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AMD’s X3D processors are some of the most famous gaming CPUs on the market. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D has been hailed as the best gaming CPU for a long time. However, it’s time a successor comes along. Instead of the competition taking the win, AMD’s brand new Ryzen 7 9800X3D shows an impeccable 25% boost in single-core and multi-core tasks. In our Ryzen 7 9800X3D review, we saw great performance across the table, but if you’re buying such a beast, you’ve to pair it with the right motherboard. That said, I have rounded up the best motherboard for Ryzen 7 9800X3D.
Here’s a comparison table to show you our best motherboard offerings at a glance:
- February 4, 2025: Since the 9800X3D supports overclocking, we found the ASRock PG X870E Nova WiFi to offer the best overclocking performance for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, and that’s why we have now added it to our recommendations.
More from the Ryzen 7 9800X3D:
Want to get an overview of another Ryzen 9000 series? Read through our dedicated in-depth CPU reviews:
Best Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Here’s a list of all the motherboards I have chosen for their various unique traits based on my hands-on experience and testing:
- Best Overall: MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- Best High-End: ASRock X870E Taichi Lite
- Best White: ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7
- Best Budget: MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi
- Best Overclocking: ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi
MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Chipset: AMD X870 | Memory: DDR5 8,400+ (OC) | VRM: 14+2+1 | Video Outputs: HDMI 2.1, 2x Type-C DisplayPort, USB4 Port, DisplayPort 1.4 | RGB Lighting: No | Network: WiFi 7, Realtek 5G LAN, Bluetooth 5.4 | Storage: 4x M.2, 4x SATA III | USB Ports: 11x Rear, 9x Front
Pros
- Decent connectivity options
- Solid performance
- VRMs run quite cool
- Beautiful design
- A wealth of EZ DIY features and mechanisms
- MSI AI LAN manager
Cons
- No RGB
- I would have preferred more SATA connectors
Read Our MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi Motherboard Review
Starting the list with the jack of all trades, the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard caught my eye for many reasons. For example, it has superior performance in productivity and gaming tasks. Moreover, its 14+2+1 VRMs perform decently well, allowing adequate overclocking opportunities. I love the VRMs for their temperatures, though. During our testing, the temperatures on the VRMs never exceeded 54°C, making them one of the coldest in the new X870 motherboards.
Besides its performance, other eye-catchers are the wealth of EZ DIY features and mechanisms loaded onto the motherboard, making it highly user-friendly. I also cherish the MSI AI LAN manager, which ensures you always get the lowest possible ping. Moving to the connectors, I like the 11x rear and 9x front USB ports, including a USB4.0 port and plenty of USB 2.0 and USB 3 ports. However, when it comes to storage, I would have preferred more than 4x SATA III connectors for a slightly pricey motherboard.
I was pretty pleased with the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi motherboard, not seeing any negatives. Here’s what I commented in my review:
The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi is a motherboard costing $299, making it one of the pricier boards so far. For that, it offers reasonably capable VRMs, a minimalist black theme without RGB, a ton of EZ-DIY features to make life easier, and good overall performance. The EZ-DIY features are the highlight for us, but we feel the price tag is still a bit too high, especially given the board’s shared connectivity complications.
What Makes It The Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
I love the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi for its lower VRM temperatures, sturdy build quality, and EZ DIY features and functions. Moreover, it has decent connectivity options and a beautiful design, perfect for stealth builds lacking RGB lighting. All these pros make it the best overall motherboard for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, in my opinion.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 10/10 | Design: 8/10 |
ASRock X870E Taichi Lite
Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Chipset: AMD X870E | Memory: DDR5 8,200+ (OC) | VRM: 24+2+1 | Video Outputs: HDMI 2.1, 2x USB4 Ports | RGB Lighting: No | Network: WiFi 7, Realtek 5G LAN, Bluetooth 5.4 | Storage: 4x M.2, 6x SATA III | USB Ports: 12x Rear, 9x Front
Pros
- Premium-class 24+2+1 VRM setup
- Great price for a high-end motherboard
- Unique design
- Impeccable performance
- Remarkable build quality
Cons
- Only one PCIe 5.0 storage slot
- No RGB lighting
Read Our ASRock X870E Taichi Lite Motherboard Review
Want to get the most out of your Ryzen 7 9800X3D? Just get a high-performing motherboard like the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite. Hailing a 24+2+1 VRM phase, you can achieve extreme overclocks with even a flagship CPU. This big boy has the largest power phase out of all the motherboards on this listicle. To top it all off, it has a pretty neat price tag, so you won’t have to sell an organ to make a purchase. Honestly, when it comes to performance, I can’t critique the Taichi Lite at all.
However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have any downsides to it. It’s an excellent motherboard with impressive connectivity options, good storage slots, and remarkable build quality. But even so, I feel like being given only one PCIe 5.0 storage slot for an E-ATX motherboard is pretty sad. I understand the lack of RGB lighting, though. All in all, it’s a great motherboard with a unique design, tons of USB ports (12x rear and 9x front), including 2x USB4.0 ports, and doesn’t cost much, either.
Here’s how I summarized the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite in my in-depth review of the motherboard:
The ASRock X870E Taichi Lite is a $399 powerhouse with a VRM setup (24+2+1, 110A SPS for VCore and SoC) that can compete with enthusiast-class boards. That’s not its only attraction; the board has a fascinating design, multiple handy features, and excellent connectivity options, with USB4 and WiFi 7 being the icing on the cake. Circling back to the price, this is a great option among X870E boards.
What Makes It The Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
The most appealing thing about the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite motherboard is its high-end VRMs, robust build quality, and overall outstanding performance in all gaming and productivity tests while maintaining a reasonable cost. There are no complaints about its design. You get WiFi 7, and the chipset also provides plenty of USB ports, including USB4.0, making it the best high-end motherboard for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor.
Personally, I feel the ASRock X870E Taichi Lite is the best fit for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Ignoring the motherboard’s overclocking capabilities, it comes with lots of USB ports, has a unique design, the VRM temperatures aren’t too high, and it’s one of the most powerful X870 chipset motherboards. You shouldn’t let this motherboard go if you’re using a bigger PC case.
– Dr. Usman Saleem
| Performance: 10/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Design: 8/10 |
ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7
Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Chipset: AMD X870 | Memory: DDR5 8,000+ (OC) | VRM: 14+2+1 | Video Outputs: HDMI 2.1, 2x USB4 Ports, 1x DisplayPort 1.4 | RGB Lighting: Yes | Network: WiFi 7, Realtek 2.5G LAN, Bluetooth 5.4 | Storage: 3x M.2, 4x SATA III | USB Ports: 11x Rear, 9x Front
Pros
- Fairly capable 14+2+1 VRMs
- Beautiful white aesthetics
- Incredible RAM capacity
- Distinctive design featuring modest RGB
- M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism
Cons
- No debug LED
- Mid-range ALC4082 audio codec
Read Our ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7 Motherboard Review
Moving to the next motherboard, the ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7 is one of the most aesthetically pleasing X870 motherboards I have seen. Featuring a distinctive design with modest RGB lighting, the motherboard is coated in white, making it look like a captivating snowball. Outside its looks, the Steel Legend WiFi offers decent performance with its 14+2+1 VRM phase, not allowing the Ryzen 7 9800X3D to bottleneck even at the highest workloads.
The pricing is also pretty fair, and the motherboard has decent DIY features, like an M.2 heatsink quick-release mechanism for easier installation. It is missing a few features, like a debug LED, which will make troubleshooting slightly tricky in the future. However, regarding connectivity, I have zero complaints, featuring 11x rear and 9x front USB ports, along with 3x M.2 and 4x SATA III slots. The only real issue is the mid-range ALC4082 audio codec, which ASRock could have improved.
I was surprised when I used the ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7 motherboard on my test bench. Here’s what I commented about the motherboard’s looks and features:
The ASRock X870 Steel Legend looks great, is priced fairly, and has enough connectivity for most users. It features a 14+2+1 VRM setup (80A SPS for VCore + SOC), which means you can comfortably run even the most demanding Ryzen CPUs on it. It also provides some convenient features like the toolless M.2 heatsink removal and anti-drop screws. Most of all, though, it’s a great board for getting onto the latest platform without breaking the bank.
What Makes It The Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
The ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi 7 is one of my favorite motherboards because of its beautiful snow-white aesthetics, low-temperature VRMs, rock-solid build quality, and many DIY features. Unlike many other white PC components, it also doesn’t come at a high price, ultimately making it the best white motherboard for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.
| Performance: 8/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 10/10 |
MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi
Best Budget Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Chipset: AMD B850 | Memory: DDR5-8400 (OC) | VRM: 14+2+1 | Video Outputs: 1x HDMI 2.1 port | RGB Lighting: No | Network: 1x Realtek 8126VB 5G LAN, AMD WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Storage: 4x M.2, 4x SATA | USB Ports: 10x Rear, 9x Front
Pros
- Impressive VRMs
- Good VRM cooling at 59°C max temps
- Affordable
- Handy EZ-DIY features
- Up to 8,400MHz frequency support
Cons
- USB 4.0 missing
- Lacks dual-sided thermal pads for primary M.2 heatsink
Read Our MSI MAG B850 Tomawhawk Max WiFi Motherboard Review
Don’t want to spend a fortune on a motherboard to pair with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D? Don’t worry—the MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi has you covered. It’s affordable, has most EZ-DIY features, and supports 8,400MHz RAM frequency. I didn’t have any issues with the VRMs either; with a 14+2+1-phase design, the temperatures maxed out at 59°C, which is pretty decent for an affordable B850 motherboard. However, it has its downsides, too, with a lack of a USB4.0 port and no dual-sided thermal pads for the primary M.2 heatsink.
There’s not much difference between an X870 and a B850 motherboard, so you don’t have to worry about missing too many features. For example, you’re still getting 4x M.2 slots: two PCIe 5.0 x4 slots, one PCIe 4.0 x4 slot, and the last a PCIe 4.0 x2 slot. As I stated above, I do regret the missing USB4.0 and no dual-sided thermal pads on the M.2 heatsink, but if you’re using a decent chassis, you shouldn’t have to worry about both of those issues.
Ali Tauseef, one of our motherboard experts, spent considerable time reviewing this motherboard. Here are his own words about the product:
The MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi is an excellent mid-ranger and a great option for stepping onto the latest platform with your Ryzen 9000 CPU. It has a decent 14+2+1 DRPS design with 14x 80A SPS for the CPU, enough for even the AM5 big dogs. 5G LAN, WiFi 7, dual Gen 5 M.2 slots, PCIe 5.0 x16, and EZ-DIY are the highlights on the board.
What Makes It The Best Budget Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
The MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi motherboard offers incredible pricing without sacrificing most features. It provides a decent 14+2+1 VRM phase, EZ-DIY features for new PC builders, pleasing overall aesthetics without the RGB, and RAM frequency support of up to 8,400MHz. These features make it the best budget motherboard for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D while keeping costs below $300.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 10/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Design: 8/10 |
ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi
Best Overclocking Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Chipset: AMD X870E | Memory: DDR5-8200 (OC) | VRM: 20+2+1 | Video Outputs: 1x HDMI 2.1 port | RGB Lighting: Yes | Network: 1x Realtek RTL8126 5G LAN, AMD WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Storage: 5x M.2, 4x SATA | USB Ports: 12x Rear, 9x Front
Pros
- Beautiful design
- Five M.2 slots and four HDD slots
- High-quality 20+2+1-phase VRM design
- Low-temperature VRMs
- Two USB4 ports
- Three PCIe slots
Cons
- PCIe3 is disabled if M2_5 is occupied
Read Our ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi Motherboard Review
The ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi motherboard, one of ASRock’s premium offerings, merges performance and aesthetics together while keeping a keen eye on the pricing. With high-quality 20+2+1-phase VRMs, the motherboard showcases impressive performance, mainly when used for overclocking. During our in-depth review, our testing found the VRM temperatures to only cross 53°C at high loads in the Cinebench 2024 stress tests.
Moreover, the 8-layer 2oz copper PCB and the 110A Dr.MOS capacitors with 1000uF capacitance are deadly combinations for overclocking purposes. Aside from its high-end performance, the motherboard provides five M.2 slots and four HDD slots to address storage requirements. However, if you occupy the fifth (M2_5) slot, the 3rd PCIe slot (PCIe3) will be disabled, so keep that in mind.
Our hardware reviewer, Nauman Siddique, loved the motherboard’s connectivity options and overall performance. Here’s how he described it in his in-depth review:
As expected, the X870E Nova WiFi packs a solid punch when it comes to both synthetic and gaming benchmarks, and also has very optimal VRM thermals, making it a good choice for overclocking.
What Makes It The Best Overclocking Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D?
The ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi motherboard provides incredible performance thanks to its 20+2+1-phase VRM design with 110A Dr.MOS capacitors. Additionally, the XXL heatsinks on the VRMs help keep the temperatures low, even during high-stress workloads. The extra storage drives, PCIe slots, and beautiful design increase its value, making it the best overclocking motherboard for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU.
| Performance: 10/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 9/10 |
Best Motherboard For Ryzen 7 9800X3D Specification Comparison
We have created a simple comparison chart of all our top motherboard picks so that it’s easier for you to choose the one that appeals most to your use-case scenarios. Here’s the chart:
| Motherboard Model | Total Power Phases | Max Memory Speed (MT/s) | No. of M.2 slots | No. of SATA III ports | No. of USB ports (Front) | No. of USB ports (Rear) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi | 16 | 8400 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 11 |
| ASRock X870E Taichi Lite | 27 | 8200 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
| ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi | 16 | 8000 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 11 |
| MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi | 17 | 8400 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 10 |
| ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi | 23 | 8200 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 12 |
These Motherboards Couldn’t Make Our List
Many motherboards on the market fit well with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. However, we only selected the best ones in their categories to make your purchase decision easier. Of course, a few didn’t make the list, lacking value or features. Here are the motherboards that couldn’t make our list:
- Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite: There’s not much to hate regarding the Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite. Like its predecessor, which we covered, it’s one of the best contenders. However, its lack of 5G LAN makes it slightly inferior to its competitors.
Key Motherboard Terms
- CPU Socket: It’s a small slot on the motherboard where the CPU is inserted. Intel usually changes its CPU socket once every two generations, while AMD’s socket lasts for a few years. The AM4 lasted from the Ryzen 1000 to the Ryzen 5000 series, meaning you could use the same motherboard for all those CPUs.
- DIMM Slots: They are located next to the CPU socket where the RAM kits are installed. Thanks to the physical location being so close, DIMM slots allow the CPU to access temporary data quickly.
- Form Factor: Similar to the form factors of PC cases, the size and shape of the motherboard decide the chassis it’ll fit inside. Motherboard form factors are the same as PC case form factors, ranging from ITX, mITX, ATX, and E-ATX.
- VRM: Abbreviated as Voltage Regulator Module, VRMs are small circuits on the motherboard that ensure stable and proper voltage delivery to all PC parts. Better VRM phases are required to achieve higher CPU overclocks.
- PCIe Slots: PCIe slots are used for expansion cards and are essential for graphics cards, sound cards, and network adapters. In most cases, you want to install the graphics card in the x16 PCIe slot and then move downwards as required.
- Chipset: The chipset communicates between multiple PC components, such as the peripherals, CPU, RAM, GPU, and storage, to run everything smoothly without causing random crashes and errors.
How We Tested These Motherboards
Several factors contributed to selecting the best motherboards for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU. They include features, power delivery, and value for money. Here’s a quick rundown of what I looked for in each motherboard:
- Features: One of the most important factors I considered was each motherboard’s features. Besides the EZ DIY features, software like MSI’s AI LAN manager, troubleshooting debug LEDs, or thicker M.2 heatsinks add more value to the motherboards. While performance is essential, subtle features create more incentive for a purchase.
- Power Delivery: The most important factor you should consider is a motherboard’s power delivery capabilities. A motherboard with mediocre power delivery will only end up either bottlenecking your PC components or completely frying them. Additionally, better power delivery is vital for CPU overclocking. That’s why I only chose motherboards that didn’t compromise on their VRMs.
- Value For Money: Regardless of your budget, spending too much on a PC component won’t yield better results if everything it features is a gimmick. Therefore, I was meticulous with the value for money of each motherboard I selected. Along with performance, they needed to have dozens of features and not cost absurd amounts of money.
Recent Updates
- February 3, 2025: After testing the newly released B850 motherboards, we found the MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi to be a great choice for the 9800X3D, specifically in the budget category.
FAQs
Regardless of the resolution, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D should be able to run any game at high FPS, considering it is currently the best gaming CPU on the planet.
Like the previous X3D processors, you won’t be able to overclock the Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU. Doing so won’t yield any performance uplifts anyway.
The Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU supports up to DDR5 8,800MHz RAM speeds, ensuring whichever kit you purchase will be compatible with the CPU.
Yes. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is compatible with both chipsets along with the newest X870 chipset. Depending on your budget and use-case scenario, you should look for a motherboard from the B650 and X870 chipsets for the most value.
Searching for motherboards for a specific Ryzen 9000 series CPU? We have you covered:
- Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 9950X
- Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 9900X
- Best Motherboards For Ryzen 7 9700X
- Best Motherboards For Ryzen 5 9600X
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[Reviews Specialist]
Usman Saleem brings 8+ years of comprehensive PC hardware expertise to the table. His journey in the tech world has involved in-depth tech analysis and insightful PC hardware reviews, perfecting over 6+ years of dedicated work. Usman’s commitment to staying authentic and relevant in the field is underscored by many professional certifications, including a recent one in Google IT Support Specialization.
8+ years of specialized PC hardware coverage
6+ years of in-depth PC hardware analysis and reviews
Lead PC hardware expert across multiple tech journalism platforms
Certified in Google IT Support Specialization
Get In Touch: usman@tech4gamers.com
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