ASRock B550M-ITX/ac vs. Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX: A Comprehensive Comparison for ITX Enthusiasts
What To Know
- The ASRock motherboard features a black and silver color scheme with a carbon fiber pattern, while the Gigabyte motherboard has a black and gold color scheme with RGB lighting.
- However, the ASRock B550M-ITX/ac has a slight edge in this area, as it offers more USB ports and it has a built-in Wi-Fi 6 module.
- The ASRock motherboard offers a wider range of features and connectivity options, while the Gigabyte motherboard has a more robust audio system and it supports Thunderbolt 4.
The ASRock B550M-ITX/ac and Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX are two of the most popular ITX motherboards on the market. Both offer a wide range of features and support for the latest AMD Ryzen CPUs, making them ideal for building compact and powerful gaming or workstation PCs. In this article, we will compare these two motherboards in detail to help you decide which one is right for you.
Form Factor and Design
The ASRock B550M-ITX/ac has a standard micro-ATX form factor, while the Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX has a more compact Mini-ITX form factor. This makes the Gigabyte motherboard a better choice for building smaller PCs, such as those with limited space or for use in SFF (small form factor) builds.
In terms of design, both motherboards have a sleek and modern aesthetic. The ASRock motherboard features a black and silver color scheme with a carbon fiber pattern, while the Gigabyte motherboard has a black and gold color scheme with RGB lighting.
Chipset and Features
Both the ASRock B550M-ITX/ac and Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX use the AMD B550 chipset, which supports the latest AMD Ryzen 5000 series CPUs. Both motherboards also support PCIe 4.0, which is important for high-performance graphics cards and SSDs.
In terms of features, the ASRock B550M-ITX/ac has a slight edge over the Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX. It offers more USB ports, including two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, and it has a built-in Wi-Fi 6 module. The Gigabyte motherboard, on the other hand, has a more robust audio system and it supports Thunderbolt 4.
Connectivity and Expansion
Both motherboards offer a good range of connectivity options, including multiple USB ports, Ethernet ports, and audio jacks. However, the ASRock B550M-ITX/ac has a slight edge in this area, as it offers more USB ports and it has a built-in Wi-Fi 6 module.
In terms of expansion, both motherboards have two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, which can be used for graphics cards or other PCIe devices. The ASRock motherboard also has a PCIe 3.0 x1 slot, which can be used for additional expansion cards.
BIOS and Overclocking
Both the ASRock B550M-ITX/ac and Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX have user-friendly BIOS interfaces that make it easy to overclock your CPU and memory. Both motherboards also support a wide range of overclocking features, including voltage control, frequency adjustments, and memory timings.
Pricing and Availability
The ASRock B550M-ITX/ac is typically priced around $150-$200, while the Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX is typically priced around $180-$230. Both motherboards are widely available from a variety of retailers.
Which Motherboard is Right for You?
The ASRock B550M-ITX/ac and Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX are both excellent ITX motherboards. The ASRock motherboard offers a wider range of features and connectivity options, while the Gigabyte motherboard has a more robust audio system and it supports Thunderbolt 4. Ultimately, the best motherboard for you will depend on your specific needs and budget.
What You Need to Know
Q: Which motherboard has better VRMs?
A: The Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX has slightly better VRMs than the ASRock B550M-ITX/ac. This means that it can handle more power-hungry CPUs and it is better suited for overclocking.
Q: Which motherboard has better audio?
A: The Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX has a more robust audio system than the ASRock B550M-ITX/ac. It features a Realtek ALC1220-VB audio codec and it has dedicated audio capacitors.
Q: Which motherboard is better for gaming?
A: Both motherboards are good for gaming, but the Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX has a slight edge in this area. It has a more robust audio system and it supports Thunderbolt 4, which can be used for connecting external graphics cards or other high-performance devices.
