The motherboards with AMD B550 chipset will be on the market from June 16, but Asus has decided to unveil the entire offer early, characterized by solutions belonging to families Prime, TUF Gaming and ROG Strix for a total of 10 models. The B550 chipset represents the "popular" proposal of the AMD 500 series, with the X570 leading the way. The B550 chipset allows you to enjoy connectivity PCI Express 4.0 for both NVMe storage and video cards in conjunction with a Ryzen 3000 CPU.
The B550 chipset, in and of itself, does not provide PCI 4.0 lines, but unlike the previous B450 it allows access to the 16 PCI Express 4.0 lines of the CPU, allowing you to prepare single video card or dual video card configurations, but also to connect an NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD or two PCIe 4.0 x2 solutions.
Compared to the B450, the B550 therefore supports two GPUs, both in CrossFire and SLI, whereas previously only CrossFire was supported. In this regard, it joins the X470 and X570. Another difference with the 400 series chipsets concerns the "general purpose" lines, which become PCIe 3.0 compared to the previous PCIe 2.0. Finally, here is the support for USB 3.2 Gen 2, in combination with the Ryzen 3000 CPUs. Recall that the B550 motherboard will be perfectly compatible with future Ryzen 4000 processors based on Zen 3 architecture.
As for the Asus offer, the models Prime answer the names of Prime B550M-K, Prime B550M-A, Prime B550M-A (Wi-Fi) and Prime B550-Plus. The first three solutions are micro ATX, with the B550M-K a little more spartan, equipped with a PCI Express 4.0 x16 slot and two PCIe 3.0 x1, together with two M.2 slots, but only the first PCIe 4.0 (as managed by the CPU). However, there are two USB 3.2 Gen2 and four Gen1 ports on the rear panel, along with HDMI, DVI-D and D-Sub outputs which are useful if you install processors with integrated graphics.
The Prime B550M-A and its Wi-Fi variant (offers Bluetooth 5.1 and WiFi 6 connectivity via an Intel AX200 solution) are similar, but we see a passive heatsink on the VRM absent on the B550M-K. The Prime B550-Plus motherboard, in ATX format, aims instead to support a mid-range gaming system o serve as the basis for a PC dedicated to productivity with a VRM equipped with 8 + 2 DrMOS phases.
This model fits the mid-range Ryzen chips, such as the Ryzen 5 3600 or the hypothetical future 4600, and is equipped with heatsinks above VRM and chipsets to ensure stability. They are not missing two PCI Express x16 slots (first achieved by 16 4.0 lines from the CPU and the second by four 3.0 from the chipset), three PCIe 3.0 x1 and two M.2 slots, of which only the first can accommodate units up to 110 mm with PCIe 4.0 x4 interface.
As for the TUF Gaming (The Ultimate Force) offer, here are three solutions called TUF Gaming B550-Plus, TUF Gaming B550M-Plus (Wi-Fi) and TUF Gaming B550M-Plus. The first is an ATX motherboard, the other two are micro ATX. The TUF Gaming B550-Plus is similar to the Prime B550-Plus, not only in name, also in characteristics: it changes the look and little else.
The two micro ATXs still offer two graphics slots, one x16 (4.0) and x4 (3.0) sufficient to support CrossFireX, together with a PCIe 3.0 x1 slot for additional cards. Again here are two M.2 slots along with four SATA 6 Gbps ports (six on the ATX). Obviously in the case of Wi-Fi there is an Intel AX200 adapter that guarantees Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity.
On the ROG Strix front, here are the models ROG Strix B550-E Gaming, ROG Strix B550-F Gaming (Wi-Fi), ROG Strix B550-F Gaming, ROG Strix B550-I Gaming. Asus has created ROG Strix B550-E Gaming with an eye to AMD's high-performance processors and configurations with multiple expansion cards.
The AM4 socket is flanked by with 14 + 2 VRM phases while here are two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots that can operate in x8 – x8 mode. There is also a third x16 slot, only reached by four 3.0 lines, along with two PCIe 3.0 x1s. In this case we have two M.2 22110 slots, 2.5 Gbps Ethernet connectivity and Wi-Fi 6 with Bluetooth 5.1. The six connectors dedicated to the fans and those intended for AIO liquid heatsinks and pumps allow you to create advanced builds, together with four RGB connectors – two standard and two Gen 2.
USB connectivity is abundant: three second generation USB 3.2 connectors (one type C and two type A), as well as a large number of first generation USB 3.2 ports and USB 2.0. ASUS has included a USB 3.2 Gen 2 connector on the front panel compatible with the latest generation of cases. There are also BIOS FlashBack for updating the firmware without CPU and reconfiguration of the FlexKey reset button.
ROG Strix B550-F Gaming (Wi-Fi) and the "standard" model have a VRM with 12 + 2 phases, a single PCIe 4.0 x16, a PCI Express 3.0 x16 reached by four lines and three PCIe 3.0 x1. For storage here are two M.2 22110 slots and six SATA. Again we find 2.5 Gbps Ethernet connectivity.
Finally, the model ROG Strix B550-I Gaming. It is a solution mini-ITX for small builds but with great ambitions. The format allows access to a single PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, but the compact form factor has other advantages. Strix B550-I Gaming can carry compatible DIMMs up to 5100 MHz and above. The 8 + 2 VRM phases are perfectly suited to the third generation Ryzen chips. Active cooling on VRM and an 8-pin connector ensure that the power supply remains stable at all times.
The pre-installed I / O panel features USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type C and Type A ports, an Intel I225-V 2.5 Gbps Ethernet connector and an Intel AX200 WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 adapter. Asus engineers added a USB 3.2 Gen 2 connector on the front panel for maximum compatibility with the latest cases.
At the moment the company has not communicated the sales prices, but the goal of the B550 motherboards is to place itself in a range from just under 90 euros up to 200 euros.
