With the release of Zen 4 CPUs, many reviewers have concluded that the most sensible buy is the Ryzen 9 7950X. After all, if you’re getting expensive X670 motherboards and DDR5 memory anyway, why not go for the productivity champion?
This makes the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X a mystery in the current tech market. It is supposedly a mid-range product, and yet the entire system cost pulls its viability down completely. You’re usually better off with the Ryzen 7 5800X3D if you want gaming performance.
But now, with a B650 motherboard on the way, we hope that the Ryzen 5 7600X will finally become a sensible current-gen mid-range motherboard choice. An affordable jumping-off point to AM5 BIOS updates that would eventually support multiple generations. Just like the venerable AM4 platform before it.
This guide looks at the best B650 motherboards and goes into detail about each, including specifications and pricing. Find the best motherboard options with the best performance below.
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What You Need for a Ryzen 5 7600X Motherboard
Before we get started, here’s an overview of what you need for a Ryzen 5 7600X motherboard:
- Balanced price for what it offers – As the B650 motherboard still tends to be on the pricier side, this can be a challenging criterion. But, as a baseline pointer, we’ll stay away from models that teeter on the verge of having X670-like prices. Unfortunately, great features and the ability to handle heavy workloads do increase the price.
- At least two PCIe 4.0 M.2 ports connected to the CPU – pretty self-explanatory. This provides an additional (albeit not practically tangible) advantage when it comes to data transfer operations. Do take note though, that some B650 motherboards might have initial BIOS issues when using a boot NVMe drive on CPU-connected M.2 slots.
- Good VRM quality and heatsink – keeping the target CPU operating optimally without any bottlenecking/throttling issues is always the first objective.
- Generous back I/O ports – we need as many rear connections as possible. Additional priority will be given to more diverse types of connectors. But that doesn’t mean that the entire list will be filled by Gigabyte motherboards!
- Universal aesthetics and component design – also known as the “boring” motherboards, depending on the user. But hey, at least it can fit anywhere and everywhere.
- Has internal WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2+ – This might seem unfair, but the price ranges of B650 motherboards already make the additional cost of a WiFi version pretty much irrelevant.
- Upper default DDR5 memory support is more like a baseline requirement for each entry. This could determine how easier it would be to add approved QVL lists for future DDR5 modules of later AM5 CPU generations.
- Easier PCIe slot latch adjustment feature – with cards like the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 taking a giant chunk of space inside the PC, we have to make sure there’s an easy way to remove them no matter the configuration.
- Preferably with an integrated diagnostic feature – not strictly required, but can be very convenient in providing an immediate analysis of the status of the motherboard for the non-tech-savvy.
- BIOS Flashback – though BIOS flashback is now a standard feature for AM5 motherboards, it is still up to the board manufacturers whether they want to implement it on a specific model or not. Better to double-check just in case.
- No ITX entries – we’ll skip ITX motherboards for this list. Sorry SFF fans.
B650 vs B650E Motherboards
Unless you find a really good promo deal for a B650E, skip them. The main benefit of B650E is additional data bandwidth, particularly with the implementation of PCIe 5.0 connectivity for the motherboard’s main x16 expansion slot.
This means that unless you have an actual professional use case for a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot right now, then B650E motherboards will not provide any tangible, real-world benefits for your system for their exorbitant costs.
The argument even goes for PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots, which some B650 models will not have. First, SATA SSDs‘ speeds remain fairly good enough for standard loading times. And second, PCIe 4.0 drives, even the newer entry-level ones like the Crucial P3 Plus or Kingston NV2, are still very fast and reliable enough that they could still make effective use of DirectStorage capabilities in the near future.
So, unless you get a good B650E deal, stick to B650 to get the best price-to-performance value for your mid-range AMD Ryzen 5 7600X system.
Things to Note When Building Your First AM5 System
- Socket is now LGA – Ryzen 7000 CPUs have finally moved away from PGA. Now, while bent pins on the CPU is no longer a concern, you still have to be very careful handling the motherboard socket. As we’ve seen with Intel, a lot of funky things happen when some of the pins are out of place (instead of just outright not booting).
- BIOS update – there will be a few select motherboards that will have a very basic BIOS that will not allow Ryzen 7000 CPUs to boot. Strange, we know, since it’s the first generation and it should be the default compatible processor. But if you ever find yourself with a system not booting with all other potential issues considered, try using the BIOS flashback feature to get a more updated version.
- RAM training – when booting the PC for the first time, some AM5 motherboards will take quite a while before booting. Don’t fret immediately when this happens. Try waiting for at least a minute, or five minutes max. If the motherboard keeps turning on and off or constantly changing status indicators, it might just mean that the motherboard is still trying to auto-configure a stable timing/frequency setting for the RAM.
- RAM rank and module count – not exactly AM5 exclusive, but dual rank modules generally perform better in exchange for being harder to configure with higher settings. For the highest frequencies possible, use one single-rank module per channel (two RAM max, 1DPC 1R). Using two dual-rank modules per channel (four RAM max, 2DPC 2R) will usually yield the lowest stable frequency numbers.
- Triple-check if the cooler is AM5 ready – AMD has confirmed that AM5 will have the same dimensions as AM4, and therefore your old coolers should fit. However, the actual fitting into the sockets and the surrounding components might be different for specific products. One example is the Noctua NH-D15, of which older versions might not have the newer diagonally slotted AM4 bracket that could be reused for AM5.
Best ATX B650 Motherboards for Ryzen 5 7600X
Here’s our list of the best ATX B650 motherboards for Ryzen 57600X:
- Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX
- Asus Prime B650-PLUS
- MSI PRO B650-P WIFI
- ASRock B650 Pro RS
- ASRock B650E Steel Legend
Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX
| Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Power Phases | 12+4+1 |
| CPU Power | 8-pin + 4-pin |
| Expansion Slots | CPU: PCIe 4.0 x16 (1) / Chipset: PCIe 3.0 x16 (2) |
| M.2 Connectors | CPU: PCIe 5.0 x4 (1), PCIe 4.0 x4 (1) / Chipset: PCIe 4.0 x4 (1) |
| SATA Ports | x4 SATA 6Gbps |
| Rear I/O | Q-Flash, SMA (x2), DP (x1), HDMI (x1), RJ-45 (x1), audio (x3), USB 2.0 (x4) USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (x1), USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 (x2), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (x5) |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2/5.3, 2.5GbE LAN |
| BIOS Flashback | Yes |
| Retail Price Bracket | Starts at $230 |
Gigabyte’s long-standing tradition of providing maxed-out ports and connectivity options continues with its B650 Aorus lineup. Though, this particular motherboard is the most well-rounded in terms of price, performance, and features out of all of them.
CPU performance-wise, you shouldn’t have any trouble running even an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, with its ample power delivery and CPU power connections. It’s also designed with its well-known gunmetal plus matte black finish, laced with a bit of that signature dark orange Aorus flair. Most convenient, perhaps, is its EZ-latch feature for both x16 and x4 PCIe slots, which is something that is now becoming the standard for all motherboards nowadays.
Asus Prime B650-PLUS
| Asus Prime B650-PLUS Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Power Phases | 8 |
| CPU Power | 8-pin |
| Expansion Slots | CPU: PCIe 4.0 x16 (1), Chipset: PCIe 4.0 x16 (1), PCIe 4.0 x1 (1) |
| M.2 Connectors | CPU: PCIe 5.0 x4 (1), PCIe 4.0 x4 (1) |
| SATA Ports | x4 SATA 6Gbps |
| Rear I/O | BIOS, S/PDIF, DP (x1), HDMI (x1), RJ-45 (x1), audio (x5), USB 2.0 (x2) USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (x1), USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 (x3), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (x2) |
| Connectivity | 2.5Gb LAN, vertical M.2 slot for WiFi card |
| BIOS Flashback | Yes |
| Retail Price Bracket | Starts at $200 |
If you need to crunch your budget lower and you really want an ATX build, the next best option in terms of price is the Prime B650-PLUS. Not exactly the USB port monster other competitors are, but it still has all the necessary features to run an AMD Ryzen 5 7600X system reliably and stably.
It has 8 power phases supported by Digi+ VRM control, which is cooled by a substantially-sized heatsink. Prime series motherboards aren’t exactly the prettiest of the bunch, but with their simple layout and silver accents for all its heatsinks mains, it’s still universally compatible with any PC build.
MSI PRO B650-P WIFI
| MSI PRO B650-P WIFI Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Power Phases | 12+2+1 |
| CPU Power | 8-pin + 8-pin |
| Expansion Slots | CPU: PCIe 4.0 x16 (1), Chipset: PCIe 4.0 x1 (1), PCIe 3.0 x1 (2) |
| M.2 Connectors | CPU: PCIe 4.0 x4 (1), PCIe 4.0 x4 (1) |
| SATA Ports | x6 SATA 6Gbps |
| Rear I/O | BIOS, DP (x1), HDMI (x1), RJ-45 (x1), audio (x5) USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 (x1), USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 (x3), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (x4) |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, 2.5Gb LAN |
| BIOS Flashback | Yes |
| Retail Price Bracket | Starts at $220 |
MSI PRO motherboards, at least those with VRM heatsinks, are generally hailed as one of the best barebones models if you just want a motherboard that can run whatever CPU you want with it. This one is not really in the “budget” category anymore, but it is still priced well enough to consider pairing an AMD Ryzen 5 7600X with.
One direct “drawback” of this motherboard is its lack of PCIe 5.0 compatibility. This means that you won’t be able to use the latest PCIe 5.0 drives with 10,000+ MB/s sequential data transfer speeds. But hey, top-of-the-line PCIe 4.0 drives and their 7,000+ MB/s sequential speeds are still far more than enough for everyday use.
ASRock B650 Pro RS
| ASRock B650 Pro RS Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Power Phases | 14+2+1 |
| CPU Power | 8-pin + 4-pin |
| Expansion Slots | CPU: PCIe 4.0 x16 (1), PCIe 4.0 x1 (1) / Chipset: PCIe 3.0 x16 (1) |
| M.2 Connectors | CPU: PCIe 5.0 x4 (1) / Chipset: PCIe 4.0 x4 (1), PCIe 3.0 x4 (1), WiFi (1) |
| SATA Ports | x4 SATA 6Gbps |
| Rear I/O | BIOS, antenna, DP (x1), HDMI (x1), RJ-45 (x1), audio (x3), USB 2.0 (x6) USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 (x1), USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 (x1), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (x2) |
| Connectivity | 2.5Gb LAN, internal M.2 slot for WiFi card |
| BIOS Flashback | Yes |
| Retail Price Bracket | Starts at $220 |
ASRock’s mid-range lineup is stronger than ever as AM5 arrives. However, we can really only recommend the B650 Pro RS for ATX builds right now since it also suffers from the same platform price hike as the rest. Thankfully it can provide more than enough juice for the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, and can function as a 1-to-1 alternative for the Aorus Elite AX.
Build-wise it’s even a better step up from the previous generation, with aesthetics that almost match the Steel Legend variants. In fact, apart from the glittery visuals of its whiter, shinier counterpart, there’s probably no reason to spend $50 more for what seems to be almost the exact same offer.
ASRock B650E Steel Legend
| ASRock B650E Steel Legend Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Power Phases | 16+2+1 |
| CPU Power | 8-pin + 8-pin |
| Expansion Slots | CPU: PCIe 5.0 x16 (1), PCIe 3.0 x16 (1) / Chipset: PCIe 4.0 x1 (1) |
| M.2 Connectors | CPU: PCIe 5.0 x4 (1) / Chipset: PCIe 4.0 x4 (1), PCIe 3.0 x4 (1), WiFi |
| SATA Ports | x4 SATA 6Gbps |
| Rear I/O | BIOS, antenna, DP (x1), HDMI (x1), RJ-45 (x1), audio (x3), USB 2.0 (x6) USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (x1), USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 (x1), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (x2) |
| Connectivity | 2.5Gb LAN, internal M.2 slot for WiFi card |
| BIOS Flashback | Yes |
| Retail Price Bracket | Starts at $270 |
Price differences aside, if you’re jumping to a Steel Legend build anyway, why not ramp it all up to B650E? Sure, we warned you earlier of how there is very little difference between B650 and B650E outside professional work. But if you do have a specific use case for a B650E, this is the one and only sensible option in terms of price at the moment. This is the high end motherboard on our list.
The reason is very simple: all of B650E’s premium data bandwidth (futureproofing?) features are offered at a price point that is similar to a high-end B650 board, without encroaching the territory of X670 boards. Plus, as we have already mentioned, the Steel Legend definitely has premium aesthetics to boot. Not to mention a powerful array of VRMs that will satisfy even a Ryzen 9 7950X.
Best Micro-ATX B650 Motherboards for Ryzen 5 7600X
Here’s our list of the best Micro-ATX B650 Motherboards for Ryzen 5 7600X
- Gigabyte B650M Aorus Elite AX
- Gigabyte B650M DS3H
- Asus Prime B650M-A AX
- MSI PRO B650M-A WIFI
- ASRock B650M PG Riptide
Gigabyte B650M Aorus Elite AX
| Gigabyte B650M Aorus Elite AX Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Power Phases | 12+2+1 |
| CPU Power | 8-pin |
| Expansion Slots | CPU: PCIe 4.0 x16 (1) / Chipset: PCIe 4.0 x16 (1) |
| M.2 Connectors | CPU: PCIe 5.0 x4 (1) / Chipset: PCIe 4.0 x4 (1) |
| SATA Ports | x4 SATA 6Gbps |
| Rear I/O | Q-Flash, S/PDIF, SMA (x2), DP (x1), HDMI (x1), RJ-45 (x1), audio (x2), USB 2.0 (x4) USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (x1), USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 (x2), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (x5) |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2/5.3, 2.5GbE LAN |
| BIOS Flashback | Yes |
| Retail Price Bracket | Starts at $200 |
Basically just the M-ATX version of ATX Aorus Elite AX as far as running a Ryzen 5 7600X goes. This one can be quite more of a sensible investment due to the considerably lower cost. But overall, they’re the same. You lose out on PCI connectivity due to the smaller size, but will not be an issue if you won’t use the lower slots anyway.
In fact, we probably award this the most well-rounded motherboard for the Ryzen 5 7600X. Premium enough that it has all the necessary connectivity features and VRM performance requirements, while still being on the more balanced side in terms of the overall price.
Gigabyte B650M DS3H
| Gigabyte B650M DS3H Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Power Phases | 6+2+1 |
| CPU Power | 8-pin |
| Expansion Slots | CPU: PCIe 4.0 x16 (1) / Chipset: PCIe 3.0 x16 (1) |
| M.2 Connectors | CPU: PCIe 4.0 x4 (1) |
| SATA Ports | x4 SATA 6Gbps |
| Rear I/O | Q-Flash, PS/2, DP (x1), HDMI (x1), RJ-45 (x1), audio (x3), USB 2.0 (x4) USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (x1), USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 (x1), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (x2) |
| Connectivity | 2.5GbE LAN |
| BIOS Flashback | Yes |
| Retail Price Bracket | Starts at $160 |
The DS3H series has truly come a long way since its earlier iterations. Whereas it could just barely run mid-tier CPUs in stock settings, newer versions like this B650 can actually provide a decent PBO overhead that will not significantly hamper your Ryzen 5 7600X.
Aesthetically, it is so far one of the most improved DS3H variants so far. It went for the matte black + gray look, with ample size and heft to its heatsinks. All of that, for a very nice introductory price that would definitely fit the bill for a budget Ryzen 7000 system… relatively speaking, of course.
Asus Prime B650M-A AX
| Asus Prime B650M-A AX Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Power Phases | 8 |
| CPU Power | 8-pin |
| Expansion Slots | CPU: PCIe 4.0 x16 (2) / Chipset: PCIe 4.0 x16 (2) |
| M.2 Connectors | CPU: PCIe 5.0 x4 (1), PCIe 4.0 x4 (1) |
| SATA Ports | x8 SATA 6Gbps |
| Rear I/O | BIOS, antenna, PS/2, DP (x1), HDMI (x1), VGA (x1) RJ-45 (x1), audio (x3), USB 2.0 (x4), USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 (x2), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (x2) |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, 2.5Gb LAN |
| BIOS Flashback | Yes |
| Retail Price Bracket | Starts at $200 |
In the unfortunate event that both the B650M Aorus Elite and PRO B650M-A are not available, don’t worry. The Prime B650M-A AX is still a competitive option to consider. It may look quite last-generation aesthetically. But if simply running the Ryzen 5 7600X at its stock PBO performance, then this should be quite good enough.
That being said, do take note that like some ASRock boards, some Asus B650 motherboards require a preliminary BIOS update via its Flashback option. There are times that the Ryzen 7000 CPUs paired with them won’t work out of the box. (check for RAM training first, then BIOS compatibility)
MSI PRO B650M-A WIFI
| MSI PRO B650M-A WIFI Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Power Phases | 8+2+1 |
| CPU Power | 8-pin + 8-pin |
| Expansion Slots | CPU: PCIe 4.0 x16 (1) / Chipset: PCIe 4.0 x16 (1) |
| M.2 Connectors | CPU: PCIe 5.0 x4 (1) / Chipset: PCIe 4.0 x4 (1) |
| SATA Ports | x4 SATA 6Gbps |
| Rear I/O | Q-Flash, S/PDIF, SMA (x2), DP (x1), HDMI (x1), RJ-45 (x1), audio (x2), USB 2.0 (x4) USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (x1), USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 (x2), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (x5) |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2/5.3, 2.5GbE LAN |
| BIOS Flashback | Yes |
| Retail Price Bracket | Starts at $200 |
When powering CPUs in the standard 130+ watts range, the PRO B650M-A becomes the better default choice over its more expensive brethren. The difference in performance, features, and even aesthetics is almost negligible. Like, look at the VRM heatsink design. You might even mistake the model for a MAG Mortar variant if not specific for its signature brushed aluminum accents.
Of course, the downside of MSI’s PRO A series motherboards have always been its barebones rear panel port options. Another one, albeit quite negligible at this point in time, is the lack of PCIe 5.0 connectivity like the PRO B650-P.
ASRock B650M PG Riptide
| ASRock B650M PG Riptide Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Power Phases | 12+2+1 |
| CPU Power | 8-pin + 4+pin |
| Expansion Slots | CPU: PCIe 4.0 x16 (2) / Chipset: PCIe 3.0 x1 (2) |
| M.2 Connectors | CPU: PCIe 5.0 x4 (1) / Chipset: PCIe 4.0 x4 (x1) |
| SATA Ports | x4 SATA 6Gbps |
| Rear I/O | BIOS, DP (x1), HDMI (x1), RJ-45 (x1), audio (x3), USB 2.0 (x4) USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (x1), USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 (x1), USB 3.2 Gen 1 (x2) |
| Connectivity | 2.5Gb LAN |
| BIOS Flashback | Yes |
| Retail Price Bracket | Starts at $150 |
Another notable entry for the best motherboards is ASRock’s venerable PG Riptide series, this time splashing to AM5 with more than enough power delivery capabilities for the price of a last-generation model. With a 12+2+1 power phase configuration, you can even safely upgrade to a 3D V-Cache Ryzen 7000 CPU in the near future. If not for the better QoL features of Gigabyte boards, this entry could have brute-forced its way to our top choice by sheer package value alone
The design is changed quite a bit from the original Phantom Gaming variants. Gone are the red accents, and in their place are wavy lines and etches, coupled with ambient RGB underneath its heatsinks. Port selection is also quite good, at least when compared to MSI’s similar-tier offerings.
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- The best SSDs in 2023
- What Does The Average Gaming PC Build Cost?
Christian enjoys knowing what’s coming up in the computer hardware and tech industries. Combining his professional and hobby PC experience with his writing career, he strives to simplify the complicated and provide the best advice for tech fans.
