Are you looking for the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X?

The mid-range Zen 3 CPU is one of the fastest gaming processors out there, but it needs to be paired with a potent motherboard to fully maximize its potential.

Even though the Ryzen 5 5600X is a mid range processor and its base TDP is just 65W, it can draw a lot more power when it is overclocked. The motherboard choice can greatly affect the overclocking potential of this CPU.

AMD has also provided full PCIe 4.0 functionality with the Ryzen 5000 series CPUs, so we should select a motherboard that can take advantage of that feature to the maximum.

Without further ado, here are the very best motherboards you can buy for the Ryzen 5 5600X.

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

Why Should You Trust Us?

With a deep-rooted passion for technology and a keen interest in gaming, Konstantinos Chiotis has been in the tech industry for over a decade and has been building PCs since he was just 14. His extensive experience and dedication to understanding the intricacies of motherboards, GPUs, and processors have equipped him with the knowledge to discern the best from the rest.

When it comes to the best motherboards for Ryzen 5 5600x, Konstantinos’s expertise shines through. He meticulously evaluates each motherboard, considering factors such as power delivery, cooling system, connectivity, aesthetics, and overall value. His recommendations are not just based on specifications on paper, but also on real-world performance and reliability.

His commitment to providing accurate and comprehensive reviews stems from his desire to help you make an informed decision. He understands that a motherboard is the backbone of your PC, and choosing the right one can significantly enhance your gaming experience. Trust in Konstantinos’s expertise and rest assured that his recommendations for the best motherboards for Ryzen 5 5600x are reliable, well-researched, and most importantly, tried and tested.

Check this:

Best Motherboards for Ryzen 5 5600

The Best Motherboards for Ryzen 5 5600X – Compared

How We Choose the Best Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X

The Ryzen 5 5600X is a very competitive mid-range gaming CPU so it comes as no surprise that it should be paired with a decent motherboard in order to take full advantage of it.

Our first priority was the power delivery or VRM system of the motherboard. Apart from the general quality of the VRM components and the number of phases, we also paid attention to the cooling system of the motherboard and its effectiveness.

The feature-set of the motherboard is highly important to the daily working of the computer, and we made it a priority when establishing this ranking. Connectivity and networking features were closely considered when giving one motherboard an advantage over the other.

Of course, we also considered other factors such as the design and aesthetics of the motherboard, but those were less impactful to the ranking due to their subjective nature.

Finally, we laid focus on the price tag and the overall value proposition of the motherboard. This is arguably the most important factor when pairing a motherboard with a mid-range CPU such as the Ryzen 5 5600X. Motherboards with a better value proposition were often given a higher ranking.

Using these factors, we have curated a list of the very best motherboards you can pair with the Ryzen 5 5600X. Let’s jump right in.

9 Best Motherboards for Ryzen 5 5600X Reviews

1. Gigabyte X570 AORUS Master – Editor’s Choice

Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: X570 | VRM: 14+2 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4400 | Video Outputs: None | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 9x internal | Network: 1x 1GbE LAN, 1x 2.5GbE LAN, 1x WiFi | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA

Kicking things off with a high-end pick, the Gigabyte X570 AORUS Master is undoubtedly among the best AMD X570 chipset motherboards on the market. It’s an all-rounder that covers all bases, from gaming to productivity. It has a premium price tag, but it’s worth it for the features and performance it offers.

The VRM design of the Gigabyte X570 AORUS Master is top-notch and it’s able to deliver clean power to the CPU even when overclocking. The VRM layout is solid and the power delivery is great, but what really sets this motherboard apart is the quality of the VRMs and the heatsinks. This is also why we chose the X570 AORUS Master in our roundup of the best motherboards for Ryzen 9 3950X.

It is true that the 14+2 phase VRM on this motherboard is among the best we’ve seen, and it is cooled by some of the largest and most effective heatsinks we’ve ever seen on a motherboard. This combination makes for a motherboard that can easily handle any CPU you throw at it, and it’s able to keep the CPU cool even when overclocking.

The Gigabyte X570 AORUS Master is one of the higher-end motherboards in the company’s lineup for AMD’s latest Ryzen 5000 series processors. It offers a good mix of features and connectivity, including support for WiFi 6 and 2.5 Gbps Ethernet, as well as three M.2 slots for storage devices.

In terms of USB, there are eight ports on the back panel and more internal headers for front-panel connections. We would have liked to see some display outputs on the board, which can come in handy for diagnostic purposes.

The design of the Gigabyte X570 AORUS Master is eye-catching, with aggressive design language and RGB lighting. The motherboard can also communicate with Gigabyte AORUS software that lets you control the lighting and other features.

Some may find the design of the board a bit too flashy and aggressive, but for most consumers, it should fit in perfectly with the rest of their components.

Gigabyte’s X570 AORUS Xtreme is another ultra high-end option in this category, but we chose the X570 AORUS Master thanks to its better price-to-performance ratio. The AORUS Xtreme option does not justify its extremely high price tag when paired with a Ryzen 5 5600X.

Overall, the Gigabyte X570 AORUS Master is a great option for anyone looking for a high-end AMD X570 chipset motherboard to pair with a Ryzen 5 5600X. While it isn’t cheap by any means, the AORUS Master does well to justify its price tag by delivering an unparalleled set of features.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 9.5/10
• Features: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 8.5/10
• Value for Money: 7.5/10
• Overall Rating: 9/10

2. ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (WiFi) – Best Premium Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X

Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: X570 | VRM: 8 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4800 | Video Outputs: None | USB Ports: 10x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 2.5GbE LAN, 1x WiFi | Storage: 2x M.2, 8x SATA

Continuing our high-end picks for the Ryzen 5 5600X, the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Hero is a premium X570 motherboard that comes with a high price tag. But for that price premium, you get some extraordinary features and an overbuilt power delivery system.

First and foremost, the board is designed for overclocking. Don’t let the mere “8-phase” VRM layout fool you. ASUS is known for designing its power delivery systems a bit differently, so the number matters little. The VRM of the ASUS Crosshair VIII Hero is designed to provide reliable power delivery to the CPU, especially when overclocking.

The VRM consists of high-quality components, including premium MOSFETs and ceramic capacitors. These components are cooled by large heatsinks, which help to improve reliability and longevity. In addition, the heatsinks have adequate finning which helps to distribute heat evenly and prevent throttling.

Moving on to the feature set, it is clear that the ASUS Crosshair VIII Hero is a high-end gaming motherboard that comes packed with features. For connectivity, it has a 2.5 GbE LAN port and WiFi 6 which should cover most networking needs.

The eight SATA ports can be useful for connecting a lot of storage drives, as well as the two M.2 slots on the board itself. There are three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports on the rear, forming part of the 10 total rear USB ports. The addition of a few display outputs would have been a nice touch as well.

One can also say that the aesthetics of the ASUS Crosshair VIII Hero are nothing short of impressive. From the sleek, angular design to the RGB lighting, everything about this motherboard oozes style.

The color scheme is also well thought out, with the black and red theme complimenting the other components in my build perfectly. Even the layout of the ports and connectors is pleasing to the eye.

Not to mention, you can customize the look of the RGB lighting using the ASUS Aura Sync software as well, making the motherboard a completely personalized part of your build.

Apart from the generational chipset improvement, the ASUS Crosshair VIII Hero brings a few more improvements like PCIe Gen 4 and official support for Ryzen 5000 series CPUs to the table when compared to the previous generation Crosshair VII Hero.

We also chose the Crosshair VIII Hero variant over more expensive offerings like Extreme because of the price-to-performance advantage offered by the Crosshair VIII Hero. However, we did recommend the Crosshair VIII Extreme in our list of the best motherboards for Ryzen 9 5950X.

Conclusively, the ASUS Crosshair VIII Hero is the best premium motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X you can buy, albeit at a steep price. Some may argue that this particular option is a bit too much for a mid-range CPU such as the Ryzen 5 5600X, but overclocking enthusiasts must give the Crosshair VIII Hero a shot.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Features: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 9.5/10
• Value for Money: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 9/10

3. MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi – Best Budget Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X – BEST SELLER

Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: X570 | VRM: 12 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4600 | Video Outputs: HDMI | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 9x internal | Network: 1x 2.5GbE LAN, 1x WiFi | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA

The MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi is one of the more reasonably priced flagship motherboards on the market. It’s packed with features and overclocking potential, making it a great option for gamers and power users looking to get the most bang for their buck.

While it doesn’t have some of the bells and whistles of more expensive boards, it more than makes up for it in terms of performance and value.

The highlight feature of the MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk is its extraordinary power delivery system, which is composed of a 12-phase VRM design. The setup is complemented with premium chokes and capacitors that help to deliver great power delivery to the CPU. It provides an excellent overclocking experience when paired with the Ryzen 5 5600X.

The VRM design helps to enable excellent CPU overclocking potential, making it a great choice for gamers and enthusiasts who want to get the most out of their system. The VRM also features an excellent cooling design, with large heatsink surface areas that help to dissipate heat quickly and efficiently.

When it comes to features, the MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk is a well-rounded motherboard that offers a solid feature set for both gaming performance and workstation builds. On the connectivity front, there are two Ethernet ports (including one that has 2.5 GbE capability), as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0.

Apart from the Intel LAN port, there is also a Realtek port limited to 1 Gbps.

For storage, there are two M.2 slots and six SATA 3.0 ports, which is a solid combination for most modern gaming builds. There are also four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports and two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports (one on the rear panel and one via an internal header). However, the total number of rear USB ports is low when compared to the competition.

Moving on to the aesthetics, the design of the MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk is very basic and neutral. The color scheme is black and gray, with just a touch of RGB lighting to add some flair. The result is a stealthy look that is very aesthetically pleasing.

The build quality is also excellent, with a solid metal frame that looks and feels very premium. However, some consumers may not like the understated looks of the Tomahawk and may prefer a more flashy approach offered by competitive boards.

You can also get the MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk without the WiFi option for a bit cheaper, but we have gone with the WiFi variant since it offers a better value proposition. We also chose the MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk in our roundup of the best motherboards for Ryzen 9 3900X.

MSI also offers the X570 UNIFY and X570 ACE motherboards, although their pricing is a bit too much if we pair it with the Ryzen 5 5600X.

All in all, the X570 Tomahawk is the best budget motherboard for the Ryzen 5 5600X CPU. It offers the highest price-to-performance output while delivering a solid feature-set paired with an excellent power delivery system.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 9.5/10
• Features: 8/10
• Aesthetics: 8/10
• Value for Money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

4. ASUS ROG Strix B550-E Gaming – Best B550 Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X

Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: B550 | VRM: 14+2 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5400 | Video Outputs: HDMI | USB Ports: 12x rear IO, 6x internal | Network: 1x 2.5GbE LAN, 1x WiFi | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA

The ASUS ROG Strix B550-E Gaming is one of the best B550 motherboards on the market, and it makes a very good pair with the Ryzen 5 5600X. It offers an excellent balance of features, performance, and price. A similar ASUS offering was selected in our list of the best motherboards for Ryzen 9 5900X.

First things first, the VRM design of the ASUS ROG Strix B550-E motherboard is impressive, delivering excellent power delivery and overclocking potential. The VRM is comprised of high-quality components, including 14+2 power stages with IR3555 power MOSFETs, 10K black metallic capacitors, and sizeable VRM heatsinks.

The VRM is also well-cooled, thanks to the excellent heat dissipation capability of the heatsinks. You can expect competitive overclocking on the Ryzen 5 5600X when paired with the ROG Strix B550-E.

Moving on to the features, the ASUS ROG Strix B550-E motherboard is packed with features that are sure to appeal to gamers and performance enthusiasts. It has extensive storage options, including two M.2 slots for high-speed NVMe devices, four USB 3.2 ports, and Intel 2.5GbE LAN and WiFi 6 for fast networking.

There are 12 rear USB ports on the I/O panel, which is a pretty competitive number, especially at this price point. The board lacks a DisplayPort output, however, which could have elevated the feature-set of the B550-E to the next level.

Moreover, ASUS’s ROG Strix B550-E motherboard looks fantastic. The matte black PCB is matched with a black and grey color scheme for the heatsinks and I/O shroud, which gives it a very aggressive look. The lighting is also well done, with plenty of RGB LEDs built into the board and some cool effects that can be controlled through the ASUS software.

The only thing that some consumers might not like about the aesthetics is the large ROG logo on the chipset heatsink, but that’s a minor nitpick. The aesthetics are quite clearly the strong point of this board.

ASUS also has the ROG Strix B550-F motherboard in this category, but that is inferior to the B550-E due to a slightly worse feature set. Moreover, the B550-E looks a lot better than the B550-F variant, further validating our choice in this department.

When all is said and done, the ASUS ROG Strix B550-E will stand as the best B550 motherboard you can buy for the Ryzen 5 5600X. Not only does it have an excellent power delivery system paired with versatile features, but it is also a reasonably-priced option when compared to the X570 offerings on the market.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Features: 8.5/10
• Aesthetics: 8.5/10
• Value for Money: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

5. Gigabyte B550 Vision D-P – Best Looking Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X

Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: B550 | VRM: 12+2 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5400 | Video Outputs: Thunderbolt, HDMI, DisplayPort | USB Ports: 10x rear IO, 6x internal | Network: 2x 2.5GbE LAN, 1x WiFi | Storage: 2x M.2, 8x SATA

Another option you can go for is the Gigabyte B550 Vision D-P, which is one of the best-looking B550 motherboards on the market. It has a minimalistic design that will appeal to anyone who wants a clean and elegant build.

It is also one of the best motherboards you can get for the money, although it does hedge on the higher end of the price spectrum.

The VRM on the Gigabyte B550 Vision D-P is robust and delivers stable power to the CPU as required. There are no issues with overheating, even when overclocking the CPU. The heatsinks are well designed and keep the VRM cool.

One can say that the 12+2 phase VRM on the Gigabyte B550 Vision D-P is perfectly acceptable and does not have any major issues. It is a great choice for those looking for a robust VRM to pair with their Ryzen 5 5600X processor, and maybe try out some overclocking as well.

Moving on to the features, the Gigabyte B550 Vision D-P is a feature-rich motherboard that offers excellent connectivity and networking options. It has two USB 3.2 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, and two M.2 slots for storage expansion.

The motherboard features WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5 support, as well as dual Intel 2.5Gb LAN for high-speed wired networking. The addition of Thunderbolt elevates this motherboard to another level when compared with competing options. The board also features aRGB and RGBW LED header, as well as an addressable LED header for convenient lighting customization.

Speaking of the lighting, the board could have used more RGB lighting and customization to fit in with the modern trends, but that is a decision that Gigabyte had to take. They went with a minimalistic design language with flat white and silver heatsinks that complement modern design well.

The all-black PCB looks great, and the silver heatsinks add a nice touch of contrast. The board might look a bit too plain for some consumers, however.

Gigabyte’s Vision series is relatively new in their product line, but you can also find the Gigabyte B550 AORUS Master at a similar price point to the Gigabyte B550 Vision D-P. We prefer the Vision option thanks to its excellent networking, Thunderbolt option, as well as its attractive aesthetics.

Conclusively, the Gigabyte B550 Vision D-P is our pick for the best-looking motherboard you can buy for the Ryzen 5 5600X. It does tend to be pricy when compared to other B550 options, but its value for money is excellent and it offers a unique design element that other motherboards cannot offer. This is why we also chose this motherboard in our list for the best motherboards for Ryzen 5 3600.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 8/10
• Features: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 9/10
• Value for Money: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

6. MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk – Best Value Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X

Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: B550 | VRM: 10+2+1 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5100 | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB Ports: 6x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 2.5GbE LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA

Moving further down the pecking order, the MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk is an affordable motherboard that offers excellent value for the price. It has a great selection of features and good build quality, making it a great option for anyone looking to build a budget-friendly gaming PC.

The MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk has an excellent 10+2+1 phase VRM for those looking to overclock their CPU. It has a solid power delivery and excellent overclocking potential thanks to the premium chokes and capacitors used by MSI.

MSI has also installed large VRM heatsinks with adequate finning that can help keep the temperatures in control. While it is a modestly-priced motherboard, the MAG B550 Tomahawk surely has the capability of unlocking your Ryzen 5 5600X with its VRM.

When it comes to the feature set, the MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk is a fairly average motherboard. It comes with 2.5 GbE LAN, but no WiFi, and has two M.2 slots for ultra-fast storage. It also has a moderate number of USB ports, including both USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports.

The lack of WiFi and few rear USB ports can be a bit of a problem for users down the line. While the feature-set is good enough for the price, it lacks some of the more advanced features that are found on more high-end motherboards.

Aesthetically, the MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk is a plain-looking motherboard with a stealthy gray color scheme. The plain design is accentuated by some RGB lighting, which can be customized to any color you want. However, the lighting is quite minimal and limited to obscure areas.

The design is simple and uncluttered, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a simple, effective, and affordable motherboard.

MSI also has the B550 Gaming Pro Carbon motherboard at a similar price point, but we prefer the B550 Tomahawk thanks to its higher price-to-performance ratio and better VRM heatsinks. The thermal management of the Tomahawk is among the best in this category.

If you want to consider more budget motherboards for the Ryzen 5 5600X, be sure to check out our list for the best budget X570 motherboards as well.

One can say that the biggest selling point of the MAG B550 Tomahawk is its price-to-performance ratio, coupled with its premium VRM design. The board offers excellent performance for the price, making it a great option for gamers who aim to pair it with a Ryzen 5 5600X.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 8.5/10
• Features: 7.5/10
• Aesthetics: 8/10
• Value for Money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

7. ASRock B550 Taichi – Best RGB Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X

Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: B550 | VRM: 16+2 Phase | Memory Modules: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5200 | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 9x internal | Network: 1x 2.5GbE LAN, 1x WiFi | Storage: 2x M.2, 8x SATA

Another suitable pairing for the Ryzen 5 5600X is the ASRock B550 Taichi, which is a decent option for anyone looking for a quality motherboard with a competitive feature set. It’s a high-end board, so the price is reflective of that, but it also has some controversial design choices that may not be to everyone’s taste.

The ASRock B550 Taichi is a premium motherboard that offers excellent power delivery and quality components. It has a 16+2 phase VRM that uses high-quality chokes, capacitors, and MOSFETs. The power delivery is further enhanced by the inclusion of premium heatsinks for decent cooling.

As a result, the ASRock B550 Taichi is able to deliver decent overclocking performance for your Ryzen 5 5600X. One can easily hit the highest overclock possible on air cooling using the ASRock B550 Taichi.

Moreover, the ASRock B550 Taichi is a good motherboard for all your gaming needs and comes with a lot of features that are essential for a good gaming experience. One of the best features of this motherboard is the solid networking suite that it offers.

It comes with both 2.5 GbE LAN and WiFi support, which ensures that you have a good connection no matter where you are playing.

In addition, it also comes with 8 SATA ports in addition to 2 M.2 slots, which is more than enough for most gamers. However, one downside of this motherboard is that it only comes with a few rear USB ports. While this may not be a problem for some gamers, it can be an issue for others.

ASRock’s B550 Taichi is a controversial motherboard when it comes to aesthetics. Some love the design, while others find it too busy and polarizing. The board features beautiful RGB lighting but a color scheme that some find gaudy. Whether you love or hate the aesthetics, the B550 Taichi is sure to make a statement in your build.

The B550 Taichi was our pick of choice for this spot over the ASRock X570 Taichi, since both atx motherboards offered quite similar features. The VRM of the B550 offering is good enough for the Ryzen 5 5600X, and the lower price tag also plays in its favor.

While the polarizing looks might turn some potential buyers away from the B550 Taichi, it is still a great all-around option to pair with the Ryzen 5 5600X, thanks to its balance of premium power delivery and solid features.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 8.5/10
• Features: 8.5/10
• Aesthetics: 7.5/10
• Value for Money: 7.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

8. MSI MAG B550M Mortar – Best Micro ATX Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X

Form Factor: Micro ATX | Chipset: B550 | VRM: 8+2+1 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4400 | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB Ports: 6x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 2.5GbE LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA

If you are looking to save a bit of money on your motherboard purchase while building a relatively compact PC, then a micro ATX motherboard is the best option. For the Ryzen 5 5600X, we recommend the MSI MAG B550M Mortar which offers a great bang for the buck in this category.

The Mortar uses a similar VRM design to the outgoing MSI B450 Tomahawk, which was regarded as one of the best motherboards on that platform. While it cannot compete with some of the more premium X570 offerings on the market, it is still more than capable of maximizing the Ryzen 5 5600X to its full potential.

MSI has provided some decent heatsinks for the VRM, but the contact they make with the components is not ideal and the VRM does get warm under load. You might need to keep that in mind if you overclock the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Moving on to features, it is a bit of a mixed bag in this department. The inclusion of 2.5 GbE LAN and 2 M.2 slots is rather nice on a board at this price point, but the lack of WiFi on the standard Mortar board is a bit of a letdown.

The number of rear USB ports can also be rather sparse for some users who have a lot of devices. It is fair to say that there was room for improvement in the connectivity and networking aspects of this board.

MSI has kept it pretty simple with the design of the B550 Mortar. It carries the same black and gray color scheme as the Tomahawk boards, and the RGB lighting is minimal at best. Some users may not be content with the simple approach that MSI has taken here.

The MAG B550 Mortar is quite an affordable motherboard which makes it a great pairing for the Ryzen 5 5600X. We chose the B550 Mortar over the competing MSI B550 Gaming Edge motherboard since the former offered a better price-to-performance ratio despite lacking a few features.

One can say that the MSI MAG B550 Mortar is the best micro ATX motherboard for the Ryzen 5 5600X currently on the market. It lacks a few key features, but the overall package is rather impressive for the price. More micro ATX motherboard recommendations can be found in our selection of the best micro ATX motherboards.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 8/10
• Features: 7/10
• Aesthetics: 7.5/10
• Value for Money: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 7.5/10

9. ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming-ITX – Best Mini ITX Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X

Form Factor: Mini ITX | Chipset: B550 | VRM: 8 Phase | Memory Support: 2x DIMM, 64GB, DDR4-5400 | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB Ports: 6x rear IO, 5x internal | Network: 1x 2.5GbE LAN, 1x WiFi | Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA

With the rising popularity of small form factor gaming PCs, it makes a lot of sense to pair the Ryzen 6 5600X with a mini ITX motherboard. Our recommended ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming ITX is the best mini ITX choice for your Ryzen 5 build. More mini ITX motherboard recommendations can be found in our list of the best mini ITX motherboards.

ASRock has provided a decent VRM on the B550 Gaming ITX but don’t expect any serious overclocking potential from the 8 Phase power delivery system. It is a moderately powerful VRM that is able to handle the Ryzen 5 5600X at stock settings.

You might also be able to dabble in some light overclocking, but the VRM components do get toasty under extended loads. The small VRM heatsinks do not perform as well as one might want in a B550 motherboard.

On the features side, the ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming ITX is well-equipped for a mini ITX motherboard. However, the availability of only 2 DIMM slots is a major drawback for expandability down the line.

In terms of networking, we do have a 2.5 GbE LAN port as well as WiFi capability, which is pretty much standard for a motherboard at this price point. However, the number of rear USB ports can be a bit of a concern for users down the line.

Having 2 M.2 slots on a mini ITX motherboard is a really nice touch, however.

There isn’t much to note about the aesthetics of the B550 Phantom Gaming ITX. The silver accents look quite nice, and the minimal RGB lighting is also tasteful. The design is rather inoffensive all things considered.

ASRock’s B550 Steel Legend motherboard can also be considered for a compact PC build, but the mini ITX form factor of the B550 Phantom Gaming ITX gives it the lead. It is also a better motherboard in terms of features.

Overall, the ASRock B550 Steel Legend should be your pick of choice if you want to incorporate the Ryzen 5 5600X in a compact, SFF gaming build. The limited expandability raises a question, but that is more a limitation of the form factor itself than the board.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 7.5/10
• Features: 7/10
• Aesthetics: 8/10
• Value for Money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Best Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X – Buyer’s Guide

The motherboard market is an unusually hard market for buyers since there is not much information that can be gathered about a particular motherboard without testing it. The product pages are woefully useless in this matter as they are just filled with marketing jargon.

In order to shortlist the best motherboard to pair with your Ryzen 5 5600X CPU, it is best to consider the following factors one by one before making your final decision.

Price To Performance Ratio

One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a motherboard for the Ryzen 5 5600X is the price-to-performance ratio. In other words, how much value are you getting for the price? A cheap motherboard might seem like a good deal at first, but it may not offer the same features and quality as a relatively expensive model.

On the other hand, an expensive motherboard might offer superior performance, but it might not be worth the extra cost if you don’t need that level of power. Finding the right balance is essential in order to get the best bang for your buck, especially for a mid-range CPU such as the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Keep in mind that cheaper is not always better and that the most expensive option isn’t necessarily the best either. Instead, focus on finding a motherboard that offers good value for the price. That way, you can be sure that you’re getting the best possible deal.

PCIe Gen 4 and Storage

PCIe 4.0 is the latest PCIe standard and offers a significant performance improvement over PCIe 3.0. PCIe 4.0 doubles the data transfer rate of PCIe 3.0, meaning that it can provide up to 32GT/s of bandwidth. This makes it ideal for high-end graphics cards and fast storage devices.

PCIe 4.0 is also backward compatible with PCIe 3.0, so you can still use your existing PCIe 3.0 devices with a PCIe 4.0 motherboard. If you’re looking to upgrade to the latest and greatest, PCIe 4.0 is the way to go.

With that in mind, you should definitely keep PCIe 4.0 as a priority when shopping for a motherboard for any Ryzen 5000 series CPU. Be sure to consider the number of M.2 slots that are equipped with PCIe 4.0 functionality.

Memory Compatibility

When considering a motherboard for your AMD Ryzen system, it’s important to take into account the compatibility of the memory. Ryzen CPUs are very sensitive to memory speed, and faster RAM can make a big difference in overall performance. The same holds true for the Ryzen 5 5600X as well.

Memory compatibility is important to check beforehand, as not all RAM modules will work well with all Ryzen motherboards. In general, you’ll want to look for a motherboard that supports RAM with a high frequency and low latency. This will give you the best possible performance from your system.

CPU Overclocking and VRM Design

VRM and power delivery are among the most important factors when choosing a motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X. The VRM on a motherboard determines how well your CPU will overclock and how stable it will be when running at high speeds.

The VRM consists of a VRM phase, VRM power stage, VRM driver, and VRM capacitor. The VRM phase is important because it determines how many steps the VRM takes to convert the incoming AC voltage to the desired DC voltage.

VRM power stage is important because it determines how much power each phase can deliver to the CPU. VRM driver is important because it controls the flow of current between the VRM phases and keeps the voltage at the correct level.

VRM capacitor is important because it stores energy and helps to reduce ripple.

The best motherboards for Ryzen 5 5600X have at least 8 VRM phases with good quality components, which is often hard to judge without looking at reviews.

User and expert reviews will help you a lot when judging the quality of a motherboard’s VRM.

FAQs:

Is X570 better than B550?

X570 is better than B550 since it provides direct PCIe 4.0 lanes from the chipset itself, which is not the case with B550 motherboards. Therefore the PCIe 4.0 functionality is limited to only one M.2 slot in B550 motherboards.

There are also more USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports in X570 motherboards, and the VRM setup is generally superior as well.

Can I use Ryzen 5 5600X with an X470 motherboard?

You can use the Ryzen 5 5600X with select X470 motherboards by updating the BIOS of the motherboard. There is no official support for Ryzen 5000 series CPUs on 400 series motherboards, but many motherboard manufacturers have pushed BIOS updates that make the two compatible with each other.

Is B550 future proof?

B550 motherboards are not future-proof since they use the same AM4 socket that is in use for around 4 years at the time of writing. The next generation of AMD Ryzen processors will use a brand new cpu socket, which will make the 500 series motherboards cpu compatibility with the new processors not possible by default.

It is for this reason that any 500 or 400-series AMD motherboards are not considered future-proof.

Does Ryzen 5 5600X support PCIe 4.0?

The Ryzen 5 5600X CPU supports full PCIe 4.0 functionality, as it is based on the Zen 3 architecture. Ryzen 5000 series CPUs have a total of 24 PCIe Gen 4 lanes, which can be used for both storage devices and graphics cards.

How many USB ports and expansion slots are supported by the X570 chipset?

The X570 chipset support 8 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 4 USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and 4 USB 2.0 ports. Most X570 motherboards have 3 PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, and 3 PCIe 4.0 x1 slots. This combination is not standard and can be changed by the manufacturer, however.