Battle of the Boards: Gigabyte B450 Aorus M vs Asus Prime B450M-A II
What To Know
- The Gigabyte B450 Aorus M is an ATX motherboard, while the Asus Prime B450M-A II is a micro-ATX motherboard.
- The Gigabyte B450 Aorus M has a Realtek ALC1220 audio codec, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a USB 3.
- The Gigabyte B450 Aorus M has a Realtek ALC1220 audio codec, which is generally considered to be better than the Realtek ALC887 audio codec found on the Asus Prime B450M-A II.
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus M and Asus Prime B450M-A II are two popular budget-friendly motherboards that offer a solid feature set for AMD Ryzen processors. But which one is right for you? In this detailed comparison, we’ll put these two boards head-to-head to help you make an informed decision.
Form Factor and Design
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus M is an ATX motherboard, while the Asus Prime B450M-A II is a micro-ATX motherboard. The ATX form factor offers more expansion slots and PCIe lanes, but it also takes up more space in your case. The micro-ATX form factor is more compact, but it may limit your upgrade options.
Both motherboards have a sleek and modern design, with black PCBs and stylish heatsinks. The Gigabyte B450 Aorus M features a more aggressive aesthetic, with angular lines and RGB lighting. The Asus Prime B450M-A II has a more understated design, with a brushed metal finish and subtle RGB accents.
Features
Storage
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus M offers a total of six SATA ports and two M.2 slots. The Asus Prime B450M-A II has four SATA ports and two M.2 slots. Both motherboards support RAID 0, 1, and 10.
Memory
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus M supports up to 128GB of DDR4 memory at speeds up to 4400MHz. The Asus Prime B450M-A II supports up to 64GB of DDR4 memory at speeds up to 3600MHz.
Expansion Slots
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus M has two PCIe x16 slots, one PCIe x4 slot, and two PCIe x1 slots. The Asus Prime B450M-A II has one PCIe x16 slot, one PCIe x4 slot, and one PCIe x1 slot.
Connectivity
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus M has a Realtek ALC1220 audio codec, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port. The Asus Prime B450M-A II has a Realtek ALC887 audio codec, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port.
Performance
In terms of performance, the Gigabyte B450 Aorus M and Asus Prime B450M-A II are very similar. Both motherboards offer a stable and reliable platform for AMD Ryzen processors. However, the Gigabyte B450 Aorus M has a slight edge in overclocking potential due to its more robust VRM design.
Price
The Gigabyte B450 Aorus M is slightly more expensive than the Asus Prime B450M-A II. However, the price difference is not significant, and both motherboards offer a good value for their respective price points.
Key Points
So, which motherboard is right for you? If you need a full-sized ATX motherboard with more expansion slots and overclocking potential, the Gigabyte B450 Aorus M is the better choice. If you prefer a more compact micro-ATX motherboard with a lower price point, the Asus Prime B450M-A II is a great option.
Common Questions and Answers
Q: Which motherboard has better audio quality?
A: The Gigabyte B450 Aorus M has a Realtek ALC1220 audio codec, which is generally considered to be better than the Realtek ALC887 audio codec found on the Asus Prime B450M-A II.
Q: Which motherboard has more USB ports?
A: The Gigabyte B450 Aorus M has more USB ports than the Asus Prime B450M-A II. The Gigabyte B450 Aorus M has eight USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports and two USB 2.0 ports, while the Asus Prime B450M-A II has six USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports and two USB 2.0 ports.
Q: Which motherboard is better for gaming?
A: Both motherboards are suitable for gaming, but the Gigabyte B450 Aorus M has a slight edge due to its more robust VRM design and better overclocking potential.
