Introduction
AMD’s top-end CPUs are a refreshing entrant in today’s market. Since the launch of Intel’s 12th and 13th-Gen ranges, consumers have been waiting for AMD to return with an answer, and Ryzen 7000 seems to be their response. However, with some of the lower-end SKUs demonstrating underwhelming metrics, many consumers looking to upgrade have almost been left out of the equation.
AMD’s top-end options are remaining steadfast in their performance, and offer strong value compared to their Intel counterparts. But the biggest point of contention with AMD’s latest platform, is the significant cost that comes with the new motherboards. Although the usage of new technology is the main causality for the price hike, AMD’s latest motherboards come ‘jam-packed’ with plenty of new features.
But how do you choose? With a plethora of offerings from different chipsets, it can be particularly difficult for first-time builders to pick out a new motherboard that suits their use-case. In this article we’ll be alleviating some of that stress by putting together a roundup of the best motherboards to pair with AMD’s Ryzen 9 7900X. We’ll be looking at the performance metrics of the Ryzen 9 7900X, with the main recommendations sitting in the latter-half of the article.
Suggested Article: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X Review – Architecture, Performance & Benchmarks
Our Top Motherboard Picks
Now for the section you’ve all been waiting for – the recommendations. As you’ve probably guessed we’ve picked out a selection of high-end motherboards from both the X670E and B650E chipsets providing excellent features, and overclocking support at varying price points.
1. ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-F Gaming WiFi
👑 The best value motherboard.
Introduction
First up is the ROG STRIX X670E-F Gaming WiFi from ASUS. We’ve recommended this motherboard in a few of our other roundups, because it is an excellent choice for those prioritising features at a lower price point. The X670E-F is one of the cheaper motherboards in this buyers guide, and is a worthwhile purchase for consumers building a cheaper 7900X system. Design wise, the X670E-F has taken inspiration from some of the Dark Hero boards that we’ve seen on older CPU generations. This board offers an all-black design across the PCB and heatsinks, with an RGB panel located on top of the rear IO.
I’m a big fan of the aesthetic, and the minimalist lighting panel should keep RGB lovers happy. Moving onto features the ROG STRIX X670E-F is one of the best motherboards on offer when it comes to USB ports. This particular model comes equipped with 12 ports in total, 10 of which are high speed USB 3.2 Gen2 ports. The X670E-F also has plenty of PCI-E 5.0 slots providing some upgradeability for consumers planning on purchasing the latest generation of GPUs and SSDs. This is a board I’d definitely recommend if you’re looking for plenty of USBs for peripherals and accessories.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-F Gaming WiFi |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Support Memory | 128GB DDR5 6400MHz |
| PCI-E x16 Slots | 1x PCI-E 5.0 x16 Slot, 1x PCI-E 4.0 x16 Slot |
| PCI-E x4 Slots | 2x PCI-E 5.0 x4 Slots, 2x PCI-E 4.0 x4 Slots |
| Rear IO | 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C, 9x USB 3.2 Gen2, 2x USB 2.0 |
| Networking | 2.5 Gigabit LAN, WiFi 6E |
Things We Like
Plethora of USB ports: One of the biggest standout features of the ROG STRIX X670E-F is the sheer amount of USB ports. This board is equipped with 12 in total, 10 of which are high speed ports with blazing-fast transfer speeds.
Sophisticated aesthetic: The ROG STRIX X670E-F is an awesome looking motherboard sporting an all-black design. ASUS have gone the extra mile to make the motherboard entirely matte black, with fully customisable RGB lighting located on top of the rear IO plate.
Plenty of upgradeability: Although we’re yet to see any PCI-E 5.0 components enter the market as of yet, the STRIX X670E-F has widespread Gen5 slots ready for the next generation of graphics cards and SSDs.
Things We Don’t Like
No USB4 ports: The new generation of Ryzen CPUs has brought plenty of new features, including the option for high speed USB4 ports. However, this motherboard does not feature any of these ports, which is somewhat disappointing to see.
Not ideal for intense overclocking: All of the new AM5 motherboards have relatively high VRM power phase designs in order to supplement the high clock speeds, making them more ideal for overclocking. But the ROG STRIX X670E-F is one of the weaker options due having less power phases compared to other X670E boards.
Summary
The ROG STRIX X670E-F is an awesome motherboard with a strong all-black design. This board has an insane amount of USB ports, solid networking options, alongside fully customisable RGB lighting providing some extra flair for your build.
Pros
- Strong support for high speed rear IO.
- Widespread PCI-E 5.0.
- Ideal for lovers of minimalist motherboards.
Cons
- Slightly weaker power phase design.
- No USB4 on rear IO.
Where to Buy
Buy the ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-F Gaming WiFi on:
[adrotate banner=”8″]2. ASRock X670E Pro RS
👑 A cheaper X670E design.
Introduction
Next up is ASRock’s X670E Pro RS motherboard. The Pro RS range of boards are designed to offer awesome feature sets but at a lower price point, which is likely why this motherboard looks cheaper than the rest of motherboards in this roundup. However, ASRock have used their main strength here, which is designing an awesome PCB despite having restrictions or limitations. This Pro RS model offers a black and white PCB which features some patterns across the board that add a little bit more depth to the design. I like the approach that ASRock have taken with this model.
Despite it being a cheaper offering, consumers still get access to a nice looking board with some customisable RGB lighting. Moving onto the features, this board does take a bit of a hit compared to the previous ASUS model, but only marginally. There’s only one x16 slot on this board, but it does offer Gen5 compatibility providing upgrade paths later down the line. The main SSD slot is also PCI-E 5.0 compatible too, further adding to the versatility and upgradeability of this board. Rear IO and networking is relatively strong, admittedly the Pro RS has been bulked up with USB 2.0, but the majority of the USB ports are still high speed options.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | ASRock X670E Pro RS |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Support Memory | 128GB DDR5 6600MHz |
| PCI-E x16 Slots | 1x PCI-E 5.0 x16 Slot |
| PCI-E x4 Slots | 1x PCI-E 5.0 x4 Slots, 3x PCI-E 4.0 x4 Slots |
| Rear IO | 4x USB 3.2 Gen1, 2x USB 3.2 Gen2, 4x USB 2.0 |
| Networking | 2.5 Gigabit LAN, WiFi 6E |
Things We Like
Reasonably priced: ASRock‘s X670E Pro RS is actually one of the cheapest boards available within this particular chipset, making it ideal for consumers that are making price conscious purchases.
Strong RAM overclocking capability: The X670E Pro RS is one of the strong choices when it comes to RAM overclocking. Consumers can push their memory clock speeds up to 6600MHz on this motherboard, providing some performance boosts.
Plenty of M.2 slots: Despite the lower price point, the Pro RS offers four M.2 slots in total providing a plethora of options for storage. All of these slots are high speed options of which there are three Gen4 slots, and one Gen5, giving consumers the ability to upgrade to a Gen5 drive when they release.
Things We Don’t Like
Weaker aesthetic: Although the Pro RS has a solid set of features, this motherboard is a little bit weaker on the design front. The monotone colours will blend in well, but the overall design is rather boring comparative to other choices.
Rear IO isn’t as strong: The ASRock X670E Pro RS has some great options for the price point, but we are a little bit disappointed to see so many USB 2.0 ports on a high-end chipset.
Summary
ASRock’s X670E Pro RS is one of the cheaper options on the X670E chipset offering a great set of features for consumers to sink their teeth into. It is a little bit lacking on the aesthetic front, but considering the price point, most users won’t be worrying about the weaker design.
Pros
- Stronger DDR5 ram overclocking capability.
- Lower price point compared to most of the other options.
- 14+2+1 power phases should be strong for a minor overclock.
Cons
- Rear IO is bulked up with USB 2.0 options.
- Only one x16 slot, no dual-GPU capability.
Where to Buy
Buy the ASRock X670E Pro RS on:
[adrotate banner=”7″]3. ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero
👑 The best enthusiast motherboard.
Introduction
For our next recommendation, we’ve picked out the expensive, but impressive ROG Crosshair X670E Hero from ASUS. This motherboard is the cream of the crop when it comes to features and design. As we’ve alluded to in the previous section, the X670E chipset makes no sacrifices when it comes to features, and the ROG Crosshair Hero is a direct reflection of this. Consumers can expect to pay a pretty premium for a motherboard of this calibre, however I’d argue that you get what you pay for when it comes to design and features.
Speaking of which, wow is this motherboard equipped! Consumers can expect all of the ports and slots that they’ll ever need with this board. Dual PCI-E 5.0 for both SSDs and GPUs. This can also be upped to three if you use the included PCI-E 5.0 M.2 card. There’s also PCI-E 4.0 slots if you need even more storage on top of this. Ports wise, the rear IO features two USB4 ports rated up to 40Gbps, and the rest of the board is made up of USB 3.2 Gen2 ports which should be more than enough for the majority of consumers. In terms of power phases, the ROG Crosshair Hero also has a very strong 18+2 VRM design, making it ideal for overclocking your 7900X.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Support Memory | 128GB DDR5 6500MHz |
| PCI-E x16 Slots | 2x PCI-E 5.0 x16 Slots |
| PCI-E x4 Slots | 2x PCI-E 5.0 x4 Slots (3 via the PCI-E M.2 Card), 2x PCI-E 4.0 x4 Slots |
| Rear IO | 2x USB4, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2, 9x USB 3.2 Gen2 |
| Networking | 2.5 Gigabit LAN, WiFi 6E |
Things We Like
USB4 ports: The rear IO is extremely strong on this motherboard, and consumers will be able to make use of the blazing-fast transfer speeds. Both of these ports are Type-C and are ideal for workstation systems that need to transfer large files.
Widespread Gen5 options: The ROG Crosshair Hero is one of the best top-end boards on the X670E chipset providing a plethora of PCI-E 5.0 slots. Consumers have access to dual-GPU slots, alongside three Gen5 M.2 slots with the included PCI-E M.2 card.
Strong overclocking capability: The X670E Crosshair Hero features an 18+2 VRM power phase design which is more than enough for a strong overclock allowing for a performance boost in certain applications.
Things We Don’t Like
Way too expensive: The ROG Crosshair has an insane set of features needless to say, but because of this, there is a significant premium for consumers purchasing this motherboard.
Slightly weaker RAM overclocking: Although the ROG Crosshair is one of the best motherboards on the X670E chipset, the RAM overclocking capability isn’t the best compared to other options.
Summary
ASUS’ ROG Crosshair X670E Hero is one of the most insane boards that we’ve seen on the X670E chipset. Consumers have access to more ports and slots than they’ll ever need, strong support for overclocking and an awesome design. This is an expensive board, but arguably, you get what you pay for.
Pros
- Has all of the ports and slots you would ever need!
- Ideal for overclocking a top-end CPU.
- Offers blazing-fast USB4 ports.
Cons
- Very very expensive.
- RAM overclocking isn’t as good compared to other options.
Where to Buy
Buy the ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero on:
[adrotate banner=”12″]4. NZXT N7 B650E
👑 The best minimalist motherboard.
Introduction
For our first B650E motherboard making an appearance on this roundup, we’ve picked NZXT‘s N7 B650E model. For those of you thinking, ‘NZXT makes motherboards?!’, you’re damn right they do. Although NZXT were a later addition in the motherboard market, their boards are surprisingly good. Consumers get access to the signature NZXT look with various perforations and a more minimalist aesthetic. Consumers will need to dumb down their expectations for RGB on these boards however, as NZXT have tried to keep the design very minimal, hence stripping away any lighting options.
Features wise, the NZXT N7 offers a very strong range of options. You still get access to the new PCI-E 5.0 standard, making it perfect for those planning on upgrading once we see Gen5 components release. The rest of the board is made up of Gen4 slots, which still provides excellent speeds if you’re looking to purchase cheaper storage options. In terms of overclocking, this board offers a 90 amp 16+2+1 power phase design, making it ideal for overclocking, there’s plenty of sufficient cooling on the VRMs too. Rear IO is also strong with plenty of high speed options utilising USB 3.2 technology.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | NZXT N7 B650E |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Support Memory | 128GB DDR5 6000MHz |
| PCI-E x16 Slots | 1x PCI-E 5.0 x16 Slot, 2x PCI-E 4.0 x16 Slots |
| PCI-E x4 Slots | 1x PCI-E 5.0 x4 Slot, 2x PCI-E 4.0 x4 Slots |
| Rear IO | 4x USB 3.2 Gen1, 3x USB 3.2 Gen2, 2x USB 2.0 |
| Networking | 2.5 Gigabit LAN, WiFi 6E |
Things We Like
Sophisticated minimalist design: NZXT is renowned for creating minimalist and sophisticated products, and the N7 B650E is no exception. NZXT have created loads of heatsinks and beauty shrouds covering the PCB providing some extra flair for your build.
Solid VRM power phases: The NZXT N7 B650E is a solid motherboard when it comes to overclocking. This board offers a 16+2+1 VRM design making it ideal to overclock the Ryzen 9 7900X to a high level.
Widespread Gen5 slots: On the N7 B650E consumers have plenty of upgrade options when it comes to the new standard of PCI-E. Consumers can utilise the high bandwidth Gen5 slots for any new components as of and when they release.
Things We Don’t Like
Metal covers can be difficult to remove: Although the shrouding and heatsinks do add to the overall aesthetic of this board, they can be a bit of a pain to remove. If you’re the kind of consumer that wants to put their build together quickly with minimal hassle, the N7 B650E might not be a great choice.
Weaker RAM overclocking: Despite the solid CPU overclocking performance, the N7 B650E is one of the weakest boards in this roundup in terms of RAM overclocking. For those wanting to push their performance to the next level, this board does have some limitations.
Summary
NZXT’s N7 B650E is a cheaper option contrasting to the X670E chipset, with plenty of great features. The minimalist design makes it an ideal pairing with other NZXT products, allowing consumers to put together an awesome PC build.
Pros
- Ideal for minimalists.
- Strong overclocking capability.
- Gen5 support provides upgrade paths.
Cons
- Design won’t be for everyone.
- Metal covers are frustrating to remove.
Where to Buy
Buy the NZXT N7 B650E on:
[adrotate banner=”7″]5. Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master
👑 The best value motherboard.
Introduction
For our final recommendations we’ve picked out Gigabyte‘s B650E AORUS Master. This is another board that we’ve recommend in previous roundups because it is an awesome pick. Admittedly, this board is one of the pricier options compared to the rest of the roundup, but I’d argue you get what you pay for with this particular model. In terms of the aesthetic, the AORUS Master uses the traditional AORUS design, covering the board up in various heatsinks providing some extra depth and improved thermals for SSDs and VRMs. This board also has plenty of RGB located on the rear IO heatsink which can be fully customised with Gigabyte’s RGB Fusion application.
Features wise, much like the aforementioned ROG Crosshair board we spoke about earlier, this motherboard is the cream of the crop on the B650E chipset. The AORUS Master comes equipped with a multitude of slots, the majority of which are Gen5 options. If you’re looking to buy plenty of PCI-E 5.0 SSDs later down the line, this motherboard has four Gen5 slots on offer. Looking at the USB ports, the AORUS Master does take a little bit of a hit compared to some of the other options, but you still get access to 13 ports in total which will be more than most consumers will need.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Support Memory | 128GB DDR5 6666MHz |
| PCI-E x16 Slots | 1x PCI-E 5.0 x16 Slot, 2x PCI-E 4.0 x16 Slots |
| PCI-E x4 Slots | 4x PCI-E 5.0 x4 Slot |
| Rear IO | 5x USB 3.2 Gen2, 4x USB 3.2 Gen1, 4x USB 2.0 |
| Networking | 2.5 Gigabit LAN, WiFi 6E |
Things We Like
Crazy amount of Gen5 SSD slots: As you’ve probably seen from the table above, the B650E AORUS Master, has a ridiculous set of Gen5 SSD slots. If you plan on picking up the new drives when they enter the market, this board is ideal to install all of them.
All the USB ports: Although this motherboard does make up the bulk of the ports with USB 2.0, consumers have access to 13 in total which is more than the majority of consumers will need.
Strong overclocking capabilities: If you plan on unlocking some extra performance from the Ryzen 9 7900X, you’ll want to overclock your RAM and CPU. The B650E AORUS Master has a high VRM power phase count, alongside the best RAM overclocking capability we’ve seen in this roundup.
Things We Don’t Like
Quite pricey: This board comes with an excellent set of features, but due to this, it also comes with a significant premium too. The B650E AORUS Master is an awesome board, but for the majority of consumers, this is definitely a higher-end option.
Should have better networking based on the price: We’re pretty happy with the main feature set on this board, but we were expecting slightly better networking. The price of this board is warranted to a degree, but as a high-end option, dual 2.5 Gigabit LAN or even 10 Gigabit is a feature we’d love to see.
Summary
Gigabyte’s B650E AORUS Master is a great board if you’re looking for a vast set of features. It is slightly let down due to the weaker networking options and the hefty price point, but I feel the majority of consumers would be happy with a board of this calibre.
Pros
- All of the USB ports!
- Very strong RAM and CPU overclocking capability.
- Insane amount of Gen5 SSD slots.
Cons
- A rather expensive option.
- Rear IO is bulked up with USB 2.0 ports.
Where to Buy
Buy the Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master on:
Ryzen 7000 CPUs – Some Background
For those that aren’t entirely familiar with Ryzen 7000, it is worth providing some background on this new platform. AMD’s Ryzen 7000 CPUs are part of an entirely new generation of processors utilising the AM5 socket. AMD have since changed the CPU socket design from their renowned PGA style, to a familiar LGA design which has been used by Intel for quite some time.
All of these new CPUs brought exciting new features for the AMD side, such as USB4, widespread PCI-E 5.0 support, and DDR5 DIMM slots. But the performance metrics haven’t quite been what we expected. Much of the new Ryzen 7000 CPUs haven’t been particularly strong at the budget and mid-range options due to an inherent lack of value. AMD have almost shot themselves in the foot to a degree by jamming this new platform with new hardware, and forcing users to use DDR5, because the total cost for a system build has significantly shot up.
CPUs such as the Ryzen 5 7600X, and the Ryzen 7 7700X, aren’t quite as strong when compared to Intel’s 12th and 13th-Gen ranges. But when we move towards the top-end, the situation shifts in AMD‘s favour. Both the Ryzen 9 7900X and 7950X are very strong CPUs, offering excellent performance metrics in pretty much everything that you can throw them at. The only big caveat here is cost. Although these CPUs are solid performers, much like the rest of the available SKUs, their value comes down to the price of the CPU, and the other components required to build a system with these new processors.
We’d recommend checking out our full review for more in-depth coverage on the 7900X, but consumers can take a little bit of a breather knowing that this CPU is pretty strong overall. But we would urge the vast majority of users to either wait for the 3D SKUs to release and see what they have on offer, or wait for a new generation of Ryzen processors.
It takes plenty of time for AMD to refine their architecture, and because there’s so much new technology on these boards, consumers can expect high prices until the new features start to become the norm. However, if you are dead-set on picking up a Ryzen 7000 CPU, there’s a huge amount on offer when it comes to motherboards.
[adrotate banner=”11″]Why X670E and B650E Motherboards?
The biggest benefit of the ‘X’ CPUs, is that they have unlocked core multipliers. In layman’s terms, this essentially means that consumers can overclock these CPUs to their heart’s content. This will take some trial and error if you’re unfamiliar with overclocking, but the benefits can be significant if you’re able to maintain a consistently high clock speed.
This is one of the main reasons as to why we’ve picked out a mixture of X670E and B650E options. The ‘E’ designated chipsets offer stronger VRM power phases, which provides better power delivery for those looking to overclock. Although X670 and B650 motherboards can offer this, if you’re planning on overclocking one of the top-end CPUs, you’ll definitely stronger and cleaner power delivery, and this is where X670E and B650E motherboards come in.
The second reason is features. Again, the X670 and B650 standalone chipsets still offer great features, but they’re geared towards the more budget and mid-range ends of the spectrum. I would assume that if you’re going to pick up a top-end CPU, you’re probably going to want to pair a high-end motherboard to match performance, or to provide plenty of features.
X670E motherboards makes no sacrifices when it comes to features, but they are somewhat more expensive comparatively. B650E motherboards are essentially the younger sibling to X670E, and provide a reduced but similar set of features, at a lower price point. This makes them ideal for those attempting to be more price-conscious when picking parts for their system.
Why You Can Trust Us
Before jumping into our recommendations, it is worth talking about why you can trust the products that we recommend. Our team of enthusiasts work hard to ensure that products in the office are thoroughly tests for gaming and general usage. The editorial team will only every recommend products that they would personally buy with their own money. If you’re interested in learning more about the team, head over to the About Us section where you’ll find our editorial promise too.
How We Picked the Best Motherboards for the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
With the myriad of products that we get in the GeekaWhat office, it can be difficult to pick out specific products to recommend. However, we’ve put each product through a number of tests and procedures to develop a solid verdict on whether they’re worth picking out. We’ve used this information to provide our audience with detailed explanations on what to expect with some insight into our experiences.
For motherboards there are a few main factors we take into consideration, these are: connectivity, compatibility, features, and design choices. After evaluating these, we provide a general overview of how these features might impact your setup, whether you’re building a gaming or workstation-oriented PC. For a closer look at our testing and evaluation methods we recommend checking out some of the reviews that we’ve provided in the table below.
Conclusion
Best Overall Motherboard for the Ryzen 9 7900X: Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master
The B650E AORUS Master from Gigabyte is a competitively priced motherboard compared to other options on the market. Consumers get access to a highly sought after board with a ridiculous set of features, designed to handle a high overclock. Definitely a worthwhile option for the vast majority of consumers.
Read our full X670E vs B650E buyers guide or Buy the Gigabyte B650E AORUS Master on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ryzen 9 7900X Compatible with the X570 Chipset?
In short – no! AMD’s new Ryzen 7000 range of CPUs have an entirely different socket. The well known pin array on the bottom of Ryzen CPUs is no more, with AMD switching to an LGA style.
Are Ryzen 7000 Motherboards Compatible with DDR4?
Unfortunately not. AMD decided to make the switch over to DDR5 with the release of the Ryzen 7000 range on the new platform. The DIMM slots are entirely different to DDR4 and are not compatible at all.
Is X670E better than B650E?
As a general rule of thumb, yes. X670E motherboards are better than B650E boards due to the less restrictive chipset specs. However, a B650E motherboard may still be a good choice dependent on your use-case, and the lower price point.
How Much Do These Boards Cost Usually?
For X670E motherboards you could be looking at the range of $300 all the way up to $1000 dependent on the board you’ve chosen. B650E motherboards on the other hand are slightly cheaper, starting around $200 ranging up to $600.
