The best motherboards for Ryzen 9 5950X
AMD Ryzen processors took the world by storm due to their 7nm technology, brilliant overclocking capability, and generation-to-generation similar socket size. If you want to go big and build a high-performance computer that is ideal for gaming and excellent for creating content for YouTube or streaming platforms, then Ryzen 9 5950X (Amazon) is the answer. However, to properly utilize the true potential of the CPU, you would need the best motherboard for Ryzen 9 5950X. As the socket size remains the same, the advantage of this motherboard is that they are backward compatible with older processors. AMD has managed to keep the AM4 socket around since September 2016. 5950X is a 105W TDP processor, which is incredibly low for a 16-core and 32-thread CPU. It would require a powerful VRM to support its performance.
We have compiled a list of motherboards that are 100% compatible with the Ryzen 9 5950x, but it depends on the user’s requirement to pick the right product. You might be intrigued by the large storage capacity, an abundance of VRM phases, the miniature board size, dual-GPU compatibility, or many USB ports. The featured products will have two chipsets, X570 and A520. We have not included the B550 as there are minute differences between the X and B series motherboards, and their price tags are similar. 5950X supports PCIe 4.0, which is in line with the latest generation of graphics cards that utilize the large 32GT/s offered by the x16 slots. M.2 drives with x4 can function at their top data transfer rate with 8 GB/s bandwidth available by the protocol. Let us dive into the products:
Our recommendations for The best motherboards for Ryzen 9 5950X
- ASUS ROG Strix X570-E
- GIGABYTE A520 AORUS Elite
- ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming
- ASUS Prime X570-P
- ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Formula
ASUS ROG Strix X570-E
Best premiumPROS
+WiFi-6 with 2.5G+1G LAN
+Dual heatsinked PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots
+Premium RGB and 6-layer PCB layout
CONS
-No Bluetooth 5.1
-No legacy PS/2 support
We will start our list with the most successful motherboard ASUS ROG Strix X570-E. It has made a name for itself due to its overall performance packaged in an aesthetically pleasing layout. Powering the Ryzen 9 5950x won’t be a problem with VRM modules. Each stage will supply a current pulse, all controlled with the Asus high-end controller ASP1405. Republic of Gamers offers a lineup of software products with promising hardware control and monitoring. Even the CyberText signature of Asus spreads across the motherboard in the form of streaks. To top it off, Asus uses some RGB lighting on the chipset and IO shield. Diagnosing a hardware problem with any attached components is a piece of cake with the postcode screen.
It features dedicated 4 VRM phases for RAM overclocking, which will take a fast memory module to 4400MHz. The low latency and high frequency are achieved by using the ASUS OptiMem technology. Storage device speed is critical in gaming and content creation; with X570-E, you can power dual M.2 drives with PCIe 4.0 protocols. Asus includes heatsinks for both the drive for added stability and to avoid thermal throttling, which can affect performance peaks. The 6-layer PCB allows better heat dissipation, and the 8mm Heat Pipe spread across the VRM heatsink makes power modules run cooler. X570 is a chipset with great features, but it does get hot. Asus places an active fan cooler to avoid potential performance degradation by an overheated chipset.
GIGABYTE A520 AORUS Elite
Best budgetPROS
+Abundant USB ports
+Digital power delivery
+Outstanding price-to-performance ratio
CONS
-Fewer power phases
-No wireless connectivity
Gigabyte is known for producing a wide variety of options for motherboards. GIGABYTE A520 AORUS Elite is meant for users targeting performance, whereas overwhelming RGB is not their taste. The A520 chipset means business, and its affordable price tag can never go wrong. The CPU needs stable power, and Gigabyte uses lower RDS(on) MOSFETs to provide a low-temperature operation with the durable power required by sensitive components. As honest reviewers, we want to let our readers know that the performance difference between a PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 3.0 M.2 drive is less than seconds. If similar tasks are assigned to both protocols, M.2 SSD, the difference will be undetectable for a human without a stopwatch. You can achieve comparable performance with the motherboard at a fraction of the price.
Compared to the X570 chipset, the A520 runs much cooler, which allows passive cooling of the chipset. Removing active components improves the motherboard’s reliability for long-term usage. Six temperature sensors provide live statistics of the system’s health while overclocking or under massive load. The five hybrid fan connectors can assist in building a high airflow PC. Gamers who like to turn heads towards their build can utilize the four RGB headers to light up the PC interior. Topping it with a Gigabyte RGB fusion 2.0 allows compatibility across multiple devices and platforms. Pin-point audio precision is required for first-person shooter games like Call of Duty and Counter-Strike, as slight offset or noise can cause damage to any pro player. It is an ideal motherboard for gamers and content creators.
ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming
Best compactPROS
+Chipset combo heatsink
+12 USB ports in a mini-ITX
+4800MHz RAM overclocking
CONS
-No ECC support
-Tricky to assemble
Want to build a PC with dimensions unbelievable for its power? ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming is the ultimate choice for any gamer looking for a small-footprint PC case. The powerful X570 chipset is incorporated into a 6.7" x 6.7" size motherboard and is an incredible sight to watch. Suppose you are someone looking to hit 100+fps with DLSS on 4K while playing CyberPunk 2077, then it is the best motherboard for Ryzen 9 5950X. It features sturdy VRM phases for smooth and steady supply for power-hungry Ryzen 9 5950x. The presence of 8 stages for VRM is a perfect scenario as anything above it is overkill for the processor. It provides PCIe 4.0 slot for M.2 drive and GPU for maximum bandwidth to avoid any potential bottleneck in the system.
Installing an Nvidia RTX 3090 with a high-performance storage drive will not cause the beast to tire down. Do not let the miniature looks deceive you about its performance. It will take your overclockable RAM to a whopping 4800MHz while handling the frequency of your CPU beyond its max frequency. If you find the right components, you may be able to build a PC similar to the size of a PS5 or even smaller. It features the latest WiFi-5 and BT 5.0 for wireless data transfer. The premium SupremeFX audio with high-grade capacitors ensures crisp and precise audio quality, ideal for hearing during intense Fortnite situations. The onboard RGB looks stunning, shining through the ROG logo on the heatsinks and glowing from one end of the motherboard. It’s an ideal companion for a compact gaming machine.
ASUS Prime X570-P
Best entry x570PROS
+5100MHz RAM overclocking
+8+4 pin solid power connectors
+Large 8-phase VRM cooling fins
CONS
-No thunderbolt port
-Onboard RGB not featured
Asus released their ASUS Prime X570-P to cope with the rising demand for an economical motherboard that came in the size of an ATX form factor. If you want to build a 4K(native) 60+fps gaming setup, then X570-P is an excellent choice for a motherboard. The money saved can be used on upgrading the M.2 drive or the graphics card. The adequate VRM for the 5950X provides a steady current flow to the CPU via the 8+4 power pin ports. We are tempted to call it an entry-level motherboard, but the chances of it being an underperforming motherboard are nil. The legacy PS/2 port support allows keyboards without NKRO to work as gaming hardware. The active chipset cooling fan might be annoying for some people, but it keeps the speed up.
The total RAM capacity with four DIMM slots reaches 128GB, and it can take an overclockable product to 5100MHz. Technical enthusiasts believed that memory speed could not affect gaming, but recently stuttering frames and bottlenecks have been diagnosed to be caused by RAM speeds. Asus motherboards have an excellent reputation for allowing lower CAS latency on RAM and high frequencies. Most users have reported the highest satisfaction with the UEFI BIOS to adjust the RAM operating parameters. It’s user friendly, clean, and functional. You can use the Armoury Crate software to customize the three RGB header outputs. Overall the motherboard has balanced features, which make it the best product with a top price-to-performance ratio. Users can connect external data storage devices to the four 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports on the rear panel.
ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Formula
Best enthusiastPROS
+SLI and Crossfire capability
+Liquid-cooled VRM module
+OLED 1.3" diagnostic display
CONS
-No DIP switches
-No Wi-Fi 6E version
If you like to test hardware and want a motherboard that can withstand the harsh environment of an open desk bench, then ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Formula can do the job. It has the necessary protective covering and high-end heatsinks for resistance against damage. The powerful VRM can power any AMD CPU with an AM4 socket and take it to its maximum potential. Whether it’s water-based liquid cooling or an enthusiast-level LN2 (liquid nitrogen) cooling, Asus has all the necessary features to support your ventures. The incredible 25 USB ports for maximum connectivity make the product designed for an epic workload. The X570 chipset is utilized to its full potential, with maximum lanes used for PCIe 4.0 components. The potential for any bottleneck has been removed on this motherboard.
When buying something extraordinary, ignore the price tag as you want the best of the best. The epic VRM module is cooled with the world’s leading EK liquid cooling solution. By using liquid cooling, you are essentially increasing the system’s lifespan. The multi-layer PCB with dedicated layers for audio leads to the crisp quality required for a PC build with premium features. Asus left no M.2 without a heatsink, ensuring thermal throttling goes out the window. Regarding aesthetics, ROG products are top class, and the glass RGB on Crosshair VIII Formula stands out with streaks across the motherboard. LiveDash OLED 1.3" sits right under the IO shield and serves the purpose of an advanced Postcode screen. Any issue with CPU, RAM, graphics card, or boot device can be diagnosed with the display.
Final Words
Ryzen 9 5950X is a powerful processor, and it takes the best motherboard for Ryzen 9 5950X to extract its true potential. We have carefully selected the top-performing motherboard on our list to help our readers through the process of choosing the right product. We featured X570 and A520 chipsets, both of which have advantages and disadvantages. X570 provides PCIe 4.0 lanes of its own, thus allowing more PCIe 4.0 components to be used in the PC build. However, it leads to the chipset being hot and requiring an active chipset cooler. In contrast, A520 does not have PCIe 4.0 and provides a few lanes, but it helps keep it cool with passive designs.
All the motherboards can overclock the CPU and RAM, but every product has its limitations. Some cannot go beyond a particular frequency; sometimes, it’s due to the latency settings or hardware bottleneck. It’s better to believe the manufacturers officially supported RAM speeds rather than risk buying a low-frequency product and damaging it in the process of overclocking. As for gamers, it’s recommended to go for PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, as all modern GPUs require it for their rapid data transfer. The rise of AI-based applications has further burdened PCIe slots. If you plan to buy an RTX 3090, get the motherboard with reinforced PCIe slots. Hopefully, as a reader, you have found your favorite product by now.
Learn More About the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
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- Motherboard
- CPU Cooler
- RAM