Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X

Specifications: Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4866 | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 6x internal | Network: 1x 2.5Gb LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA

If you’re searching for a long-lasting and stable Ryzen 5 5600X motherboard, go no further than the Asus TUF Gaming B550 Plus. Its excellent price features and durability make it one of the most affordable yet competent B550 motherboards. The Asus TUF Gaming B550 Plus is a treat with its VRM of 8+2 power stages mixing low and high-side MOSFETs.

In terms of cooling, the Asus TUF Gaming B550 Plus is a dreamland for gamers; with high-quality heatsinks and thermal pads, gamers are ensured it will take some time before their motherboard feels any heat. Storage choices are plenty with the Asus TUF Gaming B550 Plus, which provides us with 6x SATA connections and 2x PCIe 4.0 ready M.2 sockets, allowing us to attain speeds of up to 64GB/s.

With its somewhat stark, basic look, the Asus TUF Gaming B550 Plus isn’t really “ATTRACTIVE,” and some people may find it to be not their cup of tea. However, the motherboard has RGB and RGB headers for gamers with the Aura Sync AI to make their builds more lively. In terms of connectivity, we have USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Gen 1 ports in addition to USB 2.0, for a total of 8x USB ports on the back I/O, with additional ports available via the internal headers.

What do we like about the Asus TUF Gaming B550 Plus?

Memory possibilities are nearly limitless, with 4x DIMM slots allowing gamers and editors to use up to 128GB of ram operating at 4866Mhz. The Asus TUF Gaming B550 Plus is also durable in the long run, thanks to Asus using military-grade components and massive heatsinks to cool down the motherboard.

What do we dislike about the Asus TUF Gaming B550 Plus?

The appearances are unimpressive for a “Gaming” motherboard. Also, users might need an additional M.2 heatsink for the cooler storage device.

Verdict

In the end, the Asus TUF Gaming B550 Plus is the best deal for budget gamers; no motherboards on the market give us such features and component quality at a low price tag. With all this in mind, Asus TUF Gaming B550 Plus is the Best B550 Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X.

Asrock B550 Steel Legend

Best B550 Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600

Specifications: Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4733 | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 2.5G LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA

Are you looking for a Motherboard that can withstand the rigors of everyday life? The Asrock B550 Steel Legend is the answer to your prayers. Iron Man’s Mark I Armor, reimagined as a motherboard, has been created by Asrock. And with this, Asrock has made a name for itself among the top AMD B550 Motherboards because of its rock-solid sturdiness and endurance.

The Asrock B550 Steel Legend is available in a white finish, ideal for white builds. The design is stunning, with a black PCB, white heatsinks, and grey metallic strips along the length of the board, giving it the appearance of snow on black rocky mountains! The board also includes built-in RGB on the massive I/O heatsink cover and RGB headers for future RGB expansion.

The Asrock B550 Steel Legend comes in a full ATX form factor and has a lot to offer, from 4 DIMM slots that can accommodate up to 128GB of RAM to a 14-power phase design that makes it seem formidable in front of any power-hungry Ryzen CPU. The Asrock B550 Steel Legend also boasts a lot of storage choices, including 6 SATA ports and 2 M.2 sockets, one of which is PCIe 4.0 ready.

What do we like about the Asrock B550 Steel Legend?

The Asrock B550 Steel Legend is unquestionably a sturdy and durable motherboard with its entire steel construction. The cooling choices are exceptional, with high-end aluminum heatsinks and thermal pads. In terms of connectivity, the Asrock B550 Steel Legend offers USB 2.0 to USB 3.2 GEN 2 ports in both the rear I/O and front headers. In addition, we get 1x HDMI and 1x DP for dual display output, allowing video creators to use twin displays without a GPU. In the Asrock B550 Steel Legend, we also get reinforced PCIe x16 slots to keep our expensive GPUs safer and sturdy.

What do we dislike about the Asrock B550 Steel Legend?

The board’s storage options are debatable since you may utilize either the 3 5 6 SATA connector slots or 1x M.2 socket; the choice is yours. Furthermore, some users have reported DDR4 memory compatibility difficulties with the Asrock B550 Steel Legend, resulting in BSODs.

Verdict

Overall, the Asrock B550 Steel Legend is ideal if you have a Ryzen 5 3600 and are a fan of white setups. We chose the Asrock B550 Steel Legend as the Best B550 Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 because of the connectivity options and durable design.

MSI B550 Tomahawk

Best B550 ITX Motherboard

Specifications: Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5100 | USB Ports: 6x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 2.5G LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA

Because of its characteristics, the MSI B550 Tomahawk might be mistaken for a premium X570 board. The MSI B550 Tomahawk allows budget gamers to use all of the capabilities for a reasonable price. The MSI B550 Tomahawk entered our list because of its 13 phases (10+2+1) power delivery, 2x Ethernet connections, and multiple storage choices. MSI has done its utmost to provide consumers with the same experience as the X570 Tomahawk.

The MSI B550 Tomahawk’s appearance isn’t very remarkable, yet, the black PCB with silver and grey pieces peeling down provides the motherboard with a solid and sleek appearance. The RGB heatsink on the bottom right adds to the overall aesthetic. The board has an improved PCB design, enhancing conductivity and heat dissipation even further. When it comes to heat dissipation and temperatures, the MSI B550 Tomahawk will not disappoint. The board is kept cool with vastly expanded heatsinks and AI fan management.

Gamers and streamers can rely on a solid connection at all times, thanks to MSI’s LAN management and the two Ethernet ports onboard. In terms of memory, MSI has worked hard to increase the speed and efficiency of the B550 Tomahawk; consumers may overclock their 128GB of RAM to 5100MHz utilizing the XMP profiles.

Related: Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 3900x

The MSI B550 Tomahawk also has plenty of storage choices, with 6x SATA connections and 2x M.2 sockets, both cooled by the MSI Twin Frozr solution; gamers will always have enough room to store their most significant moments.

What do we like about the MSI B550 Tomahawk?

MSI’s motherboards have always been user-friendly, or as they like to call it, DIY friendly. The motherboard comes with an I/O shield cover already mounted, so you won’t have to slash your fingers trying to fit it in. A Flash BIOS button is also included in the MSI B550 Tomahawk for quick BIOS upgrades. Using the specialized high-definition audio processor on board, the MSI B550 Tomahawk allows us to get the most out of our pricey headphones.

What do we dislike about the MSI B550 Tomahawk?

The connection possibilities are mediocre at best. We’re a little disappointed that there are just 6x USB connections on the rear. The board also lacks built-in WiFi.

Verdict

If you like to try fancy things for a low price, the MSI B550 Tomahawk is the one for you, though you will have to sacrifice connectivity and WiFi. However, we regard the MSI B550 Tomahawk as the Best B550 ITX Motherboard because of its cooling solutions and higher VRM rating.

ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming

Best White B550 Motherboard

Specifications: Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4 x DIMM, 128GB MAX (DDR4) up to 5100 MHz | USB Ports: 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2 x USB 2.0 | Network: 2.5G LAN | Storage: 2 x M.2, 6 x SATA III

With motherboards being an intricate part of your system, their overall design is something that simply cannot be overlooked. Your motherboard’s aesthetic plays an important role in enhancing the look of your entire build, which makes a visually appealing motherboard such as the ROG Strix B550-A Gaming a particularly enticing option.

The ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming unsurprisingly bears a strong resemblance to the rest of the products in the Strix lineup. The black and white tones have remained a prevalent theme in previous ROG Strix motherboards, and they continue to look just as breathtaking as anything that came before it. It comes as no surprise that the aesthetics themselves contribute nothing to the overall performance; however, the innocuous design elements are a welcome addition to any motherboard.

While the sleek design is phenomenal, it’s not the only thing that the ROG Strix B550-A Gaming has to offer. It also boasts a reliable 12+2 VRM setup which is fairly standard for a B550 board. Furthermore, both the VRM and the chipset itself have been backed up with sufficient cooling performance, allowing them to operate at low temperatures even under load.

Its cooling features don’t end just there; ASUS has also added a 6-layer PCB with the motherboard along with two separate heatsinks for the M.2 slots.  As expected, the standard amount of 4-pin PWM fan headers has also been included along with an AIO pump header which can be found right next to the VRM heatsinks.

The entirety of the bottom half of the motherboard is dominated by numerous heatsinks as well as the mandatory PCIe expansion slots. Speaking of expansion slots, ASUS has gone with a total of five of them, including two full-sized PCIe Gen 4.0 slots, along with three other PCIe 3.0 x1 slots.

Your storage needs are met with the two previously mentioned M.2 slots and 6 SATA ports for traditional hard drives and SSDs. ASUS has also provided a comprehensive set of rear I/O ports, which include several USB 3.2 Gen 1 port along with a 2.5G ethernet port for network connectivity. It is worth mentioning that no onboard wireless network capabilities are present within the board itself.

What Do We Like About The ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming

ASUS has spared no expense in terms of its design, loading it with a magnitude of note-worthy design elements that make its refined look a standout feature. Not only does it go hand-in-hand with similarly themed components, making it ideal for all-white systems. ASUS’ understanding of what makes a well-designed motherboard has resulted in the ROG Strix B550-A Gaming being ranked as one of the best-looking motherboards for the B550 chipset.

Apart from that, the ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming also offers an impressive host of features that back up its well-rounded design. The 12+2 phase VRM makes for an adequate addition for a motherboard priced at this point. On top of that, ASUS has also added a capable cooling solution into the mix. While its cooling system is far from breaking records, it proves to be capable enough to utilize any compatible processor you throw at it.

What Do We Dislike About The ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming

Given its solid performance and decent connectivity options, it is clear that its capabilities as an ATX motherboard are not limited by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, its biggest impediment remains the lack of onboard WiFi connectivity; however, the included 2.5G ethernet port should get the job done for most people.

Verdict

If you are adamant about obtaining the best-looking cooler for your newest Ryzen build, then the ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming might just be for you.  ASUS’ ROG Strix motherboards have become a staple of mid-range motherboards in recent years, and the Strix B550-A is a brilliant showcase of the tremendous value that they offer. Its immediately distinguishable aesthetic, coupled with its overall solid performance, has earned it a spot as the Best White B550 Motherboard.

ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming-ITX/AX

Best Mini-ITX B550 Motherboard

Specifications: Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4 x DIMM, 128GB MAX (DDR4) up to 5100 MHz | USB Ports: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 | Network: 2.5G LAN, Intel 802.11ax WiFi Module | Storage: 2 x M.2,  4 x SATA III

Consumers have nonchalantly ridiculed mini-ITX boards for their subpar performance and mediocre build quality that lags behind their full-sized ATX counterparts. Fortunately, many companies such as ASRock have recently dabbled into producing high-quality mini-ITX boards that offer features resembling that of any other feature-complete ATX motherboard. One of the top contenders for the spot is the ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming-ITX which seamlessly delivers on all of the aforementioned promises.

Let’s start with the arguably most challenging aspect of any mini-ITX board, its VRM configuration. The ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming-ITX features an 8-power phase design with each phase rated at 90A. As underwhelming as that might sound, it’s a reasonable configuration for a small form factor motherboard. Moreover, the 90Amp rating for every phase is nothing to scoff at.

Although fitting a beefy VRM configuration inside a small PCB is quite impressive for a mini-ITX board, it’s the effective cooling solution that stands out the most. ASRock has managed to incorporate an astounding level of cooling for the VRM and the chipset, providing you with enough thermal headroom to accommodate higher-end CPUs. Two thermal guards are present for the single M.2 slot included in the motherboard that protects the M.2 slots while simultaneously ensuring effective heat dissipation.

While the space constraints leave little improvement in the design department, ASRock still presents you with a fair share of design improvements that complement its already sophisticated look. Some of the more obvious changes include the RGB strip present underneath the motherboard, along with the white and red accents on the VRM heatsink.

The ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming-ITX comes with two DIMM slots that can be found right next to the socket. It supports a maximum memory frequency of 5400 MHz, which is quite surprising coming from an ITX board. In terms of the expansion slots, you get a single PCIe 4.0 x 16 slot, which is expected from a mini-ITX board.

ASRock has not glanced over the selection of rear I/O ports either, equipping it with the full suite of rear I/O ports that are typically found on a larger-sized board. In a similar vein to the rear I/O selection, all of the necessary internal connectors are also included, including the USB 3.2 Gen 2 front panel connector, which even some higher-end X570 motherboards lack.

What Do We Like About ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming

Despite relying on the B550 chipset, the ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming clearly surpasses the majority of the X570-based mini-ITX boards when it comes to raw performance and cooling capabilities. Pair its incredible VRM design with the monstrous cooling solution and the 2.5G LAN, and you have essentially given yourself a motherboard that is adept at both gaming and content creation while also offering incredible versatility when it comes to PC case compatibility. 

Naturally, given the obvious space constraints, ASRock could not pack all the bells and whistles you would get from a high-end motherboard. Having said that, it does check all of the boxes as a mini-ITX board, proving to be capable of handling mid to high-end processors if paired with an equally capable cooler.

What Do We Dislike About ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming

While the ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming ITX does not come with a lot of negatives, it is worth mentioning that the presence of two slots instead of the complete four does limit future RAM upgradability, which can be an issue for some people. Its slightly higher overall price can also be a deal-breaker for some people, considering you can get a fairly capable X570-based motherboard in a similar price range.

Verdict

To sum up, the ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming is simply brilliant, both for its functionality and use-case as a mini-ITX board as well as for its excellent blend of features that elevate its overall value. Its outstanding feats as a mini-ITX motherboard make it the Best B550 Mini-ITX Motherboard that you can currently purchase.

MSI B550-A Pro

Best Budget B550 Motherboard

Specifications: Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4400 | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x Gigabit LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA

If you’re like the majority of us, you’ve spent all of your money on non-essential items and now only have a limited budget to spend on a Motherboard, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. The MSI B550-A Pro is one of those inexpensive Motherboards that also packs a punch in terms of features.

Although the MSI B550-A Pro is a budget board, the features it offers are comparable to those found on more costly B550 boards. It has the same 10+2+1 VRM rating and cooling capabilities as any other B550 Motherboard. The design is pretty minimalistic, with a black PCB, black and greyish heatsinks, and no RGB lights visible. You do, however, receive  RGB 5V addressable headers to light up that darkness.

The MSI B550-A Pro features 2x M.2 sockets and 4x DIMM slots with a maximum capacity of 128GB and a 4400 MHz clock speed. The connectivity possibilities are impressive, ranging from 8 USB ports on the back I/O to 7 USB ports on the internal headers. A DP and HDMI connector alongside a BIOS Flash button is located on the back I/O. You may also use MSI Center to operate complex motherboard functions.

What do we like about the MSI B550-A Pro?

The MSI B550-A Pro is a complete ATX board, which means there are PCIe 4.0×16 and PCIe 3.0×4 slots on the bottom, both of which are armored for safer connections. With the MSI B550-A Pro, we also get more excellent B550 Motherboard compatibility since the features are plentiful for the price.

What do we dislike about the MSI B550-A Pro?

Connectivity options could have been further improved by providing more newer Gen USB ports instead of USB 2.0; MSI also tried saving material by delivering only one M.2 with the Twin Frozr heatsink meaning the other is left to feel the heat.

Verdict

There might be flaws, but the MSI B550-A Pro is one of the best budget-friendly motherboards with a low price tag. Considering the storage options and VRM ratings, the MSI B550-A Pro is our choice as the Best Budget B550 Motherboard.

MSI B550M Mortar

Best Cheap B550 Motherboard

Specifications: Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4400 | USB Ports: 6x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 2.5G LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA

The MSI B550M Mortar is one of the most affordable motherboards in the B550 series; it’s ideal for individuals who don’t expect much from their components, as well as casual gamers and editors. The MSI B550M Mortar is MSI’s entry-level motherboard, with a Micro ATX form size ideal for remote systems.

The MSI B550M Mortar has a VRM rating of 11 (8+2+1) power stages, ensuring that your processor’s performance is not compromised. The board’s cooling solutions are also rather impressive; with MSI’s extended PWM heatsink and only a single M.2 shield frozr, I wouldn’t say it isn’t perfect.

The MSI B550M Mortar isn’t particularly rich or luxurious in design and aesthetics. It has a basic black PCB design with a white striped line and MSI logo on the I/O shields and heatsinks; otherwise, the board is dark and lacks built-in RGB. Other features include 2x PCIe x16 slots, 4x DIMM slots, and a maximum RAM of 128GB @ 4400Mhz, much like any other B550 board. The MSI B550M Mortar includes all AMD B550 motherboard compatibility characteristics.

What do we like about the MSI B550M Mortar?

The MSI B550M Mortar features the same storage choices as any other board, with 2x M.2 sockets and 6x SATA connectors. The board also has a Realtek ALC1200 audio chipset for high-quality sound and recording. All these features and capabilities prove the MSI B550M Mortar is unquestionably a bang for the money at this pricing.

What do we dislike about the MSI B550M Mortar?

Well, there are a few things I’d like to discuss here. First, the connectivity choices should have been much better; with only 6x USB ports on the rear, MSI has certainly disappointed us. According to many reviews and users, the board’s overclocking capabilities are also lacking; while we wouldn’t anticipate much, a B550 board has the ability. The board also lacks the attractiveness one would like for their systems; for someone like myself who enjoys displaying his components in a glass case, the B550M Mortar is a turnoff.

Verdict

In the end, the MSI B550M Mortar is not made for extreme overclocking sessions and people who like to have lots of connectivity options. The board is best suited for casual gamers and other users who don’t like pushing their components the most. With this, we think we choose the MSI B550M Mortar as the Best Cheap B550 Motherboard.

Competition

Gigabyte B550 Vision D

Runner-Up For Best White B550 Motherboard

Specifications: Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5400 | USB Ports: 10x rear IO, 6x internal | Network: 2x Intel GbE LAN, 1x Intel WiFi 6 | Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA

Gigabyte’s B550 Vision D motherboard is unquestionably the white Tesla of motherboards. The motherboard’s design is so distinct and elegant that anyone would want to use it in their decent white builds.

The Gigabyte B550 Vision D is so elegant and peaceful that it doesn’t require RGB to complete the aesthetic. The black PCB looks excellent when coupled with silver slots and plain white heatsinks.

The board contains all of the specifications that an editor would expect from a VRM power rating of 14 phases; the power delivery is outstanding for a board with any Ryzen 5000 series processor. The connectivity choices are vast, with 10x USB ports on the back I/O and 6x ports available through the internal headers. The Gigabyte B550 Vision D’s back I/O panel has 2x Intel GbE LAN and Intel WiFi 6, ensuring that artists are never cut off from the world of imagination. The back panel includes 1x HDMI and DP connectors for integrated graphics support. Content creators can transfer storage at near-light speed thanks to the Thunderbolt 3 connections on the rear and internal headers.

The Gigabyte B550 Vision D has four DIMM slots, all of which feature ECC memory, which means that every data is being repaired as it transfers. The basic heatsinks make us doubt the cooling capabilities, but everything is possible with Gigabyte. The unusual heatsinks are all built for optimal heat dissipation, and Gigabyte has employed its curved yet attractive VRM heatsink to improve both appearance and cooling. In terms of expansion slots, creators may utilize the twin PCIe 4.0/3.0 x16 and one PCIe 3.0×16 slot to improve their rendering times with multiple GPUs.

What do we like about the Gigabyte B550 Vision D?

The Gigabyte B550 Vision D is ideal for those who desire a white-themed build; the design is so flawless but straightforward that anyone would fall in love with it. The sound quality of the Gigabyte B550 Vision D is nearly excellent, and editors may listen to and record themselves as if they were in a studio using DTS:X Ultra coupled with powerful VRM to overclock any processor from Ryzen 5000 series lineup.

What do we dislike about the Gigabyte B550 Vision D?

Storage choices are limited; users may find it challenging to connect many drives with only two M.2 slots and four SATA connections. In most cases, we can get more than 4x SATA connections for much less money than the Gigabyte B550 Vision D.

Verdict

Overall, the Gigabyte B550 Vision D is one eye-stealing board with excellent features. The Gigabyte B550 Vision D, capable of cooling and LAN properties, makes it to our list as The Runner-Up For The Best White B550 Motherboard.

Gigabyte B550M Aorus Pro

Runner Up For Best Mini-ITX B550 Motherboard

Specifications: Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4733 | USB Ports: 10x rear IO, 6x internal | Network: 1x Realtek GbE LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA

As the B550 Micro ATX Motherboard, the Gigabyte B550M Aorus Pro joins our list. The Gigabyte B550M Aorus Pro is renowned for its high power output and excellent audio quality. The Gigabyte B550M Aorus Pro wins the crown with a VRM of 10+3 power phases when it comes to overclocking capabilities in the mid-range price category. The board is so excellent that it can overclock any Ryzen processor, including the most recent 5950x series.

The Gigabyte B550M Aorus Pro has a premium appearance, with a black PCB, grey brushed heatsinks, and an RGB strip light that is difficult to detect when the GPU is plugged in. You may use the onboard RGB connections to add some RGB lighting to complete the design.

The Gigabyte B550M Aorus Pro, like other low-end B550 boards, only has one M.2 heatsink. While one cools, the other is left to cook (well, not really, but you know what I mean). The board’s cooling choices aren’t awful; with more oversized MOSFET heatsinks and sophisticated fan management, you won’t have to worry about excessive temperatures.

Everyone would expect the Gigabyte B550M Aorus Pro to be sturdy given its compact size and Gigabyte has delivered. The Gigabyte B550M Aorus Pro is a tough guy, with high-quality components, sturdy PCIe protection, and solid pins for power supply.

What do we like about the Gigabyte B550M Aorus Pro?

The Gigabyte B550m Aorus Pro is perfect for those who want a lot of power in a tiny package for mini-ITX builds. The Gigabyte B550M provides a variety of connectivity choices. On the back I/O, there are 10 USB ports, including USB 3.2 GEN 2 Type-C. There’s also a Display Port and an HDMI port on the back I/O alongside A Q-Flash button for BIOS flashing.

What do we dislike about the Gigabyte B550M Aorus Pro?

The Gigabyte B550M Aorus Pro, like every other product on this list, has shortcomings. The board only comes in with one M.2 socket, and only four SATA ports is a massive no-no. The lack of WiFi and LAN options on the board also makes it unpopular.

Verdict

The Gigabyte B550M Aorus Pro is one of the best when it comes to power delivery in the Mini-ITX league; the board is rigid in front of any overclock condition, making it be our choice as The Runner-Up For The Best Mini ITX B550 Motherboard.

AMD B550 Chipset

The AMD B550 series replaces the previous affordable AMD B450 series. The B550 chipset has numerous new features, such as PCIe 4.0 compatibility for graphics cards and NVMe drives, increased USB 3x ports, faster LAN and WLAN adapters, and upgraded VRMs based on the better PCB layout. The AMD B550 exceeded all expectations, and it quickly rose to become one of the finest, if not the best, budget series chipsets on the market today. The AMD B550 chipset is supported for Ryzen 3000 series CPUs. It is also compatible with Zen3 (Ryzen 5000 series), as AMD tells us the B550 chipset is for the future.

By going further into the specifications of the AMD B550 Chipset, the AMD B550 chipset is said to provide two USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) and six USB 2.0 connections. When it comes to storage, the B550 chipset has up to eight SATA III connections, which is just “four” fewer than the high-end X570 chipset.

ZEN 3 Architecture 

AMD revealed their all-new 5000 series CPUs based on the Zen3 architecture two years ago; AMD launched the first Zen architecture in 2017, and AMD has not looked back since, promising the most significant leap in Ryzen CPUs.

AMD and Intel take distinct approaches to CPU design; however, AMD’s Zen architecture puts them one step ahead of Intel in multitasking. In most cases, Intel is better in single-core performance. The most significant feature of the Zen architecture is scalability; AMD can cram more cores into a smaller unit. AMD CPUs are also cheaper than Intel and come with a better future upgrade path.

But even the finest have flaws, and AMD’s architecture had one that caused its gaming performance to suffer. Because the CPUs are physically separated, latency is an issue. But, with their new Zen3 architecture, AMD pledges to dethrone Intel as the gaming performance king.

The Zen3 architecture increases core-to-core latency, core clock rates, power efficiency, and even single-threaded performance. With all of these enhancements to the Zen architecture, AMD’s 5000 series CPUs pose a challenge to Intel.

Ryzen 5000 Series Processors

AMD’s new 5000 series CPUs are a successor to the existing 3000 series; however, with the upgraded performance and efficiency improvements in the 5000 series, the Ryzen 3000 series would be left out with no friends. Even Intel fans will be impressed with their top-tier Ryzen 9 5950X processor, which has 16 cores, 32 threads, and a TDP rating of only 105 watts; you also don’t need a big cooler to cool that beast.

Their entry-level budget CPU, Ryzen 5600x, costs $299 and has 6-cores and 12-threads, ensuring that even low-budget gamers may enjoy it. The Ryzen 5000 series is AMD AM4 socket compatible, which means that your prior X470 and B450 CPUs will be compatible with the CPUs following a BIOS update. However, to fully use PCIe 4.0 and other capabilities, the Ryzen 5000 series must be paired with the newest B550 and X570 chipsets.

How We Chose The Best B550 Motherboard

Choosing the best B550 Motherboard for your Ryzen CPU is never an easy chore; you must consider several variables before purchasing. In the end, everything comes down to personal choice, but we’ve provided some guidelines to consider.

Also Read: How We Test Motherboards

Chipset

Ensure the chipset on the B550 motherboard for your Ryzen CPU is compatible. Before it can function with an earlier Ryzen CPU, some B550 motherboards will require a BIOS update. So before you make a purchase, look at compatibility options with the official websites.

VRM

The Voltage Regulatory Modules, or VRMs, are responsible for supplying power to your CPU. Because specific Ryzen CPUs are intended to consume more power than others, your Motherboard must be capable of delivering the needed power. When it comes to VRM supply, no compromises should be made because power is the only thing that keeps your system functioning. Buying a board with poor VRMs will not benefit your CPU in the long term.

Form Factor

B550 Motherboards, like any other board, are available in a variety of sizes. The boards come in three sizes: ATX, Micro ATX, and Mini ITX. Keep your PC case in mind when deciding which form factor is ideal for you, as it is the one that will house your motherboard. It is impossible to buy an ATX board and then fit it into a Micro ATX case. When it comes to size, full-size ATX boards generally have more connection, storage, and other characteristics than Micro or Mini ITX boards.

Rear I/O Connectivity

Before making a final selection, you should always be aware of the many connectivity alternatives available to you. On the back I/O, each board has a varied amount of ports. Before you make a selection, be sure you know how many devices you’ll need to connect. The back I/O also offers audio ports; check the Audio chipset on the board to ensure you’re receiving what you’re paying for.

Expansion Slots

If you prefer to go big and connect multiple GPUs, you need to know the Expansion Slots on your Motherboard. Some Motherboards, such as those with the Mini ITX form factor, have fewer expansion slots, while others do not support AMD Crossfire or NVIDIA SLI.

Aesthetics

Finally, isn’t it true that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder? People aren’t always gorgeous on the inside, which is why you need a good-looking Motherboard to make people look twice. You may select from a range of alternatives, including black PCB and white heatsinks, as well as one’s with RGB built-in. It’s all up to you and how you want your build to look.

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We at Tech4Gamers have always sought what is best for ourselves and our users based on our extensive research and analysis. As a result, we’re building a site with the support of expert writers and reviewers where users can put their trust in us when building their dream gaming PCs.

B550 vs. X570

Last update on 2023-12-13

With the AMD B550 chipset launch, consumers like you may be unsure whether to purchase a motherboard with the B550 or X570 chipset for your Ryzen CPU. Before the launch of the B550 chipset, consumers had to select between the low-cost B450 and the X570 motherboards. With the introduction of the B550, consumers may now have the functionality of the X570 while staying within the pricing range of the high-end B450.

The X570 is better than or better for users who like to have multiple options for PCIe Gen 4.0 M.2, more SATA ports, extreme overclocking, and support for Crossfire and Nvidia SLI. The X570 may provide all these features, but the B550 isn’t any less; it’s just a limited version of the X570.

Simply put, the parallels are excessive, yet the motherboards differ significantly. The B550 chipset won’t be fully PCIe 4.0 enabled, but the X570 supports PCIe Gen 4 and a PCIe Gen 4 CPU chipset. The B550 chipset motherboards are best suited for consumers who want to get their hands on AMD’s Zen 3 architecture CPUs. When it comes to VRM capabilities, the AMD B550 chipset exceeds the X570 chipset, allowing overclockers to get the most out of their components. The AMD B550 chipset is significantly less expensive than the X570 chipset. Although the B550 has nearly the same features as any X570 board, many high end-users and creators would still prefer a premium X570 chipset Motherboard. You may read the full B550 Vs. X570 Comparison. 

B660 vs. B560 vs. B550

Last update on 2023-12-13

To begin with, the B660 is the most recent midrange chipset release from Intel, primarily based on their newest 12th Generation Alder Lake CPUs. The B660 sports an LGA 1700 socket (check out our Best LGA 1700 Coolers), compatible with any Alder Lake CPU on the market. The older B560 chipset was designed to fulfill the same niche but possesses an LGA 1200 socket, complementing Intel’s 10th Gen (Comet Lake) and 11th Gen (Tiger Lake) CPUs.  As far as the B550 is concerned, that chipset was released by AMD more than half a year ago, aimed at being paired with Ryzen 2000, 3000, 4000, and 5000 Series Processors. However, it’s important to note that the B550 isn’t compatible with an APU regardless of the processor’s Series.

Moving on, the B660 embraces the new standard by offering 6 PCIe 4.0 lanes, while the B560 has nil. It’s the same story for the B550 in terms of the chipset, with the actual PCIe 4.0 lanes (up to 20) emerging from a compatible Ryzen CPU instead, designed to upgrade the GPU x16 slot and the 1st M.2 slot for SSDs (x4) to PCIe 4.0. The B660, B560, and B550 give each other a run for the money by offering 8, 12, and 10 PCIe 3.0 lanes, respectively.

Furthermore, the B660 unleashes the beast boasting support for DDR5 RAM at a native frequency of 4800 MHz with the ability to potentially overclock up to 50% higher speeds at 7800 MHz and beyond. The B560 and B550 fall behind in this area, only being able to run good old DDR4 RAM along with overclocking abilities. All three chipsets are synonymous in the regard that they can run a maximum of 128 GB of dual-channel RAM with 2 DIMMs per channel. AMD does pull ahead significantly with the B550 as that chipset also offers CPU overclocking, something the B660 and B560 don’t, since those chipsets cannot manually tweak the Performance and Efficiency cores of Intel CPUs.

For I/O connectivity, the B660 and B560 are identical, with both offering up to 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 2×1, 6x USB 3.2 Gen 1×1, and up to 12 USB 2.0 ports. The B550 is slightly lacking in this department. It doesn’t offer even a single USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port, having only up to 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2×1, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1×1, and up to 6 USB 2.0 ports. Nevertheless, AMD bites back by loading up the B550 with 6x SATA III (6 Gb/s) ports for connecting conventional storage devices. On the contrary, the B660 and B560 only have 4x SATA III ports.

Speaking of storage media, we’re delighted to report that all three chipsets support various RAID configurations. RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) is a virtualization technology that combines multiple physical hard drives or SSDs into one virtual disk drive, significantly improving data transfer speeds while enhancing data protection and minimizing the risk of data loss in case of a drive failure.

Enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that the B660 and B560 support Intel Optane Memory which acts as a cache bridge between your RAM and storage devices, resulting in faster data transfers between the RAM, disk drives, and CPU. Obviously, the B550 loses out on this feature, which will serve as a blow to a minor portion of our audience.

Moreover, all three chipsets incorporate integrated LAN and WiFi into their unit, with the B660 sporting the faster Intel WiFi 6E AX211 Gig+ while the B560 has WiFi 6 AX201, and the B550 brings up the rear with WiFi 6 AX200. AMD makes up for the disappointment by offering dual GPU support with the B550, which, admittedly, isn’t something that blows our minds nowadays, unlike the previous Nvidia SLI and AMD CrossFire era.

Rounding off the brief comparison, we’d recommend the B660 to Intel gamers looking to upgrade their GPU speeds with PCIe 4.0, simultaneously overclocking their DDR5 RAM to justify buying that shiny new Alder Lake CPU. Meanwhile, the B560 is perfect for anyone looking to save some money and opt for an older 10th or 11th Gen Intel CPU+B560 motherboard combo, with the major sacrifice being the lack of DDR5 RAM support. Intel softens this blow since the B560 can still run overclocked DDR4 RAM @4800 MHz and beyond. Last, but not least, the B550 is perfect for AMD fans out there looking to overclock their Ryzen Zen 3 processor, which makes the lack of DDR5 RAM support seem insignificant.

It’s essential to note that all three chipsets are rated at a maximum power draw of 6W, so none of them have any active cooling fans or massive heatsinks bearing ‘so-so’ VRMs (Voltage Regulator Modules). That’s why you should only go for slight-to-moderate CPU overclocking on your Zen 3 CPU should you choose a B550 motherboard offering. We want to add that AMD may be switching to a new AM5 CPU socket soon, so users looking to futureproof their gaming PC might want to hold off on the AM4-sporting B550.

B550 vs. B450

Last update on 2023-12-13

Due to its low price and extensive feature set, the B450 chipset is AMD’s most popular motherboard chipset to date. When it comes to compatibility and functionality, the B550 and B450 are poles apart. While the AMD B450 only supports AMD Crossfire, the AMD B550 is the first chipset to allow Nvidia SLI. The B450 can only attain half of the B550’s LAN speeds. The newer B550 chipset’s WiFi 6 capability is significantly superior to the B450 chipset’s WiFi 5, making it far more memorable in terms of connection.

The AMD B550 chipset is considerably ahead in terms of PCIe capability. The AMD B550 supports PCIe 4.0, which means it is twice as fast as the previous B450, which only supported PCIe 3.0. Compared to the B450 chipset, the B550 chipset has better overclocking capabilities. Overclocking was formerly reserved for high-end X570 boards, but with the introduction of the B550, customers may now experience superior overclocking at lower pricing.

Finally, for customers who are already using a low-end B450 board, the B550 is a better solution. Users with a high-end B450 board might be able to hold off on upgrading for a while.