Ryzen processors are becoming demanding day by day. Customers are leaning more towards Ryzen than Intel because these processors are able to deliver quality performance compared to the price.
The Ryzen 5 2600x processor is one of the best processors out there in the market. Many PC enthusiasts who are looking for something that is top-of-the-line, are purchasing this processor.
After intensive research for continuous hours, we have finally come up with a list of the 12 best motherboards for the Ryzen 5 2600x processor. We have categorized all the motherboards based on form factors, DIMM slots, SATA ports, chipset, max memory, and other features.
Among all the motherboards, we really think the “ASUS ROG Strix X470-F Gaming” holds the top spot. So, we have entitled this motherboard as our overall best choice.
Overall Best Choice
The ASUS ROG Strix X470-F Gaming is an excellent motherboard. This has the features to build any kind of setup no matter it is a gaming setup, workstation, or budget-setup. Some of the best software utilities from ASUS come with this motherboard like 5-Way Optimization, RAMCACHE II, Sonic Studio III, Aura Sync. These will let you control the overall system for the ultimate performance. The mobo itself has a solid build quality. It has a pre-mounted I/O shield. So, you don’t have to worry about the hassle of breaking the I/O shield. Moreover, the ASUS SafeSlot will make any high-end graphics card fortified. The onboard M.2 heatsink is bound to keep the M.2 drive always cool. All in all, this is a great motherboard in terms of reliability and performance.
Chipset: AMD X470
Form Factor: ATX
Max Memory (GB): 64
DIMM Slots: 4
SATA 6Gb/s: 6
LAN: Intel® I211-AT, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s)
Audio Ports: SupremeFX8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC S1220A
12 best motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600x processor available in the market
This comparison table will help you to provide a basic idea about all the motherboards. However, we indulge you to read the entire article unless you have very little time on your hands.
1. Asus TUF GAMING X570-PLUS (WI-FI): An excellent motherboard for the gamers
Technical Specifications:
Socket: AM4
Chipset: AMD X570
Form Factor: ATX
Max Memory (GB): 128
DIMM Slots: 4
SATA 6Gb/s: 8
LAN: Realtek® L8200A
Audio Ports: Realtek® ALC S1200A 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
Others: M.2 Slot (2), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (4 Rear & 2 at mid-board), USB Type-A (2), USB Type-C (1), USB 2.0 (4 at mid-board), DisplayPort (1), HDMI (1)
Key Features:
Compatibility: This is a highly compatible motherboard and works with AMD Ryzen 5000, 4000 G, 3000, 3000 G, 2000, and 2000 G series processors.
Efficient Power: 12+2 Dr. MOS power stages and ProCool sockets will work as a solution for enhanced power so that the motherboard can perform accordingly with the situation.
Comprehensive Cooling: There are a lot of cooling components such as VRM heatsink, M.2 heatsink, chipset heatsink, hybrid fan headers, and Fan Xpert 4 to maintain sufficient cooling.
Exclusive Gigabit Ethernet: The Realtek® L8200A Gigabit Ethernet will transfer low-latency data for getting uninterrupted internet connectivity when you are gaming or when you are running an application.
Turbo LAN: With cFosSpeed traffic-shaping technology, you will get 1.4x better connectivity. This technology will also prioritize transmitting game-related data when you turn on the Game mode. The Turbo LAN is protected with TUF LANGuard.
Pristine audio: This motherboard comes with Realtek S1200A Codec that makes a pristine audio quality with a 108dB signal-to-noise ratio.
Stable and Reliable: 6-layer PCB, military-grade components, and Digi+ VRM make this motherboard not only durable but also reliable.
Aura Sync RGB: Offers RGB LED lighting that can sync with a vast portfolio of PC components and addressable RGB strips.
TUF Gaming Alliance: It is a collaboration between ASUS and trusted brands to ensure customers get maximum compatibility with a wide range of PC components such as PC cases, CPU cooler, power supplies, and more. This collaboration is growing continuously.
Warranty: Depending on the region and retailer, you should get a 3-year warranty with this motherboard.
Negatives:
Many users have found a problem updating the BIOS to its latest version. It seems the latest BIOS version is not that stable and you won’t be able to rollback.
The software for fan control is not very supportive and almost impossible to uninstall.
It may take a while to boot up windows from an intel 660p NVME SSD. But a BIOS update may fix that.
Many renowned websites such as “HardwareCooking”, “HardwareZone”, “PC GAMES HARDWARE” have awarded the Asus TUF GAMING X570-PLUS (WI-FI) motherboard in various ways. So, it is undoubtedly one of the recommended motherboards for the Ryzen 5 2600x processor. This mobo is built with some of the best military-grade components from ASUS, which makes it very durable, stable, and reliable.
This board works flawlessly with many branded PC components with the help of TUF Gaming Alliance. Even if you are not an expert, the Turbo Lan will help you to get an optimized network either for gaming or running any software. It even has a dedicated Game mode. Therefore, it can prioritize transmitting data that are convenient for the game you are playing.
2. Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming: Includes dual M.2 heatsinks, best Aura Sync RGB lighting
Technical Specifications:
Socket: AM4
Chipset: AMD X570
Form Factor: ATX
Max Memory (GB): 128
DIMM Slots: 4
SATA 6Gb/s: 8
LAN: Intel® I211-AT, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s) + Realtek® RTL8125-CG 2.5G LAN
Audio Ports: SupremeFX8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC S1220A
Others: M.2 Slot (2), USB 3.2 Gen 2 (4 Rear & 1 Front), USB Type-A (3), USB Type-C (1), USB 2.0 (4 at mid-board), DisplayPort (1), HDMI (1), Anti-surge 2.5G LAN port (1)
Key Features:
Certified Compatibility: By undergoing an extensive certification program, makes this mobo highly compatible with any components from various brands for building your rig and this is the best part of PC DIY.
5-Way Optimization: Tailor-made profiles for cooling and overclocking that can be widely tuned. No matter what your skill level is, this motherboard lets you tune your rig the way you want with the best firmware control and software utilities including Intelligent Control, GameFirst V, Gaming Audio, Armoury Crate, and RamCache III.
Comprehensive Cooling: This board will keep your PC cool the best way possible with the help of dual M.2 heatsinks, active chipset heatsinks, MOS heatsink with 8mm heat pipe, and an on-board water pump + header.
Easy DIY: Despite your skill level, this mobo offers a DIY friendly building experience with the help of a patented I/O shield, BIOS Flashback, ASUS Node connector, and Safeslot.
Optimal Power Solution: This board offers an optimal power solution for multicore processors like the Ryzen 5. There are ProCool II power connectors with 12+4 power stages, alloy chokes, and durable capacitors that will ensure the system is getting efficient power.
Solid Hardware: This motherboard has all the essentials to make sure all the components in your rig are harnessed.
Gaming networking: Gigabit Ethernet is supported by ASUS LANGuard, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is supported by MU-MIMO, and 2.5 Gb/s of LAN with GameFirst V. All these features make an excellent gaming network.
Gaming audio: Get deeper into action while gaming as SupremeFX S1220A gets powered by DTS® Sound Unbound and Sonic Studio III.
Gaming Connectivity: Supports various types of connectivities such as HDMI 2.0, PCIe 4.0, dual M.2, USB Type-A, and Type-C.
ID Design: The iconic ROG logo along with an intricate rainfall pattern that is cut diagonally on the board, provides a stylish accent.
ROG Strix Ecosystem: Enjoy more features and choices while gaming if you gear up with ROG Strix components.
Aura Sync RGB: Like most ASUS motherboards, get exclusive RGB lighting and sync with other components better with addressable Gen 2 GRB headers.
Warranty: ASUS supposed to provide a 3-year warranty with this product.
Negatives:
If you want to use this mobo for running virtualization or hypervisor servers, it won’t suit that well.
Keep in mind before buying this motherboard, it has no Q connector.
The utilities for controlling fans are not so helpful.
Winning many awards and media reviews, the Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming motherboard comes with a compelling mix of features to deliver a quintessential experience. Purchasing this motherboard will be the first ideal foundation if you want to build a powerful ATX gaming system.
With a futuristic look, this motherboard will provide a stunning look to any PC build. Experience the smoothest online gameplay for the next-gen wireless network and your system will always have a stable performance with comprehensive cooling. All in all, this mobo is what you need for building a formidable weapon.
Others: M.2 Slot (2), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (4 Front & 4 Rear), USB 3.2 Gen 2 (1), USB Type-C (1), USB 2.0 (4 Front & 2 Rear), HDMI (1)
Key Features:
Compatibility: This board is compatible with 2nd generation, 3rd generation AMD Ryzen, AMD Ryzen 5000, 4000-G series processors, and Radeon Vega graphics.
Enhanced Performance: Whether you are a gamer, PC enthusiast, or prosumer; this board is ready to overcome any challenge with its advanced features and latest technologies.
Core Boost Technology: To unleash maximum performance, this board is combined with 8+4 pin power connectors and its layout has a premium design.
DDR4 Boost: Being partnered with major memory manufacturers, MSI has optimized the designs of memory circuits for tested compatibility and reliability.
Server-grade PCB: In order to get higher PCIe 4.0 performance, this board comes with a server-grade PCB. This also enhances the system’s stability.
IR Digital PWM: Your system will run smoothly under extreme situations because of high-quality IR digital power.
Frozr Heatsink Design: This design is bound to provide the ultimate performance with double ball bearings and a patented fan.
PCIe Steel Armor: Solid steel armor dedicated to protecting your VGA card from bending.
DIY Friendly: This board is equipped with tailor-made features such as friendly SATA, USB, and pin-header locations; multiple cooling solutions that can be widely-tuned for a convenient setup.
Audio Boost 4: Combining with Nahimic, the Audio Boost 4 works as a dedicated sound card and provides high-quality audio. The HD audio processor along with the amplifier and capacitors are all physically isolated from the rest of the motherboard circuitry.
In-Game Advantage: This board will turn any game experience into an immerse one with its advanced LAN network and enhanced audio capabilities.
Industrial Design: An optimized design gets combined with the crucial gaming weapons to satisfy the gamers what they really need.
Dragon Center: Viewing a user-friendly interface, this useful software is integrated with various modes and utilities such as GAME MODE, VOICE BOOST, and etc.
Mystic Light: This feature allows you to choose your favorite RGB lighting effect from millions of colors and syncing with various compatible devices.
Warranty: MSI should provide a 3-year warranty. But it may vary depending on the region and retailer.
Negatives:
A few users detected that after a couple of months of usage, this board started to reboot without any reason. But this problem was not observed for everyone.
The BIOS is kind of chunky. It is hard to understand which options are clickable and difficult to navigate.
The MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS motherboard is built for streaming, esports, and gaming. It is a dedicated motherboard for gamers who love to play games or who play games for competition. And powered by any AMD Ryzen AM4 processor, this mobo will be outstanding for smooth and lag-free gaming. This board is designed with an extended Frozr Heatsink and includes an M.2 Shield Frozr.
The Lightning Gen 4 Solution transfers up to 64 Gb/s of unidirectional bandwidth when you attach an ultra-fast PCI-E 4.0 device. You can choose your favorite color from 16.8 million colors and decorate your rig with 29 lighting effects, which can be controlled with one click. Moreover, there are 2 M.2 slots available in this motherboard.
The additional M.2 Shield Frozr will keep your M.2 SSD cool by eventually cooling the overall system.
4. ASUS ROG Strix X470-F Gaming: Editor’s Choice, Full of great features
Technical Specifications:
Socket: AM4
Chipset: AMD X470
Form Factor: ATX
Max Memory (GB): 64
DIMM Slots: 4
SATA 6Gb/s: 6
LAN: Intel® I211-AT, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s)
Audio Ports: SupremeFX8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC S1220A
Others: M.2 Slot (2), USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Rear), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (1 Front & 2 Rear), USB 2.0 (4 at mid-board), USB Type-C (1), DisplayPort (1), HDMI (1)
Key Features:
Pre-Mounted I/O Shield: The I/O shield is pre-mounted. So, you don’t have to worry about attaching the I/O shield at the back of your case separately. This shield offers increased protection against electrostatic discharge that is up to 12kV.
5-Way Optimization: Tailor-made overclocking and cooling profiles that can auto-tune according to your preference.
Improved DDR4 Stability: This motherboard is specially designed for gaming rigs offering you a plug-and-play experience. Will deliver maximum frame rates from high-bandwidth memory kits.
ASUS SafeSlot: The reinvented PCI-e slot features an insert-molding manufacturing process that can be done in a single step.
Gaming connectivity: Dual slot for M.2 SSD, adequate USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, Intel Gigabit ethernet will access any type of connection
Gaming audio: Get deeper into any gaming experience with SupremeFX S1220A, which teams up with Sonic Studio III and Sonic Radar III for creating an aural landscape.
Gamer’s Guardian: This motherboard comes with all the premium components including a pre-mounted I/O shield, ASUS SafeSlot, and etc.
RAMCACHE II: An intelligent technology that is fully compatible with the latest NVM Express and will help any game or app to launch at breakneck speed.
Digi+VRM: The Digi+ voltage-regulator module (VRM) will deliver smooth power to the CPU intelligently.
ID Design: The design enhances the reliability of the motherboard while the onboard M.2 heatsink will keep the M.2 SSD cool.
Aura Sync: By syncing with a vast portfolio of Aura-capable hardware, this board offers a full RGB lighting option that will present superior aesthetics to any rig. Also, you can install addressable RGB LED strips simply by connecting to the onboard RGB header.
Beyond VR Ready: This feature opens up a new way that will help you to build and configure your dream system. It is not only VR ready, it goes way beyond.
Warranty: You will probably get a 3-year warranty with this mobo.
Negatives:
This board may give you some trouble especially the Linux users if you want to use onboard RAID.
Even if you update BIOS, this board may run DDR4 RAM at 2666MHz speed rather than 3200MHz.
The onboard M.2 heatsink may become an obstacle if you try to install the GPU on the top slot.
The ASUS ROG Strix X470-FGaming has won many awards and online media reviews. But we didn’t entitle it just because of this reason, we really think this board satisfies almost all possible necessities for building any type of rig. This is an excellent motherboard that is bound to provide maximum performance and reliability. All the components on this board are placed in such a way that anyone can utilize its aesthetics and configure everything without any previous experience.
And the ASUS ROG Strix X470-F motherboard gives you more. It doesn’t stop only by providing the fundamental features. In order to get the ultimate gaming experience, this board features AURA Sync, RAMCACHE II, Sonic Studio III, Sonic Radar III, GameFirst IV, OverWolf, and more.
Others: M.2 Slot (2), USB 3.1 Gen 1 (4 Front & 4 Rear), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (2 Rear), USB 2.0 (4 Front & 2 Rear), DVI-D (1), HDMI (1)
Key Features:
Compatibility: Having an AM4 socket, this motherboard supports 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation Ryzen processors.
DDR4 Boost: This feature provides a performance boost for DDR4 memory and the motherboard is capable of supporting up to 3466Mhz of memory speed.
Core Boost: This board is built with an optimized power design along with a premium layout, which will support more cores for providing better performance.
Gaming Certified Motherboard: This board has gone through rigorous testing by the eSports players where they played various online and offline games for about 24 hours.
3-Way AMD Crossfire™ Support: With protective PCI-E armored slots, this motherboard can handle multiple GPUs such as 3-Way AMD Crossfire™.
Audio Boost: Reward your ears while you are gaming or watching movies with studio-grade sound quality. This board is built with a premium audio amplifier and audio capacitors. And the Nahimic 3 helps to enhance the sound quality to another level.
Mystic Light: This board can offer 7 different colors with 7 LED effects so that you can personalize your rig by selecting any color that matches the best. Moreover, you don’t need an additional RGB controller for connecting RGB strips or peripherals as this board comes with a 4-pin Mystic Light Extension pin-header. And the dedicated app is available for your PC, phone, and tablet so that you can control the lighting effect with just a few clicks. Therefore, this board is really great for expanding your RGB experience.
Lightning Fast Gaming Connectivity: This board can access a variety of connectivities for improved gaming experience such as Turbo M.2, AMD Turbo USB 3.1 Gen 2, StoreMI, and etc.
In-Game Advantage: MSI gaming LAN will help to experience lag-free online gaming. Moreover, there are many clever hardware and software tools such as Game Boost, Gaming Hotkey, Gaming device port; that will keep you one step ahead by boosting your gaming skills.
Water Cooling Ready: Along with 6 fully controllable fan headers, this motherboard is ready for water cooling. Moreover, Hysteresis can also detect whether the fans are running in DC or PWM mode.
One-Click VR: This motherboard is optimized to work with industry-leading VR vendors such as the HTC Vive. And a single will set all the important configurations so that other applications won’t affect your VR adventure.
Apps for Efficiency: Apps like X-Boost, Command Center, Live update will keep your system up-to-date for precise performance. You can set your BIOS to a perfectly stable platform by enabling the A-XMP.
Quality & Protection: Not only this board has an 11-phase power design but also protects your graphics cards from bending with a steel armor PCI-E slot.
Warranty: MSI should reward you with a 3-year warranty with this motherboard.
Negatives:
Some users have complained that if you try to use the RAID with this motherboard, the PC will continuously start to go to sleep mode and resume back again.
Some complained that this mobo doesn’t work with 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen 3000 series processors such as 3600, 3600X, 3700X, 3800X, etc.
Not only the manual has a little information but also the software and drivers for this motherboard are confusing.
The unique feature of the MSI X470 Gaming Plus motherboard is that it has a fully controllable 4-pin Mystic Light Extension pin-header that allows connecting RGB LED strips or peripherals without any external RGB controller. You can also control the RGB lighting effect with your phone as the dedicated app will literally turn your phone into a remote. As a result, your RGB lighting experience will be extended.
Comes with high-grade components for long-lasting support and reliability. By detecting if your casing fans are running in PWM or DC mode, Hysteresis will make sure your system stays silent and cool. The BIOS is pretty easy to figure out. Again, the A-XMP is a really great feature that easily sets your BIOS to a stable platform.
Others: M.2 Slot (2), USB 3.1 Gen 1 (2 Front & 2 Rear), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (1 Rear), USB 2.0 (2 Rear), USB Type-C (1), DisplayPort (1), HDMI (1)
Key Features:
Compatibility: Like most current-gen MSI motherboards, this board supports 1st, 2nd, 3rd gen AMD Ryzen processors.
DDR4 Boost: Offering up to 3466MHz of memory speed, this motherboard will boost the overall performance of DDR4 RAM.
Core Boost: An optimized design of this motherboard gets powered by a premium layout that can work with a greater number of cores for providing better performance.
Gaming Certified Motherboard: After rigorous testing for about 24 hours by the eSports team, this board is a certified gaming motherboard. The team continuously played various online and offline games within this period.
2-Way AMD Crossfire™ Support: This motherboard is very compatible with a 2-Way AMD Crossfire™ and the armor is great for protecting the top PCI-E slot.
Audio Boost: This board is equipped with premium audio capacitors and amplifiers to reward an immersive sound experience. The Audio Boost 4 co-operates with Nahimic 3 for delivering the highest level of sound quality.
Mystic Light: Decorate and personalize your rig with 17 different LED effects where you can choose your favorite color from 16.8 million customizable colors. This board comes with both a 4-pin JRGB-strip header and a 3-pin JRAINBOW-strip header to sync with other components of your system. And a dedicated app can be installed on your PC, phone, tablet that will turn the device into a remote for controlling the lighting effect.
Lightning Fast Gaming Connectivity: Having various connectivity options like dual M.2 slots with an M.2 shield, USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports will enhance your system’s overall performance. The TURBO M.2, StoreMI will help this enhancement a little bit more.
Intel Powered Gaming LAN and Wireless Support: Get the lowest latency and bandwidth with the motherboard’s gaming LAN and wireless support, which is powered by Intel. So, enjoy the ultimate online gaming experience without any lag.
Water Cooling Ready: This motherboard is water cool ready and it comes with 6 controllable fan headers with an extended heatsink design to keep your system cool under any circumstances. The fan headers can auto-detect whether the casing fans are running in PWM or DC mode.
Maximize USB performance: This board offers a variety of options such as a reversive type-c connector and Xboost to get a lightning-fast USB transfer speed, which is up to 10Gb/s.
One-Click VR: This feature sets all the important components to their maximum performance keeping other applications aside so that they can’t impact your virtual reality experience. Moreover, MSI motherboards are optimized to work flawlessly with the best VR brands out there in the market as the HTC Vive.
Apps for Efficiency: There are many software and utilities that can operate to get a better gaming experience. Game Boost, Gaming Hotkey, X-Boost are some of the best apps to help you achieve an enhanced experience while you are gaming.
Quality & Protection: The power users will be satisfied with this motherboard as this is built with an 8-phase power design. Along with M.2 shield and steel PCI-E armor, this board is equipped with all the premium components.
Warranty: Considering the retailer and region, you should probably get a 3-year warranty with this mobo.
Negatives:
Some users encountered a BSOD (bluescreen) problem when they were using this motherboard with the new Ryzen CPUs such as 2700x or 3000 series processors. They faced a BIOS issue as well.
Even if you are using an M.2 SSD in the NVME drive, it takes a while to boot up.
The MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC is a renowned motherboard for the pro-gamers. Being a water cooling-ready motherboard, this can support aftermarket all-in-one (AIO) or custom liquid cooling solutions. This is the comment that is said by the Fnatic CS:GO team –
“We are proud to be a part of the MSI GAMING testing program to help give gamers the best hardware to play games at the highest level.”
This motherboard lets you have an extended RGB lighting experience. The dedicated app can be installed on your preferred devices such as your phone, tablet, or PC. You can use your phone to act as a remote to control the lighting effect after installing this app.
– Now, this is something that you don’t usually see.
Watch this video from MSI official to know how to use the Mystic Light app in your mobile so that you can control the RGB lighting effect with a few clicks –
7. MSI B450 TOMAHAWK: Budget Choice for ATX type motherboard
Technical Specifications:
Socket: AM4
Chipset: AMD® B450
Form Factor: ATX
Max Memory (GB): 128
DIMM Slots: 4
SATA III: 6
LAN: 1(Realtek® 8111H)
Audio Ports: 6(Realtek® ALC892 Codec)
Others: M.2 Slot (1), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (1 Rear), USB 3.1 Gen 1 (2 Front & 2 Rear), USB 2.0 (4 Front & 2 Rear), USB Type-C (1), HDMI (1), DVI-D (1)
Key Features:
Compatibility: This board can work with any 1st, 2nd, 3rd gen Ryzen processors.
Flash BIOS Button: Without installing a GPU or CPU, you can flash any BIOS by simply using a USB drive.
Gaming Certified Motherboard: The eSports players have tested this motherboard by continuously playing online and offline games for about 24 hours.
Core Boost: A fully digital power design along with a premium layout will deliver a stable performance by accessing a greater number of cores.
DDR4 Boost: Get a DDR4 memory speed up to 3466MHz. This board will offer the best gaming experience by delivering pure data signals.
2-Way AMD Crossfire™ Support: You can have a 2-Way AMD Crossfire™ as this motherboard can smoothly support multiple GPUs and protect them with a steel armored PCI-E slot.
Audio Boost: High-quality capacitors and Audio Boost will reward your ears with a studio-grade sound.
Lightning Fast Gaming Connectivity: Various advanced technologies such as AMD Turbo USB 3.1 GEN 2, StoreMI, and Turbo M.2 for accessing various types of connectivity.
Cooling: Keeps your system cool even when you are gaming intensely. This motherboard is all packed up for weather cooling or AIO cooling. It has 6 controllable fan headers that will auto-detect if the fans are running in DC or PWM mode. And the extended heatsink plays a vital role in keeping everything cool when you are only using the stock CPU cooler.
Mystic Light: Create your dream PC with 16.8 million colors and 10 lighting effects. With just one click, you can fully control these effects and change color. Connect RGB LED strips and synchronize with your other PC components.
EZ Debug LED: Provides the easiest way to troubleshoot any issue.
Extended Heatsink Design: Even a high-end processor will run at full speed for its enhanced circuit design and extended PWM.
Apps for Efficiency: Apps like Game Boost, Gaming Hotkey, X-Boost will help to get an exciting gaming experience.
One-Click VR: With just a single click, you can set all the necessary components to their highest performance for the ultimate VR experience. MSI works with the top VR brands like the HTC Vive.
X-Boost: This motherboard features AMD TURBO USB 3.1 GEN2 to offer a USB transfer speed that you have never seen before.
Warranty: You should get a 3-year warranty like most MSI motherboards.
Negatives:
Many have complained that this mobo doesn’t work with Ryzen 3000 series processors.
The CPU cooling retention brackets are made out of cheap plastic.
When you are under a tight budget and looking to get something decent for building your PC, the MSI B450 TOMAHAWK motherboard is definitely a reliable choice. With a user-friendly interface, almost anyone can navigate the BIOS easily. And you can flash the BIOS without having a CPU or GPU installed. Just use a USB flash drive and you are good to go.
Like most new-gen MSI motherboards, this board also features Mystic Light. This will help to decorate and personalize your rig the way you want. You can set your favorite LED color from 16.8 million colors and sync with other PC components. Display your rig to everyone with 10 different glowing light effects such as Breathing, Flashing, CPU Temperature, Random, JAZZ, and many more.
8. MSI B450M Gaming Plus: Editor’s choice for micro-ATX type motherboard
Technical Specifications:
Socket: AM4
Chipset: AMD® B450
Form Factor: M-ATX/Micro-ATX
Max Memory (GB): 64
DIMM Slots: 2
SATA III: 4
LAN: 1(Realtek® 8111H)
Audio Ports: 3(Realtek® ALC887 Codec)
Others: M.2 Slot (1), USB 3.1 Gen 1 (4 Front & 3 Rear), USB 2.0 (4 Front & 2 Rear), USB Type-C (1), HDMI (1), DVI-D (1)
Key Features:
Compatibility: Any 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gen AMD Ryzen processor are very much compatible with this motherboard.
DDR4 Boost: This board supports DDR4 memories and with the help of X-AMP, this board will boost up the speed of DDR4 RAM up to 3466MHz.
Core Boost: Its digital power design along with a premium layout can support more cores for providing better performance.
Audio Boost: This board is equipped with high-quality audio capacitors and amplifiers. The Audio Boost and Nahimic 3 will reward your ears with studio-grade sound quality.
X-Boost: This is an exclusive software that will help your system respond with an increased speed. Any storage device such as a USB drive will have 20% increased performance when you use this software.
Gaming Certified: This motherboard has undergone rigorous testing by the eSport team for about 24 hours playing various offline and online games.
Gaming Connectivity: This mobo will offer you various types of options for connectivity.
Apps for Efficiency: The Command Center app will allow you to control the overall system, the Live Update app will keep your system up-to-date, the StoreMI app will increase the performance of any storage device; while the Gaming Hotkey and Game Boost will enable exciting gameplay.
Cooling: This board comes with 3 fully controllable fan headers that can automatically detect whether your system is running in DC or PWM mode.
VR Ready: Compatible with VR devices from renowned brands such as HTC Vive. With One-Click VR, you can enjoy a true Virtual Reality experience.
Everlasting Quality: Not only does this motherboard have a 7-phase power design but also protects your graphics card with steel PCI-E armor.
Warranty: A 3-year warranty should probably be provided with this motherboard.
Negatives:
If you want to set up a custom liquid cooling for your system, then go for a better motherboard instead of this one.
The user manual is poor in explaining how to set up the BIOS.
If you are a micro-ATX user, the MSI B450M Gaming Plusmotherboard will be a very reliable choice. To create a high-performance micro-ATX system, you can blindly choose this motherboard. A very good motherboard with many cool features unless you want to set up custom water cooling in your system.
The One-Click VR is an amazing app that can present you a pleasant experience when you are using any VR-related software or game. This app boosts up the performance of all the necessary components that are related to virtual reality while keeping unnecessary apps aside so that they can’t bother you while you are having good VR time.
If you are not sure about motherboard form factors, read our article on the types of motherboards.
9. Gigabyte B450 AORUS M: A great board with efficient power consumption ability
Technical Specifications:
Socket: AM4
Chipset: AMD B450
Form Factor: Micro-ATX
Max Memory (GB): 128
DIMM Slots: 4
SATA 6Gb/s: 6
LAN: Realtek® GbE LAN chip (10/100/1000 Mbit)
Audio Ports: Realtek Audio CODEC
Others: M.2 Slot (1), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (2 Rear), USB 3.1 Gen 1 (2 Internal & 4 Rear), USB 2.0 (4 Internal & 2 Rear), HDMI (1), DVI-D (1)
Key Features:
CPU Support: This board is compatible with Ryzen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5000 series processors.
Refreshed BIOS: When you are initially trying to setup, this will be very essential as it can bring the most optimal settings. This reinvented BIOS has a new GUI that is very easy to function.
Hybrid Digital Power Design: Lower RDS(on) MOSFET and Hybrid Digital PWM are being used in AORUS 4000 series motherboards. Lower RDS(on) MOSFETs are smaller in size and have better thermal characteristics for optimizing gate charge and minimizing switching losses.
Fast Onboard Storage: With StoreMI technology and NVMe PCIe Gen3, get faster storage performance and file transfer speed up to 32Gb/s.
M.2 Thermal Guard: Keeping durability in mind, this board comes with a thermal guard for your M.2 device in order to protect by preventing bottlenecks and throttling.
AORUS Connectivity: Offers USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports with speeds up to 10Gb/s, which is almost double the speed of USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports.
GIGABYTE Gaming LAN: This board is equipped with Realtek 8118 LAN with automatic bandwidth allocation that sets up the network priority based on the application or game you are running.
Smart Fan 5: This feature makes this board water cooling friendly by offering 3 hybrid fan headers that can run on either PWM or Voltage mode. 5 temperature sensors are also available on this motherboard to always keep the temperature convenient for your system.
AORUS Audio: This board has a LED trace path lighting and an audio noise guard. Moreover, the high-quality audio capacitors will create the most realistic sound effects when you are gaming.
RGB Fusion 2.0: This board comes with a better version of RGB Fusion 2.0 offering digital LEDs and supporting either 12v or 5v LED strips that may have up to 300 LED lights. With various styles, illuminations, and speed settings; the RGB Fusion 2.0 comes with 9 new patterns.
Solid Pin Power Connector: Stabilizes the power when the CPU is overloading with solid plated ATX12V 8pin and ATX 24pin power connectors.
Patented Double Locking Bracket: This board follows a patented double locking bracket pattern where the first lock is at the front of the motherboard and the second lock remains at the back.
Ultra-Durable: Designed with anti-sulfur resistors and solid components, this board has a higher lifespan.
CEC 2019 Ready: This board fully complies with the new CEC 2019 (California Energy Commission) and you will get 15% lower power consumption when your PC is in idle, off, or standby mode.
Warranty: GIGABYTE is obliged to provide a 3-year warranty with this motherboard.
Negatives:
Old versions of AIOs from Corsair such as Corsair GTX H100i may not work with this motherboard.
A BIOS update may be required in order to use this motherboard with a Ryzen 3000 CPU.
By complying with the new CEC 2019 requirements, the Gigabyte B450 AORUS M is an amazing micro-ATX motherboard having all the essentials for building a high-end PC. Moreover, this mobo comes with ATX12V 8pin and ATX 24pin power connectors that not only stabilize power when the CPU is overloading but also have a longer lifespan. You will get 2 times faster file transfer rate and bandwidth for its USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports.
The onboard hybrid fan headers are great for connecting a CPU fan, system fan, water cooling pump, water flow sensor, an AIO cooler. The intelligent fan control design is efficient for cooling and optimizing power. It will turn off the fans when your system is in idle or sleep mode.
Again, it will turn on the fans to their full speed when the system’s temperature is getting hot. With the new Smart Fan 5 software, you can take control of your system’s components that are responsible for cooling.
10. ASRock B450M PRO4: Budget choice for a micro-ATX motherboard
Technical Specifications:
Socket: AM4
Chipset: AMD Promontory B450
Form Factor: Micro-ATX
Max Memory (GB): 128
DIMM Slots: 4
SATA III: 4
LAN: PCI-E x1 Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000 Mb/s + Realtek RTL8111H
Audio Ports: Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec
Others: M.2 Ultra Slot (1), M.2 SATA3 (1), USB 3.1 Gen2(1 Rear), USB 3.1 Type-C (1 Rear), USB 2.0 (2 Rear), USB 3.1 Gen1(2 Front & 4 Rear), HDMI (1)
Key Features:
Compatibility: This board’s AM4 socket is compatible with Ryzen 2000, 3000, and 5000 series processors.
SuperAlloy Motherboard: Built with a sapphire black high-density glass fabric PCB, premium 42A power choke, and 2oz Copper PCB layer. This provides a solid structure to this mobo.
AMD Quad CrossFireX™ Support: This motherboard can support AMD Quad CrossFireX™, stated by the official website.
StoreMI Technology: AMD's StoreMI technology creates an easy-to-manage single drive by combining the speed and capacity from both an SSD and HDD.
Digi Power VRM Design: For precise and smooth control of power, this board is designed with the next level hybrid Digi power VRM.
ELNA Audio Caps: Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec and ELNA capacitors will provide high-quality audio that will get you deep into the action while you are playing games or watching movies.
Multiple Display Outputs: Three most widely used display ports - D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI are located at the rear panel of this motherboard.
Dual M.2 Slots: This motherboard offers 2 slots for M.2 SSDs where one slot supports PCIe Gen3 x4 Ultra connection and the other one supports SATA3 6Gb/s connection.
A-Tuning: A multi-purpose software from ASRock built with a new interface offering more features and improved utilities than before.
Full Spike Protection: This protection technology includes various features to ensure power surges can’t damage the vulnerable components of the motherboard.
Warranty: A 3-year warranty will be provided at the time of purchasing this motherboard.
Negatives:
Sadly, you can boot your system using only one SATA channel of this motherboard. And if that slot is taken by an M.2 SSD, you won’t be able to use it.
Some reported that none of the slots work with an AHCI M.2 SSD and got “Error Code 10” when they tried to boot using the NVMe drive.
The I/O rear shield seems to be built poorly.
ASRock Inc. was established in 2002 and the world’s third-largest motherboard brand right now. Having many branches in Europe and the USA, its headquarters is located in Taipei, Taiwan. TheASRock B450M PRO4motherboard is a budget-friendly motherboard, yet featuring all the essential features that are required for a suitable PC build.
– This is what makes this motherboard demanding to all levels of users, no matter if they are prosumers or gamers.
This motherboard can provide up to 3200+Mhz of DDR4 memory speed (when overclocked) with 4 DIMM slots. And you can enjoy 7.1 CH HD audio for its Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec and high-quality ELNA capacitors. Usually, ELNA capacitors can be seen on high-end expensive motherboards. Thus, you are getting ELNA capacitors in this motherboard at such a reasonable price.
11. GIGABYTE B450 I AORUS PRO Wi-Fi: Mini but mighty, 2 HDMI ports available
Technical Specifications:
Socket: AM4
Chipset: AMD B450
Form Factor: Mini-ITX
Max Memory (GB): 64
DIMM Slots: 2
SATA 6Gb/s: 4
LAN: Intel® GbE LAN chip (10/100/1000 Mbit)
Audio Ports: Realtek® ALC1220-VB codec
Others: M.2 Slot (1), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (2 Rear), USB 3.1 Gen 1 (2 Internal & 4 Rear), USB 2.0 (2 Internal), HDMI (2), DisplayPort (1)
Key Features:
CPU support: This motherboard is very compatible with AMD Ryzen 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 5000 series processors.
Refreshed BIOS: With a new GUI and utilities, this feature is very handy when you are trying to initially setup your PC.
Sleek Design: This board features an all IR digital power design including 100% digital Power Stage and PWM controllers that can provide up to 50A of power. And 8 additional solid-pin CPU connectors will make the power delivery incredibly precise.
Onboard Wi-Fi: By supporting 802.11ac Wave 2 function, this board can offer a wireless solution with up to 1.73Gbps of speed.
Improved Networking: cFosSpeed is a network traffic management application featured by Intel® GbE LAN for improving network latency and maintaining low ping.
Smart Fan 5: Along with 5 temperature sensors and 2 hybrid fan headers, this board will keep your system cool in a smart power-consuming way. The fans won’t run when your system is in standby, idle mode. They will start rotating when your system’s temperature is higher. The digital fan headers can support both Voltage and PWM mode.
AORUS Audio: The ALC1220 120dB audio IC is great for head-worn audio devices as it can auto-detect the impedance of the device. The new VB series audio controller allows you to stream vibrantly with an SNR up to 110/114dB while using either the front or rear microphone.
Multiple Display Outputs: Aside from a display port, this motherboard is integrated with 2 HDMI ports with native 4k support.
M.2 Connector: Offering 32Gbp/s of bandwidth, this motherboard features NVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 2280 focusing on the users who want M.2 technology to maximize their system's potential.
AORUS M.2 Thermal Guard: For reducing and dissipating heat, GIGABYTE comes with a thermal solution for M.2 drives that will prevent bottlenecks and throttling.
Native USB 3.1 Gen 2: These USB ports at the back panel provide 10Gb/s faster bandwidth that is almost double the speed of a USB 3.1 Gen 1 port.
RGB FUSION 2.0: Along with 9 new LED lighting patterns, this motherboard will support 5v LED strips and almost 300 LED lights.
Solid Pin Power Connector: This motherboard comes with ATX 24pin & ATX12V 8pin power connectors that will supply stable power to the CPU.
Ultra Durable PCIe Armor: This board features a stainless steel PCIe armor that has a 3.2x strong retention force and shearing test that is up to 1.7x stronger.
Patented Double Locking Bracket: Features a patented design with dual bracket locks at the front and back of the motherboard.
CEC 2019 Ready: This motherboard complies with the new CEC 2019 (California Energy Commission) by fulfilling the requirements. As a result, this board consumes 85% lower power than usual platforms.
Warranty: Based on your location and the seller, you should get a 3-year warranty with this mobo.
Negatives:
The auto settings for CPU and SOC greatly overvolt. This may generate extra heat and eventually lead to power fluctuations.
The SOC VRM may keep on buzzing when you overclock the GPU.
It might be difficult to unplug the 8-pin CPU power socket as it is located in an awful area of the motherboard.
Only one graphics card slot is available on this motherboard.
The GIGABYTE B450 I AORUS PRO Wi-Fi may be mini, but we can assure you it’s mighty. It undoubtedly has a solid build quality and comes with some unique premium features that you may not see in usual mini-ITX motherboards. This board has a dedicated M.2 thermal guard along with digital hybrid fan headers and thermal sensors. The hybrid fan headers are also compatible with various cooling peripherals. Unlike usual GIGABYTE motherboards, this one has ALC1220 120dB audio IC and high-end audio capacitors, which is great for headphones. Take a look at this picture –
If you purchase this motherboard, you won’t have to buy a router separately. This board features 802.11ac Wave 2 function and comes with a Wi-Fi antenna that can generate up to 1.73Gbps of network speed. Please take a look at this picture to see the comparison –
Moreover, XSplit Gamecaster + Broadcaster will allow you to cast your favorite gameplay anywhere, anytime. This motherboard has so many qualities that are not possible to write in one blog. So, if you want to get a good quality mini-ITX motherboard, there is no alternative to the GIGABYTE B450 I AORUS PRO Wi-Fi.
12. MSI B450I GAMING Plus AC: A decent mini-ITX motherboard with Intel Wi-Fi AC
Technical Specifications:
Socket: AM4
Chipset: AMD® B450
Form Factor: Mini-ITX
Max Memory (GB): 64
DIMM Slots: 2
SATA III: 4
LAN: 1(Realtek® 8111H)
Audio Ports: 3(Realtek® ALC887 Codec)
Others: M.2 Slot (1), USB 3.1 Gen 1 (2 Front & 4 Rear), USB 2.0 (2 Front & 2 Rear), HDMI (1), DisplayPort (1)
Key Features:
Compatibility: Any 1st, 2nd, 3rd generation Ryzen CPU will work with this motherboard.
DDR4 Boost: Supporting up to 3466MHz of memory speed, this motherboard will boost your DDR4 RAM with the help of A-XMP.
Core Boost: This board can support more cores with its premium layout and power design.
Audio Boost: With high-quality amplifiers and capacitors, the Audio Boost will reward your ears with studio-grade sound for immersive gaming.
Gaming Certified: After 24 hours of continuous testing by playing many online and offline games, the eSport team recommends this motherboard for gaming.
Intel™ Wireless Support: With lower CPU loading, this motherboard can deliver up to 433Mbps of AC speed that makes it competent for long term usage.
Fast Storage Support: TURBO M.2, StoreMI along with X-Boost technology can get you super-fast storage speed, especially when you are using an ultra-fast storage device like M.2 SSD.
EZ Debug LED: This brings the easiest solution for troubleshooting.
Everlasting Build Quality: This motherboard is built with a 9-phase power design along with a steel PCI-E armor to protect your graphics card.
In-Game Apps: Gaming Hotkey and Game Boost will help to outperform and outsmart your opponent in games. MSI has created these smart software and tools thinking about the gamers so that they can remain one step ahead in the competition.
VR Ready: With the help of One-click VR, you will truly enjoy a realistic and vivid virtual reality experience.
Warranty: Depending on the region and seller, you will get a 3-year warranty at the time of purchasing this product.
Negatives:
Surprisingly, this motherboard has an NVMe slot located at the back. At the same time, this can be a potential hassle when you want to replace your M.2 SSD in the future.
A 3rd gen AMD Ryzen may not work with the latest BIOS (7A40vAB).
Unlike other MSI motherboards, this one doesn’t offer the Mystic light feature. So, there is no onboard lighting.
It is very rare to have integrated wifi on a mini-ITX motherboard. This feature is what sets the MSI B450I GAMING Plus AC motherboard apart from others. This motherboard is integrated with Intel™ Wi-Fi AC that can be very useful for mini-ITX users. Moreover, this motherboard pretty much has all the essential aspects that can be found in a current-gen MSI motherboard.
So, this motherboard may be mini in size, but it packs quite a punch. Moreover, you will get a Wi-Fi antenna with this mobo. Therefore, you won’t have to purchase a Wi-Fi router or adapter separately. It is a long-term usable motherboard that can offer up to 433Mbps of AC speed.
Guide: Update your GIGABYTE motherboard’s BIOS for the Ryzen 5000 series processor
If you are using a GIGABYTE motherboard or going to buy a GIGABYTE motherboard for a Ryzen 5000 series processor, you should be aware of the Q-Flash Plus BIOS update process. Check the informative image and follow the procedure to successfully update the BIOS for a Ryzen 5000 processor –
Go to GIGABYTE’s official website, then type and search your motherboard’s model from the product page. Once you have found the exact model, download the updated BIOS file.
You might need a USB flash drive with sufficient free space. Uncompress and copy the updated BIOS file that you just have downloaded.
Plugin the USB flash drive either into the BIOS Q Flash port or white USB port that is located at the rear panel of the motherboard. You should note that the specific USB port may not be pre-labeled. For better understanding, you should check the user manual depending on your motherboard’s model.
Now, you have to connect the cables to the 24 pin power connector and CPU 8 pin power connector. If there are 2 8-pin CPU power connectors on your motherboard, you can connect either one of them.
The system will automatically detect the BIOS file located in the USB flash drive once you press the Q-Flash button. During the flashing and BIOS matching process, both the Q-Flash Plus button and QFLED will start flashing.
After 2-3 minutes, the QFLED will stop flashing and the BIOS flash process will be complete.
Conclusion
Aside from these 12 motherboards, if you have a predetermined choice that is best for Ryzen 5 2600x processor, you can obviously go for that. You can also mention the name of the motherboard in the comment section. We can guarantee that none of these motherboards won’t disappoint you in terms of performance.
Whether it is an ATX, Micro-ATX, or Mini-ITX motherboard; you can go for any of our selections. If you know very little about computer parts and have already purchased a Ryzen 5 2600x or any Ryzen 5 processor, you can buy any motherboards from our selection, you won’t regret it. Just make sure you choose the right form factor depending on your casing’s architecture.
Tanzil
Hi! I am Tanzil,
I would like to think of myself as a Tech Nerd. The interest in computers, related parts, accessories, and new technologies have been growing constantly in me. Eventually, the interest became a passion and the passion became a habit. I like to express this habitual knowledge through writing. Therefore, I spend my leisure time writing on computers and technology.