Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro Review

Up Close – More Detail

Between the 24 pin ATX power input are three more fan headers, including pump capable ones should you require it. We also get another ‘spotters guide’ clue that this is the Pro not the Master as the DIMM Slots aren’t braced.

  

Next to the non-RGB chipset cooler and Aorus logo are the six SATA 6Gbps ports that will be filled by most of us with large gaming libraries. Who decided games need to be 60GB? C’mon. Jeepers.

  

At the bottom left corner we find the front panel connectors that are always the most annoying part of any build. If you’re like us they are the last thing you do and by that point you’re desperate to try out your new system and check it all works before you bask in the higher performance world your efforts have brought, but first you need to put on your reading glasses and peer at some tiny text and fit teensy connectors onto closely grouped pins, always getting the next one along. Fortunately the USB 3.2 Type-A front panel header is much easier to fit.

  

You’ll have caught sight of them above, but they are here too. Another pair of fan/pump headers so you can be assured of keeping your system cool at all times without involving trailing fan extension cables everywhere. Two USB 2.0 headers next, still a popular choice on more affordable cases.

  

Lastly on the PCB itself the Realtek ALC1220-VB codec sits on its own section of the PCB, freed from any interference. Yes I’m still happy they’ve named it after me. You would be too. As, I guess, is Victoria Beckham, or a certain Australian beer company.

  

Although the northern heatsink doesn’t look quite as swish as the one on the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master, the attention to detail is still all here on the Aorus Pro. High fin density heatsink with direct contact heatpipes. It should be more than enough to keep the power phases cool whilst you torture your Ryzen 3rd Gen.

  

Lastly around the back we find 6 USB 2.0 ports, 2 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type A and one Type-C, three USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, an HDMI, RJ45 and the all important audio jacks.