If you’re thinking of upgrading to a Ryzen 7000 or a CPU from the newer Ryzen 9000 series, then one of the best AM5 motherboards is essential. This is because there’s no backward compatibility with previous Mobo generations due to the change of socket. Fortunately, new boards don’t have to be too expensive. We’ve considered budget, mid-range, and higher-end options to suit all preferences.
That’s what’s encouraging about the best AM5 motherboards because even on the cheaper side of the scale, DDR5 RAM is standard. That means you’re getting the best of PCIe 5.0 compatibility without breaking the bank too badly. Many different brands have emerged from Gigabyte, ASRock, MSI, and more so you’ve got as many choices as possible. If you’re interested in the Intel side of things then our best motherboards for DDR5 RAM guide have you covered, with Z790 options, too. If you want the best motherboard, you’re in the right place.
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ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero
- Socket: AM5 (LGA 1718)
- Chipset: X670E
- Form Factor : ATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 5 Storage – PCIe Gen 5 GPU
- Memory speed : 6400MHz + OC
- Memory capacity : 128GB (4 x 32GB)
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MSI B650M PROJECT ZERO
- Socket: AM5 (LGA1718)
- Chipset: B650
- Form Factor : Micro-ATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 4
- Memory speed : 6400MHz + OC
- Memory capacity : 128GB (4 x 32GB)
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If you’re interested in the 9000 series, we have reviews for all of them, the 9600X, 9700X, 9900X, and the 9950X. If you want to know more about how these CPUs perform, make sure to take a look. New 800 series motherboards are on the horizon, which these CPUs will certainly be more suited for, but that’s not to say these CPUs won’t do well in our best AM5 motherboard selections
How we picked
We’ve made our choices of the best AM5 motherboards based on their feature set and price. With a new standard of sockets comes the need for the widespread adoption of new boards. But that doesn’t mean that things need to be pricey, far from it, as we’ve included cheaper models, too for your AMD Ryzen CPUs.
An argument can be made that motherboards only need to tick the boxes, meaning that you can spend more money on components such as GPUs (see the best graphics cards) and CPUs (and the best CPU for gaming).
With that said, we’ve also considered higher-end alternatives. This is especially true if you want more NVMe SSD ports, advanced cooling, and RGB. We personally believe in something of a middle ground between the mid-range mobo and higher-end components – although having the X670 chipset available will mean more flexibility for upgrades to high-end systems.
We’ve also considered form factor, although our picks don’t include mini-ITX or anything aside from more standard desktop options.
Our top picks
- Socket: AM5 (LGA 1718)
- Chipset: X670E
- Form Factor : ATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 5 Storage – PCIe Gen 5 GPU
- Memory speed : 6400MHz + OC
- Memory capacity : 128GB (4 x 32GB)
This motherboard is perfect for those who do not want to be held back when it comes to features or technology. This is one of the best offerings on the X670E chipset, and if you can afford it, it will serve you very well for years to come.
- Ryzen 7000 series and 9000 series compatible
- High memory speed and capacity
- Extensive overclocking support
- Robust power stages
- Great customizability
- Sleek aesthetics
- Very expensive
- Reserved for enthusiasts
- If you don’t have high-end hardware, this may be a waste
- Armory crate – everyone who uses it, dislikes it
- Very gamer focused – If you don’t like that kind of thing
The ROG Crosshair Hero is a very heavy-duty, enthusiast motherboard that packs a punch in terms of features. It is a little “gamer-focused” but this can be toned down by turning off some of the onboard RGB. This motherboard carries the latest connectivity technology, including PCIe Gen 5 for M.2 storage and GPU selections.
The Hero delivers clean and stable power when the CPU needs it the most, this is all thanks to its 18+2 power phase design, coupled with the SPS MOSFETs that are used to switch or amplify electrical signals, and you have a recipe for clean, stable power. Delivering power is basically the primary function of a motherboard, so if you’re going to get one, you may as well make sure that it’s doing it right.
This motherboard is up there with the best of the best, and its price tag reflects that. Although you can get it for a better price these days, it’s not too often seen on sale as ASUS knows the value that this motherboard brings. The X670E Hero is a hero in most regards, it has a strong power delivery system which is very efficient, it only allows 4 Watts to slip through its fingers.
PC Guide
We reviewed the X670E Hero extensively and found that it’s a motherboard with endless possibilities, if you need a motherboard to carry your AM5 CPU to the limit of its ability, then this is the motherboard for you. Its heavy back blate, robust thermal armor, and quality design make for one heck of a platform on which to build an AM5 PC.
What users say
The Hero has an average of 4 stars out of the 1,340, which is pretty good for a high-end motherboard such as this one. People tend to be far more critical of components at this price point, which is fair enough, here’s what one user had to say: “Overall I haven’t had issues with the MB and it’s running great so far after building it, and using for about 2 weeks for far. With the price half when buying the used one, it’s a good value for your money right now, highly recommended. Gave 4 star for stability, because Windows got corrupted a few times after OC tweaks and crashes,”
- Socket: AM5 (LGA1718)
- Chipset: B650
- Form Factor : Micro-ATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 4
- Memory speed : 6400MHz + OC
- Memory capacity : 128GB (4 x 32GB)
This motherboard is quirky, but perfect if your a user that just needs an AM5 motherboard to get things done. It even features most of the connectivity on the back, for a clean, wireless aesthetic. If that’s your thing.
- Good value for money
- Looks good, really like the white
- Thermal armour keeps VRMs cool
- Slight performance loss vs X670E
- Difficult to install if your case doesn’t accommodate for the rear connections
- Micro-ATX, so only 1 PCIe slot
The MSI B650 Project Zero is geared more toward budget gamers who just want a stable platform on which to build a PC. The features are minimal but more than enough to facilitate a good experience both building and using your PC. It doesn’t have the thermal or short armor that some other motherboards have on this list, but that makes it lighter and much easier to maneuver whilst building.
This motherboard has a Memory capacity of up to 128GB and supports speeds of up to 6400 MT/s, which is more than enough for any standard user. Speaking of speed, because this is a B650, you can also overclock the CPU if you know what you’re doing. Overclocking is a great way to squeeze more power out of your CPU. Just make sure you have enough cooling headroom.
This board is designed to be used by the middle of the pack of AM5 users. What I mean by this is people who just want a PC to get the job done, and that aren’t really enthusiasts, and for that this motherboard is perfect. Especially so if you care about aesthetics and hate cables. In that case, this motherboard is a must!
PC Guide
This motherboard has a trick that makes it a little more complex to build with, it’s wireless. Not wireless in the sense that it has no wires, but very few are on show. All of the important connectors are at the rear of the motherboard, meaning you can’t see them. If you care about clean aesthetics on a budget, this motherboard is a must.
Regarding PCIe, the primary slot is reinforced to bear the weight of the fatter modern GPUs, we found in our review. The slots on the Gaming Plus are only PCIe Gen 4, meaning you won’t get the same lightning-fast speeds for M.2 storage, but close enough. It’ll also be a while before GPUs become PCIe Gen 5 as standard. This motherboard is a fantastic option if you’re on a tighter budget.
What users say
The Project Zero has an average of 3.7 stars out of 33 ratings. This motherboard technology is newer and it is a little more niche, making it prone to harsher reviews. One user had this to say: “Really happy with this motherboard, the large heatsink design on it is very aesthetically pleasing and the overall features and performance is great. I had zero issues with the board, no problems running 4 memory modules with Expo enabled and everything went smoothly the first time booting. Overall a phenomenal experience with this and the product was an exceptional buy”
- Tons of ports
- Dedicated M.2 heatshield
- Stellar build quality
- Limited to just HDMI
The Gigabyte X670 Aorus Elite AX is our number-one pick for the best AM5 motherboard. This is based upon a few factors, most notably the stellar price-to-performance ratio, coming in at around the $300 mark while offering all the functionality you need.
This includes 12X USB ports (most being USB 3.2 and 3.1) with USB type-C ports, too. The highlight has to be the 4X M.2 ports under a dedicated heatshield. There’s PCIe 5.0 compatibility with the latest speeds available as well. If you need the largest amount of the fastest storage, you’ll find it here, along with 4x SATA ports for a solid array of storage.
We reckon if you’re going for a Ryzen 7000 series, or 9000 series processor, then this is a great option, Gigabyte is well known for creating strong products, and this motherboard is no exception.
What users say
The Gigabyte Aorus Elite has an average of 4.2 stars over 458 ratings, which is very strong for a motherboard of this price point. One user had this to say: “The GIGABYTE X670 AORUS Elite AX motherboard represents the pinnacle of cutting-edge technology and reliability in the world of PC hardware. With its advanced features, robust construction, and comprehensive warranty coverage, this motherboard is a top choice for enthusiasts and professionals seeking uncompromising performance and stability for their computing needs”.
How to choose the best AM5 motherboard
First of all, you need to establish your use case, if you don’t know what you want to use your PC for, then you will likely suffer an unnecessary expense when it comes to building your PC, or worse yet, fall short. Establishing your use case beforehand can prevent either of these issues. Do you want your PC to be a general-purpose machine, gaming rig, or data cruncher? Figuring it out will help.
Power delivery
Depending on the CPU you have, power delivery might be of importance to you, if you have a high-end CPU that you plan on overclocking, then you might want to invest in a motherboard that brings you better power phases for cleaner power. This matters less with CPUs that aren’t as powerful, as you’re not likely to see as much of an increase with overclocking. Again, matching your hardware and facilitating system synergy can prevent you from wasting money.
Budget
Know your budget and use case to assess when and what you should spend your money on, if you need something but don’t have the budget for it, prioritize the CPU (as all AM5 CPUs have built-in graphics) to avoid spending money on the GPU right now. Financing is also an option if you want to spread the cost over x amount of months, though we are not suggesting you get into debt to pay for a PC. If you can’t afford to buy it 3 times, you can’t afford it.
Size
Size does matter, especially when it comes to motherboards. You need to make sure the motherboard form factor aligns with one of your case supports. Generally, bigger motherboards have more features to them, whereas smaller motherboards tend to be geared towards the more budget end of things, with fewer features and less technology. That doesn’t mean that they are bad though.
FAQs
Here we have outlined some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the AM5 motherboard.
Does DDR4 RAM work with AM5 motherboards?
Unfortunately, AM5 motherboards only support the new DDR5 memory, so you won’t be able to use DDR4 RAM here. This is due to every major component on modern boards being PCIe 5.0 compliant.
Will older Ryzen CPUs work on AM5 motherboards?
Only CPUs after the release of the Ryzen 7000 series will fit in the AM5 socket. This is because of the adoption of LGA 1718, whereas previous Ryzen processors utilized the PGA socket technology.
How long will AM5 motherboards last?
AMD has recently confirmed in an interview that the AM5 socket will last until at least 2027, AMD has a long history of supporting hardware so we’re inclined to believe them.
