Are you looking around for the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600?

In 2022, we are surrounded by excellent hardware choices. However, it is quite surprising how well the previous generation of processors is holding up. Like the AMD Athlon series, AMD’s Zen+ or the Ryzen 2000 series AMD processors are still working quite well.

One of the most popular choices from this series was the Ryzen 5 2600. What it lacked a bit in gaming performance, it more than made up for it in production workloads. That is thanks to the six cores and efficient architecture of these AMD processors.

However, before you take advantage of everything the Ryzen 5 2600 has to offer, you need to pair it with a good motherboard. With the dozens of options out there, that task is easier said than done.

Fortunately, we have done the majority of the work for you. Let’s start by having a look at our comparison of the best motherboards for Ryzen 5 2600 !

Check This: Best Motherboards For Ryzen 5 3600

Before moving on make sure you check the following detailed tutorial on how to choose the best motherboard for you: How To Choose The Right Motherboard For Your Needs: A Comprehensive Guide

Best Motherboards For Ryzen 5 2600 Comparison Table

Why Should You Trust Us?

At Best Motherboard Zone, we’re not just tech enthusiasts, we’re seasoned professionals. Our lead author, Konstantinos Chiotis, has been immersed in the tech industry for over a decade and has been building PCs since he was 14. That’s over 20 years of hands-on experience and knowledge that goes into every article we publish.

When it comes to the Best Motherboard For Ryzen 5 2600, we’ve done the legwork so you don’t have to. We’ve sifted through the multitude of options, tested them, and selected the best. Our recommendations are based on rigorous testing, personal experience, and a deep understanding of the intricacies of motherboards and their components.

We’re not just recommending products, we’re sharing our passion for tech and our dedication to quality. Trust us, we’ve got you covered.

How We Choose the Best Motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600 Selections

Putting together an in-depth guide for the best motherboards for Ryzen 5 2600 is not an easy task. It involves extensive research, and thinking as our readers would.

While conducting research for this guide, we noticed that a lot of people were recommending many X570 motherboards for the Ryzen 5 2600. Sure, that’s not a bad choice.

However, we have to consider that X570 tends to be an expensive platform, especially when compared to other chipsets. It does not make sense if pairing with a Ryzen 5 2600.

Don’t get us wrong, X570 is great for higher-end processors. However, it does not make much sense with a processor that is several generations old like the Ryzen 5 2600. Someone buying it now is doing it for pure value on a budget, and you don’t get that with X570.

Instead, B450 and B550 tend to be the better choices. Both of these chipsets are more affordable. We still managed to include an X570 motherboard, for those who want to future proof their gaming PC.

The best part about Ryzen is the upgrades. Even if you buy a B450 motherboard with the Ryzen 5 2600, you’ll be able to upgrade to Zen 2 or Zen 3 AMD processors later on. That’s incredible in terms of value.

So, after compiling a list of some of our favorite picks based on design, VRMs, connectivity, and value, we rank them based on their average rating.

Let’s take a look at our picks, and you can see the ratings of these best motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600 options for yourself!

7 Best Motherboards For Ryzen 5 2600 Reviews

Now that you know how we make our selections, let’s get to business. Here are some of our favorite picks when it comes to the best motherboards for Ryzen 5 2600.

1. BEST SELLER: ASUS ROG STRIX B550-F Gaming – Editor’s Choice

Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 5100MHz | Chipset: AMD B550 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+2 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | Network Features: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, 2.5 GbE LAN

For the first choice on this list, it was an easy decision. Our editor’s choice award for the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600 goes to the ASUS ROG Strix B550-F.

While the Strix B550-F might be a bit expensive, it has all the features every gamer could want. It even competes with some of the X570 options out there. It ticks all of the right boxes for both gamers and enthusiasts.

The Strix B550-F is a very popular choice among AMD users. Its popularity is justified by the robust VRMs, excellent performance, and of course, high-end design. The overall fit and finish here is impeccable.

Speaking of the design, this motherboard builds upon the legacy of the Strix lineup. The uniform black design is the main focus here.

This is a sleek motherboard through and through. Mostly thanks to the matte black finish shared throughout the exterior, heatsinks, and PCB.

Overall, the Strix B550-F has a stealthy and minimal look that is unseen on other motherboards. Furthermore, the sophisticated RGB implementation also goes a long way. The rear panel cover and chipset heatsink feature addressable RGB that can be controlled thanks to Aura Sync.

Apart from that, you get access to two M.2 drives, one of which has the potential to run at PCIe Gen 4 speeds. It even features a Wi-Fi 6 module, Bluetooth support, and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet. The port selection is great as well.

In terms of performance, you can add 128 gigs of RAM that can be overclocked to 5100MHz. Memory that fast will breathe a lot of life into the Ryzen 5 2600.

You also get access to the excellent SupremeFX audio codec. This means that audio is excellent in general, especially when playing games.

The only thing lacking here is a good selection of hardware buttons for our enthusiasts out there. The pricing may also be a bit steep for some.

Despite that, this is an excellent motherboard. The combination of excellent performance, premium design, and high-end components is proof of that.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 9/10
• Connectivity: 9/10
• Value For Money: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 9/10

2. Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite – Best Premium Motherboard

Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4733MHz | Chipset: AMD X570 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+2 Phases | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA | Network Features: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, Intel GbE LAN, Intel Ethernet LAN

An X570 motherboard would not be the first choice for the Ryzen 5 2600. This is because X570 motherboards tend to be expensive. However, the Aorus Elite is hard to ignore.

This is because while it uses a high-end chipset, the value proposition is too good. You get an abundance of features, premium design, high-performance networking and memory speed.

Considering all of that, the X570 Aorus Elite more than justifies its price. We have looked at many Aorus motherboards for other guides.

This one shares the same design philosophy as the other Elite motherboards Gigabyte has put out through the years.

So, the X570 Aorus Elite is quite sleek in its overall aesthetic. The stealthy looks allow it to stand against the more expensive options out there.

This is mostly thanks to the all-black design we have gotten familiar with at this point.

The PCB itself is mostly black and features minimal stenciling for that slick appearance. Furthermore, the matte black finish on the heatsinks looks very appealing.

Speaking of which, these heatsinks are rather large, and that helps the VRM cooling system.

Moving on, the heatsink over the chipset features an Aorus Eagle logo. There is a small RGB zone near the huge rear panel cover, and near the audio capacitors as well.

This motherboard features three M.2 slots, all of which can potentially use PCIe Gen 4. One of these M.2 slots also features a chipset heatsink. In terms of performance, the RAM can be overclocked to 4733MHz.

The 12+2 phase power delivery design is quite good as well. In reality, it is quite a bit more than what an older processor like the Ryzen 5 2600 would need.

The only real downside here is that only one of the M.2 slots features a heatsink and the fact that Gigabyte’s software is not exactly the best.

Considering everything else, those are minor complaints. Overall, this is an incredible premium motherboard for the Ryzen 5 2600.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 9/10
• Connectivity: 9/10
• Value For Money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8.87/10

3. BEST SELLER: MSI B450 Tomahawk MAX II – Best Budget Motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600

Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4133MHz | Chipset: AMD B450 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 4+2 phases | Storage: 6x SATA, 1x M.2| Network Features: Realtek GbE LAN

We did not have to look hard for our best motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600 on a a budget. The B450 Tomahawk MAX II was a very easy choice for this situation.

A good budget motherboard still needs to focus on good overall performance, value, plus decent fit and finish. The Tomahawk MAX II lives up to all of that and more.

The B450 Tomahawk MAX II happens to be an incremental upgrade of the original. It is ready for Ryzen 3000 out of the box if you ever plan to upgrade. This version even has a few extra features.

Pricing aside, this is a very good-looking motherboard. The PCB of the board is mostly black, with a good amount of stenciling around some areas. Compared to its predecessor, the B350 Tomahawk, the heatsinks are rather large on the power delivery.

This board even features an RGB zone near the right edge with eight LEDs. Of course, these are controllable via MSI Mystic RGB Software in Windows. This does add a bit of personality to an otherwise fairly modest-looking motherboard.

Apart from that, it features two PCIe full-length slots along with three x1 slots. The top slot is reinforced by metal shielding. It does keep a low profile, but that just means it will look good in almost any build.

As for the storage, you get access to six SATA ports and a single M.2 slot. Furthermore, USB Type-C also makes an appearance in the form of a 10Gbps port with BIOS Flashback.

This is a feature that will allow you to use next-gen Ryzen processors without too many issues with CPU compatibility.

A major downside with this board, is the fact that it lacks an aRGB header. This means you’ll need to buy a separate RGB Controller. Another M.2 slot would have been better too.

Other than that, this is quite a decent motherboard for a very reasonable price. The 4+2 phase VRM design might not seem like much, but it’s enough for a 65W processor like the Ryzen 5 2600.

Value is key here, and the Ryzen 5 2600 plus B450 Tomahawk is the best budget motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 9/10
• Connectivity: 9/10
• Value For Money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8.87/10

4. ASUS ROG STRIX B550-I Gaming – Best ITX Motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600

Memory Support: 64GB DDR4 @ 5100MHz | Chipset: AMD B550 | Form Factor: ITX | Voltage Regulator: 8+2 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | Network Features: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, 2.5 GbE LAN

The Ryzen 5 2600 is the perfect choice for portable SFF PCs. It’s a power-efficient chip and one that does not put out a lot of heat. Pairing it with a good ITX motherboard then is not a bad idea.

When it comes to ITX motherboards, ASUS dominates the market. While other manufacturers tend to skip out on features that make a great ITX motherboard, the ASUS ROG Strix series does it quite well.

Of course, a B550 ITX motherboard of this caliber will cost a lot. That is quite evident with the Strix B550-I Gaming, so keep that in mind.

Now, note that this motherboard uses the B550 chipset. That means you get access to PCIe Gen 4, and higher capacity/faster RAM. Sure, this is an ITX motherboard, but you won’t feel limited in your gaming experience in any way.

This is very important, as pairing a blazing fast SSD and high-frequency memory speed will make your PC feel snappier.

You won’t even notice you have an older generation processor like the Ryzen 5 2600 or even the AMD Athlon . Considering that, the ASUS ROG Strix B550-I is a great option.

In terms of the design, this ITX motherboard can proudly stand head and shoulder beside many ATX options.

It builds upon the already excellent and iconic Strix design. The large power delivery heatsinks blend perfectly with the rear panel cover.

Furthermore, the M.2 heatsinks also align symmetrically with this rear panel cover. All of this comes together to provide a sort of uniform and industrial appearance to the motherboard. The RGB zone on the M.2 heatsink further adds some flair to the board.

Apart from that, high-performance networking was a given with this motherboard. Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet are all present here, making this an excellent ITX package.

It does not end there, the 8+2 phase VRM design is quite robust for a processor such as the Ryzen 5 2600. The fact that you get two onboard M.2 slots is great as well.

The only real downside here then is pricing and the maximum amount of RAM supported is 64GB. ASUS is lacking a bit in the troubleshooting department, as more hardware buttons and debugging LEDs would have made this an even better package overall.

However, this is the best ITX motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600!

RATING:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 9/10
• Connectivity: 8/10
• Value For Money: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

5. ASRock B450M Steel Legend – Best Micro-ATX Motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600

Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 3533MHz | Chipset: AMD B450 | Form Factor: mATX | Voltage Regulator: 6+3 phases | Storage: 4x SATA, 2x M.2| Network: GbE LAN

Next on our list we have the ASRock B450M Steel Legend, one of the best micro-ATX motherboard options out there. This is a fan favorite motherboard, with a value that is hard to ignore.

Of course, this is a micro-ATX motherboard, meaning it does come with a few compromises. However, some folks might be willing to overlook that for the aggressive pricing here. That alone makes it worth considering.

So, the B450 Steel Legend was one of the first motherboards from the Steel Legend series. A line of motherboards that has earned legendary status among many AMD fans. It’s easy to see why that is the case.

The standout aspect of this motherboard is the design. For a cheap mATX motherboard, it looks very unique compared to the competition. This motherboard features interesting design elements that other, equally good motherboard options, won’t have.

For the most part, it uses a white/silver finish for visual flair. This can be seen in the large rear panel cover that also features the Steel Legend branding. An RGB zone is present in this area also.

The chipset heatsink uses a similar finish, along with an RGB zone underneath and around it. You rarely get to see RGB implementation this good on a cheap motherboard, so it is really impressive.

Other than that, you get a 6+3 phase power delivery design, which is perfectly equipped to handle the Ryzen 5 2600. You also get access to two M.2 slots, which is not bad for the price. On top of that it supports AMD Quad Crossfire and AMD Crossfire tech and has audio boost with the Realtek audio CODEC.

Overclocking features are not exactly the best, as you might have a hard time getting above 3600MHz speeds. The BIOS is a bit buggy, but the lack of Wi-Fi is the real downside here.

Of course, you have to remember the price of this board, then those downsides don’t seem like a major dealbreaker. This is why this is a great option for a budget motherboard.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 8/10
• Aesthetics: 8.5/10
• Connectivity: 8.5/10
• Value For Money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8.3/10

6. MSI B550-A Pro – Best B550 Choice Motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600

Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4400MHz | Chipset: AMD B550 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+2 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: No | Network: Realtek GbE LAN

The best thing about the Ryzen 5 2600 is the fact that you can pick and choose from a wide variety of motherboards. Some might think B550 could be a bit expensive for this processor, but certain motherboards beg to differ.

The MSI B550-A Pro is one of them since it has all the necessary features . While it doesn’t feature any bells and whistles, this motherboard is highly functional. It is definitely a budget friendly motherboard.

So, the best thing about this motherboard is that you get access to B550 features at a cheap price. One of these features is the addition of two M.2 Gen 4 slots, and a Gen 4 slot for the graphics card as well.

Allow us to briefly discuss the design. If you are a fan of flashy appearances, rugged designs, or RGB, then you may want to look elsewhere. The board lacks that extra visual flair that we see in many B550 motherboards.

That’s not the fault of the motherboard, as that just comes with the price.

It does not look unattractive by any means, as the matte black finish on the heat sink does add a sense of personality. Where the design may be lacking, you definitely get better performance.

The 10+2 phase VRM design is quite beefy for the Ryzen 5 2600, and it should have no problems in handling more powerful processors if you ever plan to upgrade your desktop PC for improved performance.

It uses decent thermal pads for the VRMs, improving the overall cooling system. The board also includes a heat sink for the PCIe slots Gen 4 M.2.

Memory speed and memory slots are quite good as well, as you get access to 128 gigs of RAM that can handle 4400MHz speeds.

The addition of a BIOS flash button is highly appreciated. Some motherboards and Ryzen processors can have BIOS issues, so this feature allows you to fix that without the need for a processor.

Apart from the design, the lack of Wi-Fi can be looked at as a downside. The menus in the BIOS are a bit convoluted as well, which can be a bit of pain when trying to use gaming and media tools.

Taking everything into consideration, this motherboard is a decent choice for the cost. Especially if you want the best value motherboard for the Ryzen 5 2600 with B550.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 8/10
• Aesthetics: 7.5/10
• Connectivity: 7.5/10
• Value For Money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 7.8/10

7. ASUS Prime B450M-A – Entry-Level Motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600

Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4400MHz | Chipset: AMD B450 | Form Factor: mATX | Voltage Regulator: 6 Phases | Storage: 1x M.2, 4x SATA ports | RGB: No | Network: Realtek Gigabit LAN

Last, but now least, we have an entry-level motherboard from ASUS. This one is the Prime B450M-A, a motherboard that cuts a few corners, but is also extremely affordable for the masses.

It is a micro-ATX motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600, but it still has some of the best features from its ATX motherboard counterparts like the ASUS ROG motherboard series or the ASUS ROG Strix.

For example, this board uses the Realtek ALC887 audio codec, as well as a Realtek controller for Gigabit Ethernet.

First off, the design here is not anything too spectacular. It lacks any sort of RGB implementation, huge logos/branding, or visual flair in general.

As far as other motherboards compare, it is a very barebones/basic-looking board.

Of course, that is to be expected for what it costs. The PCB is mostly clutter-free, with a grey triangular pattern. RGB is completely omitted, with the only lighting being near the audio section. And you can’t control that.

As for storage, you get access to decent memory slots. A single PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot as well as four SATA slots. Certainly, a bit limiting for higher-end builds.

Because of the smaller form factor you will have fewer expansion slots, lack high sound grade quality, but still have a quality gaming experience.

The 6-phase power delivery design might be lower than others on this list, but the quality is good. RAM support is decent as well, as this motherboard can support speeds of up to 4400MHz.

This motherboard is definitely bare bones. The design is basic, and the single M.2 slot and lack of memory speed might bother some folks. The lack of Wi-Fi was also expected for the cost.

However, despite all of that, very few motherboards out there are this functional for the price. For that reason, this one is worth considering for the Ryzen 5 2600.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 7/10
• Aesthetics: 7/10
• Connectivity: 7.5/10
• Value For Money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Buyer’s Guide for a Motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600

When it comes to buying a motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600, you need to know exactly what you’re motherboard supports, extra computer hardware you may want, and all the required features. That way you can play games and work successfully.

https://pixabay.com/photos/technology-computer-msi-hardware-6807091/

Form Factor

The form factor won’t necessarily tell you the quality of your motherboard. However, understanding the difference between form factors is important for you gaming systems and your overall gaming PC build.

Here are the three main form factors for motherboards.

https://unsplash.com/photos/jgzdwJWCPDI

ATX Motherboard

This is the standard form factor for mainstream gaming PCs. You usually get four RAM slots, two or more slots for the GPU, a good amount of headers and ports, and usually two or more M.2 slots on modern motherboards. Normally at least two PCI express slots for extra hardware components.

If unsure about form factors, this is the go-to choice.

Micro-ATX Motherboard

Micro-ATX or mATX gets rid of a few fan headers and a few bells and whistles to cut down on the price. They still have four RAM slots, and usually two PCIe slots for graphics cards.

Depending on the model, you might be limited to one M.2 slot. They are backward compatible with most ATX cases. A good choice for budget builds.

Mini-ITX Motherboard and ITX Motherboard

ITX is more of a niche form factor. This is for the folks who want to put together small factor portable PCs. They usually only have two DIMM slots and just one slot for the GPU. Because of the low demand for even the best mini-ITX motherboard options, pricing tends to be a bit higher.

Connectivity

Connectivity is one of the more important things that people should focus on when buying new motherboards.

This includes making sure that you have enough USB ports, storage ports such as SATA ports and M.2, fan headers, RGB lighting headers, compatible PCI sockets, PCI expansion slot options, and more.

https://unsplash.com/photos/YZmbiNkvpBM

Let’s break down what to look out for. For USB ports, you want to look out for a good number of Type-A ports that are at least USB 3.1 Gen 1 for modern motherboards. Some will also have USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Type-C.

Thunderbolt ports are also helpful if you want to connect faster external storage. Fan headers are important to control the fan speed via either the BIOS or other software.

RGB lighting headers are of course used for controlling lighting for various devices. Look into the Aura Sync RGB header feature for AMD CPUs.

https://pixabay.com/photos/amd-ryzen-cpu-processor-pc-chip-5250770/

Apart from that, video ports such as an HDMI port, Displayport are worth looking out for as well. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are included in many boards these days as well.

VRMs, Power Delivery, and Overclocking

The power delivery system on a motherboard is something many people overlook. However, if you are buying a high-end gaming motherboard, power delivery enhancements is what sets it apart from a mainstream motherboard.

https://pixabay.com/photos/heat-sink-heat-pipes-radiator-5250766/

The power delivery system is responsible for supplying clean power to the AMD motherboard. The motherboard then carries this power to all of the different components. You also need enough power for various hardware attachments through PCI express slots or PCIe slots. The quality of a good power delivery system dictates how reliable it is.

https://unsplash.com/photos/eBaFpf47__0

This becomes important when you are pushing your computer system, or even using overclocking features. A VRM configuration has access to a certain number of phases or stages. The number of phases is important, but the quality of the VRMs matters a lot as well. Especially for an overclocked motherboard.

FAQs

Is Ryzen 5 2600 Good Enough for a Gaming PC?

Ryzen 5 2600 is more than enough for gaming even though it is an old processor. If you are playing at a reasonable resolution and not playing at extremely high settings, you will have a decent gaming experience for a year or two.

What GPU will Bottleneck a Ryzen 5 2600

Extremely high-end graphics cards such as the RTX 3080 will bottleneck the Ryzen 5 2600. Especially if you are playing at 1080p, where games can be more GPU bound. An upgrade would be preferred at that point.

Is Ryzen 5 2600 Good for Video Editing?

The Ryzen 5 2600 is good for video editing. If you are a professional, then you will benefit from a processor with more cores or faster speeds like the Ryzen 5 2600.

What RAM do I need for Ryzen 5 2600?

AMD CPUs, like the AMD Ryzen 5 2600, requires speed that is important for the storage capacity. This processor can get at least 16 GB RAM clocking at 3000 MHz.