While all the attention in a new PC is on the CPU and the GPU, the motherboard is a vital component that can impact your system’s professional and gaming performance. For example, a high-end board will have better cooling solutions, VRMs, and support for overclocking, while a budget board will lack such options.
That said, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D supports overclocking and can be easily paired with flagship GPUs, given its processing power. So, a solid motherboard would be required to bring out and support its full potential.
We’ve selected a handful of motherboard options based on their price, features, chipset, and the performance they showcased during our in-house testing. This allows us to gauge their real-world performance and only recommend the best options.
Products at a glance
- Best motherboard for Ryzen 7 9800X3D
ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi
- Socket: AM5 (LGA 1718)
- Chipset: X870E
- Form Factor: ATX
- PCIe Version: Gen 5 NVMe & Gen 5 GPU
- Memory Speed: 8000+MT/s (OC)
- Memory Capacity: 192GB DDR5
- Best mid-range motherboard for Ryzen 7 9800X3D
ASUS PRIME X870-P WiFi
- Socket: AM5 (LGA 1718)
- Chipset: X870
- Form Factor: ATX
- PCIe Version: PCIe Gen 5 Storage – PCIe Gen 5 GPU
- Memory Speed: 8000+MT/s (OC)
- Memory Capacity: 192GB DDR5
- Best budget motherboard for Ryzen 7 9800X3D
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)
Our top picks
- Socket: AM5 (LGA 1718)
- Chipset: X870E
- Form Factor: ATX
- PCIe Version: Gen 5 NVMe & Gen 5 GPU
- Memory Speed: 8000+MT/s (OC)
- Memory Capacity: 192GB DDR5
- Great memory overclock reaching fast transfer speeds
- Improved looks with more sloped edges on heatsinks compared to previous sharpness
- Provides plenty of power to the processor and lets it run at its full potential
- A more premium option with features unnecessary for most
- Does take a long time to memory train for quick boots
The ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E gaming WiFi is an enthusiast-level board with a high-end chipset, meaning it has top-notch features, which should be great for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. We’ve also reviewed this motherboard, and it showcased excellent performance and temperatures in several tests.
For starters, this is an ATX motherboard measuring 12 inches x 9.6 inches (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm), so ensure your PC case has enough space to accommodate it. It also has a maximum memory capacity of 192GB of DDR5 RAM, which can run at a maximum memory speed of 8000+ MT/s (OC).
This means that you can rest easy knowing that you will most likely never run into system memory issues, regardless of the task. This board also has four RAM slots, meaning you can ramp up the system memory as much as you want. While 192GB of RAM is definitely overkill, it is nice to know that there is a significant overhead for upgrades.
This board also supports WiFi 7, the latest WiFi standard. This means you should be able to stream, game, and work without running into congestion or lag as long as you have a WiFi 7 router like the NETGEAR Nighthawk RS700S, which we’ve reviewed.
The ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi gives you some of the best specs available for the motherboard making it all the pleasure to use and get the most out of the rest of the hardware.
PC Guide
It also features PCIe 5.0 slots for the GPU and storage devices, meaning you can mount PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs for superfast load and boot times and efficient performance. That said, while there aren’t any PCIe 5.0 GPUs right now, PCIe 4.0 GPUs can unleash their full potential with a Gen 5 slot, meaning better in-game performance.
We tested this motherboard by pairing it with an RTX 4070 Ti Super and the Ryzen 9 9950X. This setup managed 234 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 and 39,932 and 21,815 multi-core scores on Cinebench and Geekbench, respectively.
While running Cyberpunk 2077, the maximum power draw was 139.467W, and the motherboard and CPU reached maximum temperatures of 37°C and 80.3°C, respectively. The maximum power draw we noticed overall was when we fired up Cinebench 2024, which was 197.997W, with the motherboard and processor still at a cool temperature of 37°C and 75°C, respectively.
Overall, this is one of the best motherboards for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Any AM5 CPU paired with this board will produce low temperatures and excellent performance, which should make it great for a powerful gaming rig.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this motherboard has excellent build quality, efficiency, performance, and features. One reviewer said: “I’m nothing but happy &100% satisfied with my mobo. Although, if I had one question for ASUS it would be, why, oh why did you place the second/bottom PCIE slot so low? Other than that, this mobo is off the hook and its also very handsome!”
Top Black Friday Motherboard deals
Here’s our hand-picked list of today’s motherboard Black Friday deals. Our deals team is always hard at work to keep this list updated, so be sure to check back in if there’s nothing that piques your interest at the moment.
- MSI MPG Z790 Edge WiFi Gaming Motherboard – Save 20% NOW!
- ASUS TUF Gaming B550-PLUS WiFi II – Save 20% Now!
- MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi Gaming Motherboard – Save 8% NOW!
- MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi Gaming Motherboard – Save 20% NOW!
- MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi Gaming Motherboard (Supports 12th/13th/14th Gen Intel Processors) – Save 24% NOW!
- Socket: AM5 (LGA 1718)
- Chipset: X870
- Form Factor: ATX
- PCIe Version: PCIe Gen 5 Storage – PCIe Gen 5 GPU
- Memory Speed: 8000+MT/s (OC)
- Memory Capacity: 192GB DDR5
- Great support for fast RAM and PCIe addons
- Plenty of IO and PCIe connectivity
- Simple yet effective design
- No heatsinks for the bottom two NVMe slots
- Lacks error display for troubleshooting
- No easy clear CMOS
If you’re not planning on building a high-end gaming rig with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, we recommend the X870-P WiFi. This board has a high-end chipset but costs significantly less than the ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E. When we tested and reviewed this board in-house for our ASUS Prime X870-P WiFi review, it showcased great efficiency, temperatures, and performance.
To begin with, this board measures 12 inches x 9.6 inches (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm), meaning it is an ATX mainboard and comes with plenty of connectivity, storage, and expansion slots. Like our top pick, it also has a maximum memory capacity and speed of 192GB and 8000+ MT/s (OC), respectively. It has four RAM slots, and you don’t have to use the maximum memory capacity from the get-go, but whenever you feel like your system could benefit from a boost in efficiency and performance, you can install more DDR5 RAM and take it to the next level.
This motherboard has a 14+2+1 power design, meaning the power goes through three stages and multiple filters before reaching the CPU. This is great if you plan on overclocking the CPU, as more power stages mean cleaner and more stable energy.
The Prime X870-P is a nice cutback option from the ASUS lineup. Complimenting the Ryzen 9000 series nicely, even if it’s a month or so after its release, it does give a good platform for any AM5 processor.
PC Guide
In addition, it has PCIe 5 slots for one Gen 5 NVMe SSD and the graphic card. Given how fast Gen 5 SSDs are, this means that you can experience top-notch performance in gaming and other tasks. We used the same test bench as before to assess its efficiency, temperature, and gaming performance.
In Cyberpunk 2077, we saw an average FPS of 220, while the multicore scores in Cinebench R23 and Geekbench 6 were 38,856 and 21,166, respectively. It drew 128.309W of power while running Cyberpunk 2077, while the CPU and motherboard temperatures were 66.7°C and 34°C, respectively.
However, the maximum power draw we saw was when we ran Cinebench 2024. It drew 188.457W, and even then, the motherboard reached 35°C while the CPU reached 71.7°C. So, while the CPU doesn’t get as much power as the ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E, it still delivered pretty good gaming performance and remained cool throughout our testing.
- Socket: AM5 (LGA1718)
- Chipset: B650
- Form Factor : Micro-ATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 4
- Memory speed : 6400MHz + OC
- Memory capacity : 128GB (4 x 32GB)
- Good value for money
- Thermal armour keeps VRMs cool
- All connections on the back for a good wireless look
- Difficult to install if your case doesn’t accommodate for the rear connections
- Slight performance loss vs X670E
- Micro-ATX, so only 1 PCIe slot
We recommend the MSI B650 M Project Zero for those looking for a budget motherboard to pair with the 9800X3D. When we tested and reviewed the MSI B650M Project Zero, it showcased good efficiency and performance.
This is a Micro ATX motherboard, meaning it measures 243.84mm x 243.84mm and can comfortably fit inside an ATX case. It would make for a good option if you’re going for a low-profile build. If you’re interested in exploring some options, check out our best micro ATX case guide for the top picks.
Despite being an M-ATX board, it has a maximum memory capacity of 128GB DDR5 RAM running at a maximum speed of 7600+(OC). This is possible since there are four RAM slots, which is great to see on a smaller board.
That said, its budget nature is evident in the PCIe version. It has one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for the GPU, but for storage devices, it has two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots. However, that doesn’t mean that your system with this motherboard would suffer from lag or slow load times, and a good NVMe SSD should work perfectly fine in gaming and other tasks.
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.
PC Guide
This board has a 10+2+1 power delivery system. While there are triple layers, the phases are fewer compared to other options, but we need to keep in mind the price range at which it comes. That said, this should be enough to get the job, and it might not be the best board to overclock the 9800X3D.
To test this motherboard, we used the Ryzen 9 7900X, which we’ve reviewed. This CPU has a TDP of 170W, and during testing, we ran Cinebench R23 and saw the CPU drawing 177.67W. So, this board wasn’t limited to the CPU in any way; however, we did notice a power loss of 4.37W, which isn’t uncommon as no system is 100% efficient.
In addition, the maximum VRM and motherboard temperatures we recorded were 54°C and 53.5°C, respectively. This is perfectly normal, but you should experience better temperature with a proper case, as our test was conducted on an open test bench.
Overall, this is a pretty good pocket-friendly motherboard with a mid-range chipset, which should be able to accommodate the Ryzen 7 9800X3D easily. However, if you were planning on pushing the 9800X3D to its utmost limit, this board might not be the best option for you.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this is perfect for a “wireless” look, as all the connections are on the back. One reviewer said: “Having all of the connections on the back of the motherboard is one of the greatest improvements to motherboards. This is my first mATX motherboard and is by far my favorite motherboard to date. I’ve only ever use ATX and this is just the perfect size and design a and I am a huge fan of mATX now.”
How to choose the best motherboard for 9800X3D
Selecting a motherboard isn’t just about picking the option with the most amount of bells and whistles, as those options can cost an arm and a leg. On top of that, depending on your processor, you might not even need all the features it is offering.
Compatibility
The first aspect you need to consider is the compatibility between the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and the motherboard. The 9800X3D is built on the AM5 platform, meaning it’ll need an AM5 motherboard with an AM5 or LGA 1718 socket.
This processor isn’t compatible with the AM4 platform, so if you have an AM4 motherboard, you’ll have to invest in a new motherboard and DDR5 RAM, as the new platform isn’t compatible with DDR4 RAM.
Budget
Your budget is the most important aspect to consider when purchasing a new motherboard. You will find various options, from enthusiast-level boards to budget options, but it is best to filter them based on your budget. This will give you a list of options that offer the best balance between performance and value.
PCIe version
The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a powerful gaming processor that can be paired with high-end GPUs without running into compatibility issues. So, if you want the best gaming performance, ensure that the motherboard you opt for has a PCIe 5.0 slot for the graphics card and storage. This will ensure that the GPU has access to all 16 lanes for processing, delivering better in-game performance than if you mount it on an 8x or PCIe 4.0 slot. If you’re wondering about the difference between PCIe 5.0 and 4.0, we’ve got you covered.
