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Leading AMD’s Ryzen 5000 series of desktop CPUs, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is built on the innovative Zen 3 architecture, bringing increased efficiency and IPC performance. Equipped with 12 cores / 24 threads with a boost clock of up to 4.8 GHz, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is definitely one of the most powerful gaming CPUs to come across my test bench. My hands-on experience reveals that it must be paired with a solid motherboard to get the most out of its potential, which is why I have curated this list.
Get an overview of our recommended motherboards for the Ryzen 9 5900X in this comparison table:
Recently acquired the Ryzen 9 5900X? Dive into our guide selection:
Best Motherboards for Ryzen 9 5900X
Having tested and worked with them extensively, these motherboards are my top picks for the Ryzen 9 5900X:
- Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X: MSI MEG X570S UNIFY-X MAX
- Best Gaming Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X: Gigabyte X570 AORUS Pro WiFi
- Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X: ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming
- Best Budget Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X: Gigabyte B550 AORUS Pro V2
- Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X: Gigabyte X570-I AORUS Pro WiFi
- Best B550 Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X: MSI MEG B550 UNIFY-X
MSI MEG X570 UNIFY
Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X
Specifications: Chipset: X570 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5100 | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 9x internal | Network: 1x 2.5Gb LAN, 1x WiFi 6 | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA
Pros
- Excellent VRM Design
- Several Storage Options
- Versatile Connectivity Options
Cons
- Expensive
Design and Build Quality: Thanks to MSI, we again have an all-black MSI MEG X570 UNIFY. The darkness has become a thing now in the MEG series for MSI. Although you can use the RGB headers provided for some external lighting, the motherboard itself does not come with any built-in lighting.
Performance: With a VRM design of 12 digital power phases and 90A smart power stages, getting it all through the dual 8-pin connectors, the MSI MEG X570 UNIFY is one powerhouse. With all this power, my testing validates that the MSI MEG X570 UNIFY can handle any AMD Ryzen CPU, even the mighty Ryzen 9 5900X while overclocked.
Features and Connectivity: The MSI MEG X570 UNIFY doesn’t leave us short on storage; you will always have extra storage space with 3x M.2 sockets and 6x SATA ports. For ample connectivity, the rear I/O panel comes with 8x USB ports with another 9x ports available using the internal headers.
Buy It If:
✅ You want a superb VRM design: My testing shows that the 12-phase VRM of the X570 UNIFY is robust enough to overclock even the mighty Ryzen 9 5900X while remaining stable and cool.
Don’t Buy It If:
❌ Your budget is limited: Being a premium motherboard, the X570 UNIFY can certainly deplete your savings.
What Makes It The Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X?
Couple excellent VRM performance with a superb feature set and you get the MSI X570 UNIFY. It is certainly one of the most well-rounded premium motherboards on the market, earning the title of the best overall motherboard for Ryzen 9 5900X.
| VRM Performance: 9/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Design: 8/10 |
Gigabyte X570 AORUS Pro WiFi
Best Gaming Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X
Specifications: Chipset: X570 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5000 | USB Ports: 10x rear IO, 9x internal | Network: 1x Intel GbE LAN, 1x WiFi 6 | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA
Pros
- Several Cooling Options
- Multi-Zoned Addressable RGB
- Integrated I/O Shield
- Durable and Sturdy
Cons
- Low Memory Support
Design and Build Quality: Although the look of the board is really basic, Gigabyte hasn’t left the RGB enthusiasts behind. Along with built-in RGB headers, the Gigabyte X570 AORUS Pro also comes with RGB to further ‘brighten’ the user experience. The subtle silver accents also look quite pleasing to the eye.
Performance: The Gigabyte X570 AORUS Pro features the ultimate power design; with its 12+2 power phases, it is the best choice for gamers. Gamers always want better performance and overclocking abilities to get the most out of their system, and my testing shows that the included VRM cooling solution is exceptional for that.
Features and Connectivity: As far as storage and memory are concerned, the Gigabyte X570 AORUS Pro comes with 3x M.2 slots compatible with PCIe 4.0, allowing maximum transfer speeds alongside the 6x SATA 6Gb/s connectors. You will not be left disconnected with 10x USB ports on the rear, including USB Type-C and Gen 3.2 ports.
We reached out to our dedicated motherboard specialist, Nauman Siddique, for insights on the X570 AORUS Pro.
“The GIGABYTE X570 AORUS Pro WiFi Gaming motherboard is a mid-range motherboard that offers a plethora of functions and features”.
Buy It If:
✅ You want a well-balanced feature set: The Gigabyte AORUS X570 Pro WiFi offers a range of useful features without going overboard on pricing, making it a very notable pickup for gamers.
Don’t Buy It If:
❌ You want higher RAM support: The AORUS X570 Pro WiFi only supports DDR4 up to 5100 MHz, which is a bit of a letdown.
What Makes It The Best Gaming Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X?
Harnessing the power of the 12+2 phase VRM design, the Gigabyte AORUS X570 Pro WiFi aims to maximize the stock and overclocking performance of your Ryzen 9 5900X processor, therefore making it the best gaming motherboard for Ryzen 9 5900X.
| VRM Performance: 9/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Design: 8/10 |
ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming
Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X
Specifications: Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5100 | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 6x internal | Network: 1x Intel 2.5Gb LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA
Pros
- Beautiful White Design
- Amazing Audio
- DIY Friendly
Cons
- No WiFi
- Fewer M.2 Sockets
Design and Build Quality: When it comes to white builds, the ASUS ROG Strix B550-A rules over all other white motherboards thanks to beautiful white and silver heatsinks paired with AURA Sync lighting in the redesigned ROG logo. The ROG Strix B550-A Gaming also has dedicated aRGB headers to provide unmatched personalization.
Performance: Coming up with a VRM of 12+2 power stages, ASUS has combined high and low-side MOSFETs to deliver one of the best power delivery packages in this price bracket. The ROG Strix B550-A Gaming uses high-quality thermal pads and massive but ‘beautiful’ heatsinks to dissipate as much heat as possible to cool down all this power.
Features and Connectivity: In terms of storage, ASUS has provided us with 2x M.2 sockets supporting PCIe 4.0 for maximum transfer speeds alongside 6x SATA connectors. The rear I/O panel comes with all sorts of ports, from USB Type-C connectors to USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports.
Buy It If:
✅ You want an all-white motherboard: With a beautiful snow-white design on top of a black PCB, the ASUS ROG Strix B550-A is the perfect choice for an all-white build.
Don’t Buy It If:
❌ You want more M.2 sockets: The Strix B550-A only offers 2 M.2 slots, which may be slightly limiting for some users.
What Makes It The Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X?
With its glamorous white design paired with a solid feature set, the ASUS ROG Strix B550-A really sets itself apart from the crowd and earns the title of the best white motherboard for Ryzen 9 5900X.
| VRM Performance: 8/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 10/10 |
Gigabyte B550 AORUS PRO V2
Best Budget Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X
Specifications: Chipset: B550 | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5400 | USB Ports: 11x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 2.5GbE LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA
Pros
- Quite Affordable
- Several Connectivity Options
- RGB Lighting
Cons
- No WiFi
- No Backplate
Design and Build Quality: In terms of looks, with in-built RGB and the beautiful AORUS logo on the chipset heatsink, alongside the grey and silver heatsinks, the Gigabyte B550 AORUS Pro V2 is a very decent-looking board. The subtle accents provide a hint of personality to the otherwise all-black motherboard.
Performance: To fully support the Ryzen 9 5900X, the Gigabyte B550 AORUS Pro V2 has a solid power design, consisting of 12+2 phases with 50A DrMOS stages. The B550 AORUS Pro can comfortably take on any Ryzen CPU with this power, as validated by my testing while staying cool thanks to the new Fins-Array heatsinks.
AMD allows overclocking on both the X570 and B550 chipsets, which gives a huge value advantage to the cheaper B550 motherboards. If they have a solid VRM, like the B550 AORUS Pro certainly does, they can be a great pairing for high-end CPUs like the Ryzen 9 5900X without breaking the bank.
– Awais Khan
Features and Connectivity: The Gigabyte B550 AORUS Pro V2 comes with 2x M.2 sockets capable of Gen 4; we also get 6x SATA ports alongside the PCIe 4.0 armor slots. The board also comes with 11x USB ports on the rear I/O, which, of course, comes with a pre-installed I/O shield.
Buy It If:
✅ You want to maximize value for money: The B550 AORUS Pro offers a very solid set of features while being relatively affordable, making it an excellent budget option.
Don’t Buy It If:
❌ You want WiFi connectivity: The AORUS Pro only has wired networking, but that is an understandable compromise at this price.
What Makes It The Best Budget Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X?
The Gigabyte B550 AORUS Pro V2 covers all the bases that you would require from an affordable motherboard. It offers decent overclocking potential and has a respectable feature set making it the best budget motherboard for Ryzen 9 5900X.
| VRM Performance: 8/10 | Value: 10/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 8/10 |
Gigabyte X570-I AORUS Pro WiFi
Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X
Specifications: Chipset: X570 | Memory: 2x DIMM, 64GB, DDR4-5300 | USB Ports: 6x rear IO, 4x internal | Network: 1x GbE LAN, 1x WiFi 6 | Storage: 3x M.2, 4x SATA
Pros
- Ideal for Compact Builds
- In-built WiFi
- RGB Lighting
Cons
- Fewer USB Ports on I/O
- Relatively Expensive
Design and Build Quality: As far as looks are concerned, the Gigabyte X570-I AORUS Pro WiFi is one sleek-looking board, thanks to its impressive layout and huge I/O cover. The RGB on the side and an all-black look with silver stripes have helped it become one of my favorite mini-ITX boards.
Performance: The Gigabyte X570-I AORUS Pro WiFi comes with a direct 8-phase power design without PWM doubles alongside a 70A power stage, making it one of the most potent mini-ITX motherboards available on the market. The Gigabyte X570-I AORUS Pro WiFi uses a single 8-pin connector to deliver all this power.
Features and Connectivity: Considering the form factor, the Gigabyte X570-I AORUS Pro WiFi offers ample options for storage with the 3x M.2 sockets and 4x SATA ports; Gigabyte has made sure you can connect all the SSDs you want. The number of USB ports on the rear I/O is questionable, but we get video outputs like 2x HDMI 2.0 and Displayport.
Buy It If:
✅ You want a solid VRM setup: Despite being a mini-ITX motherboard, the power delivery system of the Gigabyte X570-I AORUS Pro WiFi impressed me during my testing.
Don’t Buy It If:
❌ You want better rear connectivity: The number of rear I/O ports might be a bit disappointing for power users.
What Makes It The Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X?
The Gigabyte X570-I AORUS Pro WiFi packs a hefty punch in a compact frame. With its robust VRM design, solid storage features, and versatile networking, it really earns the title of the best mini-ITX motherboard for Ryzen 9 5900X.
| VRM Performance: 8/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 7/10 | Design: 9/10 |
MSI MEG B550 Unify-X
Best B550 Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X
Specifications: Chipset: B550 | Memory: 2x DIMM, 64GB, DDR4-5800 | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 2.5G LAN, 1x WiFi 6 | Storage: 4x M.2, 6x SATA
Pros
- Powerful VRM design
- WiFi Networking
Cons
- No RGB
- Fewer Connectivity options
Design and Build Quality: Being an MSI board, the MEG B550 Unify-X uses a unique design. The striking brushed grey on top of the black makes the MSI MEG B550 Unify-X one sleek and attractive-looking board. You can find the MSI dragon on top of the I/O heatsink, while the Unify-X branding is found all over the PCB.
Performance: With its direct 14+2 power phase design and 90A power stages, the MSI MEG B550 Unify-X delivers clean and stable current to your Ryzen 9 CPU, letting it unleash its multi-core abilities for more performance. In my testing, the board’s VRM performed admirably even when faced with overclocking challenges.
Features and Connectivity: For storage, 6x SATA 6Gb/s and 4x M.2 sockets capable at Gen 4 are what you get in the MSI MEG B550 Unify-X. With only a total of 8 USB ports, including 4x USB 2.0 and 4x USB 3.2 Gen 2, the rear I/O of the B550 Unify-X doesn’t amaze me much. You can also find a Wi-Fi module alongside a 2.5G LAN on the MEG B550.
Buy It If:
✅ You want to overclock: Even though the B550 Unify-X is a B550 motherboard, it still packs a robust 14+2 phase VRM which performed admirably in my overclocking tests with the Ryzen 9 5900X.
Don’t Buy It If:
❌ You want RGB lighting: MSI has gone with a stealthy all-black look with the Unify-X lineup, which means that there is no RGB lighting on this board.
What Makes It The Best B550 Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5900X?
At a relatively affordable price point, the MSI B550 Unify-X offers a fantastic 14+2 phase VRM design, and a superb feature set with excellent connectivity options, making it the best B550 motherboard for Ryzen 9 5900X.
| VRM Performance: 9/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 8/10 |
How We Tested & Picked The Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 5900X
When purchasing a motherboard, here are a few pointers to keep in mind.
- Chipset: The chipset makes your processor and motherboard compatible with each other, and when it comes to Ryzen CPUs, there are a number of options to choose from. You can always choose from different chipsets like X470, B550, and X570, it all depends on your budget and requirements.
- Form Factor: Motherboards exist in various sizes, with E-ATX being the largest, followed by ATX, Micro ATX, and mini-ITX. If you want a smaller setup, you should go with a micro ATX or mini ITX motherboard; otherwise, you’ll be stuck with a motherboard that won’t fit in your compact case.
- VRM: Your CPU receives power via VRMs (Voltage Regulator Modules). If you purchase a motherboard with a low-quality VRM, your CPU may be unable to perform to its full potential, especially during overclocking sessions. You should choose a motherboard with a better VRM rating and quality for prolonged reliability and performance.
- Connectivity: Always keep your needs in mind while selecting a motherboard. For example, if you often use more than a few USB devices, you might consider purchasing a motherboard with additional USB ports. These days, motherboards with more M.2 slots are a must for further storage possibilities, and versatile networking options are also crucial.
- Aesthetics: Finally, you may also make selections based on appearance. For example, if you like to keep your profile low and dark, you can always pick the MSI MEG UNIFY series. If not, there are plenty of alternative options available, ranging from white motherboards like the ASUS ROG Strix B550 to RGB-enabled motherboards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any motherboard with the AMD AM4 socket is compatible with the Ryzen 9 5900X. Motherboards with the AM4 socket come in various chipsets to choose from.
Any motherboard with the AMD AM4 socket inlcluding the B550, X570, A520 chipset are compatible with the Ryzen 9 5900X you can also use the B450 and X470chipsets with the Ryzen 9 5900X after a BIOS update.
The Ryzen 9 5900X is compatible with chipsets like the B550, X570, and A520. Moreover, the Ryzen 9 5900X can also be hooked with the X470 and B450 chipsets after a BIOS update.
We’ve tested more Ryzen 5000 series motherboards:
- Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 5950X
- Best Motherboards For Ryzen 7 5800X3D
- Best Motherboards For Ryzen 7 5800X
- Best Motherboards For Ryzen 5 5600X
Recent Updates
- December 18, 2023: Few text changes to improve readability. No products were changed.
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[Hardware Reviewer]
Awais Khan is a Tech Geek, conscientious, reliable, and hardworking individual who pays attention to detail with excellent time management skills. Alongside that, he is an expert in PC Hardware; dealing with Benchmarks, Analysis, and testing before sharing information with readers. Whenever free, Awais occasionally shares Gaming Videos on his YouTube Channel.
Get In Touch: awais@tech4gamers.com
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