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The 3rd Generation Ryzen processors by AMD have truly revolutionized mainstream desktop computing. Offering an unparalleled combination of single-core and multi-core performance, the 3000-series is the perfect choice for people building a video editing PC, a system for 3D rendering, or workstations for Adobe After Effects.
However, this powerful processor can only achieve its full potential with an excellent motherboard. To help you find the best model, this guide includes reviews of some of our favorite models, their variations, and the factors to consider before buying one.
So, make sure you stick through till the end before you start building your PC!
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Motherboard For Ryzen 9 3900x
- OUR TOP PICK: Asus ROG X570 Crosshair VIII
- RUNNER-UP: GIGABYTE X570 AORUS Master
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: GIGABYTE X570 AORUS PRO WiFi
Comparison of the Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 3900x
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What is a Motherboard?
Arguably the most important part of a PC, a motherboard, distributes power and allows communication between the RAM, CPU, and all other hardware components. Its base is designed with an incredibly firm sheet of non-conductive material, usually a type of rigid plastic. Thin layers of aluminum foil or copper, also known as traces, are then printed onto the sheet. The traces are incredibly narrow and construct the circuits between the different components. Along with circuits, motherboards also consist of numerous slots and sockets to connect all the other components.
Asus ROG X570 Crosshair VIII
Are All Motherboards The Same?
The advancement of computers has also led to the advancement of motherboards. When it comes to choosing the right model, it’s important to make sure that the unit you choose meets your requirements both today and tomorrow. All motherboards differ in several areas, including:
Chipsets and Sockets
Different chipsets feature various support combinations of hardware components, like GPUs, RAM, and others. Thus, it’s important to choose a unit with the right socket and chipset for the CPU you plan to build.
Form Factor
Motherboards are available in different sizes, so users have some flexibility in building their PC according to their environment. A full-size tower case is a better option if you require a lot of space, while a much smaller case may be ideal for a home theater PC you’re planning on placing beneath the family room TV. Moreover, the components a motherboard is able to support will increase with its physical size.
Expansion Options
Along with the CPU, motherboards connect a wide range of components, including networking cards, sound cards, graphics cards, and storage devices and connections. Several different types of expansion ports have been developed over the years, but now, most motherboards are equipped with the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express or PCI-e ports. All in all, motherboards greatly differ when it comes to the placement and number of slots.
How Do I Choose a Motherboard For a Ryzen 9 3900x?
With countless models available today, choosing the right motherboard is no easy task. To help you build the best PC, here are some things you should look for before you finalize your purchase:
Memory Overclocking Support
From the first model, Ryzen processors have always relied on Infinity Fabric. This uses memory speed to decrease latency, making it an incredibly important factor to consider when buying any model for AMD Ryzen CPUs. Quality units are usually equipped with an extensive Qualified Vendor List (QVL), which significantly increases your chances of getting the RAM to higher clocks.
Expandability
Nothing is more frustrating than finding out you’ve run out of storage or memory, and realizing that all the available slots on the motherboard are already maxed out. Make sure you check the number of PCI-E slots, RAM slots, M.2 slots, and SATA ports available on the model you’ve chosen.
Chipset
The chipset dictates the features you can use with your system. The X570 is one of the best chipsets for Ryzen 9 available today. It’s equipped with extra PCI-E 4.0 bandwidth, enabling users to add ultra-high-speed NVMe storage to their system whenever they want.
Review of the Best Motherboards for Ryzen 9 3900x
For this incredible processor, an outstanding motherboard is required. To help narrow down your options, the following are detailed reviews of some of the best motherboards for Ryzen 9 3900x:
Best Overall:
Asus ROG X570 Crosshair VIII
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Most buyers were extremely happy with their purchase and stated that it delivered exceptional performance. They loved its beautiful aesthetics and quality construction. However, some users were disappointed with the lack of water cooling, while almost everyone agreed that it was a bit overpriced.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Offering one of the best VRM with a 14+2 phase design, this unit provides unparalleled overclocking for the Ryzen 3900x. It’s equipped with onboard troubleshooting features, including slow mode for LN2 cooling, retry and power buttons, safe boot buttons, and an LED display for postcodes. It further features Clear CMOS and a Bios Flashback button, enabling users to upgrade or reset their BIOS easily.
Who Will Use This Most
If you’re looking for a unit that performs admirably with the X570 chipset, then this is the one for you! It’s specially designed for advanced overclocking, both with liquid nitrogen cooling and with a custom water loop. The convenience and ease of a wireless connection further allow users to enjoy exceptional online gaming experiences.
Bottom Line
ASUS has always designed premium-quality motherboards, whether they’re in the high-end tier or in the budget category, and this model is no different. An impressive unit equipped with a wide range of outstanding features, it works like a beast. It’s undoubtedly an extremely dependable option for the Ryzen 9 3900z.
Runner-up:
GIGABYTE X570 AORUS Master
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The majority of buyers stated that this was a great unit with excellent BIOS. They loved the countless features it offered, the quality VRM heatsink, and the shield behind the motherboard. While users found it easy to install, they were disappointed with the number of USB ports. Some customers also complained about the RAM support.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This unit boasts countless high-end features, including a 2.5GBPS Ethernet LAN system, three PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, and a Wi-Fi 6 interface, but its heatsink is where it truly stands out. Designed with aluminum fins and encased in a copper pipe, the heatsink effectively reduces all overheating problems.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit is ideal for individuals planning to build the best AMD platform gaming PC. Since it delivers flexibility and highly optimized performance, it’s perfect for extreme gaming enthusiasts and power users. It’s further ideal for music lovers who want to utilize the unit to fulfill all their audio fantasies.
Bottom Line
All in all, this unit certainly deserves a place on our list of top picks. Boasting an innovative heatsink and a Smart Fan 5, the unit maintains the system’s exceptional performance, while keeping it cool at the same time. While it’s perfect for both music lovers and gamers, it has a larger price tag than other models.
Best for the Money:
GIGABYTE X570 AORUS PRO Wi-Fi
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Most buyers were extremely happy with their purchase and stated that it provided excellent value for money. They found the RGB to be minimal, tasteful, and the chipset fan to be virtually silent. Users also loved the fact that the BIOS update did not require a CPU. However, customers were disappointed with the lack of reset switches and felt the software could allow more configuration.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This model stands out from the crowd for several different reasons. Firstly, its memory stability is exceptional, and the unit was able to go up to 4200 MHz. Secondly, the BIOS is intuitively designed, making it easy to use and navigate for beginners, as well. Lastly, it has an incredibly well-thought-out design with an extremely quiet fan.
Who Will Use This Most
This model is perfect for IT enthusiasts, power users, gaming experts, and almost anyone planning to enhance and upgrade their CPUs. Since it features the Realtek ALC 1220 VB HD audio, it’s ideal for music lovers, as well.
Bottom Line
Delivering an exceptional performance in overclocking and stock testing, this unit certainly deserves a place on our list of top picks. It boasts an impressive feature set at an incredibly affordable price, including USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, RGB LED highlights, Wi-Fi 6 integration, and dual PCI-e 4.0 M.2 slots. However, the placement of the M.2 slots could be improved.
4. ASUS ROG Strix X570-E
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Almost everyone who purchased this unit was impressed with its quality and performance. Users loved the BIOS software and stated that it was easy to navigate and use. They also liked its design and said the RGB lighting looked great. However, buyers were disappointed with the fan controls, while some reported receiving defective units.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This unit primarily stands out to us because of the countless features it provides at an extremely affordable price. Featuring dual multi-GPU slots, exceptional M.2 performance, eight SATA3 slots, and all the USB connectivity you will ever need, it truly provides excellent value for money. Furthermore, the innovative PCI-e Gen 4.0 infrastructure opens up numerous faster storage options.
Who Will Use This Most
As the name suggests, this unit is designed for gaming enthusiasts. The ROG GameFirst software features multi-gate teaming, allowing users to enjoy the best online gaming experience. Its overclocking feature further makes it suitable for power users, as well.
Bottom Line
With eight SATA and eight I/O- panel USB3 Gen2 ports, this model is both a power-user and a gamer board. Its robust feature set and lower price further make it one of the best models available in the market. However, the two M.2 connectors might be unsuitable for some.
5. ASRock X570 Taichi
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Almost every buyer was impressed with this unit’s overclocking potential, with some saying that they would not hesitate to purchase it again. They were impressed with the Wi-Fi speeds and found that the VRMs ran cooler than other models. One user even stated they were able to run multiple NVMe SSDs with no issues. However, some customers were extremely disappointed with the software.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This unit’s overclocking capability is what makes it stand out from its competition. Equipped with 8+4 CPU power connectors, it delivers enough power to allow users to easily overclock their CPU without any problem. Its VRM further features 60 Amp power chokes, giving a good boost to its performance.
Who Will Use This Most
This product supports both AMD AM4 Socket Ryzen 3000 and 2000 Series processors. Since it is equipped with a Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec, it’s perfect for both music lovers and gamers.
Bottom Line
Along with being an excellent-looking model, this unit delivers an outstanding performance, as well. The large VRM heatsink truly enhances overclocking capability, while the effective wireless network interface provides incredibly fast Wi-Fi speeds. However, the noisy fan might be disappointing for some.
What Do I Need To Know Before Buying?
Selecting the best motherboard is arguably the most important part of a PC build. Since every part of the system connects to the board, making the right decision is extremely important. To ensure you don’t end up wasting your money, here are some aspects you should consider before making your purchase:
Size
Most modern motherboards are available in three sizes. ATX is the standard size and provides the largest space for slots and plugs. Micro-ATX is shorter by 2.4 inches and provides less space for expansion slots. Lastly, Mini-ITX is ideal for a tiny PC and only has room for a single add-in card and a few connectors for RAM and storage.
Number of Ports
Make sure you check the unit’s I/O area and USB headers to see whether it offers the external connection options you want. These enable users to add more ports through a front-panel connection on the PC case, or through expansion slot brackets in the back.
Number of RAM Ports
Most motherboards available today are equipped with four RAM slots, but high-end HEDT boards offer eight, while compact Mini-ITX models are only designed with two. The number of slots limits the amount of RAM users can install, so make sure you choose the model that best suits your needs.
How to Install a Motherboard
The motherboard may not be the most interesting component of your PC, but it’s certainly the most important. It’s also the largest, which makes it a bit difficult to install. Whether you have an extremely large eATX board, a smaller mATX or ITX, or the conventional ATX, these steps can help make the installation process easier:
1. Hold the motherboard above the back panel to see where standoffs need to be installed. Some PCs may also have them pre-installed.
2. If needed, tighten the standoffs onto the plate with a standoff tool.
3. Install and fix the rear I/O shield to the back of the case. Make sure you push on every corner to firmly lock the shield in place.
4. Place the motherboard above the standoffs.
5. Screw the unit down, but make sure you don’t overtighten it.
6. Install and connect the RAM modules.
7. Connect the CPU power leads and the main ATX power cable. (You can check the PSU and motherboard manual for more details.)
8. Attach the LEDs and front I/O switches, including power and HDD LEDs, speaker, and reset switches.
9. Connect the fans to the motherboard pins.
10. Install USB, audio, and other case cables to the unit.
11. Install the SATA HDD or SSD, if you’re using one, by connecting the cables to their respective ports.
12. Insert the GPU in the PCI-e slot and make sure it clicks firmly in place.
13. Secure the GPU by screwing the component to the back.
Conclusion
Considering the number of models available today, choosing the best motherboard for Ryzen 9 3900x is no easy task. You can easily get confused with the countless options available and the features they offer. Hopefully, the aforementioned reviews will help you find the model that best suits your requirements!
People Also Ask
Choosing the right motherboard can be an extremely technical and time-consuming decision, especially for beginners. To ensure you make an informed decision, here are some frequently asked questions:
What is VRM on the Motherboard?
A VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) or a processor power module is an installable module that determines and maintains the voltage requirements of a microprocessor. It allows processors with different voltage requirements to be included on the same motherboard.
What Voltage Does a Motherboard Use?
Generally, motherboards or other circuit cards use +5V or +3.3V. Older models usually use +5V, while newer ones tend toward +3.3V.
Does Motherboard Affect CPU Performance?
The ability for a motherboard to overclock directly affects CPU performance because raw performance is being increased. Along with increasing fps, overclocking also enhances performance across the motherboard.
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