This series from ASRock is meant to give users great stability, a boatload of features, and an attractive design, all while keeping the price quite low. But it does come with a heatsink to reduce/avoid any throttling due to heat. However, their price point makes them tricky to recommend outright, mainly due to so many boards in the product line venturing deep into X570 motherboard territory. Helmers Kamp 74 It comes with dual M.2 slots (bottom slot is limited to PCIe 3.0 x2 speeds), Realtek Gigabit LAN, and 4 SATA ports. Hi, I’m Jerry – a Freelance Technical Content Writer and Strategist. As can be seen from the table, the main differences between B550 and B450 include PCIe Gen, network speed, and multi-GPU. Fortunately, AMD’s B550 motherboards debut from as low as $100. From my understanding the main advantages of B550 … CGDirector is all about Computer-Builds & Hardware-Insight for Content Creators in 3D-Animation, Video Editing, Graphic Design & many more fields of Digital Content Creation. However, if you’re shopping on a budget, Gigabyte’s offering does make sense. The addition of the third slot also seems to have necessitated a less than ideal placement for the second M.2. Both M.2 slots come with heatshields to ensure that your high-speed storage won’t throttle under any kind of workload. But if you spend just an additional $20, you can get yourself the MSI X570 Unify – one of the best motherboards in the X570 product stack for professionals and heavy use. 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: If neither of the above downsides will affect your work, I’d recommend sticking to the B550 Tomahawk or the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro when shopping at this price. Those get their lanes directly from the CPU, while the rest of the lanes come from the B550 chipset, which … You lose dual LAN and get Wi-Fi 6, more high-speed USB ports, in addition to PCIe 4.0 across the board. They think just because they throw that strix label on it, it is worth way more, than it really is. To summarize, compared to B450 chipset, B550 chipset has a certain degree of improvement in some specifications like PCIe 4.0 and network speed. So, if you’re planning to use multiple GPUs or even capture cards along with more than one M.2 storage device, I’d go for a higher tier motherboard rather than living life on the edge. 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. Although this motherboard starts to encroach upon prices of some cheaper X570 motherboards, they aren’t perfect and are relatively worse value-for-money compared to this board from MSI. In short, an x8 speed slot will have half the bandwidth available to an x16 slot. This sentiment certainly showed in the motherboards they launched too – they lacked high-end features and components that remained exclusive to Intel motherboards. Most users who simply need a robust platform that can reliably handle a Ryzen 9 3950X somewhere down the line will do well with boards from this price tier. amd x470 vs b550. A slight difference between B550 and B450 chipset is multi-GPU support. I finally just ordered myself a 3800x on Amazon prime day for $395CAD(was 478)! Gigabyte’s B550 product stack consists of seven motherboards in varying form factors (ATX and Mini-ITX) and prices. is x570 worth it over b550, Cobourg, ON has 7 new construction home, condo, apartment, and townhouse communities for sale and for rent. Address So, the higher the number of lanes available, the higher the amount of data you can send at once. This makes them $50 cheaper than the previous B450 motherboards. However, when we start approaching the $300 mark, you’ll encounter the excellent ASRock X570 Taichi as well as the MSI X570 Unify options. Other than Gigabyte’s B550M DS3H M-ATX Motherboard, there’s really no other option that I ‘like’ at this price point. The budget lineup of B550 motherboards does offer a substantial upgrade over their B450 counterparts. Moreover, the motherboard won’t limit the number of devices you can connect by not disabling ports because you decided to plug in a device to another port on your motherboard. The B550 … B450 vs. B550: Worth the Upgrade? While Gigabyte’s own X570 Aorus Pro does offer this functionality at a slightly lower price, the B550 Vision D is a compelling choice due to a few of its features. There are plenty of USB ports in addition to the two USB Type-C ports that support Thunderbolt. But it IS still a budget motherboard so I wouldn’t plonk down a 16-core processor into that board if handling any CPU-intensive tasks . For the most part, the rear I/O is quite substantial; I love the fact that Gigabyte hasn’t skimped out on either the number of USB ports or the high-speed 2.5 Gbe networking. So I have decided to go with B550 now. However, AMD said that B550 chipset isn't compatible with Ryzen 1000/2000 processors or Ryzen 3000 APUs like Ryzen 3 3200G and Ryzen 5 3400G. But for those who just want to do some gaming with something like a 6 or even 8-core Ryzen CPU, the DS3H will do just fine. Were they worth the wait? When AMD first announced Ryzen, most motherboard partners seemed skeptical as they’d likely heard all the tall marketing claims before. B550 chipset possesses PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slot for SSDs and PCIe 4.0 x16 slot to make full use of graphics card, but the general purpose PCIe lanes and CPU chipset uplink use PCIe 3.0 instead, which is also an upgrade over B450 chipset. With the addition of PCIe 4.0, one of the dramatical improvements in AMD B550 chipset is network speed. Of course, these newer boards do cost more. Even though gamers won’t 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 don’t make much sense from a pure value perspective. Again, if you’re using more than 3 SATA devices, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled. MSI’s Tomahawk has remained a permanent member of many best value motherboard recommendation lists for a good reason, and I’m happy to say that the B550 release doesn’t change this in the slightest. CGDirector is all about Computer-Builds & Hardware-Insight for Content Creators in 3D-Animation, Video Editing, Graphic Design & many more fields of Digital Content Creation. Another upgrade in B550 chipset is VRM and cooling system, which means that it is more excellent in thermal performance. From dual LAN and Wi-Fi 6 to Thunderbolt 3 support, the B550 Vision D clearly has a lot to offer and can’t be written off just because of its chipset. The second PCIe x16 slot 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. Moreover, you get access to both 2.5 Gigabit Intel LAN and Wi-Fi 6 as well. However, it does come in at a relatively higher price point of $260. Germany, Email The B550 AORUS Pro goes for $10 less at $179, and B550 AORUS Elite is priced at $159. Our main goal is to help PC-Builders and -Buyers in Computer Graphics find the best Hardware Components for their Workstations, maximizing efficiency and performance. On motherboard spec sheets, you might have come across numbers along with slots like – PCIe 3.0 x4 or PCIe 4.0 x16. Yes, for some, no for others. So, the wireless speed of B550 chipset is much more powerful than that of B450. The B550 Vision D brings many features that aren’t available on lower-end motherboards and is actually a pretty decent option for even heavy professional work. However, the launch has shaped up more like a replacement for both higher-end B450 boards as well as lower-end X570 motherboards. Bear in mind, most B550 motherboards in this category should be just fine for most Ryzen processors. PCIe Lanes Explained: What do x1, x4, x8, and x16 Mean? A motherboard with the build quality and VRM components taken directly from one of the best X570 motherboards they offer (Aorus Extreme, priced at $700). Gigabyte hasn’t taken any chances with the VRM on this motherboard and it is solid. However, at this price point and with the features this motherboard offers, it’s really something you can discount if you aren’t looking to do professional, compute, and graphics-heavy work. kenjiwing - Tuesday, June 16, 2020 - link Fortunately, this component is a unique motherboard among B550 and well worth reading up on [add link]. Here’s where the problems begin. Maikel Du Send an email 19 August، 2020. But if you’re on an A320 motherboard or are building a new system, the B550 lineup does offer something to many buyers in a certain price bracket. Meet the Asrock B550 Steel Legend motherboard. The micro-ATX … … Let’s take a quick look at the motherboard layout to see how it fares against an X570 motherboard in this price tier. Some B550 motherboards have started rolling in with a higher price tag than the more-affordable X570s. amd x470 vs x570. For professional rendering work, in most cases, you’d be better off with an X570 motherboard unless you’re shopping in the sub-$200 segments. When we cross the $200 threshold, we’re firmly in good X570 motherboard territory patrolled by the X570 Aorus Pro from Gigabyte. Well, let’s face it, at the mid to higher-end of the market at the time, that was what people bought. I’d say your picks are pretty good! It’ll easily handle anything Ryzen has to offer without breaking a sweat! However, there is a catch. Mind you, this slot placement is only a factor if you’re using higher-tier graphics cards, and NVMe drives for professional workloads like long renders. I plan on buying a Ryzen 4000 when it releases. Moreover, it also comes with 2.5 Gigabit networking like the motherboards below this price bracket, so you aren’t giving up anything by picking the B550-F Gaming over the other boards. 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’t bode well for long-term performance. [4] When the bottom M.2 slot is in use, two SATA ports will become unavailable on this motherboard. People suggested when 5000x series come out and they drop their prices further more, I could have till Jan to return it and get it for cheaper. 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. First things first. Graphics card slots (top PCIe slots on most motherboards) usually have plenty of bandwidth with a 16-lane connection to the CPU. Not exactly ideal if you’re running PCIe 3.0 GPUs like a 2080Ti for professional work. Best Mid-Range B550 Motherboards Under $180, Best Premium B550 Motherboards (for Most Users), Best Premium B550 Motherboards for Professionals, How Much RAM Do You Need For Video Editing, Best Monitor for Graphic Design, Video Editing & 3D Animation (Updated), Best Curved Monitors For Content Creators, Best Workstation Computer for 3D Modeling and Rendering, PC-Builder: Find The Best Parts For Your PC & Workstation, Best Computer for Video Editing [2020 Guide], Building the Best Cinema 4D Workstation Computer [2020 Guide], Building a PC for Video Editing (High Res/Bit Depth Footage) and Ideally VR/Animation Capabilities. The B550 AORUS Pro AC is the next best model in the lineup, priced at $189. However, the number after an x can denote both the SIZE of the PCIe slot and the NUMBER of data lanes connected to that slot. Many anticipated the B550 motherboards to replace the B450 lineup of motherboards. So, this time, instead of listing just the B550 motherboard recommendations, I’ll add recommended X570 alternatives (if there are any) as well so you can check them both out. 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. When you buy through our links, we may earn an, Expert Advice & PC-Build Planning with a warm and friendly Community! As someone who is not much of a tech person, they really look useful! You get an additional M.2 slot and the ability to run devices off the third PCIe slot while all M.2 slots are populated, no problem. Each ‘lane’ indicates an active data path that can be used to send and receive data. The X570 TUF’s second (bottom) M.2 slot supports PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Tomahawk is limited to PCIe 3.0 x4. If we move to the Gigabyte line, we see the B550 Gaming X going for $139. File is Open in Another Program, How to Find out? [3] You can use either the second M.2 slot or the middle full-length PCIe slot because the other gets disabled when one is in use. 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 (!) The Vision D only comes with Dual Gigabit LAN (Intel) and doesn’t include a speedier solution. So unless you need extreme speeds for all m2 storage slots, or unless you’re running specialized pcie hardware (not GPU’s), the b550 is a good budget-friendlier alternative to the generally more expensive x570. That said, the X570 Tomahawk is priced just $20 above the cost of these motherboards. Not only this, but the B550 … BlueParrott B550-XT 4.0 Can anyone tell me if a B550 motherboard is worth it over a B450 tomahawk max? In fact, the Aorus Pro would be a better choice if you have fewer SATA devices. 0 2,250 3 minutes read. Its sans-WLAN twin, the B550 AORUS Pro, goes for $10 less at $179. Even though the X570 chipset is superior to both the B550 and B450, many low-end X570 motherboards are stripped down of features. And whereas B450 chipset supports all Ryzen series (Ryzen 1000/2000/3000 processors). … For example, an x16 PCIe slot connected to the CPU can be split into two (x8/x8) slots to allow you to run multiple GPUs without taking a performance hit and being forced to go through the chipset. However, its lane distribution is pretty identical to the B550 Tomahawk, and at this point, it’s just better to grab the MSI X570 Tomahawk for an extra $10 to get a better experience. If you’re shopping in this price tier, you do have an option of going for the ASUS X570 TUF Gaming Plus. The B550 AORUS Elite is priced at $159. For gamers who are building a premium gaming PC, I’d say anything from the sub-$200 segments (depending on your budget) will be more than enough. The MSI X570 Unify is a solid choice if another $40 is within your budget. How to Improve Gaming Performance on Windows 10, What to do if Photo App in Windows10 doesn’t work right, Two Steps to Check Maximum RAM Capacity of Your Computer, Intel 300-Series Motherboards Comparison: Intel H310, B360, B365, H370, Z370, Z390, Recommended - Best Partition Size of 500GB Hard Disk for Windows 7, 8 and 10, How to Check RAM Slots Number in Laptop – Windows 10/8/7, How to Check TOTAL Size of Hard Disk Space in Windows 10/8/7. amd b550 worth it. There are plenty of USB ports; it also comes with a USB Type-C slot to connect newer, faster devices. Feel free to comment and ask for my inputs on your PC builds; I’ll do my best to help out! The quality of B550 motherboards might be a good sign for AMD processors, but that doesn’t mean you should immediately go out and buy one. B550 chipset is prepared for Ryzen 3000 processors and the upcoming AMD Ryzen desktop processors with the Zen 3 Architecture (Ryzen 4000 processors). After numerous delays, motherboards with the B550 chipset for AMD processors have finally started popping up on the market. Could you check on the price of the X570-TUF Gaming Wifi in your region? Due to the differences in lane distribution and sharing, this time around, I’ll be adding a sub-section about the PCI-E slots and M.2 slot for every B550 motherboard below. I am currently watching Youtube videos for ideas. For normal uses, they’ll be pretty similar. The second PCIe slot is set quite a bit away from the primary slot, and there’s no M.2 slot sitting right under the primary slot. But at $280, they’re uncomfortably close to some outstanding X570 motherboards (MSI X570 Unify and ASRock X570 Taichi) to warrant a recommendation. Gigabyte hasn’t compromised on the VRMs at all, and the Aorus Pro will be able to handle anything you throw at it from a power delivery standpoint. [2] If you’re 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. If you install a device in the bottom M.2 slot, the bottom full-length PCIe slot will remain disabled as they share lanes. The x570 supports more ssd drivers running pcie4 since the chipset itself also offers pcie4 lanes. From what I read and watched that for the price it's around the same price point and B550 isn't worth it as X570 offers more, is that right? At around this price point, these motherboards do come uncomfortably close to MSI’s 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.