By far some of the highly effective processors AMD has produced, the high-scoring Ryzen 9 7950X dropped in 2022 and pushed for sheer efficiency with a 16-core, 32-thread setup alongside a 170W TDP. It pulls lots of energy and runs scorching, however its new AM5 socket fashion is probably the most demanding facet. You may want a model new motherboard to construct a {custom} PC across the 7950X, and deciding which options you want now (or would possibly need sooner or later) is difficult. Listed here are my prime picks of finest motherboards for the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X CPU and a few ideas that can assist you select.
ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming
Finest total
It is no shock to see ASUS {hardware} take the highest spot for masking all of the bases since its ROG STRIX line is often a premium choose. Apart from the lovable additions of a quick-release button on PCIe enlargement slots, you get an outrageously quick pairing of three M.2 slots with PCIe 5.0 help and an additional at 4.0. Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5G Ethernet, an unlimited array of USB-A and USB-C ports, and a phenomenal RGB aesthetic spherical up this heatsink-loaded board. It does all of it.
Gigabyte B650 AORUS ELITE AX ATX
Finest worth
This B650 chipset board cannot be crushed in sheer efficiency per greenback. You are coated for high-speed storage with a single PCIe 5.0 M.2 socket coated by a devoted warmth sink and two further PCIe 4.0 M.2 sockets beneath their very own. Six PWM/DC fan headers help the cooling you will want for the 7950X’s excessive temperatures, and Gigabyte even throws in Wi-Fi 6E for contemporary wi-fi networking alongside 2.5GbE Ethernet. What a cut price.
MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WIFI
Finest for PCIe 4.0
In the event you’re pushing for ultra-fast DDR5 RAM speeds however do not thoughts sticking with PCIe 4.0 storage and enlargement, this B650 chipset different from MSI permits for reminiscence speeds as much as 7600MHz (with two single-rank modules.) You continue to get three M.2 sockets for storage, two managed by the CPU and the final by the chipset, with six SATA ports spare for two.5″ SSDs if wanted. Constructed-in Wi-Fi 6E and chunky heatsinks make it good for overclocking.
GIGABYTE X670 AORUS Elite AX
Finest for funds overclocking
A step up in chipset options from the most effective worth choose, this Gigabyte different contains a 16+2+2 energy part design alongside large storage choices. If you already know for a truth you are going to be tweaking your parts for the utmost doable efficiency with out overheating, push for the X670 chipset and hold issues cool with the superior thermal design on this board.
ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I GAMING WIFI
Finest for compact builds
Mini-ITX followers, this one is for you. The heatsinks would possibly look outsized, however the Ryzen 9 7950X runs scorching, so you will want them. Part choices are understandably lowered, however you continue to get PCIe 5.0 help for enlargement and M.2 storage alongside the ROG Hive management unit for fast overclocking and audio I/O entry. Constructed-in Wi-Fi 6E and a pair of.5G Ethernet come alongside USB4 (Sort-C) ports, so fashionable connectivity wasn’t sacrificed at this kind issue.
Selecting the most effective motherboard for an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X CPU
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You will not get far with a custom-built PC with out the motherboard. As its title implies, it is the place every element comes collectively to make a working laptop. This implies you want appropriate elements, and the brand new AM5 socket is a part of AMD’s newest vary of processors, with the Ryzen 9 7950X standing out as some of the highly effective and power-hungry of the lot. Regardless of your alternative, you will want to make sure that every of your elements is appropriate, which suggests contemplating a couple of specs.
RAM is not a lot of a problem because you’re locked into DDR5, leaving you to match solely the variety of reminiscence sticks and the suitable speeds supported by your motherboard. In the event you’ve been holding on to some older DDR4 kits, I am afraid it is time to improve. Your most important choices come down to hurry, so be certain your chosen motherboard helps the overclocking profiles (like AMD EXPO) you propose to make use of.
The place it will get trickier comes right down to the help PCIe model. If you wish to use enlargement playing cards or M.2 solid-state storage drives with the most recent PCIe 5.0 speeds, you will want to select up a board with correct help, just like the well-priced Gigabyte B650 AORUS ELITE AX ATX. If not, you should use cheaper PCIe 4.0 gadgets with a board just like the MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WIFI and save a bit money. In some unspecified time in the future, PCIe 5.0 will likely be thought of the mainstream format, so think about the longevity of your gadgets.
The remaining largely comes right down to luxuries like onboard Wi-Fi and the variety of USB ports, however many motherboards on this roundup function chunky heatsinks. Once more, the 7950X attracts lots of energy and raises the temperatures appropriately, so it’s essential to verify for clearance when selecting an applicable 7950X cooler. In the event you’re going with air cooling, verify that your RAM will not collide with the fins and that the VRM heatsinks are equally clear from collision.
