While AMD’s latest Ryzen 9000 Series CPUs didn’t receive the best reception from gamers and enthusiasts, the flagship Ryzen 9 9950X remains one of thebest CPUs for gamingand content creation. Packing 16 cores and up to 5.7 GHz clock speeds, it can effortlessly handle demanding tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and gaming when paired with a capable, high-end AM5 motherboard.
Gigabyte X870E Aorus Pro ICE
Asus ROG Strix X670E-E WiFi
Previous X670 and X670E motherboards work well with the latest Ryzen 9000 Series CPUs, but to squeeze out every last bit of performance, we recommend pairing AMD’s flagship CPU with the latest X870 motherboards. Here are the best options, ranging from budget-friendly to overclocking powerhouses like the ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero.
Game Rant’s Picks for the Best Motherboards for the Ryzen 9 9950X
MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi
The MSI MPG X870E Carbon Wi-Fi is one of the newest AM5-based motherboards in the business.It offers a slew of new features including Wi-Fi 7, dual PCI-E 5.0 M2 slots, and an impressive 18+2+1 phase power delivery mechanism.All of which make it an excellent high-end motherboard for AMD’s newest Ryzen 9000 series (and upcoming X3D) CPUs.
The MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi is Game Rant’s top choice for building a fully kitted-out Ryzen 9 9950X-powered PC without spending a ridiculous amount of money on something like the MEG X870E GODLIKE. Sitting just below the GODLIKE in MSI’s lineup of X870E and X870 motherboards, the Carbon offers the best feature set for the money, making it the ideal option for enthusiasts and hardcore gamers who demand top-tier performance from AMD’s latest CPUs.
Priced at $500, this motherboard leaves nothing on the table and has plenty of features, including the headline USB4 ports, lightning-fast Wi-Fi 7, and nine 10Gbps USB-A ports. DDR5-8000 works flawlessly, and there is even more overclocking headroom, as MSI claims support for up to 8,400 MT/s. MSI also updated the already overkilled VRMs from 90A in the X670E version to 110A, offering more than enough power to overclock any Ryzen 9000 Series CPU.
The board’s design remains largely unchanged except for the quality-of-life features, including tool-less installation for M.2 drives and a quick-release slot for the GPU. It’s ready for the next generation ofNVIDIA’s 50 Series GPUswith support for ATX 3.1 and supplementary power at the bottom of the board for beefier GPUs. The major hurdle will be the price for most people, but it’s otherwise a complete, high-end board that can handle every AMD CPU you throw at it.
ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero
The ROG Crosshair X870E Hero sits at the top of the ASUS X870 motherboard lineup.While pricey, it continues its dominance for extreme overclocking builds with cutting-edge features such as DDR5-8000 EXPO support, dual PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, and overkill VRMs.Thanks to the new chipset, gamers can access more high-speed connectivity, including Wi-Fi 7 and 5G LAN.
The ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero is a top-tier AM5 motherboard designed for extreme overclocking builds. It’s very pricey at $700, but if you’re planning a build with the flagship Ryzen 9 CPUs and want to maximize performance, this is the motherboard you need. It has a similar VRM setup as the MSI X870E Carbon, but it adds more aluminum plates and heatsinks all around the board, including a backplate, to provide a solid and stable platform for overclocking.
Perhaps the most impressive feature of the ROG Crosshair X870E Hero is its excellent memory overclocking support. As a flagship board, it supports and runs DDR5-8000 memory without issues, with some users successfully pushing it to 8,300MT/s. It has two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots supporting an x8/x8 configuration, so running two GPUs simultaneously (in an x16 4.0 configuration) without sacrificing performance is possible. Onboard, you also find three PCIe 5.0 M.2 sockets and two additional Gen 4 ones for all your storage needs.
In addition to USB4 and Wi-Fi 7, which come standard on X870 motherboards, you’ll find six 10Gbps USB-A ports, two 10Gbps USB-C ports, optical audio, and an HDMI port for integrated graphics. It has fewer USB ports than its outgoingX670e version, but that’s more than enough for most users. While not everyone needs a premium-priced board like ASUS’s high-end offering, it’s a worthy investment for those who want to overclock, require more I/O, or simply want a better-looking motherboard for their upcoming PC build than most of the competition.
MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi presents an excellent value for users looking to build a brand new gaming PC with support for the latest tech while not aiming to break the bank.Its 14-phase, 80A V-Core VRM is more than enough to handle the latest Ryzen 9000 CPUs, and it’s also packed with all the latest features including stable DDR5-8000 RAM speeds, Wi-Fi 7, 5G LAN, USB4 ports, and PCIe 5.0 for GPUs and SSDs, all for $300.
The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi offers exceptional value compared to other X870 motherboards, prioritizing core performance over flashy extras like RGB lighting and excessive VRMs. It brings the features that users really need, including Wi-Fi 7, 5G LAN, PCIe 5.0, and an error code display—a welcome addition for overclockers. With the Ryzen 9000’s impressive efficiency, the 14-stage VRMs should be sufficient to overclock the Ryzen 9 9950X while maintaining decent VRM temperatures.
Although it has its limits as an X870 chipset-based motherboard, the MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi boasts excellent connectivity with four M.2 slots (two supporting PCIe 5.0 speeds), four SATA ports, two USB 4 ports, and a total of nine USB-A ports on the rear I/O. It’s also one of the few boards that support DDR5 memory speeds of over 8,000MT/s out of the box, keeping it on par with pricier X870e boards. The Tomahawk also includes EZ DIY features for hassle-free, tool-less installation, rounding off a well-equipped and well-priced X870 offering.
ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming
The ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming packs an impressive array of features into a compact form factor, making it ideal for high-performance builds in smaller cases.With one-click AMD EXPO DDR5-8000 support, PCIe 5.0 M.2 socket, and robust 110A VRMs, it offers a solid foundation for the flagship Ryzen 9000 Series and upcoming X3D CPUs.
Despite its compact ITX form factor, the ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming packs plenty of features and performance to earn its place among the best X870 motherboards. It comes with all the latest features from the new platform, including Wi-Fi 7 for high-speed, low-latency wireless connection, PCIe 5.0 M.2 socket for lightning-fast storage, and solid and stable DDR5-8000 performance. USB4 is also present on the rear I/O, although that was already available in the previous X670e model.
The ROG Strix X870-I Gaming shines regarding memory overclocking performance, while its robust 110A VRMs allow gamers to push the Ryzen 9 9950X to its limits without generating a lot of heat. Combined with the beefy VRM heatsinks and solid ten-layer PCB, the ROG Strix X870-I Gaming provides a stable and reliable platform for high-end Ryzen 9000 builds. Like most of the recent boards, you also get a quick-release mechanism for the PCIe slot and M.2 socket.
If you don’t need bleeding-edge memory performance or the latest Wi-Fi 7, the last-generationASUS ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming WiFiis an excellent alternative. It offers comparable performance and features to the X870-I Gaming at a slightly lower price point.
The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Pro ICE is one of the best-looking AM5 motherboards.It features a stunning icy white design with integrated RGB lighting and a minimalist aesthetic that will surely please anyone building a white-themed gaming rig.It’s a great performer, too, featuring solid VRMs, triple PCIe 5.0 sockets, DDR5 memory support, and a debug code display for easy troubleshooting.
For those looking for a visually striking centerpiece for their white-themed gaming rig, the choice comes down to either the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Pro ICE orASUS ROG Strix X870-A Gaming WiFi. Both are incredible AM5 boards that can easily handle the Ryzen 9 9950X and future AM5 CPUs. However, the Gigabyte is more affordable and packs more features, making it our top choice for building a white AMD-powered PC.
The X870E Aorus Pro ICE features a stunning all-white design, including the RAM slots, headers, and power connectors. Unlike the ASUS board, it benefits from having two Promontory 21 chipsets, offering more storage and expansion options than X870 boards. Onboard, there are three PCIe 5.0 M.2 sockets, four SATA ports, and an extra PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, which is more than what you get on the ASUS ROG Strix X870-A Gaming WiFi. While the rear I/O isn’t as impressive, gamers still get USB 4 ports and plenty of USB-A ports.
From early performance reviews, the X870E Aorus Pro ICE can boot and run at DDR5-7800 with compatible AMD EXPO sticks. Gigabyte claims the board supports overclocked RAM speeds up to 8,200MT/s, which should improve with future BIOS updates. Unlike the ASUS board, the X870E Aorus Pro ICE also includes a debug code display, onboard power, and reset buttons, making it great for open bench testing. Gigabyte also throws in a couple of quality-of-life features like a quick release mechanism for the PCIe slot and M.2 sockets.
ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming
For those looking for a high-end AM5 motherboard but don’t want to splurge on the latest X870 motherboards, the ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming WiFi is an excellent option. While featuring a last-gen chipset, it offers almost the same features and performance as the latest boards, including robust 110A VRMs that can handle the Ryzen 9 9950X with ease.
Unlike the newer Intel motherboards, the latest X870 and X870E motherboards use the same AM5 socket as the previous models, meaning you can pair your Ryzen 9 9950X CPU with an X670E motherboard and get almost the same performance. The ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming is one of the best X670E motherboards available today. Sure, you’ll lose USB4 and Wi-Fi 7 support, but it delivers where it matters, including overkill VRMs, PCIe 5.0 M.2 sockets, and support for DDR5-8000, thanks to the latest AGESA update.
The ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming has a BIOS Flashback button that makes it easy to update the BIOS for Ryzen 9000 CPU compatibility without needing a 7000 Series CPU. It also boasts surprisingly better rear connectivity than some of the new X870 boards. It has 12 10Gbps USB ports (including two USB-C), an additional 5Gbps USB-C port, and HDMI and DisplayPort for integrated graphics output.
Users who want to overclock the Ryzen 9 9950X will appreciate the error code readout and onboard power button, which make debugging and open bench testing easier. Throw in the 18-phase, 110A VRMs, and you get a motherboard that can handle extreme overclocking of any AMD CPU. Priced at $440, the lack of USB4 and Wi-Fi 7 are reasonable sacrifices, considering an X870 motherboard with similar features will cost you around $500 or more.
Choosing The Best Motherboard For the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is compatible with both X870 and last-gen X670 and B650 motherboards, so you’ve got a range of options when it comes to picking the right motherboard for your high-end build. The main difference between X870 and X670 motherboards is that the former comes with USB4 and Wi-Fi 7 as standard. However, in terms of performance, there’s absolutely no difference between a high-end X670 and X870 board when paired with the Ryzen 9 9950X. you’re able to also find last-gen boards, such as theASRock X670E Taichi, with USB 4 ports.
However, we still recommend the latest X870 boards for a Ryzen 9 9950X build, mainly because of their excellent DDR5 memory overclocking support. Motherboards such as theASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Heroand budget-friendly options likeMSI’s MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFisupport one-click DDR5-8000 overclocking, eliminating the hassle of tweaking BIOS settings and voltages. The new boards also come with excellent quality-of-life features that make PC building easier, even for first-timers. In addition, here is what to look out for when choosing a motherboard for your Ryzen 9 9950X:
FAQ
Q: What motherboard is compatible with Ryzen 9 9950X?
The Ryzen 9 9950X is compatible with AM5 socket motherboards, including the lates X870 and X870e motherboards and last-gen X670 and B650 models.
Q: Do you need an X870 motherboard for the Ryzen 9 9950X?
While X870 offers excellent features such as USB4 and Wi-Fi 7, you don’t need an X870 motherboard for the Ryzen 9 9950X as previous-gen X670 and B650 boards work fine with the latest Ryzen 9000 Series CPUs.
