Introducing the ASRock B550 Steel Legend motherboard. This product line from ASRock is designed to provide users with exceptional stability, a wide array of features, and an appealing aesthetic, all while maintaining an affordable price point. The motherboard measures 30.5 x 24.4 cm and adheres to the ATX form factor (an mATX version is also available). It is powered by a B550 chipset and boasts features such as a 14-phase power design, 2.5-gigabit Ethernet (Dragon RTL8125BG), and a sleek appearance. Priced at approximately 180 USD, it fulfills all requirements for a stable and reliable system.
The motherboard features an aluminum-alloy heatsink top cover that significantly enhances heat dissipation. It is equipped with dual M.2 sockets for SSDs: one Hyper M.2 socket that supports PCIe Gen4 x4, and another M.2 socket that accommodates PCIe Gen3 x2 and SATA3 modes. In terms of audio capabilities, it includes an AL1220 Nahimic audio solution paired with a NE5532 Premium Headset Amplifier for the front panel audio connector, which supports headsets up to 600 Ohms. Additionally, it boasts a 120dB SNR DAC with a Differential Amplifier. The power delivery system is notably robust for this market segment, featuring a premium 60A Power Choke, a 14-phase power design, and Nichicon 12K Black Caps, which are high-quality conductive-polymer capacitors made in Japan, ensuring reliable performance even with demanding CPUs like the 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X. The PCB is constructed with 2-ounce copper inner layers, providing stable signal traces and power distribution, which contributes to lower temperatures and improved energy efficiency during overclocking. The aesthetic design primarily showcases a matte black finish with copper accents to complement the high-end components. For RGB enthusiasts, the motherboard includes two RGB LED headers and two addressable RGB LED headers, allowing for synchronization across a variety of Polychrome RGB Sync-certified accessories.
The reinforced steel slot is equipped with the advanced PCI Express 4.0 standard. It features additional anchor points and a more robust latch. An impressive aspect of this design is the pre-mounted I/O Shield, which allows for some adjustability during installation, ensuring a perfect fit within your chassis without any mechanical complications. What does the designation B550 signify? Generally, the B series is associated with business-oriented or consumer motherboards, although some interpret the ‘B’ as indicative of a ‘budget’ option. In conjunction with the Ryzen 3 3000 series, the X570 chipset is available, along with the B550 chipset for AM4 processors. The x16 slot and a single M.2 slot continue to support PCIe Gen 4.0, which is contingent upon using a Ryzen 3000 processor to fully utilize this capability. Older processors will only provide PCIe Gen 3.0, and both the B550 chipset and DMI uplink are also limited to PCIe Gen 3.0. The motherboard includes two reinforced x16 PCIe Gen 4.0 graphics slots. Additionally, it is equipped with four RAM slots, accommodating up to 128 GB of DRAM, with an overclocking potential rated at 4733+ MHz. As mentioned, this board occupies a central position within the mainstream segment and boasts an appealing design. Let us examine it more closely.
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