Buying Guide
The Best Motherboards with PCIe 5.0
From the B850 Pro-A to the PRO B850-S: five motherboards ranked on M.2 slot count and wired network speed, with who should skip each one.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
A PCIe 5.0 board prepares you for Gen 5 SSDs and next-generation graphics cards. Every pick uses an X870, B850, X670E, B650E or Z890 chipset, ordered from the lowest price.
We sorted these picks by M.2 slots, wired LAN and wi-Fi, working from the makers' own data; nothing here was tested in-house, and if a maker skips M.2 slots, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
ASRock B850 Pro-A
A lower price than the TUF B650E-PLUS and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Getting BIOS Flashback for the least money.
Our take Check price for ASRock B850 Pro-A (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASUS TUF Gaming B650E-PLUS WiFi
80A DrMOS power stages.
Best for: Buyers who want 80A DrMOS power stages.
Our take Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming B650E-PLUS WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ASRock B850M Pro RS WiFi
A PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Best for: Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Our take Check price for ASRock B850M Pro RS WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
ASRock B850M Steel Legend WiFi
A PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Best for: Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Our take Check price for ASRock B850M Steel Legend WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Solid Runner-Up
MSI PRO B850-S WIFI6E
A PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Best for: Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Our take Check price for MSI PRO B850-S WIFI6E (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A lower price than the TUF B650E-PLUS and the rest when we checked. | Getting BIOS Flashback for the least money. | Check price for ASRock B850 Pro-A (opens in a new tab) |
| 80A DrMOS power stages. | Buyers who want 80A DrMOS power stages. | Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming B650E-PLUS WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
| A PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. | Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. | Check price for ASRock B850M Pro RS WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
| A PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. | Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. | Check price for ASRock B850M Steel Legend WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
| A PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. | Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. | Check price for MSI PRO B850-S WIFI6E (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
ASRock B850 Pro-A on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The B850 Pro-A drops Wi-Fi to keep its price low, but keeps a 14+2+1 layout, 2.5Gbps LAN and BIOS Flashback.
Best for
- Getting BIOS Flashback for the least money.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its M.2 slot count before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
Why we like it
It suits desks with a network cable. It is the only pick here with 14+2+1 power stages; the B850M Pro RS has 8+2+1 power stages instead. It also offers memory support to DDR5-8000 (OC) and no Wi-Fi, which keeps the price down for wired setups.
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. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the TUF B650E-PLUS was closest. If you want a confirmed M.2 slot count, look to the TUF B650E-PLUS instead: it offers 3, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Power stages: 14+2+1
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: AM5
- Chipset: B850
Pros
- 14+2+1 power stage layout
- BIOS Flashback
- Memory support to DDR5-8000 (OC)
- No Wi-Fi, which keeps the price down for wired setups
Cons
- No published M.2 slot count
Also Consider2 of 5
ASUS TUF Gaming B650E-PLUS WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The TUF B650E-PLUS uses the B650E chipset, which adds PCIe 5.0 lanes, alongside 80A power stages and BIOS Flashback.
Best for
- Buyers who want 80A DrMOS power stages.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7.
Why we like it
It is a sturdy pick for a 12- or 16-core Ryzen on a budget. Like the B850M Pro RS and PRO B850-S, it has a wi-Fi 6E, while the B850M Steel Legend uses a wi-Fi 7. Like the B850M Steel Legend, it has 12+2+1 power stages, while the B850 Pro-A uses 14+2+1 power stages.
You get a B650E chipset here, which sets it apart from the PRO B850-S and its a B850 chipset. 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 B850 Pro-A and below the B850M Pro RS at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 3
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Power stages: 12+2+1
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: AM5
- Chipset: B650E
Pros
- 80A DrMOS power stages
- BIOS Flashback
- PCIe 5.0 support from the B650E chipset
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Costs more than the B850 Pro-A at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
ASRock B850M Pro RS WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The B850M Pro RS WiFi is a Micro-ATX board with three M.2 slots, one of them PCIe 5.0, and BIOS Flashback.
Best for
- Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Skip if
- Pass on it if wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
Its 8+2+1 layout suits six- and eight-core chips. It shares a wi-Fi 6E with the TUF B650E-PLUS and PRO B850-S; the B850M Steel Legend goes with a wi-Fi 7. You get 8+2+1 power stages here, which sets it apart from the B850M Steel Legend and its 12+2+1 power stages.
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. 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 5, between the cheaper TUF B650E-PLUS and the pricier B850M Steel Legend, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 3
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Power stages: 8+2+1
- Form factor: Micro-ATX
- Socket: AM5
- Chipset: B850
Pros
- PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot
- BIOS Flashback
- Three M.2 slots in a Micro-ATX size
- 8+2+1 power stages, the only one here
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Costs more than the B850 Pro-A at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
ASRock B850M Steel Legend WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The B850M Steel Legend fits a 12+2+1 layout, Wi-Fi 7 and three M.2 slots, one of them PCIe 5.0, onto a Micro-ATX board.
Best for
- Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the B850 Pro-A cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It is the Micro-ATX pick with the most features here. You get a wi-Fi 7 here, which sets it apart from the PRO B850-S and its a wi-Fi 6E. It shares 12+2+1 power stages with the TUF B650E-PLUS; the B850M Pro RS goes with 8+2+1 power stages.
It also comes with 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.
Its price falls between the B850M Pro RS and the PRO B850-S, based on our last check. If M.2 slot count is your priority, the TUF B650E-PLUS (3) is the stronger choice.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 3
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7
- Power stages: 12+2+1
- Form factor: Micro-ATX
- Socket: AM5
- Chipset: B850
Pros
- Wi-Fi 7 built in
- PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot
- BIOS Flashback
- White and silver finish
Cons
- Costs more than the B850 Pro-A at the time of writing
Solid Runner-Up5 of 5
MSI PRO B850-S WIFI6E on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The PRO B850-S is built around a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, with memory support to DDR5-8200 (OC) on top.
Best for
- Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 2.5Gbps wired network speed. Like the TUF B650E-PLUS and B850M Pro RS, it has a wi-Fi 6E, while the B850M Steel Legend uses a 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. There is no published M.2 slot count figure, whereas the TUF B650E-PLUS offers 3.
Key dimensions & specs
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: AM5
- Chipset: B850
Pros
- PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot
- Memory support to DDR5-8200 (OC)
- 2.5Gbps wired network speed
- Wi-Fi 6E
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- No published M.2 slot count
- Costs more than the B850 Pro-A at the time of writing
How We Chose These Motherboards with PCIe 5.0
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We lined up 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.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the B850 Pro-A to the PRO B850-S, state wired network speed, form factor and socket and share AM5 socket.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The B850 Pro-A and the PRO B850-S give no M.2 slot count; the B850 Pro-A gives no wi-Fi.
- Price range
- From the B850 Pro-A to the PRO B850-S, all sat in the $100 to $150 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Motherboard with PCIe 5.0
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Power stages
The B850 Pro-A lists 14+2+1; the TUF B650E-PLUS and the B850M Steel Legend list 12+2+1; the B850M Pro RS lists 8+2+1. Settle this first, then compare prices.
Features beyond the spec table
The B850 Pro-A: memory support to DDR5-8000 (OC). The TUF B650E-PLUS: BIOS Flashback. The PRO B850-S: memory support to DDR5-8200 (OC).
How much to spend
All 5 sat in one tier when we checked, from the B850 Pro-A at the low end to the PRO B850-S at the top, so decide on features first.
Power delivery for high-end CPUs
Boards with more and stronger power stages run hot 16-core chips more comfortably. For eight-core gaming CPUs, most current boards are enough.
Check the rear and front I/O
Count USB ports you use every day and confirm a front USB-C header if your case has a USB-C port.
How to Choose a Motherboard with PCIe 5.0
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Getting BIOS Flashback for the least money | B850 Pro-A | A lower price than the TUF B650E-PLUS and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers who want 80A DrMOS power stages | TUF B650E-PLUS | 80A DrMOS power stages |
| Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot | B850M Pro RS | A PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot |
| Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot | B850M Steel Legend | A PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot |
| Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot | PRO B850-S | A PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The B850 Pro-A, the TUF B650E-PLUS and the rest, as their makers list them.
| Board | M.2 slots | Wired LAN | Wi-Fi | Power stages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B850 Pro-A | Not listed | 2.5Gbps | Not listed | 14+2+1 |
| TUF B650E-PLUS | 3 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 12+2+1 |
| B850M Pro RS | 3 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 8+2+1 |
| B850M Steel Legend | 3 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 7 | 12+2+1 |
| PRO B850-S | Not listed | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the B850 Pro-A the Lowest Price Here?
It earns the label for a lower price than the TUF B650E-PLUS and the rest when we checked. It suits getting BIOS Flashback for the least money.
Do the TUF B650E-PLUS and the B850M Steel Legend differ on wi-Fi?
The TUF B650E-PLUS, the B850M Pro RS and the PRO B850-S use Wi-Fi 6E; the B850M Steel Legend uses Wi-Fi 7. The maker of the B850 Pro-A doesn't say.
Beyond the specs, what sets the B850 Pro-A and the TUF B650E-PLUS apart?
The B850 Pro-A: BIOS Flashback. The TUF B650E-PLUS: 80A DrMOS power stages. The B850M Pro RS: a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Should I pick the B850 Pro-A or the PRO B850-S?
The B850 Pro-A suits getting BIOS Flashback for the least money; the PRO B850-S suits buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
What else do the B850M Steel Legend and the PRO B850-S offer?
The B850M Steel Legend: a white and silver finish. The PRO B850-S: memory support to DDR5-8200 (OC).
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the B850 Pro-A, chosen for a lower price than the TUF B650E-PLUS and the rest when we checked. Look at the TUF B650E-PLUS for 80A DrMOS power stages, the B850M Pro RS for a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot and the B850M Steel Legend for a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot if those matter more to you.
A Gen 5 SSD also needs a CPU and BIOS that support it; check the board's M.2 slot notes.