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B550 vs X570 Differences: Choosing the Right AMD Motherboard for Ryzen 5, 7, 9

Are the Extra Features of X570 Worth It? Why Does B550 Sometimes Cost More?

The new B550 chipset not only competes with its lower-cost predecessor (B450) but also with the high-end enthusiast X570 chipset, as many B550 boards are priced around the same or higher than cheaper X570 models. There are certain differences between the two chipsets which we'll get to below, but if you're strapped for time and just want the overall gist of B550 vs X570, in general either chipset is just fine for building a great modern AMD gaming/work PC, even if using the fastest AMD CPUs on the market like a Ryzen 7 or 9. 

Building a Budget PC? B550 vs B450

For most, since the chipsets are similar overall, choosing between B550 and X570 comes down to comparing specific models and what they offer for the price. However, for certain users, the actual chipset differences may be a factor. X570 is the slightly more advanced, flexible platform, but its benefits over the B550 chipset (which some call a watered-down X570) aren't huge, and only really benefit more advanced power users (non gamers) who want to either:

• Run multiple next-gen PCIe Gen4 SSDs (PCIe Gen 4 is not important for gaming)
• Connect a higher than average amount of storage drives (X570 generally have more SATA ports)
• Do extreme CPU overclocking (X570 has the best high-end VRMs)
• Have access to extreme networking speeds (ie 5G or 10G LAN ports)
• Run multiple GPUs for high-end workstation purposes

Simply put, if you have to ask whether or not X570 is worth it, or if you're building a PC mainly for gaming, chances are you won't have much (if any) need for X570, and should probably just buy a B550 and save that money for other components like your CPU or GPU. Oh, and keep in mind if you're building with a Ryzen 5000 CPU like the 5600X, 5800X, 5900X, or 5950X, no matter whether you buy X570 or B550 there is a chance you may need to update the BIOS for Ryzen 5000 to work. It's easy to do, especially if you buy a board that has a BIOS flash button that allows you to update the BIOS without needing to have a CPU installed. 

Eventually, and perhaps even by the time you read this, all/most B550 and X570 models should come already shipped with an updated BIOS that will boot up with Ryzen 5000 out of the box, and therefore you won't need to update the BIOS yourself. But for now in early 2021, keep in mind you may still need to update the BIOS. Anyway, if you want to know all the differences between B550 and X570 and what they mean in practical terms with the complex jargon and enthusiast speak toned down to a minimum, let's break it all down.

B550 vs X570 Prices (General Comparison)

First let's look at the pricing overlap of B550 compared to X570 motherboards, showing the former sometimes being more expensive than the latter. In other words, certain B550 models will set you back more money than some X570 models, hence the confusion surrounding X570 vs B550.

The old simple rationale of "buy B450 if on a budget" and "buy X570 for high end builds"? B550 has crashed that party, with B550 models ranging from under $100 all the way up to $300, meaning that B550 can make sense for either budget builders or performance-perfectionist enthusiasts. To exemplify the now more-muddled landscape of AMD motherboards, here are the more expensive/premium B550 motherboards over $150 US which square off against X570 competition.

Note: Prices are just estimates at the time of writing.

Remember this isn't a complete list of X570 and B550 models out there, simply a collection of some popular models that are priced around the $150 to $300 range (where the B550 vs X570 debate applies). And please note the X570 prices are just mere estimates of what you can expect to pay on the market right now. But yeah, the overlap in pricing between B550 and X570 boards is confusing, and the now common question of whether you should buy a B550 or X570 motherboard is a legitimately good one. As already mentioned, and as is par for the course when it comes to almost any tech purchase, the answer is those same 2 immortal words: it depends.

Differences Between the B550 and X570 Chipset

Due to the price overlaps of B550 and X570 models, choosing between them is largely a matter of comparing specific models for their price, features, and quality, etc. Many general consumers will automatically assume that X570 is better than B550 though, based on previous chipset generations where there was a clear separation of budget and high-end chipsets (B450 and X570 for instance). But is their assumption correct?

Technically, X570 is the slightly superior chipset, and can offer more overall features, connectivity, and flexibility than a B550 can. That doesn't mean you should buy an X570 over a B550 though, as "high-end" B550 boards can be just as (if not better) than a competing X570. Besides, a good B550 can offer absolutely everything you'd ever need; X570 boards aren't going to offer tangible benefits to most users. If you're curious about the advantages of buying a X570, these are the overall technical differences between the B550 and X570 chipsets:

• X570 Supports Dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 Slots: B550 motherboards can support multiple M.2 SSDs, but only one of those slots will be PCIe 4.0 compatible (with just one exception; the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master does have dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots) with the 2nd slot running up to PCIe 3.0 speeds. Certain X570 motherboards do have dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, but this is an extreme feature that's unnecessary for the majority as the chances you'll be buying a single PCIe Gen4 SSD is quite low these days due to cost (let alone buying 2).

• X570 Supports Multiple PCIe 4.0 PCIe Slots: On both X570 and B550, the main PCIe x16 slot (full length slot for graphics cards) does support PCIe 4.0. But with secondary PCIe slots, whether full-length x16 slots (for GPU) or smaller x8/x4/x1 slots (for expansion cards), those will be PCIe 3.0 on B550 boards but may be PCIe 4.0 on X570 (depending on the model). Not a biggie as not many people use these extra slots anyway, nor run devices that would benefit from PCIe Gen4 in the first place.


• X570 Has More PCIe 4.0 Lanes: Not to be confused with the PCIe slots to connect SSDs and GPUs/other cards, X570 has more PCIe 4.0 lanes (as in, connections) available on the CPU, and also uses PCIe 4.0 lanes to link the CPU and the chipset (on B550 this chipset link uses PCIe 3.0 lanes). This essentially means X570 has faster and more flexible Input/Output with multiple connected devices. If you're more advanced and wondering how many more PCIe 4.0 lanes X570 gives you (say if building a SLI/NVLink PC build where lanes can be important), a 3rd gen Ryzen 3000 CPU gives you 24 PCIe 4.0 lanes on the CPU and with a X570 all 24 can be used (16 for GPU, 4 for storage, 4 for chipset link) while 20 can be used with a B550 (16 for GPU, 4 for storage).


• X570 Can Support 5G and 10G LAN: B550 motherboards only have 1G or 2.5G LAN ports, whereas some X570 boards can include insanely-fast 5G and/or 10G LAN ports. Not an issue for most people though, as 1G LAN is more than fast enough for the majority of situations (gaming included).


• X570 Supports Ryzen 3000 Series APUs: B550 motherboards do not support the most recent AMD APUs (Ryzen 3 3200G and Ryzen 5 3400G). X570 motherboards do, though that's hardly going to matter to many out there as the chances of combining the high-end X570 platform with a budget APU are slim.

• X570 Supports Ryzen 2000 CPUs: B550 does not support the previous generation of Ryzen processors (2000 series, ie the 2700X), but X570 does. Again, this won't matter to the far majority who will be pairing an X570 with a new Ryzen 3000 or 5000 processor.
  

• X570 Has (Built-in) Onboard Cooling: Almost all X570 motherboards have a small built-in chipset fan to help keep the board cool, whereas B550 boards do not have a chipset fan as they have lower power consumption and generate less heat. If you're wondering what this means exactly, we'll discuss this next.

• X570 Can Support More SATA and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Ports: How many more depends on the specific model in question, but X570 allows for more of these ports to connect more devices. Like pretty much all of these differences between B550 and X570, this isn't going to matter to most people, but is worth mentioning for certain use cases.

Why Do X570 Motherboards Have Fans?

But the other potential downside to having a chipset fan present is the extra point of failure within your system that can also be a little annoying to replace. Small chipset fans can fail, and since they're a proprietary fan you can't generally replace them yourself. Overall, unless these two things are important to you, I wouldn't factor in the chipset fan when choosing between X570 and B550. But it was worth mentioning so you get the full picture.

Is X570 Better for Overclocking Than B550?

Moving on from the chipset fan to a more important factor if overclocking a mid to high-end CPU, or if simply running a high-end Ryzen 9 3900X or 3950X at stock speeds: VRMs. Do X570 motherboards have better VRMS than B550? If you don't know what VRMs are, see our motherboard buyer's FAQ, though it's essentially the area on the board that is responsible for keeping things cool. The better the VRM on a board, the more suitable it is for overclocking and/or running high-end CPUs. You'd assume that the higher-end enthusiast chipset (X570) would have better VRMs than B550, and that's true to an extent as the absolute best VRMs of any AMD board belong to high-end X570 models.

But here's the kicker; I'm talking the super premium, very expensive boards that just aren't worth it for the far majority, and in the mid-range board battle where premium B550 boards face off against budget X570 models, the former actually has the stronger VRMs overall. See this general B550 vs X570 VRM test by benchmark beast Steve from HardwareUnboxed (I can recommend his videos as a good, reliable source), but the gist is that you can get a sub $200 (US) B550 like the B550 Tomahawk or B550 Aorus Pro that has better VRMs than similar-priced X570 boards like the X570 Pro4 or X570 Gaming Edge WiFi. Yup; slightly strange IMO, given X570 is supposed to be the high-end enthusiast chipset, but B550 is the newer chipset after all (X570 has been out for a fair while now) and so the bolstered VRMs do make sense.

These are just a couple examples, but there are plenty of affordable B550 motherboards with better VRMs than budget X570 motherboards. That means it's hard to recommend a budget X570 over a top B550, as the latter gives you better cooling for the money, with an X570 in this price category only really making sense if you need the benefits of the X570 chipset (explained earlier). 

Related: Overclocking Your Gaming PC (Beginner Intro)

Is X570 More Future Proof Than B550?

Technically you could say yes, but generally speaking - no. Let me explain. In terms of future CPU compatibility, B550 and X570 have the same lifespan, as both chipsets will likely only support up to Zen 3 (Ryzen 5000) and any CPUs beyond that will probably require a new motherboard (and new CPU socket ie AM5).

But the argument for X570 being more "future proof" than B550 is the "deeper" PCIe 4.0 support, as X570 has more PCIe 4.0 slots (supports multiple PCIe Gen4 devices) and more PCIe 4.0 lanes compared to B550. However, as mentioned, in practice this isn't important for most users.

Summary: Is X570 Worth It Over B550 (Pros of Each)

Plus, B550 VRMs (cooling and overclocking ability) are on par with X570, and sometimes even better (when comparing price). Many B550 models also look better than similar-priced X570 boards, and you've also got more choice if chasing affordable models that are mITX or have certain features like internal USB-C. But put simply, either B550 or X570 can serve you well for a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 or 9 build, so it really doesn't matter and as mentioned ad-nauseam it all comes down to your price range and comparing the specific models available.

Recommended X570 and B550 Models

If you're curious which specific models we suggest right you can see our top B550 and X570 recommendations within our continually updated gaming PC build examples (and feel free to leave a comment on that page if you need help or have general feedback on this article).

Anyway hope this guide helped clear up the confusing X570 vs B550 issue and you now are more confident in picking the right board for your needs. If you need help or have feedback on this guide, feel free to leave a comment over on the main PC builds guide. 

To finish off, if you want to get even more technical on X570 vs B550 chipset differences and the different I/O configurations available to each, here were the official slides from AMD on each chipset for your reference:

Other Sources/References

• The AMD B550 Motherboard Overview: ASUS, GIGABYTE, MSI, ASRock, and Others (AnandTech)


• The AMD X570 Motherboard Overview: Over 35+ Motherboards Analyzed (AnandTech)


• AMD B550 vs. X570 VRM Temp Test (HardwareUnboxed)


• AMD Chipset Comparison: B550 Specs vs. X570, B450, X370, & Zen 3 Support (2020) (Gamer's Nexus)

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