The mid-range AMD B550 motherboard offers many low-cost and expensive choices. The cost of these models is also much similar to X570 motherboards. Choosing the ideal AMD motherboard for a newer gaming or business system becomes even more difficult. So, this article is all about AMD B550 Vs X570 motherboards. What’s the difference between them and in what areas they are better and where they lack? This guide should come in handy to pick the right motherboard to go with your Ryzen 3000 or 5000 processors.
AMD Ryzen 5000 family processors are supported by both of these motherboards. These boards are the successor of X470 and B450 in their respective generational shifts. These two AMD motherboards, X570 and B550, feature PCIe4.0, making them the best AMD motherboards currently available. If you’re still unsure about B550 Vs X570, which motherboard is best for your needs, we’ll go through the benefits and drawbacks of both and provide some details to help you make an informed decision.
On top of that, we’ll address some of the most pressing concerns you could have about building a gaming PC with the B550 motherboard. So, considering all these, let’s get started right away.
B550 Vs X570 Chipsets
B550 Chipset: A Quick Look
Compared to the X570 Chipset, it is generally much cheaper and the successor for the AMD B450. The B550 chipset is the top competitor of X570 featuring boards because of its price tag. The motherboards with B550 chip cost very much similar or a bit more than those containing AMD X570.
It’s primarily focused on working with the Ryzen 5000 lineup processors. Because it utilizes the AM4 socket, it’s good to go with Zen 2 Ryzen 3000/4000 CPUs. PCIe 3.0 x 4 lanes connect the B550 chipset to the processor; no PCIe 4.0 lanes are available.
The B550 chipset motherboards are geared toward serious gamers and professionals who use photo and video editing software which is usually heavy. As long as you don’t mind paying more for the extra PCIe 4.0 lanes, you’ll be OK with the B550.
Mainly, the B550 chipset will work with AMD Ryzen 5000 processors built on the Zen 3 architecture and workable with the Ryzen 3000 range CPUs. The B550 chipset can consume up to 6W at its utmost. If the cooling fans are also on your priority list, you may be disappointed with the B550 mobos and may want to go with the X570 chipset.
Specifications
| Direct CPU PCIe Support for GPU | x16 PCIe 4.0 |
| Direct CPU PCIe Configuration | 1 x16 or 2 x8 |
| CPU to Chipset Downlink | x4 PCIe 3.0 |
| General Purpose PCIe Lanes from Chipset | PCIe 3.0 |
| No. of PCIe 4.0 Lanes from Chipset | 0 |
| No. of PCIe 3.0 Lanes from Chipset | 10 |
| Chipset SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps Ports (USB 3.2 Gen 2×1) | 2 |
| Chipset SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps Ports (USB 3.2 Gen 1×1) | 2 |
| Chipset HiSpeed USB 480Mbps Ports (USB 2.0) | 6 |
| Max Possible Chipset I/O | 10 PCIe 3.0, 6 SATA III (6Gbps), 10 USB (2x10Gbps, 2x5Gbps, and 6x480Mbps) |
| Overclocking Support | Yes |
| Dual Graphics Card Support | Yes |
| CPU Support | AMD Ryzen 3000 and 5000 |
X570 Chipset: An Introduction
When released in July 2019, the X570 succeeded the previous-X470 gen’s chipset and included compatibility for the Ryzen 5000 range processors. This chip supports PCI Express 4.0 GPUs and NVMe drives for the first time. The X570 is an excellent choice if you’re looking for PCIe 4.0 support. A more stable overclocking experience is also possible with Ryzen 7/9 processors, thanks to improved voltage regulator modules (VRMs).
Dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 ports are available on some X570 motherboards. Nevertheless, many consumers won’t benefit from this functionality as the price of PCIe Gen4 SSDs is excessive.
For professional gamers, photographers, and video editors, the X570 chipset is an excellent component. To work with AMD’s AM4 CPUs, the X570 Chipset was created. You can keep utilizing it as long as you have a Ryzen CPU from the preceding version. Just Ryzen 2000 family processors are eligible for this; it’s doesn’t applicable to 1st generation Ryzen CPUs lineup.
A modest onboard chipset fan is standard on nearly all X570 motherboards. In contrast, the decreased power usage and lower heat dissipation of B550 motherboards negate the need for a cooling fan.
Specifications
| Direct CPU PCIe Support for GPU | x16 PCIe 4.0 |
| Direct CPU PCIe Configuration | 1 x16 or 2 x8 |
| CPU to Chipset Downlink | x4 PCIe 4.0 |
| General Purpose PCIe Lanes from Chipset | PCIe 4.0 |
| No. of PCIe 4.0 Lanes from Chipset | 16 |
| No. of PCIe 3.0 Lanes from Chipset | 0 |
| Chipset SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps Ports (USB 3.2 Gen 2×1) | 8 |
| Chipset SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps Ports (USB 3.2 Gen 1×1) | 0 |
| Chipset HiSpeed USB 480Mbps Ports (USB 2.0) | 4 |
| Max Possible Chipset I/O | 16 PCIe 4.0, 12 SATA III (6Gbps), 12 USB (8x10Gbps and 4x480Mbps) |
| Overclocking Support | Yes |
| Dual Graphics Card Support | Yes |
| CPU Support | AMD Ryzen 2000, 3000 and 5000 |
AMD B550 Vs X570 Chipsets: Comparison
In the above section, we have mentioned the details of both the chipsets as well as described their specs. But to make it easy for you to pick the right option according to your demands, let’s have a look at B550 Vs X570 comparison.
| Chipset | B550 | X570 |
| Direct CPU PCIe Configuration | 1 x16 or 2 x8 | 1 x16 or 2 x8 |
| PCIe GPU Support | x16 PCIe 4.0 | x16 PCIe 4.0 |
| CPU to Chipset Downlink | x4 PCIe 3.0 | x4 PCIe 4.0 |
| General Purpose PCIe Lanes from Chipset | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 4.0 |
| PCIe 3.0 Lanes from Chipset | 10 | 0 |
| PCIe 4.0 Lanes from Chipset | 0 | 16 |
| Chipset SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps Ports (USB 3.2 Gen 1×1) | 2 | 0 |
| Chipset SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps Ports (USB 3.2 Gen 2×1) | 2 | 8 |
| Chipset HiSpeed USB 480Mbps Ports (USB 2.0) | 6 | 4 |
| Overclocking Support | Yes | Yes |
| Dual Graphics Card Support | Yes | Yes |
| Max Possible Chipset I/O | 10 PCIe 3.0, 6 SATA III (6 Gbps), 10 USB (2 x 10 Gbps, 2 x 5 Gbps and 6 x 480 Mbps) | 16 PCIe 4.0, 12 SATA III (6 Gbps), 12 USB (8 x 10 Gbps and 4 x 480 Mbps) |
| CPU Support | Zen 3 Ryzen Processors 3rd Gen Ryzen Processors 3rd Gen Ryzen Processors with Integrated Graphics |
Zen 3 Ryzen Processors 3rd Gen Ryzen Processors 3rd Gen Ryzen Processors with Integrated Graphics 2nd Gen Ryzen Processors 1st Gen Ryzen Processors (Only AF models) |
B550 Vs X570: What’s the Difference Between them?
Price
Regarding the price between B550 Vs X570, X570 boards are a little more costly than B550. X570 Chipset’s PCIe 4.0 lanes demand higher PCB, stronger VRM, and even a ventilation system.
Thus, the B550 units are higher priced than the X570 ones, but they include extra features that benefit the users in their gaming experience. There are many choices available at equivalent price-to-performance levels. Still, the most important thing to consider is your specific workload and the hardware components required to keep your CPU running quickly and effectively.
Dual GPU Support
Nvidia’s SLI or AMD’s CrossFire can be used to set up dual GPUs. Thus, your mobo and processor must allow these configurations. Interestingly, both of these motherboard chipsets can support two graphics cards. But only a few B550 motherboards support dual GPUs, and the same functionality is enabled on every X570 board.
The X570 motherboards have a significant edge because many people prioritize functionality. To indulge your whims, you have the option of installing an additional graphics card or PCIe expansion card in that socket as well.
B550 Vs X570 Overclocking
An overclocked component increases the operating speed to improve the system’s primary CPU or graphics controller performance. Considering these two boards, it’s important to know that overclocking depends on the system’s VRM.
In other words, a higher VRM means greater power and hence, improved performance. The primary benefit of voltage regulation is increased system efficiency and responsiveness due to the VRM’s role in ensuring voltage stability and power efficiency.
For overclocking, both X570 and B550 motherboards are supported. X570 chipsets feature stronger VRMs than B550 models, which makes sense. The greatest VRMs on any AMD mobo may be found on the heavy X570 chipset units, which are also the most expensive.
Support for PCIe
In terms of PCIe lanes, the B550 and X570 chipsets are very different. The X570 chipset connects to the CPU through PCIe 4.0 lanes. The B550 chipset, on the other hand, links to the processor through PCIe 3.0 lanes.
Compatibility for X16 PCIe Gen 4 CPU graphics, PCIe Gen 4 CPU storage, and USB 3.2 Gen 2 may be found on both chipsets. In addition, they both have twin GPUs, although a feature that is unused for now.
It’s when we look at PCIe Gen 3 lanes that we begin to notice the differences between the B550 and the X570. Furthermore, the X570 has PCIe Gen 4 basic lanes and PCIe Gen 4 CPU uplink, these are the features that the B550 lacks.
Compatibility
Although the B550 and X570 share many of the same technological specifications, compatibility is one area where the two differ. As a future-proof motherboard, AMD built the B550 chipset to be compatible with the Ryzen 3000 family CPUs or beyond. Because of this, the B550 cannot run earlier Ryzen processors from generations 1 and 2, but the X570 does.
Furthermore, Ryzen’s present APUs are not supported by B550, which further complicates the situation. But despite their Ryzen 3000 designation, these APUs do not use the Zen 2 architecture. Sadly, the B550s are unable to operate Zen+ on the 3200G or the 3400G as well.
USB and SATA Connectivity
Aside from the PCIe lanes, USB and SATA are also key options for connectivity. In addition to the 8 USB 3.0 10 Gbps ports provided by the X570’s chipset, the B550 has fewer PCIe 4.0 lanes than the X570’s. This implies that, as compared with the two ports on the B550, many of your PC’s slots can benefit from quicker data transfer rates.
For those who require further storage alternatives, the X570’s extra eight configurable SATA ports are wonderful but take into account that these will have to be set up by the supplier, so make sure to double-check the number of SATA ports before making a purchase!
How Future-Proof is the X570 in Comparison to the B550?
Despite the fact that it’s possible to say yes, it’s best not to do so. Because both chipsets are expected to be compatible with up to the Ryzen 5000 family processors. So, any future high-end CPU may need to have the latest board and may require a new AM5 socket.
However, the stronger PCIe 4.0 support of X570, which features more PCIe 4.0 slots and lanes than B550, makes it more “future proof” than B550 in terms of compatibility. However, this isn’t a major factor for the majority of individuals.
In Terms of Overclocking, Is X570 Better than the B550?
A more critical aspect for conventional overclocking of midrange to high-end CPUs is the voltage regulation module (VRM). Are the VRMs on X570 motherboards superior to those on B550? If you’re not familiar with VRMs, they’re the component of the board in charge of regulating temperature. Overclocking, especially in super-duper CPUs, is possible via a board’s VRM. Stronger VRMs would be expected on the top-level X570 chipset than on the B550 units. However, AMD’s greatest VRMs are found on the most expensive X570 variants.
There is a big difference between premium B550 motherboards and cheap X570 ones regarding VRM strength. These extremely premium ones are very costly boards that aren’t focused on by most users. You’ll receive better VRMs for around $200 from an Aorus Pro or Tomahawk B550 than you would from equivalent-priced X570 boards such as the X570 Gaming Edge WiFi. Yes, I agree that this is weird, knowing that the X570 is marketed as a strong chip. However, because the B550 is a more recent chipset, the enhanced VRM stands to reason.
In terms of the decent VRMs, there are more cheap B550 boards than inexpensive X570 ones. Because of this, a low-cost X570 isn’t necessarily preferable to an expensive B550 because the latter offers excellent heat ventilation. In this price range, for those who prefer the extra features of the X570 chipset, then the X570 motherboard is a good choice.
AMD B550 Vs X570 Motherboard: Which is Better to Buy?
The fundamental difference between the B550 and X570 chipsets can be boiled down to whether or not they support PCIe. Compared to the PCIe lanes on the B550, which are just PCIe 3.0, all of the X570’s PCIe lanes are PCIe 4.
However, both offer PCIe 4.0 for the GPU and M.2 NVMe SSD, directly connected to the CPU. So under these circumstances, the cost is a key consideration. It’s preferable to go with a B550 motherboard because it has powerful VRMs, and provides overclocking and extra connectivity even if you are not looking for PCIe 4.0 lanes.
In terms of PCIe 4.0, the X570 is an excellent choice. It can also boost Ryzen 7 and 9 processors with continuous overclocking thanks to improved VRMs.
Best B550 Motherboards
We have clearly discussed everything about B550 boards, their positives, and negatives, and also compared them with the X570 models. So, if you have a mind to buying a B550 chipset motherboard, then here are our top picks for you.
[amazon box=”B088VSTS9H, B089CWDHFZ, B089CQFHHZ, B08F9VP2RC, B081PZTZ4B, B088W57M4J” template=”table”]Best X570 Motherboards
If you are a fan of some extra features of X570 chipsets and also require PCIe 4.0 lanes, then the following are some options for X570 motherboards.
[amazon box=”B07WL5MFXL, B09GP7V2W5, B07T5QDRFX, B07SW8DQVL, B07SXF8GY3, B0892R8PDJ” template=”table”]Bottom Line
Since AMD motherboards come in so many varieties and are designed to accept AM4 sockets for the years ahead, their marketing is a bit befuddling. You must outline your hardware requirements before deciding what to buy. You can choose between the X570 and B550 because each has some benefits and drawbacks, so pick something that will be perfect for your gaming PC.
So that’s all from our side regarding the in-depth analysis of AMD B550 Vs X570 motherboards. We have mentioned everything about both the chipsets, such as their specifications, advantages, and disadvantages, and have also provided a quick comparison between them so that users can better understand choosing the right option.
