b550 motherboard

AMD’s b550 motherboard is a midrange option that offers a balance of features and price. It supports the latest Ryzen processors and works well for gamers, content creators, and professionals who need fast storage and graphics. It’s a cost-effective alternative to the X570 chipset and provides PCIe 4.0 support via the CPU, a crucial feature for gaming. Like the X570, B550 motherboards can overclock, which is great for those who want to push the limits of their hardware.

As a budget-tier chipset, B550 motherboards don’t offer the same level of modern enhancements as more expensive options. However, you can still find plenty of USB ports—including faster 3.2 Gen 2—and a variety of SATA slots for more expansion. Additionally, B550 motherboards typically support a 2.5Gbps LAN connection for fast network connections.

Why an SFX PSU is Ideal for Small Form Factor PCs

In our tests of MSI’s MAG B550M Mortar board, the company hit just about every mark on a budget B550 motherboard. The board comes in a compact microATX form factor, and it’s the only B550 board from MSI that doesn’t include built-in wireless networking. The board also lacks an easy-mode BIOS menu, but it’s a minor gripe in an otherwise impressive package.

GIGABYTE’s Aorus Master is another standout among B550 motherboards. The board’s white shrouding could be a tempting canvas for modders, but it’s not without its flaws. For starters, the Aorus Master’s M.2 slots operate at a reduced PCIe 4.0 x8 speed when they’re populated. The resulting lower performance sucks away some of the main board’s overall PCIe 4.0 bandwidth, which reduces its overall performance.