B450>B550
B450>B550
Considering the popularity of these boards, it might make sense to switch from your current setup. Looking at options like the ASUS Prime B550-PLUS for around 139 CAD could be a smart move.
I aim to understand your goals and clarify what benefits you expect from PCIe 4. Your reference to support highlights a desire for practical advantages rather than just technical features.
It wouldn't be necessary for PCIe Gen 4 unless you're using a 6500 or 6400; otherwise, the impact would be barely perceptible.
My perspective suggests PCIE4 SSDs will prolong system longevity since newer games surpass older generations, and these SSDs are becoming the norm in recent consoles. Additionally, transitioning now could be wise while the B450 board still holds value.
Gen4 SSDs are essentially useless junk; you won’t see value in models under 2k R/W or above 3k R/W with NVMe just because games aren’t yet optimized for them. The specs for PS5 Gen4 require arbitrary numbers, so they’re not worth paying attention to. By the time you need a Gen4 drive, you’ll likely have to switch to a newer system anyway.
This whole PCIE SSD futureproofing idea is really one of the most confusing things they’ve done. It actually doesn’t improve load times much on consoles compared to a regular SSD. On a desktop, especially with a proper NVMe drive, the difference is almost nonexistent. Direct storage with real performance gains still isn’t available yet. It hasn’t changed much in two years, and it won’t be until new game engines start using it that it might make a noticeable impact—by then the drives will probably be cheaper too. Unless there’s another NAND shortage planned to push prices up.