Here is our review guide of the best motherboards for ryzen 5900X and 5950X.
In October 2020, AMD unveiled its new line of Ryzen 5000 series desktop processors built on the Zen 3 architecture. Although they were confined to the AM4 socket’s 142W power limit, they still promised a 19% increase in instructions per cycle.
In addition to this, they offered higher max boost speeds while virtually maintaining the same power consumption as their predecessors.
Best Motherboard for Ryzen 9 5900X And 5950X
Again, this was due to them utilizing the same AM4 socket that the Zen, Zen Plus, and Zen 2 platforms used.
If you owned any of these Zen processors, it was unlikely that you would have to upgrade your motherboard to accommodate the new processors.
However, there’s a caveat to this fact. Some older X470 and B450 motherboards would require a BIOS update. Regardless, the introduction of the Ryzen 5000 series was the perfect time for Intel users to jump ship.
These new chips offered the best performance per dollar than any other chip that Intel had to offer at the time. The most powerful Ryzen 5000 desktop CPU is the Ryzen 9 5950x followed by the Ryzen 9 5900x.
In the following article, we have highlighted the best four motherboards for Ryzen 9 5000 microprocessors.
Each entry in our list is accompanied by a short review and a set of pros and cons. But before we dive into our product roundup, let us compare the differences between Ryzen 9 5000 series processors and Ryzen 9 3000 series processors.
Ryzen 9 5900X/5950X vs Ryzen 9 3900X/3950X
What follows is a tabular comparison of the Ryzen 9 5000 series and the Ryzen 9 3000 series CPUs.
Ryzen 9 CPU Comparison Table | ||||
| Ryzen 9 5900X | Ryzen 9 5950X | Ryzen 9 3900X | Ryzen 3950X | |
| Release Date: | 5 November 2020 | 5 November 2020 | 7 July 2019 | 25 November 2019 |
| Price: | $549 | $799 | $499 | $749 |
| Cores: | 12 | 16 | 12 | 16 |
| Threads: | 24 | 32 | 24 | 32 |
| Base Clock: | 3.7 GHz | 3.4 GHz | 3.8 GHz | 3.5 GHz |
| Boost Clock: | 4.8 GHz (Max) | 4.9 GHz (Max) | 4.6 GHz | 4.7 GHz |
| Total Cache: | 70MB | 72MB | 70MB | 72MB |
| TDP: | 105W | 105W | 105W | 105W |
The Ryzen 9 3950X could be overclocked to 4.3GHz (base). We can expect the Ryzen 9 5900x and 5950x to have the same (or better) overclock potential. A new series of processors means that older generations will be priced cheaper.
Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 5900X And 5950X
On the other hand, if you decide that you are deadest on upgrading to the latest generation (at this time), then you can proceed with the rest of this guide.
1. ASROCK X570 Extreme 4: Best Budget Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X and 5950X
- Supports AMD AM4 Socket Ryzen 2000 and 3000 Series processors
- 10 Power Phase Design, Supports DDR4 4666+ (OC); 2 PCIe 4. 0 x16, 3 PCIe 4. 0 x1, 1 M. 2(Key E) For WiFi
- AMD Quad CrossFireX and CrossFireX ; 7. 1 CH HD Audio (Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec), Supports DTS Connect
The ASRock X570 Extrem4 is simply stunning. It’s an aesthetic masterpiece that deserves to be shown off through a good tempered-glass gaming case.
This can be attributed to the sleek stainless-steel design. You can tell that ASRock put a lot of attention to detail in the way the motherboard looks.
From the patterns on the I/O shield to the chromatic synchronization of the lights on the logos on the motherboard.
The card comes with two PCIe slots x16 slots for your graphics cards. The main slot uses a reinforced 15μ gold contact to ensure that larger cards fit and are held into place perfectly.
However, thanks to the way the heatsink snakes its way around the m.2 slots, installing a larger graphics card with an m.2 drive can be a little uncomfortable.
According to the specs, the motherboard falls under the ATX form factor. However, by our calculations, it is more of an E-ATX motherboard than it is a regular ATX motherboard. You will need to ensure that you have ample space in your case.
This motherboard is perfect for content creators and users who like to keep an archive of large files on their offline storage.
It comes with eight SATA III connectors and two Hyper M.2 slots. This gives you a diverse set of storage options.
Overall, this is a well-crafted MOBO made from high-density glass fabric. Paired with a Ryzen 9 5900x or 5950x CPU, it should last you for years to come.
Pros:
- Plenty of SATA and USB ports
- Easy-to-use BIOS
- Comes with XMP memory module support
Cons:
- Installing large graphics cards can be tricky (because of MOBO’s cooling)
- Does not come with VGA or DisplayPort (1.2)
- Access to M.2 slots is tricky
2. Asus Rog Strix X570-E: Best Gaming Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X and 5950X
- AMD AM4 Socket and PCIe 4. 0: The perfect pairing for Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 & 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen CPUs
- Aura Sync RGB: ASUS-exclusive aura Sync RGB lighting, including RGB headers and addressable Gen 2 headers
- Comprehensive cooling: active PCH heatsink, MOS heatsink with 8mm Heatpipe, Dual on-board M. 2 heatsinks and a water pump plus Header
If you’re looking for a slightly more expensive alternative to the ASRock X570 Extreme4, then look no further than the ASUS Rog Strix X570-E.
Something that was sorely missing from the aforementioned card was built-in wireless connectivity. The ASUS ROG Strix X570-E solves this by including built-in Bluetooth 5.0 and Intel Wi-Fi 6 antennas.
If you decide to go with this motherboard, you do not have to sacrifice on the storage possibilities that the ASRock X570 Extreme4 has.
This motherboard also comes with eight SATA III connectors and an M.2 Socket 3. The cooling on the ASUS Rog Strix X570-E isn’t as invasive as it is on the ASRock X570 Extreme4.
This means that it’s easier to install your graphics card and your M.2 SSD. Speaking of the graphics card, you get two PCle 4.0 x 16 Safeslots. This motherboard also features a 2.5G ethernet and Intel gigabit connection.
So, if you are experiencing interference, you can always easily switch to a high-speed wired network connection Once again, unlike the ASRock X570 Extreme4, the ASUS Strix features both an HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2.
For front panel I/O connectors, there are two USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectors, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 connector, and four USB 2.0 connectors.
In general, this is a lovely motherboard. The black theme ensures that it will not with the color of any case you fit it into, even if that PC case is white.
Pros:
- More USB 3 Gen 2 ports than competing boards
- 16-phase power delivery
- 2.5 GbE LAN and WiFi 6
Cons:
- Awkward M.2 installation
- Could’ve been more efficient
- Only a single USB 3.0 front panel header
3. GIGABYTE X570 AORUS Master: Best Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X and 5950X
- Supports AMD 3rd Gen Ryzen/ 2nd Gen Ryzen/ 2nd Gen Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics/ Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics processors
- Dual channel ECC/ non-ECC unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs
- Direct 14 phases Infineon digital VRM solution with 50A power stage
These days, it’s impossible to compile a list of motherboards without including at least one from Gigabyte’s AORUS range.
Much like the other motherboards on this list, the Gigabyte’s PCB is made from a multi-layered black high-density fiberglass material.
What this means is that the base is black, as are most of the slots and components. It does have and white highlights to interrupt some of the monotony. Gigabyte did not include much RGB lighting on the motherboard.
However, you can still customize it and create your own effects. The MOBO’s color scheme makes it easier for you to see the RGB lighting.
As with the other motherboards on this list, the Gigabyte X570 AORUS Master comes with dual-channel memory with four DIMM slots.
The DIMM slots are reinforced with steel lining. Unlike the two previous entries on this list, this motherboard only comes with six SATA connectors.
However, in addition to this, it features three M.2 slots.
What we appreciate about this motherboard is the two-digit post-code debug LED. Next to the LED, you’ll find a power-on and reset button.
On the I/O connectors, the motherboard features a flash and a clear CMOS button. This should make troubleshooting a breeze.
The motherboard comes with three full-length PCIe slots. All of them are steel reinforced. We wish we had more space to go more in-depth about this motherboard. All that can be said in the end is that this MOBO is worth its asking price.
Pros:
- 14-phase VRM
- Dual Ethernet and WiFi 6
- Three full-length PCIe and M.2 slots can be used simultaneously
- You can control the speed of chipset fan
Cons:
- Only 4 SATA ports are available if third M.2 slot is being used
- Slightly heavier than other boards
- UEFI has some room for improvement
4. MSI Prestige X570 Creation
- Support for 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen Processors and future AMD Ryzen processors with BIOS update
- On-board Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) with MU-MIMO support it must be wi-fi 6 ax
- AUDIO BOOST 4 technology with NAHIMIC 3 software enhancement for immersive experiences
The Ryzen 9 5900X and 5950X are premium CPUs and thus they deserve to be paired with a premium motherboard. The MSI Prestige X570 Creation is the most expensive board on this list and incidentally the most feature-rich.
The first thing you will notice when you see this motherboard is how large it is. MSI has classified it as an E-ATX motherboard.
There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. You will need to ensure that your case is large enough to accommodate this motherboard. The motherboard’s dimensions are 12 x 10.70 x 2.50 inches (30.50 x 29.71 x 6.35 cm).
Some full towers may not be able to fit it. Therefore, you have to be very careful when you purchase this MOBO.
In terms of I/O, the motherboard features a total of fourteen USB ports. In addition to its Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antenna connectors, it also has a 10G Super Lan and 1 Gigabit LAN port.
It also features a clear CMOS button which is slightly recessed into the I/O shield to prevent people from hitting it by mistake.
On the inside, you’ll find a two-digit post-code LED and a power-on and reset-button.
You’ll also find four debug LEDs. In terms of storage options, the MSI Prestige X570 Creation features just 6 SATA III connectors and two M.2 slots. It also has three PCIe slots and as you would expect, it supports both SLI and Crossfire.
The MSI Prestige X570 is the only motherboard on this list with active cooling. Suffice to say, despite it having two less SATA III connectors than the ASRock X570 Extreme4, it can do everything that all the boards on this list can and more.
Pros:
- Features a wide variety of I/O ports
- Excellent overclocking capability
- 10G super LAN
- XPANDER-Z add-in card allows you to have two extra PCIe 4.0 NVMe slots
- Plethora of USB ports
Cons:
- 2 heatsinks can be a little intrusive
- Higher power consumption
Conclusion
There you have it! In the above guide, we explored the four best motherboards to pair with your Ryzen 9 5900X and 5950X CPUs.
You tried to keep our picks as diverse as possible. However, you will notice that all the motherboards on this list are ATX/E-ATX motherboards.
We just wanted to ensure that each pick had the best features and value for money.
Frequently Asked Questions
What motherboard is compatible with Ryzen 9 5900X?
Although they’re compatible with a wide range of motherboards, we will only recommend X570 motherboards for Ryzen 5900X and 5950X.
It is mainly due to higher power delivery and full PCIe 4.0 connectivity available on these boards.
What is VRM on the motherboard?
VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) is a circuit soldered near the CPU socket of your motherboard.
Its job is to make the voltage coming out of your power supply (+5 V or +12 V) usable for the CPU (1.1 V to 1.3 V) and provide the power it demands – efficiently.
Although most people don’t focus on it, VRM plays a crucial role in how well your CPU overclocks. You can learn more about VRMs here.
What is overclocking?
Overclocking is a method by which we increase the clock speed of our PC components.
Although we can overclock many components such as RAMs and monitors, CPU overclocking is what most people are familiar with.
One advantage of increasing the speed of your CPU is that you can get slightly more performance juice. The downside is that your CPU will consume more power and generate more heat.
So you must invest in good quality PSU, motherboard, and CPU cooler before jumping into the overclocking bandwagon.
Is the X570 motherboard future proof?
It’s too early to predict. There are some rumors that Zen 3+/4 based Ryzen 6000 series processors will not be compatible with the AM4 socket.
So they will come with new motherboards based on a new socket (AM5, maybe?).
X570 chipset is already two years older and will be 3+ by the time the next ryzen processor series comes.
The odds are heavily out of their favor, and we don’t see any futureproofing with these boards until there’s more clarification by the AMD.
Is the Ryzen 5900X worth it?
Yes, having significant performance improvement over its predecessor, the 3900X, the Ryzen5900X is a worthy upgrade.
Is the Ryzen 5950X good for gaming?
Yes, it’s good for gaming and can give you 60+ fps @ 4k in almost any modern AAA title.
But if you’re buying it for only gaming, it would be a total waste of its higher core and thread count.
