Best Motherboard For Ryzen 5 2600X

The Prime series motherboards represent the entry-level hardware from Asus, and this motherboard also features those features for a budget gaming build. However, Asus targets these motherboards for more professional use, but their features are enough for gamers. We have got the Asus Prime B450M-A which is the cheapest option by Asus for Ryzen 5 2600X, yet a solid consideration for modern builds.

The great thing about this motherboard is that it packs many features inside it as it comes compatible with Zen+ processors out of the box, while you can also pair it with Ryzen 3000 series CPUs. The core features of this motherboard are much similar to the Asus Prime B450-Plus, where both offer budget-friendly controllers which get their job done without any compromises.

This motherboard looks very appealing in modern builds because of the grey and black colored PCB and silver heatsinks on it. Because of its price, we are not expecting any RGB light on this board, but still, without them, it looks good, and I appreciate Asus as most of their motherboard looks compelling in modern RGB builds.

Being an m-ATX motherboard is good for budget builds as most users don’t get a full-sized case, but the size of this motherboard is relatively smaller than any other board in this form factor. There are two memory slots on this board that may disappoint you, and another thing that may do the same is it supports only 32 GB of DDR4 RAM clocked at 3200 MHz.

The storage options on this motherboard are pretty the same as other boards of the same class as it offers a single M.2 slot which lacks a heat spreader and four SATA3 slots. The backside of this motherboard has a couple of ports which include USB3 ports, but sadly it doesn’t have a USB Type-C port and not even the USB 2.0 ports for peripheral devices.

This motherboard is an excellent option for both mid-range build and budget APU builds, too, as it has several display output ports. If you are saving some money for other components, this would be an excellent option for your Ryzen 2000 & 3000 series processors.

Personally, I’ve found nothing terrible in this motherboard as for its price everything is good, but some things would make this motherboard much better. Firstly the missing USB 2.0 or USB Type-C port which you know very common these days in motherboards. Otherwise, it’s a good bang for one’s buck, and you will enjoy using this motherboard in your build.

We have seen Gigabyte has some of the premium motherboards in their Aorus lineup, but their budget or entry-level motherboards are also not less than any other. I would recommend you for your Ryzen 5 2600X  or Ryzen 3 2200g is the Gigabyte B450M DS3H with all of the necessary features required for a budget build and subtle looks, making it one of the best options to consider.

Aesthetically this motherboard is straightforward, and it comes in black colored PCB with some grey circuits coming from the edges to the CPU socket. This motherboard lacks onboard RGB lights because of the price and entry-level, targeted board, but luckily, there is an RGB strip header that allows you to install RGB lights on your build and make it aesthetically appealing.

This motherboard is good with both AMD CPUs and APUs as it offers display output ports and the cheapest offering by Gigabyte for budget and entry-level builds. The controllers on this motherboard are the cheapest in their class, but the good thing is they do their job decently. When you compare this motherboard with competitors for the same price, it comes to know that it’s offering better features for the same or less price.

There are many ports on this motherboard that includes USB3 ports, but all of them are Type-A, and unfortunately, it lacks the USB Type-C port. In addition to these connectivity ports, there is an Ethernet port, few audio and display ports on the rear IO. Even it’s an entry-level motherboard, but luckily it offers four RAM slots which allow you to install memory up to 64 GB clocked at 3200 MHz.

There are several PCI slots for expansion cards like VGA, and this motherboard is compatible with AMD Crossfire technology which allows you to install multiple AMD graphics cards at once. However, due to a limited number of PCIe lanes in B450 chipset motherboards, B450M DS3H lacks Nvidia SLI. A single M.2 slot that lacks the heat spreader and four straight angled SATA3 slots are responsible for connecting storage devices with this motherboard.

There are built-in XMP profiles on this motherboard which allows you to overclock the memory modules with ease. This motherboard is undoubtedly a great option when you have to build a budget gaming machine. It features all necessary things that a modern gaming computer needs to have, including four DIMMs slots, two PCIe x16 slots but the missing features like USB Type-C goes against it.

This motherboard is no different than the previous one as both of them are offering the same features for a similar price; however, this one offers two M.2 slots, which is rare in B450 chipset motherboards. The main reason to consider the ASRock B450M Pro4 is its build quality. The company claims that they use high-density fiber, which prevents the motherboards from humidity and other issues.

First, let’s look at the looks; this motherboard comes with a black PCB and some grey touch and heatsinks on it, which doesn’t look bad but doesn’t give an appealing look. ASRock B450M Pro4 is the cheapest motherboard you can get for this processor with two M.2 slots. Still, as it’s a cheap option, it may limit the overclocking power of the processor so try at least getting the ASRock Steel Legend mentioned below.

The manufacturer released B450M-HDV with similar features; however, a few of them cuts off in that and comes at a slightly low price. I don’t recommend that one for this build because this one is offering much better features for a slightly more price. The controllers on this motherboard might not be the best in their class, but still, they are good enough to get the job done perfectly.

The two M.2 slots on this motherboard share the PCI lanes with the SATA slots, but in such a low-cost motherboard, it’s good to see two M.2 slots. Although both of them lack M.2 heatsinks and there are four right-angled SATA slots on this board for further storage expansion. If you got some good aftermarket cooler, this motherboard would allow you to overclock the processor greatly, and it’s exceptional for a cheap motherboard.

When it comes to expansion cards, this motherboard supports three of them and lacks SLI support, but AMD Crossfire is available and allows you to install multiple AMD GPUs. Like any other B450 motherboard, it also has four DIMMs and supports memory up to 64 GB at high clock speeds. All these features, when combined, makes this motherboard a viable option for Ryzen 5 2600X.

ASRock B450M Pro4 comes with 9 phase design voltage regulators, where three of them use doublers offering better support for overclocking. It’s a great entry-level motherboard for both Zen+ and Zen2 processors and comes compatible with them out of the box. The Gigabyte option above lacks the USB Type-C and secondary M.2 slot, while this offers both of them, making it more appealing.

When it comes to buying the best m-ATX B450 chipset motherboard, we have very limited options because most of the boards come with dirt VRMs and a slim set of features. All of the previous motherboards in the list are entry-level targeted that’s why I’ve picked something extraordinary for now. There is the ASRock B450M Steel Legend which gives premium features and aesthetics for a reasonable price.

With Ryzen 5 2600X, this motherboard is good to consider, but if you are going with a Zen2 processor, I recommend you go with the B550 Steel legend. There are high-speed ports on this motherboard, many things, but the overclocking support and the missing PCIe Gen4 slots, and a couple of other features make this motherboard stand behind the successor.

The core features on this motherboard are usually seen in premium motherboards, but it lacks a lot, making it a mid-range board. Like all of the other m-ATX motherboards, it also comes with four DIMM slots which allow you to install 64 GB of memory, and memory overclocking is available on this board, as you can get them simply with the XMP profiles. The RGB controller on this motherboard will allow you to change the RGB lights and make them the way you like.

For storage, there are four SATA3 slots which are enough for any modern build, while for high-speed storage, there is a single M.2 slot that lacks the M.2 heat spreader. Since mainstream B550 chipset boards were released, getting an old B450 board is not a good deal, but if you consider budget or do not need a high-speed M.2 slot, B450 boards are a good choice.

ASRock’s B450M Steel Legend has a good VRM, and it can handle some high-end processors like the Ryzen 9 3900X (you might also want to know about the best GPU’s for Ryzen 9 3900x), but do not expect to overclock this beast. With fewer premium features and more premium looks, this is one of the best motherboards for Ryzen 5 2600X, especially when considering the budget. In addition, it is a great alternative to the B450M Gaming Plus and the B450M Mortar Titanium.

It has fewer connectivity options than B550 but still includes several USB 3.1 Gen1 ports, including Type-A and Type-C. It lacks integrated Wi-Fi or a 2.5G NIC, but it has awesome RGB lights, a great color scheme, and a built-in IO cover. When we combine all these features, it becomes one of the best motherboards for Ryzen 5 2600X to consider in 2021.

MSI Tomahawk motherboards are known for their affordable price and great overclocking power for Ryzen processors. Then stands below the Carbon series boards, but their core features are the same; however, Tomahawk boards lack premium ones like integrated Wi-Fi, IO cover, or a couple of things. These boards have one of the best VRM cooling solutions allows the users to overclock their processors better.

The one we’ve on this list is the MSI B450 Tomahawk, a great motherboard for overclocking both Ryzen 5 2600X or even 3600, but for Zen2 processors, X570 chipset boards are recommended. It has MOSFETs which give very stable current to the processors and extended heatsinks over the voltage regulators to cool them.

The B450 Tomahawk comes in a black-colored base with some circuits printed on it in grey color and Red-colored lights on the board, making it aesthetically appealing. It lacks a few things available in premium options, but this one is not bad for this price. There are some mediocre controllers on this board, but at least they get their job done.

This motherboard supports 128 GB of DDR4 memory across four slots which are quite exceptional in B450 motherboards as most of them only support 64 GB. Unfortunately, this board comes with only one M.2 slot, which also lacks the heat spreader, but we’ve seen some cheaper options, even offering two of them.

For further storage expansion, it also has six SATA3 slots, from which four of them are right-angled, and two of them are straight angled. Expansion cards, especially VGA options, in this board is good, and it allows you to install multiple AMD cards in two-way while lacks the SLI support, but you can install the latest RTX cards on it as it has PCI Steel Armor.

The rear side of this motherboard has many ports, including USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A and Type-C, along with some USB 2.0 ports.  There are ports for connectivity, but this motherboard lacks DisplayPort, which is necessary for APUs. There are many headers on this board that allow you to connect through the front panel and RGB lights header; too, however, it’s not independently controlled.

Long story short, it’s a great motherboard for overclocking Ryzen 2000 series processors, but also you need to take care of the budget. Tomahawk B450 comes in two different versions where; we’ve reviewed the first one, while the other is Tomahawk B450 Max which has slightly better features than this one however costs a few bucks more.

There are both budget-friendly and premium options in the Gigabyte motherboard series, but the good thing is that they all offer great value for the price. Earlier in this list, we mentioned a motherboard intended for entry-level builds because of its low cost, so we’ve decided to bring something premium you can consider for both Ryzen 2000 & 3000 processors in 2021.

In terms of aesthetics, the Gigabyte B450M Aorus is no different from other options in the Aorus lineup, but it represents a more budget-friendly option in this series. It has a black-colored base with a grey circuit printed over it, and an orange accent makes it look amazing. It lacks premium features such as an integrated IO cover and RGB lighting, but it still does not look bad.

The VRM needs to be considered first for AMD processors because they support overclocking. It has 8+3 phase regulators, but they use doublers, meaning its 4+3 phase, whereas 4 phases have doublers. It is powerful enough to overclock the Ryzen 5 2600 or the 2600x, but when it comes to other high-end processors, such as the Ryzen 5 3600, you may not see the same overclocking potential.

The power phases on the top of the socket lack the heatsink, but the VCore side of the phases has one that can do its job done. A single M.2 slot on this motherboard has a heat spreader and is placed next to the PCIe x16 slot means the drive will be under the GPU. There are two right-angled and two straight angled SATA slots for further storage expansion, which are enough in any m-ATX motherboard.

There are two PCIe x16 slots on this board which allows you to install multiple graphics cards, AMD Crossfire in two-way, and a single PCIe x1 slot for expansion cards. Along with all these things, there are a couple of USB and fan headers on this board, including the USB3 header for the front panel and RGB headers too. The rear side of this board has a lot of USB3 ports too and a couple of other ports for connectivity.

There are four memory slots on this motherboard, allowing you to install 64 GB of memory with a frequency of up to 3200 MHz. The Aorus series of the motherboard gives the best value for their price, and the features on them are way better than other competitors. The Gigabyte B450 Aorus M is the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600X when you have a low budget to spend on the mainboard.

Previously we’ve seen B450 motherboards pair up with a Ryzen 2000 series of processors; they are good when you are low on budget, but for those who want something premium, ignoring the price. There we have got the MSI MPG X570 Gaming Plus which costs no more than a premium B450 motherboard but has things that make it much better than any X470 or B450 chipset board for budget or mid-range CPU. This motherboard is also one of the best motherboards for Ryzen 7 3800X.

It’s a mid-range motherboard with the excellent build quality and great overclocking power to the Ryzen CPUs. One great thing about this motherboard is it will also support the latest Ryzen 5000 series processors out of the box to have upgrade options. Aesthetically this board is a little straightforward, but one thing that attracts me is the black and red-colored scheme with the fan on the chipset heatsink.

There are two M.2 slots on this motherboard, and unlike the B450 chipset motherboards, it has six SATA3 slots. The bad thing about this motherboard is both of the M.2 slots lack the heat spreader, while even most of the B450 chipset board comes with M.2 heatsink; however, when you go a little up in the MPG series, you will see most of the options comes with that.

The VRM of this motherboard has 10 phase regulators with extended heatsinks over them, which gives an exceptional overclocking performance with the Ryzen 5000 series of processors. It allows you to install 128 GB of memory, whereas B450 motherboards support only 64 GB, while memory overclocking can be easily done on this motherboard with XMP profiles up to 4400 MHz.

In most of the weak chipset motherboards, we’ve seen that they share the PCIe lanes of the M.2 slots, which cut down their performance to half but with this one, the case is quite different. You can install multiple AMD or Nvidia graphics cards, and this motherboard doesn’t share the PCI lanes means you will get maximum performance by the hardware, which is a point to consider over B450 boards.

The only bad side of this motherboard is it’s pretty expensive for a 100 USD CPU, but those who are willing to upgrade in the future or look for maximum performance ignoring the budget can consider it for their build. We’ve also listed a B550 chipset motherboard below, which comes at the same price but offers high-speed USB ports and other features worth considering in a mobo.

Another great Gigabyte Aorus series of the motherboard represents the entry-level board of the series for a very budget-friendly price. It comes with some of the best budget-friendly controllers, which get their job done without having any problem. Even this motherboard is a little expensive for a budget processor, but the features and the overclocking power of this board make it worth considering.

The looks of this motherboard are much similar to the aforementioned Gigabyte board, but as it’s an ATX board, it features more slots and ports. The x570 chipset will give features like PCIe Gen4 slots and high-speed USB and SATA slots. Interestingly, SLI support is available on this board, allowing you to install multiple Nvidia graphics cards, which older chipsets lack.

The VRM of this motherboard has a 12+2 phase power delivery design which is exceptional to x570 chipset boards and offers great overclocking support for Ryzen 5000 series processors. There is another option, namely Gigabyte B550 Aorus Elite, but as you know, those chipset boards are only compatible with the Ryzen 3000 and 5000 series of processors, so they are not going to work in our case.

There are two high-speed M.2 slots with a heat sink on the primary one and six SATA slots for further storage expansion.  The four DIMMs on this motherboard allow the users to install RAM up to 128 GB at the frequency of 4400 MHz. There are enough USB3 ports on this motherboard, including USB Type-A ports and enough headers for the front panel, including Type-C.

A couple of premium things on this motherboard took it a little away from a budget category motherboard, but it also lacks a lot. While picking up this motherboard, you need to forget about onboard RGB lights and a lot of because there are few Wi-Fi and USB Type-C port and Debug LEDs, which helps fix pre-boot errors. Still, for this price and performance, we can ignore such things.

The low price in the X570 category, Integrated IO cover, and heatsink on the primary M.2 slot are the things that make it better than other budget-friendly X570 motherboards. It’s much better to consider this motherboard over some premium X470 option as they are not worth considering these days. However, this motherboard is also a little expensive for a budget processor, but once you own it, you may not need to change the board in the next two-three years.