ASUS TUF Gaming B550-PLUS WiFi II motherboard: features, specs and who it suits

The ASUS TUF Gaming B550-PLUS WiFi II is an ATX motherboard for AMD's AM4 socket. It is built around the B550 chipset and is aimed at gaming PCs using 3rd Gen Ryzen processors. It combines PCIe 4.0, built-in WiFi 6 and fast wired networking on one board.

The AM4 socket and what it supports

AM4 is the socket used by a long line of Ryzen desktop processors. ASUS lists the board as a pairing for 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen CPUs. Processor support depends on the board's firmware version, so check ASUS's compatibility list for the exact processor you plan to use, and see whether a BIOS update is needed. The board has BIOS Flashback, a feature that typically lets you update the firmware from a USB drive without a processor installed.

PCIe 4.0 and storage

PCIe 4.0 offers about twice the bandwidth per lane of PCIe 3.0. It is useful for fast NVMe storage and for graphics cards, although many games do not use all of it. The board has dual M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs, one of them with PCIe 4.0 x4 connectivity. Other storage options depend on the board's SATA ports, so see the manual.

Power and cooling

ASUS describes an 8+2 DrMOS power design, with alloy chokes and durable capacitors. The voltage regulator is the circuitry that feeds clean power to the processor, and a stronger one matters most with higher-core-count chips or when running them hard. A fanless heatsink covers the regulator and chipset. Several fan headers are provided, and fan speeds can be set through Fan Xpert 4 or the UEFI Q-Fan Control utility.

Networking

The WiFi II name signals built-in WiFi 6 (802.11ax) with Bluetooth 5.2, so a PC can go wireless without an add-in card. There is also 2.5 Gb wired LAN, with ASUS LANGuard protection. To use the full 2.5 Gb speed, the router or switch at the other end must support it too.

Connectivity and display

The listing mentions HDMI 2.1 (4K at 60 Hz) and DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. These only work when the processor has integrated graphics, since most Ryzen chips without one rely on a graphics card. You also get USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C and Type-A ports, a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 1 connector, a Thunderbolt 3 header (for a compatible add-in card), a TPM header and addressable RGB headers with Aura Sync.

Who it suits

It suits people building or upgrading an AM4 gaming PC who want PCIe 4.0 storage, integrated WiFi 6 and 2.5 Gb Ethernet. It is a full-size ATX board, so it needs a case that supports ATX.

What to check before you buy

• Processor: confirm that your Ryzen model is supported, and whether a BIOS update is needed first.
• Memory: check the supported memory type and speeds in the manual.
• Case: make sure the case supports ATX.
• Storage: count your M.2 and SATA drives against the available slots and ports.
• Display: check whether your processor has integrated graphics before relying on the HDMI port.
• Installation: work with the power off and follow the manual.

The short version

• An AM4 ATX motherboard, model TUFGAMINGB550-PLUSWIFIII, for 3rd Gen Ryzen.
• PCIe 4.0, with dual M.2 NVMe slots (one PCIe 4.0 x4).
• WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 and 2.5 Gb LAN.
• 8+2 DrMOS power stages, fanless VRM and chipset heatsinks.
• BIOS Flashback, USB 3.2 ports, a Thunderbolt 3 header and Aura Sync RGB headers.

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