AMD has been making waves of late and with good reason; Its 7950X3D has taken back the performance crown from Intel, and it looks to deliver on the promise the Ryzen 7000 series had when it launched before it was overshadowed by a resurgent Intel 13th generation processor lineup. As we gear up for AMD's upcoming Ryzen 7 7800X3D 8-Core, 16-Thread processor, all eyes are on AMD as it looks to recreate its success with the 5800X3D with what seems to be, based on AMD's own provided benchmarks a CPU that beats the competition comprehensively with ease while maintaining power efficiency that has never been seen before.
A gaming motherboard should be judged by its performance in multiple metrics including but not limited to:
- Stability While Gaming
- Overclocking Performance
- RAM Compatibility
- Power Delivery options
- Support For Upcoming Processors
- Timely BIOS Updates
- Storage options
- Networking options
To run AMD's highest-end offerings as well as any of the Ryzen 7000 or 7000X3D lineups you would need a motherboard that supports the AM5 socket and sports the AMD 600 series chipset (B650/X670/X670E). But with so many options to choose from, one can easily get confused about what to buy given the plethora of options that often are not quite well-distinguished from each other; This makes choosing the right motherboard for the right job a tad harder. Thankfully the team at GameRant has decided to lend you a hand by highlighting some of the best motherboards for gaming.
All our recommendations are specific to AM5 socket motherboards. That means only AMD Ryzen 7000 series and up processors are compatible with these motherboards.
ASUS ROG Strix X670E-F Gaming Wi-Fi
The Emperor Goes ROG
The ASUS ROG Strix X670E-F Gaming Wi-Fi is an amalgamation of what AMD enthusiasts, motherboard manufacturers, and system builders would approve of at a price that can be considered reasonable compared to the competition. The feature-rich motherboard supports up to 128 GB of DDR5 ram, 4 M2 Slots, a PCI-Express x16 slot and up to 17 USB ports meaning that connectivity should not be an issue for most power users.
- Brand
- ASUS
- Memory Slots
- 4
- Memory Type
- DDR5 Upto 6400MHz
- Form Factor
- ATX
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- USB Ports
- Upto 17
- M.2 NVMe Connector
- 4 x M2 slots
- CPU Support
- AMD Ryzen 7000 Series
- Chipset
- X670E
- Socket
- AMD AM5
- Power Phases
- 16+2
- Networking
- 2.5G Ethernet plus Wi-Fi 6E
- Better value for money than comparable options from ASUS & competitors
- Has an excellent 16+2 phase power delivery system
- Has plenty of I/O & Network connectivity options built into the board
- AMD"s X670E motherboards are generally costly and this is no exception despite being midrange in ASUS's own product line
The ASUS ROG Strix X670E-F Gaming Wi-Fi motherboard is in just the right place at the right time for most gamers. It isn't the crazy overkill that the Hero and the Crosshair Extreme are for most users while it delivers substantial value compared to most of the motherboards that directly compete with it, often at sub $500 price points. It is feature-rich and comes with support for PCI-E 5.0 on both the x16 slot and the M2 slot out of the box making it a true long-term investment while the AM5 socket remains in play.
While AMD's X670E motherboards are generally pricier than Intel's more premium end, they are expected to remain relevant far longer than Intel's current crop of 600 and 700 series motherboards. That isn't exactly an excuse for their abysmal pricing at times, but it should make parting with your cash easier knowing you picked up a motherboard that will possibly be a mainstay in your system for multiple generations of processors.
ASRock X670E PG Lightning Gaming Motherboard
The Complete Deal Sans Wi-Fi
The ASRock X670E PG Lightning Gaming Motherboard is one of the best value purchases you can get when it comes to a gaming motherboard for the AM5 socket/Ryzen 7000 processor lineup. Featuring the full X670E chipset coupled with extensive I/O options, the X670E does sacrifice Wi-Fi despite offering antenna cutouts on its IO plate but more than makes up for it with its value proposition
- Brand
- ASRock
- Graphics Card Interface
- PCI-E Gen 5
- Memory Slots
- 4
- Memory Type
- DDR5, upto 6600MHz
- Form Factor
- ATX
- Wi-Fi
- N/A
- USB Ports
- Upto 21 USB ports
- M.2 NVMe Connector
- 4 x M2 Sockets
- CPU Support
- AMD Ryzen 7000 Series
- Chipset
- X670E
- Socket
- AM5
- Power Phases
- 14+2+1
- Networking
- 2.5G Ethernet
- Offers a full X670E chipset under the hood at an excellent price point
- Allows for decent memory overclocking headroom
- Has excellent I/O offerings with 4 M2 slots, 1 x PCI-E 5.0 GPU slot and a large amount of potential USB ports depending on the case you pair it with
- Has decent software support with one of the more functional BIOS offerings in the industry
- Skips Wi-Fi Altogether despite offering cut-outs for the same
- Requires bios updates to deal with slow boot issues stemming from older BIOS variants
The ASRock X670E PG Lightning Gaming Motherboard is an excellent mid-range X670E-based motherboard that allows users to game and perform productivity-related work with ease thanks to the highest-end AMD chipset on offer coupled with excellent power delivery in tow.
It does sacrifice its Wi-Fi capabilities to manage cost but in return does offer significant amounts of I/O options that are normally found in higher-end motherboards from competitors. As gamers, most users want low-latency gaming, so the capable 2.5G ethernet port should take care of most of your needs as a gamer or content creator, even if the option for wireless connectivity would have been ideal.
The ASRock X670E PG Lightning Gaming Motherboard is a capable performer that delivers on its promise and has a few quirks that can be remedied at a small additional cost such as adding a capable Wi-Fi adapter should the need arise.
GIGABYTE B650 AORUS Elite AX
Budget Performer
The Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX is a high-end motherboard featuring the B650 chipset that allows it to command a much lower price point, closer to AMD's more budget-oriented motherboard lineups. It is a capable entry that also offers a PCI-E Gen 5 M2 slot that should allow access to faster PCI-E 5.0 storage down the line
- Brand
- Gigabyte
- Memory Slots
- 4
- Memory Type
- DDR5, Upto 6666MHz
- Form Factor
- ATX
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- USB Ports
- Upto 19 USB ports
- M.2 NVMe Connector
- 3 x M2 connectors
- CPU Support
- AMD Ryzen 7000 Series
- Chipset
- B650
- Socket
- AMD AM5
- Power Phases
- 14+2+1
- Networking
- 2.5G Ethernet + Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.3
- Has PCI-E 5.0 M2 SSD support along with X16 port
- Has a dedicated heat spreader for each M2 slot
- Has an excellent power delivery mechanism
- Has an excellent I/O and networking stack which allows it to make a good case for general-purpose or content creation use
- Still somewhat pricey compared to where B650 motherboards should be as an entry-level chipset
The GIGABYTE B650 AORUS Elite AX is a budget B650-based motherboard that stretches the definition of 'budget gaming' as it delivers on pretty much every metric one would use to judge its higher-end siblings. For a motherboard sporting an entry-level chipset from AMD, one would expect a lot less but given the price and the lack of better options in the same price range, it is a no-brainer contender for our pick of the best budget AMD motherboard.
With overclockable DDR5 support along with an extensive networking hardware stack in play that offers Wi-Fi 6E and PCI-E 5.0 support out of the box, the B650-based motherboard also comes with a capable 14+2+1 phase power delivery system that pulls it ahead of its competition. While it is on the high side of where motherboards should cost, we feel this one justifies its price while offering an excellent, future-proof alternative to motherboards that cost a multiple of the same.
ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING Wi-Fi
Compact, Competent Entre
The ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING Wi-Fi is an excellent Mini-ITX motherboard that is more than capable of handling the latest and the greatest AMD Ryzen 7000 processors in a form factor that would appeal to minimalists as well as space-restricted professionals and gamers alike.
- Brand
- ASUS ROG
- Memory Slots
- 2
- Memory Type
- DDR5, Upto 6400MHz
- Form Factor
- M-ITX
- Wi-Fi
- Yes, AX 6E
- USB Ports
- 10 Rear Ports
- CPU Support
- AMD Ryzen 7000 Series
- Chipset
- X670E
- Socket
- AM5
- Power Phases
- 10+2 Phase Power Delivery
- Networking
- Wifi + 2.5G Ethernet
- High-Performance X670E in a compact package
- Uses the bundled ROG Strix Hive add-on to extend functionality (optional use)
- Has a dedicated PBO button for overclocking
- Has limited I/O on the board itself which might limit people wanting to build a system in chunks.(2 x M2 slots and 2 x ram slots)
The ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING Wi-Fi combines a powerful X670E-based motherboard with the compactness that the M-ITX spec dictates. It remains a credible performer that has multiple overclocking-friendly features in tow as it pushes the boundaries of what is possible from a small form factor PC when paired with processors like the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D or 7950X while throwing in dual USB 4.0 ports into the mix for power users.
It does suffer somewhat from the lack of space as it reduces its DDR5 ram slots to 2 and also offers only 2 M2 slots onboard. It does attempt to compensate for the limited I/O on board by offering more control via the ASUS ROG Strix Hive and the Asus ROG FPS-II card that extend more headers and ports using a vertically mounted approach to remain within M-ITX specifications.
ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme Motherboard
With Great Power Comes Great Cost
The ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme is the most premium entry from the Taiwan-based company, and it combines its proprietary AniMe Matrix LED with the best-in-class power delivery option that ASUS has on offer to cater to the highest-end consumer audience
- Brand
- ASUS ROG
- Memory Slots
- 4
- Memory Type
- DDR5 6400MHz
- Form Factor
- E-ATX
- Wi-Fi
- Yes, Wifi AX 6E
- USB Ports
- 12 Onboard
- CPU Support
- Amd Ryzen 7000 Series
- Chipset
- X670E
- Socket
- AM5
- Power Phases
- 20+2
- Is USB 4 ready out of the box unlike most of its competition
- Backed by an industry-leading 20+2 power phase design
- The Graphics card holder is a nice touch from ASUS that should be more market standard for higher-end motherboards
- Easily one of the best looking X670E motherboards if not the best; ANIME MATRIX LED & LIVEDASH OLED make this look futuristic and polished at the same time.
- Has prohibitive cost, costing more than the MSRP of any AMD processor that would go with the motherboard easily
- Users needing a native Displayport would need to use an adapter (provided) which is somewhat self-defeating for a high-end motherboard
The ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme is a no-holds-barred approach as ASUS pulls out all the stops to make a motherboard that holds up in scrutiny against the best in the business while beating them comprehensively in style and looks. While the latter part of the statement might be opinion based on personal preference, it does feature as arguably one of the best-looking X670E motherboards if not singularly the best.
Featuring one of the best 20+2 phase power designs in play with USB 4.0 ports out of the box, the ROG Crosshair uses both the Anime Matrix LED system as an appearance from its Livedash OLED to essentially polish off a very premium-looking motherboard. At a closer look, we see Wi-Fi 6E support coupled with 10G Ethernet and an additional 2.5G Ethernet port for those who need it. With as many as 5 gen 5 M2 slots (using its Genz.2 module) and support for as many as 22 USB ports, the ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme is flexing its extremely potent I/O capabilities (pun intended).
Our only gripe is the cost which is prohibitively high. Until recently, the ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme was trading at a premium on most marketplaces which shows that despite the price, it does cater to a certain enthusiast and creator market. However, if you want the best there is when it comes to gaming keyboards and the cost is not an issue, you can not go wrong with the Crosshair X670E Extreme.
MSI MEG X670E GODLIKE Motherboard
Powerful Overclocking Meets AMD's Best Chipset
The MSI MEG X670E GODLIKE is MSI's version of what the highest-end AMD motherboard offering should look like. And it does check nearly all of those boxes. The price however might be too restrictive for most users except overclocking enthusiasts.
- Brand
- MSI MEG
- Memory Slots
- 4
- Memory Type
- DDR5, Up to 6666MHz
- Form Factor
- E-ATX
- Wi-Fi
- Yes, AX 6E
- USB Ports
- 9 onboard
- CPU Support
- AMD Ryzen 7000 Series
- Chipset
- X670E
- Socket
- AM5
- Power Phases
- 24+2+1 Phase Power Design
- Networking
- Wifi 6E + 10G+2.5G Ethernet
- Has best-in-class power delivery that should help with stable overclocking out of the box
- Offers decent memory overclocking officially, including support for the new 24/48gb modules (with a bios update)
- Offers an excellent networking stack including Wi-Fi 6E, 10G ethernet and 2.5G ethernet in tow
- Offers stellar support thanks to its much-improved MSI Center software stack and significantly better BIOS than prior iterations
- Has support for as many as 6 M2 Slots out of the box
- Comes with an external, touchscreen dashboard that we would like to see more of in premium motherboards
- The most expensive AM5-based motherboard money can buy currently
- Lacks USB4 ports that the competition has out of the box
The MSI MEG X670E GODLIKE Motherboard is an amalgamation of everything premium you could possibly get from an MSI motherboard condensed into one massive E-ATX-based product offering that should have you covered in terms of IO, networking and overclocking needs for years to come for the AM5 platform.
The MEG X670E GODLIKE is the definition of overkill when it comes to hardware, and it comes with a price to match, taking the not-so-desired crown of the most expensive AM5-based motherboard to date. This is partially due to the extra goodies such as the touchscreen 4.5 Inch M-Vision dashboard and the PCI-E based M2 XPANDER-Z dual slot M2 adapter that enables it to support a total of 6 PCI-E based NVME SSDs.
The lack of USB 4.0 ports however that its rival ASUS does sport in its high-end offerings does put a bit of a damper on MSI's offerings in terms of future-proofing, but otherwise, the MEG is a motherboard that pushes limits in all conceivable ways on the X670E platform while sporting an AM5 socket that we expect to be relevant for years to come.
What's Next After Your Motherboard Purchase?
Already purchased a motherboard or looking to pair it off with a capable processor from the AMD Ryzen 7000 series? Check out our guide on how the latest and greatest AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D compares to the Ryzen 9 7950X and if it is worth shelling out extra for the former. You might also want to consider our recently-updated guide to purchasing memory/RAM for your DDR5-based AMD PC as well as a GPU to pair with it to bolster your gaming/productivity needs this year.
FAQ:
Q: What is the latest AMD motherboard chipset?
A: AMD's 600 series chipsets are the latest. Chipsets start from the budget-oriented B650 and edge towards the performance tier with the X670 while pushing the enthusiast tier with the X670E chipset.
Q: What processors does the B650 or X670/X670E chipset support?
A: All AM5-based processors to date. While all AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors are supported out of the box currently, Ryzen 7000 X3D series processors might need a bios update to function with motherboards that sport older bios versions.