Best Motherboards to Buy for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D

AMD has yet again stormed the market with their 3D V-Cache technology, offering the world’s fastest gaming CPU, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This CPU provides a nice boost to performance compared to the previous generation, alongside a greater increase in clock speed and the newfound ability to overclock, which has never been available on ‘3D’ chips. However, for those looking to build a new PC with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, there are a mass of motherboards on the market to pair up with this excellent processor. That’s why we’ve tested a solid selection of motherboards that work great with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

This buyers guide delves into a range of X870 and X870E motherboards, which are solid options for a Ryzen 7 9800X3D PC build. We’ve tested and analysed a selection of boards catering to various budgets and possible configurations using this CPU. In this article, we’ll guide you through each board’s specs, design, and pricing, providing an overview of our chosen options.

Our Top Pick: ASUS TUF Gaming X870-Plus WiFi

The best motherboard for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the ASUS TUF Gaming X870-Plus WiFi. This board features a unique industrial design, ample high-speed IO, blazing-fast networking, and widespread support for PCI-E 5.0. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D, is a CPU that thrives because it is powerful and affordable, so it makes sense to pair it up with an equally inexpensive motherboard.

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Last updated: 2024-11-22 04:51:19 ET

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The Best X870 Motherboards

1. ASUS TUF Gaming X870-Plus WiFi

The first pairing for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the ASUS TUF Gaming X870-Plus WiFi, our top pick in this roundup. This is a mid-range ATX motherboard utilising the renowned industrial TUF theme you’ve likely seen before. The TUF branding offers a nice contrast, with yellow text and livery visible on areas of the PCB and heatsinks. Additionally, the board doesn’t go very heavy with RGB, which keeps the focus on the black and grey style more than fancy lighting.

On the expansion front, the TUF Gaming X870-Plus WiFi offers a Gen5 graphics card slot and two Gen5 SSD slots, followed by two Gen4 M.2 slots for those with plenty of extra storage. The RAM on this board can be overclocked to 8000MT/s, while the 16+2+1 VRM power phase design is ample to sustain a decent overclock.

The rear IO has ten ports: two USB4 Type-C ports, three USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports, four USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports, and one USB 2.0 port. There are five 3.5mm audio jacks catering to those with speaker setups. This board also features 2.5 Gigabit LAN and WiFi 7, blazing-fast network options ideal for those looking to enjoy lag-free gaming.

The front IO options on this motherboard are slightly weak compared to other X870 and X870E options. Ideally, we’d like to see more USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, primarily as fans and coolers use these headers for data. However, as it stands, the TUF Gaming X870-Plus WiFi is an exceptional board at a highly competitive price point.

2. MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi

Next is the MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi, a slightly higher-end option than the previous ASUS TUF board. The MPG X870E Carbon WiFi is primarily aimed at builds that require top-end performance. This is a blacked-out X870E motherboard with dark heatsinks and a black PCB. All the heatsinks are entirely tool-less, making installing or removing SSDs and graphics cards incredibly easy. Overall, the aesthetic of this board is simple but sophisticated, blending in with black components with no issues.

This board features strong overclocking for CPUs and RAM. Enthusiasts can leverage the 18+2+1 VRM power configuration, ideal for sustaining a solid overclock, while RAM can be pushed to 8400MT/s. In terms of expansion, there are two Gen5 graphics card slots, two Gen5 SSD slots, and two Gen4 SSD slots. So, across the board, there’s widespread support for PCI-E 5.0 and plenty of space for extra storage.

On the rear IO, there are thirteen ports. These comprise two USB4 Type-C ports, nine USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports, and two USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C ports, so there’s absolutely no USB 2.0 in sight, which is great to see. Networking is also excellent, offering prospective buyers the choice between high-speed dual LAN ports (5 Gigabit and 2.5 Gigabit) or WiFi 7 for those with a supporting router.

The MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi’s most notable weakness is its price. This is one of the more expensive X870 motherboards on the market and will be out of reach for most prospective buyers. However, if you’re willing to spend a bit extra on your motherboard, the MPG X870E Carbon WiFi is worth considering.

3. ASUS ROG Strix X870-A Gaming WiFi

The ASUS ROG Strix X870-A Gaming WiFi is a gorgeous white ATX motherboard aimed at those looking to build a lighter-themed system. White motherboards have become less rare in recent years, but we’re seeing them slowly saturate the market from varying brands. ASUS is one of the recent manufacturers to jump on board, and with the launch of the X870 chipset, the ROG Strix X870-A Gaming WiFi is a board that piqued our interest due to its all-white design, which includes the PCB.

Aesthetic aside, the ROG Strix X870-A Gaming WiFi is aimed mainly at the mid-range market. Its 16+2+2 VRM power phase configuration offers decent overclocking capabilities, while RAM speeds can be maxed out at 8000MT/s. For expansion, there is one Gen5 graphics card slot, two Gen5 SSD slots, and three Gen4 M.2 slots. Much like the MPG X870E Carbon WiFi, there’s a tremendous amount of room on this board for additional storage space should you need it.

The rear IO on this motherboard is very robust. It has twelve ports: two USB4 Type-C ports, five USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports, one USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port, and four USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports. Again, there’s no USB 2.0 in sight on the rear IO. The audio is slightly lacklustre, but prospective buyers can access optical S/PDIF, which provides a few options for those with more advanced audio setups. Networking is also solid, with the ROG Strix X870-A Gaming WiFi offering 2.5 Gigabit LAN and WiFi 7, which are incredibly high speed.

The most significant caveat of this motherboard is its audio support. It seems to be a recurring theme with X870 motherboards not offering a decent selection of audio ports, and unfortunately, the ROG Strix X870-A Gaming WiFi follows suit. Those with complex speaker setups or audio interfaces may want to look at alternative options with a more robust set of IO.

4. Gigabyte X870 AORUS Elite WiFi7

The last motherboard to cover is the Gigabyte X870 AORUS Elite WiFi7. This mid-range ATX board is geared towards gamers who want to minimise their build expenditure. The X870 AORUS Elite WiFi7 is slightly more barebones than other boards, meaning fewer heatsinks cover the rugged PCB underneath. However, this board still offers a decent aesthetic that will appeal to some.

Looking at expansion, this board offers a single Gen5 graphics card slot, three Gen5 M.2 SSD slots and one Gen4. It’s pretty impressive that there are five Gen5 slots on this board, especially as most other options generally support one or two. RAM overclocking support is stronger than most boards, with the X870 AORUS Elite supporting 8200MT/s speeds.

Moving onto IO, the X870 AORUS Elite is slightly weaker than the alternatives. There are twelve ports on the rear, eight of which are high-speed and four are USB 2.0. While the number of ports on this board is pretty strong, the appearance of USB 2.0 is disappointing, and we’d much rather have some additional high-speed USB 3.0 ports. Despite this, the rest of the IO is solid. There’s a 2.5 Gigabit LAN port and WiFi 7 for networking, and the inclusion of USB4 Type-C is a welcomed addition on this cheaper motherboard.

The aesthetic of the Gigabyte X870 AORUS Elite WiFi7 is its biggest weakness. While I can appreciate that there have been sacrifices made to the design, likely to improve cost, the style won’t appeal to everyone.

How We Tested the Best Motherboards for the 9800X3D

To find the best motherboards for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, we put all the boards in this roundup through the wringer, evaluating their specs, design, features, and pricing to determine their value proposition. All the motherboards we’ve looked at are built inside a gaming PC to assess the building quality and experience. We’ve compiled articles detailing our testing procedures and methodologies used to benchmark these CPU coolers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 9800X3D Support Overclocking?

Yes, with the arrival of the Ryzen 9000 range, the 9800X3D SKU now officially supports BCLK overclocking.

Does the 9800X3D Work on X670 Motherboards?

With a BIOS update, the 9800X3D will work on any X670 motherboard.

Do I Need to Buy a New CPU Cooler for the 9800X3D?

No, if your cooler supports AM5, it will work with the 9800X3D.