GIGABYTE B550 A ELITE AX V3 Key Features Motherboard User Manual

GIGABYTE B550 A ELITE AX V3 Key Features Motherboard

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Copyright
© 2024 GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. All rights reserved.
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Disclaimer
Information in this manual is protected by copyright laws and is the property of GIGABYTE. Changes to the specifications and features in this manual may be made by GIGABYTE without prior notice. No part of this manual may be reproduced, copied, translated, transmitted, or published in any form or by any means without GIGABYTE’s prior written permission.

• For detailed product information, carefully read the User’s Manual.
• For quick set-up of the product, refer to the Quick Installation Guide on GIGABYTE’s website. https://download.gigabyte.com/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_installation-guide_103.pdf?m=sw

For product-related information, check on our website at: https://www.gigabyte.com
Identifying Your Motherboard Revision
The revision number on your motherboard looks like this: “REV: X.X.” For example, “REV: 1.0” means the revision of the motherboard is 1.0. Check your motherboard revision before updating motherboard BIOS, drivers, or when looking for technical information.

Product Introduction

Motherboard Layout

Box Contents

• B550 AORUS ELITE AX V2, B550 AORUS ELITE V2, or B550 AORUS ELITE AX V3 motherboard

• User’s Manual

• One antennaj

• Two antennask

• Two SATA cables

• One G Connector

• The box contents above are for reference only and the actual items shall depend on the product package you obtain. The box contents are subject to change without notice.

  1. Only for B550 AORUS ELITE AX V2.
  2. Only for B550 AORUS ELITE AX V3.

Hardware Installation

Installation Precautions
The motherboard contains numerous delicate electronic circuits and components that can become damaged as a result of electrostatic discharge (ESD). Before installation, carefully read the user’s manual and follow these procedures:

• Prior to installation, make sure the chassis is suitable for the motherboard.
• Prior to installation, do not remove or break the motherboard S/N (Serial Number) sticker or warranty sticker provided by your dealer. These stickers are required for warranty validation.
• Always remove the AC power by unplugging the power cord from the power outlet before installing or removing the motherboard or other hardware components.
• When connecting hardware components to the internal connectors on the motherboard, make sure they are connected tightly and securely.
• When handling the motherboard, avoid touching any metal leads or connectors.
• It is best to wear an electrostatic discharge (ESD) wrist strap when handling electronic components such as a motherboard, CPU or memory. If you do not have an ESD wrist strap, keep your hands dry and first touch a metal object to eliminate static electricity.
• Prior to installing the motherboard, please have it on top of an antistatic pad or within an electrostatic shielding container.
• Before connecting or unplugging the power supply cable from the motherboard, make sure the power supply has been turned off.
• Before turning on the power, make sure the power supply voltage has been set according to the local voltage standard.
• Before using the product, please verify that all cables and power connectors of your hardware components are connected.
• To prevent damage to the motherboard, do not allow screws to come in contact with the motherboard circuit or its components.
• Make sure there are no leftover screws or metal components placed on the motherboard or within the computer casing.
• Do not place the computer system on an uneven surface.
• Do not place the computer system in a high-temperature or wet environment.
• Turning on the computer power during the installation process can lead to damage to system components as well as physical harm to the user.
• If you are uncertain about any installation steps or have a problem related to the use of the product, please consult a certified computer technician.
• If you use an adapter, extension power cable, or power strip, ensure to consult with its installation and/or grounding instructions.

Product Specifications

• Only for B550 AORUS ELITE AX V2.

• Only for B550 AORUS ELITE AX V3.

1. Only for B550 AORUS ELITE AX V2.
2. Only for B550 AORUS ELITE AX V3.

(Note) For AMD Ryzen™ 5000 Series/3000 Series Processors only.

• GIGABYTE reserves the right to make any changes to the product specifications and product-related information without prior notice.
• Please visit the SERVICE/SUPPORT\Utility page on GIGABYTE’s website to download the latest version of apps. https://www.gigabyte.com/Support/Utility/Motherboard?m=ut.

Installing the CPU

Read the following guidelines before you begin to install the CPU:

• Make sure that the motherboard supports the CPU.
• (Go to GIGABYTE’s website for the latest CPU support list.)
• Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing the CPU to prevent hardware damage.
• Locate the pin one of the CPU. The CPU cannot be inserted if oriented incorrectly.
• Apply an even and thin layer of thermal grease on the surface of the CPU.
• Do not turn on the computer if the CPU cooler is not installed, otherwise overheating and damage of the CPU may occur.
• Set the CPU host frequency in accordance with the CPU specifications. It is not recommended that the system bus frequency be set beyond hardware specifications since it does not meet the standard requirements for the peripherals. If you wish to set the frequency beyond the standard specifications, please do so according to your hardware specifications including the CPU, graphics card, memory, hard drive, etc.

Installing the CPU
Completely lift up the CPU socket locking lever. Locate the pin one (denoted by a small triangle) of the CPU socket and the CPU. Once the CPU is positioned into its socket, place one finger down on the middle of the CPU, lowering the locking lever and latching it into the fully locked position.

Do not force the CPU into the CPU socket before the CPU socket locking lever is lifted up, or damage to the CPU and CPU socket may occur.

Installing the Memory

Read the following guidelines before you begin to install the memory:

• Make sure that the motherboard supports the memory. It is recommended that memory of the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used.
• (Go to GIGABYTE’s website for the latest supported memory speeds and memory modules.)
• Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing the memory to prevent hardware damage.
• Memory modules have a foolproof design. A memory module can be installed in only one direction. If you are unable to insert the memory, switch the direction.

Dual Channel Memory Configuration
This motherboard provides four memory sockets and supports Dual Channel Technology. After the memory is installed, the BIOS will automatically detect the specifications and capacity of the memory. Enabling Dual Channel memory mode will double the original memory bandwidth.

• The four memory sockets are divided into two channels and each channel has two memory sockets as following:
• Channel A: DDR4_A1, DDR4_A2 Channel B: DDR4_B1, DDR4_B2
• Recommended Dual Channel Memory Configuration:

(SS=Single-Sided, DS=Double-Sided, “- -“=No Memory)
Due to CPU limitations, read the following guidelines before installing the memory in Dual Channel mode.

1. Dual Channel mode cannot be enabled if only one memory module is installed.
2. When enabling Dual Channel mode with two or four memory modules, it is recommended that memory of the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used.

Installing an Expansion Card

Read the following guidelines before you begin to install an expansion card:

• Make sure the motherboard supports the expansion card. Carefully read the manual that came with your expansion card.
• Always turn off the computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet before installing an expansion card to prevent hardware damage.

Back Panel Connectors

• USB 2.0/1.1 Port
• The USB port supports the USB 2.0/1.1 SMA Antenna Connectors (2T2R)jk

Use this connector to connect

Tighten the antenna’s signal reception.

DisplayPort (Note 1)
DisplayPort delivers high-quality digital imaging and audio, supporting bi- directional audio transmission. DisplayPort can support both DPCP and HDCP 2.3 content protection mechanisms. It provides improved visuals supporting Rec. 2020 (Wide Color Gamut) and High Dynamic Range (HDR) for Blu-ray UHD playback. You can use this port to connect your DisplayPort-supported monitor. Note: The DisplayPort Technology can support a maximum resolution of 5120×2880@60 Hz but the actual resolutions supported depend on the monitor being used.

HDMI Port (Note 1)

• The HDMI port is HDCP 2.3 compliant and supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio formats. It also supports up to 192KHz/24bit 7.1-channel LPCM audio output. You can use this port to connect your HDMI-supported monitor. The maximum supported resolution is 4096×2160@60 Hz, but the actual resolutions supported are dependent on the monitor being used.

• After installing the DisplayPort/HDMI device, make sure to set the default sound playback device to DisplayPort/HDMI. (The item name may differ depending on your operating system.)

• Q-Flash Plus Button (Note 2)
  Q-Flash Plus allows you to update the BIOS when your system is off (S5 shutdown state). Save the latest BIOS on a USB thumb drive and plug it into the Q-Flash Plus port, and then you can now flash the BIOS automatically by simply pressing the Q-Flash Plus button. The QFLED will flash when the BIOS matching and flashing activities start and will stop flashing when the BIOS flashing is complete.

• USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port (Q-Flash Plus Port)
  The USB 3.2 Gen 1 port supports the USB 3.2 Gen 1 specification and is compatible to the USB 2.0 specification. Use this port for USB devices. Before using Q-Flash Plus (Note 2), make sure to insert the USB flash drive into this port first.

• USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (Note 3)/USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port (Red)
  The USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Note 3)/USB 3.2 Gen 1 port supports the USB 3.2 Gen 2 specificationand is compatible to the USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0 specification. Use this port for USB devices

• RJ-45 LAN Port
  The Gigabit Ethernet LAN port provides Internet connection at up to 2.5 Gbps data rate. The following describes the states of the LAN port LEDs.

• USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port
  The USB 3.2 Gen 1 port supports the USB 3.2 Gen 1 specification and is compatible to the USB 2.0 specification.

• Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out
  Use this audio jack to connect centre/subwoofer speakers.

• Rear Speaker Out
  Use this audio jack to connect rear speakers.

• Optical S/PDIF Out Connector
  This connector provides digital audio out to an external audio system that supports digital optical audio. Before using this feature, ensure that your audio system provides an optical digital audio in connector.

(Note 1) For AMD Ryzen™ 5000 G-Series/4000 G-Series/3000 G-Series Processors only.
(Note 2) To enable the Q-Flash Plus function please visit the “Unique Features” webpage of GIGABYTE’s website.
(Note 3) For AMD Ryzen™ 5000 Series/3000 Series Processors only.

• Line In/Side Speaker Out
  The line in Jack. Use this audio jack for line-in devices such as an optical drive, walkman, etc. Line Out/Front Speaker Out

• The line out Jack.

• Mic In/Side Speaker Out
  The Mic in Jack.

Audio Jack Configurations

• If you want to install a Side Speaker, you need to retask either the Line or Mic in the jack to be a Side Speaker out through the audio driver.
• Please visit GIGABYTE’s website for details on configuring the audio software. https://www.gigabyte.com/WebPage/697/realtek897-audio.html.

When removing the cable connected to a back panel connector, first remove the cable from your device and then remove it from the motherboard.
When removing the cable, pull it straight out from the connector. Do not rock it side to side to prevent an electrical short inside the cable connector.

Internal Connectors

Read the following guidelines before connecting external devices:

• First make sure your devices are compliant with the connectors you wish to connect.
• Before installing the devices, be sure to turn off the devices and your computer. Unplug the power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the devices.
• After installing the device and before turning on the computer, make sure the device cable has been securely attached to the connector on the motherboard.

ATX_12V/ATX (2×4 12V Power Connector and 2×12 Main Power Connector)
With the use of the power connector, the power supply can supply enough stable power to all the components on the motherboard. Before connecting the power connector, first make sure the power supply is turned off and all devices are properly installed. The power connector possesses a foolproof design. Connect the power supply cable to the power connector in the correct orientation.
The 12V power connector mainly supplies power to the CPU. If the 12V power connector is not connected, the computer will not start.
To meet expansion requirements, it is recommended that a power supply that can withstand high power consumption be used (500W or greater). If a power supply is used that does not provide the required power, the result can lead to an unstable or unbootable system.

CPU_FAN/SYS_FAN1/2/3 (Fan Headers)
All fan headers on this motherboard are 4-pin. Most fan headers possess a foolproof insertion design. When connecting a fan cable, be sure to connect it in the correct orientation (the black connector wire is the ground wire). The speed control function requires the use of a fan with fan speed control design. For optimum heat dissipation, it is recommended that a system fan be installed inside the chassis.

• Be sure to connect fan cables to the fan headers to prevent your CPU and system from overheating. Overheating may result in damage to the CPU or the system may hang.
• These fan headers are not configuration jumper blocks. Do not place a jumper cap on the headers.

CPU_OPT (Water Cooling CPU Fan Header)
The fan header is 4-pin and possesses a foolproof insertion design. Most fan headers possess a foolproof insertion design. When connecting a fan cable, be sure to connect it in the correct orientation (the black connector wire is the ground wire). The speed control function requires the use of a fan with fan speed control design.

• Be sure to connect fan cables to the fan headers to prevent your CPU and system from overheating. Overheating may result in damage to the CPU or the system may hang.
• These fan headers are not configuration jumper blocks. Do not place a jumper cap on the headers.

LED_CPU (CPU Cooler LED Strip/RGB LED Strip Header)
The header can be used to connect a CPU cooler LED strip or a standard 5050 RGB LED strip (12V/G/R/B), with maximum power rating of 2A (12V) and maximum length of 2m.

Connect the CPU cooler LED strip/RGB LED strip to the header. The power pin (marked with a triangle on the plug) of the LED strip must be connected to Pin 1 (12V) of this header. Incorrect connection may lead to the damage of the LED strip.

D_LED1/D_LED2 (Addressable LED Strip Headers)
The headers can be used to connect a standard 5050 addressable LED strip, with maximum power rating of 5A (5V) and maximum number of 1000 LEDs.

• Connect your addressable LED strip to the header. The power pin (marked with a triangle on the plug) of the LED strip must be connected to Pin 1 of the addressable LED strip header. Incorrect connection may lead to the damage of the LED strip.
• For how to turn on/off the lights of the LED strip please visit the “Unique Features” webpage of GIGABYTE’s website.
• Before installing or removing the devices, be sure to turn off the devices and your computer. Unplug the power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the devices.

LED_C1/LED_C2 (RGB LED Strip Headers)
The headers can be used to connect a standard 5050 RGB LED strip (12V/G/R/B), with maximum power rating of 2A (12V) and maximum length of 2m.

• Connect your RGB LED strip to the header. The power pin (marked with a triangle on the plug) of the LED strip must be connected to Pin 1 (12V) of this header. Incorrect connection may lead to the damage of the LED strip.
• For how to turn on/off the lights of the LED strip please visit the “Unique Features” webpage of GIGABYTE’s website.
• Before installing or removing the devices, be sure to turn off the devices and your computer. Unplug the power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the devices.

SATA3 0/1/2/3 (SATA 6Gb/s Connectors)
The SATA connectors conform to SATA 6Gb/s standard and are compatible with SATA 3Gb/s and SATA 1.5Gb/s standard. Each SATA connector supports a single SATA device. The SATA connectors support RAID 0, RAID 1, and RAID 10. Please navigate to the “Configuring a RAID Set” page of GIGABYTE’s website for instructions on configuring a RAID array.

M2A_CPU/M2B_SB (M.2 Socket 3 Connectors)
The M.2 connectors support M.2 SATA SSDs or M.2 PCIe SSDs and support RAID configuration. Please note that an M.2 PCIe SSD cannot be used to create a RAID set either with an M.2 SATA SSD or a SATA hard drive. Please navigate to the “Configuring a RAID Set” page of GIGABYTE’s website for instructions on configuring a RAID array.

• Follow the steps below to correctly install an M.2 SSD in the M.2 connector.
• Step 1: Locate the M.2 connector where you will install the M.2 SSD, use a screwdriver to unfasten the screw on the heatsink and then remove the heatsink.
• Step 2: Locate the proper mounting hole based on the length of your M.2 SSD drive. If needed, move the standoff to the desired mounting hole. Insert the M.2 SSD into the M.2 connector at an angle.
• Step 3: Press the M.2 SSD down and then secure it with the screw. Replace the heatsink and secure it to the original hole. Make sure to remove the protective film from the bottom of the heatsink before replacing the heatsink.
• Select the proper hole for the M.2 SSD to be installed and refasten the screw and standoff.

F_PANEL (Front Panel Header)
Connect the power switch, reset switch, speaker, chassis intrusion switch/sensor and system status indicator on the chassis to this header according to the pin assignments below. Note the positive and negative pins before connecting the cables.

PLED/PWR_LED (Power LED)

Connects to the power status indicator on the chassis front panel. The LED is on when the system is operating. The LED is off when the system is in S3/S4 sleep state or powered off (S5).

• PW (Power Switch):
  Connects to the power switch on the chassis front panel. You may configure the way to turn off your system using the power switch (please navigate to the “BIOS Setup” page of GIGABYTE’s website and search for “Settings\Platform Power” for more information).

• SPEAK (Speaker):
  Connects to the speaker on the chassis front panel. The system reports system startup status by issuing a beep code. One single short beep will be heard if no problem is detected at system startup.

• HD (Hard Drive Activity LED):
  Connects to the hard drive activity LED on the chassis front panel. The LED is on when the hard drive is reading or writing data.

• RES (Reset Switch):
  Connects to the reset switch on the chassis front panel. Press the reset switch to restart the computer if the computer freezes and fails to perform a normal restart.

• CI (Chassis Intrusion Header):
  Connects to the chassis intrusion switch/sensor on the chassis that can detect if the chassis cover has been removed. This function requires a chassis with a chassis intrusion switch/sensor.

• NC: No connection.

The front panel design may differ by chassis. A front panel module mainly consists of power switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive activity LED, speaker and etc. When connecting your chassis front panel module to this header, make sure the wire assignments and the pin assignments are matched correctly.

F_AUDIO (Front Panel Audio Header)
The front panel audio header supports High Definition audio (HD). You may connect your chassis front panel audio module to this header. Make sure the wire assignments of the module connector match the pin assignments of the motherboard header. Incorrect connection between the module connector and the motherboard header will make the device unable to work or even damage it.

Some chassis provide a front panel audio module that has separated connectors on each wire instead of a single plug. For information about connecting the front panel audio module that has different wire assignments, please contact the chassis manufacturer.

F_U32C (USB Type-C® Header with USB 3.2 Gen 1 Support)
The header conforms to USB 3.2 Gen 1 specification and can provide one USB port.

F_U32 (USB 3.2 Gen 1 Header)
The header conforms to USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0 specification and can provide two USB ports. For purchasing the optional 3.5″ front panel that provides two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, please contact the local dealer.

F_USB1/F_USB2 (USB 2.0/1.1 Headers)
The headers conform to USB 2.0/1.1 specification. Each USB header can provide two USB ports via an optional USB bracket. For purchasing the optional USB bracket, please contact the local dealer.

Prior to installing the USB bracket, be sure to turn off your computer and unplug the power cord from the power outlet to prevent damage to the USB bracket.

TPM (Trusted Platform Module Header)
You may connect a TPM (Trusted Platform Module) to this header.

CLR_CMOS (Clear CMOS Jumper)
Use this jumper to clear the BIOS configuration and reset the CMOS values to factory defaults. To clear the CMOS values, use a metal object like a screwdriver to touch the two pins for a few seconds.

• Open: Normal
• Short: Clear CMOS Values

Always turn off your computer before clearing the CMOS values.
After system restart, go to BIOS Setup to load factory defaults (select Load Optimized Defaults) or manually configure the BIOS settings (please navigate to the “BIOS Setup” page of GIGABYTE’s website for more information).

BAT (Battery)
The battery provides power to keep the values (such as BIOS configurations, date, and time information) in the CMOS when the computer is turned off. Replace the battery when the battery voltage drops to a low level, or the CMOS values may not be accurate or may be lost.

You may clear the CMOS values by removing the battery:

1. Turn off your computer and unplug the power cord.
2. Gently remove the battery from the battery holder and wait for one minute. (Or use a metal object like a screwdriver to touch the positive and negative terminals of the battery holder, making them short for 5 seconds.)
3. Replace the battery.
4. Plug in the power cord and restart your computer.

• Always turn off your computer and unplug the power cord before replacing the battery.
• Replace the battery with an equivalent one. Damage to your devices may occur if the battery is replaced with an incorrect model.
• Contact the place of purchase or local dealer if you are not able to replace the battery by yourself or uncertain about the battery model.
• When installing the battery, note the orientation of the positive side (+) and the negative side (-) of the battery (the positive side should face up).
• Used batteries must be handled in accordance with local environmental regulations.

BIOS Setup

BIOS (Basic Input and Output System) records hardware parameters of the system in the CMOS on the motherboard. Its major functions include conducting the Power-On Self-Test (POST) during system startup, saving system parameters and loading operating system, etc. BIOS includes a BIOS Setup program that allows the user to modify basic system configuration settings or to activate certain system features.
When the power is turned off, the battery on the motherboard supplies the necessary power to the CMOS to keep the configuration values in the CMOS.
To access the BIOS Setup program, press the key during the POST when the power is turned on.
To upgrade the BIOS, use either the GIGABYTE Q-Flash or @BIOS utility.

• Q-Flash allows the user to quickly and easily upgrade or back up BIOS without entering the operating system.
• @BIOS is a Windows-based utility that searches and downloads the latest version of BIOS from the Internet and updates the BIOS.

For instructions on using the Q-Flash and @BIOS utilities, please navigate to the “Unique Features” page of GIGABYTE’s website and search for “BIOS Update Utilities.”

• Because BIOS flashing is potentially risky, if you do not encounter problems using the current version of BIOS, it is recommended that you not flash the BIOS. To flash the BIOS, do it with caution. Inadequate BIOS flashing may result in system malfunction.
• It is recommended that you not alter the default settings (unless you need to) to prevent system instability or other unexpected results. Inadequately altering the settings may result in system’s failure to boot. If this occurs, try to clear the CMOS values and reset the board to default values.
• Refer to the introductions of the battery/clear CMOS jumper in Chapter 2 or navigate to the “BIOS Setup” page of GIGABYTE’s website and search for “Load Optimized Defaults” for how to clear the CMOS values.

Startup Screen

• The following startup Logo screen will appear when the computer boots.

Function Keys:
: BIOS SETUP\Q-FLASH

• Press the key to enter BIOS Setup or to access the Q-Flash utility in BIOS Setup.

< F12>: BOOT MENU

• Boot Menu allows you to set the first boot device without entering BIOS Setup. In Boot Menu, use the up arrow key or the down arrow key to select the first boot device, then press to accept. The system will boot from the device immediately.
• Note: The setting in Boot Menu is effective for one time only. After system restart, the device boot order will still be based on BIOS Setup settings.