Buying Guide
The Best Motherboards for Ryzen 9 9900X
Five motherboards compared, from the X670E Gaming Plus to the Prime X670E-PRO, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
The 12-core Ryzen 9 9900X suits an X870 or X670E board with strong power delivery. Every pick is an AM5 board with X870 or X670E and 2.5G LAN or faster, ordered from the lowest price.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: M.2 slots, wired LAN and wi-Fi come from each maker's published specs; a missing M.2 slots is flagged, not filled in, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
MSI X670E Gaming Plus WiFi
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Getting PCIe 5.0 support from the X670E chipset for the least money.
Our take Check price for MSI X670E Gaming Plus WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASRock X870 Pro-A WiFi
Two rear USB4 Type-C ports.
Best for: Buyers who want two rear USB4 Type-C ports.
Our take Check price for ASRock X870 Pro-A WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Fastest Wired Network Speed
MSI PRO X870-P WiFi
The fastest wired network speed here (5Gbps).
Best for: Buyers who put wired network speed first.
Our take Check price for MSI PRO X870-P WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7
EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal.
Best for: Buyers who want EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal.
Our take Check price for GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
ASUS Prime X670E-PRO WiFi
A rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the X670E Gaming Plus costs less.
Our take Check price for ASUS Prime X670E-PRO WiFi (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price of the group at our last check. | Getting PCIe 5.0 support from the X670E chipset for the least money. | Check price for MSI X670E Gaming Plus WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
| Two rear USB4 Type-C ports. | Buyers who want two rear USB4 Type-C ports. | Check price for ASRock X870 Pro-A WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
| The fastest wired network speed here (5Gbps). | Buyers who put wired network speed first. | Check price for MSI PRO X870-P WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
| EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal. | Buyers who want EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal. | Check price for GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 (opens in a new tab) |
| A rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port at the highest price in the group. | Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the X670E Gaming Plus costs less. | Check price for ASUS Prime X670E-PRO WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
MSI X670E Gaming Plus WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The X670E Gaming Plus WiFi is the lowest-priced X670E board here by a wide margin, with a 14+2+1 layout, Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gbps LAN.
Best for
- Getting PCIe 5.0 support from the X670E chipset for the least money.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7.
Why we like it
It trades extras for the X670E chipset's PCIe 5.0 lanes. It matches the X870 Pro-A, the X870 AORUS Elite and the Prime X670E-PRO on wired network speed (2.5Gbps). Like the Prime X670E-PRO, it has a wi-Fi 6E, while the PRO X870-P uses a wi-Fi 7.
It also comes with Bluetooth 5.3 alongside Wi-Fi 6E. 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 5 picks at the time of writing, with the X870 Pro-A the next step up. There is no published M.2 slot count figure, whereas the X870 AORUS Elite offers 4.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Power stages: 14+2+1
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: AM5
- Chipset: X670E
Pros
- 14+2+1 power stage layout
- PCIe 5.0 support from the X670E chipset
- Bluetooth 5.3 alongside Wi-Fi 6E
- The lowest price of the group at our last check
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- No published M.2 slot count
Also Consider2 of 5
ASRock X870 Pro-A WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The X870 Pro-A stands out for two rear USB4 Type-C ports, and it adds memory support to DDR5-8000 (OC).
Best for
- Buyers who want two rear USB4 Type-C ports.
Skip if
- The maker gives no M.2 slot count, so skip it if that figure decides your choice.
Why we like it
It also offers a 2.5Gbps wired network speed. It has a 16+2+1 phase VRM, one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and a Gen5 M.2 slot. DDR5 is supported up to 8,000+ with overclocking.
On wired network speed it ties with the X670E Gaming Plus, the X870 AORUS Elite and the Prime X670E-PRO at 2.5Gbps. 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. Its price falls between the X670E Gaming Plus and the PRO X870-P, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed M.2 slot count should compare it with the X870 AORUS Elite, which offers 4.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7
- Power stages: 16+2+1
- USB4: Yes
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: AM5
- Chipset: X870
Pros
- Wi-Fi 7 built in
- 16+2+1 power stage layout
- USB4 ports on the rear panel
- Two rear USB4 Type-C ports
Cons
- No published M.2 slot count
- Costs more than the X670E Gaming Plus at the time of writing
Fastest Wired Network Speed3 of 5
MSI PRO X870-P WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The PRO X870-P keeps 5Gbps Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7 and USB4 on a plain board.
Best for
- Buyers who put wired network speed first.
Skip if
- Skip it if M.2 slot count matters most to you; the X870 AORUS Elite offers 4.
Why we like it
Three M.2 slots are one fewer than the pricier X870 boards. Its 3 M.2 slot count is the fewest in this group; the X870 AORUS Elite leads at 4. On wired network speed it leads this guide at 5Gbps, ahead of the X670E Gaming Plus (2.5Gbps).
Like the X870 Pro-A and X870 AORUS Elite, it has a wi-Fi 7, while the X670E Gaming Plus uses a wi-Fi 6E. You also get 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.
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-A and below the X870 AORUS Elite at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 3
- Wired LAN: 5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7
- USB4: Yes
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: AM5
- Chipset: X870
Pros
- 5Gbps wired Ethernet
- Wi-Fi 7 built in
- USB4 ports on the rear panel
- PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot
Cons
- M.2 slot count trails the X870 AORUS Elite (4)
- Costs more than the X670E Gaming Plus at the time of writing
Strong Alternative4 of 5
GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The X870 AORUS Elite pairs four M.2 slots and USB4 with Gigabyte's five-year warranty.
Best for
- Buyers who want EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the X670E Gaming Plus, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It is the X870 board with the longest cover here. On M.2 slot count it ties with the Prime X670E-PRO at 4. On wired network speed it ties with the X670E Gaming Plus, the X870 Pro-A and the Prime X670E-PRO at 2.5Gbps.
It also offers EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal and 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. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper PRO X870-P and the pricier Prime X670E-PRO, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 4
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7
- USB4: Yes
- Form factor: ATX
- Warranty: 5-year
- Socket: AM5
- Chipset: X870
Pros
- 4 M.2 slots for SSD expansion
- Wi-Fi 7 built in
- USB4 ports on the rear panel
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Costs more than the X670E Gaming Plus at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
ASUS Prime X670E-PRO WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Prime X670E-PRO is the only X670E board here that offers USB4, alongside four M.2 slots.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the X670E Gaming Plus costs less.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7.
Why we like it
Its plain silver look suits a quiet build. On M.2 slot count it ties with the X870 AORUS Elite at 4. On wired network speed it ties with the X670E Gaming Plus, the X870 Pro-A and the X870 AORUS Elite at 2.5Gbps.
It shares a wi-Fi 6E with the X670E Gaming Plus; the X870 Pro-A goes with a wi-Fi 7. It also comes with a rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port and an understated 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. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the X870 AORUS Elite and the rest.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 4
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- USB4: Yes
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: AM5
- Chipset: X670E
Pros
- 4 M.2 slots for SSD expansion
- USB4 ports on the rear panel
- Rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port
- Understated silver finish
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Wired network speed trails the PRO X870-P (5Gbps)
- Costs more than the X670E Gaming Plus at the time of writing
How We Chose These Motherboards for Ryzen 9 9900X
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We set side by side five boards on M.2 slot count, wired network speed, wi-Fi and power stages from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and M.2 slot count and power stages are missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the X670E Gaming Plus to the Prime X670E-PRO, state wired network speed, wi-Fi and form factor and share AM5 socket.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The X670E Gaming Plus and the X870 Pro-A give no M.2 slot count; the PRO X870-P, the X870 AORUS Elite and the Prime X670E-PRO give no power stages.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the X670E Gaming Plus ($150 to $250) to the Prime X670E-PRO ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a Motherboard for Ryzen 9 9900X
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Wired network speed across these picks
The PRO X870-P tops wired network speed at 5Gbps and the Prime X670E-PRO sits lowest at 2.5Gbps. Start with the PRO X870-P if wired network speed decides it.
M.2 slot count
Across these 3 picks M.2 slot count spans 3 (the PRO X870-P) to 4 (the X870 AORUS Elite). The X870 AORUS Elite is the pick for M.2 slot count. The X670E Gaming Plus and the X870 Pro-A give no M.2 slot count figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
Power stages
The X670E Gaming Plus lists 14+2+1; the X870 Pro-A lists 16+2+1. Settling power stages first narrows 2 picks to 1 or 1.
USB4
The X870 Pro-A, the PRO X870-P, the X870 AORUS Elite and the Prime X670E-PRO have it.
Features beyond the spec table
The PRO X870-P: Bluetooth 5.4 alongside Wi-Fi 7. The X870 AORUS Elite: a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot. The Prime X670E-PRO: an understated silver finish.
How to Choose a Motherboard for Ryzen 9 9900X
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Getting PCIe 5.0 support from the X670E chipset for the least money | X670E Gaming Plus | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who want two rear USB4 Type-C ports | X870 Pro-A | Two rear USB4 Type-C ports |
| Buyers who put wired network speed first | PRO X870-P | The fastest wired network speed here (5Gbps) |
| Buyers who want EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal | X870 AORUS Elite | EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the X670E Gaming Plus costs less | Prime X670E-PRO | A rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C port at the highest price in the group |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The PRO X870-P leads on wired network speed at 5Gbps, ahead of the X670E Gaming Plus at 2.5Gbps. "Not listed" marks M.2 slot count where the X670E Gaming Plus and the X870 Pro-A leave the figure out.
| Board | M.2 slots | Wired LAN | Wi-Fi | Power stages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X670E Gaming Plus | Not listed | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 14+2+1 |
| X870 Pro-A | Not listed | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 7 | 16+2+1 |
| PRO X870-P | 3 | 5Gbps | Wi-Fi 7 | Not listed |
| X870 AORUS Elite | 4 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 7 | Not listed |
| Prime X670E-PRO | 4 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the X670E Gaming Plus, sat in the $150 to $250 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the Prime X670E-PRO at $250 to $500; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Boards |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | X670E Gaming Plus, X870 Pro-A, PRO X870-P, X870 AORUS Elite |
| About $250 to $500 | Prime X670E-PRO |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the X670E Gaming Plus compare with the PRO X870-P on wired network speed?
The PRO X870-P leads at 5Gbps, with the X670E Gaming Plus at 2.5Gbps.
What makes the PRO X870-P the Fastest Wired Network Speed?
It carries the badge for the fastest wired network speed here (5Gbps). The X670E Gaming Plus is next on wired network speed at 2.5Gbps, so this pick's 5Gbps is 100% further out. It makes sense for anyone who puts wired network speed first.
Do the X670E Gaming Plus and the X870 Pro-A differ on wi-Fi?
The X670E Gaming Plus and the Prime X670E-PRO use Wi-Fi 6E; the X870 Pro-A, the PRO X870-P and the X870 AORUS Elite use Wi-Fi 7.
Beyond the specs, what sets the X670E Gaming Plus and the X870 Pro-A apart?
The X670E Gaming Plus: PCIe 5.0 support from the X670E chipset. The X870 Pro-A: two rear USB4 Type-C ports. The PRO X870-P: a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Should I pick the X670E Gaming Plus or the Prime X670E-PRO?
The X670E Gaming Plus suits getting PCIe 5.0 support from the X670E chipset for the least money; the Prime X670E-PRO suits buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the X670E Gaming Plus costs less.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the X670E Gaming Plus, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the X870 Pro-A for two rear USB4 Type-C ports, the PRO X870-P for the fastest wired network speed here (5Gbps) and the X870 AORUS Elite for EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal if those matter more to you.
Check the board's power stage and cooling if you plan to overclock.