The Best Motherboards for the Ryzen 9 7950X

It is ASUS's high-end AM5 board here. Nothing else here matches its 5 M.2 slot count; the TUF X870E-PLUS comes closest at 4. 18+2+2 power stages is unique to it among these picks, while the Strix X670E-E uses 18+2 power stages.

It also comes with a rear USB 20Gbps port alongside USB4. 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. Its price falls between the TUF X870E-PLUS and the Strix X670E-E, based on our last check.

It matches the TUF X870-PLUS, the Strix B850-F and the Strix X670E-E on M.2 slot count (4). It also comes with 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. You also get this: wi-Fi 7 built in. It was priced above the TUF X870-PLUS and below the Strix X870E-E at the time of writing.

It is the sturdiest X870 board here below $230. On M.2 slot count it ties with the TUF X870E-PLUS, the Strix B850-F and the Strix X670E-E at 4. No other pick in this guide offers an X870 chipset; compare the Strix X670E-E, which has an X670E chipset.

It also offers 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. On price it sat third of 6, between the cheaper Strix B850-F and the pricier TUF X870E-PLUS, at the time of writing.

It brings X870-class features to B850. It matches the TUF X870E-PLUS, the TUF X870-PLUS and the Strix X670E-E on M.2 slot count (4). It is the only pick here with 16+2+2 power stages; the TUF X870-PLUS has 16+2+1 power stages instead.

A B850 chipset is unique to it among these picks, while the TUF B650E-PLUS uses a B650E chipset. You also get 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 TUF B650E-PLUS cost less, and the TUF X870-PLUS cost more.

It is the stronger-powered of the Strix X670E boards here. On M.2 slot count it ties with the TUF X870E-PLUS, the TUF X870-PLUS and the Strix B850-F at 4. It shares a wi-Fi 6E with the TUF B650E-PLUS; the TUF X870E-PLUS goes with a wi-Fi 7.

You get 18+2 power stages here, which sets it apart from the TUF X870-PLUS and its 16+2+1 power stages. No other pick in this guide offers an X670E chipset; compare the Strix B850-F, which has a B850 chipset. You also get a rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port and AI Cooling II fan tuning. 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 Strix X870E-E and the rest.

It is a sturdy pick for a 12- or 16-core Ryzen on a budget. On M.2 slot count it trails the group at 3, while the Strix X870E-E offers 5. It shares a wi-Fi 6E with the Strix X670E-E; the Strix B850-F goes with a wi-Fi 7.

12+2+1 power stages is unique to it among these picks, while the Strix X870E-E uses 18+2+2 power stages. It is the only pick here with a B650E chipset; the Strix X670E-E has an X670E chipset instead. 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 cheapest of the group when we checked; the Strix B850-F was the next step up.