Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro WIFI Review: A Great Value for Ryzen Users

For those who may not be aware of the recent developments in chipsets, AMD’s transition from the 300 series to the 400 series primarily introduces enhancements in the physical specifications of the boards to officially accommodate XFR2 (an upgrade to AMD’s extended frequency range feature) and Precision Boost Override for what AMD designates as its 2nd Generation Ryzen processors (Ryzen 2000 series). AMD outlines the specifications regarding layer counts, supported memory speeds, regulator design requirements, and additional criteria for these updated boards. The same I/O support dynamics observed with last year’s X370/B350 series persist between the X470 and B450 boards. This means that B series boards offer fewer USB 3.0 Gen1 ports, PCIe Gen3 x16 slots, and PCIe Gen2 lanes compared to their higher-priced counterparts. For further information, please refer to the chart provided above.

On the surface, fewer slots and port support sounds like an instant “con,” but honestly the majority of builders don’t support for a second graphics card, larger SATA RAID configurations, or a plethora of 5Gbps USB. Also, with that same mindset, manufacturers don’t need to provide fully enabled lower-end boards that directly compete with their higher-tiered offerings. From there, it really is a thought experiment as to which chipset truly is “better,” and hopefully we’ll shine some light on that throughout the article.

Introducing the Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro WIFI. Historically, Gigabyte has reserved its Aorus brand for high-end products; however, with the B450, they have chosen to introduce a model that embodies the excellence we have come to expect from prior evaluations. While bringing a well-regarded brand to a more accessible tier may seem like a mere marketing strategy, this motherboard proves to be competitive with offerings from the X470 series. Aesthetically, the B450 Aorus Pro WIFI bears a striking resemblance to the X470 Aorus 5, albeit without the illuminated DIMM and PCIe slots. When comparing the B450 board to the X470 Aorus Ultra, the addition of Wi-Fi in the B450 Pro could be a decisive factor for some users, potentially offsetting the X470’s superior connectivity features.

The B450 Pro WIFI features a generous array of RGB lighting, RGB power switches, and an addressable LED interface, which collectively address potential shortcomings for builders considering future upgrades. Given that this is a budget motherboard, it is reasonable not to anticipate an extensive array of contents within the packaging, and Gigabyte does not provide an abundance of accessories or additional components. The package includes a branded sticker, relevant documentation, a pair of SATA cables, and a Wi-Fi antenna designed for connecting to the SMA plugs located on the rear panel.