When building a powerful and efficient PC with AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor, selecting the right motherboard is crucial. Through our experience as PC builders, we know the importance of finding the most suitable match between your processor and motherboard. In this article, we will walk you through the essential factors to consider when choosing a motherboard for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. With our analysis and breakdown, you can make an informed decision to optimize your system's performance.
Additionally, we researched the motherboard options available and provide our Recommended Motherboards for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D
for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D below. This will simplify the decision-making process for you, making it easier to choose the right motherboard for your needs. OEM-only chipsets that are not available on retail motherboards are outside the scope of this article.
Motherboard Requirements for Ryzen 9 7950X3D Processors
For AMD's Zen 4-based Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor, you'll need a motherboard with an AM5 socket and a compatible chipset.
Motherboards for AMD processors are made with chipsets provided by AMD. Each chipset offers a unique set of capabilities. However, motherboards must explicitly support features and capabilities for you to use them. Verify that a motherboard supports the features and capabilities you desire.
Ryzen 7000-series CPUs, which includes the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, are compatible with the 600-series consumer chipsets. Supported chipsets include the X670E, X670, B650E, and B650.
The X670E is our recommended motherboard chipset for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D CPU, as it provides the most functionality and full support for PCIe 5.0. The Ryzen 9 7950X3D CPU also supports PCIe 5.0.
ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming
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For a detailed comparison of these chipsets and PCIe speeds, check out our article Which Chipsets Work With AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X3D CPU?.
- Find Zen 4 X670E Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
- Find Zen 4 X670 Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
- Find Zen 4 B650E Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
- Find Zen 4 B650 Motherboards on Amazon (affiliate link).
Check out our Recommended Motherboards for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D below.
Other Considerations When Choosing a 7950X3D Motherboard
When choosing a motherboard for the 7950X3D, we've thought of a few other factors you may want to consider. This is in addition to selecting a compatible socket type and chipset. As we delved into our research and analyzed various options, we identified several considerations that played a significant role in determining the ideal chipset for our needs. Our considerations can help you narrow down which features are important to look for.
Video Output Port
All Ryzen 7000 CPUs have integrated graphics support. You will need to make sure that your motherboard also has a video output port (e.g., HDMI) if you want to use the integrated graphics.
The integraded graphics on the Ryzen 7000 CPUs have 2 cores, 2200 MHz graphics frequency, and a 400 MHz GPU base frequency. This is good for basic tasks, but not for most games or other GPU-intense programs.
Storage: M.2 Slots and SATA Ports
NVMe M.2 cards are the latest and fastest form of SSD storage. However, we suggest ensuring your motherboard includes enough slots.
NVMe Support: The X670E, X670, and B650E chipsets support up to one x4 NVMe at PCIe 5.0 speeds (via CPU) and up to one x4 NVMe at PCIe 5.0 speeds (via chipset). The B650 chipset supports one x4 NVMe at PCIe 4.0 speeds (via CPU).
SATA Support: The X670E and X670 chipsets support up to 8 SATA ports, while the B650E and B650 chipsets support up to 4 SATA ports.
Learn more about storage types in my article Storage Type Comparison: M.2, U.2, NVMe, SATA, SSDs, HDDs.
Connectivity
USB
We found that it's wise to make sure the motherboard provides enough USB ports at your desired speeds.
The X670E and X670 chipsets support up to 12 superspeed (10Gbps) USB ports and 2 superspeed (20Gbps) USB ports. The B650E and B650 chipsets, in comparison, only support up to 6 superspeed (10Gbps) USB ports and 1 superspeed (20Gbps) USB port. Each motherboard is different, so the amount and speed of USB ports may vary.
In our experience, the devices that usually require high bandwidth rates are primarily limited to storage devices and high-resolution video devices. We have observed that these devices often rely heavily on fast data transfer speeds. In fact, we encountered situations where slower bandwidth rates significantly hindered such devices' performance.
We've tested various storage devices and found that the ones capable of handling large amounts of data transfer at high speeds yielded the best results. Similarly, when working with high-resolution video devices, we discovered that a reliable and fast connection was crucial for seamless playback and editing. Through our experience, we have come to appreciate the significance of high bandwidth rates for these specific types of devices.
Audio
We recommend making sure the motherboard has audio outputs. In my experience, it's crucial to check for rear and center speaker ports if you're using a surround sound system.
If you're like me and your audio equipment relies on optical input, it's worth looking for a motherboard that includes this specific port. On the other hand, we've found that you can also buy a separate PCIe or USB sound card. This way, you can expand your port options and even add features like optical or RCA connections based on your own preferences.
Form Factor
When it comes to motherboards, we've come across three main form factors. In our experience, ATX stands out as the most common form factor for desktop PCs. We've also tried and analyzed the Mini-ITX and MicroATX form factors for building a mini-PC. We have found that these smaller form factors typically have fewer PCIe card slots, fewer RAM slots, and can't support as many storage devices.
We've seen that these smaller Mini-ITX and MicroATX motherboard form factors are backward compatible with standard ATX cases. We observed that they use a subset of the ATX mounting holes. In fact, we've used Mini-ITX motherboards in ATX cases many times.
One crucial consideration is ensuring that your computer case is compatible with your specific motherboard form factor. We learned this through our own experiences and it's important to choose a case that matches your motherboard form factor.
PCIe Expansion Slots
Based on our analysis, the X670E and B650E chipsets allow for multiple graphics cards in the dual x8 configuration at PCIe 5.0 speeds, while the X670 and B650 only run at PCIe 4.0 speeds for both a single x16 slot or dual x8 slots.
Recommended Motherboards for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Best Feature Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming
Our recommended feature-rich motherboard to pair with the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming:
- Check the latest price of the ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming Motherboard on Amazon (affiliate link).
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Through our analysis and research, we found that the ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming motherboard offers an impressive range of features designed to enhance your gaming experience. With PCIe 5.0 support, you can enjoy fast data transfer rates, giving you a competitive edge. The motherboard's support for up to 128 GB of DDR5 memory ensures smooth multitasking and responsive performance. This motherboard has the X670E chipset.
We found that the ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming motherboard offered superior connectivity as well. Its 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port enables speedy file transfers, surpassing typical home internet speeds. Wi-Fi 6E technology provides fast wireless connections, making online gaming and streaming seamless. Plus, Bluetooth 5.2
support allows convenient music streaming to Bluetooth headphones.We also appreciated the plentiful storage options with the ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming. It features four x4 NVMe M.2 slots
and Four SATA 6 Gb/s ports, allowing for efficient storage and quick access to your games, applications, and media. Its USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 slots also offers 20 Gbps USB speeds and 12 USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports.Overall, we concluded that the ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming motherboard strikes a balance between performance and functionality, offering an exceptional gaming experience. With its advanced features and versatile connectivity options, this motherboard is a reliable choice for gamers looking to elevate their gameplay.
ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
Runner-Up Motherboard: GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master
Our recommended runner-up motherboard to pair with the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master:
- Check the latest price of the GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master Motherboard on Amazon (affiliate link).
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Through our analysis and research, we found that the GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master motherboard offers an impressive range of features designed to enhance your gaming experience. With PCIe 5.0 support, you can enjoy fast data transfer rates, giving you a competitive edge. The motherboard's support for up to 128 GB of DDR5 memory ensures smooth multitasking and responsive performance. This motherboard has the X670E chipset.
We found that the GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master motherboard offered superior connectivity as well. Its 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port enables speedy file transfers, surpassing typical home internet speeds. Wi-Fi 6E technology provides fast wireless connections, making online gaming and streaming seamless. Plus, Bluetooth 5.3
support allows convenient music streaming to Bluetooth headphones.We also appreciated the plentiful storage options with the GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master. It features four x4 NVMe M.2 slots
and Six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, allowing for efficient storage and quick access to your games, applications, and media. Its USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 slots also offers 20 Gbps USB speeds.Overall, we concluded that the GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master motherboard strikes a balance between performance and functionality, offering an exceptional gaming experience. With its advanced features and versatile connectivity options, this motherboard is a reliable choice for gamers looking to elevate their gameplay.
GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master Motherboard Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
Best Value Motherboard: GIGABYTE X670 AORUS Elite AX
Our recommended value motherboard to pair with the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the GIGABYTE X670 AORUS Elite AX:
- Check the latest price of the GIGABYTE X670 AORUS Elite AX Motherboard on Amazon (affiliate link).
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Through our analysis and research, we found that the GIGABYTE X670 AORUS Elite AX motherboard offers an impressive range of features designed to enhance your gaming experience. With PCIe 4.0 support, you can enjoy fast data transfer rates, giving you a competitive edge. The motherboard's support for up to 128 GB of DDR5 memory ensures smooth multitasking and responsive performance. This motherboard has the X670 chipset.
We found that the GIGABYTE X670 AORUS Elite AX motherboard offered superior connectivity as well. Its 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port enables speedy file transfers, surpassing typical home internet speeds. Wi-Fi 6E technology provides fast wireless connections, making online gaming and streaming seamless. Plus, Bluetooth 5.2
support allows convenient music streaming to Bluetooth headphones.We also appreciated the plentiful storage options with the GIGABYTE X670 AORUS Elite AX. It features four NVMe M.2 slots
(PCIe 5.0 speeds for one of the M.2 slots) and Four SATA 6 Gb/s ports, allowing for efficient storage and quick access to your games, applications, and media. Its USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 slots also offers 20 Gbps USB speeds.Overall, we concluded that the GIGABYTE X670 AORUS Elite AX motherboard strikes a balance between performance and functionality, offering an exceptional gaming experience. With its advanced features and versatile connectivity options, this motherboard is a reliable choice for gamers looking to elevate their gameplay.
GIGABYTE X670 AORUS Elite AX Motherboard Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link
Learn More About the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
- Motherboard: Choosing the Best Motherboard for AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X3D
- Chipset: Which Chipsets Work With AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X3D CPU?
- Cooler: Choosing the Best CPU Cooler for AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X3D
- Power Supply: Choosing the Best Power Supply for AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X3D CPU
- RAM: Best RAM for the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D CPU
- TDP: What Is the TDP of the Ryzen 9 7950X3D CPU?
- Gaming: Is the Ryzen 9 7950X3D CPU Good for Gaming?
Other Considerations When Building a PC
Want to brush up on other new technologies to consider when building a computer? Check out these articles:
- Cases:
- CPUs:
- The Best CPUs for Gaming
- Which Intel and AMD CPUs Support PCIe 5.0?
- Which Intel and AMD CPUs Support PCIe 4.0?
- LGA 1700 CPU List
- LGA 1200 CPU List
- Look up an Intel or AMD CPU on TechReviewer for related recommendations:
- The Best CPUs for Gaming
- CPU Coolers:
- Storage:
- Memory:
- PCI-Express:
- Motherboards:
- Graphics Cards:
- Power Supplies:
- Keyboards:
- Monitors:
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