Best AM4 Motherboard for AMD Ryzen CPUs (Review) in 2024
You just bought an awesome AMD Ryzen processor, but you don’t know what motherboard to pick. If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place: we’ve gathered up a huge selection of AM4 Motherboards for you to choose from, ranging from the cheapest of the cheap to the highest of the highest-end.
What are the best AM4 socket motherboards?
Whether you’re looking for an ITX motherboard for your SFF AMD PC build or a beefy X570 ATX motherboard for your enthusiast gaming tower, we have you covered. We’ve selected 8 excellent motherboards, all of varying price, features, and sizes, for you to enjoy.
Any one of these could be the best AM4 motherboard for you, but we’ll need to go over them to determine which. Let’s hop into it!
Best Mini ITX AM4 Motherboards
#1. ASRock B450 Gaming-ITX/AC
Chipset: B450 | Overclocking Support: Yes | SATA Ports: 4 | M.2 Slots: 1 Gen3 NVMe | RAM Slots: 2 | Max RAM Speed: 3466 MHz | PCIe Slots: 1 x16, Gen 3 | Wireless Tech: AC Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 | Lighting: N/A
Our pick for best budget Mini ITX AM4 motherboard is the ASRock B450 Gaming-ITX/AC. As the “AC” in its name implies, it comes with built-in AC Wi-Fi. There’s also some bonus Bluetooth support added in, for those who use Bluetooth peripherals, like speakers and mice.
The main benefit of a Mini ITX PC build is portability, and with portability comes a preference for wireless connections. The built-in wireless capabilities of this board make that a possibility, ensuring that you aren’t tethered to an ethernet cable wherever you go. Combine with some good peripherals, like a wireless mouse, and you’re good to go!
The B450 chipset in this motherboard also has you covered as far as Ryzen 5 processors and gaming performance needs go. Add guaranteed out-of-box Ryzen 3rd Gen support on top of that, and you have a real winner here.
Verdict: The best budget Mini ITX AM4 Motherboard
#2. Gigabyte X570 I AORUS Pro WiFi
Chipset: X570 | Overclocking Support: Yes | SATA Ports: 4 | M.2 Slots: 2 Gen4 NVMe | RAM Slots: 2 | Max RAM Speed: 4400 MHz | PCIe Slots: 1 x16, Gen 4 | Wireless Tech: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 | Lighting: RGB Rear Glow
If you need the best possible performance in the smallest possible package, then the Gigabyte X570 I AORUS Pro WiFi is the best option for you. In addition to all the wireless benefits in a small PC build we mentioned for the previous entry (moreso, actually, since the wireless tech in this motherboard is much faster than our #2 pick), you also have the benefit of the X570 chipset.
The X570 chipset allows this motherboard to do some truly ridiculous things for its size. It supports running two Gen 4 NVMe SSDs! It has great VRMs, RAM speed, and even RGB!
The only real downside worth noting here is the price, which comes at quite the premium over our previous pick. We only recommend this for those running Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 processors, who want the best of the best in performance. Those running Ryzen 5 probably don’t need to get a motherboard this beastly.
Verdict: The best Mini ITX AM4 motherboard
Best Micro ATX AM4 Motherboards
#3. Gigabyte GA-A320M-S2H
Chipset: A320 | Overclocking Support: No | SATA Ports: 4 | M.2 Slots: 1 Gen 3 NVMe | Size: Micro ATX | RAM Slots: 2 | Max RAM Speed: 3200 MHz | PCIe Slots: 3 (1 Gen 3 x16) | Wireless Tech: N/A | Lighting: N/A
The Gigabyte GA-A320M-S2H is our pick for cheapest AM4 motherboard, because it’s…
…well, the cheapest. At least, it’s one of the cheapest, and definitely the best deal of the currently-available AMD A320 motherboards. This is a hyper-budget pick for those who don’t plan on overclocking for getting anything past a Ryzen 5 processor ever. That makes this build particularly ideal for non-gaming PCs, HTPCs, or ultra-budget gaming PCs.
Just get a matching Micro ATX case and you’re good to go.
If you do plan on upgrading in the future or you want to get the most out of your Ryzen 5 processor, we recommend saving a little more for at least a B450 motherboard, of which we have many listed below. If you aren’t too picky about performance or future upgrade options, though, this motherboard should serve you perfectly fine.
Verdict: The cheapest AM4 motherboard
#4. ASRock B450M-HDV
Chipset: B450 | Overclocking Support: Yes | SATA Ports: 4 | M.2 Slots: 1 Gen3 NVMe | RAM Slots: 2 | Max RAM Speed: 3200 MHz | PCIe Slots: 2 (x16, 1 Gen3, 1 Gen2) | Wireless Tech: N/A | Lighting: N/A
The ASRock B450M-HDV is our pick for the best budget Micro ATX motherboard. Using a B450 chipset, it offers all the features you’ve come to expect: high RAM speeds, overclocking support, and NVMe SSD support. It’s also one of the cheapest boards on this list, beaten only by our pick above in terms of pricing despite offering so much more.
On top of all that, it also has out-of-the-box Ryzen 3rd Gen support! That isn’t actually a guarantee for B450 motherboards, especially those manufactured before the release of the Ryzen 3rd Gen processors. Since October 2019, however, users have been reporting receiving this board with Ryzen 3rd Gen-compatible BIOs pre-applied, which saves everyone involved a lot of headaches.
We don’t really have a downside for this one. The features it offers at its price are perfectly fine.
Verdict: The best budget Micro ATX AM4 motherboard
#5. ASRock X570M Pro4
Chipset: X570 | Overclocking Support: Yes | SATA Ports: 8 | M.2 Slots: 2 Gen4 NVMe | RAM Slots: 4 | Max RAM Speed: 4200 MHz | PCIe Slots: 2 x16, Gen 4; 1 Gen4 x1 | Wireless Tech: N/A | Lighting: N/A
Now we have the ASRock X570M Pro4, which is our pick for best overall Micro ATX AM4 motherboard. As expected, it boasts an X570 chipset, and it uses that chipset to achieve everything you’d expect it to. Dual Gen 4 NVMe SSD support, superb RAM speed, and plenty of PCI Express 4.0 x16 slots are available for you to use.
We can’t even knock this one on price, really- it’s under $200, which is uncommon for an X570 board. While it doesn’t offer soupy extras like built-in wireless technology, we’re hard-pressed to fault it for that when it offers all the raw performance features we want in X570 at a lower price. Worst-case scenario, you’ll need to buy a USB Wi-Fi adapter for wireless- not a big deal, right?
Verdict: The best Micro ATX AM4 motherboard
Best ATX AM4 Motherboards
#6. MSI B450 Tomahawk Max
Chipset: B450 | Overclocking Support: Yes | SATA Ports: 6 | M.2 Slots: 1 | RAM Slots: 4 | Max RAM Speed: 4133 MHz | PCIe Slots: 1 Gen3 x16, 1 Gen2 x16, 3 PCIe x1 | Wireless Tech: N/A | Lighting: RGB Rear Glow
The MSI B450 Tomahawk Max is our pick for best budget ATX AM4 motherboard. While it comes in at a little over $100 in pricing, it offers all the key features you could ask for out of a B450 board- and better, actually.
First and foremost, let’s address the elephant in the room: the RAM spec on this board is superb, among the highest we’ve seen for a B450 motherboard. Supporting a 4133 MHz RAM overclock on a non-X470 or X570 board is insane, and it speaks to the sheer build quality that went into this board despite its competitive price.
Likely thanks to being manufactured after the Ryzen 3rd Gen release, it enjoys a lot of features that other B450 boards can’t match. Support for USB 3.2 Gen 2 isn’t offered on any other B450 board on this list, for instance. Additionally, its chipset and VRMs both have actual heatsinks, allowing for CPU and RAM overclocks to be pushed higher than is possible for other B450 boards.
While it isn’t quite an X570-tier board due to missing some key features (like dual NVMe or Gen 4 PCIe), we’re hard-pressed to find a better ATX motherboard in this price range, much less a better B450 motherboard in general.
With all that in mind, we have to give up the crown to this board.
Verdict: The best budget ATX AM4 motherboard
#7. ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming ATX Motherboard
Chipset: X570 | Overclocking Support: Yes | SATA Ports: 8 | M.2 Slots: 2 Gen 4 NVMe | RAM Slots: 4 | Max RAM Speed: 4400 MHz | PCIe Slots: 3 x16, Gen 4; 2 x4 Gen 4 | Wireless Tech: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 | Lighting: RGB Heatsink and I/O Shield
As we begin climbing into the high-end, questions of pricing and diminishing returns begin creeping into the picture. While we do feel like that’s worth mentioning, we also feel the need to emphasize that if you want to get the most out of your Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 processor…this is where you really want to start.
The ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming ATX motherboard is packed with features. As expected for any X570 board, you get dual Gen 4 NVMe, plenty of PCIe x16 slots, and high RAM speed. Thanks to being full ATX, you also get twice the RAM slots.
With the higher pricing comes some additional extras. RGB lighting is present on this board, adding a little extra flair to PC build if you desire to show it off. Full Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 support are built into the board, no adapters or expansion cards needed. The heatsinks for the chipset and VRMs also allow for superb overclocks to be pushed on this board, even on CPUs as insanely powerful as the Ryzen 9 3950X.
If you want the best, this is definitely up there. While more expensive than other X570 boards, we feel it’s well worth the price for what it’s offering.
Verdict: The best high-end ATX AM4 motherboard
#8. ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VII Hero (Wi-Fi)
Chipset: X570 | Overclocking Support: Yes | SATA Ports: 8 | M.2 Slots: 2 Gen4 NVMe | RAM Slots: 4 | Max RAM Speed: 4800 MHz | PCIe Slots: 3 x16, Gen 4; 1 x4 Gen 4 | Wireless Tech: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 | Lighting: RGB Heatsink and I/O Shield
Last but certainly not least, the ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VII Hero (Wi-Fi).
That name’s quite the mouthful, isn’t it? At a passing glance, this board looks…pretty much identical to our #7 pick. If you’re particualrly attentive, you may even start to think that this is basically the same motherboard, just with even more raw power, and likely more absurd OC headroom.
…and you’d be pretty much right. That’s what it is. If you want just that little bit more performance for the best AM4 motherboard experience on the market, here you go! This is it. Use this board if you want to max out that beefy ATX case of yours. While some even more expensive AM4 motherboards exist, we’ve found in our testing and research that you’re unlikely to notice any difference between those and this one.
If you want this and you can afford it, congratulations. You have the best AM4 motherboard, no question.
Otherwise, consider one of the other options we’ve listed.
Verdict: The best overall ATX AM4 motherboard
FAQ and Selection
Why no X470?
While there are X470 boards left on the market, they’re priced at the same level- or higher- as the X570 boards that succeed them. Unless one is spotted on a severe discount, there’s really no reason to buy them- especially since they are no longer being manufactured.
Why so little A320?
Because most of them are barely cheaper than B450 boards, and even then are only a good pick if you really can’t afford anything better. For bare minimum budget builds that you don’t plan on upgrading ever, A320 is fine. If you plan on upgrading your CPU in the future or overclocking, though, B450 is the bare minimum.
Chipset Tiers and Difference between Chipsets
- A320 – No overclocking, and usually much less PCI Express bandwidth. Fine for super-tight budgets, but not ideal for high-end CPUs or builds you plan on upgrading in the future.
- B350/B450 – Overclocking and higher RAM speeds enabled. Ideal for most users, especially those who don’t intend on pushing ultra high-end CPUs or overclocks. B450 is newer and will be succeeded by B550 once it releases.
- X470/X570 – The best for overclocking and RAM speeds. Ideal for ultra high-end CPUs, overclocks, and ETC. Diminishing returns for most as you climb into the higher price ranges, but the most hardcore enthusiasts may still see value in these. X470 has been succeeded by X570, and X570 is unlikely to see a successor due to Ryzen 3rd Gen being the last generation released for the AM4 socket.
Motherboard Size and Expandability
Motherboard size is kind of a self-explanatory thing. From smallest to largest, it goes:
- Mini ITX
- Micro ATX
- Standard ATX
- Extended ATX (Generally used only by server-grade or HEDT motherboards, no EATX mobos are in this article.)
As you go smaller in size, you lose PCI Express and RAM slots, down to a minimum of 1 and 2, respectively, in Mini ITX. You also get a much more physically-cramped building experience, but actual feature/performance loss is minimal outside of extreme CPU overclocking scenarios. For most users, Micro ATX is a happy medium between the extremes of the smallest size and maximum expansion. It also tends to be the cheapest, offering the same features, when compared to ATX and Mini ITX. (Mini ITX trending the most expensive on the high-end because cramming more power into a smaller space is more expensive.)
Difference between SATA and NVMe Bandwidth
When choosing between storage drives, especially SSDs, you may see the terms SATA and NVMe tossed around quite a bit. In the case of M.2 SSDs especially, since M.2 SSDs can come in both SATA and NVMe speeds. So…what’s the difference?
SATA is a standard used most often by 2.5 and 3.5 inch drives, and usually uses a cord running from the drive to the motherboard’s SATA ports in order to function. M.2 SATA SSDs are limited to the SATA standard’s speeds, but use the motherboard’s M.2 slots in the same way that NVMe SSDs do.
NVMe is a standard used by M.2 SSDs, and refers to M.2 SSDs that use PCI Express bandwidth. While they look physically identical to M.2 SATA SSDs, M.2 NVMe SSDs are leagues faster, and these higher speeds are prized among enthusiasts and professionals.
To quantify the speed difference, your high-end SATA SSD will top out at around 550 MB/s read and write. Your high-end PCIe/NVMe SSD, meanwhile, will top out at around 3000 MB/s read and write, with some going even higher. X570 motherboards support PCIe Gen 4, which allows NVMe Gen 4 SSDs to reach even more ludicrous and extreme speeds.
Before anyone gets any ideas, though, don’t worry: you don’t need Gen 4 NVMe SSDs for the best gaming experience, since the rest of your system also needs to keep up. A test by PC Gamer reveals that the practical difference in loading times between SATA and NVMe SSDs is practically non-existent, so long as the CPU is powerful enough to carry its own weight.
VRMs and CPU Overclocking
A motherboard’s VRMs, as well as RAM speed and general build quality, will determine the maximum overclock you can get out of your Ryzen CPU. These aspects of your motherboard get better as you climb in price and chipset.
To hyper-simplify the matter, good-to-great overclocks with Ryzen 5 and lower processors should be reachable with AMD B450 motherboards, so long as your cooling and RAM are also up to spec. To push Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 processors to their peak, though, you’ll want to use X570 motherboards, high-end RAM, and high-end cooling to squeeze the most juice you can out of those processors.
Even if you aren’t overclocking, better VRMs and chipset cooling will help your CPU more reliably reach its built-in boost clocks.
RAM and its impact on Ryzen
Unlike with Intel processors, RAM has a much higher impact on the performance of Ryzen processors. This is down to differences in how Intel CPUs are manufactured, and it makes your choice of RAM and motherboard much more important with AMD than it is with Intel. While the full scope and impact of this issue is out of the scope of this article, we’ve included the manufacturer’s provided maximum RAM speed spec with each of our motherboard recommendations so you can keep this in mind.
As stated above, B450 motherboards and matching RAM are enough to push Ryzen 3 and Ryzen 5 processors to their limits. You’ll want to opt for X570 and matching RAM if buying Ryzen 7 or (especially) Ryzen 9 processors, though.
Parting Words
And that’s it!
We hope walking you through all of our options and buying advice helped you choose the best AM4 motherboard for you. If you have any lingering questions after finishing this article, leave a comment in the comments section below, and we’ll help you as soon as possible!
Until then, have fun with your new AMD PC.