[SOLVED] Difference between B550-A and B550 chipset?

[PeterB9]

What is the difference between B550-A and B550 chipset, in terms of performance and speed?
Specifically I am looking into difference between MSI B550-A PRO vs MSI mag b550 tomahawk?
Which one will work better/faster?

 

[Lutfij]

The Tomahawk is what's considered to be the Strix version of board's but under an MSI branding/badge while the Pro series is more geared towards the bottom of the barrel users. The price difference is reflected with lower tier components, cut down features(lack of a secondary M.2 heatsink) and generally a lower tier audio design(ALC1200 vs the ALC892/897) when compared to the higher tier board. Otherwise the chipset used is exactly the same.

Oh right, one of the boards only has one LAN port, the other has 2.

Which one will work better/faster?
What do you intend to do with your build? What are you looking for from your motherboard purchase? You could add racing stripes and make the frames go higher, lol, just kidding. Depending on what app's you want to use, the system should be able to handle it regardless of what board you pick

 

[NightHawkRMX]

B550A Chipset was only for prebuilt machines. It is essentially B450 with PCIe 4.0 slapped on. It does not have the added IO benefits of proper B550.

However, the MSI B550-A Pro is not using the B550A chipset. The B550-A Pro is regular B550.

Both the B550A-Pro and B550 Tomahawk will perform about the same for the vast majority of uses. The Tomahawk has a slightly better vrm, some flashy lighting, and a couple of other features that Lutfij mentioned. Overall functionality is the same, and system performance will be the same.

I would go with the B550-A Pro since it is a very good board and has all of the features you need without being excessive and adding cost.

 

[PeterB9]

Thanks, can you answer additional question, I already have Ryzen 5700G and HyperX 32GB HX430C15PB3K2/32. Would I benefit if I go with x570, would that be better config. or should I go with B550?