Introduction
When AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series of processors were first released in the latter half of 2022, it’s safe to say their reception wasn’t the best. Along with being eclipsed by the arrival of the better value Intel’s 13th-gen CPUs shortly after release, the decision to only support DDR5 memory was baffling. For budget gamers especially, being forced to pick up DDR5 RAM would hike up the price of their PC build significantly, making Intel the clear choice in terms of value.
But as time passed, the price reductions to Ryzen 7000 CPUs, AM5 motherboards, and DDR5 memory has put AMD back into the conversation for budget-friendly gaming PCs. On top of this, the introduction of AMD’s Ryzen 3D variants has allowed them to compete with the performance of Intel’s Raptor Lake offerings. If you want to build an AMD-centric gaming PC on a tight budget, you’ll need to find a motherboard that can house one of AMD’s latest-gen CPUs.
Suggested Article: Best AMD GPUs to Buy in 2023
Luckily for you, we’ve compiled a list of recommendations for the best budget motherboards to pair with a Ryzen 7000 processor. For this buyers guide, we’ll be looking solely at B650 motherboards, as this is the most affordable chipset that is compatible with AMD’s current range of CPUs.
Our Recommendations
1. ASUS TUF Gaming B650M-Plus
👑 The best looking budget Ryzen 7000 motherboard.
Our first recommendation is a budget-friendly motherboard that’s an ideal choice for gamers looking to build an aesthetically-pleasing system, as the ASUS TUF Gaming B650M-Plus has the look of a board well above its paygrade. Motherboards aren’t normally considered to have a lot of influence on the overall look of a PC build, but an ugly motherboard can certainly make the internals of a gaming PC an eyesore. But users of this design won’t have to worry about that, as the industrial-inspired look throughout the PCB and heatsinks is bound to enhance the appearance of any gaming rig it’s thrown into.
Putting looks aside, this micro-ATX design has is also pretty functional, with plenty of support for a budget-oriented build. The inclusion of support for Gen5 SSDs is the biggest highlight, as this will give gamers the opportunity to access blisteringly fast storage when these SSDs become more accessible.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | ASUS TUF Gaming B650M-Plus |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | Micro-ATX |
| Supported Memory | 128GB DDR5 6400MHz |
| PCI-E x16 Slots | 2x PCI-E 4.0 |
| PCI-E x4 Slots | 1x PCI-E 5.0, 1x PCI-E 4.0 |
| Rear IO | 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C, 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen2, 1x USB 3.2 Gen1, 4x USB 2.0 |
| Networking | 2.5 Gigabit LAN |
Things We Like
Versatile USB connectivity: With a variety of USB ports, including a USB-C connection, this motherboard should have no issues supporting all of your gaming peripherals and accessories.
Supports Gen5 SSDs: The PCI-E 5.0 x4 slot on this design means this board is ready for the next generation of M.2 storage. Whilst a few Gen5 SSDs have already hit the market, it might be a while until budget gamers can get their hands on the new storage solutions.
Things We Don’t Like
Lack of WiFi: The main disadvantage of this motherboard is the lack of wireless connectivity. This means gamers will have to rely on a ethernet cable for online gaming.
Not the best value: Due to the focus on offering a premium aesthetic, this design has a steep price tag when you consider the connectivity it provides. Therefore, gamers on a budget might want to look at the alternatives.
Summary
If the appearance of your gaming PC is of equal importance to the performance, then the ASUS TUF Gaming B650M-Plus is definitely a motherboard worth considering. Whilst the connectivity offered for the price isn’t the best, the industrial look always looks great inside of gaming PC. That being said, there are a few features that will be enticing to all gamers, with the support for Gen5 SSDs being the most obvious positive in our eyes.
Features: 4/5
Design: 4.3/5
Performance: 4/5
Value for Money: 3.8/5
Pros
- Premium aesthetic
- Range of USB connectivity
- PCI-E 5.0 M.2 slot
Cons
- No WiFi module
- Cheaper options available
Where to Buy
Buy the ASUS TUF Gaming B650M-Plus on:
2. MSI MAG B650M Mortar WiFi
👑 The best value Ryzen 7000 motherboard.
Next up, we have a more budget-friendly offering in the form of MSI’s MAG B650M Mortar WiFi. This micro-ATX motherboard is packed with features that will allow gamers to install a number of performance-based upgrades to their gaming PCs, which should translate to improvements to gaming performance. For example, the memory capacity of 198GB will let gamers install 4 x 48GB DIMMs, which is quite excessive given most DDR5 RAM kits are either 32GB or 64GB in total. This shows that the B650M Mortar WiFi is well-equipped to support future upgrades, making it a solid foundation for a gaming PC that is meant to last for years to come.
In terms of design, this motherboard boasts a sleek design that is suited towards gaming rigs, but also wouldn’t look out of place within a workstation either. Plus, the predominantly black decals on the heatsinks makes this a solid choice for a stealth-focussed build.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | MSI MAG B650M Mortar WiFi |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | Micro-ATX |
| Supported Memory | 192GB DDR5 6000MHz |
| PCI-E x16 Slots | 1x PCI-E 4.0, 1x PCI-E 3.0 |
| PCI-E x4 Slots | 2x PCI-E 4.0 |
| Rear IO | 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C, 3x USB-C 3.2 Gen2, 4x USB 3.2 Gen1 |
| Networking | 2.5 Gigabit LAN, WiFi 6E |
Things We Like
Great value for money: This motherboard might not be the cheapest B650 option available, but the strong balance between expansive connectivity and a professional look makes it one of the most valuable offerings for budget consumers.
Lots of high-speed USB ports: Usually on budget motherboards, most of the rear IO will be filled with the slower USB 2.0 ports. However, the B650M Mortar WiFi includes nothing less than USB 3.2, leading to a higher bandwidth that should have no issues supporting high-end gaming peripherals.
Things We Don’t Like
Lack of PCI-E 5.0: Even though users won’t have much use for a PCI-E 5.0 slot right now, it is always nice to have it included on a motherboard. PCI-E 5.0 components should hopefully arrive within the next few years, but anyone using this board will have to settle for Gen4 performance, even if they do decide to upgrade.
Cheaper options available: As mentioned earlier, this isn’t the cheapest B650 motherboard on the market. Therefore, anyone on a very tight budget may want to consider a more cost-effective alternative.
Summary
In terms of price to performance, the MSI MAG B650M Mortar WiFi is one of the best motherboards on the market for Ryzen 7000 users. For a reasonable price, gamers get access to a board that will be able to support high-quality gaming performance for a number of years, along with a sophisticated design filled with plenty of heatsinks to control thermals of the devices connected to it.
Features: 4.2/5
Design: 4.2/5
Versatility: 4.2/5
Value for Money: 4.2/5
Pros
- Great value offering
- Sleek & sophisticated design
- Rear IO packed with USB 3.2 ports
Cons
- No PCI-E 5.0 slots
- Cheaper options available
Where to Buy
Buy the MSI MAG B650M Mortar WiFi on:
3. ASRock A620M Pro RS WiFi
👑 The best white budget Ryzen 7000 motherboard.
Despite white-themed PC builds becoming increasingly popular among the gaming community, there is still a lack of white PC components to accompany these systems. Motherboards have been one of the main culprits for having a lack of white designs, with most builders having to settle for a board that includes a hint of silver. Whilst a lot of manufacturers are slowly catching up to this trend, ASRock have been ahead of the curve, with the A620M Pro RS WiFi acting as a prime example. This motherboard adds lots of silver detailing to the heatsinks and black PCB to revert the typical colour-scheme found on most boards, resulting in a design that is a better fit for all-white systems.
In terms of connectivity, the A620M Pro RS WiFi has plenty of slots to support a budget gaming PC, including enough capacity for 192GB of overclocked DDR5 memory. Additionally, the rear IO includes 8 USB ports, as well as a choice of wired or wireless network connectivity, ensuring that gamers can have everything they need to start playing their favourite games.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | ASRock A620M Pro RS WiFi |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | Micro-ATX |
| Supported Memory | 192GB DDR5 7200MHz |
| PCI-E x16 Slots | 1x PCI-E 4.0 |
| PCI-E x4 Slots | 2x PCI-E 4.0 |
| Rear IO | 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C, 3x USB 3.2 Gen1, 4x USB 2.0 |
| Networking | Gigabit LAN, WiFi 6E |
Things We Like
Supports high-speed DDR5 RAM: Whilst most gamers won’t be getting close to the 192GB capacity supported on this board, the 7200MHz max speeds will be useful for gamers looking to overclock some memory.
Great for white-themed PCs: Unlike most motherboards on the market, this design isn’t predominantly black, making it one of the few ideal choices within a white-themed build.
Things We Don’t Like
Limited PCI-E slots: Whilst most gamers on a tight budget won’t have the funds or configurations needed to support a system that includes two GPUs, the limited PCI-E slots on this board restricts the ways in which gamers can upgrade their system when they’re ready to do so.
Relies on USB 2.0: The rear IO on this design includes a number of high-speed USB 3.2 ports, as well as a USB-C option. However, the rest of the IO ports are filled with the significantly slower USB 2.0, which could hinder the output of gaming peripherals or other USB devices connected to these ports.
Summary
If you’re planning on putting together a white-themed gaming PC, then ASRock’s A620M Pro RS WiFi is one of the only budget-friendly motherboards with a design that will match an all-white build. But even putting the aesthetics aside, this is a solid B650 motherboard that comes with plenty of support to give budget gamers the connectivity needed to attach their components and peripherals without suffering performance restrictions.
Features: 4/5
Design: 4.3/5
Versatility: 3.8/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Pros
- Ideal for white gaming PCs
- Supports high-speed DDR5
- Includes WiFi connectivity
Cons
- Limited PCI-E slots
- Lots of USB 2.0 ports
Where to Buy
Buy the ASRock A620M Pro RS WiFi on:
4. MSI Pro B650M-A WiFi
👑 The best budget Ryzen 7000 motherboard for workstations.
Concluding our list of recommendations, we have another offering from MSI, but this time we have their Pro B650M-A WiFi. As the name would suggest, this motherboard is targeted towards professionals looking to put together a reliable workstation for demanding tasks such as video editing or digital design. Whilst this design shares a lot of similarities with the Mortar WiFi, there are one of two tweaks made to tailor this towards a more productivity-based audience. The main difference is the additional PCI-E 4.0 slots, allowing for more M.2 storage, or even another graphics card if required.
Though increased storage may be more beneficial for storing lots of projects on a workstation, it can also be used to store an extensive gaming library, making this a motherboard a tempting prospect for gamers and non-gamers alike. As for the design, the sophisticated silver accents on the stealthier base are cleary geared towards a productivity-based system, but it won’t look out of place in a gaming rig either.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | MSI Pro B650M-A WiFi |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | Micro-ATX |
| Supported Memory | 192GB DDR5 6000MHz |
| PCI-E x16 Slots | 2x PCI-E 4.0 |
| PCI-E x4 Slots | 3x PCI-E 4.0 |
| Rear IO | 4x USB-C 3.2 Gen2, 4x USB 3.2 Gen1 |
| Networking | 2.5 Gigabit LAN, WiFi 6E |
Things We Like
Lots of support for upgrades: With multiple PCI-E slots to accommodate both graphics cards and M.2 storage, along with support for up to 192GB of DDR5 memory, this design sets a very strong foundation for consumers to build an incredibly powerful PC.
Great for workstations: The combination of a professional design and lots of support for M.2 storage makes this motherboard a great fit for those looking to build a powerful workstation PC.
Things We Don’t Like
No USB-C on the rear IO: Perhaps the strangest exclusion on this motherboard is the lack of a USB-C port, especially when you consider that the other MSI motherboard in this roundup does have a USB-C port.
Lacks a typical gaming aesthetic: Though the appearance of motherboards don’t tend to vary as much as other PC components, it’s obvious that this motherboard is not trying to appeal to gamers. Because of this, a design with a more leisurely appearance might be a better choice to slot into a gaming-oriented build.
Summary
For those looking to use their PC build for more productivity-related tasks, the MSI Pro B650M-A WiFi is more likely to meet your demands than any of the other offerings featured in this roundup. Instead of focussing on gaming performance, this board considers the key aspects needed for a modern workstations, offering consumers lots of support for M.2 storage and a more sophisticated appearance.
Features: 4/5
Design: 4.2/5
Versatility: 4.2/5
Value for Money: 4.3/5
Pros
- Suitable for workstations
- Supports lots of M.2 storage
- Includes lots of high-speed USB ports
Cons
- Lack of USB-C
- Not designed for gamers
Where to Buy
Buy the MSI Pro B650M-A WiFi on:
Are B650 Motherboards Worth Buying?
Yes. As the cheapest chipset to support AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series of processors, B650 motherboards are an ideal choice for those looking to build a gaming PC filled with the latest hardware from AMD on a budget. However, mid-range and high-end gamers can even benefit from the funds freed up by using these motherboards. Whilst these motherboards will have no issues supporting most gaming PCs, there will be some limitations compared to the more powerful X670 and X670E chipsets. For example, it’s rare for B650 boards to have PCI-E 5.0 slots or USB4 ports, but they can be found on most X670 designs.
The main competition for these motherboards comes from B650E motherboards, which include a slightly more lucrative chipset. For the most part, the B650 and B650E chipsets are very similar, but there are a few features that gives the B650E the advantage. For example, the B650E is better equipped to support PCI-E 5.0 slots, which will allow gamers to upgrade to Gen5 SSDs or next-gen graphics cards when they become accessible. However, these improvements give B650E motherboards a significantly higher price tag, making the B650 chipset a better value for money offering for most consumers.
AM5 Compatibility
When browsing for a motherboard to house a recently acquired Ryzen 7000 processor, there are a few important pieces of information that will prevent you from making any expensive mistakes. Firstly, it’s important to know which chipsets will support AMD’s latest generation of Ryzen CPUs. We’ve listed the motherboards that are compatible with AMD’s Ryzen 7000 CPU’s, along with a list of compatible motherboards from previous generations.
| CPU Range | CPU Socket | Compatible Chipset |
| Ryzen 7000 | AM5 | X670E, X670, B650E, B650 |
| Ryzen 5000 | AM4 | X570, X470*, B550, B450*, A520 *Beta BIOS may be required |
| Ryzen 3000 | AM4 | X570, X470, B550, B450, A520 |
| Ryzen 2000 | AM4 | X570, X470, X370, B450, B350, A320 |
| Ryzen 1000 | AM4 | X470, X370, B450, B350, A320 |
As you can see, the Ryzen 7000 series is the only generation to use the AM5 platform. Because of this, the current generation motherboards are not cross-compatible with previous generations, meaning PC builders will have to stick to the current range of chipsets. On top of this, the AM5 platform only supports DDR5 memory, which means gamers won’t be able to use DDR4 RAM to cut down on costs.
In regards to AM5 motherboards, the B650 and B650E chipsets are the budget-oriented options, while the X670 and X670E are tailored towards enthusiasts. There will be some limitations with the cheaper chipsets, such as a higher number of VRM power phases and PCI-E 5.0 slots, but all the AM5 offerings will be able to support current-gen hardware without any issues.
Why You Can Trust Us
After scanning through our recommendations, you might be wondering what makes makes us qualified to tell you about the best budget motherboards for Ryzen 7000 processors. When putting together a list of recommendations for a buyers guide, or conducting a review, the GeekaWhat team frequently experiment with the latest hardware to see how they match up with the rest of the market. During this process, we provide our honest opinions to give our audience the best advice possible.
If you want to learn more about our editorial promise, or find out more about our team of PC gaming and hardware experts, head over to the about us section.
How We Tested the Best Budget Ryzen 7000 Motherboards
In order to test and evaluate the best budget Ryzen 7000 motherboards, there are a number of factors that we take into account, these are:
- Support for components
- Connectivity
- Thermals
- Aesthetic
- Value for Money
Conclusion
Best Budget Ryzen 7000 Motherboard: MSI MAG Mortar WiFi
Out of all the budget-friendly motherboards that are compatible with AMD’s Ryzen 700 series of processors, the MSI MAG B650M Mortar WiFi is our number one pick. This design offers a strong blend of connectivity and aesthetics to provide consumers with versatile motherboard that offers great value for money.
Read our full read our AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT review, or Buy the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
Does DDR4 Memory Work on AM5 Motherboards?
No. The AM5 platform only supports DDR5 memory. This means anyone with DDR4 RAM in their existing build will be forced to upgrade and replace their RAM kit.
Are Micro-ATX Motherboards Cheaper?
Due to the reduced size, leading to less space for connectors, micro-ATX motherboards tend to be cheaper than the full size ATX layout.
How Much Should I Spend on a B650 Motherboard?
Consumers should be willing to spend around $150 to $250 on a B650 motherboard, as this is the price range where most of the offerings with the best value for money reside.
Are Ryzen 7000 CPUs Worth It?
Yes. Whilst they have had a rocky start competing against Intel’s 13th-gen, subsequent price drops and improvements via the 3D V-Cache variants have made the Ryzen 7000 series a valid choice for all kinds of PC builds.
