GIGABYTE B550M X AORUS ELITE is a micro-ATX motherboard based on the AMD B550 chipset and AM4 socket, designed for gaming PCs, powerful home computers and productivity systems using AMD Ryzen processors and DDR4 memory. It combines the mature and cost-effective AM4 platform with PCI Express 4.0 support, dual M.2 storage, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet and a compact form factor that fits both micro-ATX and larger ATX cases. The AM4 socket supports AMD Ryzen 5000 Series, Ryzen 5000 G-Series, Ryzen 4000 G-Series, Ryzen 3000 Series and Ryzen 3000 G-Series processors. This provides a broad range of upgrade possibilities, from processors with integrated Radeon graphics to powerful multi-core Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 CPUs. For users who already own compatible DDR4 memory or an AM4 processor, the board can provide a substantial system upgrade without the additional cost of moving to a DDR5 platform. The motherboard provides four DDR4 DIMM sockets and supports up to 128 GB of system memory in a Dual Channel configuration. Four physical memory slots offer greater expansion flexibility than two-slot micro-ATX boards. A system can initially be equipped with two modules while leaving another two sockets available for a later capacity upgrade. XMP memory profile support also simplifies the configuration of compatible performance-oriented DDR4 kits. The primary PCI Express x16 slot connects directly to the processor and can operate in PCIe 4.0 x16 mode with compatible Ryzen 5000 and Ryzen 3000 Series CPUs. This provides the bandwidth required for modern high-performance graphics cards and makes the board suitable for gaming, GPU-accelerated creative applications and other graphics-intensive workloads. With compatible Ryzen G-Series processors, the slot operates in PCIe 3.0 mode. A second full-length PCIe expansion slot operates through the AMD B550 chipset at PCIe 3.0 x4. It can be used for devices such as capture cards, storage controllers, network adapters, professional audio hardware or other compatible PCIe expansion cards. Despite its compact micro-ATX dimensions, the motherboard therefore retains useful expansion possibilities beyond the main graphics card. Storage connectivity includes two M.2 sockets. The primary CPU-connected M.2 slot supports SATA and PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 SSDs with compatible Ryzen 5000 and Ryzen 3000 Series processors. PCIe 4.0 x4 provides high bandwidth for modern NVMe SSDs and is particularly suitable for an operating-system drive, applications, games and large project files where fast loading and transfer speeds are important. With Ryzen G-Series processors, the primary M.2 connector operates at up to PCIe 3.0 x4. The second M.2 slot is connected through the B550 chipset and supports SATA as well as PCIe 3.0 x4/x2 storage. This makes it possible to install two SSDs directly on the motherboard without additional data or power cables, simplifying cable management in a compact PC case. GIGABYTE also equips the platform with M.2 Thermal Guard cooling for the primary high-speed SSD area. The heatsink helps transfer heat away from an NVMe drive during sustained workloads such as large file transfers, game installations or intensive application use. Better SSD cooling can help maintain consistent performance during longer periods of activity. Four SATA 6 Gbit/s connectors provide additional storage capacity for conventional 2.5-inch SATA SSDs and 3.5-inch hard drives. RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID 10 are supported, allowing users to configure multiple drives for increased performance, redundancy or a combination tailored to their storage requirements. A typical system can therefore combine a fast NVMe system SSD with additional SATA drives for games, multimedia, archives and backups. Wired networking is handled by a Realtek 2.5GbE controller supporting connections up to 2.5 Gbit/s. Compared with conventional Gigabit Ethernet, 2.5GbE provides up to 2.5 times the theoretical bandwidth when used with compatible networking equipment. This can significantly improve large file transfers to a NAS, local backups and access to servers, and also allows the computer to take advantage of internet connections faster than 1 Gbit/s. The integrated Realtek ALC1220 audio codec supports High Definition Audio with configurations up to 7.1 channels. This provides an onboard audio solution suitable for gaming, movies, music, communication and everyday multimedia use without requiring a separate sound card. GIGABYTE also uses dedicated audio components designed to reduce interference from other motherboard circuits. When the installed Ryzen processor includes integrated Radeon graphics, the motherboard can provide video output directly through HDMI and DisplayPort. This makes it possible to assemble a complete computer without a dedicated graphics card, which can be useful for office systems, home multimedia PCs or a computer that will receive a discrete GPU later. Modern USB connectivity includes USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB Type-C support. A rear USB-C connection provides convenient compatibility with modern external SSDs, smartphones, card readers and other peripherals, while an internal USB Type-C header allows a compatible computer case to provide an easily accessible front USB-C port. Additional USB headers support further front-panel peripherals. The board uses an 8+2 Twin Hybrid Digital VRM design with premium chokes and capacitors. The expanded VRM cooling solution and high-performance thermal pad help remove heat from the processor power-delivery components during sustained workloads. This is particularly useful with higher-performance Ryzen processors used for gaming, rendering and other tasks that can keep the CPU under load for extended periods. GIGABYTE's M.2 EZ-Latch and PCIe EZ-Latch features are designed to make assembly and later upgrades easier. Screwless or simplified M.2 mounting reduces the need to handle tiny SSD screws, while the PCIe release mechanism makes it easier to remove a large graphics card from the primary slot. These features are especially useful in compact micro-ATX systems where space around installed components can be limited. Q-Flash Plus provides another practical maintenance feature. It allows the motherboard BIOS to be updated from a USB flash drive without requiring a fully assembled system with a supported processor and memory already installed. This can be useful when preparing the motherboard for a different compatible Ryzen processor or when servicing a newly assembled PC. The micro-ATX format measures approximately 24.4 × 24.4 cm, allowing the board to fit into smaller cases while retaining four memory sockets, two M.2 slots, four SATA ports and multiple PCIe expansion options. GIGABYTE B550M X AORUS ELITE is therefore well suited to users who want a relatively compact AM4 system without giving up fast storage, PCIe 4.0 graphics support, 2.5GbE networking and practical upgrade possibilities. Product type: motherboard Colour: black EAN: 4719331883416 Manufacturer part number: B550M X A ELITE Manufacturer: GIGABYTE Model: B550M X AORUS ELITE Form factor: micro-ATX Dimensions: approximately 244 × 244 mm CPU socket: AMD AM4 Chipset: AMD B550 Supported processor families: AMD Ryzen 5000 Series, Ryzen 5000 G-Series, Ryzen 4000 G-Series, Ryzen 3000 Series and Ryzen 3000 G-Series CPU power design: 8+2 Twin Hybrid Digital VRM Main motherboard power connector: 1 × 24-pin ATX CPU power connector: 1 × 8-pin ATX 12V Memory type: DDR4 Memory slots: 4 × DIMM Maximum memory capacity: 128 GB Memory architecture: Dual Channel XMP support: yes ECC memory support: ECC Un-buffered DIMM, dependent on CPU support Non-ECC memory support: Non-ECC Un-buffered DIMM Primary PCIe slot: 1 × PCI Express x16 Primary PCIe mode with Ryzen 5000 / 3000 Series: PCIe 4.0 x16 Primary PCIe mode with compatible Ryzen G-Series processors: PCIe 3.0 x16 Secondary full-length PCIe slot: 1 × PCIe 3.0 x16, operating at x4 Number of M.2 slots: 2 Primary M.2 interface with Ryzen 5000 / 3000 Series: SATA or PCIe 4.0 x4/x2 Primary M.2 interface with compatible Ryzen G-Series processors: SATA or PCIe 3.0 x4/x2 Secondary M.2 interface: SATA or PCIe 3.0 x4/x2 M.2 Thermal Guard: yes M.2 EZ-Latch: yes SATA connectors: 4 × SATA 6 Gbit/s RAID support: RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 10 LAN controller: Realtek 2.5GbE Maximum Ethernet speed: 2.5 Gbit/s Audio codec: Realtek ALC1220 Audio type: High Definition Audio Maximum audio configuration: 7.1 channels Integrated graphics output support: dependent on installed processor HDMI: 1 DisplayPort: 1 USB 3.2 Gen 1: yes Rear USB Type-C: yes, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Front USB Type-C support: yes, via internal USB 3.2 Gen 1 header USB 2.0 support: yes PCIe EZ-Latch: yes Q-Flash Plus: yes RGB LED support: yes Addressable RGB support: yes
