AMD isn’t stopping giving bangers one after another, whether it’s the CPU or GPU. Now, after launching its RX 9070 series GPUs, AMD has launched a new X3D processor. It annihilates its competition and is the new king of CPUs in both gaming and productivity workloads, as well as on the efficiency side. This new processor, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, comes at an MSRP of $599, which is on the higher side.
So, for a premium CPU like the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, the motherboards need to be equally powerful and premium to fully support the CPU in performing optimally. This is where our team plays its part, as we test loads of motherboards and pick the very best for the target processor. Here are the motherboards that we found the best for the Ryzen 9 9950X3D.
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The below table shows a brief look at our motherboard recommendations for the Ryzen 9 9950X3D:
Motherboard
ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi
ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero
MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
MSI MPG X870E Edge Ti WiFi
ASRock Phantom Gaming B850i Lighting WiFi
Award
Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
Best Overclocking Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
What We Liked
Plenty of storage options, incredible 20+2+1-phases power delivery system, Impressive VRMs temperatures
Amazing VRM design, great performance, plenty USB ports, DIY friendly
Solid power delivery system, impressive VRM cooling, high-speed RAM support, EZ DIY mechanism, USB4 & WiFi7
Excellent aesthetics, great performance, a lot of USB ports, EZ debug & Digi Debug LEDs
Top notch build quality, monstrous VRM solution, Dynamic dashboard III, 60W PD charging, 7x M.2
Delivers impressive performance, thermistor support, overall looks, Gen5 PCIe slots
What We Disliked
PCIe3 gets disabled when M2_5 is occupied
Motherboard
ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi
Award
Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
What We Liked
Plenty of storage options, incredible 20+2+1-phases power delivery system, Impressive VRMs temperatures
What We Disliked
PCIe3 gets disabled when M2_5 is occupied
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero
Award
Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
What We Liked
Amazing VRM design, great performance, plenty USB ports, DIY friendly
Motherboard
MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
Award
Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
What We Liked
Solid power delivery system, impressive VRM cooling, high-speed RAM support, EZ DIY mechanism, USB4 & WiFi7
Motherboard
MSI MPG X870E Edge Ti WiFi
Award
Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
What We Liked
Excellent aesthetics, great performance, a lot of USB ports, EZ debug & Digi Debug LEDs
Award
Best Overclocking Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
What We Liked
Top notch build quality, monstrous VRM solution, Dynamic dashboard III, 60W PD charging, 7x M.2
Motherboard
ASRock Phantom Gaming B850i Lighting WiFi
Award
Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
What We Liked
Delivers impressive performance, thermistor support, overall looks, Gen5 PCIe slots
For a flagship processor, if you’re considering the flagship chipset, I highly suggest reading:
[toc]
Best Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
This is the list of all motherboards that are included in the article after our thorough testing of each:
- Best Overall: ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi
- Best High-End: ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero
- Best Value: MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
- Best White: MSI MPG X870E Edge Ti WiFi
- Best Overclocking: MSI MEG X870E GODLIKE
- Best Mini-ITX: ASRock Phantom Gaming B850i Lighting WiFi
ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi
Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi Pictures From Our Review
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
- Aesthetically pleasing design choice
- Plenty of storage options
- Incredible 20+2+1-phase power delivery system
- Impressive VRMs temperatures
- 2x ports of USB4
- Performs reasonably well
- PCIe3 gets disabled when M2_5 is occupied
Read Our ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi Motherboard Review
If you’re looking for something that’s an all-rounder, the ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi is the right choice. The motherboard has everything from performance to looks, all while being priced competitively. For example, the motherboard is equipped with a very solid power delivery system, it boasts 20+2+1 VRM phases that allow for great stock and overclocked performance with the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. Moreover, in our testing, we couldn’t make the VRMs exceed 53°C during the Cinebench 2024 benchmark run. This means that the motherboard is excellent on this side as well.
The motherboard is also loaded with I/O, including a total of 21 USB ports, WiFi 7 & Bluetooth 5.4. similarity, onboard PCIe selection is also impressive, as it comes with three PCIe x16 slots and a total of five M.2 slots (1x Gen5, 3x Gen4, 1x Gen3). Another standout feature of this board is the inclusion of thermistor support, which you don’t see quite often, making an overall irresistible package.
We surely liked the board, thanks to its great offerings, and here’s what we said after testing:
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.
✅Buy It If
You want stellar performance and connectivity options: If you’re looking for a motherboard that should offer impressive performance results and is also not short on the connectivity side of things, then the ASRock PG X870E Nova WiFi is a no-brainer, and it checks all the boxes.
❌Don't Buy It If
You want to use all M.2 & PCIe slots at once: If your use-case includes filling up all the PCIe and M.2 slots available on the board, then this board might not be for you. While it offers many slots, it does disable the PCIe3 slot when you’re also using the M2_5 slot.
What Makes It The Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D?
The ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi motherboard not only covers the performance side of things incredibly with its 21 VRM phases but also has a plethora of connectivity options in terms of I/O and onboard PCIe slots, coupled with great aesthetics. All these things make it the best overall motherboard for Ryzen 9 9950X3D.
| Performance: 9.5/10 |
Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 8.5/10 |
Design: 9.5/10 |
ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero
Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero Pictures From Our Review
Chipset: AMD X870E | Memory: DDR5-8600 (OC) | VRM: 18+2+2 | Video Outputs: 1x HDMI 2.1 port, 2x USB4 Type-C display output via DP 1.4a | RGB Lighting: Yes | Network: 1x Realtek 5G LAN, 1x Intel 2.5G LAN, AMD WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Storage: 5x M.2, 4x SATA | USB Ports: 10x Rear, 10x Front
- Stealthy design that looks great
- Up to 20 USB ports, including two USB4
- 5x M.2 slots
- Amazing VRM design
- Remarkable performance figures
- Lots of proprietary AI features
- RAM speed up to 8600 MT/s
Read Our ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero Review
Next up, let’s go on the high-end side of the motherboards. The ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero is the definite choice here. The board is equipped with a very robust power delivery system. You get 18+2+2 VRM phases, which can easily push the likes of Ryzen 9 9950X3D to its limits and also let you use memory kits rated at 8600 MT/s or similar. What’s more, during our review, we also discovered the enlarged heatsink with heatpipe to be functioning amazingly well. Meaning that they were keeping the VRMs under safe temperatures.
Moving over to the other features of the motherboard, it doesn’t disappoint. We liked the integration of the ASUS-exclusive AI software. The options range from AI overclocking, and AI cooling II, to AI Networking II. All that makes the overall setup process less difficult and also assists on the performance side. Similarly, we also appreciated the abundance of PCIe M.2 slots, including three Gen5 and two Gen4 slots. It’s highly useful in case you have to have lots of NVMe drives inside your computer. Before concluding, one thing I must add is that the lack of a 10G LAN at this $679 price point is a little disappointing.
This is how we summarized the Crosshair X870E Hero in our review:
The ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero is one of the most premium ($700) offerings for AMD’s most premium chipset. It offers a fresh, all-black design highlighted by the large Polymo Lighting II array, excellent VRMs, five M.2 slots, and 20 USB ports. Dual LAN ports are also on offer, but we would’ve preferred a singular 10G port.
✅Buy It If
You want terrific performance with convenience: If you’re looking for a motherboard that can offer incredible performance as well as convenience, then this is a great pick. Thanks to its robust VRM solution and integration of AI overclocking capabilities to delivers impressive performance without much hassle.
You want high-speed storage: The motherboard features a total of five PCIe x4 slots, three of which are Gen5 and two are Gen4. This makes it a notable option for those who need it.
❌Don't Buy It If
You don’t want such fancy features: If you’re fine with a motherboard that offers a fair selection of connectivity options and decent enough performance figures, if not the best, then you can choose something else.
What Makes It The Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D?
The motherboard is built for premium-tier PCs due to its potential to deliver remarkable performance. Also, because of the top-tier features like AI-related overclocking and networking, as well as storage slots and up to 20 USB ports. Above all, the appealing aesthetics and strong build quality also help make it the best high-end motherboard for Ryzen 9 9950X3D.
| Performance: 9.5/10 |
Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 9/10 |
Design: 9.5/10 |
MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi Pictures From Our Review
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: 12x Rear, 9x Front
- Solid power delivery system
- You get good connectivity options
- VRM cooling is also great
- RAM speed up to 8400 MT/s
- Offers USB4 & WiFi7
- Decent connectivity options
Read Our MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi Motherboard Review
Coming to the value side, I would suggest getting the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi. One of the primary reasons is the solid performance that it offers. Thanks to the decent setup of the power delivery system, which here consists of 14+2+1 VRM phases. Not only do they perform fine, but they can also withstand overclocking. To accommodate the extra heat, the motherboard also features an impressive VRM cooling solution. That never allowed the VRMs to cross 54°C during our review session – further enhancing its value factor.
What else I loved about the motherboard is its minimalistic design with an all-black color-scheme and no RGB. Similarly, the abundance of EZ DIY features, such as the EZ PCIe release button, EZ M.2 Clip (II), and EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II, makes it one of the most user-friendly boards in its category. Moreover, the motherboard also comes with 21 USB ports, including a mix of USB4, USB3, and USB2. So, if your use case requires a lot of drives or peripherals via USB, then you would be fine with this one.
After reviewing the motherboard thoroughly, here’s the conclusion we came up with:
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.
✅Buy It If
You’re into competitive gaming: If you’re into competitive gaming, then a smooth internet connection with the lowest possible ping is very crucial. With its built-in MSI LAN manager, the X870 Tomahawk ensures that you receive the lowest possible ping for a better gaming experience.
You would like a user-friendly experience: The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi comes with a lot of EZ DIY features baked into it that make sure you get the most convenient building experience. The features include EZ PCIe release, EZ M.2 Clip (II), EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II, and EZ Conn-Design.
❌Don't Buy It If
You want full bandwidth on all connectivity options: There’s a small caveat, which is the shared bandwidth between the Gen5 M2_2 slot and the USB4 port, meaning if you use both simultaneously, they won’t work at their full potential.
What Makes It The Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D?
The MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi has so much to offer, such as impressive performance, great thermals, a plethora of I/O, and lots of EZ DIY options. All this while currently costing $279 seems like a good deal. Now, considering everything it offers, the motherboard is entitled to be called the best value motherboard for Ryzen 9 9950X3D.
| Performance: 8.5/10 |
Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 9/10 |
Design: 8/10 |
MSI MPG X870E Edge Ti WiFi
Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
MSI MPG X870E Edge Ti WiFi Pictures From Our Review
Chipset: AMD X870E | 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: Yes | Network: WiFi 7, Realtek 5G LAN, Bluetooth 5.4 | Storage: 4x M.2, 4x SATA III | USB Ports: 12x Rear, 9x Front
- Appealing white aesthetics
- EZ DIY features for convenience
- Big VRM heatsink cooling solution
- 14+2+1 VRM phases
- 21 USB ports
- Has EZ Debug & Digi-Debug LEDs
- Two PCIe Gen5 M.2 slots
- 27W PD charging through Type-C at front
Read Our MSI MPG X870E Edge Ti WiFi Motherboard Review
For those who are looking to build a white-themed PC but also don’t want to compromise on performance and features. The MSI MPG X870E Edge Ti WiFi is the right choice, as this motherboard is all about appealing aesthetics and decent performance above all. However, that’s not the only thing that this board offers. Firstly, let’s discuss its specs, which are nothing short of impressive. We liked the 14+2+1 VRM phase design and also the RAM speed support of 8400 MT/s, which is similar to the Tomahawk variant. Moreover, the enlarged heatsink on this motherboard, which according to our testing, works excellently as they kept the VRM temps under 55°C.
Other than its specs and performance, the motherboard also excels in terms of other features. The board comes with 27W PD charging support via the front USB-C. Similarly, you get a total of 12 USB ports on the rear and 9 on the front, including two USB4. Not only that, the MSI’s EZ DIY mechanism is also in place here, the same as the X870 Tomahawk. Lastly, the motherboard is also equipped with two PCIe Gen5 and two Gen4 M.2 slots. So, taking everything into account, the motherboard stands strong with the Ryzen 9 9950X3D.
These were our remarks after reviewing this impressive white motherboard:
The MSI MPG X870E Edge Ti WiFi is a great choice for an X870E chipset that costs you $329.99. This motherboard can also be called the beauty and the beast because of its appealing white aesthetics and powerful VRMs that ensure great performance output. The board also comes packed with an EZ-DIY mechanism all over it. Moreover, the VRMs stay very cool even under intense load, which impressed us quite well.
✅Buy It If
You want faster M.2 storage: If you looking for a motherboard that comes with the latest M.2 standard, then this board is the right choice as it features two PCIe Gen5 and two Gen4 M.2 slots.
You’re building a white-only PC: The motherboard features beautiful white aesthetics that make it stand out from the rest and compliment the whole white-theme PC build nicely. So, if you’re building one, this board is the one to pick.
❌Don't Buy It If
You’re not into white aesthetics: The only time where we can’t recommend this motherboard is if you’re not into white-themed PCs, and it would look odd with all-black PCs.
What Makes It The Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D?
The white aesthetics of the MSI MPG X870E Edge Ti WiFi are surely a sight to see, especially with the addition of RGB over the I/O. The motherboard is both a beauty and a beast due to its strong performance figures, which is why this is the best white motherboard for Ryzen 9 9950X3D.
| Performance: 8.5/10 |
Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 9.5/10 |
Design: 9.5/10 |
MSI MEG X870E GODLIKE
Best Overclocking Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
MSI MEG X870E GODLIKE Pictures From Our Review
Chipset: AMD X870E | Memory: DDR5 9000+ (OC) | VRM: 24+2+1 | Video Outputs: 2x Type-C DisplayPort, USB4 Port, DisplayPort 1.4 | RGB Lighting: Yes | Network: WiFi 7, 1x Realtek 5G LAN, 1x Marvell 10G LAN, Bluetooth 5.4 | Storage: 7x M.2, 4x SATA III | USB Ports: 15x Rear, 10x Front
- Top-notch build quality
- 60W PD charging support
- 24+2+1 phases VRMs
- Terrific performance
- Excellent VRM cooling
- EZ DIY features + EZ Control Hub
- 7x M.2 slots
- WiFi7 & 10G LAN
Read Our MSI MEG X870E GODLIKE Motherboard Review
In case you’re looking to go extreme mode and want something that can withstand overwhelming overclocking situations. Then, we suggest opting for the MSI MEG X870E GODLIKE. The motherboard is an absolute beast in all departments. For example, the board features an extremely powerful power delivery solution with 24+2+1 phases VRMs. This setup ensures you get top-notch performance right out of the box. Additionally, it also enables you to perform extreme-level overclocking with CPUs of its caliber, such as the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. Moreover, the VRM cooling solution is also equally terrific on this motherboard, as in our testing, the temps were well under the 50°C mark.
What’s more, you get a number of extra features, like the Dynamic Dashboard III. This allows you to monitor hardware information in real-time. Similarly, we liked the option of installing up to 7x M.2 drives via its onboard slots external expansion card. The board goes all in on the USB port selection as well, as we get 15 USB ports on the rear and 10 on the front, two of which are the USB 40Gb/s Type-C ports. Despite everything looking great and top-notch, the $1099 price tag seems a bit too much.
Here, you can read about our thoughts on the board after reviewing it:
The MSI MEG X870E GODLIKE is the most expensive X870 chipset motherboard, costing $1099. For this, you get a top-notch VRM setup and impressive cooling, a premium-looking design, high-end build quality (courtesy of a 10-layered PCB), and great features. While we were thoroughly impressed by the board in all departments, we still think the price tag is too high.
✅Buy It If
You want ultimate convenience: If you’re looking for a motherboard that provides the best convenience, this is the right board, as it’s equipped with EZ PCIe release, EZ magnetic M.2 Shield Frozr II, EZ conn-design, EZ antenna, EZ M.2 clip II, EZ button, and EZ control hub.
You want the best overclocking performance: If you’re into enthusiast-level overclocking, then this board features a 24+2+1 phases VRM design with a solid cooling solution that unlocks insane overclocking potential.
❌Don't Buy It If
You don’t want to overspend: While everything is impressive about this motherboard, the only downside is the high price, so if you’re looking for a moderately priced board, then skip this one.
What Makes It The Best Overclocking Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D?
The MSI MEG X870E GODLIKE is one of the most premium motherboards you can buy for a Ryzen CPU. The board offers exceptional overclocking potential with its 24+2+1 VRM design that can easily push any processor to its limits. Besides this, other unique features like the Dynamic Dashboard III and a variety of USB ports and NVMe slots make it the best overclocking motherboard for Ryzen 9 9950X3D.
| Performance: 10/10 |
Value: 7.5/10 |
| Features: 10/10 |
Design: 9.5/10 |
ASRock Phantom Gaming B850i Lighting WiFi
Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D
ASRock Phantom Gaming B850i Lighting WiFi Pictures From Our Review
Chipset: AMD B850 | Memory: DDR5 8200+ (OC) | VRM: 10+1+1 | Video Outputs: 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C DisplayPort | RGB Lighting: No | Network: WiFi 6E, 1x Realtek 2.5G LAN, Bluetooth 5.2 | Storage: 2x M.2, 2x SATA III | USB Ports: 8x Rear, 5x Front
- Good memory speed of up to 8200 MT/s
- Gen5 M.2 slot
- Thermistor support
- Gen5 x16 slot
- Decent design
- Good 10+1+1 VRM solution
- WiFi6E & BT 5.2
- No USB4 & 5G LAN
- VRM cooling isn’t the best
Read Our ASRock Phantom Gaming B850i Lighting WiFi Motherboard Review
In the last, let’s cover a different use-case scenario, which is the mini-ITX builds. If you’re looking to build one, the ASRock PG B850i Lighting WiFi checks all the boxes without any trouble. For starters, the board sports a fairly decent 10+1+1 phase VRM design, which is reasonable for an ITX board like this and a CPU like the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. Similarly, it also retains support for high-speed memory, as you can run memory modules at 8200 MT/s with OC. Since the size of the board is so compact, the VRM cooling system isn’t great, but it gets the job done. According to our testing, the VRMs were hovering around 68°C during the 30-minute Cinebench 2024 test run.
I also liked that the motherboard also managed to surprise us with its PCIe slots of the latest standard. This translates to the inclusion of Gen5 slots for both the graphics card and the NVMe drive, however, the second NVMe slot is PCIe Gen4 only. Another unique thing about this board is that it also comes with thermistor support like its big brother, the X870E Nova WiFi. Anyhow, the rest of the stuff like LAN, WiFi, and USB ports are quite standard and nothing extraordinary like having WiFi7 or USB4. Though it makes sense, considering the $209 price tag of the motherboard.
This is all we can say about this motherboard after personally testing it:
The ASRock PG B850i Lightning WiFi is a mini-ITX motherboard that can cost you $209.99. The motherboard offers many features, and one of its highlights is its support for a thermistor. Which lets you monitor components’ temperatures from an external POV. Furthermore, the neat aesthetics, compact size, and high-speed memory support have impressed us equally.
✅Buy It If
You’re building a mini-ITX build: The ASRock PG b850i Lighting WiFi makes perfect sense if you’re considering building a mini-ITX build that offers excellent performance without taking too much space on your table.
You want decent performance: The ASRock PG B850i Lighting WiFi, while being so tiny, packs a decent punch of performance as it performed very similarly to the competition in our review.
❌Don't Buy It If
Your build won’t have decent airflow: Skip the board if you’re going with a chassis that has bad airflow, as the VRMs on this board aren’t the coldest and can run a bit hot, though it is not too concerning.
What Makes It The Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X3D?
The ASRock PG B850i Lighting WiFi comes in at a price of $209 and boasts a decent VRM solution with support for high-speed memory as well. Not only that, but the board also features two high-speed M.2 slots as well as an external temperature monitoring functionality via the thermistor cable. These impressive features, coupled with the compact design, dub the board the best mini-ITX motherboard for Ryzen 9 9950X3D.
| Performance: 8.5/10 |
Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 8.5/10 |
Design: 8/10 |
Specification Comparison
We have also bundled another chart that highlights some of the most crucial features and specs of the motherboards. This will help you understand which motherboard to buy more easily that fits your use case.
| 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) |
| ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi | 23 | 8200 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 12 |
| ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero | 22 | 8200 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 10 |
| MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi | 16 | 8400 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 11 |
| MSI MPG X870E Edge Ti WiFi | 17 | 8400 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 12 |
| MSI MEG X870E GODLIKE | 27 | 8400 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 15 |
| ASRock Phantom Gaming B850i Lighting WiFi | 12 | 8200 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
Key Motherboard Terms
- CPU Socket: The CPU socket is where you install your CPU. It’s located parallel to the RAM slots and keeps changing over the years with new generations of CPUs.
- DIMM Slots: These are found parallel to the CPU socket and usually come in a quantity of 4 slots on the ATX size motherboards. And 2 slots are mostly found on mini-ITX or m-ATX boards. Since they are very near to the CPU socket, the processor can access the data stored in RAM right away.
- Form Factor: Motherboards also come in various form factors like PC chassis, and they are also termed exactly the same. This helps in the compatibility of both, for instance, the motherboards also come in mini-ITX, m-ATX, ATX, and E-ATX form factors.
- VRM: VRM or Voltage Regulatory Modules are the small visible chips around the CPU socket. They are responsible for managing the current coming from the PSU and giving stable and correct voltage to the components attached to the motherboard. CPU overclock also depends on this, meaning the better the VRM phases, the greater the OC.
- PCIe Slots: These are the long and short slots on the motherboard that are reserved for graphics cards, NVMe drives, external sound cards, and network cards. The x16 slots are reserved for the primary GPU, while the x1 and x4 slots are for the rest.
- Chipset: Chipset is a kind of onboard processor that stays in touch with all the components as well as peripherals and makes sure that errors or crashes stay out of sight for a smooth user experience.
How We Tested These Motherboards
There are some notable factors that play a big role in determining the worth of a motherboard. Also, to determine to which category the board belongs, we mainly look for a power delivery system, its bang-for-the-buck factor, and features that add incentive to the overall package. Here’s what exactly we look at in the aforementioned factors:
- Features: We do not overlook the things that help make the motherboard stand out from the rest. Which are its features that it offers over the others. The most crucial features include stuff like AI-based LAN management, troubleshooting LEDs, PD charging ports, onboard power buttons, and thermistor support. While things like EZ DIY features are quite common now.
- Power Delivery: What truly matters on a motherboard is its VRM phases, like how good of a power delivery solution it brings with it. Mainly because the stable and smooth operation of the PC depends on the optimal power supply to each component. A weaker power delivery system can result in lower PC performance and can also fry up components in case of a power surge. This is why we only picked the motherboards that have solid VRM solutions.
- Value for Money: We also took care of the value for money factor so that your money doesn’t go wasted on motherboards that offer so little while costing a fortune. We carefully handpicked the options for you that have great performance and features for the right price in their price brackets.
FAQs
Is a BIOS update mandatory for X870 boards to run Ryzen 9 9950X3D?
No, the X870 motherboards, including the ones that we have mentioned above, do not need any kind of BIOS update. They can run the Ryzen 9 9950X3D right out of the box.
Can I use the Ryzen 9 9950X3D with a B850 motherboard?
Yes, you can use the Ryzen 9 9950X3D with a B850 motherboard. However, it’s better to stick with X870 chipset-based motherboards for maximum performance freedom. I can only recommend B850 if you’re going for a mini-ITX PC build with the Ryzen 9 9950X3D.
Is the Ryzen 9 9950X3D the new king of CPUs?
Yes, the gaming performance of the X3D CPUs was great right from the start. And now, with this processor, the gap between productivity workloads is also eliminated, which makes it the best CPU you can buy for both situations.
