Introduction

Last year, AMD released the Ryzen 3000 series desktop processors in one of the most monumental hardware launches of the modern era. This final step completed the Red brand's ascent back into the forefront of the desktop processor market that began with the launch of the first generation of Ryzen CPUs.

With the Ryzen 3000 launch came the AMD X570 chipset. Featuring PCIe 4.0 support, X570 was an impressive leap from generations past. It was also hot, with motherboards often including chipset cooling fans, and, more significantly, expensive. The high cost of the chipset increased the average cost of X570 motherboards considerably over previous generations.

While AMD has done a great job of maintaining motherboard compatibility with new generation processors, none of the previous-generation AM4 motherboards featured official PCIe 4.0 support, not even from the storage and PCIe controlled by PCIe 4.0 compatible CPUs. Enter B550, the more value-oriented little brother of X570. While the B550 chipset is PCIe 3.0 only, B550 motherboards support PCIe 4.0 from the CPU to the primary PCIe slot as well as the primary M.2 slot (dependent on a PCIe 4.0 ready CPU).


The Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX features a 6+2 phase VRM design using top-tier 90 A power stages from Intersil, with two M.2 heatsinks, 2.5 Gb/s LAN from Realtek, and even a metal backplate to add rigidity and aid in cooling. There is a lot of motherboard packed in a small and surprisingly affordable package, so let's dive right in!

Specifications

Packaging and Contents

The front of the Gigabyte B550 AORUS Pro box features a dark background dominated by the AORUS logo. "B550I AORUS Pro AX gaming motherboard" is printed in white and orange on the left side, with the brand badging on the right.

The back of the box has all the highlights: a top-down shot of the board, several panels detailing prominent features, a shot of the rear I/O, and the specifications list. The box design is well executed and matches the board perfectly.


The accessories are mostly standard. Notably absent is any kind of rear I/O shield because the shield is integrated into the board. The fan cable adapter is for the small fan connector next to the PCIe slot.

The full list of accessories includes:

• Manual and support DVD
• WiFi antenna
• 2x SATA 6 Gb/s cables
• RGB extension cable
• Fan adapter
• 1x M.2 mounting hardware

Board Layout

The B550I AORUS Pro AX utilizes a neutral color scheme that will be easy to match with almost any system or build. The PCB is completely black, while the heatsinks and rear I/O cover are a dark gray.


The CPU socket is very open for a Mini-ITX board, but users with large air coolers should still check for clearance.


There are two M.2 slots on the Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX; one above the PCIe x16 slot which supports PCIe 4.0 connectivity and another on the back of the board.


The Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX offers one PCI Express x16 slot that is PCIe 4.0 ready. The board has a total of four SATA 6 Gb/s ports on the side.


The Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX has a pretty typical Mini-ITX I/O offering, which is to say it is sparse.

• 2x HDMI port
• DisplayPort
• 4x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports
• Q-Flash Plus button
• USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A port
• USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port
• RJ-45 LAN port
• Antenna ports
• 3x 3.5 mm audio jacks

Networking on the Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX is handled by Realtek's RTL8125BG 2.5 Gb/s controller. For wireless connectivity, there is an 802.11 ax WiFi module.