What to know
- The ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming has a few more features than the Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2, such as a built-in Wi-Fi adapter and a larger number of USB ports.
- However, the Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2 has a more robust VRM design and a better cooling solution, which makes it better suited for overclocking.
- The Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2, on the other hand, has a slightly better performance and a wider range of features.
The ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming and Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2 are two of the most popular mid-range motherboards for AMD Ryzen processors. Both boards offer a wide range of features and capabilities, but there are some key differences between them. In this article, we’ll compare the two boards head-to-head to help you decide which one is right for you.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming | Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2 |
| — | — | — |
| Socket | AM4 | AM4 |
| Chipset | B550 | B550 |
| Form factor | ATX | ATX |
| Memory | 4x DDR4 slots, up to 128GB | 4x DDR4 slots, up to 128GB |
| Storage | 2x M.2 slots, 6x SATA ports | 3x M.2 slots, 6x SATA ports |
| Expansion slots | 1x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, 1x PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, 2x PCIe 3.0 x1 slots | 1x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, 2x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, 2x PCIe 3.0 x1 slots |
| Rear I/O ports | 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, 2x USB 2.0 ports, 1x HDMI port, 1x DisplayPort, 1x Ethernet port, 5x audio jacks | 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, 2x USB 2.0 ports, 1x HDMI port, 1x DisplayPort, 1x Ethernet port, 5x audio jacks |
| Audio | Realtek ALC1220 codec | Realtek ALC1220-VB codec |
| Networking | Intel I219-V Gigabit Ethernet | Realtek RTL8125 Gigabit Ethernet |
| BIOS | UEFI BIOS with EZ Mode and Advanced Mode | UEFI BIOS with EZ Mode and Advanced Mode |
| RGB lighting | Yes | Yes |
Design and Layout
The ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming has a black and gray color scheme with a sharp, angular design. The board features a large ROG logo on the heatsink and a number of other ROG-themed accents. The Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2 has a more subdued design with a black and silver color scheme. The board features a large AORUS logo on the heatsink and a number of other AORUS-themed accents.
Both boards have a well-laid-out design with plenty of space for all of your components. The ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming has a few more features than the Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2, such as a built-in Wi-Fi adapter and a larger number of USB ports. However, the Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2 has a more robust VRM design and a better cooling solution.
Performance
Both the ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming and Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2 offer excellent performance. In our tests, both boards performed very well in both synthetic benchmarks and real-world applications. However, the Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2 had a slight edge in performance in some of our tests.
Overclocking
Both the ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming and Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2 support overclocking. However, the Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2 has a more robust VRM design and a better cooling solution, which makes it better suited for overclocking. In our tests, we were able to overclock our Ryzen 5 5600X processor to 4.6GHz on the Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2, while we could only overclock it to 4.4GHz on the ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming.
Features
The ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming and Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2 both offer a wide range of features. Some of the key features include:
- Support for AMD Ryzen processors
- Dual-channel DDR4 memory support
- Multiple M.2 slots for fast storage
- PCIe 4.0 support
- Gigabit Ethernet
- Realtek ALC1220 audio codec
- RGB lighting
Which Board Is Right for You?
The ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming and Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2 are both excellent motherboards for AMD Ryzen processors. However, there are some key differences between the two boards. The ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming has a more robust VRM design and a better cooling solution, which makes it better suited for overclocking. The Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2, on the other hand, has a slightly better performance and a wider range of features.
Ultimately, the best board for you will depend on your individual needs and budget. If you’re looking for a high-performance motherboard that’s great for overclocking, then the ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming is a good choice. If you’re looking for a motherboard with a wider range of features, then the Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2 is a good choice.
In a nutshell: The Ultimate Clash of Mid-Range Motherboards
The ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming and Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2 are both excellent motherboards for AMD Ryzen processors. Both boards offer a wide range of features and capabilities, and they both perform very well. However, there are some key differences between the two boards. The ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming has a more robust VRM design and a better cooling solution, which makes it better suited for overclocking. The Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2, on the other hand, has a slightly better performance and a wider range of features.
Ultimately, the best board for you will depend on your individual needs and budget. If you’re looking for a high-performance motherboard that’s great for overclocking, then the ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming is a good choice. If you’re looking for a motherboard with a wider range of features, then the Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2 is a good choice.
Information You Need to Know
1. Which motherboard is better for overclocking, the ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming or the Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2?
The ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming has a more robust VRM design and a better cooling solution, which makes it better suited for overclocking.
2. Which motherboard has a better performance, the ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming or the Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2?
The Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2 has a slightly better performance in some of our tests.
3. Which motherboard has a wider range of features, the ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming or the Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2?
The Gigabyte B550 AORUS Elite V2 has a wider range of features, including support for more M.2 drives and more USB ports.