Best AM5 Motherboards in 2023
If you’re thinking of upgrading to a Ryzen 7000 CPU 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 has you covered, with Z790 options, too.
Products at a Glance
How we choose the best AM5 motherboards
We’ve made our choices of the best AM5 motherboards based on their feature set and price. With a new standard of socket 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.
An argument can be made that motherboards only need to tick the boxes, meaning that you can spend more money on components such as one of the best graphics cards and the best CPU for gaming.
With that said, we’ve also made considerations for 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.
Best AM5 Motherboards in 2023
- 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-C, 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’re someone who needs the largest amount of the fastest storage, you’ll find it here.
- Aggressive price point
- PCIe 5.0 support
- From a reliable brand
- Lacks Wi-Fi
- No Gen 5 SSD support
The Gigabyte B650M DS3H may lack some more premium features, such as built-in Wi-Fi, however, this basic build motherboard has everything you need, including DDR5 RAM support for a very humble $159.99 MSRP.
You may not have a ton of ports, however, there are still the essentials such as USB-C, 2x USB 3.0 ports and 2.5Gb LAN. Given the price range here, there’s little more than you could ask for at under the $160 range. We generally don’t see AM5 boards as cheap as this, so if you’re on a tight budget, this one is solid, if unexciting.
- 3x PCIe 5.0 M.2 ports
- Advanced cooling
- Feature-rich rear I/O
- It's expensive
The Asus ROG Strix X670-E is our pick for the best AM5 motherboard from a premium perspective. That’s because this E-ATX is packed full of ports and extra-thick heatsinks for a user experience that can be pushed to the max. What’s particularly impressive is that this model has 3x PCIe 5.0 SSD ports, which means you’ll have access to the latest innovations brought by the new NVMe 2.0 standard. At a time when it’s rare to find more than one port, you’ve got triple that.
Also of note is how comprehensive the cooling is with the Asus ROG Strix X670-E. That’s true of not just the Gen 5.0 M.2 SSD heatshield, but also in the thick heatsinks in all the major parts of the board itself. The rear I/O deserves particular attention, as there’s every port you could ever hope to find in a motherboard. This means a total of 12x USB 3.2 ports (including 2x USB-C) and Wi-Fi 6E support. You’ve also got 2.5Gb LAN for the fastest wired internet available.
- Competitive price point
- Gen 5 SSD support
- Great rear I/O
- Basic build
Coming in at $289.99, the ASRock X670E PG Lightning is a stellar buy considering the fact you have a 1x Gen 5 SSD port and all the USB 3.1 (plus USB-C) ports you’ll need. It’s a truly fully-featured rear I/O at a rate we seldom see given the support for the latest NVMe 2.0 technology.
If you’re wanting to cut the costs on your next build, but still prioritize a superfast Gen 5 SSD and cutting-edge DDR5 RAM then you’ll be very happy with the options afforded to you here. Generally speaking, such features normally come in at nearer the $400 mark, so you’re getting a great deal here.
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 Ryzen 7000 CPUs will fit in the AM5 socket. This is because of the adoption of LGA 1718, whereas previous Ryzen processors utilized PGA.
How long will AM5 motherboards last?
AMD has recently confirmed that the AM5 socket will last “until at least 2025”. This is confirmed by David McAfee, corporate VP, and general manager.
This means that the upcoming Zen 5 CPUs in 2024 will also play nice with existing motherboard technology.
Our Verdict
The Gigabyte X670 Aorus Elite AX is the best AM5 motherboard in our opinion because of the number of ports, the NVMe SSD support, and the competitive price point. At around $300, there’s little more you can ask for all things considered.