ASRock B550 Steel Legend: A Powerful Budget Motherboard
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Power Delivery
- VRM Temperature and Overclocking
- Board Features
- Rear I/O and Connectivity
- BIOS Overview
- Pricing and Comparison
- Conclusion
- Link to ASRock B550 Steel Legend
- Other Resources
Introduction
🔥 The ASRock B550 Steel Legend: Is it Worth the Upgrade? 💥
In this review, we will dive into the ASRock B550 Steel Legend motherboard and compare it to its predecessor, the B450 Steel Legend. With the release of the new B550 lineup, we will investigate how this board handles the higher core count of the latest CPUs. So, let's see if the B550 Steel Legend is a worthy upgrade or not. But first, if you haven't already, consider subscribing to our Channel for more insightful content like this. Now, let's get started!
Power Delivery
⚡️ Insane Power Delivery for its Class ⚡️
One standout feature of the ASRock B550 Steel Legend is its beefy power delivery system. Despite being a budget-class board, it boasts a whopping 14-phase setup with SSC 654 drivers rated at 60 amps each. This level of power delivery is more than enough for even the most demanding Ryzen chips, including the 16-core and 12-core variants like the 3900 and 3950X. During our tests, the VRMs remained steady at temperatures between 45 and 50 degrees Celsius, showcasing their excellent performance. Moreover, the board's robust heatsinks provide ample cooling, ensuring smooth operation even under heavy loads.
💪 Pros:
- Incredibly robust 14-phase power delivery system
- Excellent VRM temperature management
- Overkill performance for stock Ryzen chips
- Suitable for overclocking, with an included error code display for troubleshooting
🤔 Cons:
- Overkill power delivery may not be necessary for most users
- Higher price compared to the B450 model
VRM Temperature and Overclocking
🌡️ Stay Cool Under Heavy Loads 🌡️
The ASRock B550 Steel Legend impressed us with its VRM temperature performance. Even when subjected to intensive tasks like rendering in Blender, the VRMs maintained a consistent temperature range of 45-50 degrees Celsius—quite impressive for a budget-class motherboard. Thanks to the ample headroom provided by the 14-phase power delivery system, this board can handle overclocking without breaking a sweat. Whether you're running your chip at stock settings or pushing it to its limits, the B550 Steel Legend is up to the task.
💪 Pros:
- VRMs stay cool even under heavy loads
- Sufficient headroom for overclocking
- Error code display aids in troubleshooting during overclocking
🤔 Cons:
- Overkill power delivery system may not be fully utilized by the average user
- Limited availability of overclocking settings in the BIOS
Board Features
🔧 Packed With Impressive Features 🔧
The ASRock B550 Steel Legend offers a range of features that make it a solid choice for various needs. It includes a top M.2 slot with a heatsink, providing PCI Gen4 support when combined with a compatible CPU. The reinforced top PCIe slot also offers direct connectivity to the CPU. Additionally, the board features an M.2 Wi-Fi slot, an additional M.2 slot, and a mix of x1 and x16 slots. The rear I/O provides essential ports, including USB, audio, and a 2.5-gigabit Ethernet. It also offers display outputs for users employing CPUs with integrated graphics.
💪 Pros:
- PCI Gen4 support for compatible CPUs
- Direct CPU connectivity for top M.2 slot and PCIe slot
- Well-designed rear I/O with essential ports
- Display outputs for CPUs with integrated graphics
🤔 Cons:
- Limited support for older CPUs (only officially supports Zen 2 architecture CPUs and newer)
- 2.5-gigabit Ethernet may be excessive for most users
Rear I/O and Connectivity
🔌 Versatile Rear I/O and Connectivity 🔌
The ASRock B550 Steel Legend comes with a rear I/O shield, which is always a nice inclusion. It features a standard selection of USB ports, including USB 3.2 Gen2, as well as 7.1 audio with the Realtek ALC 1220 codec—common to most motherboards on the market. The board also offers space for Wi-Fi antennas, should you decide to add a Wi-Fi card to the M.2 slot. Lastly, it provides a 2.5-gigabit Ethernet port, although this feature may not be fully utilized by the average user.
💪 Pros:
- Included rear I/O shield
- Standard selection of USB ports
- 7.1 audio with the Realtek ALC 1220 codec
- Space for Wi-Fi antenna installation
🤔 Cons:
- 2.5-gigabit Ethernet may have limited practical uses
BIOS Overview
🖥️ A Basic Yet Functioning BIOS Interface 🖥️
The ASRock B550 Steel Legend features a fairly standard and straightforward BIOS interface. It consists of tabbed pages with various options that can be navigated using either a mouse or arrow keys. While it lacks the click-and-drag menus found in some other motherboards, it does offer a decent selection of overclocking settings. Although the CPU overclocking options are somewhat limited, the BIOS provides an extensive range of advanced memory timing configurations—a crucial area for Ryzen overclocking.
💪 Pros:
- Standard and easy-to-navigate BIOS interface
- Decent selection of overclocking settings
- Advanced memory timing configuration options
🤔 Cons:
- Lacks more advanced features found in competitor BIOS interfaces
Pricing and Comparison
💰 Higher Price With Mixed Justification 💰
The ASRock B550 Steel Legend comes with a price tag of around £180 or $180-200, representing a significant increase over its B450 predecessor, which was priced at around £120 or $120-230. While the B550 model justifies its higher cost with features like 2.5-gigabit Ethernet, the decision to go with a 14-phase VRM setup seems excessive for a budget-class board. ASRock could have opted for a robust eight-phase configuration while reducing the price, making it a more accessible and recommendable option, especially considering the added benefits of PCI Gen4 support and compatibility with Zen 3 Ryzen chips. As it stands, the ASRock B550 Steel Legend receives only a marginal recommendation from us due to its higher price point.
💪 Pros:
- A solid choice for a B550 board
- Supports easy upgrade to Zen 3 CPUs and offers PCI Gen4 capabilities
🤔 Cons:
- Relatively expensive compared to its B450 counterpart
- Overkill VRM design leads to increased cost
Conclusion
🏆 A Solid Option With Room for Improvement 🏆
In conclusion, the ASRock B550 Steel Legend offers impressive power delivery and VRM temperature management, making it a suitable choice for both stock and overclocked Ryzen chips. It boasts essential features like PCI Gen4 support, direct connectivity for top M.2 and PCIe slots, and a variety of rear I/O ports. However, the board's higher price may cause hesitation for potential buyers, as it limits its appeal compared to the more affordable B450 model. Overall, the ASRock B550 Steel Legend is a solid option with room for improvement in terms of pricing. If you value future-proofing and advanced features, it might be the right choice for you.
Link to ASRock B550 Steel Legend
🔗 ASRock B550 Steel Legend - Check it out on Amazon!
Other Resources
Here are some additional resources you might find helpful:
FAQ
Q: Does the ASRock B550 Steel Legend support older CPUs?
A: The ASRock B550 Steel Legend officially supports Zen 2 architecture CPUs and newer. Compatibility with older CPUs, such as the 3200G or 3400G, is limited on B550 boards.
Q: Can I use Zen 3 Ryzen chips with the ASRock B550 Steel Legend?
A: Yes, the ASRock B550 Steel Legend supports Zen 3 Ryzen chips, allowing for an easy upgrade path.
Q: Is the 2.5-gigabit Ethernet useful for most users?
A: While the 2.5-gigabit Ethernet is a nice addition, it may have limited practical uses for the average user who doesn't require such high network speeds.
Q: How does the ASRock B550 Steel Legend compare to the B450 Steel Legend?
A: The ASRock B550 Steel Legend offers improved power delivery, support for PCI Gen4, and compatibility with Zen 3 Ryzen chips. However, it comes with a higher price tag compared to the B450 model, which may deter some budget-conscious buyers.
Q: Are there any alternatives to the ASRock B550 Steel Legend?
A: Yes, there are several alternative B550 motherboards available, such as the MSI B550 Gaming Carbon and various models from Asus. Each board has its own unique features and pricing, so it's essential to consider your specific requirements before making a decision.
No difficulty
WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE TOOLIFY
