Main points
- The MSI motherboard features a sleek black and silver design with a brushed aluminum finish, while the ASUS motherboard boasts a stealthy black and gray aesthetic with angular accents.
- The MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus and ASUS ROG Strix B550-F are both excellent budget-friendly B550 motherboards that offer a solid foundation for building a high-performance PC.
- While the ASUS motherboard offers slightly better connectivity options and a higher memory speed limit, the MSI motherboard provides a competitive feature set at a slightly lower price point.
The MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus and ASUS ROG Strix B550-F are two highly acclaimed budget-friendly B550 motherboards that offer a compelling combination of features and performance. In this detailed comparison, we pit these two contenders against each other to help you make an informed decision based on your specific needs and preferences.
Form Factor and Design
Both the MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus and ASUS ROG Strix B550-F sport the standard ATX form factor. The MSI motherboard features a sleek black and silver design with a brushed aluminum finish, while the ASUS motherboard boasts a stealthy black and gray aesthetic with angular accents.
Chipset and Socket
Both motherboards utilize the AMD B550 chipset, which provides support for AMD Ryzen 3000 and 5000 series processors. They feature the AM4 socket, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of AMD processors.
Power Delivery and VRM
The MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus features a 12+2+1 phase power delivery system, while the ASUS ROG Strix B550-F boasts a 16+2 phase power delivery system. Both motherboards provide ample power for even the most demanding processors, ensuring stability and performance under heavy loads.
Memory Support
The MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus supports up to 128GB of DDR4 memory with speeds of up to 4600MHz, while the ASUS ROG Strix B550-F supports up to 128GB of DDR4 memory with speeds of up to 5100MHz. Both motherboards offer dual-channel memory configurations, providing ample bandwidth for high-performance tasks.
Storage Options
The MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus provides six SATA 6Gb/s ports and two M.2 slots, while the ASUS ROG Strix B550-F offers four SATA 6Gb/s ports and three M.2 slots. Both motherboards support NVMe SSDs for ultra-fast storage performance.
Connectivity
The MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus includes a wide range of connectivity options, including Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2. The ASUS ROG Strix B550-F also features Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2, as well as an additional 2.5Gb Ethernet port for faster wired network speeds.
Expansion Slots
The MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus provides two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, and two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. The ASUS ROG Strix B550-F offers two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, and one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. Both motherboards have ample expansion slots for graphics cards, sound cards, and other peripherals.
BIOS and Overclocking Features
The MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus and ASUS ROG Strix B550-F both feature user-friendly BIOS interfaces with a wide range of overclocking options. The MSI motherboard offers the Click BIOS 5, while the ASUS motherboard features the UEFI BIOS. Both BIOSes provide intuitive navigation and advanced settings for tweaking system performance.
Performance and Benchmarks
In terms of performance, both the MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus and ASUS ROG Strix B550-F deliver excellent results. They provide stable and responsive platforms for gaming, content creation, and general computing tasks. Benchmarks show comparable performance between the two motherboards, with minor variations depending on the specific configuration and components used.
Takeaways: Deciding the Best Choice
The MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus and ASUS ROG Strix B550-F are both excellent budget-friendly B550 motherboards that offer a solid foundation for building a high-performance PC. While the ASUS motherboard offers slightly better connectivity options and a higher memory speed limit, the MSI motherboard provides a competitive feature set at a slightly lower price point. Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs, budget, and preferences.
Information You Need to Know
Q: Which motherboard has better VRM cooling?
A: The ASUS ROG Strix B550-F features a more robust VRM cooling system, with larger heatsinks and a dedicated fan to ensure optimal cooling under heavy loads.
Q: Does the MSI motherboard support PCIe 5.0?
A: No, neither the MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus nor the ASUS ROG Strix B550-F support PCIe 5.0. PCIe 5.0 support is only available on higher-end X570 and B650 motherboards.
Q: Which motherboard has more USB ports?
A: The MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus offers a total of 10 USB ports, including 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, and 4 USB 2.0 Type-A ports. The ASUS ROG Strix B550-F provides 9 USB ports, including 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, and 3 USB 2.0 Type-A ports.