The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is holding steady as the best gaming CPU available to end-users, meaning many gamers are looking to move to AMD's AM5 platform, as the Ryzen 7 7800X3D continues to build on the 5800X3D's performance streak for gaming CPUs well into 2024. This is largely thanks to it leveraging its 3D V-Nand Cache advantage that has propelled the latter to become one of the best CPUs for gaming to date.

To do so, however, users need a capable motherboard and supporting low-latency RAM to allow the 7800X3D to perform to the best of its ability while focusing on performance and future upgrades. However, motherboards for the AM5 platform are fairly new primarily because of a prolonged dependence on the AM4 socket means that most AMD users are still using the last-generation socket and the fact that DDR5 RAM upgrades are not optional like the competition but a necessity when it comes to AMD's newer socket and accompanying chipsets.

  • NZXT N7 B650E Gaming Wi-Fi 6 Motherboard
    NZXT N7 B650E Gaming Wi-Fi 6 Motherboard
    Best Overall Motherboard for Ryzen 7 7800X3D
    $441 at Newegg
  • GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master Motherboard
    GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master Motherboard
    Best Performance Motherboard For the Ryzen 7 7800X3D
    $430 at Newegg
  • MSI PRO X670-P WiFi Pro Series Motherboard
    MSI PRO X670-P WiFi Pro Series Motherboard
    Best Budget Motherboard for Ryzen 7 7800X3D
    $218 at Walmart
  • Gigabyte X670E Aorus Pro X
    Gigabyte X670E Aorus Pro X
    Best White Motherboard for Ryzen 7 7800X3D
    $300 at Newegg
  • GIGABYTE B650I AORUS Ultra
    GIGABYTE B650I AORUS Ultra
    Best Compact Motherboard for Ryzen 7 7800X3D
    $250 at Newegg
  • ASRock X670E Taichi Carrara Motherboard
    ASRock X670E Taichi Carrara
    Best Premium Motherboard for Ryzen 7 7800X3D
    $523 at Newegg
  • Amd Ryzen 7 7800X3D
    AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
    The Fastest Gaming CPU On The Market
    $397 at Walmart
Best AMD Motherboards For Gaming In 2023 asus gigabyte thumb
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Best AMD Motherboards For Gaming In 2024

Here are our picks for the best AMD AM5-based motherboards for gaming that players can buy right now!

Choosing The Best Motherboard For the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is, without question, a gaming CPU first and foremost, and users attempting to use it for a mix of productivity and gaming might find it lacking. This does give it an advantage in its excellent efficiency when gaming and limited thermal demands, especially compared to some of its peers. For instance, Intel CPUs tend to offer higher clocks and more cores, resulting in higher power and thermal needs as they attempt to compete in an increasingly crowded enthusiast gaming market for CPUs.

AMD's higher-end AM5 chipsets come in two major flavors in the mid to high-end range: the B650 and X670, both of which have upgraded B650E and X670E chipset versions respectively (the lower-end A620 chipset is not being considered by Game ZXC for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D at the moment). The key difference here is that the 'E' versions come with increased PCI-E 5.0 support, which entails better compatibility with tech down the line. It is pertinent to point out that there are no competitive PCI-E 5.0 GPUs available currently. All of Nvidia's RTX 4000 series and AMD's RX 7000 series are currently PCI-E 4.0 GPUs.

This makes picking the best candidates for AMD's best gaming CPU a relatively straightforward process based on the following factors:

Upgradeability: While AM5 is a new socket and brings a lot of upgrades with the accompanying chipsets, not all motherboards are equal contenders when it comes to allowing upgrades. Some are restricted to PCI-E 4.0 speeds on both the PCI-E x4 NVME slots and the PCI-E x16 slots that modern GPUs occupy. Others compromise by using limited power delivery options that could affect the built-in PBO overclocking potential of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D or subsequent processor upgrades. Some users might want more storage expansion slots as well as additional USB ports, which are generally found to increase in number and functionality as one moves upwards in terms of costs and underlying chipsets.

Pricing: The biggest advantage that the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D has over some of its more expensive AMD and Intel counterparts is that it currently costs just over $350. This means that gamers will probably appreciate further savings without compromising on the motherboard meaningfully, making it a relatively price-conscious purchase in 2024.

Aesthetics: The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is unapologetically a gaming CPU primarily, and it does cater to a certain audience that wants better looks, customizability, and RGB lighting. This is further reinforced by the fact that users need to pick out a cooler for the 7800X3D, allowing for it to be customized much more than some of its lower-budget alternatives. Users can choose between minimalist ITX motherboards and mid-range ATX motherboards all the way to larger E-ATX models in addition to a white or black theme, additional options such as internal or external displays, and ARGB lighting on the motherboard itself.

Game ZXC's Picks for the Best Motherboards for AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

When one looks for a feature-rich AMD motherboard, a mid-range chipset would not be the first to come to mind. Thankfully, AMD's B650E chipset is a bit misleading in terms of what it is capable of based strictly on price alone.

The NZXT N7 B650E Gaming Wi-Fi Motherboard is more than just an exception to the rule for B650E motherboards, however: it can handle some of AMD's best CPUs, like the Ryzen 9 7950X/7950X3D with ease. The motherboard is made by ASROCK, but it seems to have significant design input from NZXT that makes it relatively unique as it pushes a minimalistic, clean white-on-black design that is arguably better than most of its competition.

The NZXT N7 B650E comes with an excellent networking stack that includes Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and 2.5G Ethernet, ensuring that all users' gaming needs are met. Thanks to headers on the board and at the rear of the motherboard, it also features the ability to sustain as many as 20 USB ports.

With an excellent 16+2+1 phase power delivery system, the NZXT N7 B650E can handle overclocking of both the CPU and the memory sticks reasonably well, while offering tight integration with NZXT's CAM software that ensures enthusiasts building around NZXT gear would be interested in centering their builds around this particular motherboard.

All in all, the NZXT N7 B650E Gaming Wi-Fi 6 Motherboard is a capable performer with a premium design catering to gamers, enthusiasts, and creators. While it is a bit hard to get it at MSRP at times at certain retailers, it is still one of the best-looking motherboards in the market, has PCI-E 5.0 support for a GPU, and plenty of expansion potential in terms of storage if one decides to go that route. It also comes in black, for those not willing to invest in a white-colored build this time around.

It currently trades with a significant discount off its MSRP on Amazon, making it a powerful, yet inexpensive option compared to the more pricey X670E alternatives. It goes neck and neck for all features except the underlying chipset's additional PCI-E lanes itself.

The Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master is Game ZXC's best overall pick for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor. While the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is aimed at a different tier of consumers that focuses primarily on gaming, it is still one of the best motherboards in the business. Therefore, it makes an appearance as one of the best-performing motherboards available for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor.

With excellent VRM design, a very versatile connectivity suite topped off by Wi-Fi 6E support, and dedicated heat spreaders for each M2 slot, the X670E Aorus Master comes packed with features that both gamers and creators would appreciate. The ability to overclock RAM past 8000MHz is also a plus for the motherboard, which works significantly in its favor for gamers who will look to eke out as much performance as possible from the DDR5 platform down the line.

All in all, the Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master is an extremely versatile and capable motherboard that is truly the complete package one should get if they can splurge on a processor. It would, however, help if they make sure they have a case to go with what is an above-average size E-ATX motherboard. It also trades at a decent discount over MSRP at both Amazon and Newegg currently, making it a better offering than many of its more expensive X670E-based counterparts in 2024.

MSI's Pro series continues to offer significantly better value for money than most of its competitors when it comes to mid-range motherboards. For example, one of the most affordable motherboards users can buy for 7800X3D is the Pro X670-P Wi-Fi, which packs in credible hardware and decent power delivery at a price point that makes it a relative bargain in 2024.

The motherboard features several PCI-E x16 slots which do have limited bandwidth on offer compared to. With 4 M2 connectors and 6 SATA ports in play, the Pro X670-P Wi-Fi is built for users who need a lot of storage space. The PCI-E slots are made durable using steel armor and can be used for GPUs and sound cards. However, the last PCI-E x16 is of little use, as it only supports X2 mode. Apart from that, there are decent onboard and I/O options for troubleshooting, including EZ Debug LEDs and BIOS Flashback button.

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For users looking for an all-white PC build in 2024, one can't really go wrong with the Gigabyte X670E Aorus Pro X. It packs PCI-E 5.0 support for both, its GPU and storage options in addition to excellent power delivery in tow, thanks to a 16+2+2 phase digital VRM. It also has plenty of expansion slots on the board, which are complemented by a capable networking stack that offers Wi-Fi 7, 2.5G Ethernet, and BT 5.3.

With what is one of the most pleasing aesthetics money can buy on the AM5 platform currently, while also being a very competitive mid-range motherboard thanks to its competitive pricing versus older X670E motherboards, the Gigabyte X670E Aorus Pro X makes for one of the best-value high-end motherboards currently available to end users.

Gigabyte's RGB software, however, is still woefully limited in 2024 and most users are recommended to consider 3rd party solutions such as Signal RGB or even Razer's Synapse for better control of RGB across their components. At the same time, some users are reporting issues with the Wi-Fi adapter onboard the Gigabyte X670E Aorus Pro X, which could be an issue for users aiming to go about their work wirelessly even though most gamers prefer a wired Ethernet connection.

Users who require a more compact motherboard can turn to the capable and relatively inexpensive Mini-ITX B650I Aorus Ultra motherboard, which packs in an impressive number of features for a price that is considerably lower than alternatives with more powerful B650E/X670/X670E chipsets. The motherboard also offers superior durability compared to many of its counterparts, including a reinforced steel socket for a discrete GPU to slot into.

It offers a generous amount of connectivity for its form factor, covering all the necessities such as Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5G Ethernet, and Bluetooth 5.3, even as it offers more storage options (triple M2 slots and quad SATA ports) to bolster its use case for HTPCs while offering PCI-E 5.0 connectivity for the primary M2 socket. At the same time, given its limited space, the motherboard does cut down on its VRM offerings to a more entry-level approach to match its chipset, but one that slightly underwhelms versus the 'Ultra' moniker it carries. Meanwhile, users seem to have issues such as prolonged boot sequences that can somewhat dim their experiences, even after multiple BIOS updates.

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The Best Mini-ITX Motherboards for 2024

Mini-ITX motherboards are small, but they still pack a punch with unbelievable features that weren't possible a decade ago.

For users looking for a premium AMD motherboard, the X670E-based ASRock Taichi Carrara has them more than covered. As premium as they come in terms of build quality and looks, the ASRock even throws in a free limited edition fan into the mix. With some of the best power delivery mechanisms in the business to power anything up to a Ryzen 9 7950X/7950X3D or their successors down the road.

At the same time, it comes well-equipped with connectivity, offering comprehensive PCI-E 5.0 compatibility, Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.3, as well as 2.5G ethernet in tow. This, in addition to 8 SATA ports and USB 4 ports on offer, means that the ASRock X670E Taichi Carrara is one of the most future-proof options available on the market, although it costs upwards of $500 currently. While it is priced at a premium, it does cost considerably less than most of its competition's flagship X670E motherboards, which can range from $650 to upwards of $900 for some of the highest-end models, making it a relative bargain compared to motherboards like ASUS's ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme.

What Makes The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Special?

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is an 8-core, 16-thread gaming CPU that offers the best gaming performance any current-generation CPU can offer, including the much more expensive Intel Core i9 13900K/KS and even the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X and its X3D variant, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. It does so by leveraging the large amount of stacked L3 cache to compute data much faster in a way that ensures better gaming performance than most of its peers.

While productivity performance gains are negligible and the lower clocks to adjust with the 3D V-Cache's thermal limitations tend to make it a poor multicore processor for most benchmarks, it offers the fastest gaming performance a CPU is capable of currently, establishing a significant lead in multiple titles, making it an excellent gaming CPU. This makes it an excellent recommendation to power users, enthusiasts, and gamers, provided that gaming is the primary use case for the PC in question.

More Options

If users are on the fence about which motherboard to get for the 7800X3D and would like more options to decide, they can also revisit Game ZXC's guide on the best motherboards for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. It features some more premium offerings than the current list, but all of those would serve users well with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D if they are willing to pay the price.

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between the AMD B650 and B650E motherboards?

While B650 and B650E are identical for the most part, the B650E has support for PCI-E 5.0 while B650 is locked to PCI Express 4.0 speeds for all its components by default.

Q: Do gamers need a PCI-Express 5.0 motherboard right now?

No, currently there are no AMD or Nvidia (or even Intel) GPUs that are compatible with PCI-E 5.0 speeds or even harness PCI-E 4.0 x16 to its full capacity. However, that could change soon. Getting a PCI-E 5.0-enabled motherboard might be more of a future-proof measure than anything else with PCI-E 5.0 storage already on the horizon this year, which will also take advantage of PCI-E 5.0 speeds.