Support your new construction.
Support your new construction.
You're looking at a solid upgrade path. The components you've chosen seem reasonable for a build focused on performance. The Asus B550 with ROG Strix mini ITX and Trident Z3600 is a great choice for gaming or content creation. Adding a 3600x SSD alongside your 1060 will boost storage speed significantly. The Samsung SSD should work well with the motherboard you're considering, especially if it supports NVMe. Regarding the motherboard, make sure it has enough fan headers and supports the 3600x drive's interface—most modern boards do. If you're unsure, double-check the specs or consult the manufacturer's compatibility list. Overall, your plan looks balanced and well thought out.
What's the budget? How much is the board priced at? Are there any restrictions on what you can use?
Sure, I’d like it to be formatted as it would appear for university applications in September. I’m currently paying about £230 for the motherboard. My budget isn’t tight—I’ve estimated the total will be around £700-800, but I’m willing to spend more if it makes sense.
Although the 3600 and 3600x differ slightly, the main difference is just £15, while the XT costs an extra £80. Since I’m flexible on my budget, I decided to go with the 3600x.
The board quality is solid. The Aorus I performs well too. (I believe it uses five doubled phases but I might be mistaken). It should comfortably support a 12-core setup. It depends on your usage—you can reach a 3300x if you're mostly or entirely gaming, since it matches the 3600 currently. Save some cash and opt for a 3600 non (x), as the x is only slightly grouped and comes with higher clock speeds out of the box, which should be easily attainable with the 3600.
I mentioned that the board is strong. But also think about the aorus I.