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ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi vs Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX: Comparison
ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi vs Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX max memory compared
Start with max memory, because it is the widest measured gap between them: ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi 128 GB against Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX 64 GB, 50% in favour of ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi. Oldest cpu family supported is not the same on both, Ryzen 7000 on the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi versus Ryzen 3000 on the Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX. They differ on pcie 5.0 support too, Yes on the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi versus No on the Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX.
Which should you buy, ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi or Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX?
it is the wrong buy for anyone wanting the heavier 10-layer PCB of the PG-ITX WiFi. It is equally the pick for B850 builders who want a disclosed 110A SPS VRM at a lower price than PG-ITX. Avoid it for buyers assuming USB4 works with any Ryzen CPU on this board. Buy the Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX for SFF cases where rear-mounted M.2 storage improves front-panel airflow. The same goes for AM4 builders wanting genuinely strong VRM headroom for Ryzen 5000 X3D chips. It is the wrong buy for buyers who specifically want built-in Thunderbolt like the ASRock X570 ITX board.
What ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi and Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX have in common
Where they agree, they agree completely, memory slots, m.2 slots, m.2 slots onboard, form factor and platform included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 7 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi and Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX differ on chipset?
Yes. Chipset reads B850 on the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi versus B550 on the Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX.
Is the Board Width the same on the ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi and Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX?
It is. Both are listed at 170 mm, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Platform
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- AMD
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- AMD
Model Number
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- B850I Lightning WiFi
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- B550I AORUS Pro AX
Socket
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- AMD Ryzen 9000 / 8000 / 7000 series
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- AMD Ryzen 5000 / 4000 / 3000 series (AM4)
Form Factor
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Mini-ITX
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- Mini-ITX
Chipset
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- B850
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- B550
Newest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Ryzen 9000
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- Ryzen 5000
Memory Type
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2x DDR5, dual-channel, up to 128GB, up to 8200+ MT/s (OC), ECC and non-ECC unbuffered
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 2x DDR4, up to 64GB, up to DDR4-5300 (OC)
Oldest CPU Family Supported
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Ryzen 7000
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- Ryzen 3000
Memory Slots
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 2
Max Memory
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 128 GBBest
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 64 GB-50%
Board Width
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 170 mm
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 170 mm
M.2 Slots
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 2
PCIe 5.0 Support
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Yes
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- No
Wi-Fi Onboard
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Yes
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- Yes
Memory Channels
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 2
Max Memory Capacity
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 128 GBBest
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 64 GB
Max Rated Memory Speed
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 8200 MT/sBest
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 5300 MT/s
M.2 Slots Onboard
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 2
SATA Ports
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 4
PCIe x16 Slots
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 1
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 1
Primary Graphics Slot Gen
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- PCIe 5.0
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- PCIe 4.0
Rear USB 10Gbps Ports
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 3
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 2
Rear USB 5Gbps Ports
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 1
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 4
Fan and Pump Headers
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 3
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 3
Vcore Power Stages
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 10
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 8
Max Ethernet Speed
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2.5 Gbps
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 2.5 Gbps
Ethernet Port Count
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 1
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 1
Wi-Fi Standard
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth Version
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 5.2
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 5
Audio Codec
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Realtek ALC1220
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- Realtek ALC1220-VB
Expansion
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 1x PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU; Gen5 x16 with Ryzen 9000/7000, Gen4 with Ryzen 8000)
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 1x PCIe 4.0 x16 (3.0 with G-series APUs), 2x M.2, 4x SATA 6Gb/s
Connectivity
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- Rear USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C with DP-alt (up to 40Gbps with selected processors), 2x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen1, 4x USB 2.0
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- Q-Flash Plus, rear-mounted M.2 for airflow
Networking
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- 2.5GbE (Killer E3100G), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- 2.5GbE (Realtek), Wi-Fi 6 (Intel AX200), Bluetooth 5
Special Features
- ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi
- BIOS Flashback button, Blazing M.2 Gen5 slot, Nahimic Audio
- Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX
- Rear M.2 slot keeps front airflow clear
Which one should you pick?
Choose ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi if you want the higher memory slots (2 vs 2), the higher max memory (128 GB vs 64 GB) and the higher M.2 slots (2 vs 2).
Choose Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi | Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
| Newegg | View on Newegg | View on Newegg |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.