ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming Service Manual
ROG STRIX
B550-A GAMING
Motherboard
E16919
First Edition
July 2020
Copyright © 2020 ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. All Rights Reserved.
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ii
Contents
Safety information ...................................................................................................... iv
About this guide .......................................................................................................... v
ROG STRIX B550-A GAMING specifications summary .......................................... vi
Connectors with shared bandwidth .......................................................................... x
Package contents ....................................................................................................... xi
Installation tools and components .......................................................................... xii
Chapter 1: Product Introduction
1.1 Before you proceed ...................................................................................1-1
1.2 Motherboard layout ....................................................................................1-2
Chapter 2: Basic Installation
2.1 Building your PC system ...........................................................................2-1
2.1.1 CPU installation...........................................................................2-1
2.1.2 Cooling system installation..........................................................2-2
2.1.3 DIMM installation.........................................................................2-5
2.1.4 M.2 installation ............................................................................2-6
2.1.5 Motherboard installation ..............................................................2-8
2.1.6 ATX power connection ................................................................2-9
2.1.7 SATA device connection ...........................................................2-10
2.1.8 Front I/O connector ...................................................................2-11
2.1.9 Expansion card installation .......................................................2-12
2.2 BIOS update utility ................................................................................... 2-13
2.3 Motherboard rear and audio connections ............................................. 2-14
2.3.1 Rear I/O connection ..................................................................2-14
2.3.2 Audio I/O connections ...............................................................2-16
2.4 Starting up for the first time .................................................................... 2-18
2.5 Turning off the computer ........................................................................2-18
Chapter 3: BIOS and RAID Support
3.1 Knowing BIOS ............................................................................................ 3-1
3.2 BIOS Setup program .................................................................................. 3-2
3.3 EZ Update ...................................................................................................3-2
3.4 ASUS EZ Flash 3 ........................................................................................ 3-3
3.5 ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 ............................................................................3-4
3.6 RAID configurations ..................................................................................3-5
Appendix
Notices .................................................................................................................... A-1
ASUS contact information ...................................................................................... A-6
iii
Safety information
Electrical safety
• To prevent electrical shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electrical
outlet before relocating the system.
• When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power cables
for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If possible,
disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a device.
• Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all
power cables are unplugged.
• Seek professional assistance before using an adapter or extension cord. These
devices could interrupt the grounding circuit.
• Ensure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you are not
sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your local power
company.
• If the power supply is broken, do not try to fix it by yourself. Contact a qualified service
technician or your retailer.
Operation safety
• Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the
manuals that came with the package.
• Before using the product, ensure all cables are correctly connected and the power
cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately.
• To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors,
slots, sockets and circuitry.
• Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area
where it may become wet.
• Place the product on a stable surface.
• If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualified service
technician or your retailer.
• Your motherboard should only be used in environments with ambient temperatures
between 0°C and 40°C.
iv
About this guide
This user guide contains the information you need when installing and configuring the
motherboard.
How this guide is organized
This guide contains the following parts:
• Chapter 1: Product Introduction
This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new technology it
supports. It includes description of the switches, jumpers, and connectors on the
motherboard.
• Chapter 2: Basic Installation
This chapter lists the hardware setup procedures that you have to perform when
installing system components.
• Chapter 3: BIOS and RAID Support
This chapter tells how to boot into the BIOS, upgrade BIOS using the EZ Flash Utility
and support on RAID.
Where to find more information
Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software
updates.
1. ASUS website
The ASUS website (www.asus.com) provides updated information on ASUS hardware
and software products.
2. Optional documentation
Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty flyers,
that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not part of the
standard package.
Conventions used in this guide
To ensure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used
throughout this manual.
CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components and injuries to
yourself when trying to complete a task.
IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.
NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.
v
ROG STRIX B550-A GAMING specifications summary
CPU
Chipset
Memory
Graphics
Expansion Slots
Multi-GPU Support
Storage
Ethernet
USB
AMD Socket AM4 for 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen™ Processors*
* Refer to www.asus.com for the AMD® CPU support list.
AMD B550 Chipset
3rd Gen AMD Ryzen™ Processors
4 x DIMM, Max. 128GB, 4600(O.C)/4400(O.C)/4266(O.C)/4133(O.C)/
4000(O.C)/3866(O.C)/3600(O.C)/3466(O.C.)/3200/3000/2800/2666/
2400/2133 MHz, Un-buffered Memory*
Dual Channel Memory Architecture
OptiMem II
* ECC memory (ECC mode) support varies by CPU.
* Refer to www.asus.com for the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists).
1 x DisplayPort 1.2*
1 x HDMITM 2.1 (4K@60HZ)
* Graphics specifications may vary between CPU types.
3rd Gen AMD Ryzen™ Processors
1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 SafeSlot (supports x16 mode)
AMD B550 Chipset
1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slot (supports x4 mode)*
3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 slots
* PCIEX16_2 shares bandwidth with PCIE x1_1, PCIE x1_2, and PCIE x1_3.
Supports AMD 2-Way CrossFireX™ Technology
Total supports 2 x M.2 slots and 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
3rd Gen AMD Ryzen™ Processors
M.2_1 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280/22110
(supports PCIe 4.0 x4 & SATA modes)
AMD B550 Chipset
M.2_2 slot (Key M), type 2242/2260/2280/22110
(supports PCIe 3.0 x4 & SATA modes)*
6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
Supports RAID 0,1,10
* When M.2_2 slot is populated , SATA6G_5/6 ports will be disabled.
1 x Intel® I225-V 2.5Gb Ethernet
ASUS LANGuard
Rear USB (Total 8 ports)
2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (1 x Type-A + 1 x Type-C®)
4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (4 x Type-A)
2 x USB 2.0 ports (2 x Type-A)
Front USB (Total 6 ports)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header supports additional 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
2 x USB 2.0 headers support additional 4 USB 2.0 ports
(continued on the next page)
vi
ROG STRIX B550-A GAMING specifications summary
ROG SupremeFX 7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio CODEC
S1220A
- Impedance sense for front and rear headphone outputs
- Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
- High quality 120 dB SNR stereo playback output and 113 dB SNR
recording input
Audio
Back Panel I/O Ports
Internal I/O Connectors
- Supports up to 32-Bit/192kHz playback*
Audio Features:
- SupremeFX Shielding Technology
- Dual OP Amplifiers
- Premium Japanese audio capacitors
- Audio cover
* Due to limitations in HDA bandwidth, 32-Bit/192 kHz is not supported for 7.1
Surround Sound audio.
2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (1 x Type-A + 1 x Type-C®)
4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (4 x Type-A)
2 x USB 2.0 ports (2 x Type-A)
1 x DisplayPort
1 x HDMITM port
1 x Intel® I225-V 2.5G Ethernet
5 x Audio jacks
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
1 x BIOS FlashBackTM button
Fan and cooling-related
1 x 4-pin CPU Fan header
1 x 4-Pin CPU_OPT Fan header
1 x 4-pin AIO_Pump header
3 x 4-pin Chassis Fan headers
Power related
1 x 24-pin Main Power connector
1 x 8-pin +12V Power connector
1 x 4-pin +12V Power connector
Storage related
2 x M.2 slots (Key M)
6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports
USB
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 header supports additional 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
2 x USB 2.0 headers support additional 4 USB 2.0 ports
Miscellaneous
1 x AURA Addressable Gen 2 header
2 x AURA RGB headers
1 x Clear CMOS header
1 x Front Panel Audio header (AAFP)
1 x 20-5 pin System Panel header
1 x Thermal sensor header
1 x Thunderbolt header
(continued on the next page)
vii
ROG STRIX B550-A GAMING specifications summary
AURA Sync
- Aura RGB headers
- Addressable Gen 2 RGB header
ASUS Q-Design
- ASUS Q-DIMM
- ASUS Q-LED (DRAM [yellow],CPU [red], VGA [white], Boot Device
[yellow green])
- ASUS Q-Slot
Special Features
Software Features
ASUS Thermal Solution
- Aluminum M.2 heatsink design
ASUS EZ DIY
- BIOS Flashback™ button
- BIOS FlashBack™ LED
- Clear CMOS header
- ProCool
- Pre-mounted I/O shield
- SafeSlot
ROG Exclusive Software
- RAMCache III
- ROG CPU-Z
- GameFirst VI
- Sonic Studio III + Sonic Studio Virtual Mixer
- Sonic Radar III
- DTS® Sound Unbound
- Overwolf
- Anti-virus software
ASUS Exclusive Software Features
Armoury Crate
- AURA Creator
- AURA Sync
- AI Noise Cancelling Microphone
AI Suite 3
- PPSU
EPU
Digi+ VRM
Fan Xpert 4
TurboV EVO
- EZ Update
WinRAR
UEFI BIOS
ASUS EZ DIY
- ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
- ASUS EZ Flash 3
- ASUS UEFI BIOS EZ Mode
viii
(continued on the next page)
ROG STRIX B550-A GAMING specifications summary
BIOS
Manageability
Operating System
Form Factor
Specifications are subject to change without notice. Please refer to the ASUS website for
the latest specifications.
256 Mb Flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS
WOL by PME, PXE
Windows 10 64 - bit
ATX Form Factor
12 inch x 9.6 inch (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm)
ix
Connectors with shared bandwidth
FLBK_LED1
BIOS_FLBK
U2_56U32G1_78
U32G2_C6
EATX12V_1EATX12V_2
DIGI+
VRM
CPU_FAN CPU_OPT
RGB_HEADER1
U32G2_5
LAN_U32G1_34
HDMI
_DP
SOCKET AM4
DDR4 DIMM_B1 (64bit, 288-pin module)
DDR4 DIMM_B2* (64bit, 288-pin module)
DDR4 DIMM_A1 (64bit, 288-pin module)
AUDIO
Intel
I225-V
22110
A
Super
I/O
A
®
2280 2260 2242
PCIEX1_1
CHA_FAN1
AIO_PUMP
256Mb
BIOS
PCIEX16_1
PCIEX16_2
BATTERY
M.2_1(SOCKET3)
AMD
B550
DDR4 DIMM_A2* (64bit, 288-pin module)
A
A
Configuration
PCIEX1_2
PCIEX1_3
TB_HEADER
AAFP
AURA
22110
2280
ADD_GEN 2
2260 2242
T_SENSOR
CLRTC
CHA_FAN3 CHA_FAN2
COM_DEBUG
RGB_HEADER2
1 2
USB_E34 USB_E12
M.2_2(SOCKET3)
PANEL
PCIEX16_2 x4 x1
PCIEX1_1 - x1
A
PCIEX1_2 - x1
PCIEX1_3 - x1
Configuration 1 2
M.2_2 PCIe 3.0 x4 / SATA -
B
SATA6G_56 - v
BOOT
VGA
CPU
DRAM
EATXPWR
U32G1_12
SATA6G_12SATA6G_34SATA6G_56
B
B
• PCIEX16_2 shares bandwidth with PCIEX1_1, PCIEX1_2, and PCIEX1_3. When
PCIEX16_2 runs x4 mode, PCIEX1_1, PCIEX1_2, and PCIEX1_3 will be disabled.
PCIEX16_2 will run x1 mode when PCIEX1_1, PCIEX1_2, or PCIEX1_3 is occupied.
• When M.2_2 slot is populated, SATA6G_56 will be disabled.
x
Package contents
Check your motherboard package for the following items.
Motherboard 1 x ROG STRIX B550-A GAMING motherboard
Cables
Miscellaneous
Installation Media 1 x Support DVD
Documentation 1 x User manual
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.
1 x Addressable RGB extension cable
4 x SATA 6Gb/s cables
1 x Cable ties pack
1 x M.2 Rubber Package
1 x M.2 SSD screw package
1 x ROG key chain
1 x ROG STRIX sticker
1 x ROG STRIX thank you card
xi
Installation tools and components
Phillips (cross) screwdriver
PC chassis Power supply unit
AMD AM4 CPU AMD AM4/AM3 compatible CPU Fan
DDR4 DIMM SATA hard disk drive
SATA optical disc drive (optional) Graphics card (optional)
M.2 SSD module (optional) 1 Bag of screws
The tools and components in the table above are not included in the motherboard
package.
xii
Chapter 1: Product Introduction
Product Introduction
1
1.1 Before you proceed
Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or
change any motherboard settings.
• Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component.
• Before handling components, use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded
object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, to avoid damaging them due
to static electricity.
• Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.
• Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in
the bag that came with the component.
• Before you install or remove any component, ensure that the ATX power supply is
switched off or the power cord is detached from the power supply. Failure to do so
may cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, or components.
Chapter 1
ROG STRIX B550-A GAMING
1-1
1.2 Motherboard layout
Chapter 1
17
6
3
FLBK_LED1
BIOS_FLBK
U2_56U32G1_78
U32G2_C6
LAN_U32G1_34
HDMI
_DP
AUDIO
Super
I/O
Intel
I225-V
22110
AAFP
DIGI+
VRM
®
5
EATX12V_1EATX12V_2
CHA_FAN1
2280 2260 2242
PCIEX1_1
PCIEX1_2
PCIEX1_3
TB_HEADER
AIO_PUMP
256Mb
BIOS
PCIEX16_1
PCIEX16_2
22110
COM_DEBUG
RGB_HEADER2
24.4cm(9.6in)
BATTERY
AURA
2280
ADD_GEN 2
SOCKET AM4
M.2_1(SOCKET3)
2260 2242
T_SENSOR
CLRTC
CHA_FAN3 CHA_FAN2
RGB_HEADER1
CPU_FAN CPU_OPT
DDR4 DIMM_B1 (64bit, 288-pin module)
DDR4 DIMM_B2* (64bit, 288-pin module)
DDR4 DIMM_A1 (64bit, 288-pin module)
AMD
B550
M.2_2(SOCKET3)
USB_E34 USB_E12
214 114
BOOT
VGA
CPU
DRAM
DDR4 DIMM_A2* (64bit, 288-pin module)
EATXPWR
U32G1_12
SATA6G_12SATA6G_34SATA6G_56
18
5
30.5cm(12in)
8
7
6
PANEL
1-2
16 11 10 12 1513
149
44
Chapter 1: Product Introduction
Layout contents Page
1. CPU socket 1-4
2. DIMM slots 1-5
3. Expansion slots 1-7
4. Fan and Pump headers 1-9
5. Power connectors 1-10
6. M.2 slots (SOCKET 3) 1-11
7. SATA 6Gb/s ports 1-12
8. USB 3.2 Gen 1 header 1-13
9. USB 2.0 headers 1-14
10. AURA Addressable Gen 2 header 1-15
11. AURA RGB headers 1-16
12. Clear CMOS header 1-17
13. Front Panel Audio header 1-18
14. System Panel header 1-19
15. Thermal sensor header 1-20
16. Thunderbolt header 1-20
17. BIOS FlashBack™ LED 1-21
18. Q-LED 1-21
Chapter 1
ROG STRIX B550-A GAMING
1-3
1. CPU socket
The motherboard comes with an AMD Socket AM4 designed for 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen™
Processors.
Chapter 1
SOCKET AM4
The AM4 socket has a different pinout design. Ensure that you use a CPU designed for
the AM4 socket. The CPU ts in only one correct orientation. DO NOT force the CPU into
the socket to prevent bending the connectors on the socket and damaging the CPU!
Ensure that all power cables are unplugged before installing the CPU.
1-4
Chapter 1: Product Introduction
2. DIMM slots
The motherboard comes with Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) slots designed for DDR4
(Double Data Rate 4) memory modules.
A DDR4 memory module is notched differently from a DDR, DDR2, or DDR3 module. DO
NOT install a DDR, DDR2, or DDR3 memory module to the DDR4 slot.
DIMM_B1
Recommended memory configurations
DIMM_B2*
DIMM_A1
DIMM_A2*
Chapter 1
ROG STRIX B550-A GAMING
1-5
Memory configurations
You may install 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, and 32 GB unbuffered non-ECC DDR4 DIMMs into the
DIMM sockets.
Chapter 1
You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The system maps
the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel configuration. Any excess
memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.
• The default memory operation frequency is dependent on its Serial Presence Detect
(SPD), which is the standard way of accessing information from a memory module.
Under the default state, some memory modules for overclocking may operate at a
lower frequency than the vendor-marked value.
• For system stability, use a more efficient memory cooling system to support a full
memory load or overclocking condition.
• Always install the DIMMS with the same CAS Latency. For an optimum compatibility,
we recommend that you install memory modules of the same version or data code
(D/C) from the same vendor. Check with the vendor to get the correct memory
modules.
• Visit the ASUS website for the latest QVL.
1-6
Chapter 1: Product Introduction
3. Expansion slots
Unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may
cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.
Chapter 1
1
2
3
4
5
PCIEX16_1
PCIEX1_1
PCIEX16_2
PCIEX1_2
PCIEX1_3
Please refer to the following table for the recommended VGA configuration.
Recommended VGA configuration
Slot Description Single VGA Dual VGA
PCIE x16_1 x16 x16
PCIE x16_2
• We recommend that you provide sufficient power when running CrossFireX™ mode.
• Ensure to connect the 8-pin and 4-pin power plugs when running CrossFireX™
mode.
• Connect a chassis fan to the chassis fan connectors when using multiple graphics
cards for better thermal environment.
- x4
ROG STRIX B550-A GAMING
1-7
Hyper M.2 X16 series card configuration
Slot
Chapter 1
PCIEX16_1 4
PCIe bifurcation settings in PCIe x16 slots with different Ryzen™ CPUs
3rd Gen AMD Ryzen™ Processors (Support PCIe Gen 4 SSDs)
Supported SSDs
• Hyper M.2 X16 series card is purchased separately.
• When using 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen™ Processors and a Hyper M.2 X16 series card with
4 M.2 SSDs, if you wish to connect a display, we suggest installing a VGA card to
PCIEX16_2, which will run at x4.
• Set PCIEX16_1 to [PCIe RAID Mode] under BIOS settings to enable the Hyper M.2
X16 series card.
1-8
Chapter 1: Product Introduction
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