Best AM5 motherboard 2024 – our top picks
AM5 is the latest that AMD has to offer but you may have asked yourself: What is the best AM5 motherboard?
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For the best AM5 motherboard, you’ve come to the right place. The motherboard is at the center of your PC build, ensuring every component you have is working together in perfect unison to bring you all the thrills in the games you love. You are going to need the best and brightest AM5 motherboard to draw out all of the capabilities of your Ryzen 7000 series processor.
The motherboard is arguably the most important component in your PC, right next to the CPU and GPU. As they would both be useless without it. The motherboards that the AM5 socket offers are no different, they also bring crucial improvements never before seen on the AMD platform. A quick look at the top contenders are the ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme, MSI MEG X670E Godlike, and Gigabyte X670E AORUS Xtreme. As we keep this page updated for the latest options, things may change for your best choices.
- 01Best AM5 motherboardROG Crosshair X670E Hero
- 03A Choice AM5 MotherboardGIGABYTE X670E Aorus Xtreme
If you don’t have time to read the whole article, we have selected the ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero as our top pick for the best AM5 motherboard. This is all thanks to its robust power delivery system, its beautiful aesthetics, and ample connectivity.
What is the best AM5 motherboard?
The best AM5 motherboard is a motherboard that will suit all your needs perfectly, you don’t necessarily have to buy the best of the best on the market. If you can get away with having a B650 motherboard suit all of your gaming and productivity needs, then there’s no point in spending the extra just to get an X670. Unless of course, you want to heavily future-proof your system. Here we will take a deeper dive into each motherboard and outline in our top picks.
ROG Crosshair X670E Hero
ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero
Form Factor
ATX
Power stage
18 + 2
Connectivity
USB4, HDMI, DisplayPort Audio, WIFI 6, 10GB Ethernet,
PCIe Gen 5
M.2 & PCIe x16 slot
DDR5
Yes
- Sleek design
- Efficient power stages
- Tonnes of connectivity
- DDR5
- Expensive
The Crosshair X670E hero is a beast in its own right, it’s probably the highest-end AM5 motherboard you can own, next to GIGABYTE and MSI. What we know about the Asus X670E ROG Crosshair Extreme is that it features VRMs based on Infineon ASP2205 power management IC (PMIC) and Vishay SIC850 110A smart power stages. Also, the Crosshair Extreme will feature a 20 + 2-stage power delivery system.
The Crosshair ships on the DDR5 RAM standard, out with the old and in with the new super-fast DDR5 memory technology. You can expect full PCIe Gen 5 support on its 16x slot and PCI Gen 5 support for compatible M.2 drives too. Making for ultra-fast storage and snappy GPU communication times.
The Crosshair hero features future-proof connectivity, boasting two USB4 ports, 10GbE Ethernet, a more advanced audio system, and Wi-Fi 6E adapters. All of these features make for one exciting Asus ROG motherboard.
MSI MEG X670E Godlike
MSI MEG X670E Godlike
Form factor
ATX
Power stages
24 + 2 + 1
Connectivity
USB 4, 10GbE Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, and DDR5
PCIe Gen 5
M.2 & PCIe x16 slot
DDR5
Yes
- Very efficient power stages
- Luxurious design
- Advanced connectivity
- Very expensive
MSI is currently working on a top-of-the-line AM5 motherboard. Let us introduce you to the MEG X670E Godlike. The godly flagship AM5 motherboard will feature power phases never before seen on an MSI board, boasting a 24 + 2 + 1 phase design with 105A power phases for Voltage cores.
The X670E Godlike also features all the connectivity you would expect from an AM5 motherboard such as USB 4, 10GbE Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, and DDR5. Not to mention PCIe Gen 5 support on both GPU and M.2 drives. MSI will now use an all-new VRM cooling solution, comprised of direct heat pipes and a full contact MOSFET baseplate – keeping the godlike cool under intense loads.
The flagship MSI AM5 motherboard will ship with MSI’s M.2 Xpander-Z Gen5 Dual adapter expansion card to house two M.2-25110 drives with a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface. Expand your storage with PCIe Gen 5 capabilities.
GIGABYTE X670E Aorus Xtreme
GIGABYTE X670E Aorus Xtreme
Form factor
EATX
Power stages
18 + 2 + 2
Connectivity
USB 4, 10GbE Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, and DDR5
PCIe Gen 5
M.2 & PCIe x16 slot
DDR5
Yes
- Advanced design
- Lots of connectivity
- More affordable than other options
- less power stages than other models
Gigabyte has once again brought a high-end motherboard to the table, here’s the X670E Aorus Xtreme. The flagship AM5 motherboard will feature a full 18 + 2 + 2 power delivery design. This design will be based on the Renesas RAA229628 PMIC, the X670E Xtreme will also feature 18 Renesas RAA2201054 SPS 105A V-core power stages, two ON NCP303160 SPS 60A SoC power stages, and two Renesas ISL99390 SPS 90A power stages – This is a serious amount of technology packed into power delivery.
GIGABYTES X670E Aorus Xtreme will support PCIe gen 5 on the PCIe slots and M.2 storage slots. And feature at least one M.2-25110 slot, for the new super-fast SSD standard coming soon. The X670E Xtreme isn’t done yet, it will feature a 10GbE port, a USB 3.2 Geb 2×2 connector, a THB_U4 header, and up to two HDMI or DisplayPort outputs.
Not to mention DDR5 memory support, as it’s the standard on AM5 socket systems.
Biostar X670E Valkyre
Biostar X670E Valkyrie
Form factor
ATX
Power stages
22-phase VRM design
Connectivity
USB 3.2, 2.5GbE Ethernet, and DDR5
PCIe Gen 5
M.2
DDR5
Yes
- More affordable
- 22 phase VRM design
- 105A Dr.MOS
- HDMI 2.1
- Not all M.2 slots are PCIe Gen 5 equipped
- Entry level X670E
Biostar X670E motherboard that was ready for the AM5 launch, and that motherboard is the X670E Valkyrie. This board features a 22-phase VRM design with 105A Dr.MOS stages. The X670 Valkyrie will also feature a PCIe Gen 4 X16 slot, four Gen 4/5 M.2-2208/22110 slots with high-performance heat spreaders, USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports, two display outputs (DP 1.4 and HDMI 2.1), and finally a 2.5GbE connecter.
Strange to see that this is the only motherboard on the list without Gen 5 capabilities on all of the M.2 slots. The Valkyrie, however, features PCIe gen 5 on its 16x PCIe slot. Again, the new memory standard is DDR5 so you can be sure that the Valkyre will support it. Certainly, a more budget-orientated X670E but that by no means suggests it’s a bad motherboard. We can see this motherboard going far with enthusiasts on a budget.
ASUS Prime B650-PLUS
ASUS Prime B650-PLUS
Form factor
ATX
Connectivity
USB 3.2, 2.5Gb ethernet, DDR5
PCIe Gen 5
M.2
DDR5
Yes
- A cheaper option for the AM5 platform
- Perfect value for basic usage
- A more simplistic looking design without even an integrated IO shield
- No PCIe Gen 5 for GPU
As for the budget choice, the B650 motherboards took some time to come out. For those wanting a more entry-level build the ASUS Prime B650-Plus is the option to go for. Without all the fancy extras it does provide a good option when wanting to build out a good gaming PC. It does lose out on some of the looks and comfort such as lacking an IO shield, but it still provides a DDR5 solution and even PCIe 5 m.2 allowing for the fast storage to be used.
It provides a good look price point for your PC, with USB_C still available even if it skimps out on some comfort features. That is true for overclocking too as it’s not designed with that in mind.
What is LGA 1718? Also known as AM5
LGA stands for land grid array and has been Intel’s socket of choice since 2006 but now that AMD has made the switch, we thought it would be beneficial to run you through what LGA is. LGA is a packaging technology with a rectangular grid of contacts called ‘lands’. This differs from the PGA or pin grid array packaging technology that AMD used for CPUs before the release of Zen 4 CPUs.
The pin grid array is similar to the land grid array layout, but in place of “lands”, you have pins protruding from the bottom of the chip itself. Compared to PGA, LGA reduces the likelihood of damage to the chip either before or during the installation process. This is just one of many benefits of LGA.
Chipset
Speaking of chipsets, we have three confirmed chipsets for AM5. These are the X670E, X670, and B650. Of course, much like the current gen, these motherboards will ship with different features and be targeted toward different users within the market.
The current hierarchy stands at:
- X670E (extreme) is the best of the best, featuring all the connectivity powered by the latest and fastest technology – DDR5, PCIe 5 – and the most extreme overclocking potential.
- X670 will feature some PCIe gen 5 connectivity, but not all PCIe or M.2 slots. X670 will also most likely have less connectivity, but will still feature strong overclocking potential
- B650 is the budget option, being a more bare-bones motherboard with less connectivity. The perfect balance of price point and capability. Featuring all the connectivity that AM5 has to offer, but none or much less of the overclocking capabilities.
AM5 X670E chipset
The X670E chipset is the best AM5 has to offer, with the letter ‘E’ meaning ‘Extended’ or ‘Extreme’. X670E features PCIe Gen 5 for graphics and storage, SVI-3 power infrastructure for better overclocking and more power stages, and up to four HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.0 ports. The X670E features PCIe connectivity for all its PCIe slots, primary and secondary PCIe slots, and all M.2 storage slots.
The Extreme version of the X670 is also said to have completely unrestricted CPU and RAM overclocking, meaning all the VRMs you could ever need with excellent power staging and power delivery.
AM5 X670 chipset
The X670 chipset is the baby brother to the X670 Extended, with all of the connectivity, just not as many features. The X670 still retains enthusiast-level overclocking support, although it may not feature quite as much power delivery support. The main difference is the PCIe Gen 5 implementation, with the X670 only having PCIe GPU support in its primary X16 PCIe slot, the rest will be PCIe Gen 4.
Storage does remain the same, however, with PCIe Gen 5 compatible M.2 storage on both the X670E and X670 chipset motherboards. The X670 chipset motherboard will cost less than the X670E, but we’re not sure how much cheaper it will be.
AM5 B650 chipset
We don’t know of any motherboards that carry the B650 chipset yet, but we know the chipset exists. The B650 chipset is said to be the budget-oriented AM5 motherboard. The B650 will not feature any overclocking support at all and will most likely have much fewer VRMs, as a result. Resulting in less power staging and lesser power delivery.
The B650 chipset will not feature any PCIe Gen 5 capabilities for any of its PCIe slots, 16x or 8x. However, the B650 will still feature PCIe Gen 5 storage technology for compatible M.2 SSDs. If you want to know more, check out our X670E vs X670 vs B650 chipset page.
FAQs
Can motherboard choice affect PC performance?
Yes, the choice of the motherboard can affect the performance of a PC in several ways. The motherboard determines the type of CPU and RAM that can be installed in the system. Some motherboards may support faster CPUs and RAM than others, which can lead to better overall system performance.
The motherboard also determines the number and type of expansion slots available. These slots allow for additional hardware components, such as graphics cards or sound cards, to be added to the system. The availability of these slots can impact the system’s overall performance and the types of peripherals that can be added to the system.
In addition, the chipset on the motherboard can affect the performance of the system. Different chipsets may have different features or capabilities, such as the ability to support higher-speed data transfer or more USB ports.
The quality of the motherboard can impact the stability and reliability of the system. A high-quality motherboard with good build quality and components may provide a more stable and reliable platform for the rest of the system to operate on, leading to better performance and fewer issues over time.
Why is AM5 better than AM4?
AM5 is the newer socket design for processors developed by AMD, it is an improvement over the previous AM4 socket. There are a few key differences that make AM5 better than AM4:
- Improved power delivery: AM5 uses a new power delivery system that provides more power to the processor, which allows for better performance and higher clock speeds.
- Increased memory support: AM5 supports DDR5 memory, which is faster and more power-efficient than DDR4 memory supported by AM4.
- Enhanced I/O capabilities: AM5 has more I/O lanes, which allows for faster data transfer between the processor and other components such as storage and networking.
- Better thermal performance: AM5 features a new heatsink retention design that provides better contact between the heatsink and the processor, which helps to improve thermal performance.
- Larger PCB design: AM5 is built with a larger PCB design which allows for more space for components and improved cooling.
All in all, AM5 is designed to be a more powerful and efficient socket than AM4 and is targeted at providing better performance and capabilities for users who demand high-end computing power.
Final word
Those were our best AM5 motherboard picks of 2024. This list is of course subject to change as more AM5 motherboards are announced and released into the wild. The X670 Hero is our clear winner, its aesthetics go beyond any motherboard on this list and Asus has a proud history of being among the best PC hardware manufacturers in the industry.
The X670E Crosshairs advanced features, USB 4 support, PCIe gen 5 connectivity for both storage and graphics, DDR5 memory support, and striking good looks make it a top choice for the best AM5 motherboard. But no matter what motherboard you choose, you can rest assured that you’re getting a quality AM5 motherboard. That is if you choose it from this list.
