AMD's best Ryzen 7000 CPUs have been out for over half a year, and so have 600 series motherboards that use AMD's brand new AM5 socket, which introduced support for great DDR5 RAM, PCIe 5.0, and USB4. All of these features are going to be important for enabling the best GPUs, awesome SSDs, and other cutting-edge peripherals you might want to plug into a motherboard.
However, AM5 has to be one of the most complicated and confusing platforms AMD has launched so far, with five distinct but mostly similar chipsets to choose from. It also hasn't helped that AM5 boards were pretty expensive until relatively recently. Thankfully though, AMD has managed to get AM5 in a position where it covers a good range of price points, offers good value, and is worthy of being a successor to AM4.
These are the best AM5 motherboards in 2023
Asus ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming
The best AM5 motherboard for gamers and most users
The Asus ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming is a high-end Asus motherboard that supports PCIe 5.0 graphics, three PCIe 5.0 SSDs, and high-end Ryzen 7000 CPUs thanks to its large 18+2 stage VRM.
- PCIe 5.0 for GPUs and SSDs
- Large 18+2 stage VRM
- Support for 6400MHz DDR5
- Expensive and overkill for gaming
The Asus ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming is one of the best motherboards you can buy for Ryzen 7000. For starters, it comes with a plethora of PCIe x16 and M.2 slots, But what sets this board apart from the rest is that most of these run at PCIe 5.0 speeds (two of the x16 and three of the M.2 slots). That's a ton of PCIe 5.0 even for an X670E, most of which offer just two PCIe 5.0 M.2 ports for SSDs. The Strix also has an 18+2 stage design for its VRMs, which is more than enough even for the highest-end Ryzen 9 7950X, and support for DDR5-6600.
This board doesn't skimp out on the boring stuff either. The Strix has eight fan headers, an error code display, SSD heatsinks, and an obscene amount of front-facing USB ports. The rear I/O also has a ton of USB ports: 12 USB 3.2 Gen 2 and one 3.2 Gen 2x2. The Ethernet on the Strix is Intel's 2.5 gigabit, which isn't the fastest, but it's still a good amount for gamers and even content creators, not to mention that Intel's Ethernet NICs are usually the best. The five audio jacks plus optical audio might also be appealing if you're into that sort of thing.
Even if you don't care too much about the technical specs, there's one thing to appreciate: this board looks great. The Strix has that classic dark black plus RGB aesthetic and doesn't come with an obnoxious amount of branding. The Strix's design lends itself to fitting in with a wide variety of themes.
ASRock X670E Taichi
A good alternative if you're okay with EATX and need more VRMs
The ASRock X670E Taichi is a high-end EATX motherboard with excellent build quality and a massive 24-stage VRM. It has support for high-speed DDR5 memory, PCIe 5.0 graphics, and multiple NVME SSDs.
- Support for PCIe 5.0 SSDs and GPUs
- Top-end 24+2+1 stage VRM
- Supports 6600MHz DDR5
- Expensive and overkill for gaming
- EATX size requires a large chassis
ASRock has been a long-time challenger to Asus, and its X670E Taichi does have some advantages over the Strix X670E-E. For starters, it has a much larger VRM configuration at 24+2 stages, which is significantly more than the Strix's 18+2. The rear panel I/O includes two USB4 ports, something the Strix has zero of. It also matches Asus on DDR5 support, dual PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, Intel 2.5 gigabit Ethernet, and also comes with eight SATA ports instead of four (though that's of questionable value).
The Taichi falls a little behind in some other aspects, however. It only has one M.2 slot running at PCIe 5.0, with the other three at PCIe 4.0. There are fewer USB ports on the rear panel I/O and some of them run at 3.2 Gen 1 speeds rather than 3.2 Gen 2. That the Taichi is EATX sized rather than ATX also might also pose a problem for chassis compatibility. Finally, the aesthetic of the Taichi is similar to the Strix but has a few questionable spots; the gold accent on the left side of the board might clash with some colors, and you'll have to decide whether you like the stylistic gears.
Overall, the Taichi is a worthwhile alternative to the Strix, even if it falls short in a few areas. But for overclocking, it is theoretically the superior choice given its larger VRM, so if you plan on overclocking your Ryzen 7000 for fun or to get a serious boost in performance, the Taichi might be the better choice.
GIGABYTE X670 AORUS Elite AX
Cuts the fat off of X670E and delivers everything you'd want for less than $300
The Gigabyte X670 Aorus Elite AX has the essentials for a high-end gaming PC, including support for DDR5-6666 memory, four M.2 slots for SSDs (one of which supports PCIe 5.0), and a 16-stage VRM.
- PCIe 5.0 support for SSDs
- Four M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs
- Large 16+2+2 stage VRM
- Realtek Ethernet
Moving down to the X670 chipset, we find lots of motherboards that are about 80% of the way to being X670E grade but cut out features that aren't crucial for gaming. Gigabyte does a good job finding a good balance with its X670 Aorus Elite AX thanks to its 16+2 stage VRM (that we should note is actually two 8 stages, but should be fine) and support for DDR5-6666 memory. There are also three M.2 slots, one of which runs at PCIe 5.0 and the two others at 4.0. The x16 slot, unfortunately, runs at PCIe 4.0, not 5.0, but it's forgivable since there aren't even any PCIe 5.0 GPUs out yet.
Connectivity is a bit of a weak spot for this board. At 13 USB ports, there's plenty in terms of quantity, but four of these run at slow 2.0 speeds. The Aorus Elite AX has 2.5 gigabit Ethernet, but it uses a Realtek NIC, not an Intel one, and while Realtek is fine, Intel is undeniably more reliable. The built-in Wi-Fi is also not Intel but MediaTek. One other feature this board is missing is an error code display; for its caliber, there should probably be one on here. As for appearance, the Aorus Elite AX is a little plain and basic, but it'll fit in well with many themes thanks to its dark colors with silver accents.
The X670 Aorus Elite AX is a good all-rounder for gaming and productivity without costing a ton of money like most X670E boards. It can handle high-end Ryzen 7000 CPUs and modern PCIe 5.0 SSDs, and those are the most important characteristics for many users.
ASRock B650E Taichi Lite
The best motherboard for AMD's strangest chipset
ASRock's B650E Taichi Lite is a midrange AM5 motherboard that offers an impressive spec list for a relatively low price. It comes with a massive 24+2+1 stage VRM, PCIe 5.0 support for SSDs and GPUs, and tons of USB 3.2 ports.
- Completely overkill 24+2+1 stage VRM
- Three M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs, one of which has PCIe 5.0 support
- Tons of USB 3.2 ports
- Low supply
The B650E is a bit of a weird chipset. It's guaranteed to come with PCIe 5.0 support for GPUs and SSDs but is supposed to be lower tier than X670, which doesn't guarantee PCIe 5.0 for graphics. Cheaper X670 boards are about the same price as B650E motherboards, which can make it confusing to figure out if B650E is worth it, but ASRock's B650E Taichi Lite is a pretty good motherboard regardless of the chipset, to the point of making every other ATX B650E motherboard pointless.
The specs for the B650E Taichi Lite are almost unbelievable for a motherboard that costs just shy of $300. It has an absolutely overkill 24+2+1 stage VRM, one PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot in addition to two more PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, 12 USB 3.2 ports, and Intel Ethernet and Wi-Fi. These specs are more appropriate for an X670 or even X670E motherboard but for some reason ASRock put them on a midrange B650E motherboard. I'm not complaining, it's just pretty weird.
If it weren't for the B650E Taichi Lite, the B650E would have a hard time justifying its own existence, and before the Taichi Lite launched it really did. Guaranteeing PCIe 5.0 support is nice, but there are B650 motherboards out there with PCIe 5.0 x16 and M.2 slots, so B650E isn't exactly necessary. Regardless, for $280 the B650E Taichi Lite is a great looking motherboard that has pretty much everything you could ask for. If you can find one (and it might be difficult seeing as how everyone knows this is a great deal), it'll be perfect to pair with a midrange or even high-end PC.
Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus
A midrange motherboard with lots of features at just the right price
The Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus is a midrange motherboard with support for PCIe 5.0 SSDs and midrange to high-end Ryzen 7000 CPUs.
- PCIe 5.0 SSD support, plus two PCIe 4.0 slots
- Midrange 12+2 stage VRM
- Robust rear I/O port selection
- Some features may be superfluous depending on your needs
B650 motherboards have just the gaming and productivity essentials but can still have features that are about on par with higher-end boards with better chipsets, like Asus's TUF Gaming B650-Plus. This motherboard used to be pretty expensive, but recently it's dropped in price enough to become a pretty compelling B650 board. It's ideal for starting out with a midrange PC and upgrading it over time to become high-end, without needing to swap out the motherboard.
The TUF Gaming B650-Plus carries a remarkable amount of features for its price: three M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs, one of which is PCIe 5.0 enabled, a 12+2 stage VRM, Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5 gigabit Ethernet, and lots of USB ports. There are lots of motherboards that have some of these features, or even higher quality features like bigger VRMs, but no other B650 motherboard that I know of hits all of these points at once, making it easy to recommend to anyone.
The only drawback of the TUF Gaming B650-Plus is that it's a tad more expensive than other models, mostly owing to all the features it has, and not all of them are super useful. ASRock's B650 PG Lightning is a slightly cheaper and lower-end motherboard that has one less PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot but a larger VRM, which might be more appealing if you're after raw performance. At the time of writing though, the TUF Gaming B650-Plus is only $220, and has been seen going for as low as $200, and paying a little more for it is worth it in my opinion.
Gigabyte A620M Gaming X
Finally, AM5 for less than $125
Gigabyte's A620M Gaming X is a low-end AM5 motherboard that's ideal to pair with midrange Ryzen chips like the Ryzen 5 7600. It sports an 8+2+1 stage VRM, has four RAM slots, and has one M.2 slot with PCIe 4.0 support.
- Much cheaper than B650 motherboards
- 8+2+1 stage VRM is sufficient for non-X CPUs and the 7800X3D
- PCIe 4.0
- Just one M.2 slot
- Rear I/O is paltry
- More expensive than other A620 boards
While AMD used to claim that we'd be able to get B650 motherboards for less than $125, it seems it's given up on that idea, and in order to provide AM5 motherboards below that price point, it's launched the A620 chipset. While these motherboards are supposed to go with low-end Ryzen 7000 CPUs (which don't exist yet), you could get one for a midrange chip instead. Many A620 are a little too low-end to be good to pair with a CPU like the Ryzen 5 7600, but Gigabyte's A620M Gaming X is a notable exception that would go well in a bang for buck focused build.
The A620M Gaming X is modest but sufficient when it comes to features. It has a decent 8+2+1 stage VRM with a heatsink, and it should be enough for non-X SKUs and probably also the 7600X, 7700X, and 7800X3D. There's also four RAM slots, which you probably won't populate completely but it's nice to have the option. It only has one PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot for NVMe SSDs, though honestly, if you only have $100 or so for a motherboard, you might not be looking to buy more than one M.2 SSD anyway. The rear I/O is also decent, with four USB 3.2 and two USB 2.0 ports (one of which is USB Type-C), as well as gigabit Ethernet.
While Gigabyte's A620M Gaming X nominally goes for $120, at the time of writing it's $100, and that kind of sale probably won't be all that uncommon in the future since the A620 chipset isn't in high demand. Other A620 boards like MSI's PRO A620M-E are mostly the same and a little cheaper, but I prefer Gigabyte's board since its VRM setup is a tiny bit bigger and has a heatsink, whereas most other A620 boards have fewer VRMs and no heatsink. If the price difference is closer to $30, consider getting a cheaper A620 board, but at $100 the A620M Gaming X is your best bet.
ASRock X670E PG Lightning
An X670 motherboard with all the corners cut
X670E doesn't have to be expensive, as this board proves. You don't get as much (there's only one PCIe 5.0 SSD slot, for example), but it can match more expensive boards elsewhere. It even has a built-in I/O shield, a great selection of ports, and 2.5G networking with a subtle RGB-free design.
- Midrange 14+2+1 stage VRM
- PCIe 5.0 support for GPUs
- Good amount of rear I/O ports
- No PCIe 5.0 SSD support
Although X670E is supposed to be the top-end chipset for Ryzen 7000 CPUs, ASRock's X670E PG Lightning (not to be confused with the B650 model) is priced like a B650E or X670 board. This model has the core features of the chipset: PCIe 5.0 on the x16 slot and the primary M.2 slot and support for DDR5-6600. In terms of value, the X670E PG Lightning is unrivaled by other boards using the same chipset.
How did ASRock offer such a high-end chipset for such a low price? Well, lots of other features had to be cut out. The VRM only has 14+2 stages and there's only an 8+4 pin for CPU power, which limits CPU performance. The secondary M.2 slots also have reduced speed, with only one running at PCIe 4.0 at full speed; of the last two, one runs at PCIe 3.0 and the other at PCIe 4.0 but half the lanes, so effectively PCIe 3.0. The rear I/O has a mix of USB 2.0 ports and faster USB 3.2 Gen 1 and Gen 2 ports, plus a 2.5 gigabit Ethernet port (which is, of course, Realtek).
Overall, the X670E PG Lightning is basically the B650 PG Lightning but with PCIe 5.0 on the x16 slot, which puts the board in a somewhat awkward position due to the existence of the B650E chipset. ASRock's own B650E Steel Legend is potentially a superior motherboard while costing about the same and having a theoretically worse chipset. X670E has more PCIe lanes, but they're not coming into full use on the X670E PG Lightning. Still, of all the X670E boards, this one is the cheapest while being good enough, and that's worth something.
Asus ROG Strix B650E-I
This ITX motherboard delivers a good balance between price and features
The Asus ROG Strix B650E-I is an ITX motherboard that packs lots of features in a small size: PCIe 5.0 for graphics, two M.2 slots, and plenty of rear I/O for pretty much anything. Its small 10-stage VRM prevents it from running a Ryzen CPU at full bore, but mini-ITX builds often limit performance regardless.
- Relatively good 10+2 stage VRM
- PCIe 5.0 support for SSDs and GPUs
- Support for fast 6400MHz DDR5 RAM
- Expensive even for ITX, and only has a midrange chipset
AM5 is young and ITX boards are few and far between, but it seems Asus's ROG Strix B650E-I is already a strong contender. As a B650E board, it of course has PCIe 5.0 on both the x16 slot and the primary M.2 slot. Plus, it also has a 10+2 stage VRM, and while that is pretty low, ITX machines tend to run lower-wattage CPUs anyway, especially since this board only has an 8-pin plug for CPU power. Support for DDR5-6400 will at least help the CPU perform the best it can.
As for downsides, this board is pretty good for ITX. Perhaps its eight USB ports aren't quite enough, but five of them run at 3.2 Gen 2 speeds and one of them has the superfast 3.2 Gen 2x2 spec. The 2.5 gigabit Ethernet is powered by an Intel NIC, which is a big plus. Like other ROG motherboards, this one's color scheme is black with silver accents but doesn't have any RGB.
There are other ITX boards available. Asus has the even higher-end ROG Strix X670E-I, but the only things it brings to the table are two USB4 ports and an add-in card that has extra ports for internal connections. ASRock's competing B650E PG-ITX is also very similar to the Strix B650E-I while costing less, but has slightly worse rear I/O as it uses more USB 2.0 ports. Overall, the ROG Strix B650E-I has the best balance between price and features.
Asus ProArt X670E-Creator
A motherboard with a ridiculous amount of ports and connections
The Asus ProArt X670E-Creator is specifically made for professionals and creators who need high-end hardware. Equipped with four M.2 slots for SSDs, a pair of PCIe 5.0 enabled x16 slots for graphics, and a large VRM, this board can handle basically anything.
- Large 16+2 stage VRM
- PCIe 5.0 GPU slot and two PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots for SSDs
- Superb rear I/O full of high-performance ports
- Expensive
Although AMD's Threadripper CPUs are made for productivity and usage in workstations, there's nothing stopping you from using a Ryzen CPU instead, and unless you need lots of RAM, AM5 can be a great platform for a workstation PC. If you're building a PC for work, we recommend Asus's ProArt X670E-Creator, which is a no-compromises board.
This motherboard has it all: two PCIe x16 slots running at 5.0 (if both are populated, they drop to half lanes, which is effectively PCIe 4.0 speeds), four M.2 slots with two running at PCIe 5.0 and the others at 4.0, and support for DDR5-6400 and DDR5-4800 ECC RAM. The VRM uses 16+2 stages, which is lower than many other X670E boards but still sufficient for high-end CPUs. Each M.2 SSD slot comes with a heatsink. The rear I/O is extremely impressive with its 10 gigabit and 2.5 gigabit Ethernet ports and two USB4 ports, plus nine other USB ports.
The ProArt X670E-Creator is essentially unrivaled for workstation use, particularly thanks to its ECC memory support. However, if you aren't going to be using ECC memory, ASRock's X670E Taichi Carrara might be a viable alternative. It has a larger 24+2 stage VRM, more SATA ports, and the same amount of M.2 and USB4 slots but lacks 10 gigabit Ethernet and support for ECC RAM.
Best AM5 motherboards in 2023: Final thoughts
Ryzen 7000 and AM5 are, on one hand, packed full of brand-new technology, but on the other hand, are significantly more expensive than what we're used to seeing. It's disappointing that B650 motherboards are selling for higher price points than last generation B550 boards, though at least A620 motherboards now exist, so users have something to buy at the sub-$130 mark, even if there's no overclocking support and fewer lanes for PCIe devices.
Of all these motherboards, the one we like the most overall is Gigabyte's X670 Aorus Elite as it's not prohibitively expensive and has features that are worth the money. Compared to $500 X670E motherboards like Asus's ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming and ASRock's X670E Taichi, the X670 Aorus Elite is only missing some VRMs and PCIe 5.0 slots. Unless you're chasing top-end workstation performance, you're not going to miss these things, and they're definitely not worth it for gaming.
GIGABYTE X670 AORUS Elite AX
Doesn't have the bloated price of higher-end motherboards while retaining 90% of the features.
The Gigabyte X670 Aorus Elite AX has the essentials for a high-end gaming PC, including support for DDR5-6666 memory, four M.2 slots for SSDs (one of which supports PCIe 5.0), and a 16-stage VRM.
Still, $270 isn't nothing, and many of you probably have no interest in dropping that much on a component that has no business going into a PC that costs less than four digits. A great alternative for much less is Asus's TUF Gaming B650-Plus. It's about $50 less than the X670 Aorus Elite and comes with a slightly smaller 12+2 phase VRM and three M.2 ports rather than four, though one of them has PCIe 5.0 support. If you need something even cheaper, Gigabyte's A620M Gaming X is a great choice, though it lacks PCIe 5.0 support, only has a 10-stage VRM, and doesn't support overclocking (which is admittedly not a big ticket feature anymore).
If you're building a modern PC with all the bells and whistles, AM5 is one of the best platforms to do it on. If you're creating a totally new gaming or working setup, then we'd also recommend you check out our guides on the best monitors, best keyboards, and best webcams for your PC.