With the B550 chipset from AMD, you get a lot of the high end X570 features but don’t have to pay as much for them. Both of these are compatible with Ryzen processors as well, but how do the X570 and B550 motherboard chipsets compare in other areas? Read our AMD B550 vs X570 motherboards article below, as we examine the similarities and differences to help you make that decision.
AMD B550 vs X570 Motherboard Specs & Comparison
|
Chipset |
X570 |
B550 |
|
Supports which CPUs? |
|
|
|
Chipset Lane |
PCIe 4.0 x4 |
PCIe 3.0 x4 |
|
How many PCIe 3.0 lanes? |
0 |
10 |
|
How many PCIe 4.0 lanes? |
16 |
0 |
|
How many USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 (10Gb/s) ports? |
8 |
2 |
|
How many SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports? |
4 |
4 |
|
How many USB 2.0 ports? |
4 |
6 |
|
How many USB 3.2 Gen 1×1 (5Gb/s) ports? |
0 |
2 |
Differences between B550 and X570 Motherboards
An overview of the differences – AMD B550 vs X570
Connectivity with PCIe: The most advanced motherboards are using PCIe 4.0 for component connectivity. X570 motherboards are designed with that 4.0 connectivity in mind, but B550 will have a more limited PCIe 4.0 connectivity. The B550 is an upgrade in PCIe 4/0 connectivity from the B450, though, which doesn’t offer any kind of connectivity with PCIe 4.0.
Overclocking and Chipset Performance: B550 motherboards offer decent stability when overclocking but are a step down in comparison to how the X570 performs in the same conditions. The X570 has more VRMs (Voltage Regulator Modules) to control power delivery better.
Support for NVLink and Nvidia SLI: Not all motherboards offer support for a dual GPU setup. Only some of the more expensive, higher end B550 motherboards will provide that kind of support, but almost all of the X570 motherboards give you dual support.
Cost: Since X570 motherboards have more features, they will cost you more than B550 motherboards.
Connectivity with SATA and 10Gbps: The B550 motherboards have fewer SATA ports and high-speed USB lanes compared to the X570. That means fewer USB 3.0 ports overall, but most peripherals will function fine with USB 2.0 ports. You may not need to make a decision based on this factor alone.
A more detailed look at differences:
PCIe 4.0 Support
With PCIe 4.0 support, your motherboard can handle a bandwidth of 16 GT/s for each lane. That’s twice what the previous PCIe 3.0 could handle, so you only need half as many lanes to operate the SSD or GPU. This frees up lanes to use for NVLink certification as well as for additional SSD slots. B550 chipsets link to your processor using a PCIe connection that has four lanes. The X570 utilizes the PCIe 4.0 instead. So, AMD can add 16 lanes of PCIe 4.0 connectivity with the X570 but not with the B550 chipset.
If you are using the B550 chipset, though, then the PCIe 4.0 connectivity will work directly with the CPU and link to the M.2 and PCIex16 slots. That means the B550 can support two devices through PCIe 4.0 (see here), whereas the B450 doesn’t. With those lanes, your chipset manufacturer can provide you with additional features you would not have been able to get previously. The X570 offers additional PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, which means extra functionality but a higher price tag.
Connectivity
With the X570, you get more 8 USB 10 Gbps ports than if you were using the B550. That adds up to faster data transfer speed because of the greater number of PCI 4.0 lanes. The X570 also has eight SAT ports that are reconfigurable and provides you with extra storage. The manufacturer will have to configure these, so pay close attention to how many SATA ports you are getting before you buy.
VRM Power Phases
The motherboard’s VRMs determine how much power is sent to the CPU with each operation, regulating the level of power automatically. More VRMs mean better power control and a lower load for each VRM to dela with. With the X570, you get more VRMs than the B550, which equates to a lower risk of failure. If you spring for a premium B550, you can enjoy a higher number of VRMs, though. More VRMs will let you overclock with Ryzen 9 and other kinds of powerful processors and still keep your system stable at the same time.
Who is the AMD B550 chipset for?
If the X570 is too expensive, then the B550 motherboard is a good alternative. The B550 is certainly a step up from the B450 and has PCIe 4.0 support as well as better VRMs.
Why you should buy a B550 motherboard
Cheaper Yet Very Capable X570 Alternative
If you only have a budget of $200 or less to work with, then the B550 is probably the best option for you. It gives you lots of value for your money and has the majority of the X750’s features without the high price tag. If you don’t absolutely need all the higher end features of the X750, then the B550 is a superb alternative.
Performance/Overclocking
If you are pairing your motherboard with a Ryzen 5-7 series processor, the B550 gives you an excellent performance. It should overclock fine without problem and remain stable. The X570 is a better option for the Ryzen 9, though, since that processor requires more power. The X570 will help keep things stable and ensure a decent performance wen overclocking.
PCIe 4.0 Support
The B550 motherboards have some serious limitations when it comes to PCIe 4.0 connectivity, but it will still offer support for PCIe 4.0. It still gives you a few USB 3.0 ports and a PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot. If you are using a PCI 4.0 M.2 SDD, you definitely want a B550 motherboard rather than a B450 one.
Which CPUs will work with the B550 Motherboard? It works with all of the following:
- Ryzen 5 3500
- Ryzen 5 3500X
- Ryzen 5 3600
- Ryzen 5 5500
- Ryzen 5 5600
- Ryzen 5 5600X
- Ryzen 5 3600X
- Ryzen 5 3600XT
- Ryzen 7 3700X
- Ryzen 7 5700X
- Ryzen 7 5800X
Who is the AMD X570 chipset for?
If you would like to have the best motherboard to work alongside a AMD Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 processor, you definitely want the X570 motherboard. It has a lot of great PCIe 4.0 support and more VRMs, as well as additional features the B550 doesn’t have.
Why you should buy an X570 motherboard
Higher Core Count CPUs and Overclocking
Because X570 motherboards have more VRMs, they can overclock easily and work with Ryzen 9 processers that have serious power consumption needs. A lot for the X570 motherboards have high end VRMs as well, along with great options for cooling your system down and keeping the system operating smoothly for a long time. The X570 is ideal for people who want to get the best performance out of their processors and are one of the top choices for Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 CPU owners.
Extensive PCIe 4.0 and USB 3.0 Support and Overall Connectivity
The X570 comes equipped with 16 PCIe 4.0 lanes and can utilize some of those to give you all sorts of features, including additional PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD slots. That’s extra storage space for you.
You also get plenty of high-speed USB 3.0 ports with the X570, as well as 10 GiB internet for a high speed connection. That is perfect for connecting your PC to multiple devices and sending data fast.
Which CPUs work best with the X570 motherboards?
Try these:
- Ryzen 7 5800X
- Ryzen 7 5700X
- Ryzen 7 3800X
- Ryzen 7 3800XT
- Ryzen 7 3700X
- Ryzen 9 3950X
- Ryzen 9 3900X
- Ryzen 9 3900XT
- Ryzen 9 5900X
- Ryzen 9 5950X
Supported Chipsets:
Ensure your motherboard is supported before you purchase one of these to go with your processor. Which processors work on both systems?
With the X570, you will receive support for all of the following:
- 1st Gen Ryzen Processors (AF models only)
- 2nd Gen Ryzen Processors
- 2nd Gen Ryzen Processors with Integrated Graphics
- 3rd Gen Ryzen Processors
- 3rd Gen Ryzen Processors with Integrated Graphics
- Zen 3 Ryzen Processors
With the B550, you get support for these processors (source):
- 3rd Gen Ryzen Processors
- 3rd Gen Ryzen Processors with Integrated Graphics
- Zen 3 Ryzen Processors
Update: Ryzen 5000 Support
You should know that the Ryzen 5000 is supported by both of these motherboards, so your setup will be decently futureproofed. You can use older chipsets like the X470 and B450 with that same processer as well, but you will have to go through a flashing process, and that makes them completely useless with older generation processors afterwards. We have looked at the differences for these two motherboards, so let’s talk now about which one will be the best fit for your needs.
Final Thoughts – AMD B550 vs X570
So, what is better – AMD B550 vs X570? Ryzen CPUs work beautifully with either chipset since both the B550 and X570 offer multigeneration CPU compatibility and PCIe 4.0 connectivity. If you want to upgrade to a Zen 3 processor later on, either one is a good choice for your build.
The B550 is our recommendation if you are using a Ryzen 7 processor or something lower than that. The overclocking is decent between these two kinds of components, and they work well together for gaming. Of course, your results will vary by B550 motherboard type. You will save money by choosing the B550 over the X570, and if that means leftover cash for you, that can be used to upgrade other PC parts, such as your GPU and SSD. For a lower price, then, you can get a build that is better than a basic build using the X570.
With the X570, though, you will find a great partner for Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 series processors. It gives you incredible performance and can handle overclocking beautifully. The X570 gives you more high-speed ports, a faster connection for your network, and extra storage options. There are specialized X570 boards you can choose from that will work well with specific builds and won’t make you compromise on the performance of your other PC parts. If money is not an issue for you, then X570 gives you the best performance.
Read our Intel z690 vs z590 motherboards comparison article for more ideas.