Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite vs Asus TUF B450M-Pro Gaming: A Comprehensive Showdown
What To Know
- The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite features the UEFI BIOS with intuitive menus and a wide range of settings to tweak your system.
- The Asus TUF B450M-Pro Gaming, on the other hand, offers a more compact micro-ATX design, a user-friendly BIOS, and reliable performance.
- If you prefer a more compact micro-ATX motherboard with a focus on stability and reliability, the Asus TUF B450M-Pro Gaming is a solid choice.
In the realm of PC building, motherboards play a crucial role in determining the overall performance and capabilities of your system. When it comes to budget-friendly options for AMD Ryzen processors, the Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite and Asus TUF B450M-Pro Gaming stand out as top contenders. This comprehensive comparison will delve into the key differences between these two motherboards to help you make an informed decision for your next build.
Form Factor and Dimensions
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite boasts an ATX form factor, making it suitable for full-sized ATX cases. Its dimensions are 30.5cm x 24.4cm, providing ample space for component placement. In contrast, the Asus TUF B450M-Pro Gaming adopts a smaller micro-ATX form factor, with dimensions of 24.4cm x 24.4cm. This compact design is ideal for smaller cases or systems with limited space.
Chipset and Socket
Both motherboards utilize the AMD B450 chipset, which supports AMD Ryzen processors from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generations. The B450 chipset provides a solid foundation for budget-oriented builds, offering essential features such as support for DDR4 memory, PCIe 3.0 connectivity, and SATA 6Gb/s storage.
Memory Support
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite supports up to 128GB of DDR4 memory spread across four DIMM slots. It features Dual Channel and Quad Channel memory configurations, with speeds up to 4400MHz (OC). The Asus TUF B450M-Pro Gaming also supports up to 128GB of DDR4 memory but offers two DIMM slots, limiting it to Dual Channel configurations. Memory speeds are capped at 4600MHz (OC) on this motherboard.
Expansion Slots
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite provides a generous array of expansion slots, including two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, one PCIe 3.0 x4 slot, and three PCIe 2.0 x1 slots. The Asus TUF B450M-Pro Gaming offers one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, one PCIe 3.0 x4 slot, and one PCIe 2.0 x1 slot. Both motherboards feature M.2 slots for high-speed NVMe storage.
Storage Connectivity
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite offers six SATA 6Gb/s ports and two M.2 slots (one PCIe 3.0 x4, one PCIe 3.0 x2). The Asus TUF B450M-Pro Gaming provides four SATA 6Gb/s ports and two M.2 slots (one PCIe 3.0 x4, one SATA 6Gb/s). Both motherboards support RAID 0, 1, and 10 configurations.
Connectivity and I/O
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite comes equipped with a Realtek ALC1220 audio codec, Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, six USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and two USB 2.0 ports. The Asus TUF B450M-Pro Gaming utilizes a Realtek ALC887 audio codec, Gigabit Ethernet, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, and two USB 2.0 ports.
BIOS and Overclocking
Both motherboards offer user-friendly BIOS interfaces with extensive overclocking options. The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite features the UEFI BIOS with intuitive menus and a wide range of settings to tweak your system. The Asus TUF B450M-Pro Gaming utilizes the AMI BIOS, which is known for its stability and reliability.
Price and Availability
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite and Asus TUF B450M-Pro Gaming are priced similarly, typically ranging from $120 to $150. They are widely available from major retailers and online stores.
In a nutshell: Which Motherboard is Right for You?
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite and Asus TUF B450M-Pro Gaming are both excellent budget-friendly options for AMD Ryzen builds. The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite stands out with its ATX form factor, ample expansion slots, and robust connectivity options. The Asus TUF B450M-Pro Gaming, on the other hand, offers a more compact micro-ATX design, a user-friendly BIOS, and reliable performance.
Ultimately, the best choice for you depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you require a full-sized ATX motherboard with extensive features, the Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite is an excellent option. If you prefer a more compact micro-ATX motherboard with a focus on stability and reliability, the Asus TUF B450M-Pro Gaming is a solid choice.
What You Need to Learn
1. Which motherboard has better VRM cooling?
Both motherboards offer adequate VRM cooling, but the Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite features a more robust heatsink design.
2. Does either motherboard support USB Type-C?
No, neither motherboard has a built-in USB Type-C port.
3. Can I overclock my Ryzen 5 3600 with either motherboard?
Yes, both motherboards support overclocking of Ryzen 5 3600 and other compatible processors.
4. Which motherboard has better audio quality?
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite features a slightly higher-quality audio codec (ALC1220) compared to the Asus TUF B450M-Pro Gaming (ALC887).
5. Can I use an NVMe SSD with either motherboard?
Yes, both motherboards support NVMe SSDs via their M.2 slots.
