Introduction

Last year, AMD released the Ryzen 3000 series desktop processors in one of the most monumental hardware launches of the modern era. This final step completed the Red brand's ascent back into the forefront of the desktop processor market that began with the launch of the first generation of Ryzen CPUs.

With the Ryzen 3000 launch came the AMD X570 chipset. Featuring PCIe 4.0 support, X570 was an impressive leap from generations past. It was also hot, which had motherboards often include chipset cooling fans, and, more significantly, expensive. The high cost of the chipset increased the average cost of X570 motherboards considerably over previous generations.

While AMD has done a great job of maintaining motherboard compatibility with new generation processors, none of the previous-generation AM4 motherboards featured official PCIe 4.0 support, not even from the storage and PCIe controlled by PCIe 4.0 compatible CPUs. Enter B550, the more value-oriented little brother of X570. While the B550 chipset is PCIe 3.0 only, B550 motherboards support PCIe 4.0 from the CPU to the primary PCIe slot as well as the primary M.2 slot (dependent on a PCIe 4.0 ready CPU).


The ASRock B550 Taichi features a powerful VRM solution and a 16 power stage design utilizing 50 A stages from Vishay Semiconductor. The ASRock B550 Taichi even includes 2.5 Gb/s Ethernet using Intel's new I225-V controller, as well as dual PCIe 4.0 slots. Coming in at the same price as its older X570 Taichi brother, does the ASRock B550 Taichi have what it takes to compete with X570?

Specifications

Packaging and Contents

The front of the ASRock B550 Taichi box features the classic Cog and Gear theme, as well as a Velcro flap that opens to display the board and some of the standout features.


The accessories are standard-fare. Notably absent is any kind of rear I/O shield because the shield is integrated into the board.

The full list of accessories includes:

• Manual and support DVD
• ASRock screwdriver
• 4x SATA 6 Gb/s cables
• Wi-Fi antenna
• 2x M.2 mounting hardware

Board Layout

The B550 Taichi is instantly recognizable as a Taichi: a black PCB with gray and black heatsinks with a large Cog and Gear motif over the chipset.


The CPU socket is open enough for most air coolers.


There are two M.2 slots on the ASRock B550 Taichi; one above the first PCIe x16 slot that supports PCIe 4.0 connectivity and another below the second PCIe x16 slot. Both slots feature full-coverage heatsinks.


The ASRock B550 Taichi offers three PCI Express x16 slots, of which the top two are PCIe Gen4 compatible. All of these are steel-reinforced, and there are two PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots. The board has a total of eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports on the side, angled 90 degrees from the board.


The ASRock B550 Taichi has a good I/O offering that includes an optical S/PDIF out port, Wi-Fi, and a fair amount of USB connectivity.

• 2x Antenna ports
• HDMI 2.1 port
• DisplayPort
• 4x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports
• BIOS flashback button
• 2x USB 2.0 ports
• USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A port
• USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port
• RJ-45 LAN port
• BIOS flashback button
• Clear CMOS button
• Optical SPDIF out port
• 5x 3.5 mm audio jacks

Networking on the ASRock B550 Taichi is handled by Intel's new I225V 2.5 Gb/s controller. For wireless connectivity, there is an 802.11 AX WiFi module.