The Best AM5 Motherboards for Ryzen Builds

It matches the TUF X870E-PLUS on M.2 slot count (4). It matches the X870 Tomahawk on wired network speed (5Gbps). It also comes with a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot with Steel Armor and a rear USB 20Gbps Type-C port.

It uses AMD's AM5 socket, so it takes Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 chips; a board built before a CPU's launch may need a BIOS update first, so check whether it supports BIOS Flashback. Check the manual for which M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot before filling them all. When we checked, only the B650 Tomahawk and cheaper picks cost less, and the X870 Tomahawk cost more.

On M.2 slot count it ties with the B850 Tomahawk MAX at 4. You also get a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot. It uses AMD's AM5 socket, so it takes Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 chips; a board built before a CPU's launch may need a BIOS update first, so check whether it supports BIOS Flashback.

Check the manual for which M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot before filling them all. It was the highest-priced of the 6 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the X870 Tomahawk and the rest.

It has 5G LAN, an extended VRM heatsink and isolated Audio Boost 5. It matches the B850 Tomahawk MAX on wired network speed (5Gbps). An X870 chipset is unique to it among these picks, while the B650 Tomahawk uses a B650 chipset.

It also offers a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot and Bluetooth 5.4 alongside Wi-Fi 7. It uses AMD's AM5 socket, so it takes Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 chips; a board built before a CPU's launch may need a BIOS update first, so check whether it supports BIOS Flashback. When we checked, only the B850 Tomahawk MAX and cheaper picks cost less, and the TUF X870E-PLUS cost more. If you want a confirmed M.2 slot count, look to the B850 Tomahawk MAX instead: it offers 4, while this one gives no figure.

It has no PCIe 5.0 graphics slot, which matters little for today's cards. It matches the B850M Steel Legend and the B650M PG Lightning on wired network speed (2.5Gbps). Like the B650M PG Lightning, it has a wi-Fi 6E, while the B850 Tomahawk MAX uses a wi-Fi 7.

It also comes with Lightning M.2 support, Bluetooth 5.3 alongside Wi-Fi 6E and HDMI and DisplayPort outputs for Ryzen chips with graphics. It uses AMD's AM5 socket, so it takes Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 chips; a board built before a CPU's launch may need a BIOS update first, so check whether it supports BIOS Flashback. When we checked, only the B850M Steel Legend and cheaper picks cost less, and the B850 Tomahawk MAX cost more.

It is the Micro-ATX pick with the most features here. On M.2 slot count it trails the group at 3, while the B850 Tomahawk MAX offers 4. On wired network speed it ties with the B650 Tomahawk and the B650M PG Lightning at 2.5Gbps.

You get 12+2+1 power stages here, which sets it apart from the B650M PG Lightning and its 6+2+1 power stages. No other pick in this guide offers a B850 chipset; compare the X870 Tomahawk, which has an X870 chipset. It also offers BIOS Flashback and a white and silver finish.

It uses AMD's AM5 socket, so it takes Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 chips; a board built before a CPU's launch may need a BIOS update first, so check whether it supports BIOS Flashback. On price it sat second of 6, between the cheaper B650M PG Lightning and the pricier B650 Tomahawk, at the time of writing.

Its 6+2+1 layout is best kept to six- and eight-core chips. It matches the B650 Tomahawk and the B850M Steel Legend on wired network speed (2.5Gbps). Like the B650 Tomahawk, it has a wi-Fi 6E, while the X870 Tomahawk uses a wi-Fi 7.

No other pick in this guide offers 6+2+1 power stages; compare the TUF X870E-PLUS, which has 16+2+1 power stages. It also offers memory support up to DDR5-7200 (OC) and the lowest price among the AM5 boards here. It uses AMD's AM5 socket, so it takes Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 chips; a board built before a CPU's launch may need a BIOS update first, so check whether it supports BIOS Flashback. It cost the least of the 6 picks at the time of writing, with the B850M Steel Legend the next step up.