The Best Motherboards for the Ryzen 7 7700X

Three M.2 slots cover most gaming builds. Its 5Gbps wired network speed is the fastest here; the TUF B850-PLUS comes next at 2.5Gbps. It shares a B850 chipset with the B850M Steel Legend; the X870 Pro RS goes with an X870 chipset.

It also comes with memory support to DDR5-8200 (OC). 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 priced above the X870 Pro RS and below the TUF B850-PLUS at the time of writing.

It suits a 12- or 16-core Ryzen on B850. On wired network speed it ties with the B650 AORUS Elite AX, the B850M Steel Legend and the B650 Steel Legend at 2.5Gbps. It also offers a front USB 10Gbps Type-C header.

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 B850 Gaming Plus and the rest.

It is the most complete B650 board for its price here. It matches the TUF B850-PLUS, the B850M Steel Legend and the B650 Steel Legend on wired network speed (2.5Gbps). Like the B650 Steel Legend, it has a wi-Fi 6E, while the B850 Gaming Plus uses a wi-Fi 7.

It also offers Q-Flash BIOS updating. 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. If you want a confirmed M.2 slot count, look to the B850 Gaming Plus instead: it offers 3, while this one gives no figure.

It suits builders who want USB4 without paying for extras. An X870 chipset is unique to it among these picks, while the B650 AORUS Elite AX uses a B650 chipset. It also offers memory support to DDR5-8000 (OC) and one of the lowest X870 prices 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. When we checked, only the B650 Steel Legend and cheaper picks cost less, and the B850 Gaming Plus cost more. If you want a confirmed M.2 slot count, look to the B850 Gaming Plus instead: it offers 3, while this one gives no figure.

It is the Micro-ATX pick with the most features here. On wired network speed it ties with the TUF B850-PLUS, the B650 AORUS Elite AX and the B650 Steel Legend at 2.5Gbps. 12+2+1 power stages is unique to it among these picks, while the B650 AORUS Elite AX uses 14+2+1 power stages.

Like the B850 Gaming Plus, it has a B850 chipset, while the B650 Steel Legend uses a B650 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. As a Micro-ATX board it fits smaller cases but has fewer expansion slots than ATX; check the gap between the GPU and the lower slots.

Flashback lets you update the BIOS for a newer Ryzen without a working CPU. On wired network speed it ties with the TUF B850-PLUS, the B650 AORUS Elite AX and the B850M Steel Legend at 2.5Gbps. Like the B650 AORUS Elite AX, it has a B650 chipset, while the X870 Pro RS uses an X870 chipset.

It also comes with memory support up to DDR5-7200 (OC) 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 third of 6, between the cheaper B850M Steel Legend and the pricier X870 Pro RS, at the time of writing.