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AMD’s latest flagship gaming CPU is here: The Ryzen 9 9950X! At 170W, it’s the only chip in the new lineup that hasn’t received a lower TDP rating than its predecessor, the 7950X. So, naturally, you’ll need a fairly capable motherboard to power this beast. That’s why we tested many AM5 motherboards to find the best picks.
So, these are the motherboards I would recommend pairing with the Ryzen 9 9950X:
Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 9950X
These are my selections:
- Best Overall: Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master
- Best Value: Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX
- Best Overclocking: MSI MEG X670E Ace Gaming
- Best White: ASUS ROG Strix X670E-A Gaming
- Best Mini-ITX: ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi
Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master
Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X
Chipset: AMD X670E | Memory: DDR5-8000+ (OC) | VRM: 16+2+2 | Video Outputs: HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps | RGB Lighting: Yes | Network: Wi-Fi 6E, Intel 2.5G LAN, Bluetooth 5.3 | Storage: 4x M.2 (2x PCIe 5.0), 6x SATA 6G | USB Ports: 12x Rear, 9x Front
Pros
- Beautiful design
- Powerful VRMs and cooling
- Memory support up to DDR5-8000
- 2x PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots
- 2x USB 3.2 20Gbps ports
- Fairly priced for what it offers
Cons
- Expensive
- No 10G LAN port
The Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master is a thing of beauty, with a mostly black design mixed in with grey and steel elements. We have the signature Aorus falcon lighting up the VRM heatsink, creating a stunning look. The bulky VRM coolers use fins and 12 W/mK pads, and this is one of the best VRM cooling solutions I’ve tested, keeping the 16+2+2 design under 50°C during my testing. Overclocking the 9950X was a smooth experience on this board.
The motherboard supports DDR5 speeds up to 8000 MT/s (OC), but we stuck with our 6400 MT/s and faced no issues. There’s room for 2x PCIe 5.0 SSDs and 2x GPUs (AMD Crossfire supported). There are 2x USB 3.2 20Gbps ports (one front, one rear) and 6x SATA III ports. All-in-all, an adequate set of features for most users, although it would’ve been nice to see a 10G LAN port instead of 2.5G, at this price point.
Read our reviewer, Nauman Siddique’s thoughts on this board:
The GIGABYTE X670E AORUS MASTER has more than what meets the eye. In its brilliance, this motherboard packs the features that one would need to drive their high-end needs in computing. We are impressed with every bit of it. It not only has top-notch performance but quite some style as well.
What Makes It The Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X?
The X670E Aorus Master was the best all-rounder we found in our collection of testing motherboards. Its price is down to $379, which is quite good because it offers almost everything you would find in a high-end motherboard. For instance, dual PCIe 5.0 M.2 ports, support for dual GPUs, and 2x USB 3.2 20Gbps ports, too. Not only that, it looks great and had our 9950X running like clockwork.
We had a handful of motherboards fitting into the “Best Overall” category, but no board ticked all the boxes for us quite like the X670E Aorus Master. Its looks, performance, and features are incredible.
– Usman Saleem
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Design: 9/10 |
Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX
Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X
Chipset: AMD B650 | Memory: DDR5-8000+ (OC) | VRM: 14+2+1 | Video Outputs: HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4 | RGB Lighting: No | Network: Wi-Fi 6E, Realtek 2.5G LAN, Bluetooth 5.3 | Storage: 3x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0), 4x SATA 6G | USB Ports: 12x Rear, 7x Front
Pros
- Minimalistic design
- Memory support up to DDR5-8000
- PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot
- USB 3.2 20Gbps present in internal header
- Useful “multi-key”
- Convenient EZ-latch design for M.2 and PCIe slots
Cons
- No debug LED panel
The B650 Aorus Elite AX from Gigabyte is another board with an almost all-black design, but with silver elements this time. Overall, it looks neat, but they could’ve toned it down with the AORUS branding. For VRMs, we have a 14+2+1 setup, and the heatsinks, with 7 W/mK thermal pads and a 6mm heat pipe, are there for the cooling. My testing showed that the VRMs are enough for 9950X, but there’s not much overclocking headroom.
Moving on, the motherboard sports a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, 2x PCIe 4.0 slots, plus 4x SATA III ports. RAM speeds of up to 8000 MT/s, which is what you’ll find in high-end boards, but we only have a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot for the GPU (as supported by the chipset). The number of USB ports is adequate and includes a USB 3.2 20Gbps header. Lastly, the motherboard supports WiFi 6E and has a 2.5G LAN port for networking.
Impressed with its value, here’s what Nauman Siddique said:
At the end of the day, the B650 AORUS ELITE AX is almost a balanced feature set provider motherboard that the user can get for their daily driver need. The game is strong with the storage department of this motherboard and USB Type-C Gen 2×2 port provisions as well, though don’t expect to find a PCIe Gen 5 X16 slot.
Well, first off, the price; at $199, the B650 Aorus Elite AX sits at the top of mid-range B650 boards, and that is represented in its features set. It looks good and includes a PCIe 5.0 M.2 port, USB 3.2 20Gbps header. DDR5 support is up to 8000 MT/s (max 192GB). Finally, its 14-phase VCore VRM design is not amazing, but more than enough for the Ryzen 9 9950X. Best Overclocking Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X Chipset: AMD X670E | Memory: DDR5-8000+ (OC) | VRM: 22+2+1 | Video Outputs: USB Type-C (supports DisplayPort 1.4) | RGB Lighting: Yes | Network: Wi-Fi 6E, Marvell 10G LAN, Bluetooth 5.3 | Storage: (Up to) 6x M.2 (Up to 3x PCIe 5.0), 6x SATA 6G | USB Ports: 11x Rear, 14x Front The MSI MEG X670 ACE showcases a premium aesthetic with a carbon-black theme, 3x RGB zones, and unique designs on the chipsets. It has an 8-layered PCB and relies on 2x 8-pin 12V connectors for power delivery to the CPU, which then passes through its massive 22-phase VRM design. This was more than enough for us to overclock the 9950X, while the VRMs kept under 55°C thanks to its excellently designed heatsinks. Moving on, the motherboard can house up to 256GB of DDR5-8000 memory. For storage, there are 6x SATA III ports and 4x M.2 slots (plus two more with the included add-in card). The MEG X670E ACE also supports multi-GPU setups. I was happy to see 3x USB 20 Gbps ports. Its audio setup is top-class, and it also has a 10G LAN port, which is a great set of features. While acknowledging its premium cost, here’s what I said after testing this beast: The MSI MEG X670E ACE stands out for its performance, comprehensive features, and premium build quality, making it a top choice for gamers and professionals. The MSI MEG X670E Ace is an absolute powerhouse and I recommend it to that needs a top-notch board for their 9950X, where budget is no issue. It has a premium aesthetic, and its high-end VRMs and cooling allow us to overclock our Ryzen chip without worries. Not only that, it has a 10G LAN port, multiple 20Gbps USB ports, a high-end audio setup, and its memory support is the best in its class. Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X Chipset: AMD X670E | Memory: DDR5-8000+ (OC) | VRM: 16+2+2 | Video Outputs: DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1 | RGB Lighting: Yes | Network: Wi-Fi 6E, Intel 2.5G LAN, Bluetooth 5.2 | Storage: 4x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0), 4x SATA 6G | USB Ports: 12x Rear, 7x Front The ROG STRIX X670E-A has a distinctive black-and-white theme, with an all-black PCB and “silver-white” heatsinks. There’s a big RGB zone atop the main VRM heatsink featuring the iconic AORUS logo, and it provides a good amount of illumination. These VRM heatsinks are tasked with cooling the 16+2+2 power phase setup, which proved plenty for the 9950X in our testing, and the temperatures were kept in check. Of course, we get the latest PCIe 5.0 tech, including 2x M.2 slots, plus 4x SATA III ports. DDR5 support (up to 8000 MT/s) is flagship class, and we can confirm that our 6400 MT/s kit ran just fine. For networking, the motherboard has a 2.5G LAN port and WiFi 6E. It was nice to see the inclusion of 2x USB 3.2 2×2 ports, and the audio setup on this board is quite good, too. The ROG Strix X670E-A is not only an eye candy with its beautiful black and white theme and onboard RGB, but its packed with a great amount of features. It is PCIe Gen 5-ready, has a 20 Gbps USB-C port and a decent audio setup. I liked its Dynamic OC switcher function that can switch between your manual settings and PBO, and its convenient Q-Latch design for the M.2 slots. Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X Chipset: AMD B650E | Memory: DDR5-6800+ (OC) | VRM: 10+2+1 | Video Outputs: DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1 | RGB Lighting: No | Network: Wi-Fi 6E, Killer 2.5G LAN, Bluetooth 5.3 | Storage: 2x M.2 (1x PCIe 5.0), 2x SATA 6G | USB Ports: 8x Rear, 5x Front As a mini-ITX board, the B650E PG-ITX doesn’t have much going for it regarding looks; it has a mostly black design, with hints of white, plus red stripes running across the VRM heatsink. The VRM heatsink itself has a brushed aluminum texture and connects to the M.2 heatsink through a heat pipe. It is tasked with cooling the 13-phase VRM setup, which was enough for us to run the 9950X with a mild overclock. It has 2x M.2 slots (1x PCIe 5.0), one full PCIe 5.0 x16 lane for the GPU, and two SATA III ports (which could fall short of some users’ needs). While the addition of an M.2 fan is thoughtful, it leaves us with only 2x fan headers. The board supports DDR5 speeds up to 6800 MT/s, which is good enough, but its dated audio codec may not please audiophiles. Lastly, we get a USB 3.2 20Gbps port and WiFi 6E. This is what Nauman Siddique said after testing the ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi: If you are looking for a motherboard in a small form factor (Mini-ITX) with a balanced feature set without compromising on main connectivity, including a Gen5-based PCIe slot and M.2 NVMe port in a good price range, ASRock has got you covered. Say hello to the B650E PG-ITX WIFI motherboard. It is a tiny beast featuring an AM5 platform with many features and efficient cooling for key components. It comes recommended by us. The B650E PG-ITX is small but packs a lot of heat for its size. For one, its VRM setup is more than adequate for the Ryzen 9 9950X, even if you want to mess around with Precision Boost or some mild manual overclocking. Moreover, its feature set should be enough for most users, with the inclusion of a PCIe 5.0 M.2 port, USB 3.2 20Gbps port, 2.5G LAN, WiFi 6E, and more. Some motherboards narrowly missed our list; here’s why. Here’s how our picks compare in some key specifications: My team and I have been trying and testing different motherboards to gain insights into their performances, features, and overall value. During our testing, we focused the most on these aspects: According to AMD’s senior Technical Marketing Manager, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D will remain the gaming king of its lineup, albeit by little margin. According to our tests, the best (and most stable) results were seen while testing the Ryzen 9 9950X with 6400 MT/s memory. No. AMD’s AM5 platform only supports DDR5 memory. Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋 How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔 [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.What Makes It The Best Value Motherboard For Ryzen 9 9950X?
Performance: 8/10
Value: 9/10
Features: 8.5/10
Design: 9/10
MSI MEG X670E ACE
Pros
Cons
What Makes It The Best Overclocking Motherboard For The Ryzen 9 9950X?
Performance: 9.5/10
Value: 8/10
Features: 9.5/10
Design: 9/10
ASUS ROG Strix X670E-A Gaming
Pros
Cons
What Makes It The Best White Motherboard For The Ryzen 9 9950X?
Performance: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Features: 9/10
Design: 9/10
ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi
Pros
Cons
What Makes It The Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For The Ryzen 9 9950X?
Performance: 8/10
Value: 8/10
Features: 8/10
Design: 8/10
The Narrow Misses
Specifications Comparison
Motherboard Model Total Power Phases Max Memory Speed (MT/s) Max Memory Capacity (GB) No. of M.2 slots No. of SATA III ports No. of USB ports (Front) No. of USB ports (Rear)
Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master 20 8000 256 3 6 9 12
Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX 17 8000 256 3 4 7 12
MSI MEG X670E ACE 25 8000 256 4 6 14 11
ASUS ROG Strix X670E-A Gaming 20 8000 192 4 4 7 12
ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi 13 6400
128 2 2 5 8
Important Terms About Motherboards
How I Rounded Up These Motherboards
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