B550M GAMING User's Manual Rev. 1001 For more product details, please visit GIGABYTE's website. To reduce the impacts on global warming, the packaging materials of this product are recyclable and reusable. GIGABYTE works with you to protect the environment.
Copyright © 2020 GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. All rights reserved. The trademarks mentioned in this manual are legally registered to their respective owners. 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.
Table of Contents B550M GAMING Motherboard Layout.............................................................................4 Chapter 1 Hardware Installation......................................................................................5 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4 1-5 1-6 1-7 Installation Precautions..................................................................................... 5 Product Specifications.......................................................................................
B550M GAMING Motherboard Layout CPU_FAN KB_MS_USB ATX_12V Socket AM4 HDMI DVI VGA ATX U32 QFLED QFLASH_PLUS U32_LAN SYS_FAN1 M_BIOS 60 80 B550M GAMING DDR4_B1 PCIEX16 Realtek® GbE LAN 42 DDR4_A1 PCIEX1_1 M2A_CPU AUDIO 3 PCIEX1_2 CODEC BAT TPM F_AUDIO LED_C D_LED1 SPEAKER F_USB1 COM SATA3 AMD B550 iTE® Super I/O F_PANEL CI CLR_CMOS 2 1 0 F_U32 SYS_FAN2 Box Contents 55 B550M GAMING motherboard 55 Motherboard driver disc 55 User's Manual 55 Two SATA cables 55 I/O Shield * The
Chapter 1 1-1 Hardware Installation Installation Precautions The motherboard contains numerous delicate electronic circuits and components which can become damaged as a result of electrostatic discharge (ESD). Prior to 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 motherboard S/N (Serial Number) sticker or warranty sticker provided by your dealer.
1-2 Product Specifications CPU AMD Socket AM4, support for: 3rd Generation AMD Ryzen™ processors/ 3rd Generation AMD Ryzen™ with Radeon™ Graphics processors (Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.
USB Internal Connectors Back Panel Connectors CPU: - 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports on the back panel Chipset: - 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports available through the internal USB header - 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (2 ports on the back panel, 2 ports available through the internal USB header) 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector 1 x CPU fan header 2 x system fan headers 1 x addressable LED strip header 1 x RGB LED strip header 1 x M.
Unique Features Support for APP Center * Available applications in APP Center may vary by motherboard model. Supported functions of each application may also vary depending on motherboard specifications.
1-3 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.
The two memory sockets are divided into two channels and each channel has one memory socket as following: Channel A: DDR4_A1 Channel B: DDR4_B1 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 memory modules, it is recommended that memory of the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used.
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. Use this port for USB devices. USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port (Q-Flash Plus Port) The USB port supports the USB 3.2 Gen 1 specification. Use this port for USB devices. Before using Q-Flash Plus (Note 3), make sure to insert the USB flash drive into this port first. Q-Flash Plus Button (Note 3) Q-Flash Plus allows you to update the BIOS when your system is off (S5 shutdown state).
1-7 Internal Connectors 1 3 2 4 8 7 18 16 10 5 1) ATX_12V 2) 3) 6 15 14 11 17 9 12 13 4 10) F_AUDIO ATX 11) CI CPU_FAN 12) SPEAKER 4) SYS_FAN1/2 13) F_U32 5) D_LED1 14) F_USB1 6) LED_C 15) COM 7) SATA3 0/1/2/3 16) TPM 8) M2A_CPU 17) CLR_CMOS 9) F_PANEL 18) BAT Read the following guidelines before connecting external devices: •• First make sure your devices are compliant with the connectors you wish to connect.
1/2) ATX_12V_2X4/ATX (2x4 12V Power Connector and 2x12 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.
_3 _ 5) D_LED1 (Addressable LED Strip Header) The header can be used to connect a standard 5050 addressable LED strip, with maximum power rating of 5A (5V) and maximum number of 1000 LEDs. 1 Addressable LED Strip Pin No. 1 2 3 4 Definition V (5V) Data No Pin GND G.QBOFM 1 F_USB3 B S F_ B_ F_USB30 3 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.
7) 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. Refer to Chapter 3, "Configuring a RAID Set," for instructions on configuring a RAID array. 1 7 1 7 1 7 SATA3 Pin No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 3 2 1 0 Definition GND TXP TXN GND RXN RXP GND F_USB30 3 7 F_USB3 1 8) M2A_CPU (M.
9) F_PANEL (Front Panel Header) Connect the power switch, reset switch, 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. Power Switch •• PLED (Power LED): System Status LED S0 On S3/S4/S5 Off PLED+ PLEDPW+ PW- Power LED 10 9 HD+ HDRESRES+ NC 2 1 Hard Drive Activity LED Reset Switch Connects to the power status indicator on the chassis front panel.
12) SPEAKER (Speaker Header) 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. Pin No. 1 2 3 4 S 1 Definition VCC NC NC SPK- 13) 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.
USB 0_ B _ B_ F_USB3 F_USB30 3 15) COM (Serial Port Header) The COM header can provide one serial port via an optional COM port cable. For purchasing the optional COM port cable, please contact the local dealer. 1 2 Definition NDCDNSIN NSOUT NDTRGND Pin No. 6 7 8 9 10 B 9 10 Pin No. 1 2 3 4 5 Definition NDSRNRTSNCTSNRINo Pin B_ S F_ _ 16) TPM (Trusted Platform Module Header) You may connect a TPM (Trusted Platform Module) to this header.
18) 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.
Chapter 2 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.
2-2 The Main Menu System Time Setup Menus Configuration Items Hardware Information Option Description Current Settings Quick Access Bar allows you to quickly move to the General Help, Easy Mode, Smart Fan 5, or Q-Flash screen.
2-3 Favorites (F11) Set your frequently used options as your favorites and use the key to quickly switch to the page where all of your favorite options are located. To add or remove a favorite option, go to its original page and press on the option. The option is marked with a star sign if set as a "favorite.
2-4 Tweaker Whether the system will work stably with the overclock/overvoltage settings you made is dependent on your overall system configurations. Incorrectly doing overclock/overvoltage may result in damage to CPU, chipset, or memory and reduce the useful life of these components. This page is for advanced users only and we recommend you not to alter the default settings to prevent system instability or other unexpected results.
Advanced CPU Settings && Core Performance Boost (Note) Allows you to determine whether to enable the Core Performance Boost (CPB) technology, a CPU performance-boost technology. (Default: Auto) && SVM Mode Virtualization enhanced by Virtualization Technology will allow a platform to run multiple operating systems and applications in independent partitions. With virtualization, one computer system can function as multiple virtual systems.
Advanced Memory Settings Memory Subtimings dd Standard Timing Control, Advanced Timing Control, CAD Bus Setup Timing, CAD Bus Drive Strength, Data Bus Configuration These sections provide memory timing settings. Note: Your system may become unstable or fail to boot after you make changes on the memory timings. If this occurs, please reset the board to default values by loading optimized defaults or clearing the CMOS values. SPD Info Displays information on the installed memory.
2-5 Settings Platform Power && AC BACK Determines the state of the system after the return of power from an AC power loss. Memory The system returns to its last known awake state upon the return of the AC power. Always On The system is turned on upon the return of the AC power. Always Off The system stays off upon the return of the AC power. (Default) && Power On By Keyboard Allows the system to be turned on by a PS/2 keyboard wake-up event.
&& Power Loading Enables or disables dummy load. When the power supply is at low load, a self-protection will activate causing it to shutdown or fail. If this occurs, please set to Enabled. Auto lets the BIOS automatically configure this setting. (Default: Auto) && Resume by Alarm Determines whether to power on the system at a desired time. (Default: Disabled) If enabled, set the date and time as following: Wake up day: Turn on the system at a specific time on each day or on a specific day in a month.
&& HD Audio Controller Enables or disables the onboard audio function. (Default: Enabled) If you wish to install a 3rd party add-in audio card instead of using the onboard audio, set this item to Disabled. && PCIEX16 Bifurcation Allows you to determine how the bandwidth of the PCIEX16 slot is divided. Options: Auto, PCIE 2x8, PCIE 1x8/2x4, PCIE 2x4/1x8 (Note), PCIE 4x4 (Note).
SATA Configuration && SATA Mode Enables or disables RAID for the SATA controllers integrated in the Chipset or configures the SATA controllers to AHCI mode. RAID Enables RAID for the SATA controller. AHCI Configures the SATA controllers to AHCI mode. Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) is an interface specification that allows the storage driver to enable advanced Serial ATA features such as Native Command Queuing and hot plug.
&& LEDs in Sleep, Hibernation, and Soft Off States Allows you to set the lighting mode of the motherboard LEDs in system S3/S4/S5 state. This item is configurable when LEDs in System Power On State is set to On. Off Disables the selected lighting mode when the system enters S3/S4/S5 state. (Default) On Enables the selected lighting mode when the system enters S3/S4/S5 state.
&& Fan Control Use Temperature Input Allows you to select the reference temperature for fan speed control. && Temperature Interval Allows you to select the temperature interval for fan speed change. && Fan Control Mode Auto Lets the BIOS automatically detect the type of fan installed and sets the optimal control mode. (Default) Voltage Voltage mode is recommended for a 3-pin fan. PWM PWM mode is recommended for a 4-pin fan. && Fan Stop Enables or disables the fan stop function.
2-6 System Info. This section provides information on your motherboard model and BIOS version. You can also select the default language used by the BIOS and manually set the system time. && System Language Selects the default language used by the BIOS. && System Date Sets the system date. The date format is week (read-only), month, date, and year. Use to switch between the Month, Date, and Year fields and use the or key to set the desired value.
2-7 Boot && Boot Option Priorities Specifies the overall boot order from the available devices. Removable storage devices that support GPT format will be prefixed with "UEFI:" string on the boot device list. To boot from an operating system that supports GPT partitioning, select the device prefixed with "UEFI:" string.
&& VGA Support Allows you to select which type of operating system to boot. Auto Enables legacy option ROM only. EFI Driver Enables EFI option ROM. (Default) This item is configurable only when Fast Boot is set to Enabled or Ultra Fast. && USB Support Disabled All USB devices are disabled before the OS boot process completes. Full Initial All USB devices are functional in the operating system and during the POST.
&& User Password Allows you to configure a user password. Press on this item, type the password, and then press . You will be requested to confirm the password. Type the password again and press . You must enter the administrator password (or user password) at system startup and when entering BIOS Setup. However, the user password only allows you to make changes to certain BIOS settings but not all.
2-8 Save & Exit && Save & Exit Setup Press on this item and select Yes. This saves the changes to the CMOS and exits the BIOS Setup program. Select No or press to return to the BIOS Setup Main Menu. && Exit Without Saving Press on this item and select Yes. This exits the BIOS Setup without saving the changes made in BIOS Setup to the CMOS. Select No or press to return to the BIOS Setup Main Menu.
Chapter 3 3-1 Appendix Configuring a RAID Set RAID Levels Minimum Number of Hard Drives Array Capacity Fault Tolerance RAID 0 ≥2 Number of hard drives * Size of the smallest drive No RAID 1 2 RAID 10 4 Size of the smallest drive (Number of hard drives/2) * Size of the smallest drive Yes Yes Before you begin, please prepare the following items: •• At least two SATA hard drives or SSDs.
Install the RAID driver and operating system With the correct BIOS settings, you are ready to install the operating system. Installing the Operating System As some operating systems already include RAID driver, you do not need to install separate RAID driver during the Windows installation process. After the operating system is installed, we recommend that you install all required drivers from the motherboard driver disc using "Xpress Install" to ensure system performance and compatibility.
3-2 Drivers Installation •• Before installing the drivers, first install the operating system. •• After installing the operating system, insert the motherboard driver disc into your optical drive. Click on the message "Tap to choose what happens with this disc" on the top-right corner of the screen and select "Run Run.exe." (Or go to My Computer, double-click the optical drive and execute the Run.exe program.
Regulatory Notices United States of America, Federal Communications Commission Statement Supplier's Declaration of Conformity 47 CFR § 2.1077 Compliance Information Product Name: Motherboard Trade Name: GIGABYTE Model Number: B550M GAMING Responsible Party – U.S. Contact Information: G.B.T. Inc. Address: 17358 Railroad street, City Of Industry, CA91748 Tel.: 1-626-854-9338 Internet contact information: https://www.gigabyte.
Contact Us GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. Address: No.6, Baoqiang Rd., Xindian Dist., New Taipei City 231, Taiwan TEL: +886-2-8912-4000, FAX: +886-2-8912-4005 Tech. and Non-Tech. Support (Sales/Marketing) : https://esupport.gigabyte.com WEB address (English): https://www.gigabyte.com WEB address (Chinese): https://www.gigabyte.com/tw •• GIGABYTE eSupport To submit a technical or non-technical (Sales/Marketing) question, please link to: https://esupport.gigabyte.
