MSI MAG B550M Mortar offers WiFi, while Gigabyte B450 Auros Pro supports Gigabit connectivity.
MSI MAG B550M Mortar offers WiFi, while Gigabyte B450 Auros Pro supports Gigabit connectivity.
Hello. You purchased a Gigabyte B450 Auros Pro WIFI with a Ryzen 5 3600 and 16 GB RAM, and it is still in transit. I noticed an MSI MAG B550M Mortar WIFI priced at $170, released on June 16, which costs $40 more. You could exchange the Gigabyte. It offers slightly improved sound and is $40 cheaper, but the MSI model includes B550, PCIe 4.0, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, and better VRAM. It also supports Zen 3, which aligns with your likely future upgrades to that architecture. The B450 will work with Zen 3, though it may lack some features or not be available at all depending on the board. After Zen 3, you’ll probably move to AM5 and DDR5. Since your main use is gaming and studying without overclocking, the extra $40 seems justified for future-proofing. You don’t need Wi-Fi 6, and PCIe 4.0 isn’t a priority right now. Any SSD using it wouldn’t offer significant advantage over a standard SATA drive, given the minimal performance difference. I’m considering whether to keep the motherboard for five years—could PCIe 4 become relevant for mid-range GPUs in five years? A 2080-Ti doesn’t use it, but the RX 5600 XT does. Would missing the MSI model mean missing out on better support? Is spending $40 worth it for long-term compatibility? I’ve already invested heavily in the Gigabyte B450, so should I stick with what I have? Thank you.
Join the discussion! For future upgrades to a new generation CPU, consider the B550. Even though AMD now backs B450/X470, the path to a future CPU isn't straightforward—it involves beta firmware with no backward compatibility. Issues here mean trouble ahead.
It's not completely accurate—it sits around DMI 4 between the CPU and chipset, while the rest uses 3.0. The overall VRM setup is quite similar to what the Tomahawk might offer, possibly with four stages and a 6+2 phase power design (though I might be mistaken). AORUS Pronis remains solid regarding power delivery, and B450 should work well with a beta BIOS.
This model comes with a pricey 100mm M.2 slot that starts at $100 and drops lower, making it quite expensive for its specs. What exactly are we discussing? The VRM performance likely isn't exceptional for this device.
I understand the Aorus M has some VRAM issues, though the reviewer mentioned the graphics card had solid specs.