Selecting a motherboard is always a confusing thing. It starts first with the selection of your desired CPU. Once the CPU is selected, you can pick the right chipset suitable for it and then a good motherboard.
Although the AMD Ryzen chipsets are much more inter-compatible as compared to the intel chipsets, we are going to compare two very popular motherboards here in this article.
The first one is the Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming which comes with the B550 chipset. And the next one is the Asus TUF Gaming X570-Plus which has the X570 chipset. Choosing between them will be pretty easy.
The B550 chipset that comes with the Asus ROG Strix B550-F supports only 3rd generation Ryzen CPUs. Also, this chipset is compatible with all the upcoming zen 3 AMD Ryzen CPUs.
If we talk about the X570 chipset that comes with the Asus TUF-Gaming X570-Plus motherboard, it supports all 2nd and 3rd-generation Ryzen CPUs and is compatible with the upcoming Zen 3 Ryzen CPUs.
So, if we talk about compatibility, the X570 has a wider range of compatibility with the support for 2nd as well as 3rd generation Ryzen CPUs. Let’s discuss some more about these two motherboards and see which you should buy.
Specifications (Comparison)
Let’s compare the key specifications of both these motherboards and see which one is the best in terms of features.
Note: Wi-Fi variants are available with both these products. All other features will remain the same. We are comparing the non-Wi-Fi versions here.
| Specification | ROG Strix B550-F Gaming | TUF Gaming X570-Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Supported CPUs | 3rd Generation Ryzen Processors (AM4) | Ryzen 5000/5000 G-Series 4000 G-Series 3000/3000 G-Series 2000/2000 G-Series CPUs |
| Chipset | AMD B550 | AMD X570 |
| Memory | 4xDIMM/128GB Max | 4xDIMM/128GB Max |
| Memory Channel/Speed | Dual-Channel/Up to 4400(OC) MHz DDR4 | Dual-Channel/Up to 5100(OC) MHz DDR4 |
| Expansion Slots | 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4 mode) 3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16 mode) | Slot configurations vary depending on the CPU 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (x16 mode) 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16 mode) 1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x8 mode) 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (max at x4 mode) 3 x PCIe 4.0 x1 |
| Storage | 1 x M.2 Socket 3 (Both PCIe and SATA modes) 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports | 1 x M.2 Socket 3 (Both PCIe and SATA modes) 8 x SATA 6Gb/s ports |
| LAN | Intel® I225-V 2.5Gb Ethernet | Realtek® L8200A |
| Audio | ROG SupremeFX8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC S1220A | Realtek® ALC S1200A 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC |
| USB Ports | Front 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports(4 x Type-A) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports(1 x Type-A/1 x USB Type-C®) Rear 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports 2 x USB 2.0 ports 4 x USB 2.0 ports | Front 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports 4 x USB 2.0 ports Rear 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports |
In terms of features, the Asus TUF Gaming X570-Plus looks way better than the ROG Strix B550-F Gaming. Especially if you are a gamer and looking to install a PCIe 4.0 graphics card, you must go with the TUF GAMING X570-PLUS because it has got a PCIe 4.0 expansion slot with x16 PCIe lanes.
Chipset
1. X570 Chipset
As you might have got an idea of the chipsets and their capabilities, the X570 chipset is the latest one. It comes with the PCIe 4.0 support and various other features such as a higher number of faster USB ports. Most impressively, this chipset has support for a wide range of CPUs. However, if you pair it with the 2nd generation Ryzen CPUs, you will hardly get any special benefits from it. So, it is best to pair this chipset and buy it when you are going for a high-end CPU such as the 4000 or 5000 series.
2. B550 Chipset
The B550 is a PCIe 4.0-ready chipset. But, here with our ROG Strix B550-F Gaming motherboard, we are only getting PCIe 3.0 expansion slot support. It suits well with the 4000 and 5000 series processors. But, I would suggest you keep it as an option there. It is good to use this chipset with a 3000 series processor.
Overclocking
Both of these motherboards support overclocking. Actually, overclocking is a feature offered by your chipset, and all the AMD chipsets whose names are starting with X and B support overclocking.
So, you will be able to get all the benefits related to the overclocking no matter which motherboard you are choosing here. Again, your CPU should also have overclock support in order for this process to work.
Audio
There are a lot of audio features you are getting with both these motherboards. But some of the main audio features from both these motherboards are as follows.
| ROG STRIX B550-F GAMING | TUF Gaming X570-Plus |
|---|---|
| ROG SupremeFX8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC S1220A 1. Audio Shielding 2. Premium Japanese audio capacitors 3. Optical S/PDIF in port(s) at the back panel 4. SupremeFX Shielding™ Technology 5. Dual OP Amplifiers 6. Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs 7. Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking 8. 120dBSNR stereo playback output 9. 113dBSNR recording input 10. Supports up to 32-Bit/192kHz playback * 11. Gold-plated jacks | Realtek® ALC S1200A 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC 1. DTS Custom for GAMING Headsets. 2. Audio Shielding 3. Dedicated audio PCB layers: 4. Premium Japanese audio capacitors 5. Audio Cover |
Memory
Both of the motherboards come with dual-channel memory support. You can overclock your memory and increase its speed with both motherboards.
If we talk about the overclockable memory, the TUF Gaming X570-Plus can support up to 5100 MHz memory. The ROG STRIX B550-F GAMING, on the other hand, can support up to 4400 MHz overclocked memory speed.
Both support the DDR4 memory and up to 128GB of memory can be installed in both, as we discussed earlier.
Both of them have support for ECC Memory if your CPU supports this feature.
Aesthetics
Looks also matter a lot and when it comes to choosing a motherboard based on its aesthetics, it is always a subjective matter. Both of the motherboards are focused on the gamers. So, they both are very attractive.
The special thing about both the motherboards is that they come with the Aura lighting control which makes the RGB synchronization pretty easy. You get generation 2 RGB headers to connect other RGB devices and control the RGB effects altogether.
The overall looks are impressive. So, you will not have to worry about the beauty of your rig once it is built.
Price
The Asus TUF Gaming X570 is a little expensive as compared to the ROG Strix B550-F. But, it gives you numerous advantages and wider compatibility as well. But, the prices keep varying so I would suggest checking the prices of both before buying.
Which one should you buy?
The Asus TUF Gaming X570-Plus is clearly a more feature-rich motherboard. It is future-proof and suitable for gamers. If you want to use a PCIe 4.0 graphics card or upgrade in the future, this motherboard will work perfectly without any issues. So, if you keep upgrading and are looking for the latest technologies, the Asus TUF Gaming X570-Plus is a perfect pick for you.
On the other hand, the Asus ROG Strix B550-F is a perfect pick for budget gamers and normal users as well. Although it gives enough value to money, it lacks the PCIe 3.0 which isn’t a big deal till now but may impact you in the future. Overall, the ROG Strix B550-F is a good option.
But, if you have a good budget, just go for the TUF Gaming X570-Plus because it has everything that you need to build a very popular PC.
Thanks for reading!
I am Anshul Rana, an experienced author specializing in PC gear reviews and Windows 10 software tutorials. With a strong passion for technology and an in-depth understanding of the PC industry, I provide insightful and detailed analyses of computer peripherals, gaming gear, and software solutions. My writing style is concise yet informative, making complex topics accessible to both beginners and advanced users. Through my reviews and tutorials, I aim to offer valuable guidance, helping readers make informed decisions to enhance their PC experience and explore the vast possibilities of Windows 10 software.
