The ASRock B550 Steel Legend and the Gigabyte B650 AORUS ELITE AX are tied in this objective comparison, as both motherboards secure an equal number of specification wins. The most impactful advantage for the ASRock B550 Steel Legend is its PCIe x1 slot configuration, which offers a 100% improvement over the competition. Conversely, the Gigabyte B650 AORUS ELITE AX provides a significant lead in expansion capability with its PCIe x16 slots, representing a 50% advantage.

Users who prioritize additional PCIe x1 connectivity for specialized expansion cards should choose the ASRock B550 Steel Legend. This board is best suited for builds requiring multiple smaller peripheral connections. Alternatively, those who need more PCIe x16 slots for high-bandwidth components should select the Gigabyte B650 AORUS ELITE AX. This model is the superior choice for users whose primary focus is maximizing the capacity for larger, high-performance expansion hardware.