ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS (WiFi 6) AMD AM4 (3rd Gen Ryzen™) microATX Gaming Motherboard
Bottom line: The ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS AMD AM4 microATX Gaming Motherboard: 8+2 DrMOS power stages with alloy chokes handle high-core-count Ryzen 5000 chips; main trade-off: B550 chipset limits CPU support to AM4 only, no upgrade path to AM5 Ryzen 7000.
As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ 8+2 DrMOS power stages with alloy chokes handle high-core-count Ryzen 5000 chips
- ✓ WiFi 6 (802.11ax) plus 2.5Gb LAN with LANGuard built in, no add-in card needed
- ✓ Dual M.2 slots, one running PCIe 4.0 x4 for full-speed NVMe
- ✓ BIOS Flashback updates firmware with no CPU or RAM installed
Cons
- ✗ B550 chipset limits CPU support to AM4 only, no upgrade path to AM5 Ryzen 7000
- ✗ microATX layout means fewer expansion slots than a full ATX B550 board
- ✗ DisplayPort caps at 1.2, behind the HDMI 2.1 output on the same board
- ✗ Second M.2 slot runs at chipset PCIe 3.0 speed, not 4.0
Manufacturer description
Power delivery comes from 8+2 DrMOS stages paired with alloy chokes and durable capacitors, so a high-core-count Ryzen chip gets steady current under sustained gaming or rendering loads. Cooling is handled passively at the VRM and chipset, with multiple hybrid fan headers you can tune through Fan Xpert 4 or UEFI Q-Fan Control. Connectivity is the standout: WiFi 6 (802.11ax) plus 2.5 Gb LAN with ASUS LANGuard, HDMI 2.1 at 4K 60Hz and DisplayPort 1.2 for APU or iGPU output, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C and Type-A, and a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 1 header. Storage runs through dual M.2 slots, one wired…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS AMD AM4 microATX Gaming Motherboard using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the motherboards category. Compare with similarly-priced alternatives in the motherboards category before committing. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for motherboards of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS support Ryzen 5000 CPUs?
Yes. The board uses the AMD AM4 socket and is built for Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen processors. If you buy an older stock unit, BIOS Flashback lets you update the firmware without a CPU installed.
Do I need a separate WiFi card with this motherboard?
No. WiFi 6 (802.11ax) is integrated, and the board also includes 2.5 Gb wired LAN with ASUS LANGuard surge protection.
How many M.2 slots does it have and are they PCIe 4.0?
There are two M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs. One is wired for PCIe 4.0 x4 connectivity; check the product listing for the exact lane configuration of the second slot.
Will this fit a microATX case?
Yes, it is a microATX form factor board, so it fits microATX and larger ATX cases. Confirm your case's motherboard support list before ordering.
What video outputs does it have for a Ryzen APU?
HDMI 2.1 supporting 4K at 60Hz and DisplayPort 1.2. You also get USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C and Type-A ports plus a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 1 connector on the rear and internal headers.
Key Features
- AMD AM4 Socket and PCIe 4. 0: The perfect pairing for Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 & 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen CPUs
- Robust Power Design: 8+2 DrMOS power stages with high-quality alloy chokes and durable capacitors to provide reliable power for the last AMD high-count-core CPUs
- Optimized Thermal Solution: Fanless VRM and chipset heatsink, multiple hybrid fan headers and fan speed management with Fan Xpert 4 or the UEFI Q-Fan Control utility
- High-performance Gaming Networking: WiFi 6 (802. 11ax), 2. 5 Gb LAN with ASUS LANGuard
- Best Gaming Connectivity: Supports HDMI 2. 1 (4K@60HZ) and DisplayPort 1. 2 output, featuring dual M. 2 slots (NVMe SSD)—one with PCIe 4. 0 x4 connectivity, front panel USB 3. 2 Gen 1 connector, USB 3. 2 Gen 2 Type-C & Type-A ports
Full Specifications
| Brand | ASUS |
|---|---|
| USB 2.0 | 4 |
| Platform | Windows 10 |
| CPU Model | AMD Ryzen 7 |
| CPU Socket | Socket AM4 |
| Model Name | TUF GAMING B550M-PLUS (WI-FI) |
| Chipset Type | AMD B550 |
| Connectivity | USB, WiFi |
| Model Number | TUF GAMING B550M-PLUS (WI-FI) |
| Item Type Name | ASUS TUF GAMING B550M-PLUS (WiFi 6) AMD AM4 (3rd Gen Ryzen™) microATX gaming motherboard (PCIe 4.0, 2.5Gb LAN, BIOS FlashBack, HDMI 2.1, USB 3.2 Gen 2, Addressable Gen 2 RGB header and AURA Sync) |
| Mfr Part Number | TUF GAMING B550M-PLUS (WI-FI) |
| Number of Ports | 4 |
| Total Usb Ports | 5 |
| Processor Socket | Socket AM4 |
| Total PCIe Ports | 16 |
| Total SATA Ports | 2 |
| Compatible Devices | Personal Computer |
| Memory Clock Speed | 4400 MHz |
| Robust Power Design | 8+2 DrMOS power stages with high-quality alloy chokes and durable capacitors to provide reliable power for the last AMD high-count-core CPUs |
| Warranty Description | 3 years |
| Full listing title | ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS (WiFi 6) AMD AM4 (3rd Gen Ryzen™) microATX Gaming Motherboard (PCIe 4.0, 2.5Gb LAN, BIOS Flashback, HDMI 2.1, USB 3.2 Gen 2, Addressable Gen 2 RGB Header and Aura Sync) |
Ready to buy?
ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS (WiFi 6) AMD AM4 (3rd Gen Ryzen™) microATX Gaming Motherboard (PCIe 4.0, 2.5Gb LAN, BIOS Flashback, HDMI 2.1, USB 3.2 Gen 2, Addressable Gen 2 RGB Header and Aura Sync) is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
Related Motherboards
More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all articles & guides →- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
- Best 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- KOORUI vs Samsung Odyssey: Best 27-inch 4K Gaming Monitor in 2026
- OG NeoGeo Stick vs 8BitDo SN30 Pro: Which Feels More Period-Correct for Fighting Games in 2026?
- Best Raspberry Pi Alternative in 2025: Full Buying Guide
- RTX 5080 vs RTX 4080 for LLM Inference: Same 16GB, Different Answer (2026)
- Is the RTX 3060 12GB Still Worth It for Gaming in 2026?
- Self-Host Immich on a Raspberry Pi 4 8GB: SSD Boot, Power Draw, and Real Performance
- RetroPie on a Raspberry Pi 4 8GB: The Definitive 2026 Emulation Build
- How to run Qwen 3 14B on AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
- Best CPU Cooler for the Core i7-9700K in 2026
- Is My CPU Sufficient for Light Universe Simulations?
- Best Budget SSD for Gaming PC Builds in 2026: 5 Picks
- Best Uses for Old RAM Sticks in 2025
- Best CPU for AI Inference Workstations in 2026
- Sound Blaster in 2026: Using the Creative Sound BlasterX G6 on a Retro and Modern PC
- Can a Local RTX 3060 12GB LLM Debug Linux Boot Like Gemini?
- llama.cpp vs vLLM for Single-User Local Chat in 2026: Which Backend Fits?
- Raspberry Pi OS Moves to Linux 6.18 LTS: What the Kernel Jump Means for Pi 4 Owners
- Best CPU for Local LLM Inference in 2026: Ryzen 7 5800X vs 5700X vs 5600G
- How to Install Windows 98 SE on a CompactFlash Boot Drive in 2026 (Retro PC Build Guide)
- Open-Weight Models Caught Up to Frontier: What to Run on a 12GB GPU
- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on Apple M4 Max
- Intel Arc Pro B60 vs RTX 3060 12GB for Local LLM
- Best Plug-and-Play Retro Gaming Consoles to Buy in 2026
- Qwen 3.6 27B vs Gemma 4 31B Local Inference: VRAM, Tok/s, and Quality Across Quantizations
Earliest SpecPicks reviews
Browse full archive →- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 8B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 14B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 70B (2026)
- Best GPU for DeepSeek-R1 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 405B (2026)
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 14B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090