There are many B550 motherboards available, but which one should you buy? Do you want to find the best B550 motherboard but are confused due to the sea of enormous options available in the market?
Well, don’t worry; I am here to help. I will review my top 10 picks for B550 motherboards.
So, in this article, you will get to know the best motherboards at different price points. Admittedly, evaluating motherboards can be tricky. One has to look into the chipset, form factor, and other technical stuff.
Therefore, I am including a comprehensive buyer’s guide to simplify all the technical bits for you.
That being said, let’s get started without any delay.
In a Hurry? These are the Best B550 Motherboards
Curious to know which B550 motherboards are the best. The following is a quick look at my picks.
The complete reviews for all these motherboards are down below, in which I have gone into detail.
*For more info on the motherboards below, click the “Jump to review” button to go to our review of that motherboard.
Best Overall
Best Under $300
Best for Ryzen 9
Best for Ryzen 7
ATX Pick
Mini-ITX Pick
Micro-ATX Pick
Best Under $200
Best for Ryzen 5
Best Under $100
In-Depth Review
The following are the reviews of the current top-ranked B550 motherboards available in the market. All the reviews are based upon first-hand testing, and only the motherboards that pass our stringent testing process are featured here.
We also give utmost preference to what the motherboard is to use, rather than just the motherboard’s specs. Therefore, cable management, port accessibility, and location also play a major part in the final ranking.
Best Overall
1. ASRock B550 Taichi
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Pros
Cons
The ASRock B550 Taichi is the best B550 offering currently available. This motherboard has an excellent VRM, great specs, impressive connectivity, and some very convenient features making it the best B550 motherboard you can buy.
Before I proceed to the specs and the technical bits, can we just take a moment and appreciate the design of this beautiful motherboard. The matte black color and the gold gear wheel accent make the motherboard look spectacular.
This motherboard has a distinct look and is unlike any other offering available in the market. Looks, however, don’t help much in running the motherboard, so it needs to have good specs, and that is exactly the case with the ASRock B550 Taichi.
This motherboard has a true 16-phase direct VRM, which gives the ASRock B550 Taichi flawless power delivery capability. This motherboard can easily handle any Ryzen CPU you throw at it.
Combine the great VRM with excellent cooling, and you have a recipe for one of the best-performing B550 motherboards. The large heatsinks of this motherboard run through the entire length, resulting in very low temperatures even under full load.
As if it is already not enough, this motherboard also supports RAM speeds up to 5400MHz, making it one of the faster motherboards on the market. However, this does not matter if the connectivity of the motherboard is not up to par.
Pleased to say that the ASRock B550 Taichi does not disappoint the connectivity department either. Every port that you need you will find here.
On the rear, this motherboard includes 2.5G Ethernet LAN, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, and 5x audio ports.
As far as the internal connectivity goes, this motherboard has 2x M.2 slots, 8x SATA ports, 6x fan headers, 2x 3-pin addressable RGB headers, and 2x LED headers. This might be a nitpick, but only 2x M.2 slots are not enough for me.
Overall, the ASRock B550 Taichi is a well-rounded package. This motherboard has great VRM, fantastic cooling, and excellent connectivity. The motherboard’s quality is also next to none, making it the best motherboard you can buy for Ryzen CPUs.
You Should Buy This Motherboard If …
- You want a good-looking motherboard that is very powerful and capable
- You want a B550 motherboard that offers some of the best features
- You want a B550 motherboard to overclock your Ryzen CPU
You Should Not Buy This Motherboard If …
- You want to connect more than two NVMe M.2 storage drives
- You want thunderbolt connectivity
Best Under $300
2. Gigabyte B550 Vision D
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Pros
Cons
The Gigabyte B550 Vision D is the newest B550 offering from the brand. This motherboard is crafted around the principle of providing users with a high-quality B550 motherboard that looks good.
Indeed, the Gigabyte B550 Vision D is striking to look at. The motherboard’s matte white color scheme looks sublime when installed in a case with a tempered glass side panel.
Gigabyte has also stayed away from putting logos and branding on the motherboard, maintaining a very clean profile that makes for an even better-looking motherboard.
Some of you might be disappointed because this motherboard has no RGB lighting. Still, I have to say without the RGB lighting; this motherboard gives off a very elegant look.
The Gigabyte B550 Vision D is not all about looks. Apart from its good looks, it has top-notch specs, which is also a selling point for this motherboard.
The 12+2 phase VRM of this motherboard is quite decent but not as good as one would expect for a B550 motherboard with such a high price tag. Additionally, this motherboard supports a maximum RAM capacity of 128GB at 5400MHz, which is quite nice.
If you look at this motherboard, you will see many heatsinks on different parts of the motherboard. These heatsinks are placed for cooling and do their job quite well. Even under full load, the temperatures of this motherboard stay relatively low.
The Gigabyte B550 Vision D surprised me in the connectivity aspect. It comes with all the ports you want in a modern motherboard.
Starting from the rear I/O, this motherboard has Dual 1G LAN ports, multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, a BIOS flashback button, and audio ports. The dual LAN is great, but both the LAN ports are capped at 1Gbps, while the competitors offer 2.5G LAN.
In terms of internal headers, this motherboard comes with 2x M.2 slots, 4x SATA ports, thunderbolt, 2x 3-pin addressable RGB headers, and 2x 4-pin RGB headers. Only having two M.2 slots and four SATA ports can be quite limiting if you want to connect many storage drives.
On the other hand, the thunderbolt in this motherboard takes connectivity to the next level. All in all, this motherboard fares quite well in the connectivity department. However, remember on this motherboard, you are limited to only two NVMe M.2 drives.
Overall, this motherboard is a very good package for under $300. It looks great, works great, and has decent connectivity; therefore, I can’t say much wrong about the Gigabyte B550 Vision D.
You Should Buy This Motherboard If …
- You are looking for an aesthetically pleasing motherboard that has a unique design compared to other B550 motherboards
- You are looking for a feature-rich motherboard that can provide you with some very handy features
You Should Not Buy This Motherboard If …
- If you want the most capable VRM for overclocking Ryzen 9.
- You have upwards of 1Gbps internet connection because the Ethernet LAN port of this motherboard is limited to 1Gbps.
- You want to connect multiple M.2 drives since this motherboard has only two M.2 slots
Best for Ryzen 9
3. Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master
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Pros
Cons
The Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master is the most capable B550 motherboard currently available. It has excellent performance, which makes it ideal for a CPU like Ryzen 9, which requires a great amount of power.
The best thing about this motherboard is its true 16-phase VRM. Direct 16-phase VRMs are a rare sight and available only on some special motherboards. Due to its fantastic VRM and power delivery, this motherboard can handle a Ryzen 9 with relative ease.
On top of having a good VRM, this motherboard also supports 5400MHz RAM clock speed, which is the highest speed for RAM on a B550 motherboard.
Gigabyte has also gone to great lengths to ensure its flagship B550 motherboard is cooled well. This motherboard has multiple heat sinks that help dissipate heat efficiently. To further reduce heat, this motherboard has a thermal backplate as well.
The Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master also comes with stellar connectivity, which is expected since it is one of the most expensive B550 motherboards.
On the rear, this motherboard has 2.5G Ethernet LAN, 5x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 6x USB 2.0 ports, 1x HDMI, 1x USB-C, and 5x audio ports. Seeing the USB-C port is nice, but I wish they would have given the Thunderbolt option.
As far as internal connectivity is concerned, it is very good. This motherboard has 3x M.2 slots, 6x SATA ports, 2x 3-pin addressable RGB header, and 2x 4-pin RGB header.
Apart from the connectivity, this motherboard has many great features as well. These features include built-in WiFi 6, BIOS flashback support, and Hi-Fi audio connectivity.
You Should Buy This Motherboard If …
- You are looking for the motherboard with the best VRM and power delivery
- You want to overclock Ryzen 9
- You want the best performance out of your motherboard
You Should Not Buy This Motherboard If …
- You are looking for a value-to-money motherboard
Best for Ryzen 7
4. MSI MEG B550 Unify
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Pros
Cons
The MSI MEG B550 Unify is the most extreme motherboard MSI has to offer in terms of performance. It is a motherboard with a great VRM backed up by solid specs.
The MSI Meg Unify B550 gives off its performance intent through its looks by having large heatsinks on all the key parts like VRM, chipset, and M2 slots.
These large heatsinks are needed because this motherboard has a direct 14+2 phase VRM, which ensures great power delivery at the expense of heat.
Besides having a great VRM, this motherboard also supports high memory speed. The 4x RAM slots of this motherboard can accommodate a maximum RAM of 128GB at the speed of 5100MHz, which is on the higher side as far as B550 motherboards are concerned.
These specifications also call for great stability. The motherboard does that by having a 6-layer PCB design, which improves not only the stability of the motherboard but also its operating efficiency.
Moving onto the connectivity next and no surprises here, this motherboard offers great connectivity. It has all the ports that you would need on a B550 motherboard.
On the rear, this motherboard includes 2.5G Ethernet LAN, 4x USB 2.0 ports, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 1x USB-C Gen 2 port, 1x HDMI port, and 5x audio ports.
While seven USB ports are more than enough, users who want to plugin many USB peripherals and gadgets to the PC may find them somewhat limiting.
Internal connectivity-wise, this motherboard has 4x M2 slots, 6x SATA ports, 2x 4-pin RGB headers, 2x 3-pin addressable RGB headers, and 6x case fan headers.
This motherboard also comes with many features that include built-in WiFi 6 connectivity, BIOS flashback, support for Gigabyte RGB fusion 2.0, and a bandwidth manager.
Overall, the MSI MEG B550 Unify is among the top B550 motherboards that are currently available in the market. The performance and the specs of this motherboard are amazing. Therefore, it can support the Ryzen 7 without any issue, making it an easy recommendation.
You Should Buy This Motherboard If …
- You want to overclock your Ryzen 7 CPU without any hassle
- You are looking for a motherboard with the best specs, i.e., 14+2 phase VRM, 5100MHz RAM Speed
You Should Not Buy This Motherboard If …
- You want the most features for your money
- You want a motherboard that looks good and has RGB lighting.
ATX Pick
5. Asus ROG Strix B550-E Gaming
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Pros
Cons
The Asus ROG Strix is the brand’s highest-end motherboard on the B550 chipset. Due to its position in the Asus lineup, this motherboard enjoys special features that other motherboards don’t get. The quality of this motherboard is also excellent.
The Asus ROG Strix B550-E Gaming is quite expensive for a B550 motherboard, but the specs more than makeup for the price tag. The 14+2 phase VRM of this motherboard provides fantastic uninterrupted power delivery.
Asus has made sure to cool their motherboard properly. The ROG Strix B550-E Gaming has a heatsink on the VRM, chipset, and M.2 slots. These heatsinks are necessary to keep the temperature low as the motherboard has PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, which are generally hotter.
With a properly made PCB, Asus has ensured that this motherboard is up to every challenge. You can put this motherboard through extreme testing, and it won’t get hot or throttle under load.
Besides the VRM, other technical specs of the motherboard are also impressive. It supports a maximum RAM capacity of 128GB at 4866MHz.
Now, you might think that 4866MHz clock speed is low, but to put it into perspective, even the ASRock Taichi has 5400MHz speed. One perk of the Asus ROG Strix B550-E Gaming is that achieving 4866MHz RAM speed is effortless.
In terms of connectivity, the Asus ROG Strix B550-E Gaming has only 2x M.2 slots, but this is the only negative you will find on this motherboard. Apart from that, the rest of the connectivity is very good.
On the rear, this motherboard has 2.5G Intel LAN, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, 4x USB 2.0 ports, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, and 5x audio ports.
If you don’t fancy using the Ethernet LAN, then this motherboard has got you covered with a built-in WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connection.
The internal connectivity of the motherboard is also spectacular. It has 6x SATA ports, 2x 3-pin addressable RGB headers, 2x 4-pin RGB headers, and a thunderbolt header.
Having a thunderbolt header is great because it allows for greater flexibility when it comes to connectivity.
All in all, the Asus ROG Strix B550-E Gaming is a powerful motherboard that offers a good feature set. It is a good buy if you can swallow the high price tag. However, if you want the best performance for the least possible money, there are better motherboards out there.
You Should Buy This Motherboard If …
- You want the most feature-rich B550 motherboard
- You want a capable motherboard that will be reliable in the long run and last you a while
You Should Not Buy This Motherboard If …
- You are looking for the most capable price to performance motherboard for the least money.
Mini-ITX Pick
6. Gigabyte B550I Aorus Pro AX
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Pros
Cons
There are not many Mini-ITX motherboards around, so options are limited. Among the few options, the c stands tall as the best Mini-ITX B550 offering currently on the market.
I am pleased to report that Gigabyte has not stripped down the Mini-ITX version of the Aorus Pro. Many traits of the ATX version of the Aorus Pro are carried over to this version, which is quite a rare sight.
As a result, the performance capability of the Gigabyte B550I Aorus Pro is fantastic. This motherboard has a true 8-phase VRM with 90A power stages, which is the best you can wish for in a Mini-ITX motherboard.
The power delivery of this motherboard is the best compared to other Mini-ITX motherboards but still not on par with similarly priced ATX motherboards.
Due to the Mini-ITX form factor, only 2x RAM slots are offered on this motherboard, making the maximum RAM capacity 64GB. The supported RAM speed, however, is great at 5300MHz.
The main caveat of using Mini-ITX motherboards is the compromise on connectivity. This motherboard is also bound to that outcome, but despite that, the connectivity of this motherboard is pretty decent.
There are enough ports to cater to the needs of users. On the rear, this motherboard has 2.5G Ethernet LAN, 1x USB-C, 5x USB-A, 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, and 3x audio ports.
For internal connectivity, this motherboard offers 2x M.2 slots, 4x SATA ports, 2x case fan headers, 1x 3-pin RGB header, and 1x 4-pin RGB header.
Although only four SATA ports and one 3-pin and one 4-pin RGB header can be quite limiting, given the form factor of the motherboard, that is to be expected.
Luckily, Gigabyte has given this motherboard many features to combat some connectivity shortcomings. They include built-in WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, BIOS flashback support, bandwidth controller, and a Hi-Fi audio DAC for lossless sound processing.
Overall, the Gigabyte B550I Aorus Pro AX is a Mini-ITX motherboard that is not painful to use. This motherboard also comes with decent specs and has good connectivity and features.
You Should Buy This Motherboard If …
- You are looking for the best Mini-ITX B550 motherboard available on the market
- You want a Mini-ITX motherboard that is capable and has good performance
- You want a feature-rich Mini-ITX motherboard
You Should Not Buy This Motherboard If …
- You want the least complex motherboard that is easy to build a PC with.
- You want a motherboard with good connectivity
Micro-ATX Pick
7. MSI MAG B550M Mortar WiFi
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Pros
Cons
Good Micro-ATX motherboards have become rare. These days, consumers want a ton of different ports on their motherboard without keeping in mind that a Micro-ATX motherboard has limited space due to being smaller in size.
The MSI MAG B550M Mortar alleviates the consumers’ connectivity concerns. Despite the smaller size, MSI has managed to fit all the necessary ports and headers to this motherboard. Hence you can enjoy the experience of a full-size motherboard with the MSI MAG B550M Mortar.
Sure, you won’t get a couple of PCIe slots or more than six SATA ports like a typical ATX motherboard, but let’s be honest; not many people need them anyway.
If that wasn’t already impressive, MSI has gone to great lengths to ensure that this motherboard gets the best specs of any Micro-ATX B550 motherboard.
The MSI MAG B550M Mortar has a great VRM, as a result of which this motherboard can be used with any Ryzen CPU without any worry. It will perform well even with the Ryzen 5900X, provided you don’t overclock it.
This brings to the only negative of this motherboard, which, as you might have guessed, is its subpar overclocking performance. It is not the VRM that holds the motherboard back but the cooling.
Due to its small size, this motherboard does not receive much cooling and can get hot; however, that is expected because of its form factor.
The support for RAM speed up to 4400MHz, is not impressive, especially when cheaper options support 5000+ MHz RAM speed. However, it is not quite as bad, and it is a sacrifice that you will have to make.
All things considered, the MSI MAG B550M Morta is a great Micro-ATX motherboard that will fill your appetite for a smaller motherboard. Unlike other Micro-ATX motherboards, it offers great specs and good connectivity, making it a breeze to use. Therefore, the MSI MAG B550M Morta WiFi is the best Micro-ATX B550 motherboard that you can get your hands on.
You Should Buy This Motherboard If …
- You are looking for the most capable Micro-ATX motherboard available on the market
- You want decent connectivity out of your Micro-ATX motherboard
You Should Not Buy This Motherboard If …
- You want to run RAM at high speeds
- You want the most features for your money
- You don’t want a Micro-ATX motherboard. There are better ATX motherboards for the money
Best Under $200
8. Asus ROG Strix B550-F
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Pros
Cons
The Asus ROG Strix B550-F is the top-of-the-line mainstream B550 motherboard that Asus has to offer. Being the very best from Asus, this motherboard is packed with features. It has good technical specifications, which makes the motherboard worth exploring at the sub $200 price tag.
The Asus ROG Strix B550-F has robust power delivery due to the 12+2 phase VRM design. As a result, this motherboard can effectively handle a Ryzen 5 or a Ryzen 7 CPU without any problem.
The solid VRM of this motherboard is backed up by some great cooling. This motherboard has multiple heatsinks, especially on important parts like VRM, chipset, M.2 slot, etc.
Due to multiple heatsinks, this motherboard’s temperatures remain quite low. As for the other technical specs, this motherboard supports a maximum RAM capacity of 128GB at 5100MHz.
The features and the connectivity of this motherboard are surprisingly very good. Better than most sub $200 motherboards.
For the rear I/O, this motherboard has 2.5G ethernet LAN, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 4x USB 3.2 ports, and audio jacks.
Out of all the rear I/O ports, the 2.5G Ethernet LAN is the most impressive. Also, the audio DAC of this motherboard is a very high-quality one. Therefore, you will get to enjoy your music and gaming audio in a better way.
Moving onto the internal connectivity, this motherboard comes with 6x SATA ports, 2x M.2 slots, 1x Thunderbolt header, 3x chassis fan headers, 2x 3-pin addressable RGB headers, and 2x 4-Pin RGB headers.
Thunderbolt connectivity in a sub $200 motherboard is quite impressive because most motherboards don’t come with one at this price.
All things considered, the Asus ROG Strix B550-F is a very compelling buy at the sub $200 price point. It has connectivity and features of a more expensive motherboard while having a decent VRM.
You Should Buy This Motherboard If …
- You are looking for a motherboard with solid VRM and power delivery at the $200 price tag.
- You want the best connectivity at $200.
- You want a thunderbolt connection in your motherboard.
You Should Not Buy This Motherboard If …
- You want to connect multiple M.2 NVMe drives because this motherboard has only two M.2 slots.
Best for Ryzen 5
9. MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk
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Pros
Cons
The motherboards that are part of the MSI Tomahawk series are value-to-money offerings, and this MAG B550 Tomahawk is no exception. It is one of the better motherboards under $200 in terms of performance, feature, and price, making it a great value-to-money offering.
The main benefit of spending around $70 more for the MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk instead of the Asus Prime B550 Plus is that you get a much-improved VRM. The 10+2+1 VRM of this motherboard is a class apart from other $200 motherboards and even rivals some more expensive motherboards.
The cooling of the MSI Tomahawk is also quite impressive. While not on the same level as its other high-end counterparts, the MSI Tomahawk never gets too hot.
The supported RAM capacity of this motherboard is 128GB at the maximum clock speed of 5100MHz, which is again a very impressive figure for a sub $200 motherboard.
In terms of features, there isn’t much that the MSI can show up for. Most of the features of this motherboard are on the practical front. For example, this motherboard has a 6-layer PCB design with 2oz thick copper, which improves the performance and stability of the motherboard.
Coming to the connectivity next, this motherboard hits a home run. It has Dual 2.5G and 1G Lan, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, BIOS flashback button, and multiple USB-A ports on the back.
Internally this motherboard contains 2x M.2 slots, 6x SATA ports, 6x case fan headers, 2x 4-pin RGB headers, and 2x 3-pin addressable RGB headers.
Overall, the MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk represents great value for money at the sub $200 price tag. It is a motherboard with excellent performance and good connectivity, making it the best choice for Ryzen 5 CPU.
You Should Buy This Motherboard If …
- You are looking for a value-to-money B550 motherboard
- You want dual Ethernet LAN connectivity
- You want a motherboard that is a well-rounded package
- You are looking to use Ryzen 5
You Should Not Buy This Motherboard If …
- You want to connect multiple M.2 NVMe Storage drives
Best Under $100
10. ASRock B550M-HDV
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Pros
Cons
The ASRock B550-HDV is a solid budget-friendly AM4 motherboard for the Ryzen processor, but that’s about it. You are not getting any groundbreaking features with this motherboard, which is expected given the sub $100 price tag. It works well and gets the job done.
The technical specifications of the ASRock B550-HDV are not bad. They are certainly befitting for a sub $100 motherboard because you can get much worse at this price tag.
The 6-phase VRM of the motherboard provides adequate power delivery for lower-tier Ryzen processors like the Ryzen 5. I won’t pair this motherboard with Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 because it is not powerful enough for those processors.
This motherboard supports 4600MHz memory speed, which is good for a sub $100 motherboard. Despite not having many heatsinks, this motherboard remains relatively cool.
I attribute that to the Micro-ATX form factor of the motherboard. Since this motherboard is smaller, cooling it is easier than ATX motherboards. One problem the Micro-ATX form factor presents is connectivity.
Unfortunately, like many other Micro-ATX motherboards, the ASRock B550-HDV also lacks some ports and headers. Still, the overall connectivity of the motherboard is not horrible.
The motherboard has 2x RAM slots, so the maximum RAM capacity of this motherboard is limited to 64GB. Besides that, this motherboard has 1x M.2 slot and 4x SATA ports. Having four SATA ports can be forgiven for the price, but only one M.2 slot can be a deal breaker.
In terms of the rear connectivity, this motherboard has 1G Ethernet LAN, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 2x USB 2.0 ports, 1x HDMI, and an audio jack. Not having a single USB-C or a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port is disappointing.
Overall, the ASRock B550-HDV is a decent budget-friendly motherboard that gets the job done. It does not try to reinvent the wheel as far as budget-friendly motherboards go. Still, it is one of the more complete offerings in the sub $100 price bracket due to its decent performance.
You Should Buy This Motherboard If …
- You are looking for a budget-friendly motherboard that can get the job done.
- You want to upgrade to a better motherboard later on.
You Should Not Buy This Motherboard If …
- You want to use a higher CPU than Ryzen 5.
- You want a motherboard that can last a while before needing to upgrade.
- You want features such as WiFi, Bluetooth, or BIOS flashback from your motherboard.
B550 Motherboards Buyer’s Guide
The buyer’s guide exists mainly to inform you about how you can buy a better motherboard for yourself. It would have been so easy for me to just simply provide you with just the list of the top ten B550 motherboards, but that wouldn’t help you determine which motherboard is the one you need.
Every motherboard is different and has something unique to offer. Therefore, despite some motherboards being technically superior to others, the user experience can be totally different.
Choose the motherboard from my recommended picks that suits your needs and goes well with your PC setup. In this buying guide section, we will see how you can do that.
Two Important Things You Need to Consider Before Buying Any Motherboard
Proper preparation is the key to finding the best product for your needs. This case also applies to buying a motherboard. Therefore, there are two things that you need to do before buying a motherboard. They are.
1. Set Your Budget
Motherboard prices can vary significantly. A B550 can set you back around $100 or cost upwards of $300. If you don’t decide on the budget before beginning your search for a motherboard, that will only lead to confusion.
You will get carried away by a more expensive or shinier-looking motherboard, and you won’t be able to focus on getting the best motherboard within your price bracket. Even if that motherboard is the best for you, you will compare it to the more expensive motherboard only to be disappointed.
I don’t want you to do that; therefore, I have created specific price-wise categories for the motherboards. In it, I have the best motherboard for each budget, which will make things a whole lot easier for you.
2. Determine What You Want Out of Your Motherboard
Not everyone wants the same thing out of their motherboard. Some people might be looking to overclock their CPU on the B550 motherboard they wish to buy. Other people might be looking for specific ports to incorporate the motherboard into their setup.
While others might just want the basic functionality out of their motherboard. Therefore, the needs and preferences people have are different. Similarly, motherboards are also made with the needs and preferences of people in mind.
Some motherboards might be better for overclocking, and some might offer thunderbolt connectivity, etc. Keeping that in mind, you should relate your needs to what the motherboard is offering and buy accordingly.
Many people ask how to determine what we want from our motherboard. The simple answer is to evaluate what you want to do with your motherboard once you get it.
This will create a picture of the ideal motherboard in your mind, and now all you need to do is identify the characteristics that your ideal motherboard needs.
For example, suppose you want to use the B550 motherboard for overclocking. For overclocking, you ideally want a motherboard that has all the attributes of an excellent overclocking motherboard to facilitate you in that task. In that case, the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master is a great choice.
The gist is that you should determine what you want from the motherboard and get the motherboard that can help and facilitate you in that task.
Factors That You Need to Be on the Lookout for When Choosing a B550 Motherboard
Above I have given you the example of a motherboard that is good for overclocking. Still, how will you determine which motherboard is good for overclocking? Well, besides me telling you in the review section, you can also determine it yourself.
To determine that, you need to know certain factors that affect a motherboard. These factors are responsible for the characteristics of a motherboard.
So, after knowing about them, you will learn how to differentiate between motherboards based on their characteristics. This is the last step in determining which motherboard works best for you. The factors you will need to know are the following:
1. The Chipset
The chipset is the brain of the motherboard. The part of the motherboard is responsible for providing the motherboard with all the processing it needs. It also determines which qualities a motherboard gets.
The B550 motherboard that you want to buy has a B550 chipset. B550 chipset is the fan-favorite for budget-friendly AMD Ryzen builds, for good reasons. This chipset has fantastic features, including PCIe 4.0 lanes in a relatively reliable and thermally efficient package.
The B550 chipset provides great features, but since AMD Ryzen motherboards are cross-compatible, it makes one wonder if you really need a B550 over the B450. Let’s find out.
B450 vs B550? Is It Worth Upgrading to the Newer Chipset?
The B550 chipset brings many new notable features to the table. The support for PCIe 4.0 lanes is especially great since it allows users to run Gen 4 M2 NVME storage drives. While this advantage of the B550 motherboard is quite good, the high price tag might not be justified if you have a B450 motherboard already.
The performance difference between B450 and B550 motherboards is minimal. So, by having the B450 over the B550, the only thing you are missing out on is the ability to install Gen 4 NVME M2 drives on your PC.
Now, you have to decide if that aspect alone is worth considering an upgrade. If you ask me, stick with the B450 motherboard if you have a high-end motherboard. However, if you are using a low-tier motherboard, then upgrading is necessary.
It also depends on which AMD processor you want to use with your motherboard. With a Ryzen 5 or the Ryzen 7, you should be fine with B450 but for Ryzen 9, consider upgrading to a B550 motherboard.
Going with the B550 is preferable if you are buying your first motherboard as it will provide you the newest platform with better features and superior longevity.
B550 vs X570: What Are You Missing?
You might ask yourself what a person is missing out on by not buying the more premium X570 motherboard for AMD Ryzen processor. Let me tell you; there is not much you miss out on.
Don’t take my word for it; let’s see the official specs of the B550 and the X570 motherboard chipset.
The chart above shows that the only key difference between B550 and the X570 chipset is that the latter support PCIe Gen 4.
While this may seem a big deal, you won’t feel any significant difference unless you pair it with Ryzen 9. Consequently, the Ryzen 9 on the B550 is a tad bit slower than on the X570 motherboard.
On the contrary, the performance of the Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 5 is the same on both the B550 and X570 chipset. Therefore, as long as you are not running the Ryzen 9, you are not missing out on much. You still get support for PCIe Gen 4 M.2 NVMe storage drives and PCIe Gen 4 lanes for the graphics card.
Even if you want to use a Ryzen 9, the B550 chipset is still not a bad proposition. You only lose a little performance but benefit from not having to pay twice the price for an X570 motherboard.
All in all, the B550 motherboard is a great choice for folks looking to build their first Ryzen-based PC or want to upgrade from an old PC to the new AMD Ryzen one.
2. VRM and Power Delivery
The voltage regulator module (VRM) is the motherboard part designed to deliver power to the CPU. It is a very important factor because any slight mishap in voltage can result in catastrophic damage to the CPU.
If you think about it, the whole premise of the motherboard is supplying power to the CPU so that the PC can work. So, if a motherboard cannot get that part right then, there is no point in buying that motherboard.
Motherboards can come with a variety of VRMs with different power stages. Ideally, you are looking for a 10-phase VRM motherboard for Ryzen 5, 12 phase VRM motherboard for Ryzen 7, and a 12+ phase VRM motherboard for Ryzen 9.
The general rule is that the more core CPU you want to put in your motherboard, the more powerful your motherboard VRM needs to be. That being said, the sweet spot for motherboard VRMs is 12 phases.
3. Memory Support and Memory Speed
Another very important technical aspect of the B550 motherboard is maximum memory support and the speed at which they support the said memory.
All ATX B550 motherboards support a maximum memory capacity of 128GB, which is relatively straightforward. Still, the main variation comes in the speed segment.
B550 motherboards support different memory speeds. The higher the memory speed, the better the PC’s performance. Ryzen CPUs especially like high-speed memory, and the performance difference it can bring is quite staggering.
We are talking about a performance difference of 10% in games and general computing tasks. Therefore, when buying a B550 motherboard, look for one that supports fast memory speeds.
Ideally, you are looking for a motherboard with support for RAM speeds upwards of 3200MHz. 3200MHz is the sweet spot; anything under is considered on the lower side.
4. Form Factor
Not all B550 motherboards have the same form factor. If you are unaware, the form factor refers to the size of the motherboard. There are three types of different form factors for a B550 motherboard.
- ATX
- Micro-ATX
- Mini-ITX
ATX Motherboards
ATX is the standard form factor that is most widely used in motherboards. ATX motherboards have a length of 12 inches and a width of 9.6 inches. Since these motherboards are the largest of the bunch, they have the most number of ports and hence offer the best functionality.
Micro-ATX Motherboards
The Micro-ATX form factor is a shaved-down version of the ATX form factor. Micro-ATX motherboards have a length of 9.6 inches and a width of 9.6 inches. The width of these motherboards is the same as ATX motherboards, while the length is less. As a result, some ports are compromised on the Micro-ATX motherboard but not by much. These motherboards still offer decent functionality.
Mini-ITX Motherboards
The mini-ITX form factor is the smallest of the bunch. Mini-ITX motherboards have a length of 6.7 inches and a width of 6.7 inches. Due to being compact and narrow, these motherboards offer a limited number of ports. Therefore, their functionality is also quite compromised.
In terms of which is the best form factor, there isn’t any right or wrong when it comes to form factor. It is just a matter of personal preference and what the situation calls for.
For example, if you want to build a compact and small gaming PC, then you will use the Micro-ATX or the Mini-ITX motherboard due to their small size. On the contrary, if you want your motherboard to have the highest number of ports, then the ATX motherboard is a clear winner.
Keeping aside the benefits and drawbacks of the different form factors. If you are a beginner and don’t have experience with PCs, just stick to the motherboard size already used in your PC.
For building a new gaming PC, Mini-ITX should be avoided. These motherboards offer very limited ports and, therefore, can be challenging to work with.
5. Rear I/O
Rear Input and Output (I/O) ports are situated at the back of the motherboard and, as the name suggests, provide possible input and output connectivity to the motherboard. These rear I/O ports include an Ethernet jack, USB ports, audio ports, HDMI ports, DisplayPort, etc.
Having a versatile I/O with a lot of USB connections is essential for a motherboard. Suppose a motherboard does not have good I/O. In that case, you won’t be able to connect PC peripherals and other gadgets, like the monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc., to the PC.
With enough ports to connect all the essential PC components, the ports also need the latest technology. For example, the USB 3.0 Gen 4 is the latest technology for USB ports that allows for faster data transmission.
6. Internal Headers
Internal headers of the motherboard are the connectors and the ports on the motherboard itself. These ports allow components, like the RAM, GPU, etc., to connect to the motherboard.
When selecting a motherboard, you have to ensure that the motherboard you are buying has enough internal headers to connect all your PC components.
Also, the internal headers should be positioned with cable management and convenience in mind. Nothing is more frustrating than having to route the fan cable around the PC case just to reach the isolated fan headers of the motherboard.
Ideally, in your motherboard, you want at least 3x M.2 slots, 6x SATA ports, 2x 4-pin RGB headers, 2x 3-pin RGB headers and 1x CPU fan header, and 4x case fan headers.
7. Salient Features
There are many different features that you will see present in motherboards. These features have the power to influence your motherboard buying decision.
The feature set on one motherboard differs from the feature set on the other. For example, one motherboard may have features more geared towards helping users with overclocking. In contrast, the other motherboard might have features that are more geared towards easing users’ convenience.
The Gigabyte B550 Vision D is the motherboard with many features that make using the motherboard more enjoyable.
Depending on your need and preference, choose the features that complement what you want from your motherboard.
8. BIOS
Many people don’t consider BIOS a relevant factor when purchasing their motherboard, but they couldn’t have been more wrong.
The BIOS is the operating system of your motherboard, so it should be quite understood that without a good BIOS motherboard cannot work properly. BIOS is a link between the motherboard hardware and the software trying to communicate with the motherboards.
BIOS displays information of the motherboard to the users. It gives them manual control to set different vital options like CPU core clocks, voltages, RAM speeds, etc., according to their preference.
Due to BIOS being such an integral part of the motherboard ecosystem, it is not to be ignored. Getting a motherboard with a good BIOS is not so easy because you can’t really evaluate a BIOS without testing it.
Lucky for you, I have tested all the B550 motherboards and found their BIOS reliable and user-friendly.
FAQs
Related Guides
Check out our related motherboard guides.
- Best Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X
- Best Motherboard for Ryzen 9 5900X
- Best Motherboard for Ryzen 7 5800X
- Best Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600
- Best Motherboards for Gaming
Check out some of the other related guides.
- How to Install Motherboard
- How to Upgrade a Motherboard
- How to Update Motherboard BIOS
- How to Update Motherboard Drivers
Final Word
Now that we have reviewed all the B550 motherboards, which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments down below.
I hope you found the information in this article helpful because I wanted to provide you with a motherboard recommendation based on your needs and preferences. Since every person has different needs, I tried to include a vast range of motherboards.
Before wrapping up, I want to iterate the importance of getting the right motherboard for your needs. The buyer’s guide section goes in-depth on this, but I want to keep it simple here.
If you are looking to casually use the motherboard, then there is no need to go with expensive motherboards. The Asus ROG Strix B550-F or the MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk will be good enough for general use.
However, if you want to extract the most performance out of your Ryzen CPU, you need a high-end CPU for overclocking. In that case, the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master or the ASRock B550 Taichi will be a better option.
There are also other motherboards like the Asus ROG Strix B550-E Gaming for users who want to enjoy the most features from their motherboard.
The gist is that you should get the motherboard best suited for your consumption and need. If you need help choosing a motherboard, feel free to ask any questions in the comment below. Also, if you have chosen a motherboard, I would like to know which one it is and why.
The Author Who Worked On This Article
Waleed Madni
A tech enthusiast with the spirit of a competitive gamer. Waleed has been around computers ever since he was young and has witnessed the progress of the machines he loves the most. Fascinated by what tomorrow has to offer, he keeps himself up to date with the latest technology and gaming trends.