Introduction

Last year, AMD released the Ryzen 5000 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 in 2019 came the AMD X570 chipset. Featuring PCIe 4.0 support, X570 was an impressive leap from generations past. It was also hot, with motherboards often including 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 for 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). That having been said, with PCIe 4.0 support also came increased cost.


The ASUS ProArt B550-CREATOR features a robust VRM cooling solution and a 12+2 power stage design utilizing 50 A stages from Vishay Semiconductor. BIOS flashback has also been included, as well as ASUS's excellent BIOS designed to provide an optimal, stress-free overclocking experience. The ASUS ProArt B550-CREATOR even includes dual 2.5 Gb/s Ethernet using Intel's new I225-V controller, as well as a pair of Thunderbolt ports. All of this performance is bundled with a unique RGB -less black and gold aesthetic.

Let's take a closer look at what the ASUS ProArt B550-CREATOR has to offer.

Specifications

Packaging and Contents

The front of the ASUS ProArt B550-CREATOR box features a black background with gold accents. While the box design is minimal, the critical information is presented front and center.

The back of the box has all the highlights: a top-down shot of the board, several panels detailing prominent features, a shot of the rear I/O, and the specifications list. The box design is well executed and matches the board perfectly.


The accessories are mostly standard with the notable exception of a short DisplayPort cable for Thunderbolt passthrough. Notably absent is any kind of rear I/O shield because the shield is integrated into the board.

The full list of accessories includes:

• 2x SATA 6 Gb/s cables
• DP to DP cable for Thunderbolt™ 4
• M.2 rubber package(s)
• Support DVD
• ACC express activation key card
• User manual

Board Layout

The ProArt B550-CREATOR uses a sleek, modern aesthetic comprised of a black PCB matched with black heatsinks and gold accents.


The CPU socket is open enough for most air coolers.


There are two M.2 slots on the ASUS ProArt B550-CREATOR; 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 ASUS B550 PG ProArt B550-CREATOR offers three PCI Express x16 slots, with the top two steel-reinforced and PCIe 4.0 compatible, as well as two PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots. The board has a total of four SATA 6 Gb/s ports on the side, angled 90 degrees from the board.

It is a little strange that there are only four SATA ports paired with just two M.2 slots. While Thunderbolt adds a wide variety of external storage options, it would have been nice to see more focus on internal storage for a productivity focused board.


The ASUS B550 PG ProArt B550-CREATOR has a good I/O offering that includes an optical S/PDIF out port, Thunderbolt, dual LAN, and a fair amount of USB connectivity.

• 2x Thunderbolt™ 4 USB Type-C® port(s)
• 4x USB 3.2 Gen 2 port(s) (4 x Type-A)
• 2x USB 2.0 port(s) (2 x Type-A)
• DisplayPort (Input only)
• HDMI™ port
• 2x Intel® I225-V 2.5Gb Ethernet ports
• 5x Audio jacks
• Optical S/PDIF Out port
• BIOS FlashBack™ button
• PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port

Networking on the ASUS B550 PG ProArt B550-CREATOR is handled by a pair of Intel's new I225V 2.5 Gb/s controller.