Use a USB drive to flash the BIOS even without a CPU or memory.
An optimized power circuit layout is ready to unleash maximum performance.
An enhanced PCB material design improves heat dissipation and high-performance capabilities.
A selection of the highest quality power delivery components lets the system run reliably even under extreme conditions.
Reinforced and shielded PCIe slots for strength and stability.
Premium 7W/mK thermal pad covers both the MOSFET and chokes while providing better heat transfer to the heatsink.
Larger heatsink design for cooling and performance.
Control watercooling pump speeds for flowrate and noise control.
Sustain maximum high-speed M.2 SSD data transfer with M.2 SHIELD FROZR and prevent SSD thermal throttling.
Featuring TURBO USB 3.2 GEN 2 10Gbps with reversible Type-C connector.
The memory circuit design has been optimized on a reserved section of the motherboard fully isolated from other circuits.
Transfer data lightning fast across Gen 4 PCI-E and M.2 with up to 64GB/s bandwidth.
Core Boost combines a reserved zone of optimized circuits and premium power delivery components to create a highly efficient power system capable of precise current output to the CPU.
Unleash and sustain maximum performance with an aggressive VRM design built to supply stable and steady power delivery.
- 10 phase Duet Rail Power System
- 2 phase SOC Power
- 1 phase APU Power
- Digital PWM IC
An all-metal extended heatsink cover enlarges the heat dissipation surface allowing the CPU power system to reliably drive multi-core processors.
An enhanced PCB material design with 2oz thickened copper increases conductivity, improving heat dissipation and high-performance reliability.
Effortlessly plug in devices with reversible USB Type-C.
Sustain maximum M.2 SSD data transfer with M.2 SHIELD FROZR. Prevent SSD thermal throttling with a heatsink that extends across the motherboard.
Strike fast with MSI Lightning Gen 4 PCI-E. Attach ultra fast PCI-E 4.0 devices and enjoy up to 64GB/s unidirectional transfer bandwidth.
MSI takes memory stability and performance to the extreme. We've designed an optimized memory circuit design for reliability and tested compatibility extensively in partnership with major memory manufacturers.
Tuck away SATA and USB cables neatly with MSI Atypical PCB edge.
B550-A PRO supports AMD CrossFire multi GPU technology. PCI-E slot placements provide optimal airflow for graphics card cooling.
MSI PCI Express Steel Armor slots are secured to the motherboard with extra solder points and support the weight of heavy graphics cards. When every advantage counts, Steel Armor shields the point of contact from electromagnetic interference.
Pros: -Looks great. Black, no LOOK AT ME features -Supported my Ryzen 3600 with B550 right out of the box. Even if it didn't, it has the ability to flash BIOS without a CPU -Can accept a lot of RAM speeds. Was able to re-use my old 2400Mhz RAM until I buy newer. -Supports ECC RAM in non-ECC mode. That's crazy. Never heard of that before. ECC RAM can be super cheap on second-hand auction sites -Lots of fan headers. More than I need -M.2 screws DID work for me. -Saved $$$ not getting unnecessary features of a X570 board. I'm not a heavy gamer so I didn't need all dem lanez -PCIe Gen 4 M.2
Cons: -B550 compared to X570, so has less "features", but if you don't need/use them, is that really a con? -Only 1 PCIe Gen 4 M.2, but that's good enough for OS boot. -OK sound card compared to other boards, but I knew that if I wanted higher quality, I'd put the savings toward a DAC. -Only 1Gbps LAN
Overall Review: I was teetering between a B550 Tomahawk and this. The major differences to me was the sound card and the LAN card with 2.5 Gbps (an oddly also a 1 Gbps port on the Tomahawk). I wanted the optical out for audio, but I know that on-board cards are "noisy". If I do hook up optical, I'll spend the money on a DAC or a PCIe card. I was enticed by the 2.5 Gbps LAN on the Tomahawk but whenI increase my LAN speed, I'm going 10Gbps on CAT6a or fiber with a PCIe card, not 2.5. I'm not big into RGB lighting and I like the sleek look of this board. Not that it REALLY matters because I'm just putting it into my case and jamming it into my desk. It could be a circus light show going on in there and I wouldn't know it.