Finding the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600, which is arguably the most popular and best-value processor by far, is never a walk in the park. Ever since the release of the B550 Motherboards, the market has had almost infinite options. This six-core and twelve-thread CPU is an esteemed one in the market, particularly due to its excellent performance and spot-on pricing. The Zen2-based Ryzen 5 3600 processor is an incredible choice for all kinds of gaming, editing, and multitasking purposes. Most importantly, the best part is that it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Here are all our Ryzen 5 3600 Motherboard Picks In 2023:
Last update on 2023-06-07
Speaking of costs, if you pair it with a motherboard that doesn’t match your build, then the results could be costly. Most people make the age-old mistake of putting all their eggs in one basket. They invest more in the CPU and GPU while overlooking the need to have a solid motherboard that holds them all together. Consequently, their CPU’s power is limited to a great extent, and that’s no justice to any high-performance chipset.
Ryzen 5 3600 Motherboard Compatibility
Delightfully speaking, AMD ensures extensive support for the Ryzen 5 3600 as far as motherboard compatibility goes. The R5 3600 can be paired with a top-end X570 or mid-range B550, as well as the older version of both these motherboards, i.e., the X470, B450, and B350. Not stopping here, AMD has promised support for the Ryzen 3600 to the somewhat outdated budget-focused A320 motherboard with the help of an exclusive BIOS update. Conveniently, the newer version, i.e., the A520, supports the R5 3600 out of the box.
However, we generally discourage gamers from mounting the Ryzen 5 3600 on entry-level motherboards such as the A320 and A520 since these boards have comparably worse VRMs and a lower amount of heatsinks (if any at all) correlating with subpar cooling performance. Consequently, your Ryzen 5 3600 will surely fall victim to a CPU’s biggest enemy, i.e., thermal throttling, corresponding to a noticeably negative impact on CPU and overall gaming PC performance.
Moreover, older motherboards such as the B350 have lower RAM speeds, running at a maximum native frequency of 2666 MHz, while the newer B550 can support a higher native frequency of 3200 MHz with overclocking support beyond 4000 MHz. A-Series motherboards, unfortunately, are not officially supported for overclocking due to their signature significantly worse passive cooling.
Last but not least, thanks to the previously discussed thermal design of the A-Series AM4 motherboards, you won’t be able to overclock your R5 3600 or the paired RAM to eke out some extra performance, nor will you be able to utilize PCIe Gen 4.0 lanes since AMD has had to cut some slack in a few areas to sustain a reasonable price point. However, this does become a concern with users looking to future-proof their gaming systems since the A320 & A520 definitely don’t exude any signs of longevity or durability from an objective perspective.
7 Best Motherboards For Ryzen 5 3600
In simple words, buying a powerful and reliable motherboard for your 3600 is almost mandatory. What seems like a one-step decision, however, actually requires more research than you think. From the chipset to the variant to the VRMs and USB ports, everything should comply with your requirements. With more and more competitors entering the motherboard realm, it gets extremely difficult to make the right choice. To simplify things for you, we have made a list of the best motherboards for the Ryzen 5 3600. After thorough research, we can guarantee that these are some of the safest and most feasible picks for you.
ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming
Best X570 Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600
Specs=”Chipset: X570 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5100 | Video Outputs: HDMI and DisplayPort | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 2.5 GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi 6 | Storage: 2x M.2, 8x SATA”]
Pros
- Decent aesthetics
- Outstanding thermal efficiency
- Spectacular gaming performance
- Ample CPU overclocking headroom
- Terrific overclocked RAM frequencies
- Relatively fastest LAN with onboard WiFi 6 & BT 5.0
- Best-in-class sound system
- Ingenious built-in protective enhancements
Cons
- Comparatively overpriced
- Only 2x M.2 SSD slots
- Somewhat limited rear I/O
Asus continues to strengthen its stronghold on our list of the Best Motherboards for the Ryzen 5 3600. The ROG Strix X570-E Gaming goes all out in an attempt to cement itself as the Best Motherboard with a stealthy understated design, concealing a revolutionary audio system, supported by splendid power delivery with exceptional thermal dissipation and further bolstered by comparably faster RAM and LAN speeds with protective safeguards to prevent electronic damage to any of the ROG Strix X570-E’s expensive circuitry.
To begin with, the Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming sports a Digital VRM Design consisting of 12+4 power phases that culminates high-side and low-side MOSFETs and DrMOS into a singular package to deliver sustained and efficient power to your Ryzen 5 3600, supplemented by top-of-the-line alloy chokes and rugged capacitors that are specially designed to withstand extreme temperatures northwards of a blistering 105C. It’s pertinent to mention that Asus’ proprietary ‘ProCool II’ 8-pin + 4-pin power connectors are being utilized, which possess metallic sheathing for advanced thermal efficiency.
In addition, the Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming uses premium thermal pads for enhanced heat dissipation, away from the VRMs’ (Voltage Regulator Modules) surroundings to a sophisticated heatsink bearing a decent surface area. A 6-layer PCB, alongside a dedicated MOS (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor), is on display here, the latter connected to an 8mm heatpipe working in conjunction with an active chipset cooling mechanism, which consists of a heatsink attached to a specially engineered fan, rated at an MTTF (Mean Time To Failure) of 60,000 hours. Multiple headers are present on the Strix X570-E: two for a CPU fan and one each for an AIO (All-in-One) cooling solution and a dedicated Water Pump (in case you plan on setting up a custom water loop).
Furthermore, the Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming supports a maximum of 128 GB of DDR4 RAM using 4x DIMM slots in dual-channel configuration, configurable up to a maximum overclocked speed of 5100 MHz, courtesy of Asus OptiMem technology, which boasts a thoughtfully designed memory trace layout to deliver enhanced memory stability and performance while decreasing latencies without increasing voltages.
On the storage front, the Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming offers dual M.2 SSD slots (both compatible with PCIe Gen 4.0), each having its dedicated heatsink for sustained peak performance. Asus goes above and beyond to provide an M.2 fan header to ensure your SSDs run at top speed no matter the size of your data transfers, with the help of a connected fan (sold separately).
Of course, there are 8x SATA III 6 Gb/s ports as well for connecting conventional means of storage media such as HDDs and SATA 2.5”/3.5” SSDs. Support for RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) 0, 1, and 10 configurations are also being showcased here as a way of combining multiple HDDs and SSDs into a singular virtual disk drive for up to double the data transfer speeds while also improving data integrity and security.
As for I/O, the Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming sports 7x USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 Type-A ports accompanied by a solitary USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 10 Gb/s Type-C port. Asus rounds off the rear I/O panel (safeguarded by a pre-mounted shield) with a DisplayPort 1.2 and an HDMI 2.0b port. However, this won’t directly benefit Ryzen 5 3600 users since the two ports are aimed at gamers using an APU such as a Ryzen 7 5700G with an iGPU (integrated GPU).
For networking, the Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming has incorporated 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet (Realtek RTL8125-CG) and standard Gigabit Ethernet using Intel’s I211-AT LAN controller, supplemented by Asus’ proprietary LANGuard and ROG GameFirst V software utilities for optimizing bandwidth for latency-sensitive prioritized apps. Integrated WiFi in the form of Intel WiFi 6 (AX200) with MU-MIMO (Multi-User, Multi-Input, Multi-Output) technology for the fastest wireless networking experience alongside onboard Bluetooth 5.0.
The Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming outshines the competition in terms of a top-of-the-line audio system, employing the SupremeFX branded 8-channel HD Realtek S1220A codec with dual operational amplifiers, which combine to output up to 120 dB SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) playback in stereo. In contrast, the decibel count for recording input is rated at a maximum of 113 dB SNR. Music playback up to 32-bit/192 kHz is also supported (except in 8-channel audio configuration).
Moreover, Asus provides 2x Aura RGB Strip headers and a pair of Addressable Gen 2 headers for lighting up your Ryzen 5 3600 gaming system, customizable via Asus Aura Sync. The Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming also has a comprehensive host of additional features such as SafeSlot, ESD (Electrostatic Damage) Guards, BIOS FlashBack, Q-Slot, Q-DIMM, an array of 4x Q-LEDs, and FlexKey, all of which have been examined in thorough detail on a previous occasion.
An extensive suite of software utilities including, but not limited to, Intelligent Control, the aforementioned ROG GameFirst V, Sonic Studio III, Armoury Crate, and RAMCache III are bundled within the Strix X570-E, which, together with all the extra features and protective safeguards have been explained here.
Asus wraps up the Strix X570-E Gaming with a standard 3-year warranty, coupled with a relatively premium price point ranging around the $400 mark, making it slightly more challenging to justify the Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming as the Best Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600; especially when you consider the fact that the Best X570 Motherboards also tend to introduce themselves around the $450-500 mark and boast superior thermal efficiency alongside a higher number of M.2 SSD slots, much faster LAN, and an expansive I/O offering.
Verdict
Presuming you can make do with a pair of M.2 SSD slots and the presence of a single USB Type-C port, the Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming is undoubtedly the Best Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 in 2023 from an overall perspective, marred only by the slightly dissatisfactory 3-year warranty when you take into account the $400 price tag.
Delivering best-in-class performance with a luxurious audio setup, accompanied by fantastic heat dissipation, an advanced and efficient digital power delivery system, supplemented by a chipset fan integrated into a 6-layer PCB posing a monochromatic aesthetic, the Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming has got it all, and more.
Related: Best Motherboard For Ryzen 9 3900x
MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk MAX WIFI
Best Gaming Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600
Specs= ”Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128 GB, DDR4-5100 | Video Outputs: DisplayPort and HDMI | USB Ports: 6x rear IO, 7x internal, | Network: 1x 2.5 GbE LAN, 1x Wifi 6E | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA”]
Pros
- Extremely fast RAM
- 2.5 Gb LAN that assures less latency
- Wifi-6E for faster connection speeds and less latency
Cons
- Frail VRM architecture
- Less M.2 Gen4 slots
Next up is one of the most liked motherboards of all time, the MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk MAX WIFI; this motherboard is an outclass gaming motherboard entry for Ryzen 5 3600, and you will soon see why we picked this specific motherboard.
MSI MAG B550 motherboard is based on an ATX form factor and comes from the MSI’s MAG series; these motherboards are famous because they are completely crammed with top-of-the-line features. MAG B550 Tomahawk uses the AMD B550 chipset, having an AM4 processor socket that supports the Ryzen 5 3600 processor.
B550 Tomahawk MAX WIFI features a 10+2+1 DUET Rail power system VRM rated at 60A of current. For adequate power, the motherboard gets powered by 1x 24-pin ATX main power and 1x 8-pin ATX 12V power; it also packs a 6-layer 2oz PCB alongside extended heatsinks to provide some level of sturdiness to the setup.
Regarding memory configuration, the motherboard has 4x RAM DIMMs supporting dual-channel memory that can provide a speed of up to 5100 MHz using AMD’s A-XMP overclocking mode, which makes it an excellent choice for gamers. The motherboard comes with a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, which you can use for your graphics card; the PCIe 4.0 is a great addition to the processor speed-wise. You can also use a 2x PCIe 3.0 x1 slot to add other accessories like network cards.
As far as display options are concerned, MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk MAX WIFI provides HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4; these ports can support a resolution of up to 4K with a 60Hz refresh rate. For storage, MAG B550 comes with an M.2 Gen4 x4 64Gbps slot, an M.2 Gen3 x4 32Gbps slot, and six SATA 6Gbps ports. You won’t have many USB connectivity issues on the motherboard as it packs two USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps comprising a Type-A and Type-C port, five USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps comprising a Type-C and four Type-A ports, and six USB 2.0 ports.
The MAG B550 Tomahawk MAX WIFI contains Realtek 2.5 Gb/s for LAN alongside the support for Wifi-6E and Bluetooth 5.2, which won’t let you face any issues with the networking. Aesthetically, the motherboard is heaven for black theme lovers as the black PCB engulfed with black heatsinks creates a great and good-looking motherboard; the RGB lighting below the heatsink also adds to the charm.
Verdict:
From our testing, the motherboard’s amazing features like the 5100 MHz+ of RAM speed, Wifi-6E, 2.5 Gb LAN port, and a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot with AMD CrossFire Technology make it the Best Gaming Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600; these specs guarantee gamers the best performance possible for Ryzen 5 3600. Still, a few things could be improved, like the number of M.2 Gen4 slots and a better VRM design.
Gigabyte B550 AORUS Master
Best B550 Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600
Specs=”Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5400 | Video Outputs: HDMI | USB Ports: 12x rear IO, 6x internal | Network: 1x 2.5GbE LAN, 1x WiFi 6 | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA”]
Pros
- Efficient VRM Design
- Numerous USB Ports
- Attractive Design
- High Memory Compatibility
Cons
- Relatively Pricey
Next up, we have a motherboard that’s probably the best out of its category. It comes from Gigabyte, a company that is highly credited for producing high-quality motherboards. The Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master is a true testament to that, and you’ll see why.
To begin with, the B550 Aorus Master features a very similar design to the X570 Aorus Master. This means that we get to see the same black and grey color combination. A considerable portion of the shroud uses brushed aluminum material that adds to the beauty. However, it doesn’t have as much RGB as its older brother, and the only RGB elements are situated on the shroud. Regardless, you always have the luxury of 8 fan headers and 5 RGB headers at your disposal. The trademark Aorus Falcon is imprinted on the chipset heatsink, while the Aorus emblem is written on the shroud itself.
The secret to this Best motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600 exceptional performance lies within the Infineon 16-phase VRM design. It comes in a 14+2 setting with 70A power stages that provide more than enough juice for the Ryzen 5 3600. The task of heat dissipation is primarily fulfilled by a fins-array heatsink connected to a direct-touch heatpipe. In addition, a thermal baseplate is used to improve heat dissipation. As a result, you get a decent amount of overclocking headroom and minimal throttling on the Aorus Master.
In terms of memory, the Aorus Master can host up to 128GB of DDR4 memory at 5100MHz+ overclocked speeds. There are three PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots with dedicated heatsinks for each. One of the slots supports both PCIe and SATA drives while the other two are only compatible with PCIe drives. You also get six SATA3 6GBps ports that are simultaneously usable with all the M.2 slots. In the middle, we have one full-length PCIe 4.0 x16 slot that is fueled by the CPU. Moreover, there are two long PCIe 3.0 x4 slots fed by the B550 chipset. Due to lesser graphic slots, SLI or CrossFire support is not included in the B550 Aorus Master.
The rear I/O panel is loaded with a ton of connectivity options. You are greeted with 12 USB ports, including 6 USB 3.2 Gen2 (10GBps/5GBps) and six USB 2.0 ports. Five analog audio jacks along with an optical SPDIF port are provided. The audio is managed by Realtek’s ALC1220-VB audio codec. Gigabyte has also fitted Intel’s latest Wi-Fi 6 AX200 controller under the hood. An ethernet port powered by a 2.5GbE Realtek 8125B controller can also be found on the I/O panel. An HDMI port is also given, but it becomes purposeless with the 3600 which has no integrated graphics.
Verdict
All things considered, the B550 Aorus Master has an impressive feature set which makes it the best B550 motherboard for the Ryzen 5 3600. The pricing might be a serious setback, though, as the B550 Aorus Master almost falls in the midrange-X570 zone.
ASRock B550M Steel Legend
Best Micro-ATX Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600
Specs=”Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR-4733 | Video Outputs: HDMI and DisplayPort | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 8x internal | Network: 1x 2.5GbE LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA”]
Pros
- Premium Audio Codec
- Option Of 2.5 GbE LAN
- Good Storage Options
Cons
- Controversial Looks
- No Onboard WiFi
ASRock has made quite a name for itself in the world of motherboards. They are well-known in the market for providing innovative aesthetics, solid build quality and excellent product value. Their B550m Steel Legend motherboard is no exception.
Speaking of aesthetics, the B550m Steel Legend is the classiest board out of the lot. We have a black PCB with a striking camo pattern running across the board. Moreover, there is a two-in-one heatsink for cooling the chipset and the primary M.2 slot. The heatsinks are made out of brushed aluminum and have an organic feel to them. RGB lighting can be seen under the chipset heatsink and on the I/O cover. The trademark “S” logo is engraved on the I/O cover and also emits light. All in all the color combinations are phenomenal; props to ASRock for the designing on this one.
The B550m Steel Legend provides smooth power delivery via the 10-phase VRM design. ASRock claims to have used a Hi-Density power connector which reduces the connector temperature by 22 degrees and power loss by a massive 23%. The heatsinks ensure that VRMs remain stable by taking the excess heat away from the power delivery circuitry. Moreover, the chipset also remains cool courtesy of the all-in-one heatsink covering the chipset and the M.2 slot. However, the absence of a chipset fan is a bit of a setback.
You can install a maximum of 128GB memory in the provided DIMM slots at 4733+MHz speeds. For storage, there are six SATA3 ports and two M.2 slots. The primary M.2 slot operates at PCIe Gen4 x4 speed, whereas the secondary slot supports Gen3 x2 speeds or the SATA interface. However, the second M.2 slot shares lanes with three SATA slots, so using either of them disables the other one. As is the norm with B550 chipset boards, you get a primary PCIe Gen4 x16 slot which is coated with steel. The other expansionary x16 and x1 slots are compatible with PCIe Gen3 interface.
The rear I/O panel comes with an integrated shield and a total of eight USB ports. Out of the eight ports, two are USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-A and Type-C), four of them are USB 3.2 Gen1 and the last two are USB 2.0 ports. Moreover, it is also equipped with a Dragon 2.5G LAN port and two antenna mounting ports, in case you want Wi-Fi connectivity. Lastly, the five gold plated audio jacks make use of the Realtek ALC1200 audio codec.
Verdict
With that said, the ASRock B550m Steel Legend bears an extremely reasonable price tag along with an excellent circuitry and feature set. It is the best micro-atx motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 due to its excellent value proposition and incredible aesthetics.
ASUS ROG Strix B450-F
Best B450 Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600
Specs=”Chipset: B450 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-3600 | Video Outputs: HDMI and DisplayPort | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 6x internal | Network: 1x 1GbE LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA”]
Pros
- Relatively Affordable
- 2x M.2 slots
- Attractive RGB
Cons
- Mediocre VRM
- No WiFi
For the next entry on our list of Best motherboards for Ryzen 5 3600, we have the improved version of the B450-F Gaming, the Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II. The Gaming II has some touch-ups over the original one, including some small changes in design.
It features similar aesthetics to the X570-E Gaming – nothing surprising as they belong to the same lineup. The PCB is entirely black with some silver text written over it. The ‘ROG’ text is prominently carved under the M.2 slot with the ROG design next to it. There is a ROG emblem designed on the CMOS cell, something interesting in our eyes. Apart from that, the rear I/O cover is also all-black, with a thin blue stripe and an RGB ROG logo over it.
Related: Best Motherboard for Ryzen 9 5900X
The B450-F Gaming II makes use of an 8+4 VRM design instead of the 6+2 on the older version. Over the VRMs, there are silver-brushed metallic heatsinks to keep the thermals in check. The by-product of sturdy power delivery paired with an excellent cooling solution is impressive overclocking abilities. However, there is no actively cooled chipset heatsink, but that’s understandable since it is a feature found only in premium boards. The absence of an M.2 heatsink over the primary slot is a bit of a disappointment. Overall, this motherboard is more than capable for the Ryzen 5 3600, even when overclocked.
Another upgrade over the original B450-F Gaming is the memory speed. The Gaming II can cater up to 128GB of RAM at 4400MHz overclocked speeds, whereas the original had 3600MHz advertised speeds. The storage department is decent, with two M.2 slots and six SATA ports to install your HDDs and SSDs. As for PCIe slots, there are two PCIe 3.0 x16 Asus SafeSlots and another PCIe 3.0 x16 slot. Apart from that, three PCIe x1 slots are also available that make use of the older gen 2 technology.
The rear I/O panel is pretty well-equipped, as expected from an Asus ROG board. It comes with three USB 3.2 Gen2 ports, including two Type-A, whereas most boards in this category only feature two Gen2 ports. You also get two USB 2.0 ports for linking up your peripherals. The LAN port provides wired network connectivity courtesy of the Intel I211-AT 1Gb Ethernet. However, there is no Wi-Fi module. The audio codec is the Asus-exclusive SupremeFX S1220A which Asus claims to be better than the Realtek ALC1220 used in most premium boards.
Verdict
All in all, the ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II being a better version of the original B450-F gaming, which was already a premium B450 board, makes it the best B450 motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600. It has improved power delivery and out-of-the-box support for 5th gen Ryzen processors, so upgradability is not an issue.
B450 AORUS Pro WiFi
Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600
Specs=”Chipset: B450 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-3600 | Video Outputs: DVI-D and HDMI | USB Ports: 6x rear IO, 6x internal | Network: 1x 1 GbE LAN, 1x WiFi | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA”]
Pros
- Robust CPU Power Delivery
- Attractive Aesthetics
- Inclusion Of WiFi
Cons
- Sparse USB Ports
- Low Memory Compatibility
The idea of a budget motherboard is something that strongly appeals to a majority of the consumer audience. And it makes sense, as some of us are gamers who have no choice but to allocate a lower budget for a motherboard. The B450 Aorus Pro Wifi from Gigabyte is a shining star from the category, and for all the good reasons.
The B450 Aorus Pro Wifi features a clean black PCB with silver heatsinks that are styled with orange accents. For a budget motherboard, the Aorus Pro has plenty of RGB to go with it. You also get several fan headers and addressable RGB headers to put on a light show. A backlit Aorus Falcon logo can be seen on the chipset heatsink. In simple words, the design is sleek, and attractive and blends in quite nicely with most builds.
This B450 motherboard’s performance is on par with some of the premium 400 series X470 motherboards. The power delivery is robust considering the price tag, all thanks to the 11-phase VRM arranged in an 8+3 design. Heat dissipation is carried out rather amazingly by the stylish silver-finished VRM heatsinks. Overclocking the Ryzen 3600 to some extent is possible on the Aorus Pro, which is an impressive feat for a budget motherboard. In our testing, we were able to find the sweet spot at 4.3GHz and 1.212 voltage paired with the Cryorig R1 cooler.
The B450 Aorus Pro Wifi features a dual memory architecture with 4x DIMM slots that support up to 128GB of RAM. Memory overclocking is also available with officially advertised speeds of 3600MHz. There are three full-length PCIe x16 slots, out of which only the first one has gen 3 support and is armored to provide extra support for your VGA card. However, the other two x16 slots share bandwidth with the x1 slot, disallowing them to run at full speeds. It is advised to install your graphics card in the primary slot to get the best out of it. The x1 slot is placed above the top x16 slot, a rather weird placement not seen in most boards.
The I/O panel lacks a bit, especially in terms of USB ports. There are only six USB ports, including 2 USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-A and Type-C) ports. However, there are eight ports on the similarly priced B450 Tomahawk MAX, which is also included in our overview of the Best Motherboards For Ryzen 7 3700x. There is an RJ-45 LAN port powered by Intel GbE LAN with cFosSpeed Internet Accelerator. Apart from that, there are 2 antenna connectors for Wifi connectivity. The audio ports are fueled by the Realtek ALC1220 codec, which is quite admirable, considering the codec is mostly used in premium boards.
Verdict
To sum up things, the Aorus Pro Wifi is well-equipped and is an excellent budget option for those who do not want to pay extra for Gen4. In our list, it is the Best budget motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600.
ASUS Prime B550-PLUS
Best Budget Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600
Specs= Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4600 | Video Outputs: DisplayPort and HDMI | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 6x internal | Network: ASUS LANGuard, Realtek RTL 81111H | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA]
Pros
- 2x M.2 slots
- Impressive RAM support
- PCIe 3.0 and PCIe 4.0 x16 support
Cons
- No built-in WiFi support
- Fewer VRM phases
ASUS has earned a name for being one of the finest brands for PC components in the past few years by bringing quality products to the market; with the ASUS Prime B550-PLUS, we get a taste of their quality products at an affordable price.
The aesthetics of this motherboard are impressive for a low price tag; it gives a decent black-and-white look with a black base and white strips along with silver heatsinks. Prime B550-PLUS also comes with an addressable Gen 2 RGB header, allowing automatic lighting settings for different devices, and ASUS Aura Sync provides full RGB control and various features for RGB lovers.
ASUS Prime B550-PLUS doesn’t comprise a strong VRM, providing lesser power phases for users looking to overclock their systems.ASUS Prime B550-PLUS has only 8+2 Dual-Output phases based on a Digi+ VRM and an ASP1106G(4+2) PWM controller, which aren’t enough for overclocking your PC to the fullest. Digi+ VRM control allows your system to regulate and switch the system’s voltage and frequency, which results in better power stability for your build.
ASUS Prime B550-PLUS also comes with an Energy Processing Unit (EPU), which enables the system to optimize power consumption when the system isn’t active. The board also has VRM heatsinks and thermal pads for heat sinking, which improves the heat dissipation of the board from MOSFETs and chokes; the ATX form factor further contributes to heat dissipation. The motherboard also comes with Fan Xpert 4 software which helps in cooling as it allows comprehensive cooling controls; two 4-pin PWM/DC fan headers also contribute to the cooling features, each supporting PWM and DC mode, which you can use for water cooling setups. You can also find dedicated ICs for fan headers on the board; these ICs protect the fans from overheating and overcurrent.
The ASUS Prime B550-PLUS comes with DDR4 RAM support and a capacity of 128GB RAM, which can operate at a maximum frequency of 4600 MHz(OC); the overclocking capabilities are impressive considering the price factor, which makes it an amazing budget option for Ryzen 5 3600. Regarding expansion slots, the motherboard comes with 1x PCIe 4.0 x16 (x16 mode),1x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16 mode),1x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4 mode), and 3 x PCIe 3.0 x1, where the dual PCIe slots also support CrossFireX for dual-GPU action. For storage, we get 1x M.2 PCIe 3.0 support and 1x M.2 PCIe 4.0 support with speed up to 64Gbps, where the dual M.2 slots accept 110mm drives; we also get 6x SATA ports rated at 6 Gb/s.
Coming to USB ports, we have 8x USB ports in the front and 6x ports in the back. These ports include 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports comprising a Type-A and Type-C USB, 6x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports including four Type-A ports, and 6x Type-A USB 2.0 ports. There is also support for the ASUS ThunderboltEX 3 card for increased bandwidth which is another reason it’s an easy-to-pick Ryzen 5 3600 budget option out of the rest.
The ASUS Prime B550-PLUS has Realtek RTL 81111H 1GbE LAN support for connectivity features. Unfortunately, the board has no built-in WiFi feature, and users will have to compensate for that. The B550-PLUS also has ALC887 audio support, dedicated audio PCBs, audio shielding, and premium Japanese audio capacitors.
Verdict
The ASUS Prime B550-PLUS is a great motherboard overall, with all the spectacular features at an economical price point. There are some things the users will have to compensate for, like the lack of built-in WiFi support and fewer VRM phases. Including some great features like 2x M.2 slots with PCIe 4.0 support, DDR4 RAM support with amazing overclocking speed and memory capacity, and many other features at an affordable price, the ASUS Prime B550-PLUS is surely the Best Budget Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600.
Competition
Have the previously highlighted Best Motherboards for Ryzen 5 3600 failed to meet and exceed your expectations? Nothing to worry about since that’s precisely why we’ve honorably mentioned all the units that couldn’t make it to our coveted list of the Motherboards for Ryzen 5 3600 but still managed to maintain their dignity as respectable alternatives. The cherry on top, we’ll continuously refine the following selections as time goes on and worthier candidates appear.
ASRock B450M Steel Legend
Specs=”Chipset: B450 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-3533 | Video Outputs: HDMI and DisplayPort | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 6x internal | Network: 1x 1GbE LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA”]
Pros
- Affordable
- 2x M.2 Slots
Cons
- Mediocre Power Delivery
- No WiFi
- Only 4 SATA Ports
The final spot is taken by the B550m Steel Legend’s predecessor, the ASRock B450m Steel Legend. This particular offering from ASRock is an extremely affordable micro-ATX board rocking the B450 chip. It does all the basics expected from a motherboard while also providing decent build quality and longevity at an entry-level price.
In terms of looks, the B450m Steel Legend is one of the most unique boards on the list, just like the B550m Steel Legend. It boasts a very attractive camo theme on the PCB. Considering the price point, ASRock has been rather generous with the RGB on this board. We see PolyChrome RGB elements under the chipset heatsink and on the shroud. You can also install external RGB components thanks to the multiple RGB headers, which again are a blessing at this price range.
The B450m Steel Legend, being a budget-oriented board, attributes a rather substandard power design. Only a 6-phase VRM is offered. The heatsink features a normal dual design with a silver finish. There is also a chipset heatsink with a similar finish to the VRM heatsinks. For further cooling efficiency, there is a 2oz layer of copper inside the PCB. Regardless, the Steel Legend is in no way meant for overclocking. It can handle the Ryzen 5 3600 at stock settings without any issues; however, if you are into overclocking, then it might not be the right option.
The B450m Steel Legend performs up to the mark in the memory department. You get 128GB support for your RAM at 3533+MHz overclocked speeds, which is quite impressive considering the m-ATX form factor. As for the expansion slots, it offers one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, which is armored with steel. Moreover, there is another x16 slot and an x1 slot which, in contrast, are PCIe 2.0 slots. There are two M.2 slots, out of which only one supports PCIe Gen3 x4, whereas the other one is based on the SATA interface. Four SATA3 slots are also available. The storage is quite decent, keeping in mind the price and form factor of the board.
Coming to the rear I/O panel is packed with a total of eight USB ports, including two USB 3.2 Gen2 ports (Type-A and Type-C). Apart from that, four USB 3.2 Gen1 ports and two USB 2.0 ports are also provided. All the ports come with Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) protection. A Realtek Gigabit LAN port is also present, along with five gold-plated audio jacks. The audio codec used is a pretty substandard one; however, demanding a better audio solution is a big ask for such a cheap-priced motherboard.
Verdict
ASRock’s B450m Steel Legend is an impressive budget-oriented board that is capable of handling the 65W 3600. It offers some premium features like USB 3.2 Gen2 and superb memory support, which earns it the title of the Runner-Up For The Best Budget Motherboard For The Ryzen 5 3600.
Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero
Asus went all out with the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero as its attempt to champion our article as the Best X570 Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600. Alas, Asus charges a steep premium for its best-in-class ROG motherboards, and that trend continues with the Crosshair VIII Dark Hero. Nonetheless, let’s dive into the details to ascertain whether the Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero manages to justify its relatively extravagant price point.
To begin with, the Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero shifts from a conventional power delivery system with phase-doublers to a 14+2 ‘Teamed’ power stage algorithm that eliminates the requirement for a phase-doubler. Resultantly, each of the 16 power stages can handle a maximum current of 90A with outstanding efficiency since all the power phases exhibit a reduced RDSON (Resistance from Drain to Source when the MOSFET is fully ON), which promotes a reduction in excess heat production as the MOSFETs’ (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor)’s by-product.
Moving on, Asus uses dual 8-pin ‘ProCool II’ power connectors with 10K Japanese-manufactured solid-polymer black metallic capacitors for efficient input and output power stabilization, with the capacitors being rated for a lifespan of more than 10,000 hours at 110C.
Furthermore, the ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero implements a pair of VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) heatsinks situated on top of the MOSFETs and alloy chokes, interconnected via a heatpipe for maximal cooling surface area. Asus also uses a high-conductivity thermal pad for thermal dissipation around the power stages for optimal overclocking performance of your Ryzen 5 3600.
Moreover, the Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero sports 3x headers for internal chassis fans, 2x headers for dedicated CPU fans, and individual headers (1x each) for an AIO (All-in-One) cooler’s water pump, and a high-amperage header for high-performance fans that require powerful current delivery. Asus is also utilizing 4x temperature sensors, 3x of which can be manually tweaked for automatic regulation based on your systematic workloads using the proprietary ‘Fan Xpert 4’ software or the ROG UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) BIOS.
Also, the Asus Crosshair VIII Dark Hero showcases a ‘ROG Water-Cooling Zone,’ which features a Water Pump connector that can deliver over 3A to high-performance PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation) or DC (Direct Current) Water Pumps, as well as 2x headers for Water Input and Output, where both headers can monitor temperatures in real-time and automatically regulate speeds accordingly thanks to PWM control. Asus includes another header for Water Flow, which constantly evaluates the flow rate throughout the entire Custom Water Loop for optimal cooling performance.
As for memory, the Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero features 4x DIMM slots for a maximum capacity of 128 GB (32×4) of DDR4 RAM, which could be overclocked to approximately 4866-5100 MHz, thanks to Asus OptiMem II. This in-house software utility reduces CL (CAS Latencies) of RAM modules, allowing them to simultaneously run at lower voltages and higher frequencies, courtesy of a specialized memory circuitry pathway, which improves the Crosshair VIII Dark Hero’s signal integrity and minimizes electrical impedance for blazing-fast RAM speeds.
With respect to storage, the Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero misses the mark with just 2x M.2 SSD slots. However, 8x SATA III 6 Gb/s ports are also on offer with support for RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) 0, 1, and 10 configurations. RAID is a virtualization technology that aims to combine multiple HDDs or SSDs into a singular, virtually recognizable disk drive, which dramatically enhances data transfer speeds while strengthening data integrity from a security standpoint.
For rear I/O connectivity, the Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero offers a choice between a solitary USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 Type-C port accompanied by 7x USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 Type-A ports, rounding up the rear I/O panel with another 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports. Asus has been kind enough to provide added expandability via the 4x internal headers for up to an additional 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 and 4x USB 2.0 ports, as well as a 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 Type-A front panel connector.
Regarding networking, the ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero sports Realtek 2.5 Gigabit LAN and 1 Gbps Ethernet with the Intel I211-AT controller, both of which are reinvigorated with Asus LANGuard. This hardware-level network protection utility incorporates signal-coupling technology with anti-EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) surface-mounted capacitors to optimize bandwidth for a stabilized and efficient gaming/streaming experience. Of course, Asus also includes integrated WiFi 6 via an Intel module (802.11AX) as well as onboard Bluetooth 5.1.
As far as RGB is concerned, the ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero features a pair of Aura RGB Strip Headers and a pair of Addressable Gen 2 Headers for an extensive lighting setup to match your preferred color theme via Asus Aura Sync, which offers comprehensive controls for immense configurations, with the sky being the limit. The two arrays of addressable RGB LEDs on the top left and bottom right side of the Crosshair VIII Dark Hero are also controllable via the same utility.
Part of the redesigned ROG UEFI BIOS is the new 5-way optimization system integrated into ‘AI Suite 3,’ comprising the TPU (TurboV Processing Unit), Turbo App, EPU (Energy Processing Unit), Digital Power Controls, and the Fan Xpert 4, all of which combine to monitor your system stats in real-time intelligently and accordingly adjust CPU voltages, frequencies, power consumption and fan speeds using Artificial Intelligence for a totally automated user experience.
Last but not least, Asus packages the ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero with 4x SATA III cables, a WiFi antenna, and an extension cable each for the RGB strips and Addressable LED headers, alongside a standard 3-year warranty. On top of that, the Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is currently priced at around $450, almost 20% more expensive than the Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming.
Verdict
If you do have the extra capital lying around, the Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is a highly worthy alternative as the Best X570 Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 in 2023 as it certainly outperforms the Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming in terms of performance, functionality, thermals, and aesthetics, only falling behind (figuratively speaking) in terms of pricing.
Gigabyte A520 Aorus Elite
The Gigabyte A520 Aorus Elite sets out to win over the confidence of the budget-conscious PC gaming audience as it goes head to head with the ASRock B450M Steel Legend, our current pick in terms of the Best Budget Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 in 2023. Nevertheless, the A520 Aorus Elite sports a slightly newer chipset, even though it’s aimed at the entry-level segment. Let’s analyze Gigabyte’s Best Budget Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 to see how close it comes to defeating the ASRock B450M Steel Legend.
For starters, the Gigabyte A520 Aorus Elite sports a 5+3 phase Digital VRM design with Low RDSON MOSFETs and Solid Plated ATX 12V 8-pin power connectors, ideal for a Ryzen 5 3600 to deliver stable and efficient power to your Ryzen CPU while sustaining enhanced thermal dissipation. The A520 Aorus Elite also uses Gigabyte’s proprietary ICs (Integrated Circuits) for improved ESD and surge protection (up to 3x and 2.5x higher, respectively).
As for cooling, Gigabyte has provided 5x fan headers, 3x of which are for chassis fans, and 1x each for a CPU fan and a water cooling CPU fan. The A520 Aorus Elite also utilizes 6x temperature sensors. Gamers may use Gigabyte’s Smart Fan 5 software to map temperature targets for each of the 5x fans using these 6x temperature sensors, via which all the fans or individually specified fans may be turned off completely via the software utility when temperatures drop below a highlighted threshold.
Regarding memory, the Gigabyte A520 Aorus Elite supports a maximum of 128 GB of DDR4 RAM using 4x DIMM slots in a dual-channel configuration with a maximum overclocked frequency of 4733 MHz, as well as guaranteed compatibility with XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) RAM modules.
Moving on to storage, Gigabyte only offers a single M.2 SSD slot (PCIe 3.0) and 4x SATA III 6 Gb/s ports as its primary way of cutting costs, asides from the marked absence of any PCIe Gen 4.0 lanes. Of course, Gigabyte ensures support for RAID 0, 1, and 10 configurations to promote faster and more secure data transfers.
Viewing the rear section of the Gigabyte A520 Aorus Elite will reveal an I/O panel with a pre-installed shield for the 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port (painted red), 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (colored blue), and 4x USB 2.0 legacy ports (monochromatic), as well as an HDMI 2.1 and DVI-D port for graphical output in case users, wish to use a Ryzen AM4 APU such as the Ryzen 7 5700G, offering a compatible upgrade path when gamers have utilized their Ryzen 5 3600 to its full extent.
In the lighting department, the Gigabyte A520 Aorus Elite allows users a choice between 2x RGB LED strip headers and a pair of addressable LED strip headers, all 4x of which are compatible with Gigabyte’s RGB Fusion 2.0 software and the RGB Fusion App (Mobile) for manual controls. The A520 Aorus Elite also has a ‘BIOS FlashBack’ button on the rear I/O panel, which allows gamers to update or flash their preferred version of the BIOS without requiring a CPU, GPU, or RAM to be installed, with just the help of a USB Flash Drive. Gigabyte has also implemented its Ultra Durable PCIe Armour, which safeguards the PCIe x16 (GPU) slot with (up to) 1.7x and 3.2x stronger shearing resistance and retention force.
Gigabyte stands by the A520 Aorus Elite with a 3-year warranty, with a launch price varying around $90. However, it can easily be purchased for even lesser nowadays, with all the discounts going on, depending on the vendor from which you source one of the Best A520 motherboards.
Verdict
Nevertheless, the Gigabyte A520 Aorus Elite has just a solitary M.2 SSD slot and a comparatively restricted selection of I/O ports, including the notable omission of even a single USB Type-C port. Otherwise, the Gigabyte A520 Aorus Elite is about $15-25 cheaper than the ASRock B450M Steel Legend, with the former boasting a relatively advanced power delivery algorithm alongside much higher overclocking potential in terms of RAM frequencies.
Resultantly, if you’re trying to purchase one of the Best Budget Motherboards for Ryzen 5 3600 and are okay with the lack of integrated WiFi and Bluetooth, as well as the aforementioned incapabilities, the Gigabyte A520 Aorus Elite is a very honorable alternative in 2023.
NZXT N7 B550
NZXT has left no stone unturned as it’s gunning for the ASRock B550M Steel Legend, the arch-nemesis to the NZXT N7 B550 in terms of aesthetics, as the Best Looking Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600.
NZXT is no stranger to the PC gaming community, as the world-renowned brand has always been at the center of attention for manufacturing some of the most visually aesthetic PC components, such as CPU Coolers and AIOs, as well as the Best PC Casings and now motherboards, alongside its range of pre-built and built-to-order gaming PCs.
However, let’s turn our attention back towards the N7 B550 as we explore it in complete detail to see if it manages to hold its own against the Best Designed Motherboards for Ryzen 5 3600 in 2023.
Firstly, the NZXT N7 B550 makes use of a 12+2+2 power delivery mechanism using a mandatory 8-pin & an optional 4-pin power connector, where each of the 16x power stages and corresponding MOSFETs is rated at 50A in terms of the voltage delivered to your Ryzen 5 3600’s physical cores, providing enthusiasts with ample overclocking clearance thanks to the Intersil ISL6617A phase-doublers.
As for thermals, the NZXT N7 B550 sports 7x 4-pin PWM fan headers, 5x of which are designed for your PC casing’s internal ambient cooling while the remaining 2x are dedicated to your CPU, 1x header for a conventional CPU fan, the other for an AIO’s Water Pump/CPU Block. It’s worth noting that all of these headers are rated for current and power delivery up to 2A and 24W accordingly.
With reference to memory, the NZXT N7 B550 is capable of handling a maximum of 128 GB of DDR4 RAM using 4x DIMM slots in a dual-channel configuration with a maximum overclocked frequency of 4666 MHz for AMD Matisse and Vermeer CPUs such as the Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen 5 5600 respectively, and an even higher speed of 4733 MHz (and potentially beyond) for AMD Renoir APUs such as the Ryzen 4000G Series (with integrated graphics). NZXT has also ensured compatibility with ECC (Error Correcting Code) and XMP-capable memory modules.
Moving on to storage, the NZXT N7 B550 provides dual M.2 SSD slots (1x of which is compatible with PCIe Gen 4.0), complemented by 6x SATA III 6 Gb/s ports for connecting conventional means of storage media such as SATA HDDs or SSDs with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configurations.
Nearing the rear panel of the NZXT N7 B550 will manifest a comprehensive suite of I/O connections including, but not limited to a single USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 Type-C port, followed by 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 Type-A alongside 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1, and rounded off by a pair of USB 2.0 legacy ports. NZXT also includes an HDMI 2.1 port, just in case you happen to be using an APU such as the Ryzen 7 5700G in place of your Ryzen 5 3600, and also provides 5x internal headers to add up to another USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 Type-C port, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, and 3x USB 2.0 ports.
For RGB, the NZXT N7 B550 incorporates a 5V A-RGB header and a 12V RGB header, as well as a pair of RGB LED Headers dedicated to NZXT peripherals, with all 4x headers and thus, connected lighting accessories, controllable via the NZXT CAM software. With this utility, users can tweak their overclocking settings, fan speeds, view general system information, and fine-tune their power and audio settings asides from RGB controls.
The NZXT N7 B550 also has the previously discussed ‘BIOS FlashBack’ button as well as a ‘Clear CMOS’ button for a quick motherboard soft reset for troubleshooting purposes. NZXT also includes 2x WiFi Antennas in the packaging and slaps on a 3-year warranty for the ATX motherboard, i.e., the NZXT N7 B550, which is priced at the whereabouts of $250, on the higher end of the spectrum for the Best B550 Motherboards, that makes it higher to justify as the Best Looking Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 in comparison to the ASRock B550M Steel Legend.
Nevertheless, the NZXT N7 B550 exhibits arguably superior aesthetics in a choice of wholly black or white PCBs and componential covers to match an endless variety of PC colour themes. NZXT also outpaces the ASRock B550M Steel Legend in terms of a versatile I/O selection as well as having integrated WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. Unfortunately, the NZXT N7 B550 is about $70-80 more expensive than the ASRock B550M Steel Legend, but the latter might be more difficult to source these days.
Verdict
Long story short, if you have the wallet to back up your investment, the NZXT N7 B550 is one of the Best Motherboards for Ryzen 5 3600 out there around the $250 mark, with a considerably advanced power delivery mechanism, wireless networking capabilities, eye-catching visuals, and flexible rear I/O connectivity, making the NZXT N7 B550 the best alternative to one of the Best Motherboards for Ryzen 5 3600 in 2023 out there, i.e., the ASRock B550M Steel Legend.
Sidenote: NZXT collaborated with ASRock to manufacture the NZXT N7 B550, an interesting fact many readers will be unaware of, although you may recognize an ASRock-influenced design element in the BIOS and NZXT CAM software.
Asus ROG Strix X570-I Gaming
Asus makes its fourth and final appearance in our article on the Motherboards for Ryzen 5 3600 in 2023, with the Asus ROG Strix X570-I Gaming bringing up the rear of Asus’ incredible lineup of best-in-class ROG motherboards.
For starters, the Asus ROG Strix X570-I Gaming is primarily built on a black 8-layer PCB with a few white accents along the motherboard’s exterior structure and a glowing RGB logo machined into the bottom heatsink of the Strix X570-I Gaming. Speaking of RGB, the ROG Strix X570-I has a 4-pin Aura RGB header and a 3-pin Addressable Gen 2 header for connecting additional RGB peripherals, with manual controls available via Asus’ Aura Sync software.
Taking a deeper look in terms of technicalities, the ROG Strix X570-I utilizes an 8+2 power stage design with a DIGI+ VRM control system that packages high-side and low-side MOSFETs and DrMOS (Driver and MOSFET module) into a specialized package to deliver the highest amount of power while sustaining optimal efficiency under even the most trying conditions. An 8-pin ‘ProCool II’ connector is used for the CPU power delivery, augmented by rugged chokes and premium capacitors engineered to withstand TJmax temperatures for numerous years.
Moving on, the ROG Strix X570-I uses deluxe thermal pads for the highest heat conductivity, paired with a sizeable VRM heatsink that provides a larger cooling surface area for direct contact between the MOSFETs and chokes while incorporating an active fan (dedicated to VRM cooling) for enhanced heat dissipation. The motherboard’s backplate also ensures that the VRM’s MOSFETs remain in direct contact for controlled cooling and stabilized temperatures.
Thanks to the previously highlighted 8-layer PCB, VRM cooling is further promoted for increased overclocking clearance, coupled with an active chipset heatsink that also utilizes another active fan, which, while smaller than the VRM fan, is still effective at cooling down the PCIe Gen 4.0 slots, which are notoriously infamous for producing excessive heat as compared to the previous Gen 3.0. An integrated M.2 heatsink works in conjunction to sustain peak SSD performance.
As far as fan connections are concerned, there are only 3x headers present, 1x for a CPU Air-Cooling fan, 1x for a CPU Water Pump (if you’re using an AIO), and the last header for connecting a solitary chassis fan.
With regards to memory, the Asus ROG Strix X570-I handles up to a maximum of 64 GB of DDR4 RAM using 2x DIMM slots in a dual-channel configuration with a maximum overclocked frequency of up to 5100 MHz using the previously explained proprietary software utility, i.e., Asus OptiMem.
Looking back at the rear I/O panel, users will be greeted with a single USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 Type-C port, accompanied by a trio of USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 Type-A & 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. Asus also provides 2x internal headers to add up to a pair each of USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0 legacy ports. The Strix X570-I Gaming also includes an HDMI 2.0 port and a DisplayPort 1.4 if you happen to use your Mini-ITX system as an HTPC l(Home-Theatre PC) later on with a Ryzen APU instead of the Ryzen 5 3600.
The ROG Strix X570-I Gaming also shows off the usual suite of Asus-exclusive strengthening enhancements such as SafeSlot and ESD Guards, as well as Q-Slot for intuitively swapping PCIe devices in and out alongside Q-DIMM for effortless RAM module installation. FlexKey (a remappable button on the front panel), Q-LED (an array of 4x onboard diagnostic lights), and extension cables are all included as part of Asus’ attempt to improve the overall user experience.
Rounding up the remaining software programs is the BIOS with 5-way optimization inclusive of TPU, EPU, Fan Xpert 4, DIGI+ Power Control, and the Turbo App, as well as ROG GameFirst V for Network Controls, Armoury Crate, and RAMCache III, all of which we’ve gone over in extensive detail previously in this article.
Last but not least, Asus packages the ROG Strix X570-I Gaming with a set of ROG Strix Stickers, an I/O shield, a pack of cable ties for managing your internal wiring, and stamps on a 3-year warranty, with current pricing varying around $260.
Verdict
We feel that the Asus ROG Strix X570-I Gaming is the Runner-Up For The Best Mini-ITX Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 in 2023, thanks to a competent power delivery mechanism designed for Ryzen 3000 CPUs, excellent thermal efficiency and moderate overclocking headroom, and blazing-fast OC’ed RAM frequencies, built-in WiFi 6 & Bluetooth 5.0, a top-of-the-line sound system, and intelligent power controls available via the 5-way optimization system for a well-optimized package in the form of a space-conscious X570 chipset.
MSI MPG X570 Pro Carbon WiFi
Specs=”Chipset: X570 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4400 | Video Outputs: HDMI | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 8x internal | Network: 1x 1GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi 6 | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA”]
Pros
- Great For Overclocking Ryzen 5 3600
- Versatile Networking
- Attractive RGB
- Several USB Ports
Cons
- No 2.5 GbE LAN
The second spot on our list is grabbed by the MSI MPG X570 Gaming Pro Carbon Wifi motherboard. This board is a complete package offering top-tier Wifi technology, plenty of connectivity options, and a manageable price tag.
In terms of aesthetics, the Gaming Pro Carbon Wifi certainly is one cool motherboard. It features a carbon-themed design, and the PCB comes in a tasty jet-black finish. There is a substantial amount of RGB elements available on the board. MSI boasts that the design of this particular motherboard is inspired by supercars. Surely enough, this Ryzen 5 3600 motherboard looks stylish in all kinds of builds. Both internal and external RGB can be configured using MSI’s Mystic Light software which allows you to play with 16.8 million colors.
The power regulation on this board is performed by a 12-phase VRM in a 10+2 configuration and 56A power stages. MSI makes bold claims about the capabilities of their VRMs while advertising features like Core Boost and Game Boost. MSI has also implemented an extended heatsink design to avoid those high temperatures during heavy workloads. Upon first impression, the first thing that catches our sight is the Frozr fan on the chipset heatsink. In addition, M.2 Frozr shields are also included in the box to ensure the cool operation of the drives. This VRM and heatsink team does a commendable job at handling the Ryzen 5 3600 at various overclocked settings.
The Gaming Pro Carbon Wifi can hold 128 gigs of DDR4 memory at 4400+ MHz speeds, as claimed by MSI. An adequate amount of storage options is provided in the form of two hyper M.2 slots and six SATA3 ports. The graphics area is quite loaded as well, as we see two long PCIe 4.0 x16 slots. Further, two PCIe 3.0 slots that are powered by the X570 chipset are also provided. The Gaming Pro also offers CrossFire support that allows you to take your graphics game to another level. Not to mention, the x16 slots are secured with MSI’s Steel Armor shielding to provide retention to the cards.
The I/O panel is rich in connectivity options too. You get three USB3.2 Gen2 Type-A, one USB3.2 Gen2 Type-C, two USB3.2 Gen1 Type-A, and two USB2.0 ports (8 ports in total). Also located on the rear I/O is a PS/2 combo port, an HDMI port, and a BIOS flashback button. This motherboard is equipped with Intel’s latest and greatest AX200 802.11ax Wifi adapter. It also comes with the regular 5-port audio stack and optical S/PDIF, all powered by a Realtek ALC1220 codec.
Verdict
In short, the X570 Gaming Pro Carbon Wifi is an excellent midrange motherboard that packs a ton of features. It even provides top-tier Wifi technology, which makes it the Runner-Up For The Best Wifi Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600 by value.
Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 7 3700X
| Technical Specs | Ryzen 5 3600 | Ryzen 7 3700X |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Zen 2 | Zen 2 |
| Total Cores | 6 | 8 |
| Total Threads | 12 | 16 |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.6 GHz |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz | 4.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 32MB | 32MB |
| TDP | 65W | 65W |
Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 7 3700X Specifications
From the Ryzen 5 lineup, we have got the Ryzen 5 3600. On the other hand, representing the Ryzen 7 series, we have the Ryzen 7 3700X. These two boxed processors from the AMD Ryzen processor series come with integrated TSM 7nm FinFET processor technology. The AM4 CPU socket makes both the processors compatible with top-of-the-line AMD Ryzen motherboards having the B550, X570 chipsets, and mid-ranged motherboards possessing X470 and B450 chipsets.
With 8 cores and 16 threads, Ryzen 7 3700X is a more powerful beast than the Ryzen 5 3600, a 6 core 12 thread processor. With these many cores and threads, the Ryzen 5 3600 provides a decent clock speed of 3.6 GHz. Also, the Ryzen 7 3700X offers similar clock speeds of 3.6 GHz. These processors are overclocking unlocked, providing max boost speeds of up to 4.2 GHz for the Ryzen 5 3600 and 4.4 GHz for Ryzen 7 3700X. Ryzen 7 3700X seems to be taking the lead here.
The 3600 comes with an L3 cache of 32 MB and an L2 cache of 3 MB. On the other hand, the L3 and L2 cache for 3700X is 32 MB and 4MB, respectively. Talking about TDP, both these processors take up a default power of 65W. Also, these processors provide support for PCIe 4.0 slots with 16 lanes. The Ryzen 5 3600 includes memory support for DDR4 RAM chips; the same goes for the Ryzen 7 3700X. With two memory channels for faster data transfer, it operates at 3200 MHz speed. Both these processors have the overclocking unlocked that improves performance drastically if you need to juice out your processor’s capability. You can read a full comparison of Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 7 3700x here.
Ryzen 5 3600 vs 5600X
| Technical Specs | Ryzen 5 3600 | Ryzen 5 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Zen 2 | Zen 3 |
| Total Cores | 6 | 6 |
| Total Threads | 12 | 12 |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.7 GHz |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz | 4.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 32MB | 32MB |
| TDP | 65W | 65W |
Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 5 5600X Specifications
Having the same product line, both the processors come from different series. The 3600 comes from the Ryzen 5 3000 series, whereas the 5600X is part of the Ryzen 5 5000 series processors. Even though Ryzen 5 5600X was released months after the 3600, both processors are equal concerning cores and threads, 6 cores and 12 threads. These processors can support the AM4 sockets found in AMD-specific motherboards with X570, B550, A320, B450, and X470 chipsets. Also, both the processors have the TSMC 7nm FinFET processor technology for CPU cores.
More from AMD: Best Motherboard For Ryzen 5 5600x
Having the same cores and threads does not make the two processors similar. The Ryzen 5 3600 provides a clock speed of 3.6 GHz, but the Ryzen 5 5600X provides a clock speed of 3.7 GHz. The max boost clock speed that the 3600 provides is up to 4.2 GHz. The competitor for this processor, the Ryzen 5 5600X, can give a boost clock speed of 4.6 GHz at max, making it a better processor regarding clock speeds. It’s incredible to see how two processors with almost the same base specs have such a gap in performance overall.
Both these processors come with three caches L1, L2, L3. Ryzen 3600 has an L1 cache of 384 KB, an L2 cache of 3 Mb and an L3 cache of 32 MB. Also, the Ryzen 5 5600x comes with the L1, L2 and L3 cache, which is 384KB, 3MB and 32 MB, respectively. Not only that, but these boxed processors provide a great deal of memory support too. The Ryzen 5 3600 and 5600X support the PCIe 4.0 interface with 16 lanes. Also, the support for DDR4 type memory chips makes it the best choice for gamers. The 3200 MHz speed with dual memory channelling is the base requirement for every user nowadays, as RAM speeds have increased drastically. You can read our full Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 5 5600x comparison here.
Factors To Consider While Buying Ryzen 5 3600 Motherboard
As with any PC component, one must do his homework before getting his hands on a particular product. This involves determining the key factors and making a decision accordingly. Likewise, there’s plenty to consider before buying a suitable motherboard from a suitable brand. In the end, it all narrows down to your own priorities and requirements, but these general factors are the seeds of every person’s buying process.
Chipset
The primary decision-maker when buying a motherboard is the chipset. As we have established earlier, Ryzen processors are some of the most flexible processors out there. They are compatible with a range of chipsets, including the B450/B550, and the X470/X570. Choosing the right chipset depends upon your needs and your budget. If you want that PCIe Gen 4 experience, then buying a B550 or X570 becomes mandatory. However, if you are willing to compromise on features in return for saving some cash, then a 400 series motherboard makes more sense. If you want to know which is better, read our B550 vs X570.
Before buying a motherboard, checking the chipset of your processor is the first step to go to, which will help you shorten your options. The Ryzen 5 3600 processor supports AMD-specific motherboards with X570, B550, and B450 chipsets. These chipsets have the AM4 socket compatible with the Ryzen 5 3600 processor. We have cornered our options from the wide range of motherboards onboard to those containing the AM4 socket in return, relieving some of your tension.
Form Factor
Motherboards come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The three main form factors are ATX, micro-ATX and mini-ITX. ATX is the standard form factor, whereas m-ATX and ITX are designed for more compact builds. A smaller form factor generally means a smaller VRM, slightly more compact heatsinks and lesser connectivity options. Thus, it is important to find that sweet spot between form factor and features and then pick accordingly.
If you are buying a motherboard according to your case size, knowing about the form factor of your motherboard helps you understand whether it will fit in your case or not. If you are buying a motherboard before the case, you have many choices to select from. There are four general form factors that most motherboards come in: the E-ATX, ATX, micro-ATX and the mini-ITX. The most commonly used is the ATX motherboard, which requires a medium to large-sized tower or desktop case.
Form factors and thermals have a deep relation. The surface area of your motherboard is proportional to how fast it will heat up. It also tells you what type of case will suit your motherboard. If you have a micro-ATX motherboard, you will need a small-sized case to fit it in. Using a small-sized case causes problems as the low surface area of the motherboard means that it will heat up faster as there is less breathing space, which will make the heating process swifter. You will need heavy cooling systems like water coolers or air coolers with extended heatsinks for this purpose.
Budget
Allocating or knowing your budget for your motherboard is an essential part while buying one. It allows you to cut down on options and consider only the ones that comply with your budget. This factor is interconnected with all the other major factors one should consider. For example, the chipset and the form factor is majorly determined by how much you are willing to pay for a board. Let’s say you have assigned a lower budget, it means you are most probably restricted to B450 or micro-ATX B550 boards. However, as you keep increasing your budget, you dive further into the B550 and X570 zones.
Ryzen 5 3600 vs 3600x
| Technical Specs | Ryzen 5 3600 | Ryzen 5 3600X |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Zen 2 | Zen 2 |
| Total Cores | 6 | 6 |
| Total Threads | 12 | 12 |
| Base Clock | 3.6 GHz | 3.8 GHz |
| Boost Clock | 4.2 GHz | 4.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 32MB | 32MB |
| TDP | 65W | 95W |
Ryzen 5 3600 vs Ryzen 5 3600X Specifications
To begin with, the Ryzen 5 3600 and 3600X are 6-core/12-thread CPUs launched by AMD, based on their Zen 2 architecture, back in July 2019. The processors were built using TSMC’s N7 (7nm) FinFET node. Specifically speaking, the vanilla Ryzen 5 3600 has been a massive success for AMD, probably their most popular CPU to date. Unfortunately, the pricier 3600X has failed to establish a commanding presence in the wildly competitive CPU market.
Delving into the details, the Ryzen 5 3600 operates at a base frequency of 3.6 GHz with a turbo up to 4.2 GHz, at a TDP (Thermal Design Process) rating of 65W. In contrast, the nominally faster Ryzen 5 3600X runs 200 MHz faster at a base frequency of 3.8 GHz, turbo-boosting to 4.4 GHz. However, the Ryzen 5 3600X is rated at a TDP of 95W and comes with a bundled AMD Wraith Spire stock cooler. On the contrary, the relatively thermal efficient Ryzen 5 3600 ships with a Wraith Stealth, AMD’s cheapest and worst cooler, bluntly speaking.
In terms of memory support, both processors are equal, supporting up to 128 gigs of DDR4 RAM @3200MHz in a dual-channel configuration (although single-channel operation is possible as well, albeit with worse speeds corresponding to an overall reduction in memory performance)
As far as performance is concerned, we regret to inform you that the Ryzen 5 3600X only offers, at best, up to a 5-7% increase in general usage and gaming workloads. Simply put, you’d get better results if you paired the vanilla Ryzen 5 3600 with a high-performance after-market cooler using the price differential versus buying the Ryzen 3600X at about a 15% inflated price, depending upon where you intend to source the CPU from. If you don’t believe us, AMD has been forced to slash the price increase of the Ryzen 5 3600X over the 3600 by 50%, thanks to backlash from the gaming community over the negligible performance differences between the two CPUs.
Furthermore, even though AMD rates the 3600X’s TDP at 95W, we found both processors nearly identical in terms of heat output, with the thermal difference measuring a few degrees Celsius because of the 3600X’s slightly faster CPU clocks. This suggests that AMD has advertised this increased TDP because the Wraith Spire is a 95W cooler while the Wraith Stealth is a 65W CPU cooler.
All in all, it’s simply not worth buying the Ryzen 5 3600X since it’s highly overpriced, straight out of the factory, even after a $25 MSRP discount. The plain Ryzen 5 3600 remains the king. It wins our confidence and that of fellow gamers worldwide since you could pair it with a decent aftermarket air cooler from top-notch manufacturers such as Noctua or BeQuiet and overclock the CPU yourself to obtain far better performance while keeping the processor’s temperatures within a suitable range, surpassing the capabilities of the comparatively weak stock coolers. While we talk about Coolers, why not read our Best CPU Cooler For Ryzen 5 3600 article?
How We Chose The Best Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600
Knowing the processor details beforehand is a plus point when buying a motherboard, but it’s not enough. A processor is not the only thing you need to look out for. A motherboard comprises multiple mini components that play a crucial role in the overall working of the system. Mostly, buyers draft a spec sheet in mind when buying a motherboard but get confused when purchasing one. Different processors support different chipsets, which in turn support different sockets in significant cases, getting you pretty puzzled.
This vast number of options surely would give you headaches, but don’t worry. We have taken this problem into our hands so you can stay at ease. We tested and checked multiple motherboards in the market and came up with many options that can suit you. Let us look at these options by looking at the features they provide. This guide can assist you in buying a motherboard for yourself too.
VRM
One of the most pivotal decisions to make in motherboard purchasing is about the VRM. We all know that every component needs a set amount of power to work. If more power is provided, the part will not function. To stop this from happening motherboard comprises the VRM (Voltage Regulator Module).
Let us talk about why this is so important. Excess voltage to a component has an inverse relation with the life of that component. Adequate power supply and stability are a must for good performance from a motherboard, which gets ensured by using a robust VRM. If your motherboard cannot control the voltage to each component or the power is unstable, you will face performance hits that might go long term. So, try buying a motherboard with a powerful VRM that introduces power consistency and cleanness.
Thermals
As excess voltage damages the motherboard’s components, the same is true with excess heat. Overheating is not advantageous for any electrical component. The manufacturers provide max temperature upper bounds that the component can withstand, just like the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 can withstand 95°C max.
In a motherboard, the PCB layers are the first thing to look for in the context of heat reduction. PCB layers are the semiconductor layers with soldered components. The more PCB layers a motherboard has, the more heat insulation it will provide. They help slow down the motherboard’s thermal conductivity, which makes the motherboard take more time to heat up.
Heatsinks in a motherboard are also substantial because they disperse heat from the components keeping the motherboard cool. They are metal components with a grill-like structure providing smooth air flow, hence keeping them cool. The form factor also plays a massive role in thermal cooling, which we will be looking at later in the article.
Coolers for a CPU are also essential for removing heat from the motherboard. But you better know the form factor of your motherboard before buying a cooler, or else it will be a waste of time and money. Any type of cooling setup is adequate, whether a water cooler or an air cooler with heatsinks.
Expansion Slots and Connectivity
Each motherboard has specific expansion and storage slots alongside USB ports. In most motherboards, the chipset manufacturers like Intel and AMD specify the maximum number of slots and ports supported. So, every motherboard manufacturer using the chipset has to go by the book.
There are multiple types of slots and ports in each motherboard. But the three most common ones are the expansion slots, storage slots, and USB ports.
To connect peripherals and USB storage devices, we use USB ports. Before buying, ensure that the motherboard has the minimum required USB ports. As for the expansion slots, these slots provide fast data transfer rates from the PCIe-supporting device to the processor or chipset. Try prioritizing the PCI 4.0 x16 slots for your GPU over the PCIe 3.0 lanes. Also, the GPU you are about to plugin must have the same PCIe version of the slot to attain the fastest speeds. If that’s not the case, buy a motherboard according to your GPU or attach the GPU for lower PCIe speeds.
The last one is the storage slots. These slots connect storage devices like SSDs or hard drives. With the launch of NVMe SSDs, the fastest of the bunch, manufacturers now try to add at least one or more M.2 slots for these new SSD types. If you are an NVMe lover, you should go with a motherboard with more M.2 slots than SATA slots. If you use hard drives and SSDs, a motherboard with more SATA ports is better.
Visuals and Aesthetics
This step should be your last priority if you are more concerned about the components of the motherboard rather than their beauty. Well, having a beautiful matching board adds to the looks of your setup. If you’re spending money on something, why not make it attractive?
Nowadays, RGB lights play a huge role in the aesthetics of a motherboard. Having a lit motherboard in your PC case is an excellent addition to your build. If you are not into RGB lights, consider buying a single-coloured light motherboard. These allow you to create multiple contrasts between motherboard colour and the light. You can make your build more pleasing by choosing the PCB colour contrast, the heatsinks colours, and the lighting setup facilitated by the motherboard.
Why Should You Trust Our Judgement
With over twelve years of experience in the tech and gaming industry, our dedicated team has been refined consistently to produce a potent group of knowledgeable individuals who are known to relay the most accurate information to our valued consumers, thanks to the extensive research and reviewing we conduct before we publish every piece of journalism.
In addition to this, we have been explicitly featured on a majority of the top-notch gaming and tech brands, such as Gigabyte, MSI, Asus, DeepCool, just to name a few, as reliable and trusted sources for Hardware and Technology. These and other renowned manufacturers such as Noctua, Thermaltake, Xigmatek, and numerous others regularly send samples to us, based on which we formulate unbiased reviews to provide our readers with a genuine perspective of the particular product from an objective point of view.
Subsequently, we instill confidence in our esteemed consumers, who may rely on us to give them the best advice for building, customizing, and modifying their personal gaming computers.
Frequently Asked Questions
As we have spoken about the versatility of Ryzen processors and their support for a variety of motherboards. The Ryzen 5 3600 is no exception and is compatible with almost all the motherboards including B550 and X470. It can even be used with the cheap A320 motherboard, however, we do not recommend that due to its comparatively poor power delivery and thermal performance. B450 and X570 are the most commonly used motherboards with the 3600, however, B550 is also becoming increasingly popular due to PCIe Gen4 lanes.
The Ryzen 5 3600 in our opinion, offers one of the best price-to-performance ratios for any processor. You get an all-in-one package: a 6-core 12-thread layout, a mere 65W TDP and superb gaming performance. Moreover, you also get CPU support across the line, from 300 series motherboards to the latest 500 series motherboards. It carries a very reasonable price tag for its offering. Our answer to this question is YES, the 3600 is worth every penny.
The Ryzen 5 3600 is an excellent processor for multitasking due to its 6-core and 12-thread arrangement. If you like to stream while playing games, then the 3600 is definitely a worthy option. Pair it with a suitable graphics card and it will handle your games along with streams without any lag or FPS drops.
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