Compare AMD‘s B450 and B550 chipsets to pick the right motherboard

If you‘re building a new AMD-powered PC, choosing the right motherboard can be tricky. Two of the most popular options are the B450 and newer B550 chipsets. They both offer great bang for your buck, but which one is right for you?

In this detailed guide, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about B450 and B550 motherboards. You‘ll learn how they compare in terms of performance, features, connectivity and more. Let‘s dive in!

A quick history lesson on AMD chipsets

AMD has had a busy few years updating their processor technology. Back in 2017, they launched the AM4 platform along with the first Ryzen CPUs. The top-end X370 chipset provided high-end features for early Ryzen adopters.

In 2018 AMD then released the B450 chipset to bring many of the same capabilities to a more affordable price point. B450 motherboards were designed to support the first and second generation of Ryzen processors. They delivered awesomesauce like:

• Overclocking
• USB 3.1 Gen 2
• RGB lighting
• M.2 NVMe SSD support

Then in mid-2020, AMD introduced the new B550 chipset as a successor to B450. It included upgrades focused on I/O performance and future-proofing:

• Native PCIe 4.0
• Faster DDR4 memory support
• 2.5Gb Ethernet on some models
• WiFi 6 wireless
• More USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports

Now in 2022, both B450 and B550 remain two of AMD‘s most popular and compelling motherboard chipsets. But which one is right for your next PC build? Let‘s find out!

Comparing the B450 and B550 chipset specs

Even though AMD positions B450 and B550 for the budget-friendly market, they aren‘t identical under the hood. Here‘s a handy comparison of their key specifications:

• PCIe 4.0 support depends on CPU

While the core specs are similar, we can see the B550 pulls ahead in areas like PCIe 4.0, memory speeds, USB, and next-gen wireless support. Let‘s break down some of the key differences in more detail.

PCIe 4.0 – A big advantage for B550

One of the signature upgrades of B550 motherboards is PCI Express 4.0 support. Both B450 and B550 use a PCIe 3.0 x4 link between the chipset and CPU. But B550 boards can also tap into PCIe 4.0 lanes direct from compatible Ryzen 3000/5000 processors.

This unlocks much higher bandwidth for supported devices like graphics cards and NVMe SSD storage.

• For graphics cards, moving from PCIe 3.0 to 4.0 doubles the available bandwidth from 16 GB/s to 32 GB/s. That can directly translate to higher FPS in games!
• For storage, PCIe 4.0 enables blazing fast NVMe SSDs exceeding 7,000 MB/s sequential read speeds. That‘s a massive upgrade over PCIe 3.0 SSDs topping out around 3,500 MB/s.

If you want your PC to stay future-proofed with the latest GPUs and SSDs, B550 is the clear choice here. But if you don‘t need bleeding-edge PCIe 4.0 devices today, B450 can still deliver excellent performance for the price.

CPU compatibility – B550 takes the lead

Another important consideration is processor support, both now and in the future.

Originally B450 boards supported 1st and 2nd Gen Ryzen CPUs. More recently, AMD expanded compatibility through BIOS updates to include 3rd Gen Ryzen. But support for latest Ryzen 5000 series is limited to certain premium B450 models only.

In contrast, B550 natively supports both 3rd Gen and newer Ryzen 5000 processors. B550 boards also work out-of-the-box with Ryzen 4000 and 5000-series APUs having integrated Radeon graphics.

For upgrading or future-proofing with modern AMD CPUs, B550 has a clear advantage. And AMD has stated they plan to phase out B450 in the near future as B550 takes over the budget motherboard market.

Memory speeds – Faster DDR4 on B550

Here‘s another area where the B550 pulls ahead…memory speeds!

The B450 chipset officially supports up to DDR4-2933 MHz RAM. But most B450 motherboards can hit DDR4-3200 to DDR4-3600 with a compatible Ryzen CPU.

On the other hand, B550 boards support a maximum memory frequency of DDR4-5100 MHz. So if you want to max out the capabilities of a speedy memory kit, B550 is the way to go. This makes an especially big difference on processors like the Ryzen 5600X.

Wired and wireless connectivity

In general, B550 motherboards offer upgraded wired and wireless networking capabilities compared to B450.

For wired Internet, B550 supports 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet on select models – 2.5X faster than the 1 Gigabit Ethernet found on most B450 boards.

Wireless performance gets a boost too with WiFi 6 supported on B550, enabling nearly 3X higher maximum speeds compared to WiFi 5 on B450.

B550 also provides better USB connectivity thanks to wider adoption of USB 3.2 Gen 2. These double the transfer rate of the USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports found on B450 motherboards.

If you demand fast wired/wireless performance or plan on connecting bandwidth-hungry peripherals, B550 is the way to go.

Premium audio and onboard sound

Here‘s one more area where B550 impresses…audio support!

Many B550 motherboards include premium HD audio codecs, providing exceptional sound quality. Some models even integrate audiophile-grade components and op-amps for super clean and crisp onboard audio.

So for gaming, music listening or content creation, an upgraded B550 board can provide noticeably better sound than budget B450 options.

Overclocking – Lean towards B550 for max speeds

Both chipsets allow overclocking your AMD processor and RAM. But when pushing to the limits, B550 has an edge. Premium B550 motherboards like the MSI B550 Tomahawk offer:

• More power phases to deliver clean and stable power under load
• Advanced VRMs that run cooler for higher sustained clocks
• Better cooling with large heatsinks and heatpipes

While B450 boards provide ample overclocking tools, B550 models designed for enthusiasts give you more headroom if you really want to max out performance.

Motherboard pricing and value

Historically B450 boards held a solid pricing advantage compared to the more expensive X470 chipset. But with the arrival of B550, the price/value landscape has changed.

Now you can find both B450 and B550 motherboards ranging from budget-friendly models around $100, up to more feature-packed options near $200.

The mid-range $120-$160 represents a "sweet spot" where you can get very well-rounded specs and performance without breaking the bank.

Overall pricing is quite competitive between both chipsets. I suggest identifying the capabilities you need, then comparing options across B450 and B550 to find a great deal. You can find stellar values with either one if you shop smart.

Recommendations: Should you choose B450 or B550?

Hopefully by now you‘ve got a good sense of how AMD‘s B450 and B550 chipsets compare. But which one is the best choice for your next build? Here‘s a quick recap of my recommendations:

• On a tight budget, B450 remains a great pick if you don‘t need the latest tech. The MSI B450 Tomahawk is a fantastic sub-$120 option.
• Building a modern Ryzen 5000 series gaming rig? For the best experience, go with a B550 motherboard.
• If you want future-proof PCIe 4.0 support, B550 is the only choice. It unlocks much faster GPUs and SSDs.
• For memory overclocking or 5000+ MHz RAM kits, B550 offers the headroom you need.
• If you care about fast networking and connectivity, prioritize B550 for its 2.5Gb LAN, WiFi 6 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 capabilities.
• B550 motherboards with robust power delivery and cooling give you the most overclocking headroom.
• Either B450 or B550 can be great options depending on pricing and the features you value. Shop carefully!

AMD has exciting new platforms like AM5 on the horizon. But you can confidently build an AMD-powered system today that will deliver excellent performance for years to come.

I hope this guide gave you all the details you need to pick the perfect foundation in B450 or B550 for your next PC. Let me know if you have any other questions!