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ASUS ROG Strix B550-E Gaming AM4 motherboard: features, specs and fit
An ATX AM4 motherboard for Ryzen 3000 and 5000 CPUs with PCIe 4.0, WiFi 6, 2.5Gb LAN and dual M.2 slots. What the main features mean for a build.
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The ASUS ROG Strix B550-E Gaming is an ATX motherboard for AMD's AM4 socket. It is meant for builds around 3rd Gen Ryzen and Ryzen 5000 (Zen 3) processors, and it adds PCIe 4.0, WiFi 6 and 2.5Gb Ethernet. Here is what its features mean when planning a PC.
Socket and processor support
The AM4 socket is the one used by the Ryzen 3000 and 5000 desktop series. ASUS describes the board as a pairing for Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 and 3rd Gen Ryzen CPUs. Before buying, check ASUS's CPU support list for your exact processor, because some chips need a BIOS update that may require a compatible older processor.
Power delivery
The board has 14+2 DrMOS power stages, with alloy chokes and durable capacitors. In general, more power stages share the electrical load across more components, which helps stable power for CPUs with many cores. ASUS says the design suits the latest high-core-count AMD processors.
Cooling
ASUS fits fanless VRM and chipset heatsinks with its Stack Cool 3+ design, which it says improves passive cooling for key components under heavy load. Because the heatsinks have no fans, there is no extra fan noise from the board itself.
Networking
On-board connectivity includes WiFi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.1 and 2.5Gb Ethernet with ASUS LANGuard. A 2.5Gb port can run faster than standard gigabit, if your router or switch also supports 2.5Gb. Otherwise it works at the speed of your network.
Storage and ports
There are dual M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs, one of them with PCIe 4.0 x4 connectivity. PCIe 4.0 offers roughly double the bandwidth of PCIe 3.0, which matters mainly for the fastest SSDs and graphics cards. Other listed connections include:
- A USB 3.2 Gen 2 front-panel Type-C connector.
- A USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port on the back.
- A USB audio Type-C output bundled with a 3.5mm adapter cable.
- A Thunderbolt 3 header (this needs a separate add-in card).
- HDMI 2.1 (4K at 60Hz) and DisplayPort 1.2 output for processors with built-in graphics.
The listing mentions NVIDIA SLI support, which lets two compatible cards work together, though few current games use it.
Who it suits
It suits people building or upgrading an AM4 gaming or general-purpose desktop, and those who want built-in WiFi and fast Ethernet without extra cards. It's a full-size ATX board, so it needs a case that supports ATX.
What to check before you buy
- CPU compatibility: check ASUS's support list, and whether your processor needs a BIOS update.
- Memory: confirm the supported DDR4 type and speeds in the manual.
- Case: check ATX fit; the board is about 13.5 x 10.7 inches in the listing's packaged dimensions.
- Display output: the video ports only work with a processor that has integrated graphics.
- Storage: confirm how many drives you need, and that M.2 and SATA ports are shared as the manual describes.
- Network: a 2.5Gb link needs matching networking equipment.
The short version
- ATX motherboard for AMD AM4, with 3rd Gen Ryzen and Ryzen 5000 support.
- 14+2 DrMOS power stages and fanless Stack Cool 3+ heatsinks.
- PCIe 4.0, dual M.2 slots (one PCIe 4.0 x4), WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 and 2.5Gb LAN.
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C front and rear, HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.2.
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