AMD Motherboards Guides - Tech4Gamers

Motherboard

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite

Looks

Award

Best High-End AM5 Motherboard

What We Liked

VRMs, design, price, build quality, performance, overclocking potential

What We Disliked

Only one PCIe 5.0 storage slot, no RGB lighting

Form Factor

E-ATX

Power Delivery

24+2+1

Memory

DDR5 8,200+ (OC)

USB Ports

12x Rear, 9x Front

Storage

4x M.2, 6x SATA III

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi

Looks

Award

Best Overall AM5 Motherboard

What We Liked

Connectivity, performance, cold VRMs, design, EZ DIY features, MSI AI LAN manager

What We Disliked

No RGB, less SATA connectors

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

14+2+1

Memory

DDR5 8,400+ (OC)

USB Ports

11x Rear, 9x Front

Storage

4x M.2, 4x SATA III

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi

Looks

Award

Best White AM5 Motherboard

What We Liked

Capable VRMs, white aesthetics, RAM capacity, RGB lighting, M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism

What We Disliked

No debug LED, mid-range ALC4082 audio codec

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

14+2+1

Memory

DDR5 8,000+ (OC)

USB Ports

11x Rear, 9x Front

Storage

3x M.2, 4x SATA III

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Buy On Newegg

Review

Motherboard

ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi

Looks

Award

Best Mini-ITX AM5 Motherboard

What We Liked

Active M.2 cooling, USB ports, Networking options

What We Disliked

Plain looks, Loud M.2 cooling fan

Form Factor

Mini-ITX

Power Delivery

10+2+1 Phase VRM

Memory

2x DIMM, 96GB, DDR5-6400+

USB Ports

8x rear, 5x internal

Storage

2x M.2, 2x SATA

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS WiFi

Looks

Award

Best Value AM5 Motherboard

What We Liked

Affordable, Connectivity options, Build quality

What We Disliked

Plain looks, Fewer PCIe lanes than X670

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

12+2 Phase VRM

Memory

4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6400+

USB Ports

8x rear, 7x internal

Storage

3x M.2, 4x SATA

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

ASRock X670E Taichi

Looks

Award

Best Overclocking AM5 Motherboard

What We Liked

Extraordinary VRM, Build quality, Storage options, 2x USB-4 Type-C ports

What We Disliked

Very expensive, No 10 Gigabit networking

Form Factor

E-ATX

Power Delivery

24+2+1 Phase VRM

Memory

4x DIMM, 192GB, DDR5-6600+

USB Ports

10x rear, 9x internal

Storage

4x M.2, 8x SATA

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Read Our ASRock X870E Taichi Lite Motherboard Review

Review

Last Updated:

November 16, 2024: Replaced the X670E Aorus Master with the X870E Taichi Lite. Similarly, we removed the X670E Tomahawk WiFi Gaming and added the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi. Lastly, for the best white motherboard, we replaced the ASUS Prime X670-P WiFi with the ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi.
May 5, 2024: We have changed the formatting to improve readability.
November 20, 2023: Few text changes to improve readability. No products were changed.

[toc]

We have tested more motherboards for Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series CPUs:

Best AM5 Motherboards

Here is a selection of the best AM5 motherboards based on my hands-on testing and expert analysis:

Best High-End: ASRock X870E Taichi Lite
Best Overall: MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
Best White: ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi
Best Value: ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS WiFi
Best Overclocking: ASRock X670E Taichi
Best Mini-ITX: ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite

Best High-End AM5 Motherboard

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite

1 of 4

Pros

Premium-class 24+2+1 VRM setup
Unique design
Great price for a high-end motherboard
Sturdy build quality
Impeccable performance
Decent overclocking potential

Cons

Only one PCIe 5.0 storage slot
No RGB lighting

Check Price

The ASRock X870E Taichi Lite is my favorite motherboard and go-to for any high-end AM5 CPU. Whether buying the latest Ryzen 7 9800X3D or a simple Ryzen 9 7950X, the motherboard will provide sufficient and stable power to run all your tasks smoothly. The secret of the motherboard lies within its 24+2+1 VRM phase. During my dedicated testing, the motherboard won against all of its competition, even though only by a small margin in all tests.

Besides its performance, I also love this motherboard’s aesthetics. It features a unique design choice on the heatsink but lacks RGB lighting. It also has good connectivity, decent storage options, and a fantastic price for its features. However, only having one PCIe 5.0 slot is sad for an E-ATX motherboard, right? There’s not much I dislike about the motherboard; you’re getting good USB support (12x rear, 9x front), including 2x USB4.0 ports, so you shouldn’t miss out on much.

Here’s how I summarized the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite in my in-depth review of the motherboard while it was on my test bench:

The ASRock X870E Taichi Lite is a $399 powerhouse with a VRM setup (24+2+1, 110A SPS for VCore and SoC) that can compete with enthusiast-class boards. That’s not its only attraction; the board has a fascinating design, multiple handy features, and excellent connectivity options, with USB4 and WiFi 7 being the icing on the cake. Circling back to the price, this is a great option among X870E boards.

✅Buy It If

You want a motherboard with a large power phase: If you need a motherboard with a larger power phase to support your work requirements, the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite should be your go-to choice because of its sturdy 27-phase power delivery through 110A SPS. The motherboard can easily handle all workloads without any fluctuations or issues.

You need more USB ports: The motherboard supports 21 USB ports (12x rear and 9x front), giving you enough support for all your peripherals and USB devices. You won’t run out of USB ports if you want more external drives, sound cards, or anything else.

❌Don't Buy It If

You have an incompatible chassis: I don’t recommend purchasing this motherboard if you have an incompatible chassis. Because the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite is an E-ATX motherboard, it may not fit in all PC cases, so do your research beforehand to avoid compatibility issues.

What Makes It The Best High-End AM5 Motherboard?

What makes the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite motherboard exceptional is its performance, build quality, and stable power delivery thanks to its 27-phase power delivery through 110A SPS, USB connectivity, and storage options. Moreover, it has decent overclocking potential for high-end CPUs, including the latest Ryzen 7 9800X3D powerhouse. Coupled with all that is its impressive pricing, which makes it the best high-end AM5 motherboard.

Editor`s Note

The ASRock X870E Taichi Lite is my favorite motherboard on this list because of its affordable price tag, exceptional performance, impeccable overclocking potential, and sturdy VRMs. It has no USB connectivity or storage option issues for most use cases. If you’re using a high-end Ryzen 7000 or 9000 series CPU, I highly recommend you pair it with this motherboard.

– Dr. Usman Saleem

Performance: 10/10	Value: 9/10
Features: 9/10	Design: 8/10

MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi

Best Overall AM5 Motherboard

MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi

1 of 4

Pros

Decent connectivity options
Solid performance
Cool running VRMs
Beautiful design
A wealth of EZ DIY features
MSI AI LAN manager
Remarkable overclocking opportunities

Cons

No RGB
I would have preferred more SATA connectors

Check Price

Read Our MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi Motherboard Review

The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi is a high-end motherboard with sturdy build quality, impressive connectivity options, and a beautiful design, albeit with a lack of RGB lighting, making its inclusion on the list self-explanatory. Regarding its performance, its 14+2+1 VRMs perform decently well in gaming and productivity tasks, and they also allow good overclocking opportunities for high-end AM5 socket CPUs. During my testing, the VRMs never exceeded 54°C, making it one of the coldest motherboards on my list.

I also love the user-friendly design of the motherboard. For example, you get many EZ DIY features and mechanisms, making PC building more effortless than ever before. The MSI AI LAN manager tool is a godsend for gamers who are always looking for the lowest ping during competitive gameplay. Regarding the motherboard’s connectivity, you’re getting 11x rear and 9x front USB connectors, so you won’t have to worry about that. However, I would have preferred more than four SATA III connectors from a slightly expensive motherboard.

Being pleased with the motherboard, I didn’t have much to criticize against it in my review. Here’s what I commented about its performance and value:

The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi is a motherboard costing $299, making it one of the pricier boards so far. For that, it offers reasonably capable VRMs, a minimalist black theme without RGB, a ton of EZ-DIY features to make life easier, and good overall performance. The EZ-DIY features are the highlight for us, but we feel the price tag is still a bit too high, especially given the board’s shared connectivity complications.

✅Buy It If

You play competitively: I recommend the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard for everyone who plays competitively. You are looking for top-of-the-line internet, and with this motherboard’s AI LAN manager tool, you’ll always get the lowest ping without having to do anything manually. The tool ensures you get a buttery smooth gameplay experience at all times.

You’re looking for convenience during PC building: If you’re new to PC building and don’t want to mess up, this motherboard’s EZ DIY features and mechanisms will make your life much easier during the entire process. With features such as EZ PCIe release, EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II, EZ M.2 Clip (II), EZ Conn-Design, and more, you’ll be done building your PC in a jiffy!

❌Don't Buy It If

You don’t require the latest I/O: I don’t recommend buying this motherboard if you don’t require the latest features like WiFi 7 and USB4.0 because of the motherboard’s price. Buying a B650 or B670 for a more affordable price will allow you to spend the extra cash on another component.

What Makes It The Best Overall AM5 Motherboard?

With its superb performance, excellent overclocking potential, and versatile feature set, including many EZ DIY features, mechanisms, and more, the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi is the best overall AM5 motherboard you can buy. The 14+2+1 VRM phase doesn’t go above 54°C, and with the MSI AI LAN manager tool, you won’t have to worry about your internet connection either.

Best X870 Motherboards

Performance: 9/10	Value: 8/10
Features: 10/10	Design: 9/10

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi

Best White AM5 Motherboard

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi

1 of 4

Pros

Capable 14+2+1 VRM phase
Beautiful white aesthetics
Incredible RAM capacity
Distinctive design featuring modest RGB lighting
M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism

Cons

No debug LED
Mid-range ALC4082 audio codec

Check Price

Read Our ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi Motherboard Review

Need a high-end white motherboard for your new AM5 socket CPU? Whether using a midrange Ryzen 7 7700X or the flagship Ryzen 7 9800X3D, the ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi provides stable power delivery thanks to its 14+2+1 VRM phases. During my testing with the Ryzen 9 9900X, the motherboard’s power consumption was the lowest at 362W under max load. On the other hand, the temperatures could be lower at 64°C in Cinebench 2024, but there’s nothing to be concerned about.

Along with its superior performance, the motherboard also sports a beautiful white design with modest RGB lighting over the heatsinks, making it a perfect fit if you’re building a white PC. On the other hand, unlike other X870 motherboards, the Steel Legend WiFi doesn’t have that many EZ DIY features, making it less accessible for new PC builders. Moreover, I wasn’t pleased with the mid-range ALC4082 audio codec, although it won’t matter unless you’re an audiophile.

I fell in love with the motherboard’s aesthetics, value, and performance when I saw it installed on my test rig. Here’s what I commented about it in my review:

The ASRock X870 Steel Legend looks great, is priced fairly, and has enough connectivity for most users. It features a 14+2+1 VRM setup (80A SPS for VCore + SOC), which means you can comfortably run even the most demanding Ryzen CPUs on it. It also provides some convenient features like the toolless M.2 heatsink removal and anti-drop screws. Most of all, though, it’s a great board for getting onto the latest platform without breaking the bank.

✅Buy It If

You want the latest features on a lower budget: If you don’t have a high budget but want all the latest gizmos on your motherboard, the ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi will help you get WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and USB4.0 while keeping your wallet hot. On top of that, you’ll get a few DIY EZ features to simplify building your PC.

You need a well-rounded white motherboard: Are you building a new PC on the AM5 chipset with a white theme in mind? If so, this motherboard is the best white offering for the chipset in terms of pricing, performance, and features. You won’t regret making this purchase for your white PC.

❌Don't Buy It If

You need more convenience: Unfortunately, the ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi motherboard lacks some of the convenient design features that its competitors usually offer, such as an EZ debug LED and EZ PCIe release to troubleshoot the PC and install components quickly.

You’re an audiophile who wants high-quality audio features: If you’re a professional audio editor or audiophile who can easily feel the difference between audio qualities, I don’t recommend this motherboard because it only features a mid-range ALC4082 audio codec.

What Makes It The Best White AM5 Motherboard?

The ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi motherboard provides impeccable performance, decent overclocking support for Ryzen 7000 and Ryzen 9000 series CPUs, and beautiful white aesthetics with slight RGB lighting, which makes it the best white AM5 motherboard. Coupled with that, I love its lower price, making it more accessible for budget gamers.

How To Build A White Gaming PC

Performance: 9/10	Value: 9/10
Features: 7/10	Design: 10/10

ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS WiFi

Best Value AM5 Motherboard

ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS WiFi Pictures

1 of 2

Pros

Quite affordable
Robust power delivery
Versatile connectivity options
Superb build quality

Cons

Plain looks
Fewer PCIe lanes than X670

Check Price

The TUF Gaming lineup of products from ASUS has its own distinct design language, and the B650-PLUS is an extension of that simplistic trend. The overall aesthetic of the board is quite understated and stealthy, while the overbuilt heatsinks betray a sense of ruggedness that is synonymous with the TUF brand. The TUF Gaming B650-PLUS is offered with a 12+2 phase VRM design with 60A power stages, which is a very respectable configuration for AM5 CPUs. My testing validates that this configuration can handle overclocking on the majority of Ryzen 7000 series CPUs without any issue, while the cooling system is top-notch as well.

The board retains its PCIe 5.0 connectivity in one of the three M.2 slots, while you also get 4 SATA ports for your classic drives. Networking is pretty standard, with a 2.5 GbE LAN port along with WiFi 6 for wireless connectivity. On the rear I/O, the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 20Gbps port stands out immediately.

PRO TIP: Use the ASUS AURA Sync utility to configure the RGB lighting of this motherboard.

✅Buy It If

You want the best value for money: The TUF Gaming B650-PLUS maximizes the price-to-performance factor and checks a lot of boxes at an affordable price.

You want a reliable motherboard: With unique TUF components and additional durability features, the B650-PLUS is one of the most durable AM5 motherboards.

❌Don't Buy It If

You want RGB lighting: Although it looks quite nice already, a touch of RGB lighting could have improved the aesthetics of the TUF B650-PLUS.

What Makes It The Best Value AM5 Motherboard?

The affordable price point, solid build quality, versatile features, and superb value for money make the ASUS TUF B650-PLUS the best value AM5 motherboard.

Related: Best B650 Motherboards

Performance: 8/10	Value: 10/10
Features: 8/10	Design: 7/10

ASRock X670E Taichi

Best Overclocking AM5 Motherboard

ASRock X670E Taichi Pictures

1 of 4

Pros

Extraordinary 24-phase VRM
Superb build quality
Loads of storage options
Two USB-4 Type-C ports

Cons

Very expensive
No 10 Gigabit networking

Check Price

ASRock’s Taichi motherboards have a very distinct and daring design language that is also present in the X670E iteration. The PCB is almost entirely covered by huge black heat spreaders with some unique design elements on them. The 8-layer, server-grade ultra-low loss PCB ensures exceptional signal reliability. ASRock has equipped this board with a 24+2+1 phase VRM design with 105A power stages for the VCORE and 105A power stages for the SOC. This is an extremely impressive configuration that, according to my testing, can handle competitive overclocking on even the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X with ease.

On the rear I/O, the two USB 4 Type-C ports immediately stand out, as do the two USB 3.2 “Lightning Gaming” ports. The Taichi offers 4 M.2 slots and 8 SATA 6 Gbps ports for your storage needs, and networking is handled by a 2.5 GbE LAN port as well as WiFi 6E.

WARNING: If you’re planning on overclocking your CPU, make sure your CPU cooler is up to the task as well.

✅Buy It If

You want to overclock your Ryzen CPU: The superb 24+2+1 phase VRM design of the X670E Taichi makes it the ideal choice for overclocking according to my test results, especially if you have a premium Ryzen 7000 series CPU.

❌Don't Buy It If

You have a limited budget: The ASRock X670E Taichi will definitely make a noticeable impact on your savings.

What Makes It The Best Overclocking AM5 Motherboard?

The ASRock X670E Taichi is the best overclocking AM5 motherboard thanks to its extraordinary 24+2+1 phase VRM design with 105A power stages, coupled with a fantastic active cooling solution and robust 8-layer PCB.

Performance: 10/10	Value: 7/10
Features: 10/10	Design: 8/10

ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi

Best Mini-ITX AM5 Motherboard

ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Ideal for compact PCs
Active M.2 cooling
Loads of USB ports
Decent networking options

Cons

Plain looks
Loud M.2 cooling fan

Check Price

Read Our ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi Review

The B650E PG-ITX is quite simplistic in its design approach, and that is a perfectly fine choice. The PCB is black with massive heatsinks in the same color, while the I/O cover has a dash of red and silver on the side. The board has a 10-layer server-grade low-loss PCB that ensures maximum signal integrity. With its 10+2+1 phase design with 105A power stages, the B650E PG-ITX is a great choice for overclocking mid-range AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPUs. In my testing, the MOSFETs were operating at around 60C after a one-hour all-core stress test with the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, showcasing the impressive cooling solution of the board.

Despite being a compact board, the ASRock B650E PG-ITX delivers two M.2 slots and two SATA ports for your storage needs. Networking is pretty standard, with a 2.5 GbE LAN port and WiFi 6E capability. The rear I/O is rather well-equipped for a mini-ITX motherboard, especially with the USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port.

We asked our trusted motherboard expert, Nauman Siddique, for his perspective on the ASRock B650E PG-ITX.

“It is a tiny beast featuring an AM5 platform with a plethora of features and efficient cooling for key components”.

✅Buy It If

You want a compact motherboard: The ASRock B650E PG-ITX is the motherboard to pick if you’re building a small form factor (SFF) gaming PC.

❌Don't Buy It If

You want RGB lighting: Although a nice-looking motherboard, the B650E PG-ITX lacks a splash of RGB lighting.

What Makes It The Best Mini-ITX AM5 Motherboard?

Since it offers superb features, robust power delivery, and active M.2 cooling in a compact size, the ASRock B650E PG-ITX is the best mini-ITX AM5 motherboard out there.

PRO TIP: Buying a mini-ITX motherboard? Be sure to cross-check the compatibility of your PC case with your motherboard.

Read Our ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi Review

Performance: 8/10	Value: 8/10
Features: 8/10	Design: 7/10

How We Tested & Picked The Best AM5 Motherboards

Here are some key factors that you should consider when shopping for an AM5 motherboard.

VRM and Overclocking: A robust VRM design with adequate power phases ensures stable and efficient power delivery to your components, especially the CPU. Consider the number of power phases, their configuration, the quality of underlying components, and the capacity of the power stages.
Chipset choice: In the process of buying a new AM5 motherboard, the choice between X670 vs. B650 is crucial as it determines the features and capabilities of the motherboard. Different chipsets offer varying levels of connectivity options, such as PCIe lanes, SATA ports, and M.2 slots, allowing you to connect various devices and expand your system.
Features: When you’re in the market for a new motherboard, it is crucial to consider its feature set, including networking, storage capabilities, and USB connectivity. Networking features determine your system’s connectivity options, while the storage options affect your ability to configure high-speed storage solutions.
Aesthetics: In addition to the technical specifications, the design and aesthetics of a motherboard should also be considered. The motherboard serves as the centerpiece of your PC build, and its visual appeal can enhance the overall aesthetics of your system. Factors to consider include the color scheme, lighting options, and overall design elements.
Value For Money: When choosing a motherboard, it’s important to consider the value for money it offers rather than solely focusing on the price tag. It’s essential to strike a balance between the price and the features, performance, and durability you require for your specific needs.

FAQs

Can you run DDR4 on AM5?

You cannot run DDR4 memory on AM5 motherboards. The new AM5 platform only supports DDR5 memory on all its chipsets.

Is Ryzen 5000 compatible with AM5?

AMD Ryzen 5000 series CPUs are not compatible with AM5 motherboards. They are compatible with the AM4 socket, while the AM5 motherboards use the new AM5 socket. Moreover, the CPUs have pins on them that are not physically compatible with the socket.

What chipset is AM5?

The AM5 motherboards come with 2 different chipsets, X670 and B650. Both these chipsets have 2 variants (X670E and X670, B650E and B650) which offer different connectivity and expansion features.

What socket does AM5 use?

The AM5 motherboards use the brand-new AMD AM5 socket. It is a Land Grid Array (LGA) socket with 1718 pins instead of the old Pin Grid Array (PGA) socket that was present on AM4 motherboards.

Is X670E better than X670?

X670E is better than X670 since it offers more connectivity options and better overclocking support. There are 24 PCIe 5.0 lanes in X670E versus only 8 PCIe 5.0 lanes in X670. Moreover, X670E motherboards have better power delivery capabilities for overclocking.

We have tested even more AM5 motherboards:

[Reviews Specialist]

Usman Saleem brings 8+ years of comprehensive PC hardware expertise to the table. His journey in the tech world has involved in-depth tech analysis and insightful PC hardware reviews, perfecting over 6+ years of dedicated work. Usman’s commitment to staying authentic and relevant in the field is underscored by many professional certifications, including a recent one in Google IT Support Specialization.

8+ years of specialized PC hardware coverage
6+ years of in-depth PC hardware analysis and reviews
Lead PC hardware expert across multiple tech journalism platforms
Certified in Google IT Support Specialization

Get In Touch: usman@tech4gamers.com

Expert Picks: BEST AM5 Motherboards In 2024 is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

Best Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D: Expert Picks

Dr. Usman Saleem — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 18:49:00 +0000

AMD’s X3D processors are some of the most famous gaming CPUs on the market. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D has been hailed as the best gaming CPU for a long time. However, it’s time a successor comes along. Instead of the competition taking the win, AMD’s brand new Ryzen 7 9800X3D shows an impeccable 25% boost in single-core and multi-core tasks. In our Ryzen 7 9800X3D review, we saw great performance across the board, but if you’re buying such a beast, you’ve to pair it with the right motherboard. That said, I have rounded up the best motherboard for Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Why Trust Tech4Gamers

Usman Saleem is our hardware tester who loves to put all the latest GPUs, CPUs, RAM, and motherboards for a spin.
40+ motherboards tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
800+ hours spent testing different motherboards for our reviews.
Objective testing criteria (See how we test motherboards).

Here’s a comparison table to show you our best motherboard offerings at a glance:

Motherboard

MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7

Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2

Looks

Award

Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Best Budget Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D

What We Liked

Connectivity, performance, cool VRMs, design, EZ DIY features, MSI AI LAN manager

Premium VRM setup, price, design, performance, build quality

Capable VRMs, beautiful white aesthetics, RAM capacity, M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism

Effective VRM cooling, 2x NVMe Gen5 SSDs, handy EZ DIY features, performance, value, build quality

What We Disliked

No RGB, lack of SATA connectors

Only one PCIe 5.0 storage slot, no RGB lighting

Mid-range ALC4082 audio codec, no debug LED

No external temperature sensor ports, lacks USB4.0, no debug LED

Chipset

AMD X870

AMD X870E

AMD X870

AMD B650

Memory

DDR5 8,400+ (OC)

DDR5 8,200+ (OC)

DDR5 8,000+ (OC)

DDR5-8000 (OC)

VRM

14+2+1

24+2+1

14+2+1

12+2+2

Storage

4x M.2, 4x SATA III

4x M.2, 6x SATA III

3x M.2, 4x SATA III

3x M.2, 4x SATA

USB Ports

11x Rear, 9x Front

12x Rear, 9x Front

11x Rear, 9x Front

12x Rear, 9x Front

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi

Looks

Award

Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D

What We Liked

Connectivity, performance, cool VRMs, design, EZ DIY features, MSI AI LAN manager

What We Disliked

No RGB, lack of SATA connectors

Chipset

AMD X870

Memory

DDR5 8,400+ (OC)

VRM

14+2+1

Storage

4x M.2, 4x SATA III

USB Ports

11x Rear, 9x Front

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite

Looks

Award

Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D

What We Liked

Premium VRM setup, price, design, performance, build quality

What We Disliked

Only one PCIe 5.0 storage slot, no RGB lighting

Chipset

AMD X870E

Memory

DDR5 8,200+ (OC)

VRM

24+2+1

Storage

4x M.2, 6x SATA III

USB Ports

12x Rear, 9x Front

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7

Looks

Award

Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D

What We Liked

Capable VRMs, beautiful white aesthetics, RAM capacity, M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism

What We Disliked

Mid-range ALC4082 audio codec, no debug LED

Chipset

AMD X870

Memory

DDR5 8,000+ (OC)

VRM

14+2+1

Storage

3x M.2, 4x SATA III

USB Ports

11x Rear, 9x Front

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2

Looks

Award

Best Budget Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D

What We Liked

Effective VRM cooling, 2x NVMe Gen5 SSDs, handy EZ DIY features, performance, value, build quality

What We Disliked

No external temperature sensor ports, lacks USB4.0, no debug LED

Chipset

AMD B650

Memory

DDR5-8000 (OC)

VRM

12+2+2

Storage

3x M.2, 4x SATA

USB Ports

12x Rear, 9x Front

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Read Our MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi Motherboard Review

More from the Ryzen 7 9800X3D:

Want to get an overview of another Ryzen 9000 series? Read through our dedicated in-depth CPU reviews:

Best Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Here’s a list of all the motherboards I have chosen for their various unique traits based on my hands-on experience and testing:

Best Overall: MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
Best High-End: ASRock X870E Taichi Lite
Best White: ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7
Best Budget: Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2

MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi

Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D

MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Decent connectivity options
Solid performance
VRMs run quite cool
Beautiful design
A wealth of EZ DIY features and mechanisms
MSI AI LAN manager

Cons

No RGB
I would have preferred more SATA connectors

Check Price

Starting the list with the jack of all trades, the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard caught my eye for many reasons. For example, it has superior performance in productivity and gaming tasks. Moreover, its 14+2+1 VRMs perform decently well, allowing adequate overclocking opportunities. I love the VRMs for their temperatures, though. During our testing, the temperatures on the VRMs never exceeded 54°C, making them one of the coldest in the new X870 motherboards.

Besides its performance, other eye-catchers are the wealth of EZ DIY features and mechanisms loaded onto the motherboard, making it highly user-friendly. I also cherish the MSI AI LAN manager, which ensures you always get the lowest possible ping. Moving to the connectors, I like the 11x rear and 9x front USB ports, including a USB4.0 port and plenty of USB 2.0 and USB 3 ports. However, when it comes to storage, I would have preferred more than 4x SATA III connectors for a slightly pricey motherboard.

I was pretty pleased with the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard, not seeing any negatives. Here’s what I commented in my review:

The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi is a motherboard costing $299, making it one of the pricier boards so far. For that, it offers reasonably capable VRMs, a minimalist black theme without RGB, a ton of EZ-DIY features to make life easier, and good overall performance. The EZ-DIY features are the highlight for us, but we feel the price tag is still a bit too high, especially given the board’s shared connectivity complications.

✅Buy It If

You play competitive games: If you’re a competitive player who always requires top-of-the-line internet, the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi offers just the feature you’ll love. With the MSI AI LAN manager, you’ll always be connected to the best internet and get the lowest pings, ensuring your gameplay is buttery smooth at all times.

You want all the performance without any backlashes: The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi perfectly fits the Ryzen 7 9800X3D because of its greater RAM frequency support, lower VRM thermals, and overall better performance. If you want all the performance without many repercussions, this motherboard is your best bet.

❌Don't Buy It If

You’re using more than four SATA III drives: If you’re utilizing more than four SATA III drives, I can’t recommend this motherboard. You’re better off using PCIe 5.0 drives with the X870 chipset motherboards.

What Makes It The Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

I love the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi for its lower VRM temperatures, sturdy build quality, and EZ DIY features and functions. Moreover, it has decent connectivity options and a beautiful design, perfect for stealth builds lacking RGB lighting. All these pros make it the best overall motherboard for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, in my opinion.

Best X870 Motherboards

Performance: 9/10	Value: 9/10
Features: 10/10	Design: 8/10

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite

Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Premium-class 24+2+1 VRM setup
Great price for a high-end motherboard
Unique design
Impeccable performance
Remarkable build quality

Cons

Only one PCIe 5.0 storage slot
No RGB lighting

Check Price

Read Our ASRock X870E Taichi Lite Motherboard Review

Want to get the most out of your Ryzen 7 9800X3D? Just get a high-performing motherboard like the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite. Hailing a 24+2+1 VRM phase, you can achieve extreme overclocks with even a flagship CPU. This big boy has the largest power phase out of all the motherboards on this listicle. To top it all off, it has a pretty neat price tag, so you won’t have to sell an organ to make a purchase. Honestly, when it comes to performance, I can’t critique the Taichi Lite at all.

However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have any downsides to it. It’s an excellent motherboard with impressive connectivity options, good storage slots, and remarkable build quality. But even so, I feel like being given only one PCIe 5.0 storage slot for an E-ATX motherboard is pretty sad. I understand the lack of RGB lighting, though. All in all, it’s a great motherboard with a unique design, tons of USB ports (12x rear and 9x front), including 2x USB4.0 ports, and doesn’t cost much, either.

Here’s how I summarized the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite in my in-depth review of the motherboard:

The ASRock X870E Taichi Lite is a $399 powerhouse with a VRM setup (24+2+1, 110A SPS for VCore and SoC) that can compete with enthusiast-class boards. That’s not its only attraction; the board has a fascinating design, multiple handy features, and excellent connectivity options, with USB4 and WiFi 7 being the icing on the cake. Circling back to the price, this is a great option among X870E boards.

✅Buy It If

You require a motherboard with a large power phase: If you’re looking for an X870 motherboard with a larger-than-usual power phase, I recommend the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite because of its 27-phase power delivery through 110A SPS. No matter how you intend to use the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, this motherboard will easily be able to handle it without any issues.

You need plenty of USB ports: With 21 USB ports, including 2x USB4.0, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C, and 5x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, there’s plenty of room for all your USB devices, including future installments.

❌Don't Buy It If

You’re using a smaller chassis: In case you’re using a smaller chassis, I don’t recommend buying the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite because it’s an E-ATX motherboard. You’ll most likely face compatibility issues. Hence, before purchasing, ensure you have done your homework properly.

What Makes It The Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

The most appealing thing about the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite motherboard is its high-end VRMs, robust build quality, and overall outstanding performance in all gaming and productivity tests while maintaining a reasonable cost. There are no complaints about its design. You get WiFi 7, and the chipset also provides plenty of USB ports, including USB4.0, making it the best high-end motherboard for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor.

Editor`s Note

Personally, I feel the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite is the best fit for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Ignoring the motherboard’s overclocking capabilities, it comes with lots of USB ports, has a unique design, the VRM temperatures aren’t too high, and it’s one of the most powerful X870 chipset motherboards. You shouldn’t let this motherboard go if you’re using a bigger PC case.

– Dr. Usman Saleem

Performance: 10/10	Value: 8/10
Features: 9/10	Design: 8/10

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7

Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7 Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Fairly capable 14+2+1 VRMs
Beautiful white aesthetics
Incredible RAM capacity
Distinctive design featuring modest RGB
M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism

Cons

No debug LED
Mid-range ALC4082 audio codec

Check Price

Read Our ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7 Motherboard Review

Moving to the next motherboard, the ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7 is one of the most aesthetically pleasing X870 motherboards I have seen. Featuring a distinctive design with modest RGB lighting, the motherboard is coated in white, making it look like a captivating snowball. Outside its looks, the Steel Legend WiFi offers decent performance with its 14+2+1 VRM phase, not allowing the Ryzen 7 9800X3D to bottleneck even at the highest workloads.

The pricing is also pretty fair, and the motherboard has decent DIY features, like an M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism for easier installation. It is missing a few features, like a debug LED, which will make troubleshooting slightly tricky in the future. However, regarding connectivity, I have zero complaints, featuring 11x rear and 9x front USB ports, along with 3x M.2 and 4x SATA III slots. The only real issue is the mid-range ALC4082 audio codec, which ASRock could have improved.

WARNING: Ensure you have removed the plastic stickers from the thermal pad heatsinks before installing your NVMe M.2 drives.

I was surprised when I used the ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7 motherboard on my test bench. Here’s what I commented about the motherboard’s looks and features:

The ASRock X870 Steel Legend looks great, is priced fairly, and has enough connectivity for most users. It features a 14+2+1 VRM setup (80A SPS for VCore + SOC), which means you can comfortably run even the most demanding Ryzen CPUs on it. It also provides some convenient features like the toolless M.2 heatsink removal and anti-drop screws. Most of all, though, it’s a great board for getting onto the latest platform without breaking the bank.

✅Buy It If

You want the latest I/O on a budget: If you’re looking for an X870 motherboard that features the latest I/O, like USB4.0 and WiFi 7, on a reasonably decent budget, then I recommend you purchase the ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7. You won’t have to empty your wallet, and you’ll get many neat features you’re looking forward to utilizing.

You need a well-rounded white motherboard: If you’re building a white-themed PC around the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and require a motherboard that pairs well, the X870 Steel Legend WiFi should be your go-to. It has beautiful aesthetics, performs well in all our tests, and has low VRM temperatures.

❌Don't Buy It If

You’re an audiophile requiring a high-end audio codec: I don’t recommend purchasing the ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi if you’re an audiophile working in the sound industry who requires a high-end audio codec because this motherboard only has a mid-range ALC4082 codec which may not be up to your standards.

What Makes It The Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

The ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7 is one of my favorite motherboards because of its beautiful snow-white aesthetics, low-temperature VRMs, rock-solid build quality, and many DIY features. Unlike many other white PC components, it also doesn’t come at a high price, ultimately making it the best white motherboard for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Best White PC Build

Performance: 8/10	Value: 9/10
Features: 8/10	Design: 10/10

Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2

Best Budget Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2 Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Effective VRM cooling
Two NVMe Gen5 SSD support
There is a plethora of USB ports
Handy EZ DIY features
Decent performance
Outstanding value
Durable build quality

Cons

Lacks USB4.0
No debug LED
No external temperature sensor ports

Check Price

Read Our Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2 Motherboard Review

Are you trying to upgrade to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D on a tighter budget? If you have been using a Ryzen 3000 series CPU and want to jump directly to the Ryzen 9000 with a minor motherboard upgrade, the Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2 is your best budget option. Featuring a 12+2+2 VRM phase that doesn’t get hot even at tight loads, I love the decent performance the motherboard provides. It lacks a few things compared to the X870 chipset, but you won’t notice much difference outside of that.

For example, the B650 Aorus Elite has 2x PCIe Gen5 NVMe slots. Moreover, there is no shortage of SATA III ports, either. There aren’t any issues with the USB ports, featuring 12x rear and 9x front ports, including USB Type-C Gen 2. It doesn’t have USB4.0 and WiFi 7, along with a few troubleshooting features, but for a budget motherboard, it has all the other goodies I love. The design is decent, with slight RGB lighting around the heatsinks. It’s an excellent fit for any high-end AMD CPU if you’re not overclocking it.

PRO TIP: You should use monitoring software to keep an eye on the temperatures, voltages, and system health of your motherboard and PC in general.

Our hardware reviewer, Nauman Siddique, was astounded by the motherboard’s value and performance. Here’s what he commented in his dedicated review:

At the end of the day, the B650 AORUS ELITE AX is almost a balanced feature set provider motherboard that the user can get for their daily driver need. The game is strong with the storage department of this motherboard and USB Type-C Gen 2×2 port provisions as well, though don’t expect to find a PCIe Gen 5 X16 slot.

✅Buy It If

You’re seeking effective heat management: If you’re looking for a mid-range motherboard that will help cool the VRMs and storage drives, then the Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2 is an excellent choice for its TMOS-based massive heatsinks and thermal pads for SSDs that efficiently control the temperatures.

You prioritize mid-range performance from a motherboard: If you’re not looking for something too fancy and require a motherboard that won’t bottleneck the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, then this one should be your go-to for its incredible performance and power output.

❌Don't Buy It If

You need WiFi 7 and USB4: If you require top-of-the-line features like WiFi 7 and USB4, then I don’t recommend buying the Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2 because it doesn’t have any of those features. You’re better off looking for a budget X870 chipset motherboard with those requirements.

What Makes It The Best Budget Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

The Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2 motherboard rocks amazing features like a 12+2+2 VRM phase, lower VRM temperatures, handy EZ DIY features, decent gaming and productivity performance, and a plethora of USB ports, including USB Type-C Gen 2. The biggest pro is its low price, which makes it the best budget motherboard for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Best B650 Motherboards

Performance: 8/10	Value: 10/10
Features: 8/10	Design: 9/10

Best Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D Specification Comparison

We have created a simple comparison chart of all our top motherboard picks so that it’s easier for you to choose the one that appeals most to your use-case scenarios. Here’s the chart:

Motherboard Model	Total Power Phases	Max Memory Speed (MT/s)	No. of M.2 slots	No. of SATA III ports	No. of USB ports (Front)	No. of USB ports (Rear)
MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi	16	8400	4	4	9	11
ASRock X870E Taichi Lite	27	8200	4	6	9	12
ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi	16	8000	3	4	9	11
Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2	16	8000	3	4	9	12

These Motherboards Couldn’t Make Our List

Many motherboards on the market fit well with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. However, we only selected the best ones in their categories to make your purchase decision easier. Of course, a few didn’t make the list, lacking value or features. Here are the motherboards that couldn’t make our list:

Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite: There’s not much to hate regarding the Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite. Like its predecessor, which we covered, it’s one of the best contenders. However, its lack of 5G LAN makes it slightly inferior to its competitors.

Key Motherboard Terms

CPU Socket: It’s a small slot on the motherboard where the CPU is inserted. Intel usually changes its CPU socket once every two generations, while AMD’s socket lasts for a few years. The AM4 lasted from the Ryzen 1000 to the Ryzen 5000 series, meaning you could use the same motherboard for all those CPUs.
DIMM Slots: They are located next to the CPU socket where the RAM kits are installed. Thanks to the physical location being so close, DIMM slots allow the CPU to access temporary data quickly.
Form Factor: Similar to the form factors of PC cases, the size and shape of the motherboard decide the chassis it’ll fit inside. Motherboard form factors are the same as PC case form factors, ranging from ITX, mITX, ATX, and E-ATX.
VRM: Abbreviated as Voltage Regulator Module, VRMs are small circuits on the motherboard that ensure stable and proper voltage delivery to all PC parts. Better VRM phases are required to achieve higher CPU overclocks.
PCIe Slots: PCIe slots are used for expansion cards and are essential for graphics cards, sound cards, and network adapters. In most cases, you want to install the graphics card in the x16 PCIe slot and then move downwards as required.
Chipset: The chipset communicates between multiple PC components, such as the peripherals, CPU, RAM, GPU, and storage, to run everything smoothly without causing random crashes and errors.

How We Tested These Motherboards

Several factors contributed to selecting the best motherboards for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU. They include features, power delivery, and value for money. Here’s a quick rundown of what I looked for in each motherboard:

Features: One of the most important factors I considered was each motherboard’s features. Besides the EZ DIY features, software like MSI’s AI LAN manager, troubleshooting debug LEDs, or thicker M.2 heatsinks add more value to the motherboards. While performance is essential, subtle features create more incentive for a purchase.
Power Delivery: The most important factor you should consider is a motherboard’s power delivery capabilities. A motherboard with mediocre power delivery will only end up either bottlenecking your PC components or completely frying them. Additionally, better power delivery is vital for CPU overclocking. That’s why I only chose motherboards that didn’t compromise on their VRMs.
Value For Money: Regardless of your budget, spending too much on a PC component won’t yield better results if everything it features is a gimmick. Therefore, I was meticulous with the value for money of each motherboard I selected. Along with performance, they needed to have dozens of features and not cost absurd amounts of money.

FAQs

Can the Ryzen 7 9800X3D run any game at high FPS?

Regardless of the resolution, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D should be able to run any game at high FPS, considering it is currently the best gaming CPU on the planet.

Can I overclock the Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU?

Like the previous X3D processors, you won’t be able to overclock the Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU. Doing so won’t yield any performance uplifts anyway.

What RAM speeds does the Ryzen 7 9800X3D support?

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU supports up to DDR5 8,800MHz RAM speeds, ensuring whichever kit you purchase will be compatible with the CPU.

Is the Ryzen 7 9800X3D compatible with B650 and X670 chipsets?

Yes. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is compatible with both chipsets along with the newest X870 chipset. Depending on your budget and use-case scenario, you should look for a motherboard from the B650 and X870 chipsets for the most value.

Searching for motherboards for a specific Ryzen 9000 series CPU? We have you covered:

[Reviews Specialist]

Get In Touch: usman@tech4gamers.com

Best Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D: Expert Picks is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

Best X870 And X870E Motherboards [Hands-on Tested]

Dr. Usman Saleem — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 11:31:22 +0000

Recently, when the Ryzen 9000 series was announced, AMD gave us a preview of its latest X870 and X870E motherboard chipset. Although the X670 chipset supports the latest CPUs, you may want to try the new motherboards. While the chipset was supposed to launch with the 9000 series processors, it got delayed to the end of September. Now that they have finally been released, we have been hard at work all week to test, compare, and round up the best X870 and X870E motherboards you can buy right now.

Why Trust Tech4Gamers

Usman Saleem is our hardware tester who loves to put all the latest GPUs, CPUs, RAM, and motherboards for a spin.
40+ motherboards tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
800+ hours spent testing different motherboards for our reviews.
Objective testing criteria (See how we test motherboards).

Here’s a comparison table to glance at all our top motherboard offerings:

Motherboard

MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi

MSI MPG X870E CARBON WiFi

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite

Gigabyte X870 EAGLE

Looks

Award

Best Overall X870 Motherboard

Best High-End X870 Motherboard

Best White X870 Motherboard

Best Overclocking X870 Motherboard

Best Budget X870 Motherboard

What We Liked

Connectivity, overclocking, design, high-end VRMs, MSI AI LAN manager

Performance, smart button, High-end VRM phase, DIY-friendly features

Aesthetics, RGB lighting, VRMs, M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism

Durability, overclocking support, robust VRM phase, storage options

Value, performance, price, low VRM thermals, DIY-friendly design

What We Disliked

Less SATA storage slots

Less USB 2.0 ports

No debug LED, Mid-range ALC4082 audio codec

No DisplayPort 1.4, one PCIe 5.0 slot

No 5G LAN support, one PCIe 5.0 slot

Chipset

X870

X870E

X870

X870E

X870

Form Factor

ATX

E-ATX

ATX

E-ATX

ATX

Power Delivery

14+2+1

18+2+1

14+2+1

24+2+1

14+2+2

Memory

DDR5 8,400+ (OC)

DDR5 8,000+ (OC)

DDR5 8,200+ (OC)

DDR5 8,000+ (OC)

USB Ports

11x Rear, 9x Front

13x Rear, 9x Front

11x Rear, 9x Front

12x Rear, 9x Front

10x Rear, 7x Front

Storage

4x M.2, 4x SATA III

3x M.2, 4x SATA III

4x M.2, 6x SATA III

3x M.2, 4x SATA III

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi

Looks

Award

Best Overall X870 Motherboard

What We Liked

Connectivity, overclocking, design, high-end VRMs, MSI AI LAN manager

What We Disliked

Less SATA storage slots

Chipset

X870

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

14+2+1

Memory

DDR5 8,400+ (OC)

USB Ports

11x Rear, 9x Front

Storage

4x M.2, 4x SATA III

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

MSI MPG X870E CARBON WiFi

Looks

Award

Best High-End X870 Motherboard

What We Liked

Performance, smart button, High-end VRM phase, DIY-friendly features

What We Disliked

Less USB 2.0 ports

Chipset

X870E

Form Factor

E-ATX

Power Delivery

18+2+1

Memory

DDR5 8,400+ (OC)

USB Ports

13x Rear, 9x Front

Storage

4x M.2, 4x SATA III

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi

Looks

Award

Best White X870 Motherboard

What We Liked

Aesthetics, RGB lighting, VRMs, M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism

What We Disliked

No debug LED, Mid-range ALC4082 audio codec

Chipset

X870

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

14+2+1

Memory

DDR5 8,000+ (OC)

USB Ports

11x Rear, 9x Front

Storage

3x M.2, 4x SATA III

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite

Looks

Award

Best Overclocking X870 Motherboard

What We Liked

Durability, overclocking support, robust VRM phase, storage options

What We Disliked

No DisplayPort 1.4, one PCIe 5.0 slot

Chipset

X870E

Form Factor

E-ATX

Power Delivery

24+2+1

Memory

DDR5 8,200+ (OC)

USB Ports

12x Rear, 9x Front

Storage

4x M.2, 6x SATA III

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

Gigabyte X870 EAGLE

Looks

Award

Best Budget X870 Motherboard

What We Liked

Value, performance, price, low VRM thermals, DIY-friendly design

What We Disliked

No 5G LAN support, one PCIe 5.0 slot

Chipset

X870

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

14+2+2

Memory

DDR5 8,000+ (OC)

USB Ports

10x Rear, 7x Front

Storage

3x M.2, 4x SATA III

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Read Our Hands-On MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi Review

Review

Last Updated:

October 31, 2024: We have got our hands on the MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi and reviewed it. Given the motherboard’s performance, features, and overall value, we have awarded it the best overall X870 motherboard title.

Are you thinking of buying a new AMD CPU? Go through our dedicated reviews for test results and insights:

Best X870 And X870E Motherboards

Now, to get the show on the road, here are the motherboards I have chosen based on my hands-on experience and the various features each comes with:

Best Overall: MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi
Best White: ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi
Best High-End: MSI MPG X870E CARBON WiFi
Best Overclocking: ASRock X870E Taichi Lite
Best Budget: Gigabyte X870 EAGLE

MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi

Best Overall X870 Motherboard

MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Remarkable overclocking opportunities
Impressive connectivity options
High-end VRMs ensure better voltage distribution
Beautiful design
EZ M.2 clip and EZ PCIe release features
Screwless M.2 Shield Frozr implementation
MSI AI LAN manager

Cons

I would have preferred more SATA storage

Check Price

Starting strong, the first motherboard on my list is the MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi. This inclusion is self-explanatory; you get a high-end, build-quality motherboard with impressive connectivity options and a beautiful design. Additionally, thanks to its 14+2+1 VRM phase, you can overclock your Ryzen 9000 series processors. The MSI MAG X870 will easily fly with any high-end AMD CPU you pair it with, whether the Ryzen 9 7950X3D or the Ryzen 9 9950X.

However, what I love most about the motherboard is that it’s newbie-friendly. For example, the EZ M.2 clip and screwless M.2 shield Frozr features make it much easier for new PC users to build in the motherboard. In any case, I love the 11x rear and 9x front USB ports the motherboard provides. Also, all X870 motherboards come with USB4 and PCIe 5.0, so you can leverage those technologies freely. For the MSI MAG X870, you get 2x PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots and 2x USB4 connectors.

If you’re on a very tight budget but want a Tomahawk motherboard, I suggest checking out my MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi review.

✅Buy It If

You play competitively: If you play competitively and require the best networking, then the MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi motherboard’s AI LAN manager feature will keep you hooked. The feature ensures you stay connected to the best networking routes and get the lowest ping possible.

You want all the performance with no frills attached: If you’re about to upgrade to a high-end Ryzen 9000 series CPU and don’t have a compatible motherboard, I recommend the MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi to utilize the CPU’s maximum performance; thanks to the motherboard’s higher RAM compatibility, better thermals, and easier installation processes.

❌Don't Buy It If

You’re using more SATA drives: I don’t recommend the MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi if you have many SATA drives because the motherboard only provides 4 SATA III connectors. With the X870 chipset, you’re better off using PCIe 5.0.

What Makes It The Best Overall X870 Motherboard?

The MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi offers remarkable overclocking opportunities, decent connectivity options, 11x rear and 9x front USB ports, and high-end VRMs for better voltage distribution. Moreover, you can access the MSI AI LAN manager, which ensures you always get the best connectivity, thanks to its WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 network options. All in all, these features make it the best overall X870 motherboard.

Editor`s Note

Personally, the MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi motherboard appealed to me the most. I’m getting 20 USB ports, amazing networking options, and access to the MSI AI LAN manager to always get the lowest ping while gaming. The motherboard overclocks well, looks beautiful, and doesn’t overheat. I can’t ask for much more from a decently-priced product.

– Dr. Usman Saleem

Performance: 9/10	Value: 8/10
Features: 10/10	Design: 9/10

MSI MPG X870E CARBON WiFi

Best High-End X870E Motherboard

MSI MPG X870E CARBON WiFi Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Incredible gaming performance
Smart button functionality
Handy DIY-friendly features
High-end 18+2+1 VRM phases
Lots of connectivity options
MSI AI Link manager

Cons

Less USB 2.0 ports

Check Price

Read Our Hands-On MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi Review

It’s time to take out the big guns. If you want the best high-end motherboard for a Ryzen 9000 series processor, look no further—the MSI MPG X870E CARBON WiFi has your back! The one thing I absolutely love about this motherboard is the handy DIY-friendly features it comes with. For example, the smart button has multiple hardware control. You can set your RGB lights, fan boosts, and boot into safe mode by pressing the same button. Similarly, I am in love with the AI Boost technology that allows one-click overclocking and says goodbye to manual overclocking.

Putting that aside, what really sets this motherboard apart from its competition is the high-end 18+2+1 VRM. With this, you secure your power delivery and get incredible overclocking opportunities. Additionally, the motherboard provides 13x rear and 9x front USB ports, ensuring you don’t run out of connectivity options. Most of these are USB 3 and 2x USB4 ports, so take caution if you’re still stuck on USB 2.0. Because the motherboard comes in a larger form factor, you need to factor in the size of your chassis, too, before making the purchase.

Here’s what I said about the MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi in my dedicated hands-on review of the motherboard:

The MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi is a high-end motherboard with impressive features, a capable VRM setup, and I/O that should be enough for most users. You get the latest USB4 ports, dual PCIe 5.0 M.2, WiFi 7, and impressive memory support up to DDR5-8400 (OC). It’s a nice-looking board with enough RGB bling for most, but it comes at a staggering $499 price tag. While expensive, it’s competitive enough for the features on offer.

PRO TIP: Although the motherboard supports up to 8,400MHz RAM, ensure you have referred to the QVL for the best compatibility between the desired RAM and motherboard.

✅Buy It If

You want the best performance without manually tinkering with any settings: If you’re a new PC enthusiast who wants the best performance for their high-end CPU through simple plug-and-play, then the MSI MPG X870E CARBON WiFi motherboard might be your best bet. You can easily overclock with one click, set fan speeds by pressing a single button, and let the AI LAN manager take care of your WiFi signals and ping.

❌Don't Buy It If

You fancy USB 2.0 more: I don’t recommend buying this motherboard if all your peripherals still use USB 2.0. While 4x USB 2.0 should be enough, there’s always a chance you may need more. If that’s the case, maybe look for an alternative.

What Makes It The Best High-End X870E Motherboard?

Featuring an 18+2+1 VRM phase, the MSI MPG X870E CARBON WiFi motherboard ensures proper power delivery to your PC. Thanks to 22 USB ports, you don’t have to worry about connectivity. Moreover, with DIY-friendly features and easy overclocking, there’s not much that can go wrong if you try to maximize your PC’s performance with this product, making it the best high-end X870E motherboard.

Performance: 10/10	Value: 8/10
Features: 10/10	Design: 8/10

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi

Best White X870 Motherboard

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Beautiful white aesthetics
Incredible RAM capacity
Decent connectivity options
Impressive VRMs
Remarkable RGB lighting
M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism

Cons

No debug LED
Mid-range ALC4082 audio codec

Check Price

Read Our Hands-On ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi Review

Are you building an RGB-filled white PC with a high-end AMD CPU? If so, you may want to consider the ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi, which features some of the best RGB lighting I have ever seen in a motherboard. For starters, you’re getting robust 14+2+1 VRM phases, just like the MSI MAG X870, so there shouldn’t be any power delivery issues. Secondly, I love the motherboard’s latest M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism feature, making it the first product to introduce a decent innovation for more accessible PC building.

Apart from all that, the decent connectivity options also intrigue me. The motherboard features 11x rear and 9x front USB ports, 2x USB4 ports, 3x M.2 slots, and 4x SATA III slots. While there’s not much to hate, I don’t like that the motherboard has a subpar ALC4082 audio codec and doesn’t come with a debug LED. At the very least, I’d expect an LED in an X870 motherboard.

This is how I described the X870 Steel Legend WiFi in my dedicated hands-on review:

The ASRock X870 Steel Legend looks great, is priced fairly, and has enough connectivity for most users. It features a 14+2+1 VRM setup (80A SPS for VCore + SOC), which means you can comfortably run even the most demanding Ryzen CPUs on it. It also provides some convenient features like the toolless M.2 heatsink removal and anti-drop screws. Most of all, though, it’s a great board for getting onto the latest platform without breaking the bank.

✅Buy It If

You want your motherboard to have a DIY-friendly design: If you’re new to PC building and want your latest motherboard to have a DIY-friendly design, I recommend purchasing the ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi. Aside from screwless M.2 drives, the motherboard brings innovation with the M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism feature, making M.2 installation quick and toolless.

❌Don't Buy It If

You’re an audiophile who requires a high-end audio codec: If you’re an audiophile with demanding audio requirements, this motherboard might not be for you as it features a mid-range ALC4082 audio codec. Although decent, it’s not the top-tier option available on the market, like the Realtek ALC892, 887, and 1220.

What Makes It The Best White X870 Motherboard?

The ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi motherboard is a beautiful snow-white color surrounded by A-RGB lighting, waiting to be customized according to its users’ needs. Besides its aesthetics, it features decent connectivity options, innovates with a new M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism, and has high-end robust VRMs, making it the best white X870 motherboard.

Performance: 9/10	Value: 8/10
Features: 9/10	Design: 10/10

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite

Best Overclocking X870E Motherboard

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Rock-solid durability
Impeccable overclocking support
Robust 24+2+1 VRM-phase
Unique design
Decent storage options

Cons

Doesn’t support DisplayPort 1.4
Only one PCIe 5.0 storage slot
No RGB lighting

Check Price

Read Our Hands-On ASRock X870E Taichi Lite Review

Are you an enthusiast who can’t wait to push your CPU to its utmost limit? If so, the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite will benefit you because of its robust 24+2+1 VRM phase. This one has the largest power phase and the most overclocking potential out of all the motherboards on our list. I could easily push any of the Ryzen 9000 series processors on this bad boy without facing any issues.

Besides that, while I like the unique silver-themed design, I would have preferred some RGB lighting, seeing how it’s a high-end motherboard. Another issue is the lack of support for DisplayPort 1.4. However, its other features, such as 4x M.2 slots (1x PCIe 5.0) and 6x SATA III slots, make up for its cons. I also don’t have any problems with the USB ports or the 8,200MHz RAM support. In conclusion, this is a great motherboard for overclocking enthusiasts; you can’t go wrong with it.

Here’s how I summarized the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite in my in-depth review of the motherboard:

The ASRock X870E Taichi Lite is a $399 powerhouse with a VRM setup (24+2+1, 110A SPS for VCore and SoC) that can compete with enthusiast-class boards. That’s not its only attraction; the board has a fascinating design, multiple handy features, and excellent connectivity options, with USB4 and WiFi 7 being the icing on the cake. Circling back to the price, this is a great option among X870E boards.

WARNING: Before making a purchase, ensure you’re fine without using DisplayPort 1.4 because the motherboard lacks support for the video output.

✅Buy It If

You want a motherboard with a large power phase: If you’re a PC enthusiast who requires a motherboard with a large power phase for proper power delivery and outstanding overclocking support, the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite is going to be your best friend with its large 27-phase power delivery through 110A SPS.

❌Don't Buy It If

You’d rather have support for DisplayPort 1.4: I don’t recommend this motherboard if you want one with a DisplayPort 1.4 port. Unfortunately, the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite doesn’t have one, so you can only connect to the HDMI 2.1 or USB4 port if you plan to use your Ryzen CPU’s iGPU.

What Makes It The Best Overclocking X870 Motherboard?

The ASRock X870E Taichi Lite is one of the best X870 motherboards because of its large 27-phase power delivery through 110A SPS. Moreover, it ensures lower thermals through larger heatsinks and an intelligent cooling design. You also get 21 USB ports, 4x M.2 slots, and 6x SATA III slots for all your storage devices. Thus, all the features and performance make it the best overclocking X870E motherboard.

Performance: 10/10	Value: 8/10
Features: 9/10	Design: 8/10

Gigabyte X870 EAGLE

Best Budget X870 Motherboard

Gigabyte X870 EAGLE.

Pros

Great value
Low price
Decent performance
Good design and aesthetics
Low VRM thermals
DIY-friendly design

Cons

No 5G LAN support
Only one PCIe 5.0 storage slot

Check Price

For the last motherboard on our list, we have the budget-end Gigabyte X870 EAGLE. Although I did call it a “budget” motherboard, don’t expect it to sleep on its performance and build quality. You’re getting a 14+2+2 VRM phase with solid, fully metal heatsinks all over. Furthermore, I love the DIY-friendly design featuring a screwless M.2 slot, an M.2 EZ latch, and one-click BIOS adjustment features.

You can see the effects of the lower pricing when you move toward the network and storage capabilities of the motherboard. For example, the X870 EAGLE does not support a 5G LAN. Similarly, we only see a single PCIe 5.0 storage slot. Besides that, you still get 4x SATA III slots and 17 USB ports with 2x USB4 ports for your I/O devices. Lastly, during my testing, the VRMs showed low thermals, so that’s another plus point for the budget motherboard.

✅Buy It If

You prioritize efficient VRMs on a tighter budget: If you prioritize efficient VRMs with lower temperatures yet decent power delivery without spending much money, then I recommend buying the Gigabyte X870 EAGLE motherboard. You get a 14+2+2-phase power delivery, and you’ll be able to overclock a mid-range AMD CPU as well.

❌Don't Buy It If

You need 5G LAN: While the X870 EAGLE has good WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 networking support, if you require a 5G LAN network, this motherboard might not be for you as it only supports 2.5G LAN.

What Makes It The Best Budget X870 Motherboard?

Delivering premium features such as one-click overclocking, screwless M.2 installation, 17 USB ports, low-temperature VRMs, and a good design while keeping a lower budget is what makes the Gigabyte X870 EAGLE the best budget X870 motherboard on our list. You also get decent storage options with PCIe 5.0 and 2x USB4 ports for top-notch speeds.

Performance: 8/10	Value: 10/10
Features: 9/10	Design: 8/10

Best X870 And X870E Motherboards Specification Comparison

Because everyone has different requirements, we have created a simple specifications comparison table to help save you time and browse through our picks according to your needs:

Motherboard Model	Total Power Phases	Max Memory Speed (MT/s)	No. of M.2 slots	No. of SATA III ports	No. of USB ports (Front)	No. of USB ports (Rear)
MSI MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WiFi	16	8400	4	4	9	11
ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi	16	8000	3	4	9	11
MSI MPG X870E CARBON WiFi	21	8400	4	4	9	13
ASRock X870E Taichi Lite	27	8200	4	6	9	12
Gigabyte X870 EAGLE	18	8000	3	4	7	10

These Motherboards Almost Made Our List

The X870 chipset has truly delivered; all motherboards offer something unique and wonderful. However, we could only choose the best of the best within each category, leaving a few contenders behind. So, these are the motherboards that almost made our list:

Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite: This motherboard has almost nothing to hate, except that it lacks a 5G LAN network, which makes it slightly inferior to its competitors.

Key Motherboard Terms

VRM: Short for Voltage Regulator Module, VRMs are circuitry that ensures stable and proper voltage is delivered to all PC parts. High-end VRM phases are important for CPU overclocking.
Chipset: The chipset communicates between the peripherals, CPU, RAM, GPU, and storage to manage and run everything smoothly.
CPU Socket: This is a slot on the motherboard where the CPU is installed. Usually, the CPU socket changes once every two to three generations for Intel, while AMD’s socket stays the same for a few years.
Form Factor: Like the chassis, the size and shape of the motherboard determine the PC case it can fit inside. Generally, you’ll find ITX, mITX, ATX, and E-ATX form factor motherboards.
PCIe Slots: These are slots for expansion cards, such as graphics cards, sound cards, and certain network adapters. You want to install your GPU in the x16 PCIe slot and move downwards.
DIMM Slots: Located next to the CPU socket, the DIMM slots contain RAM kits, which allow the CPU to access temporary data quickly.

How We Tested These Motherboards

There are several factors that played a crucial role in my selecting the best X870 and X870E motherboards. Here’s a small rundown of the factors:

Features: Personally, the biggest improvement in the X870 motherboards over the X670 motherboards is the features the former provides. Therefore, I only selected the ones with the most features, such as DIY-friendly designs, more storage slots, faster RAM capacity, and networking features.
Power Delivery: Perhaps one of the most important features to consider, you never want to buy a motherboard with mediocre power delivery. Thus, I kept a keen eye on the power stages and chose motherboards that have robust VRMs and keep lower thermals even when being overclocked.
Value For Money: Considering different budget constraints, I selected motherboards that provide the most value for money within each bracket. If you’re thinking of buying the Ryzen 5 9600X, you may want to buy a more affordable X870 motherboard. On the other hand, someone else may want a high-end motherboard for the Ryzen 9 9950X.

FAQs

Do the X870 motherboards support Ryzen 7000 series processors?

Yes. The X870 motherboard chipset supports Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 series processors.

Is the Ryzen 9000 good for gaming?

Yes. All Ryzen 9000 series CPUs perform extremely well in almost all games.

Should I buy an X870 motherboard if I already own an X670?

It’s relative to your personal requirements. If you need to leverage USB4 and PCIe 5.0, then the purchase will have more value. Otherwise, stick to what you have for now.

Looking for motherboards for a specific CPU? We have you covered:

[Reviews Specialist]

Get In Touch: usman@tech4gamers.com

Best X870 And X870E Motherboards [Hands-on Tested] is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi Review: Loving The White PCB

Dr. Usman Saleem — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 11:29:34 +0000

After reviewing the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite and the MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi, we’re focusing our attention on one of ASRock’s X870 offerings: the Steel Legend WiFi. This is one of the first white 800-series motherboards to launch, and at first sight, it looks exciting. It’s also ASRock’s continuation of the Steel Legend series for X870, as the last generation only had B650, B650E, and X670E offerings. Without further ado, let’s dive in!

We’ve had hands-on experience with a couple of Steel Legend motherboards before, including the ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi and the ASRock Z790 Steel Legend WiFi, both of which we’ve thoroughly tested and reviewed.

Why Trust Tech4Gamers

Usman Saleem is our hardware tester who loves to put all the latest GPUs, CPUs, RAM, and motherboards for a spin.
40+ motherboards tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
800+ hours spent testing different motherboards for our reviews.
Objective testing criteria (See how we test motherboards).

Key Takeaways

The ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi is an affordable X870 motherboard with a beautiful white aesthetic, a fairly capable VRM setup, and decent I/O connectivity options.
You should buy this motherboard if you want a white-themed board with RGB or if you want USB4 and WiFi 7 support without spending much.
Don’t get the Steel Legend WiFi if you plan to overclock your CPU heavily.

A quick look at the specs:

CPU Support	AMD Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000, Ryzen 9000
Memory Support	DDR5 8000+ MT/s (OC)
PCIe Slots	1x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x16
M.2 Slots	1x PCIe 5.0 (x4), 2x PCIe 4.0 (x4)
SATA Ports	4x 6Gbps
Audio	Realtek® ALC4082 Codec
Network	1x Dragon RTL8125BG 2.5G LAN, WiFi 7
USB Ports	20 ports, including 2x USB 40Gbps Type-C (Rear)
Size	30.5 x 24.4cm, ATX Form Factor

[toc]

Packaging and Unboxing

The motherboard ships in a white cardboard box.

On the front, you get key features like WiFi 7 and PCIe 5.0 support. On the back, you can see the specifications, a picture of the rear I/O, graphics on the VRMs and USB4 support, and various certifications and compliance symbols.

Box contents (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Here’s all that you get inside the box:

2x SATA Data cables
2x ASRock WiFi 2.4/5/6 GHz Antennas
1x Thermistor cable
2x velcro straps
Quick installation guides
“ASRock Powered” sticker

ASRock was kind enough to include a pack of two velcro straps to help with cable management inside your case. The thermistor cable is a nice addition, too, but don’t expect pinpoint accuracy from it.

Design

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi design (Image By Tech4Gamers)

The ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi has a mostly white design with a bit of silver mixed in. As with just about any other white motherboard, the connectors retain their black color, although we have seen boards with white DIMM slots, which isn’t the case here. In any case, the design is certainly eye-catching and a treat for white-theme enthusiasts.

We’ve tested plenty of Steel Legend motherboards, and they’ve always featured a black PCB. But I have to say, the switch to a white PCB this time around makes a huge difference—the board looks so much more striking now.

There’s also an RGB strip under one of the heatsinks, providing a modest amount of illumination. It should be enough unless you like excessive amounts of RGB.

The motherboard is built on an 8-layered server-grade PCB with 2oz thickened copper.

Motherboard block diagram

The motherboard’s DIMM slots, PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, Gen 5 M.2 slot, and USB4 connections are the key connectivity powered by the CPU. It also gives juice to two more rear USB ports, the rear HDMI port, and the motherboard’s Super I/O controller. The SIO is, in turn, connected to the Nuvoton NCT3961S chip, which regulates the voltage of all the fan connectors on the motherboard.

X870 gives us a single Promontory 21 chip compared to X870E, which is why we won’t see as many I/O options. In any case, it gives us all the remaining M.2 slots and USB ports, the PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, SATA ports, WiFi 6E, and the audio codec.

Power Delivery

CPU Socket (Image By Tech4Gamers)

For power delivery, the X870 Steel Legend WiFi boasts a 14+2+1 power phase design (VCore+SoC+Misc) with 80A Dr. MOS stages for VCore and SoC. ASRock is using upgraded 560µF capacitors with a lifespan of up to 20,000 hours. These are the same capacitors we saw in the Taichi Lite, which has one of the best VRMs we’ve seen so far. This is not the most extreme setup, but is more than enough for even the 170W Ryzen 9 9950X.

Vishay’s SiC659 MOSFETs power the 80A supply for the VCore and SoC stages. Richtek’s RT3678BE PWM controller controls this setup, which makes up to 1120A available for the VCore. You can spot the controller just under the EPS connectors, where the VRMs start to move horizontally.

To cool this setup, we have ASRock’s XXL VRM heatsinks using a stacked fin design. 7w/Mk thermal pads under the heatsinks align with the inductors and the MOSFETs. There is no heat pipe being used here.

CPU EPS connectors (Image By Tech4Gamers)

As for EPS connectors, these are, of course, dual connector cables that can provide up to 300A. ASRock is using its “Hi-Density” design for these connectors, which can withstand more current than traditional EPS connectors.

DIMM Slots

DIMM slots (Image by Tech4Gamers)

This motherboard supports up to 256 GB of DDR5-8000+ (OC) memory across the four DIMM slots, which are, of course, powered by the CPU. Intel XMP and AMD EXPO profiles are supported.

Memory (UCLK) and controller (MCLK) ratio possibilities with Ryzen 9000 (Image Credits: TechPowerUp)

Editor`s Note

Remember, memory support of up to DDR5-8000 doesn’t mean that this is the memory you should aim to pair with your CPU. Ideally, AMD’s memory controller should run at the same frequency as memory itself. For the Ryzen 9000, the maximum speed at which the memory can sync with the controller is 3200MHz (6400 MT/s).

Depending on your silicon lottery luck, you may or may not be able to achieve these speeds, so investing in a DDR5-6000 kit is the best idea. You can try pushing to DDR5-6400, and if it doesn’t work, stick with 6000 MT/s. You’ll save money and have a kit that performs identically to a high-speed kit like an 8000 MT/s one.

– Dr. Usman Saleem

Storage

The PCH heatsink (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The Steel Legend WiFi supports 4x SATA 6Gbps ports powered by the chipset. These ports come from dual ASM1061 controllers from ASMedia, providing two ports each. Above, we can see these ports right beside the chipset heatsink below the USB 3.2 connectors.

The chipset heatsink looks neat, with a grid-like pattern in the center overlaid with lines and shapes. Props to the designers here!

The lower section, highlighting the M.2 slots (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Here, you can see the two M.2 heatsinks cooling the three M.2 slots. The heatsink labeled “Blazing M.2” is the one cooling the Gen 5 slot, while the lower one, labeled “M.2 Armor,” cools the two Gen 4 x4 slots placed horizontally beside each other on the board. The Gen 5 heatsink also has a stacked fin design, while the Gen 4 heatsink does not.

The primary M.2 heatsink features ASRock’s toolless heatsink design, so removing it is a breeze. Removing the other two requires the use of screwdrivers, but there’s no rocket science involved here, either. You don’t have to worry about losing the screws either, they remain attached to the heatsink after unscrewing–this is what ASRock calls anti-drop screw design.

As for support, the Gen 5 slot supports type 2280 SSDs, M2_2 (left) supports type 2230/2260/2280 drives, and M2_3 (right) can run either type 2260 or 2280 drives. M2_3 shares bandwidth with the PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, and this PCIe slot will be disabled if M2_3 is occupied. Raid 0, 5, and 10 is supported for the NVMe drives, although you’ll need additional M.2 NVMe expansion cards to support Raid 10.

M.2 heatsinks removed (Image by Tech4Gamers)

When the heatsinks are removed, we can see that the M2_1 (Gen 5) slot has a thermal pad at the base and on the heatsink. This isn’t the case for the Gen 4 slots, as only the heatsinks have a thermal pad.

WARNING: Make sure you remove the plastic sticker from the heatsink thermal pads before installing your drive.

PCIe Slots

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi PCIe slots (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Expansion slots on the Steel Legend WiFi include one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot (CPU) and one PCIe 4.0 x16 (chipset). The Gen 5 slot uses reinforced steel technology, meaning the slot is held together by extra anchor points and has a stronger latch. Installing heavy GPUs is no problem, as we tested the board with an RTX 4090 ourselves.

The Gen 4 slot is not steel-reinforced. Neither slot features ASRock’s EZ PCIe removal mechanism.

USB Connectivity

We have 20 USB ports on the board:

2x USB4 Type-C (Rear)
2x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A (Rear)
7 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A (3x Rear, 4x Front)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C (Front)
8 x USB 2.0 (4x Rear, 4x Front)

USB connectors (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Above, you can see a USB 3.2 Gen1 header (top) and the smaller USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C header below it. Among the various USB ports, four of the front USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports are provided by ASMedia’s ASM1074 hub, and four of the front USB 2.0 ports come from the GL852 controller. We’ll look at the rear I/O ports in their relevant section.

All the USB ports are protected against electrostatic discharge (ESD).

Network & Connectivity

The Steel Legend WiFi supports WiFi 7 and 2.5G LAN (powered by Realtek’s RTL8125BG controller). WiFi 7 runs at a 160MHz channel bandwidth and allows you to simultaneously transmit and receive data across different frequency bands (Multi-Link Operation). The package includes 2x antennas that enable 2 transmit x 2 receive, which can be done across multiple devices at once (MU-MIMO).

You can use the Dragon 2.5G LAN utility for useful features like Smart Auto Adjust Bandwidth Control and Visual Network Usage Statistics.

The board also supports Bluetooth 5.4. To enable 6GHz WiFi and Bluetooth 5.4, you’ll need to update to Windows 11 24H2.

Audio Solution

The ALC4082 audio codec (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The board’s audio solution runs on Realtek’s ALC4082 audio codec, which supports 7.1 surround sound with content protection. To minimize interference, the left and right audio channels are placed on separate PCB layers. The front headphones port supports direct-drive technology and up to 600-ohm headphones.

ASRock provides dedicated Nahimic audio drivers with the setup, which are supposed to improve overall audio quality for speakers and headsets and provide features like noise suppression and echo cancellation for microphones.

Internal Connectors

Here’s the full list of the internal connectors on the board:

Top-right corner connectors (Image by Tech4Gamers)

1x Thermistor Cable Header
1x Power LED and Speaker Header
1x RGB LED Header
3x Addressable LED Headers
2x CPU Fan Connectors (4-pin)
3x Chassis Fan Connectors (4-pin)
1x AIO Pump Fan Connector (4-pin)
1x 24-pin ATX Power Connector (Hi-Density)
2x 8-pin 12V Power Connectors (Hi-Density)
1x Front Panel Audio Connector
2x USB 2.0 Headers (Support 4 USB 2.0 ports)
2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Headers (Support 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 ports)
1x Front Panel Type C USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Header (20 Gb/s)

The RGB LED header supports up to 12V/3A = 36W for RGB, while the addressable LED headers support 5V/3A = 12W each. CPU_FAN1 also supports 12W, while CPU_FAN2, all the case fans, and the AIO_PUMP connector provide 36W each.

Like the CPU EPS connectors, the 24-pin ATX connector is also High-Density, so it should be able to withstand higher currents. The above picture shows the debug LED lights (for troubleshooting installation) and addressable LED headers. You can use the headers to install RGB devices. At the top right, you can see Nuvoton’s NCT3961S chip, which regulates the voltage to the various fan connectors.

Nuvoton NCT6686D Super I/O controller chip (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Between the two PCIe slots lies the Nuvoton 6686D chip, which acts as a Super I/O controller and connects to the NCT3961S chips mentioned above.

Rear I/O Panel

On the rear panel, we get the following connectors:

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi rear I/O (Image By Tech4Gamers)

1x Antenna Port
1x HDMI Port
1x Optical SPDIF Out Port
2x USB4 Type-C Ports (40 Gb/s)
3x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A Ports (USB32_12 are Lightning Gaming Ports.)
2x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A Ports (10 Gb/s) (USB32_34 supports Ultra USB Power.)
4x USB 2.0 Ports
1x RJ-45 LAN Port
1x BIOS Flashback Button
1x Line Out Jack (Gold Audio Jack)
1x Microphone Input Jack (Gold Audio Jack)

The Lightning Gaming ports (yellow) are for your keyboard and mouse. ASRock uses two different controllers for each port, so the signal from both devices is noise-free, and the lowest latency is ensured. Meanwhile, the Ultra USB Power ports use a separate IC to convert 12V to 5V, so there’s no interruption from other devices using your PSU’s 5V line, meaning less voltage drop under load.

The I/O panel cover looks great, continuing the motherboard’s white (and silver) theme. It’s a flexible shield, so it should be easy to fit into your case.

Motherboard I/O heatsink (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The I/O heatsink towers above the VRM heatsink, following the white + silver theme. Inside the silver section, you get the Steel Legend logo. It looks pleasing and really adds to the motherboard’s appearance. Let’s take the heatsink off and see what’s underneath.

VRM and I/O heatsinks removed (Image by Tech4Gamers)

We can see another aluminum heatsink, a small one in this instance, cooling the USB4 controller. Those things tend to get hot!

Naked motherboard (minus PCH heatsink) (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Up above, you can see the motherboard (almost) in the flesh. We kept the PCH heatsink on.

Test Setup

Here is our test bench and configuration:

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X 16C/32T
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 420 Liquid CPU Cooler
G. Skill Trident Z5 Royal NEO DDR5-6000 CL28 EXPO Kit (2×16 = 32GB)
XPG Lancer RGB 32GB 7200MHz DDR5 RAM
Nvidia GeForce Gigabyte RTX 4090 Gaming OC
Western Digital SN850 Black 500GB NVMe SSD [For OS]
Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2TB Gen4x4 NVMe SSD [For Software]
Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 4TB Gen4x4 NVMe SSD [For Games]
Sabrent Rocket NANO V2 4TB Portable SSD
Corsair HX1200i Platinum PSU
Windows 11 Pro Build 23H2
BIOS Version 3.08
AGESA 1.2.0.2 firmware

Synthetic Benchmarks

Let’s start with the synthetic benchmarks.

Geekbench 4.0.2 (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The Steel Legend WiFi took a second more than the competing X870E boards.

Cinbench 2024 1T and 2T (Image by Tech4Gamers)

All three motherboards were within close margin of each other in Cinebench 2024.

Corona 11 (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Our X870 Steel Legend WiFi was the slowest, but only by a negligible margin.

CPU-Z 1T and 2T (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The Steel Legend WiFi did well, outperforming the MPG X870E Carbon WiFi here.

Geekbench 2T (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Again, the difference between the motherboards is completely ignorable.

V-Ray benchmark (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The Taichi Lite and Steel Legend WiFi showed identical numbers, while the MPG X870E Carbon WiFi took a somewhat noticeable lead here.

Cyberpunk 2077 (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Identical numbers from all the boards here.

Far Cry 6 (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The Steel Legend WiFi fell slightly behind the two X870E boards.

Starfield (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The boards showed identical average FPS numbers, though the Steel Legend WiFi dropped to 80 FPS at the lowest compared to 82 and 83 of the X870E boards.

Boot Time

Boot time (Image by Tech4Gamers)

With the Steel Legend WiFi, we booted into Windows in 22 seconds, the same as the Taichi Lite.

Power Consumption and VRM Temperatures

CPU + motherboard power consumption (Image by Tech4Gamers)

As expected, the CPU + motherboard power consumption was the lowest with the X870 Steel Legend WiFi.

VRM temperature (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Our ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi’s power stages ran the hottest at 64°C. This is still quite low and nothing to be concerned about, though.

Should You Buy It?

We’ve reviewed and tested; now it’s time for the decision.

Buy It If:

✅You need a well-rounded white motherboard: It’s hard to go wrong with white, and ASRock certainly didn’t go wrong. It’s a beautiful-looking board with a good set of features.

✅The latest I/O is a priority (on a budget): Buy the motherboard if you’re looking for USB4 and WiFi 7 at a fairly affordable price ($259).

Don’t Buy It If:

❌You need more convenience: The board lacks some of the convenient design features of its higher-end counterparts, like EZ debug LED and EZ PCIe release.

My Thoughts

The X870 Steel Legend WiFi is an affordable X870 ATX motherboard with a beautiful, predominantly white aesthetic. It features some interesting designs on the I/O and PCH heatsinks and RGB lighting under the enlarged M.2 heatsink to add to its looks.

It features a 14+2+1 VRM power design with 80A Smart Power Stages for the VCore and SOC, high-end capacitors with a 20K-hour lifespan, and EPS connectors that are “Hi-Density” and can withstand more current than normal connectors. This VRM setup is cooled by an XXL heatsink with a stacked fin design and 7w/Mk thermal pads. The heatsink’s cooling performance was good enough, with our setup maxing out at 64°C.

It supports DDR5 speeds up to 8000 MT/s. The motherboard has 3x M.2 slots, including one Gen 5 slot, all cooled well by their heatsinks. We have a screwless removal mechanism for the Gen 5 heatsink, but the other heatsink requires a screwdriver. Rest assured, you won’t lose the screws thanks to the anti-drop screw design. You also have room for up to 4x SATA drives.

There are 20 USB ports (including 2x USB4 and 1x 20Gbps Type-C). The rear Lightning Gaming ports are ideal for your gaming peripherals as they provide a minimal interference connection. Meanwhile, the Ultra USB Power ports are ideal for any 5V devices you may need to connect.

The board comes with 2x PCIe slots (1x Gen 5 x16, 1x Gen 4 x16). The primary slot is steel-reinforced and can easily handle heavy cards. However, neither slot features the EZ PCIe removal mechanism. Audio support comes from Realtek’s ALC4082 controller, and the motherboard has dedicated Nahimic audio drivers for an “enhanced” experience.

For connectivity, the motherboard supports WiFi 7 with Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and MU-MIMO (Multiple-User Multiple Input-Multiple Output). Bluetooth 5.4 is supported. For a wired internet connection, there’s a 2.5G LAN port. You’ll need Windows 11 24H2 to run WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.

Among some helpful features/additions are the toolless M.2 heatsink removal mechanism and anti-drop screw design. The dedicated “gaming” and ultra USB power powers are also helpful for smoother-than-normal functioning of your USB devices. The included thermistor cable and velcro straps can also be useful.

At $259, it’s fairly priced for what is on offer. The cheapest X870 motherboard we’ve seen so far is $189, so it’s also not expensive for the chipset by any means.

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Get In Touch: usman@tech4gamers.com

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi Review: Loving The White PCB is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite Review: No Frills, Raw Performance

Dr. Usman Saleem — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 07:19:20 +0000

After testing the MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi, it’s time for us to take a look at the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite. Don’t let the name fool you; it retains all the key features of the flagship board, just with a different aesthetic. This is the first time we’re getting a Taichi Lite variant for the high-end chipset, with the previous generation having only a B650E Taichi Lite model. Let’s dive into the review.

Why Trust Tech4Gamers

Usman Saleem is our hardware tester who loves to put all the latest GPUs, CPUs, RAM, and motherboards for a spin.
40+ motherboards tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
800+ hours spent testing different motherboards for our reviews.
Objective testing criteria (See how we test motherboards).

Key Takeaways

The ASRock X870E Taichi Lite, priced at $399, fits into the intermediately-priced X870E boards category. It’s an E-ATX board with a top-notch VRM setup, a pleasing design, enough I/O for most, and some useful features.
Get the Taichi Lite if you want enthusiast overclocking for a lower price, don’t need RGB, or you need the latest I/O (USB4, WiFi 7, and improved DDR5 support).
Don’t buy the X870E Taichi Lite if your case can’t accommodate E-ATX boards. Also, you can save money by getting an X670E board if you don’t need the latest I/O or the premium VRMs.

Take a look at the specifications:

CPU Support	AMD Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000, Ryzen 9000
Memory Support	DDR5 8200+ MT/s (OC)
PCIe Slots	2x PCIe 5.0 x16 (supporting x16 or x8/x8)
M.2 Slots	1x PCIe 5.0 (x4), 3x PCIe 4.0 (x4)
SATA Ports	6x 6Gbps
Audio	Realtek® ALC4082 Codec
Network	1x Realtek RTL8126 5G LAN, WiFi 7
USB Ports	21 ports, including 2x USB 40Gbps Type-C (Rear)
Size	EATX Form Factor: 30.5 cm x 26.7cm

[toc]

Packaging and Unboxing

The motherboard comes in a standard cardboard box.

There are little to no details about the board up front, while the back of the board has the specifications, certification marks and compliance symbols.

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite box contents (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Inside the box, you get:

4 x SATA Data Cables
1 x ASRock WiFi 2.4/5/6 GHz Antenna
1 x ARGB Splitter Cable
3 x Thermistor Cables

Design

If you’re not into RGB, you won’t miss anything with the Taichi Lite (except for some other minor features) compared to the Taichi. It presents a mostly comparable aesthetic (without RGB, of course) with a black and silver design. The PCB is mostly black, while the heatsinks are primarily silver.

ASRock has played around a bit, and so the motherboard features different design elements. The I/O and PCH heatsinks feature the signature cog prints, brushed texture is being used, and multiple stripes are running across the different heatsinks. I know looks are subjective, but for me, the design absolutely nails the spot, one of my personal favorites!

A look at the board in all its glory (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The X870E chipset features two Promontory 21 chips connected by a PCIe Gen 4 x4 bus. These chips power features like most of the USB and SATA ports, 3x of the M.2 slots, audio, and WiFi.

Meanwhile, the socket gives us the DIMM slots, the PCIe 5.0 connections, USB4 (and 2x of the rear 10Gbps ports), the only Gen 5 M.2 port, and the HDMI port. Also coming from the CPU are the NCT6796D-S and NCT6686D chips, super I/O controllers used to monitor voltages, temperatures, fan speeds, and more.

The motherboard is built on an 8-layered PCB with 2oz copper and uses “server-grade” material.

Power Delivery To Socket

The ASRock X870E Taichi Lite features a 24+2+1 (VCore+GT+Aux) power design with 110A phases for both the CPU and memory. That totals 2550A available to the CPU and 2770A overall.

ASRock is using R2209004 HBD S2347UBU SPS stages and upgraded capacitors, which provide 1000µF and a 20K-hour lifespan (which is labeled on them). Renesas’ RAA 229628 provides the PWM control for these stages.

EPS connector (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Power from the PSU comes through the dual 8-pin connectors. ASRock is using “Hi-Density Power Connectors,” which it claims can withstand more current than traditional 8-pin connectors. This is an incredibly powerful setup, and it’s impressive that ASRock managed to retain it in the Lite model. Among X870E motherboards, only the MEG X870E GODLIKE has a similar setup so far, a board that will probably cost at least twice as much!

Cooling this setup is an extended “XXL” aluminum heatsink with a stacked fin design. Underneath the heatsink, we have 9W/mK thermal pads that align over the stages and the inductors (shown in the 2nd image). Despite the beefy power design, no heat pipe or fan is being used here, but I think the design should suffice.

DIMM Slots

DIMM slots (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Beside the upper Gen 4 M.2 slot lie the 4x DIMM slots powered by the CPU. The support is rated at DDR5-8200+ (OC) and you can install up to 256GB of memory on here. It supports error correction (ECC) memory as well as both XMP and EXPO profiles.

Memory (UCLK) and controller (MCLK) ratio possibilities with Ryzen 9000 (Image Credits: TechPowerUp)

Editor`s Note

It’s important to note that excessive speeds like DDR5-8200 may not be the best pairing for the Ryzen 9000 chips. AMD’s tuning to the memory controller on these new CPUs means it’s possible (in best-case scenarios) to run the memory at DDR5-6400 at a 1:1 ratio between the memory and its controller. This is the best configuration at the moment, with minimal latency.

Though speeds like DDR5-8200 will perform more or less around the DDR5-6400 mark, the extra cost doesn’t make it worthwhile.

– Dr. Usman Saleem

Storage

SATA connectors (Image by Tech4Gamers)

On the storage front, we get six 6Gbps SATA ports coming from the two silicon.

Note: I’ll refer to the primary M.2 slot (the Gen 5 one) as M2_1 and the Gen 4 slot beside the DIMM slots as M2_2.

There are also 4x M.2 slots, one running on PCIe gen 5 (primary)–coming from the socket. All the slots support type 2280 drives. The remaining three M.2 are Gen 4 and come from the chipset. As expected, there is a separate M.2 heatsink for the M2_1 slot and then a wider one for the lower Gen 4 slot. The M2_1 heatsink is taller as it also has a stacked fin design to deal with the greater heat output of Gen 5 drives.

The thermal pads on the motherboard’s M.2 slots after the heatsinks are removed are shown above. The M2_1 heatsink features a tool-less mechanism similar to the one we saw in MSI’s MPG X870E Carbon WiFi, which is good to see. Meanwhile, the Gen 4 slots will require a screwdriver for removal and installation.

Another thing to note is that M2_1 and M2_2 feature thermal pads and heatsinks at the base, while the bottom ones using the enlarged heatsink do not. The anti-drop screws used in the enhanced M.2 heatsink should ensure you don’t lose them while putting together your build.

PCIe Connectivity

PCIe slots (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The ASRock X870E Taichi Lite features dual PCIe 5.0 slots (one functions as the primary, and the other as a PCIe x8 should you want to share bandwidth between the two). Both the slots use surface mount technology (SMT), so you don’t have to worry while installing those bulkier graphics cards. Both slots are also steel-reinforced for more strength.

Unfortunately, one of the features missing from the Lite is the PCIe EZ release for the GPU.

USB Connectivity

The board provides a total of 21 USB ports:

2x USB4 Type-C (Rear)
5x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A (Rear)
1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C (Front)
7x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A (3 Rear, 4 Front)
6x USB 2.0 (2 Rear, 4 Front)

USB connectors (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The CPU powers the 2x USB4 ports (from the ASM4242 controller) and 2x of the 10Gbps Type-A ports in the rear. All the other ports come from the chipset. Pictured above are one of the USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectors (top)(powers 2x 5Gbps ports) and the USB 3.2 20Gbps header (powers one 20Gbps port).

All the USB ports have ESD (electrostatic discharge) protection.

Network & Connectivity

The Taichi Lite supports WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. Backward compatibility also enables support for older standards (5GHz, 2.4GHz). For 6 GHz WiFi, it supports a 160MHz channel bandwidth. The antenna enables support for 2T/2R (2 transfer/2 receive) for multiple data streams and a more reliable connection. MU-MIMO technology is also supported.

For wired connectivity, the motherboard features a 5G LAN port powered by Realtek’s RTL8216 controller. ASRock is using a patented design for this port, enabling lower noise and more stable speeds. It also supports Bluetooth 5.4. Both WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 require Windows 11 build version 24H2.

Audio Solution

Realtek ALC4082 audio controller (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The Taichi Lite uses Realtek’s ALC4082 audio codec, which is similar to ALC4080 but offers some additional features like Content Protection. For DAC, the board uses ESS SABRE9219 with a 130dB signal-to-noise ratio, which should translate to minimal noise during playback.

Direct-drive technology enables the use of high-end headphones without the need for an external amplifier. The board features separate PCB layers for left and right audio channels and uses high-end WIMA audio capacitors for the rear outputs. Nahimic audio drivers are also supported.

Internal Connectors

Listed below are the connectors on the board:

3x Thermistor Cable Headers
1x Power LED and Speaker Header
1x RGB LED Header
3x Addressable LED Headers
2x CPU Fan Connector
4x Chassis Fan Connectors (4-pin)
1x AIO Pump Fan Connector (4-pin)
1x Water Pump Fan Connector (4-pin)
1x 24 pin ATX Power Connector
2x 8 pin 12V Power Connectors
1x Front Panel Audio Connector (15μ Gold Audio Connector)
2x USB 2.0 Headers (Support 4 USB 2.0 ports)
2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Headers (Support 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 ports)
1x Front Panel Type C USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Header (20 Gb/s)
1x Dr. Debug with LED
1x Power Button with LED
1x Reset Button with LED

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite top-right corner (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Up top, you can see CPU_FAN1, CPU_FAN2, and the AIO_PUMP connectors. Like the RGB LED header, CPU_FAN2, AIO_PUMP, W_PUMP (a connector for those more power-hungry pumps), and all the case fan headers provide up to 36W each. CPU_FAN1 can only power fans up to 12 watts. There’s much room for premium CPU cooling solutions should you want to install one.

From the corner and down, we see the Dr. Debug LED panel and reset and power buttons with LED.

ASRock’s Hi-Density dual EPS connectors and 24-pin ATX connectors can withstand more current than traditional connectors. This, coupled with the incredible VRM setup, should help us further with overclocking.

Rear I/O

Rear I/O (Image by Tech4Gamers)

For rear I/O, we have:

2 x Antenna Ports
1 x HDMI Port
1 x Optical SPDIF Out Port
2 x USB4 Type-C Ports (40 Gb/s)
5 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A Ports (10 Gb/s)
3 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A Ports
2 x USB 2.0 Ports
1 x RJ-45 LAN Port
1 x Clear CMOS Button
1 x BIOS Flashback Button
1 x Line Out Jack (Gold Audio Jack)
1 x Microphone Input Jack (Gold Audio Jack)

The yellow Type-A ports are “lightning gaming ports” for your keyboard and mouse. According to ASRock, two different controllers (USB and PCIe) are being used here, so the bus won’t be crowded, and latency will be minimal.

The dark blue ports above it support “Ultra USB power,” which features a dedicated IC to convert 12V power to 5V, protecting it from noise interruption from other 5V devices on the board.

Test Setup

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X 16C/32T
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 420 Liquid CPU Cooler
G. Skill Trident Z5 Royal NEO DDR5-6000 CL28 EXPO Kit (2×16 = 32GB)
XPG Lancer RGB 32GB 7200MHz DDR5 RAM
Nvidia GeForce Gigabyte RTX 4090 Gaming OC
Western Digital SN850 Black 500GB NVMe SSD [For OS]
Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2TB Gen4x4 NVMe SSD [For Software]
Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 4TB Gen4x4 NVMe SSD [For Games]
Sabrent Rocket NANO V2 4TB Portable SSD
Corsair HX1200i Platinum PSU
Windows 11 Pro Build 23H2
BIOS Version 3.08
AGESA 1.2.0.2 firmware

Synthetic Benchmarks

Let’s dive into the synthetic benchmarks first.

Blender 4.0.2 render test (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The Taichi Lite renders the scene in 50 seconds, the same as the X870E Carbon WiFi.

Cinebench 2024 1T and 2T (Image by Tech4Gamers)

In the Cinebench 2024 multi-threaded test, the Taichi Lite top-scored, while single-core scores are identical among all three.

Corona 11 render (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Our Taichi Lite is again the winner, specifically by a 0.5-second difference.

CPU-Z benchmarks (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Again, all the motherboards are within close margins of each other, but the Taichi Lite takes the edge.

Geekbench 6 2T (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Another marginal victory for the Taichi Lite in Geekbench 6 (multi-threaded).

V-Ray benchmark (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi is the winner in V-Ray.

Overall, the motherboards perform very similarly, although the Taichi Lite topped almost all the charts.

Gaming Benchmarks

Here are the gaming charts.

Cyberpunk 2077 (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The X870E Taichi Lite wins by one FPS on average.

Far Cry 6 (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The X870E Carbon WiFi did better on average, but the Taichi Lite’s lowest FPS drop was to 142, the best in the list.

Starfield (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The Taichi Lite and Carbon WiFi showed the same average FPS numbers, but the latter took a 1-FPS win in minimum FPS. The ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi fell a bit short of the two X870E boards.

All in all, the gaming performance of Taichi Lite is solid.

Windows 11 Boot Time

Boot time (Image by Tech4Gamers)

With identical test setups, the MPG X870E Carbon WiFi booted up a second quicker than the Taichi Lite and Steel Legend WiFi boards.

Power Consumption and VRM Temperatures

CPU and motherboard combined power consumption (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Our Taichi Lite setup consumed more power across all the workloads, maxing at 388 watts under the Cinebench 2024 multi-core load.

VRM temperature (Image by Tech4Gamers)

A thoroughly impressive VRM performance from Taichi Lite’s heatsink! Despite being the better VRM setup by a mile and higher power consumption, the motherboard stayed well under 60°C.

Should You Buy It?

Worth it?

Buy It If:

✅You want extreme overclocking for (relatively) cheap: This is one of the more affordable X870E motherboards out there so far. Its VRM setup competes with enthusiast options like the MSI X870E GODLIKE. The VRM cooling setup is equally impressive, as confirmed in our testing.

✅The latest I/O is a priority: With WiFi 7 and USB4 and improved memory support over the last generation, the motherboard offers the current greatest I/O connectivity.

✅You want a streamlined look: If you prefer sleek RGB-free designs, this motherboard offers a great look to match your setup.

✅You need plenty of USB ports: With 21 USB ports (including 2x 40Gbps, 1x 20Gbps, and 5x 10Gbps), there’s plenty of room for all your USB devices.

Don’t Buy It If:

❌X670E boards look more attractive: In all honesty, a previous-gen board will suit you best if you don’t need the handy I/O or extreme overclocking capabilities. Despite their great price tag, X670E boards can be far cheaper.

❌Your chassis is incompatible: The X870E is an E-ATX board and may not fit into your case. Make sure to check compatibility before purchasing.

My Final Thoughts

The ASRock X870E Taichi Lite comes out as a very attractive E-ATX board from AMD’s flagship chipset. Among its top features is its top-notch VRM setup, which features a 24+2+1 phase design with 110A stages. This is a setup capable–even overkill–for even the most powerful Ryzen CPUs. Rest assured, you can be sure that you’ll be able to push your CPU as far as you could possibly need, and VRM temperatures shouldn’t be a concern either, thanks to its excellent design.

The motherboard offers a distinctive design with multiple elements mixed together and features a black and silver theme. There’s no RGB, but the board can accommodate any RGB peripherals you may want to install, with 3x addressable headers and one standard header.

We have room for up to 256GB of DDR5 memory (max. 8200+ MT/s with OC). There’s also enough connectivity for just about any casual user. The board features dual PCIe 5.0 slots (x16/x8 and x0/x8) that are steel-reinforced and are mounted by SMT (surface-mount technology). Hence, the ports are very durable and should have no problems handling heavy GPUs.

The board offers four M.2 slots (including one PCIe 5.0 x4, the remaining being Gen 4 x4). If you have any SATA 6Gbps devices, the board can cover as many as six. The PCIe slots are cooled well by the dedicated heatsinks, and the primary (Gen 5) heatsink features a screwless removal mechanism.

There are 21 USB ports in total (including 2x USB4, of course), although six of these are USB 2.0 standard. Two ports support “Ultra USB Power” (a more stable 5V supply), and two are Lightning Gaming ports (minimal latency for your keyboard and mice). We get a WiFi 7 module, Bluetooth 5.4, and a 5G LAN port for networking. The audio setup features Realtek’s ALC4082 and a minimal-noise DAC.

Other nice-to-haves of the board are the three included thermistor cables, the debug LED panel, anti-drop M.2 heatsink screws, and Nahimic audio drivers. The motherboard costs $399, an intermediate price for an X870E motherboard.

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ASRock X870E Taichi Lite Review: No Frills, Raw Performance is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi Review: Performance Meets Style

Dr. Usman Saleem — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 17:53:39 +0000

AMD’s flagship 800-series chipset motherboards are out and about, and we’ve gotten our hands on one of them: the MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi. This is the first 800 series motherboard we’re reviewing. The motherboard carries a price tag similar to the MPG X670E Carbon WiFi (at launch) but comes with upgraded VRMs and other improvements to the platform.

Of course, we know that the chipset doesn’t offer anything new other than mandatory USB4, improved memory support, and Ryzen 9000 support out-of-the-box, and you should be, too. In any case, let’s dive into the review!

Why Trust Tech4Gamers

Usman Saleem is our hardware tester who loves to put all the latest GPUs, CPUs, RAM, and motherboards for a spin.
40+ motherboards tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
800+ hours spent testing different motherboards for our reviews.
Objective testing criteria (See how we test motherboards).

Key Takeaways

The MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi is MSI’s high-end X870E offering, only behind the GODLIKE, that offers good performance and VRMs, a wealth of convenient features, and I/O that should be plenty for most.
You should buy the MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi if you’re after a high-performance board on which you can overclock, have plenty of USB and storage devices, and/or prioritize easy installation.
Don’t get the MSP MPG X870 Carbon WiFi if your budget is limited or you expect a 10G LAN port to be part of the package.

Take a look at the specifications:

CPU Support	AMD Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000, Ryzen 9000
Memory Support	DDR5 8400+ MT/s (OC)
PCIe Slots	1x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1x PCIe 5.0 x4, PCIe 4.0 x4
M.2 Slots	2x PCIe 5.0 (x4), 2x PCIe 4.0 (x4)
SATA Ports	4x 6Gbps
Audio	Realtek® ALC4080 Codec
Network	1x Realtek® 8126 5G LAN, 1x Realtek® 8125 2.5G LAN, WiFi 7
USB Ports	22 ports, including 2x USB 40Gbps Type-C (Rear)
Size	243.84mmx304.8mmm, ATX Form Factor

[toc]

Packaging And Unboxing

The motherboard comes shipped inside a standard, fairly colorful cardboard box. Key features being highlighted are WiFi 7 and USB 4 additions, and a warning against ingestion of the CMOS battery.

Let’s take a look inside the box. We get:

EZ Wi-Fi Antenna
EZ M.2 Clip II
EZ M.2 Clip Remover
1 to 3 EZ Conn-Cable (V2)
1x MSI USB drive (containing drivers and utilities)
2x SATA 3.0 cables
A-RGB extension cable
1 to 2 RGB extension cable
EZ front panel cable extension
EU Regulatory Notice
A quick installation guide
Cable stickers
A shout-out flyer

I would like to credit MSI for the 1 to 3 EZ Conn cable, which covers the front panel headers, an RGB header, and a PWM fan header. We also get a front-panel cable extension for even better cable management. It should make some of the cable management easier, which we’ll get into in a bit.

Design

MSI MPG X870E CARBON WiFi design. (Image By Tech4Gamers)

The X870E Carbon WiFi is part of the 800 series chipset, which offers support for the latest Ryzen 9000 series CPUs, as well as Ryzen 8000 and 7000. It consists of 2x Promontory 21 chips. Coming from the chipset are the SATA ports, the majority of the USB ports, the dual LAN ports, and the lower-end PCIe slots.

Meanwhile, the AM5 socket powers the DIMM slots, USB4 controller, HDMI port, and audio. The motherboard features a durable 8-layer PCB using server-grade NPG-170D material that enables ideal transmission speeds. It features over-current protection and transient voltage suppressors (TVS) to protect your components against current and voltage spikes.

We’ll dive into more specific elements of the design, starting with the VRMs.

Power Delivery To Socket

MSI MPG X870E CARBON WiFi CPU socket. (Image By Tech4Gamers)

The MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi features an 18+2+1 phase design with Smart Power Stages (SPS), with each VCore and SoC stage delivering 110A. R2209004 HBD S2408E2W are the power stages being used for them, while the PWM controller is Renesas RAA 229620. Note that the design is a duet-rail power system (DRPS), meaning that each controller sends signals to two stages at once, eliminating the delay of traditional “doublers.”

The single MOSFET for the misc voltage is Alpha & Omega’s AOZ5516QI. This is a Dr. MOS stage providing up to 55A and is controlled by Realtek’s RT3672EE chip.

That equals 1980A of current for the CPU Vcore, plenty for running the most powerful Ryzen CPUs, even with overclocking. The power supply is connected to the CPU through dual 8-pin EPS connectors.

VRM and I/O heatsinks (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Cooling the beefy VRM setup of the board are the two chunky carbon-black extended heatsinks, both of which are connected by a long aluminum heat pipe. The heatsinks are using a stacked fin design. They also feature 7 W/mK thermal pads. The setup should be more than enough to keep things chill, even under heavy loads. We’ll make sure to test that in a bit.

The heatsinks look neat, with subtle branding and multiple grooves on each of them. I also have to give credit to MSI for the beautifully illuminated dragon logo. This and the second RGB zone seems to be controlled by a microcontroller named “NUC1262Y.”

DIMM Slots

To the right, we have four DIMM slots, each capable of 64 GB for a total of 256 GB supported. The speed support is up to 8400+ MT/s (OC)(single-rank at 1 DIMM per channel) as we begin to push past 8000 MT/s with the Ryzen 9000 series.

These DIMM slots are soldered onto the PCB using Surface mount technology. They, of course, support EXPO, dual-channel mode, and non-ECC memory. Also, there’s support for CUDIMM, but only with Clock Driver bypass enabled. The clock driver is the main advantage of CUDIMMs, so there’s not much to be excited about yet, as the CUDIMM will function as a UDIMM without the driver.

Memory (UCLK) and controller (MCLK) ratio possibilities with Ryzen 9000 (Image Credits: TechPowerUp)

Editor`s Note

What You Should Know About Ryzen 9000’s Memory Support

With the Ryzen 9000, AMD has tuned its memory controller slightly to allow for improved memory support. This not only means better JEDEC and EXPO speeds being supported, but the “sweet spot” for DDR5 memory can now be considered as DDR5-6400 at a 1:1 ratio between memory and the controller.

Whether or not you’ll be able to run your particular RAM at DDR5-6400 (1:1) will depend on your luck in the silicon lottery (with our 9950X, we couldn’t). In any case, though, it’s the ideal speed in a best-case scenario. Beyond it (or beyond 6000 MT/s if you’re not lucky enough), the ratio switches to 1:2, which introduces latency, and hence, those higher memory speeds really won’t be that beneficial.

– Dr. Usman Saleem

Storage

The motherboard supports 4x SATA 3.0 ports, all coming from the chipset. There’s also room for 4x M.2 drives; the top two come from the CPU and the bottom ones from the chipset. All the M.2 slots will be cooled by MSI’s signature M.2 double-sided Frozr heatsinks. Double-sided here means that there are thermal pads on both ends.

Slots #1, #2, and #4 support 2280/2260 SSDs, while the third slot can support either 22110 or 2280 devices.

The lower section of the board highlighting the PCIe slots (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Both the primary and secondary heatsinks feature incredibly convenient “EZ” removal and installation mechanisms. You don’t even require both hands! I have to say, I’m a fan of MSI’s commitment to making installation and removal mechanisms a breeze, and it’s also something for PC-building newbies to appreciate.

Both the heatsinks look nice in carbon black. The primary M.2 heatsink features RGB lighting on the MPG logo and the “Carbon” text and also has channels on the left side. The other heatsink, cooling the remaining three slots, features an enlarged MPG logo, and a groove in between divides it into two colors. A nice look.

We also get an M.2 clip II that makes SSD installation quite convenient. The included clip remover allows you to remove the clip and install it on another slot if needed.

PCIe Slots

Here, we can spy the 3x PCIe slots, which, from top to bottom, are PCIe 5.0 x16 (CPU), PCIe 5.0 x4 (CPU), and PCIe 4.0 x4 (chipset). The first two PCIe slots are metallic. Note that the bandwidth is shared between the two PCIe slots coming from the CPU (E1 and E2) and the M.2_2 slot (also coming from the CPU).

For the Ryzen 9000/7000 series, if the PCIe 5.0 x8 and M.2_2 slots are utilized, then the primary PCIe 5.0 slot will operate at PCIe 5.0 x8 (instead of x16). The primary PCIe slot uses Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and is built on MSI’s Steel Armor II, which offers enhanced weight endurance.

On the right, we can see the EZ PCIe latch for the primary PCIe slot. Removing your GPU from a tight space is a breeze; all you need to do is press the button!

USB Connectivity

You get a total of 22 USB ports with the MPG X870E Carbon WiFi, including:

4x USB 2.0 (Front)
4x USB 5Gbps Type A (Front)
9x USB 10Gbps Type A (Rear)
2x USB 10Gbps Type C (Rear)
1x USB 20Gbps Type C (Front)
2x USB 40Gbps Type C (Rear)

The USB4 connections are provided by, of course, ASMedia’s ASM4242 chip, and 4x of the USB 10Gbps Type-A connectors come back from Realtek’s RTS5420 chip. Under the primary VRM heatsink is another heatsink tasked with cooling the USB4 controller. Six of the USB 10Gbps Type-A ports in the rear come from a secondary, removable PCB on the board.

Network and Connectivity

The motherboard comes with dual LAN ports: 5G and 2.5G, powered by Realtek’s 8126 and 8125 controllers, respectively. You get WiFi with the wireless module, which supports WiFi 7 (Windows 11 24H2 and onwards). MU-MIMO transmission and reception are supported. Older WiFi standards (2.4GHz/ 5GHz/ 6GHz) will work just fine, too.

Bluetooth 5.4 is supported, and it requires Windows 11 24H2. Multi-link operation (MLO) and 4K QAM modulation support are available.

Audio Solution

The motherboard uses Realtek’s ALC4080 chip as its audio solution, a chip we’ve seen in many mid-to-high-range motherboards. Two separate PCB layers feature the left and right audio channels for an isolated signal. The audio comes from the chipset but is connected through a USB bus rather than the traditional direct connection.

7.1 surround sound is supported, and up to 32-bit/384kHz output is supported through the front panel jacks.

Internal Connectors

Pictured below are the 24-pin ATX connector and the debug LED panel. In front of the DIMM slots are two of the fan connectors and a pump connector. Beside the CPU_FAN 1 connector, we have Nuvoton’s NCT39482S whose function is to drive the fan. Meanwhile, we spy Nuvoton’s NCT3961S chip beside the PUMP_SYS1 connector which regulate voltage and also provides overcurrent protection.

We have the following connectors:

1x Power Connector(ATX_PWR)
2x Power Connector(CPU_PWR)
1x Power Connector(PCIE_PWR 8pin)
1x CPU Fan
1x Combo Fan (Pump_Sys Fan)
5x System Fan
1x EZ Conn-header (JAF_2)
2x Front Panel (JFP)
1x Chassis Intrusion (JCI)
1x Front Audio (JAUD)
1x Thermal Sensor connectors(T_SEN)
3x Addressable V2 RGB LED connector (JARGB_V2)
1x RGB LED connector(JRGB)
4x USB 2.0 ports
4x USB 5Gbps Type A ports
1x USB 20Gbps Type C ports
EZ Debug LEDs
Debug LED panel

For troubleshooting, the motherboard features LEDs and has a debug LED panel (which can also function as a temperature monitor).

NUVUTON’s NCT6687D serves as the main controller chip on the board. Its main function is hardware monitoring (voltages, temperatures, and fan speeds).

Rear I/O Panel

On the rear, we get:

Rear I/O (Image by Tech4Gamers)

USB 10Gbps Type-A
Flash BIOS Button
Clear CMOS Button
Smart Button
2.5G LAN
5G LAN
Audio Connectors
HDMI™
USB 40Gbps Type-C
USB 10Gbps Type-C
USB 10Gbps Type-A
USB 10Gbps Type-C
Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
Optical S/PDIF Out

The I/O shield is anti-corrosive and comes pre-installed. As usual, the Smart button serves as a restart button by default. However, you can reprogram it to control the onboard RGB, safe-boot your system, or enable/disable turbo fan mode through the BIOS.

There’s no 10G LAN port, which is disappointing considering the price. Although we understand that a 10G LAN port would require even more cooling on the board, at $499, we can’t be wronged for expecting it.

Our Test Bench

Have a look at our test build and configurations:

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X 16C/32T
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 420 Liquid CPU Cooler
G. Skill Trident Z5 Royal NEO DDR5-6000 CL28 EXPO Kit (2×16 = 32GB)
XPG Lancer RGB 32GB 7200MHz DDR5 RAM
Nvidia GeForce Gigabyte RTX 4090 Gaming OC
Western Digital SN850 Black 500GB NVMe SSD [For OS]
Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 2TB Gen4x4 NVMe SSD [For Software]
Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 4TB Gen4x4 NVMe SSD [For Games]
Sabrent Rocket NANO V2 4TB Portable SSD
Corsair HX1200i Platinum PSU
Windows 11 Pro Build 23H2
BIOS Version 7E49v1A12
AGESA 1.2.0.2 firmware

Synthetic Benchmarks

Let’s start with the synthetic tests.

Blender 4.0.2 render (Image by Tech4Gamers)

In our Blender 4.0.2 render test, the X870 board trailed the other two boards by one second.

Cinebench 2024 1T and 2T (Image by Tech4Gamers)

All the boards give identical single-core scores, with little differentiating them in multi-core scores, too.

Corona 11 render (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Again, the results are within mere milliseconds of each other, with the Taichi Lite coming out on top.

CPU-Z benchmark (Image by Tech4Gamers)

In the CPU-Z tests, the motherboards churn out similar numbers again.

Geekbench 6 2T (Image by Tech4Gamers)

In the Geekbench 6 multi-core test, it’s again X870E Taichi Lite > X870E MPG Carbon WiFi > X870 Steel Legend WiFi.

V-Ray Render (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Finally, in V-Ray, the MPG Carbon WiFi showed a somewhat noticeable lead over the other two.

As expected, the Ryzen 9 9950X performs almost identically on all three boards, and there’s not much differentiating them. The MSI MPG X870E Carbon was mostly on par with the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite in all our tests and top-scored in the V-ray benchmark.

Gaming Benchmarks

Moving on, here are the games we tested.

Cyberpunk 2077 (Image by Tech4Gamers)

In Cyberpunk 2077, the motherboards are within a 1-FPS margin of each other in both average FPS and minimum FPS.

Far Cry 6 (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The MPG X870E Carbon performs up to the mark again, but the X870 Steel Legend WiFi fell a bit notably behind.

Starfield (Image by Tech4Gamers)

The MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi is the best performer here, but only by 1 FPS.

Again, the motherboards mostly go head-to-head with each other. The MPG X870E Carbon WiFi and Taichi Lite performed identically, while the Steel Legend WiFi showed a somewhat noticeable difference.

Boot Time

Boot times comparison (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Our X870E Carbon WiFi is better than the other boards by a second in Windows 11 boot time.

VRM Temperatures and Power Consumption

VRM temperatures (Image by Tech4Gamers)

For VRM temperatures, our MSI board maxed out at 59°C during the Cinebench run. The temperatures are well in the safe range, so there’s nothing to worry about. MSI has done a great job with the cooling design.

CPU power consumption (Image by Tech4Gamers)

As for CPU and motherboard power consumption, the MSI X870E Carbon WiFi was dead-center, while the X870 Steel Legend WiFi consumed the least power.

Should You Buy It?

Let’s break it down.

Buy It If:

✅You’re seeking a stylish motherboard: The motherboard features a beautiful black theme and RGB that provides the perfect amount of illumination.

✅You need plenty of USB connectivity: The MPG X870E Carbon WiFi should fulfill your USB connectivity needs, no matter how excessive. It has 22 ports, including 2x 40Gbps Type-C, 1x 20Gbps Type-C, and 11 10Gbps.

✅You prioritize convenience: The motherboard offers plenty of features for convenience, including the pre-installed I/O shield, EZ PCIe release, the debug-led panel, and one-click overclocking.

✅You’re looking for excellent memory support: The memory support of DDR5-8400+ (OC) is class-leading for the chipset.

Don’t Buy It If:

❌You want a 10G LAN port: Despite its $499 price tag, no 10G LAN port is available.

My Thoughts

The MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi is MSI’s new high-end board for the new chipset, standing only behind the MEG X870E GODLIKE. With that, it offers a fairly premium feature set that sits behind only the GODLIKE. For the VRMs, we get an 18+2+1 duet rail power system with 110A smart stages. The setup is plenty for any Ryzen CPU and is cooled well by the extended VRM heatsinks.

In the aesthetics department, we get a mostly “carbon” black theme with hints of grey. There are two RGB zones: one for the MSI dragon logo atop the I/O heatsink and the other for the primary M.2 heatsink. The look is quite nice, but I would have liked less branding across the board.

On the connectivity front, the motherboard has dual PCIe 5.0 slots (x16 and x4) and a PCIe 4.0 x4 slot, providing plenty of bandwidth for any add-on cards you may have. The primary PCIe slot is built on MSI’s Steel Armor II and is very durable, enough for even the heaviest cards.

There are 4x M.2 slots (2x 5.0, and as many as 4.0) and 4x SATA ports. All the M.2 slots are cooled by MSI’s Shield Frozr heatsinks with double-sided thermal pads. The heatsinks are decent enough (just make sure your chassis’ airflow is good) and are easy to remove and install, courtesy of MSI’s “EZ” designs. It was extremely easy to work with and set up with this and plenty of other mechanisms (pre-installed I/O shields, Smart Button, EZ-Conn, and more).

There are plenty of USB ports (22x) in total, and of course, we get 2x USB4 slots thanks to ASMedia’s ASM4242 chip. That’s plenty for even the most demanding users. Realtek’s ALC4080 chip powers the audio solution and should be adequate for casual users. There are dual LAN ports (2.5G and 5G), but it would have been nice to see a 10G one at this price.

The MPG X870E Carbon WiFi is priced at $499 and is in the high-end (but not top-of-the-line) range of X870E motherboards. We’re thankful to MSI for sending us this model for review.

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[Reviews Specialist]

Get In Touch: usman@tech4gamers.com

MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi Review: Performance Meets Style is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

We Tested The BEST Motherboards For Ryzen 7 7800X3D [Top Picks]

Sameed Hussain — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 07:00:30 +0000

As seen in our review, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is particularly impressive from a gaming standpoint, as it is one of the fastest gaming processors currently on my test bench. If you are planning to upgrade to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, here are our motherboard recommendations based on thorough first-hand testing.

Why Trust Tech4Gamers

Sameed Hussain is our hardware expert who has been testing graphics cards, processors, and motherboards for years.
40+ motherboards tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
800+ hours spent testing different motherboards for our reviews.
Objective testing criteria (See how we test motherboards).

Our Top Picks With Comparison Table

Take a quick glance at our motherboard selections compared with each other:

Motherboard

MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WiFi

MSI MPG X670E CARBON WiFi

ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi

Gigabyte B650 AORUS Elite AX

ASRock B650E PG-ITX WIFI

Looks

Award

Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D

Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D

Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D

Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D

Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D

What We Liked

VRM, Cooling, Storage and USB Ports

Top-tier Performance, M.2 Ports, Excellent Cooling

Great Cooling, Beautiful Design, GPU Support Bracket

Very Affordable, Great Price-to-Performance Ratio

10+2+1 VRM design, 10-layer PCB

What We Disliked

No RGB

No 10G LAN Port

No Debug LED, 2x SATA Ports

No x4 PCIe Slot

Loud M.2 Heatsink Fan

Chipset

AMD B650

AMD X670E

AMD B650E

AMD B650

Memory

DDR5-6600+

DDR5-7800+

DDR5-7600+

DDR5-6600+

DDR5-6400+

VRM

14+2+1

18+2+1

16+2+1

14+2+1

10+2+1

Storage

3x M.2, 6x SATA 6G

4x M.2, 6x SATA 6G

3x M.2, 2x SATA 6G

3x M.2, 4x SATA 6G

2x M.2, 2x SATA3 6Gb/s

USB Ports

10x Rear, 7x Front

12x Rear, 13x Front

8x Rear, 9x Front

12x Rear, 7x Front

8x Rear, 5x Front

RGB

Short On Time?

Perfect for those who the jack of all trades without any performance hiccups

The ideal choice for anyone looking for the most feature-packed motherboard.

Offers stunning looks and excellent performance, perfect for white-themed setups.

A great choice for budget-conscious builders who don't want to skimp on performance.

A compact powerhouse that offers great features for mini-ITX builds.

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WiFi

Looks

Award

Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D

What We Liked

VRM, Cooling, Storage and USB Ports

What We Disliked

No RGB

Chipset

AMD B650

Memory

DDR5-6600+

VRM

14+2+1

Storage

3x M.2, 6x SATA 6G

USB Ports

10x Rear, 7x Front

RGB

Short On Time?

Perfect for those who the jack of all trades without any performance hiccups

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

MSI MPG X670E CARBON WiFi

Looks

Award

Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D

What We Liked

Top-tier Performance, M.2 Ports, Excellent Cooling

What We Disliked

No 10G LAN Port

Chipset

AMD X670E

Memory

DDR5-7800+

VRM

18+2+1

Storage

4x M.2, 6x SATA 6G

USB Ports

12x Rear, 13x Front

RGB

Short On Time?

The ideal choice for anyone looking for the most feature-packed motherboard.

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi

Looks

Award

Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D

What We Liked

Great Cooling, Beautiful Design, GPU Support Bracket

What We Disliked

No Debug LED, 2x SATA Ports

Chipset

AMD B650E

Memory

DDR5-7600+

VRM

16+2+1

Storage

3x M.2, 2x SATA 6G

USB Ports

8x Rear, 9x Front

RGB

Short On Time?

Offers stunning looks and excellent performance, perfect for white-themed setups.

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

Gigabyte B650 AORUS Elite AX

Looks

Award

Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D

What We Liked

Very Affordable, Great Price-to-Performance Ratio

What We Disliked

No x4 PCIe Slot

Chipset

AMD B650

Memory

DDR5-6600+

VRM

14+2+1

Storage

3x M.2, 4x SATA 6G

USB Ports

12x Rear, 7x Front

RGB

Short On Time?

A great choice for budget-conscious builders who don't want to skimp on performance.

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

ASRock B650E PG-ITX WIFI

Looks

Award

Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D

What We Liked

10+2+1 VRM design, 10-layer PCB

What We Disliked

Loud M.2 Heatsink Fan

Chipset

AMD B650

Memory

DDR5-6400+

VRM

10+2+1

Storage

2x M.2, 2x SATA3 6Gb/s

USB Ports

8x Rear, 5x Front

RGB

Short On Time?

A compact powerhouse that offers great features for mini-ITX builds.

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Last Updated:

Aug 19, 2024: After further testing, I have added the MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi and the ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi as the best high-end and the best white motherboards for 7800X3D, respectively.

[toc]

Unboxed the Ryzen 7 7800X3D? Be sure to check out our guides:

Best Motherboards For Ryzen 7 7800X3D

The motherboards I’ve chosen for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D are a result of my hands-on experience and rigorous testing:

Best Overall: MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WiFi
Best High-End: MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi
Best White: ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi
Best Value: Gigabyte B650 AORUS Elite AX
Best Mini-ITX: ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi

MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WiFi

Best Overall Motherboard for Ryzen 7 7800X3D

MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WiFi Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Solid 14+2+1 VRM design and 6-layer PCB
Lots of storage and expansion options
Good cooling features

Cons

No RGB.

Get It Now

The MSI MAG B650 TOMAHWK WiFi is just simple. It doesn’t feature any RGB or flashy bells and whistles, but the motherboard has a beautiful all-black PCB, which goes really well along with its black heatsinks. Furthermore, the board is built on a 6-layer PCB that offers good resistance to high temperatures. The motherboard packs a high-end 14+2+1 Duet Rail Power System. In total, the 17-phase VRM design is good enough to provide plenty of adequate power to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D without any hiccups. In addition to that, the motherboard has 2x 8-pin power connectors, so you can really ramp up the power of your Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Going over the M.2 slots, you get 2x M.2 slots from the CPU, which supports PCIe 4.0 x4, and 1x M.2 slot from the chipset, which supports PCIe 4.0 x4. Additionally, you also get 6x SATA 6G ports for additional storage options. Similarly, you get 3x PCIe slots in total, with one from the CPU and two from the chipset.

When Usman Saleem, our team’s expert in motherboards, did a thorough review and testing of the MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi, here’s how he summarized this beast:

The MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard delivers robust performance at an affordable price of $213.18, making it a great value for budget-conscious users. The motherboard features comprehensive USB connectivity with 23 ports, including a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C. The cooling solutions, including extended heatsinks and thermal pads, also performed impressively well in all my tests. Overall, I recommend it to anyone looking for a bang-for-the-buck B650 motherboard.

✅Buy It If

You want a powerful VRM design: The 14+2+1 Duet Rail Power System and the massive heatsinks to cool down this power system are definitely what I liked the most about this motherboard.

❌Don't Buy It If

❌You need Gen 5.0 connectivity: The MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WiFi has no PCIe or M.2 Gen 5.0 connectivity. So, if you require such connectivity for your productivity work, I don’t recommend purchasing this motherboard.

You have a limited budget: While there isn’t anything specifically wrong with the motherboard, it is definitely priced on the higher end of the spectrum. So, if you need high-end performance, you will have to pay more for it.

What Makes It The Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D?

With that said, if you’re looking to get the most out of your Ryzen 7 7800X3D and really push it to its limits, then you’re going to need a motherboard that offers high-end VRM design and exceptional cooling to go along with it. Well, the MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WiFi offers just that, and that’s why it is the best high-end motherboard for Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Read Our MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi Review

Performance: 9/10	Value: 7/10
Features: 9/10	Design: 8/10

MSI MPG X670E CARBON WiFi

Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D

MSI MPG X670E CARBON WiFi Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Incredible 18+2+1 power phases
Clear CMOS and BIOS buttons
Excellent VRM cooling
Debug LED
2x Gen 5.0 M.2 ports

Cons

No 10G LAN port

Check Price

The MSI MPG X670E CARBON WiFi motherboard is a performance beast with a 21-phase VRM featuring excelling cooling. Additionally, its beautiful aesthetics and RGB lighting match most PC builds. Because of its robust quality, you won’t face any power issues with the Ryzen 7 7800X3D when using this motherboard. I also loved the clear CMOS and BIOS buttons, making it easier for users to troubleshoot any problems.

Regarding connectivity, the motherboard goes above and beyond to provide 4x M.2 slots and 6x SATA slots for storage options. Moreover, you also get 12x rear and 13x front USB ports, with Gen 5.0 ports included, so you don’t have to worry about connectivity with this motherboard. Additionally, I loved the 7,800MHz RAM support, which allows users to utilize higher-end RAM kits, ensuring better performance with the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Usman Saleem was surprised by the MSI MPG X670E CARBON WiFi motherboard’s outstanding features and robust quality during his review and stated the following:

Buy It If

✅You need more USB connections: One of the MSI MPG X670E CARBON WiFi’s biggest selling points is its many USB ports. It allows up to 12x rear and 13x front ports, including a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C port.

✅Gen 5.0 connectivity is one of your requirements: If you require Gen 5.0 connectivity for your productivity tasks, the MSI MPG X670E CARBON WiFi features 2x PCIe 5.0 slots and 2x Gen 5.0 M.2 ports.

Don't Buy It If

❌The motherboard lacks a 10G LAN port: Although WiFi 6E gets the job done for most users, you may feel restricted without a 10G LAN port if you use faster internet.

What Makes It The Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D?

The MSI MPG X670E CARBON WiFi motherboard provides outstanding connectivity and storage solutions without breaking the bank. Furthermore, the motherboard’s robust VRM quality and features, such as CMOS and BIOS buttons, make it the best high-end motherboard for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU.

Editor`s Note

Although the Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU can’t be overclocked, the higher RAM frequency support and a robust 18+2+1 VRM phase of the MSI MPG X670E CARBON WiFi motherboard ensures the processor provides the highest performance.

– Sameed Hussain

Performance: 10/10	Value: 8/10
Features: 9/10	Design: 9/10

ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi

Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D

ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Good VRM cooling
Beautiful white aesthetics
GPU support bracket
BIOS flash button
Decent 16+2+1 VRM power phases
3x M.2 ports

Cons

No Debug LED
Average audio solution
2x SATA ports

Check Price

If you’re looking for a motherboard with beautiful aesthetics and impressive performance, the ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi is a decent choice for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Firstly, the motherboard is smothered in a beautiful white color and features incredible RGB lighting and customization options. Furthermore, with a 16+2+1 VRM phase, you don’t have to worry about power issues, even with higher-end CPUs.

The motherboard is slightly lackluster when it comes to storage connectivity options. While the 3x M.2 storage options are decent, having only 2x SATA ports limits the storage users can have. Otherwise, the motherboard provides decent USB connectors, with 8x rear and 9x front ports, allowing you to connect as many peripherals as you wish.

When Usman Saleem was reviewing the motherboard, he loved it’s aesthetics yet robust quality. This is what he commented in his review:

Buy It If

✅You require effective cooling for power stages: ASRock has provided an effective cooling solution for the motherboard’s VRM phases. During our testing, it performed better than most of its competition, even though they came at a higher price tag.

Don't Buy It If

❌You need more storage options: I don’t recommend the ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi motherboard if you need more storage because it only comes with 3x M.2 and 2x SATA ports. There’s a chance the motherboard might not cover all your requirements.

What Makes It The Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D?

The ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi motherboard has a beautiful all-white aesthetic with shades of silver and black, making it one of the best motherboards for AM5 CPUs. Moreover, with features such as a BIOS flash button, a GPU support socket, and good VRM cooling, it is the best white motherboard for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU.

WARNING: Because it only provides two SATA ports, you may have to cut down on your storage options if you’re considering purchasing this motherboard.

Performance: 9/10	Value: 8/10
Features: 8/10	Design: 10/10

Gigabyte B650 AORUS Elite AX

Best Value Motherboard for Ryzen 7 7800X3D

Gigabyte B650 AORUS ELITE AX Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Offers great value for money
Good price-to-performance ratio

Cons

No x4 PCIe slot

Get It Now

You can tell that the B650 AORUS Elite AX is a high-quality motherboard at first glance. Even though it includes some RGB components, there aren’t many because just the chipset cover can be illuminated. The contrast between the black PCB and the grey heatsinks gives the motherboard a really menacing appearance. The Gigabyte B650 AORUS Elite AX uses a Twin 14+2+1 Phases Digital VRM. The power stages for the 2 SOC phases, 14 VCORE phases, and 1 MISC phase are each 60A, 70A, and 30A, respectively. Furthermore, the MOSFET is kept cool by the board’s usage of massive heatsinks along with a 6mm thick heatpipe.

The motherboard provides 3x M.2 slots and 4x SATA 6Gb/s ports. Two of the three M.2 slots come from the processor, one of which is PCIe 4.0, and the other is PCIe 5.0. You also get 7x Front and 12x Rear USB ports. This configuration has one Type-C connector on the front panel and one on the rear, which is ideal.

This is what Nauman Siddique, our motherboard expert, said about the B650 AORUS ELITE AX after his testing:

At the end of the day, the B650 AORUS ELITE AX is almost a balanced feature set provider motherboard that the user can get for their daily driver need. The game is strong with the storage department of this motherboard and USB Type-C Gen 2×2 port provisions as well, though don’t expect to find a PCIe Gen 5 X16 slot.

Buy It If

✅You want to maximize value for money: The Gigabyte B650 AORUS Elite AX’s pricing is undoubtedly its strongest feature. The motherboard is fairly inexpensive and offers excellent value.

Don't Buy It If

❌You want an x4 PCIe slot: The only disappointing feature is the lack of a single x4 PCIe slot. Apart from that, the motherboard is a default recommendation.

What Makes It The Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D?

Put simply, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D and the GIGABYTE B650 AORUS ELITE AX go together really well. The motherboard provides reliable performance, great expansion and storage options, and the ideal appearance. However, the reason we selected this motherboard is because of how much of a bang for the buck it is. So, the Gigabyte B650 AORUS Elite AX is undoubtedly the best value motherboard for Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Editor`s Note

Since the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D does not have an unlocked multiplier, you can get away with a modest VRM setup and save a lot of money. Here, the 14+2+1 phase VRM design of the B650 AORUS Elite AX is perfectly valid for this CPU.

– Sameed Hussain

Read Our Gigabyte B650 AORUS Elite AX Review

Performance: 8/10	Value: 10/10
Features: 7/10	Design: 8/10

ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi

Best Mini-ITX Motherboard for Ryzen 7 7800X3D

ASRock B650E PG-ITX WIFI Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

10+2+1 VRM design
10-layer PCB

Cons

Loud M.2 Heatsink Fan

Get It Now

Looks-wise, the mini-ITX board has a very basic aesthetic. It features a black PCB with a grayish heatsink. The board does not feature any RGB, but it makes sense because you’re hardly going to have room to spot any lights in a compact build. Its build quality is exceptional with the highlight being its 10-layer PCB. The motherboard features a durable 10+2+1 VRM design, with 10 phases for VCORE, 2 phases for SOC, and one for Misc. The 12 phases for VCORE and SOC are capable of handling 105A, and the one Misc phase is capable of handling 60A. So, despite the tiny size, the board has great power capabilities.

Going over the storage options, you get 2x M.2 sockets straight from the CPU. One of these sockets is called Blazing M.2 Socket, and it supports PCIe 5.0 x4, and the other socket is called Hyper M.2 Socket, and it supports PCIe 4.0 x4. In addition, you also get 2x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s connectors.

Seeking expert commentary on the ASRock B650E PG-ITX, we turned to our motherboard specialist, Nauman Siddique.

“It is a tiny beast featuring an AM5 platform with a plethora of features and efficient cooling for key components”.

Buy It If

✅You want a feature-rich motherboard: The ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi’s high-end VRM design and the inclusion of PCIe 5.0 support are what I liked the most about it.

Don't Buy It If

❌You want a better acoustic experience: One annoying thing about this motherboard is that its M.2 heatsink fan can get really loud.

What Makes It The Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For Ryzen 7 7800X3D?

The ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi is a tiny package that packs a beautifully powerful punch. You get a solid power design, great cooling, and a really impressive expansion slot and storage option configuration. Overall, the ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi is the best mini-ITX motherboard for Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

PRO TIP: Make sure that your PC case is compatible with the motherboard when buying a mini-ITX or micro-ATX board.

Read Our ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi Review

Performance: 9/10	Value: 7/10
Features: 8/10	Design: 8/10

How We Tested & Picked These Motherboards For Ryzen 7 7800X3D

Ryzen 7 7800X3D (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Don’t forget to consider the following critical factors when shopping for a motherboard.

VRM: A VRM, as its name suggests, is in charge of managing and supplying a constant and stable flow of voltage to the processor and other components of your computer. So, we chose the motherboards that had a durable and high-quality VRM design with several phases made of reliable components.
Overclocking Potential: The overclocking potential of a motherboard relies heavily on its VRM structure; as a result, the better the VRM, the greater the motherboard’s overclocking potential. On top of that, the overclocking potential is also influenced by the cooling system.
Heatsink – Cooling: Every motherboard we selected incorporates great cooling capabilities to support and ensure high-end performance during lots of loads. That’s because, without a good thermal solution, the MOSFETs and SSDs will begin to thermal throttle, which will ultimately plummet their performance.
Features: Moreover, features like RGB, expansion slots, USB ports, and memory support must be taken into account. For instance, the GIGABYTE X670E AORUS MASTER might be your motherboard of choice if you prefer to have lots of USB ports and storage options.
Price: Last but not least, another equally important factor is the price. After all, if a motherboard is too expensive or doesn’t provide enough features for the price, you won’t buy it. So, we ensured that every motherboard we chose provided excellent value for money.

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Among these motherboards, which one stands out to you the most?

FAQs

Is the Ryzen 7 7800X3D good for gaming?

The Ryzen 7 7800X alone is really good for gaming. So, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which offers an even higher L3 cache, is undoubtedly one of the best CPUs for gaming.

What does X3D mean?

X3D means Extended 3D Technology, meaning that the Ryzen CPUs with the X3D technology come with higher cache because they have an additional layer of cache storage stacked on top of the L3 cache.

Is the 7800X3D better than the 7900X?

The only aspect where the 7800X3D is better than the 7900X is the L3 cache, where the 7800X3D has 96MB and the 7900X has 64MB. Other than that, the 7900X has more cores and threads, along with higher clock speeds.

Is the 7800X3D compatible with AM4 Chipset Motherboards?

No, as part of the Zen 4 architecture, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, along with its other X3D siblings, are only compatible with AM5 Chipset Motherboards.

Recent Updates

May 23, 2024: I have changed the formatting to improve readability.
December 2, 2023: Few text changes to improve readability. No products were changed.
August 20, 2023: Few text changes to improve readability. No products were changed.

Sameed Hussain

[Hardware Expert]

With a major in Computer Science, Sameed is a tech enthusiast who puts his passion for gadgets into words and creates informative blogs. From comparing different hardware to reviewing the best RAMs, motherboards, and graphics cards for your next build, Sameed has covered a wide spectrum of topics that have given him a special insight into every nook and cranny of the tech world. Sameed is also a certified expert at Computer Hardware & Networking.

Get In Touch: sameed@tech4gamers.com

We Tested The BEST Motherboards For Ryzen 7 7800X3D [Top Picks] is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

Best Motherboards For Ryzen 7 9700X [After Hands-On Testing]

Dr. Usman Saleem — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 01:44:07 +0000

I have tested and reviewed the Ryzen 7 9700X, and it is a good option with solid single-core performance. The Ryzen 7 9700X emerges from the stack as a mid-to-high range option, rated at just 65W. While virtually any AM5 motherboard will have enough juice to support it, that doesn’t mean you should just close your eyes and pick any. Many factors need to be considered; don’t worry, we did just that to bring you our best selections for the 9700X.

Why Trust Tech4Gamers

Usman Saleem is our hardware tester who loves to put all the latest GPUs, CPUs, RAM, and motherboards for a spin.
40+ motherboards tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
800+ hours spent testing different motherboards for our reviews.
Objective testing criteria (See how we test motherboards).

Comparison Of My Picks

Here are our selections and how they compare to each other.

Motherboard

Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2

MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi

MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi Gaming

ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi

Looks

Award

Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9700X

Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9700X

Best Overclocking Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9700X

Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9700X

What We Liked

Design, Performance, PCIe 5 Storage

Great Pricing, Plenty of Performance, Decent Features

Design, Top-Tier VRM, Plenty of PCIe 5 Connectivity

Design, Solid Performance, Good Features

What We Disliked

No Debug LED

No PCIe 5.0, No RGB

Expensive, No 10G LAN Port

Average Audio, Only 2x SATA III Ports

Chipset

B650

X670E

B650E

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

12+2+2

14+2+1

18+2+1

16+2+1

Memory

DDR5 8,000+ (OC)

DDR5 7,600+ (OC)

DDR5-7800+ (OC)

DDR5-7600+ (OC)

USB Ports

12x Rear, 7x Front

12x Rear, 11x Front

10x Rear, 13x Front

8x Rear, 9x Front

Storage

3x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0), 4x SATA 6G

3x M.2 (PCIe 4.0 x4), 6x SATA 6G

4x M.2 (2x PCIe 5.0), 6x SATA 6G

3x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0), 2x SATA 6G

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2

Looks

Award

Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9700X

What We Liked

Design, Performance, PCIe 5 Storage

What We Disliked

No Debug LED

Chipset

B650

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

12+2+2

Memory

DDR5 8,000+ (OC)

USB Ports

12x Rear, 7x Front

Storage

3x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0), 4x SATA 6G

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi

Looks

Award

Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9700X

What We Liked

Great Pricing, Plenty of Performance, Decent Features

What We Disliked

No PCIe 5.0, No RGB

Chipset

B650

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

14+2+1

Memory

DDR5 7,600+ (OC)

USB Ports

12x Rear, 11x Front

Storage

3x M.2 (PCIe 4.0 x4), 6x SATA 6G

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi Gaming

Looks

Award

Best Overclocking Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9700X

What We Liked

Design, Top-Tier VRM, Plenty of PCIe 5 Connectivity

What We Disliked

Expensive, No 10G LAN Port

Chipset

X670E

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

18+2+1

Memory

DDR5-7800+ (OC)

USB Ports

10x Rear, 13x Front

Storage

4x M.2 (2x PCIe 5.0), 6x SATA 6G

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

Motherboard

ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi

Looks

Award

Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9700X

What We Liked

Design, Solid Performance, Good Features

What We Disliked

Average Audio, Only 2x SATA III Ports

Chipset

B650E

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

16+2+1

Memory

DDR5-7600+ (OC)

USB Ports

8x Rear, 9x Front

Storage

3x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0), 2x SATA 6G

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Review

I also had the chance to test the Ryzen 5 9600X, another power-efficient chip from the Zen 5 line-up. Furthermore, our CPU cooler experts have been hard at work the past couple of weeks to test and round up the best coolers for Ryzen 7 9700X.

[toc]

Best Motherboards For Ryzen 7 9700X

Take a look at our selections:

Best Overall: Gigabyte B650 AORUS Elite AX V2
Best Value: MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi
Best For Overclocking: MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi Gaming
Best White: ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi

Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2

Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9700X

Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Pleasing, minimalistic design
M.2 PCIe 5.0 slot present
DDR5 support up to 8000 MT/s

Cons

No boot code LED panel

Check Price

The B650 Aorus has one of the most beautiful, streamlined designs I’ve seen. It’s mostly black, with silver elements, and the silver stripes running through the PCB and the heatsinks are a nice touch. Its 12-phase VRM configuration is not the best in even the B650 class, but it is more than enough for the 9700X, even with mild overclocking. Meanwhile, the beefy VRM heatsink kept our VRMs under 45°C.

For storage, I was happy to see that we have an M.2 PCIe 5.0 slot, plus two PCIe 4.0 ones, cooled well by the thermal pads and heatsinks. The PCIe 5.0 SSD sits close to the CPU and GPU, but our drive peaked at a fair enough 68°C. There are 4x SATA 3 ports, support for up to DDR5-8000 and WiFi 6E. Also, Gigabyte’s convenient EZ-latch PCIe and M.2 designs make it easy to install/uninstall your drive(s) and GPU.

Here are our expert motherboard reviewer Nauman Siddique’s thoughts on this motherboard:

At the end of the day, the B650 AORUS ELITE AX is almost a balanced feature set provider motherboard that the user can get for their daily driver need. The game is strong with the storage department of this motherboard and USB Type-C Gen 2×2 port provisions as well, though don’t expect to find a PCIe Gen 5 X16 slot.

Buy It If

✅You need multiple high-speed USB ports: I’ve only rarely seen 12 rear USB ports on a motherboard, and these should be enough for all your high-speed requirements, with three of them being 10 Gbps ones.

Don't Buy It If

❌You need better troubleshooting features: The lack of a debug LED panel for troubleshooting booting issues disappointed me.

What Makes It The Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9700X?

With its balanced set of features, the B650 Aorus Elite AX V2 is a great option for the mid-to-high-end Ryzen 7 9700X. It offers a sleek black design, a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, and memory support that you’ll see in more premium boards. I would’ve liked the inclusion of a debug LED panel, but for most users who have already built a PC before, it shouldn’t be a huge concern.

Editor`s Note

For a B650 motherboard, the Aorus Elite lives up to its title in quite a few aspects: it has a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, supports incredible memory speeds, and has a ton of rear USB ports. And, of course, its power delivery and onboard cooling system is plentiful for the 65W Ryzen 7 9700X.

– Dr. Usman Saleem

Performance: 8/10	Value: 9/10
Features: 8.5/10	Design: 8.5/10

MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi

Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9700X

MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Affordable
14-phase VRM design
Decent set of features

Cons

No onboard RGB
No PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot

Check Price

The first sign of a budget motherboard: you won’t see half the motherboard being covered by heatsinks, and that’s what the MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi shows. It has a simple all-black design without any flamboyance. The VRMs follow a 14+2+1 configuration and are cooled by, still, fair-sized heatsinks. At 80A per phase, this is more than enough juice for the 9700X (in fact, you can even upgrade later).

Unfortunately, there are no M.2 PCIe 5.0 slots. The PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots present are cooled nicely by the M.2 Frozr heatsinks. Plenty of USB ports are present, including a USB 3.2 20Gbps Type-C port. Six SATA III ports are present, with room for up to 128 GB of memory (as fast as DDR5-6400 MT/s). The board’s screwless M.2 SSD installation mechanism is easy to work with, and the I/O shield comes pre-installed.

I was very impressed by the MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi’s stellar value; here’s what I said in my hands-on review:

The MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard delivers robust performance at an affordable price, making it a great value for budget-conscious users. The motherboard features comprehensive USB connectivity with 23 ports, including a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C. The cooling solutions, including extended heatsinks and thermal pads, also performed impressively well in all my tests. Overall, I recommend it to anyone looking for a bang-for-the-buck B650 motherboard.

Buy It If

✅You need plenty of USB ports: The motherboard offers a total of 23 USB ports, including 12x in the rear and 11x available through the internal headers.

Don't Buy It If

❌You need a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot: Due to the price limitation, there’s no PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot on the motherboard.

What Makes It The Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9700X

The MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi is one of the better affordable B650 boards out there. The features set is mostly standard but adequate for most users. The VRM design, with 14 80W phases, is not only enough for the Ryzen 7 9700X but also leaves room for a CPU upgrade (for example, to the 9900X) down the line. My only complaint is the lack of a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, but it’s certainly not a dealbreaker.

WARNING: Since there’s no PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, any PCIe 5.0 drives you may have will run at limited speeds.

Read Our MSI Mag B650 Tomahawk WiFi Review

Performance: 8.5/10	Value: 9/10
Features: 8/10	Design: 8/10

MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi Gaming

Best Overclocking Motherboard for Ryzen 7 9700X

MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Great design
Excellent VRMs
Dual M.2 PCIe 5.0 slots
Dual PCIe 5.0 expansion slots

Cons

Expensive
No 10G LAN port

Check Price

The MPG X670E Carbon WiFi has a pleasing carbon black theme, with the familiar dragon logo having RGB backlighting. Overall, the look is premium, but I think it could’ve done without the specs listed on the chipset heatsink. The 18+2+1 duet rail VRMs allowed us to manually overclock the chip to 5.4GHz. The VRM heatsinks, with their direct touch heat pipes and thermal pads, kept the temperatures under 60°C.

Moving on, we have four M.2 slots (including 2x PCIe 5.0), 2x PCIe 5.0 slots, and for support up to 128GB of DDR5-7800 memory. This one also has a screwless mechanism for the primary M.2, a pre-installed I/O shield, plus reinforced PCIe slots. Its abundant USB ports include 8x USB 3.2 10Gbps ports and 1x 20Gbps port. Lastly, its audio codec is more than decent, but the lack of a 10G LAN port is a bit of a shocker.

After testing the MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi Gaming, I summarized my review by saying:

The MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi motherboard offers a robust feature set, including Gen5 M.2 ports and PCIe slots, excellent VRM cooling with 19+2+1 power phases, and extensive USB connectivity. Its cooling solution makes it an excellent choice for high-performance builds and overclocking enthusiasts. In short, it provides solid performance across the board, and I recommend it.

Buy It If

✅You prefer customizability: The motherboard features a dedicated “smart button,” which can be programmed for restarting the system, switching on/off the onboard LEDs, boot in safe mode, or run all fans at full speeds.

✅You need a ready-to-use 20Gbps USB port: Unlike with many boards, it was good to see a 20Gbps in the rear I/O instead of the header, as many chassis don’t have a 20Gbps port.

Don't Buy It If

❌A 10G LAN port is necessary: Although WiFi 6E does the job for most users, you may be limited if you prefer a wired network connection.

What Makes It The Best Overclocking Motherboards For Ryzen 7 9700X?

At $479, you’d want the MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi to tick all the boxes, and it (nearly) does. You get a sleek design with RGB, plenty of power for your CPU, and room for much RAM. Not only that, its I/O connectivity is excellent, with plenty of room for NVMe and SATA storage, USB devices, and support for dual-GPU setups. The addition of a 10GbE LAN port would’ve really sealed the deal, though.

Performance: 9/10	Value: 7.5/10
Features: 9.5/10	Design: 9/10

ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi

Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9700X

ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Distinctive design
Onboard RGB is great
Impressive VRMs and cooling
PCIe 5.0 for GPU and NVMe SSD
Included GPU bracket

Cons

Only 2x SATA III ports
Audio codec could’ve been better

Check Price

The B650E Steel Legend WiFi’s 8-layered PCB is mostly black, while the heatsinks are a flawless “steel” color, with some camo elements present too. RGB is present, and the build quality is good. Power to the CPU is provided by 16x 60A “Smart Power Stages.” The beefy VRM heatsinks keep everything cool; I also had good success with overclocking, and the VRMs didn’t break a sweat, maxing out at 52°C.

We get the mandatory PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot (plus 2x PCIe 4.0 ones) and x16 GPU slots as part of the “Extreme” package. 2x SATA III ports accompany the M.2 slots, which is really lackluster. Memory support is up to DDR5-7600+, and our 6000 MT/s kit ran without hiccups. The audio processor is not the best, though, and it seems ASRock cheaped out here to save costs.

After thoroughly testing the ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi, I was really impressed by not just its design but also its overall feature set:

The ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi motherboard stands out with its Gen5 PCIe connectivity, robust 16+2+1 power phase design, and an appealing blend of black, white, and silver aesthetics with A-RGB lighting. Though it only has two SATA ports, the motherboard excels in performance, cooling, and value at a competitive price.

Buy It If

✅You prefer a unique design: The motherboard’s design, with its mix of black and white along with some camo elements, makes it a perfect choice for those looking for their build to really stand out.

Don't Buy It If

❌You want more storage space: The number of M.2 slots (3x) may be adequate for most users, but the same can’t be said for the SATA III ports (2x).

❌The audio solution is not enough for you: If you plan to use high-end speakers or studio headsets with this motherboard, the experience won’t be optimal.

What Makes It The Best White Motherboard For The Ryzen 7 9700X?

The ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi comes with the PCIe 5.0 goodness of the chipset, along with looks that will fit right in with most white PC builds. Performance and cooling are impressive, but the audio codec and the presence of only 2x SATA III ports were a letdown. We have WiFi 6E and a 2.5G LAN port for networking, and the amount of USB ports is good enough for most users.

Performance: 9/10	Value: 7.5/10
Features: 8/10	Design: 9/10

Specifications Comparison

Here’s a quick comparison of all our top picks:

Motherboard Model	Total Power Phases	Max Memory Speed (MT/s)	Max Memory Capacity (GB)	No. of M.2 slots	No. of SATA III ports	No. of USB ports (Front)	No. of USB ports (Rear)
Gigabyte B650 AORUS Elite AX V2	16	8000	192	3	4	7	12
MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi	17	6400	128	3	6	11	12
MSI MPG X670E Carbon WiFi Gaming	21	7800	128	4	6	13	10
ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi	19	7600	128	3	2	9	8

The Honourable Mentions

Competition is high! Here are some picks that almost made it to the list:

MSI B650 Gaming Plus WiFi: A budget motherboard with decent-enough features and VRMs, but the lack of a heatsink for the second M.2 slot was a bummer.
ASRock X670E Taichi: One of my personal favorites, but I didn’t find it ideal for the list since its E-ATX size limits case compatibility.

Key Motherboard Terms That You Should Know

VRM: VRMs manage the flow of voltage to specific components like CPU and RAM, ensuring they get the power they need.
Chipset: The chipset is a group of circuits on the motherboard that manage data flow between the CPU, RAM, and other components.
Socket: The socket is the slot on the motherboard where the CPU is installed, connecting it to the rest of the system.
PCIe Slots: These slots are used to add expansion cards like graphics cards, sound cards, and network cards to your motherboard.
M.2 Slot: This slot on the motherboard is specifically for installing an M.2 NVMe drive.
BIOS: The BIOS is the firmware on the motherboard that initializes hardware during the boot process and provides runtime services for operating systems and programs.
Form Factor: The size and shape of your motherboard, known as its form factor, determine how it fits in your case. Common form factors include E-ATX, ATX, mITX, and ITX.

My Strategy For Testing Motherboards

I have tested countless different motherboards over the years, and whenever someone asks me for a motherboard recommendation, I always suggest the options based on these aspects.

VRM: I go over the VRM configuration on each motherboard. A robust VRM setup is essential for a stable voltage supply to the processor and influences the motherboard’s overclocking capabilities.
Features: I evaluated the integrated features of each motherboard, which can greatly impact user decisions. Depending on individual needs, I included motherboards with the best feature sets in my recommendations.
Design: I also paid attention to the design and aesthetics. While these don’t affect performance, they are important for those looking to achieve a specific theme in their build.
Value: Finally, I assessed each motherboard’s overall value. I ensured that the performance, feature set, storage options, and durability justified the price, providing the best recommendations for various budgets.

FAQs

Can I use a B650 motherboard for my Ryzen 7 9700X?

If you’re currently using a B650 motherboard, you can upgrade to the Ryzen 7 9700X through a BIOS update.

What is the memory speed sweet spot for Ryzen 9000 series?

Our testing with various boards showed that 6400 MT/s is the ideal speed for the Ryzen 9000 CPUs.

How much faster is the Ryzen 7 9700X compared to the Ryzen 7 7700X?

As AMD promises an average 16% IPC uplift for the Ryzen 9000 series over Ryzen 7000 series, we can expect the 9700X to represent this difference over the 7700X.

[Reviews Specialist]

Get In Touch: usman@tech4gamers.com

Best Motherboards For Ryzen 7 9700X [After Hands-On Testing] is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

BEST Motherboards For Ryzen 9 9950X [Expert Testing]

Dr. Usman Saleem — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 11:02:24 +0000

AMD’s latest flagship gaming CPU is here: The Ryzen 9 9950X! At 170W, it’s the only chip in the new lineup that hasn’t received a lower TDP rating than its predecessor, the 7950X. So, naturally, you’ll need a fairly capable motherboard to power this beast. That’s why we tested many AM5 motherboards to find the best picks.

Why Trust Tech4Gamers

Usman Saleem is our hardware tester who loves to put all the latest GPUs, CPUs, RAM, and motherboards for a spin.
40+ motherboards tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
800+ hours spent testing different motherboards for our reviews.
Objective testing criteria (See how we test motherboards).

So, these are the motherboards I would recommend pairing with the Ryzen 9 9950X:

Motherboard

Gigabyte X670E AORUS Master

GIGABYTE B650 AORUS ELITE AX

MSI MEG X670E ACE

ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-A GAMING

ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi

Looks

Award

Best Overall Motherboard

Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X

Best Overclocking Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X

Best White Motherboard for Ryzen 9 9950X

Best Mini-ITX Motherboard for Ryzen 9 9950X

What We Liked

High Memory Support, Good Performance, Plenty of Connectivity

Simple Design, PCIe 5 Storage, Greate Memory Support,

Premium Looks, Top Performance, Exceptional Connectivity And Storage

Nice RGB, Good Storage, Impressive Audio

PCIe 5 Connectivity, Good VRM Design, USB 3.2 20Gbps

What We Disliked

No 10G LAN Port

No Debug LED

Very expensive, No USB 4.0 ports

No Debug LED

Mediocre Audio, Only 2x SATA III Ports

Chipset

X670E

B650

X670E

B650E

Form Factor

E-ATX

ATX

E-ATX

ATX

Mini-ITX

Power Delivery

16+2+2

14+2+1

22+2+1

16+2+2

10+2+1

Memory

4x DIMM, DDR5-8000 (OC)

4x DIMM, DDR5-8000+ (OC)

2x DIMM, DDR5-6800+ (OC)

USB Ports

12x Rear, 9x Front

12x Rear, 7x Front

11x Rear, 14x Front

12x Rear, 7x Front

8x Rear, 5x Front

Storage

4x M.2 (2x PCIe 5.0), 6x SATA 6G

3x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0), 4x SATA 6G

4x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0), 6x SATA 6G

: 4x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0), 4x SATA 6G

2x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0), 2x SATA 6G

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Motherboard

Gigabyte X670E AORUS Master

Looks

Award

Best Overall Motherboard

What We Liked

High Memory Support, Good Performance, Plenty of Connectivity

What We Disliked

No 10G LAN Port

Chipset

X670E

Form Factor

E-ATX

Power Delivery

16+2+2

Memory

4x DIMM, DDR5-8000 (OC)

USB Ports

12x Rear, 9x Front

Storage

4x M.2 (2x PCIe 5.0), 6x SATA 6G

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Motherboard

GIGABYTE B650 AORUS ELITE AX

Looks

Award

Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X

What We Liked

Simple Design, PCIe 5 Storage, Greate Memory Support,

What We Disliked

No Debug LED

Chipset

B650

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

14+2+1

Memory

4x DIMM, DDR5-8000 (OC)

USB Ports

12x Rear, 7x Front

Storage

3x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0), 4x SATA 6G

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Motherboard

MSI MEG X670E ACE

Looks

Award

Best Overclocking Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X

What We Liked

Premium Looks, Top Performance, Exceptional Connectivity And Storage

What We Disliked

Very expensive, No USB 4.0 ports

Chipset

X670E

Form Factor

E-ATX

Power Delivery

22+2+1

Memory

4x DIMM, DDR5-8000+ (OC)

USB Ports

11x Rear, 14x Front

Storage

4x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0), 6x SATA 6G

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Motherboard

ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-A GAMING

Looks

Award

Best White Motherboard for Ryzen 9 9950X

What We Liked

Nice RGB, Good Storage, Impressive Audio

What We Disliked

No Debug LED

Chipset

X670E

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

16+2+2

Memory

4x DIMM, DDR5-8000+ (OC)

USB Ports

12x Rear, 7x Front

Storage

: 4x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0), 4x SATA 6G

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Motherboard

ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi

Looks

Award

Best Mini-ITX Motherboard for Ryzen 9 9950X

What We Liked

PCIe 5 Connectivity, Good VRM Design, USB 3.2 20Gbps

What We Disliked

Mediocre Audio, Only 2x SATA III Ports

Chipset

B650E

Form Factor

Mini-ITX

Power Delivery

10+2+1

Memory

2x DIMM, DDR5-6800+ (OC)

USB Ports

8x Rear, 5x Front

Storage

2x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0), 2x SATA 6G

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

[toc]

Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 9950X

These are my selections:

Best Overall: Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master
Best Value: Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX
Best Overclocking: MSI MEG X670E Ace Gaming
Best White: ASUS ROG Strix X670E-A Gaming
Best Mini-ITX: ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi

Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master

Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X

Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Beautiful design
Powerful VRMs and cooling
Memory support up to DDR5-8000
2x PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots
2x USB 3.2 20Gbps ports
Fairly priced for what it offers

Cons

Expensive
No 10G LAN port

Check Price

The Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master is a thing of beauty, with a mostly black design mixed in with grey and steel elements. We have the signature Aorus falcon lighting up the VRM heatsink, creating a stunning look. The bulky VRM coolers use fins and 12 W/mK pads, and this is one of the best VRM cooling solutions I’ve tested, keeping the 16+2+2 design under 50°C during my testing. Overclocking the 9950X was a smooth experience on this board.

The motherboard supports DDR5 speeds up to 8000 MT/s (OC), but we stuck with our 6400 MT/s and faced no issues. There’s room for 2x PCIe 5.0 SSDs and 2x GPUs (AMD Crossfire supported). There are 2x USB 3.2 20Gbps ports (one front, one rear) and 6x SATA III ports. All-in-all, an adequate set of features for most users, although it would’ve been nice to see a 10G LAN port instead of 2.5G, at this price point.

Read our reviewer, Nauman Siddique’s thoughts on this board:

The GIGABYTE X670E AORUS MASTER has more than what meets the eye. In its brilliance, this motherboard packs the features that one would need to drive their high-end needs in computing. We are impressed with every bit of it. It not only has top-notch performance but quite some style as well.

Buy It If

✅You’re seeking top-notch VRMs: While the VRM design for the CPU is a fairly modest 16-phase, each of them can pump 105A, which makes this motherboard adequate, even if you’re looking to overclock.

✅You need plenty of rear USB ports: In addition to the 9 ports available through the internal headers, the motherboard features a whopping 12 rear USB ports.

Don't Buy It If

❌A 10G LAN port is necessary: Unfortunately, there are no 10G ports, which really should have been there at this price.

What Makes It The Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X?

The X670E Aorus Master was the best all-rounder we found in our collection of testing motherboards. Its price is down to $379, which is quite good because it offers almost everything you would find in a high-end motherboard. For instance, dual PCIe 5.0 M.2 ports, support for dual GPUs, and 2x USB 3.2 20Gbps ports, too. Not only that, it looks great and had our 9950X running like clockwork.

Editor`s Note

We had a handful of motherboards fitting into the “Best Overall” category, but no board ticked all the boxes for us quite like the X670E Aorus Master. Its looks, performance, and features are incredible.

– Dr. Usman Saleem

Performance: 9/10	Value: 8/10
Features: 9/10	Design: 9/10

Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX

Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X

Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Minimalistic design
Memory support up to DDR5-8000
PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot
USB 3.2 20Gbps present in internal header
Useful “multi-key”
Convenient EZ-latch design for M.2 and PCIe slots

Cons

No debug LED panel

Check Price

The B650 Aorus Elite AX from Gigabyte is another board with an almost all-black design, but with silver elements this time. Overall, it looks neat, but they could’ve toned it down with the AORUS branding. For VRMs, we have a 14+2+1 setup, and the heatsinks, with 7 W/mK thermal pads and a 6mm heat pipe, are there for the cooling. My testing showed that the VRMs are enough for 9950X, but there’s not much overclocking headroom.

Moving on, the motherboard sports a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, 2x PCIe 4.0 slots, plus 4x SATA III ports. RAM speeds of up to 8000 MT/s, which is what you’ll find in high-end boards, but we only have a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot for the GPU (as supported by the chipset). The number of USB ports is adequate and includes a USB 3.2 20Gbps header. Lastly, the motherboard supports WiFi 6E and has a 2.5G LAN port for networking.

Impressed with its value, here’s what Nauman Siddique said:

At the end of the day, the B650 AORUS ELITE AX is almost a balanced feature set provider motherboard that the user can get for their daily driver need. The game is strong with the storage department of this motherboard and USB Type-C Gen 2×2 port provisions as well, though don’t expect to find a PCIe Gen 5 X16 slot.

Buy It If

✅You want a minimalistic-looking board: The motherboard features a neat design with its AORUS branding and a unique set of stripes running diagonally through it.

✅Convenience is important: With its dedicated “Smart Button” and EZ-latch designs for the GPU and primary M.2 slots, the motherboard adds a touch of convenience that can be appreciated.

Don't Buy It If

❌You want to overclock: There’s not a lot of room for overclocking on this board, with the VRMs only able to provide 980A at best to the CPU.

What Makes It The Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X?

Well, first off, the price; at $199, the B650 Aorus Elite AX sits at the top of mid-range B650 boards, and that is represented in its features set. It looks good and includes a PCIe 5.0 M.2 port, USB 3.2 20Gbps header. DDR5 support is up to 8000 MT/s (max 192GB). Finally, its 14-phase VCore VRM design is not amazing, but more than enough for the Ryzen 9 9950X.

Performance: 8/10	Value: 9/10
Features: 8.5/10	Design: 9/10

MSI MEG X670E ACE

Best Overclocking Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X

MSI MEG X670E ACE Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Premium design
Memory support up to DDR5-8000
Multiple PCIe 5.0 slots
(Up to) 6x M.2 slots
Wealth of USB ports
Excellent VRMs
High-end audio setup
10G LAN port

Cons

Very expensive
No USB4 port

Check Price

The MSI MEG X670 ACE showcases a premium aesthetic with a carbon-black theme, 3x RGB zones, and unique designs on the chipsets. It has an 8-layered PCB and relies on 2x 8-pin 12V connectors for power delivery to the CPU, which then passes through its massive 22-phase VRM design. This was more than enough for us to overclock the 9950X, while the VRMs kept under 55°C thanks to its excellently designed heatsinks.

Moving on, the motherboard can house up to 256GB of DDR5-8000 memory. For storage, there are 6x SATA III ports and 4x M.2 slots (plus two more with the included add-in card). The MEG X670E ACE also supports multi-GPU setups. I was happy to see 3x USB 20 Gbps ports. Its audio setup is top-class, and it also has a 10G LAN port, which is a great set of features.

While acknowledging its premium cost, here’s what I said after testing this beast:

The MSI MEG X670E ACE stands out for its performance, comprehensive features, and premium build quality, making it a top choice for gamers and professionals.

Buy It If

✅You’re looking for a feature-rich motherboard: If you’re seeking a motherboard with a plethora of premium features like multiple USB 3.2 20 Gbps ports, a 10G LAN port, etc., then this is the motherboard for you.

✅You have a ton of storage to install: With room for up to six NVMe drives (including 3x PCIe 5.0 ones) and 6x SATA drives, you’ll never run out of storage space with this board.

Don't Buy It If

❌USB4 is important: If you need a USB4 connection in your motherboard, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

What Makes It The Best Overclocking Motherboard For The Ryzen 9 9950X?

The MSI MEG X670E Ace is an absolute powerhouse and I recommend it to that needs a top-notch board for their 9950X, where budget is no issue. It has a premium aesthetic, and its high-end VRMs and cooling allow us to overclock our Ryzen chip without worries. Not only that, it has a 10G LAN port, multiple 20Gbps USB ports, a high-end audio setup, and its memory support is the best in its class.

WARNING: One of the rear 20 Gbps USB Type-C port and the PCI_E3 slot share bandwidth, and you won’t be able to use the USB port if you use this PCIe slot.

Read Our MSI MEG X670E ACE Review

Performance: 9.5/10	Value: 8/10
Features: 9.5/10	Design: 9/10

ASUS ROG Strix X670E-A Gaming

Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X

Asus ROG STRIX X670E-A Gaming WiFi

Pros

Nice, subtle RGB
2x PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots
2x USB 3.2 20Gbps ports
Impressive audio setup

Cons

No debug LED panel

Check Price

The ROG STRIX X670E-A has a distinctive black-and-white theme, with an all-black PCB and “silver-white” heatsinks. There’s a big RGB zone atop the main VRM heatsink featuring the iconic AORUS logo, and it provides a good amount of illumination. These VRM heatsinks are tasked with cooling the 16+2+2 power phase setup, which proved plenty for the 9950X in our testing, and the temperatures were kept in check.

Of course, we get the latest PCIe 5.0 tech, including 2x M.2 slots, plus 4x SATA III ports. DDR5 support (up to 8000 MT/s) is flagship class, and we can confirm that our 6400 MT/s kit ran just fine. For networking, the motherboard has a 2.5G LAN port and WiFi 6E. It was nice to see the inclusion of 2x USB 3.2 2×2 ports, and the audio setup on this board is quite good, too.

PRO TIP: While the board supports memory speeds up to 8000 MT/s, make sure you refer to the Qualified Vendors List (QVL) to ensure compatibility with your kit.

Buy It If

✅You’re looking for a good-looking white motherboard: Although the motherboard is ideal for black-themed builds too, its silver-white heatsinks can make for a great choice for white-themed builds.

Don't Buy It If

❌You need better troubleshooting features: While we do have 4x LED lights for CPU, RAM, GPU, or boot device, a debug LED panel would have added further convenience.

What Makes It The Best White Motherboard For The Ryzen 9 9950X?

The ROG Strix X670E-A is not only an eye candy with its beautiful black and white theme and onboard RGB, but its packed with a great amount of features. It is PCIe Gen 5-ready, has a 20 Gbps USB-C port and a decent audio setup. I liked its Dynamic OC switcher function that can switch between your manual settings and PBO, and its convenient Q-Latch design for the M.2 slots.

Performance: 9/10	Value: 8/10
Features: 9/10	Design: 9/10

ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi

Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X

ASRock B650E PG-ITX Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

PCIe 5.0 M.2 and GPU slots
Good VRM setup
USB 3.2 20Gbps available through front header
Included M.2 fan

Cons

Only 2x SATA III ports
Only 2x case fan headers (if the M.2 fan is used)
Cheap audio solution

Check Price

As a mini-ITX board, the B650E PG-ITX doesn’t have much going for it regarding looks; it has a mostly black design, with hints of white, plus red stripes running across the VRM heatsink. The VRM heatsink itself has a brushed aluminum texture and connects to the M.2 heatsink through a heat pipe. It is tasked with cooling the 13-phase VRM setup, which was enough for us to run the 9950X with a mild overclock.

It has 2x M.2 slots (1x PCIe 5.0), one full PCIe 5.0 x16 lane for the GPU, and two SATA III ports (which could fall short of some users’ needs). While the addition of an M.2 fan is thoughtful, it leaves us with only 2x fan headers. The board supports DDR5 speeds up to 6800 MT/s, which is good enough, but its dated audio codec may not please audiophiles. Lastly, we get a USB 3.2 20Gbps port and WiFi 6E.

This is what Nauman Siddique said after testing the ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi:

If you are looking for a motherboard in a small form factor (Mini-ITX) with a balanced feature set without compromising on main connectivity, including a Gen5-based PCIe slot and M.2 NVMe port in a good price range, ASRock has got you covered. Say hello to the B650E PG-ITX WIFI motherboard. It is a tiny beast featuring an AM5 platform with many features and efficient cooling for key components. It comes recommended by us.

Buy It If

✅You need the best I/O on a mini-ITX form factor: With its mini-ITX form factor, the PG-ITX WiFi includes a PCIe 5.0 GPU and M.2 slot, plus a USB 20 Gbps port.

Don't Buy It If

❌You need more fan headers: If you utilize the included M.2 slot fan, you’ll be left with only 2x more headers for case fans.

What Makes It The Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For The Ryzen 9 9950X?

The B650E PG-ITX is small but packs a lot of heat for its size. For one, its VRM setup is more than adequate for the Ryzen 9 9950X, even if you want to mess around with Precision Boost or some mild manual overclocking. Moreover, its feature set should be enough for most users, with the inclusion of a PCIe 5.0 M.2 port, USB 3.2 20Gbps port, 2.5G LAN, WiFi 6E, and more.

Performance: 8/10	Value: 8/10
Features: 8/10	Design: 8/10

The Narrow Misses

Some motherboards narrowly missed our list; here’s why.

Asus ROG STRIX B650E-F Gaming WiFi: We loved everything about this motherboard but would’ve liked a slightly more attractive price (compared to its $254).
Gigabyte X670 Aorus Elite AX: Problems like its budget audio codec, absence of post-code debug panel, and competing B650E boards (with GPU PCIe 5.0, of course) turned us away.

Specifications Comparison

Here’s how our picks compare in some key specifications:

Motherboard Model	Total Power Phases	Max Memory Speed (MT/s)	Max Memory Capacity (GB)	No. of M.2 slots	No. of SATA III ports	No. of USB ports (Front)	No. of USB ports (Rear)
Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master	20	8000	256	3	6	9	12
Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX	17	8000	256	3	4	7	12
MSI MEG X670E ACE	25	8000	256	4	6	14	11
ASUS ROG Strix X670E-A Gaming	20	8000	192	4	4	7	12
ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi	13	6400	128	2	2	5	8

Important Terms About Motherboards

VRM: This is the part of the motherboard that ensures your CPU gets a stable voltage, helping maintain reliable performance.
Chipset: The chipset consists of crucial circuits that handle communication between the CPU, RAM, and other components.
Expansion Slots: These are used for adding extra components like graphics cards, sound cards, or network cards to expand your PC’s capabilities.
DIMM Slots: These slots are where you insert RAM modules, giving the CPU quick access to the data it needs to process.
Form Factor: This defines the motherboard’s size and shape, influencing which cases it fits and the number of expansion slots you can use.

How I Rounded Up These Motherboards

My team and I have been trying and testing different motherboards to gain insights into their performances, features, and overall value. During our testing, we focused the most on these aspects:

Overall Performance: I paid close attention to the VRM quality and overclocking capabilities. Motherboards with strong VRMs are crucial for stable overclocking, which is especially valuable for enthusiasts looking to push their systems further. Having a stronger VRM structure also translates to better overall performance.
Features: I looked for motherboards packed with useful features like built-in Wi-Fi, multiple M.2 slots, and plenty of USB ports. For a CPU like 9950X, these are a must-have.
Design: I didn’t overlook the design aspect. I evaluated the visual appeal, RGB lighting options, and overall layout. A good-looking motherboard can make your PC stand out and increase overall satisfaction.
Value: I analyzed whether each motherboard was worth its price. Apart from performance, I considered if the features and capabilities justified the cost, ensuring you get the best bang for your buck.

FAQs

Is it worth getting the Ryzen 9 9950X over the Ryzen 7 7800X3D for gaming?

According to AMD’s senior Technical Marketing Manager, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D will remain the gaming king of its lineup, albeit by little margin.

What memory speed is best for the Ryzen 9 9950X?

According to our tests, the best (and most stable) results were seen while testing the Ryzen 9 9950X with 6400 MT/s memory.

Can I use DDR4 memory with Ryzen 9 9950X?

No. AMD’s AM5 platform only supports DDR5 memory.

[Reviews Specialist]

Get In Touch: usman@tech4gamers.com

BEST Motherboards For Ryzen 9 9950X [Expert Testing] is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News

Best Motherboards For Ryzen 5 9600X [Tried & Tested]

Dr. Usman Saleem — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 07:45:58 +0000

I have tested the Ryzen 5 9600X, and it is a great mid-range CPU that offers incredible performance at its price. However, you’ll need the best motherboard for the Ryzen 5 9600X to enjoy its benefits. Therefore, I have compiled a list of some of the best offerings for the processor based on my first-hand testing experience.

Why Trust Tech4Gamers

Usman Saleem is our hardware tester who loves to put all the latest GPUs, CPUs, RAM, and motherboards for a spin.
40+ motherboards tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
800+ hours spent testing different motherboards for our reviews.
Objective testing criteria (See how we test motherboards).

Here’s a quick comparison table of all our top motherboard offerings:

Motherboard

Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2

MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi

ASUS ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi 6E

Looks

Award

Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 5 9600X

Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 5 9600X

Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 5 9600X

What We Liked

VRM, Connectivity, Storage, RAM Support

Solid performance, Good cooling, Attractive price

Design, RGB, VRM Structure, Cooling

What We Disliked

No Debug LED

No PCIe 5.0

Price

Chipset

B650

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

12+2+2

14+2+1

12+2

Memory

DDR5 8,000+ (OC)

DDR5 7,600+ (OC)

DDR5 6,400+ (OC)

USB Ports

12x Rear, 7x Front

12x Rear, 11x Front

9x Rear, 7x Front

Storage

3x M.2, 4x SATA 6G

3x M.2 (PCIe 4.0 x4), 6x SATA 6G

3x M.2, 4x SATA 6G

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Motherboard

Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2

Looks

Award

Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 5 9600X

What We Liked

VRM, Connectivity, Storage, RAM Support

What We Disliked

No Debug LED

Chipset

B650

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

12+2+2

Memory

DDR5 8,000+ (OC)

USB Ports

12x Rear, 7x Front

Storage

3x M.2, 4x SATA 6G

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Motherboard

MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi

Looks

Award

Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 5 9600X

What We Liked

Solid performance, Good cooling, Attractive price

What We Disliked

No PCIe 5.0

Chipset

B650

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

14+2+1

Memory

DDR5 7,600+ (OC)

USB Ports

12x Rear, 11x Front

Storage

3x M.2 (PCIe 4.0 x4), 6x SATA 6G

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

Motherboard

ASUS ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi 6E

Looks

Award

Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 5 9600X

What We Liked

Design, RGB, VRM Structure, Cooling

What We Disliked

Price

Chipset

B650

Form Factor

ATX

Power Delivery

12+2

Memory

DDR5 6,400+ (OC)

USB Ports

9x Rear, 7x Front

Storage

3x M.2, 4x SATA 6G

RGB

Amazon

Newegg

I have also reviewed its big brother, the Ryzen 7 9700X. If you end up buying the 9600X, we’ve also tested and rounded up the top coolers for it.

[toc]

Best Motherboards For Ryzen 5 9600X

Here are the motherboards I have chosen for the Ryzen 5 9600X based on my hands-on testing experience and the features they come with:

Best Overall: Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2
Best Value: MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi
Best White: ASUS ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi 6E

Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2

Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 5 9600X

Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2 Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Effective VRM cooling
Plethora of USB ports
Gen 5.0 M.2 slot
Remarkable RAM support
Ez latch M.2 connectors
Overall good performance
5-year warranty

Cons

No debug LED
Minimal RGB lighting

Check Price

Starting with the Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2 motherboard’s aesthetics, it comes with a decent black body and slight RGB lighting. Personally, I would have loved some more RGB, but the motherboard is perfect for those trying to build a silent PC. It has a 12+2+2 VRM, making it an ideal match for mid-range CPUs that do not require too much power.

Additionally, you get 3x M.2 and 4x SATA 6G slots for storage, allowing enough slots to fit all your HDDs and SSDs. I also like the plethora of USB ports in the motherboard, with 11x ports at the rear and 7x at the front. Not only do those many USB ports ensure you can easily connect all your peripherals, but they also leave you some extra for future uses. However, the feature that intrigued me the most was the 8,000MHz support, which allowed incredible overclocking opportunities.

When Nauman Siddique, our hardware expert, tested the GIGABYTE B650 AORUS ELITE AX, he said:

At the end of the day, the B650 AORUS ELITE AX is almost a balanced feature set provider motherboard that the user can get for their daily driver need. The game is strong with the storage department of this motherboard and USB Type-C Gen 2×2 port provisions as well, though don’t expect to find a PCIe Gen 5 X16 slot.

Buy It If

✅You plan on overclocking the CPU and require higher RAM support: I recommend purchasing the Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2 motherboard if you plan on overclocking the Ryzen 5 9600X CPU and require higher RAM frequency support, up to DDR5 8,000MHz.

Don't Buy It If

❌You want classier aesthetics: The Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2 motherboard might not be for you if you’re looking for classier aesthetics, as it only comes with minimal RGB lighting and plain black looks.

What Makes It The Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 5 9600X?

The most intriguing aspect of the Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2 motherboard is its outstanding RAM support, which allows incredible overclocking opportunities for Ryzen processors. Moreover, I loved the effective VRM cooling, many USB ports, and decent storage options, making it the best overall motherboard for the Ryzen 5 9600X.

Editor`s Note

The one thing I loved the most about the Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2 motherboard is its tremendous RAM support, allowing enthusiasts to delve into extreme overclocking. I recommend this motherboard for enthusiasts who know how to overclock PC components.

– Dr. Usman Saleem

Performance: 9/10	Value: 10/10
Features: 9/10	Design: 7/10

MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi

Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 5 9600X

MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi Pictures From Our Review

1 of 4

Pros

Solid 14+2+1 VRM phase
Impressive 6-layer PCB
Lots of storage slots
Great cooling features
Beautiful M.2 screwless cover

Cons

No RGB
No PCIe Gen 5

Check Price

If you’re looking for a value option motherboard that pairs great with the Ryzen 5 9600X, the MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi is an amazing option because of its impressive 6-layer PCB and 14+2+1 VRM design. While the motherboard has decent features, its value comes from saving money on a fancy design with RGB and not including PCIe Gen 5.

With 10x rear and 7x front USB ports, you won’t have any problems connecting your peripherals. Moreover, the motherboard provides decent storage options with 3x M.2 and 6x SATA 6G slots. I also loved the beautiful M.2 screwless cover, which made installation easier and the design more elegant.

I tested the motherboard and loved its performance. Here’s what I stated in my review:

The MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard delivers robust performance at an affordable price, making it a great value for budget-conscious users. The motherboard features comprehensive USB connectivity with 23 ports, including a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C. The cooling solutions, including extended heatsinks and thermal pads, also performed impressively well in all my tests. Overall, I recommend it to anyone looking for a bang-for-the-buck B650 motherboard.

Buy It If

✅You need multiple USB connections in a value motherboard: The motherboard packs 23 USB connections, including a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C port, ensuring users don’t have any issues connecting additional components.

Don't Buy It If

❌You require PCIe Gen 5.0 for extreme content creation: If you’re a hardcore gamer or a content creator who can’t forego PCIe Gen 5.0, then the MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard may not be for you due to features it cuts out on.

What Makes It The Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 5 9600X?

The motherboard is ideal for overclocking on a budget, providing a solid 14+2+1 VRM phase and an impressive 6-layer PCB. Furthermore, I also love its decent storage options and the beautiful screwless M.2 cover, ultimately making the MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi the best value motherboard for the Ryzen 5 9600X CPU.

WARNING: If you’re using both PCI_E3 and M2_3 simultaneously, then they will operate at half the speed due to a shared bandwidth slowing down your NVMe storage drives.

Performance: 8/10	Value: 10/10
Features: 8/10	Design: 8/10

ASUS ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi 6E

Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 5 9600X

ASUS ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi 6E

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Pros

Beautiful aesthetics
Impressive RGB lighting
Solid VRM phase
Decent cooling capabilities
Good BIOS
Reliable build quality

Cons

Slightly expensive
Lesser storage support for price

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For the last motherboard, if you want to focus on aesthetics with the Ryzen 5 9600X and are planning a white PC build, then the ASUS ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi 6E is an ideal choice because of its looks and performance. You also get a solid VRM design with a 12+2 VRM phase and don’t have to worry about VRM temperatures during slight overclocking, either.

With its beautiful white aesthetics and impressive RGB lighting, the motherboard charmed me within moments of unboxing. However, later on, I came to love its reliable build quality and reputable 9x rear and 7x front USB ports. Although it showcases lesser storage support for its price, the 3x M.2 and 4x SATA 6G support should be enough for most use-case scenarios.

Buy It If

✅You want a mid-range AM5 motherboard: The ASUS ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi 6E motherboard has just the right amount of features without inflating the price. Screwless M.2 drives and a release button for the GPU make it easier to build around.

Don't Buy It If

❌You require more storage support: I don’t recommend purchasing this motherboard if you require more storage support for content creation because the ASUS ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi 6E comes with 4x SATA ports, making it difficult to fit your needs.

What Makes It The Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 5 9600X?

Coming with deadly white aesthetics and beautiful RGB lighting, the ASUS ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi 6E motherboard is more than just its looks. With a solid VRM phase, good BIOS, and decent build quality, it’s the best white motherboard for the Ryzen 5 9600X CPU.

Best White PC Build

Performance: 9/10	Value: 8/10
Features: 8/10	Design: 10/10

Specifications Comparison

We have created a specifications comparison table to make it easier for you to choose a motherboard based on your requirements:

Motherboard Model	Total Power Phases	Max Memory Speed (MT/s)	No. of M.2 slots	No. of SATA III ports	No. of USB ports (Front)	No. of USB ports (Rear)
Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX V2	16	8000	3	4	7	11
MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi	17	7600	3	6	11	12
ASUS ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi 6E	14	6400	3	4	7	9

Why We Didn’t Add The Following Motherboards

Because we narrowed it down to only three motherboards, there are quite a few that didn’t make the list. However, these are some of the stronger contenders that showed great potential:

Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX Ice: The motherboard’s lower-quality audio codec makes it unsuitable for high-end HiFi headphones, removing it from our list.
ASRock B650 Pro RS: Although amazing as a value motherboard, its lack of built-in WiFi and support for PCIe Gen 5 makes it inferior to many other competitors within the same price range.

Key Motherboard Terms

Chipset: Manages communication between the CPU, RAM, storage, and peripherals, keeping everything running smoothly.
VRM (Voltage Regulator Module): Circuitry that ensures stable voltage to the CPU and other parts.
CPU Socket: The slot where the CPU is installed, connecting it to the motherboard.
PCIe Slots: Slots for expansion cards like graphics cards, sound cards, and network adapters.
DIMM Slots: Slots for RAM modules, allowing the CPU quick access to temporary data.
Form Factor: The size and shape of the motherboard determine which cases it fits into. Common sizes include ATX, micro ATX, mini ITX, and E-ATX.

How I Tested These Motherboards

For this roundup, I tested a bunch of different motherboards following this strategy:

Power Delivery: When testing, I paid close attention to power delivery. The Ryzen 5 9600X is a great CPU, so we need to do it justice by pairing it with the right VRM structure.
Features: Modern motherboards come loaded with features, but some stand out more than others. I looked at storage, connectivity, and networking features to help you choose the right one.
Value For Money: For the Ryzen 5 9600X, I found the best options typically sit in the mid-range. As such, I focused on recommending motherboards that offer the best value for your money.

FAQs

Which motherboard chipset supports the Ryzen 5 9600X?

The Ryzen 9000 series processors support AMD 600 and AMD 800 series chipset motherboards.

Does the B550 support the Ryzen 9000 series processors?

Unfortunately, no. AMD’s 7000 series and 9000 series processors are only supported by AM5 motherboards.

Should I get a B650 or an X670 for the Ryzen 5 9600X?

B650 motherboards can run a mid-range CPU like the Ryzen 5 9600X. If you’re planning on upgrading your CPU soon, an X670 might be warranted.

Looking for more options? We have you covered:

Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 9900X