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Looking for the best motherboard for Ryzen 7 3700x in 2022?
The Ryzen 7 3700X was launched in July 2019 and is a part of Zen 2(Matisse architecture). It has 8 cores and 16 threads thanks to AMD’s SMT technology. With a 3.6GHz base clock, this powerful CPU can boost up to 4.4GHz.
There are many compatible motherboards for Ryzen 7 3700X with multiple chipsets, but we recommend sticking with either X570 or B550 for the most part. We’ll expand more on this later.
Speaking of which, this guide should be useful for people looking for the best motherboards for Ryzen 7 3700X. After all this time, the ryzen 7 3700X still retains its value in both productivity and gaming, so we want our readers to pair it with a great motherboard to enjoy high-end gaming in 2022.
We’ll also briefly discuss how we choose these gaming motherboards later on. For now, let’s get straight into it.
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 7 3700X Comparison Table
Editors' Choice ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming
| Best Premium Motherboard Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master (Best Seller)
| Best Budget Motherboard MSI MAG B550-M Mortar
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How We Choose The Best Motherboards For Ryzen 7 3700X
By now, we have written quite a few guides on the best motherboards for a dedicated processor. While the major details here and there might change, our research and testing methodology remains the same.
Primarily, we want to focus on four things: Power delivery, aesthetics, overall value, and wifi connectivity/network features. Most of our guides include motherboards that are a combination of all of these things.
However, things get a bit trickier with the Ryzen 7 3700X. AMD’s Excellent long-term support for their Ryzen processors means that you get a lot of the premium high-end motherboards options.
This is especially true for the Ryzen 3000 chips. The Ryzen 7 3700X will work with B550, X570, B450, X470, B350, and X370 chipsets. Depending on the model, some A320 motherboards will also work if you manage to play around with the BIOS update settings.
As you can probably imagine, this poses quite the dilemma. It is tough to sort through the latest chipsets, let alone go through around five more.
So, we have decided that sticking with B550 and X570 is the wiser choice. This is due to two reasons: PCIe Gen 4 and all-around futureproofing.
Don’t get us wrong, some B450 and X470 still pack quite a punch. But by purchasing a B550 or X570 motherboard, you always have the room to upgrade to an even better processor without worrying about VRMs, PCIe Gen 4, etc.
After making that decision, it was simple enough for us to go through our usual sorting methods to rank the motherboards based on their overall average scores. That average relies on the four parameters we mentioned at the start of this section.
10 Best Motherboards For Ryzen 7 3700X
1. ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming – Editor’s Choice
Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4400MHz | Chipset: AMD B550 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+2 Phases | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Dual-band Wi-Fi, 2.5 GbE LAN, Bluetooth
Pros:
- Familiar yet compelling design
- BIOS and Aura Sync are excellent
- Networking options are great
- Surprisingly robust VRMs
- Tasteful RGB implementation
Cons:
- Expensive for a B550 board
ASUS ROG Strix line-up of motherboards has always been excellent. Everything about the Strix B550-F appeals to the general audience. This is thanks to the high-end components, excellent network features, and of course, overall performance.
If you don’t want to waste time researching all day, then just get this as it is one of the best motherboards for Ryzen 7 3700X.
The first thing that stands out in ASUS ROG Strix B550-F is the design. Unlike other motherboards using a dual-tone design, this ASUS motherboard goes for an all-black look for the PCB and even heatsinks.
This allows the board to fit the color scheme of any case or PC build. It also allows the RGB lighting to bounce off the surface of this board gorgeously. Highlights on both VRM and chipset heatsinks are a nice touch too.
The performance of the ASUS ROG Strix B550-F is a pleasant surprise here. This is by no means an enthusiast motherboard meant for overclocking, but you shouldn’t be doing that too much with a ryzen 7 3700X.
The 12+2 power phase design is quite good here. You shouldn’t be looking at the X570 level of OC’ing or performance here, but it’s great for the general audience. That’s where this particular motherboard shines. It is not trying to appeal to hardware enthusiasts or nerds.
The Strix also uses SupremeFX audio chip which delivers great audio as well. Another feature for the mainstream audience. So, if you don’t mind leaving some performance on the table for design and extra features, this is a great motherboard to buy.
Rating:
VRM Design: 9/10
Aesthetics: 9/10
Connectivity: 9/10
Value for money: 9/10
Overall Rating: 9/10
2. BEST SELLER: Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master – Best Premium Motherboard For Ryzen 7 3700x
Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4400MHz | Chipset: AMD X570 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+2 Phases | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Wi-Fi 6, Realtek 2.5 GbE LAN, Bluetooth 5.0
Pros:
- Superb Networking Options
- Tasteful design and RGB implementation
- Extremely high-end components and feature set
- High-end Audio
- Excellent VRMs and VRM cooling
Cons:
- Pricing is quite high
The X570 Aorus Master might be one of the best all-rounder motherboards for the Ryzen 7 3700X. It brings an excellent feature set and high-quality components to the table. Both of which are complemented by a premium design as well.
This Aorus Master motherboard is also using a mostly black PCB that features silver stenciling in some areas. Most of the design happens to be emphasized in the outer edges, such as the rear panel cover which has an RGB zone and Aorus branding on it. There’s another RGB zone on the lower-left corner.
The actively cooled heat-sink also has the Aorus Eagle logo over it. The design isn’t all just for show, as you also get three M.2 slots with heatsinks.
High-end components such as 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5 are no issue with this board. It even incorporates two LAN ports instead of one. The 12+2 phase VRMs are rated at 50A each.
This is quite beefy for the Ryzen 7 3700X and will allow you to overclock heavily. It’s also helpful that the VRM cooling is also done brilliantly here. On top of that, the Sabre 9118 DAC chip provides great audio quality.
There’s a lot more to this motherboard. A clear CMOS button, BIOS flashback. USB 3.2, and Type-C are features that serve as the cherry on top. While the pricing is quite high, this is the best premium motherboard for Ryzen 7 3700X.
Rating:
VRM Design: 9/10
Aesthetics: 9/10
Connectivity: 9/10
Value for money: 8.5/10
Overall Rating: 8.87/10
3. MSI MAG B550-M Mortar – Best Budget Motherboard For Ryzen 7 3700x
Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4400MHz | Chipset: AMD B550 | Form Factor: mATX | Voltage Regulator: 8+2 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: No | Network: Realtek 2.5 GbE LAN
Pros:
- Competitive pricing
- Stealthy all-black design
- Reliable VRM design
- 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port
Cons:
- Little to no overclocking headroom
MSI’s Mortar series of motherboards always fly under the radar for a lot of people. These motherboards look great, they are reliable and have a host of features that most gamers desire.
This is why we’re shining a light on the B550-M Mortar. First off, the design of this micro-ATX motherboard is quite appealing. The all-black exterior provides a nice contrast to the silver stenciling on the PCB.
Something about the heatsinks provides an industrial type look. The Wi-Fi version looks even better, as it has silver heatsinks that contrast the patterned PCB. In terms of slots, you get the top one which is PCIe 4.0 x16, and the one below that is locked to PCIe 3.0 x4. You also get two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots.
You get access to two M.2 slots with this board, one of which can use PCIe Gen 4. You also get access to six SATA ports that support RAID 0, 1, and 10 arrays. Other than that, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet is also there, which is awesome for a board at this very affordable price along with Realtek ALC1200HD audio codec.
On top of all of that, you get an HDMI port out and a BIOS flashback button. This efficient motherboard can truly compete even with MSI’s own Tomahawk B550.
It is an affordable motherboard, has great features, and looks great. If you are not someone who cares about heavily tweaking the CPU socket, then this is the best budget motherboard for Ryzen 7 3700X.
Rating:
VRM Design: 8.5/10
Aesthetics: 9/10
Connectivity: 9/10
Value for money: 9/10
Overall Rating: 8.87/10
4. BEST SELLER: Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite Wi-Fi – Best RGB Motherboard
Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4000MHz | Chipset: AMD X570 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+2 Phases | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Dual-band Wi-Fi, Intel GbE LAN, Bluetooth
Pros:
- Appealing all-around value
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Gigabit Ethernet
- Unique design with RGB
- Solid power delivery system
- Decent power efficiency
Cons:
- Finicky on-off button
The Aorus Elite incorporates a subtle and sleek design language. The all-black PCB further adds to the inconspicuous nature of this board. There is a little bit of stenciling around the heatsink and rear-panel cover section.
The VRM heatsink features Aorus branding. Furthermore, all of the heatsinks on this have a brushed-aluminum finish, further adding to the overall aesthetic appeal.
So, combine the stealthy-looking design with tasteful RGB, and we have ourselves quite the looker. RGB LEDs can be seen under the shroud in-between the VRM heatsink.
A small strip runs towards the bottom left side of the board, which adds a nice soft glow to the PC casing. The PCIe slots also feature durable PCIe metal armor, making the board even more durable.
This motherboard uses a 12+2 phase voltage regulator. Thanks to this, the board can easily handle any Ryzen processor you would want to throw at it, let alone the Ryzen 7 3700X.
This Gigabyte motherboard also manages to hold up in terms of synthetic and 3D game benchmarks against other more expensive options. It also leaves a lot of headroom for overclocking.
So, this motherboard is purely on this list because it is an excellent all-rounder. If you prioritize having a fully-featured compatible motherboard at a decent price over anything else, this might be the one to go.
With that said, enthusiasts who want even better-overclocking performance and crazy RGB lighting might look elsewhere.
Rating:
VRM Design: 8.5/10
Aesthetics: 9/10
Connectivity: 9/10
Value for money: 8.8/10
Overall Rating: 8.8/10
5. ASRock B550 Steel Legend – Fan Favorite
Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4400MHz | Chipset: AMD B550 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+2 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Intel GbE LAN
Pros:
- Unique design scheme
- Aluminum heatsinks provide an interesting look
- 14-phase power delivery system
- Excellent overall value
- Good for overclocking
Cons:
- No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- BIOS feels quite basic
For the 5th entry on our list, we are taking a look at another excellent B550 motherboard. This time it is the excellent B550 Steel Legend from ASRock.
The Steel Legend has earned a somewhat iconic status thanks to AMD fans. It integrates features that appeal to the masses and the enthusiast audience. It’s one of those few boards which manages to please a wider audience in that regard.
Straight off the bat, you know that this motherboard is something special. The combination of the white/silver shields all around the board along with controllable RGB will make any gaming PC build standout.
We can easily see someone buying this flagship motherboard just for an all-white build. The rear-panel cover and VRM heatsink have ASRock branding over them along with controllable RGB. The same is true for the chipset heat-sink, which is combined with the M.2 heatsink.
As for power delivery, ASRock is using a 14-phase design with the help of SIC654 drivers that are rated at 60A. That setup is more than enough for the Ryzen 7 3700X, even with some heavy overclocking thrown into the mix.
If you want, you can also overclock the RAM and see if that helps out in exceptional performance. This is what we meant in the beginning when we said this motherboard appeals to enthusiasts too.
The only thing lacking here is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support. The BIOS is a bit basic, but that’s not a major dealbreaker for many. In terms of overall value, this is an excellent motherboard. Especially if you don’t care for the extra bells and whistles that X570 offers.
Rating:
VRM Design: 9/10
Aesthetics: 8/10
Connectivity: 8/10
Value for money: 9/10
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
6. ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Dark Hero – Best Futureproof Motherboard For Ryzen 7 3700x
Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 5100MHz | Chipset: AMD X570 | Form Factor: E-ATX | Voltage Regulator: 16 Phases | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Wi-Fi 6, 2.5 GbE LAN, Bluetooth
Pros:
- Very appealing for enthusiasts
- Impressive VRM design
- Aura sync works perfectly
- High-end aesthetics
- Three M.2 slots at Gen 4 speeds
Cons:
- Overpriced for the average build
If money is not an issue at all, and we’re talking about the best of the best, then this best motherboard has it all. It is the highest-end motherboard for Ryzen 7 3700X right now, and that should not come as a big surprise.
The X570 Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is quite expensive, but it does have everything an enthusiast could want.
First off, the design is very premium. It features a slick black look, with all the heatsinks incorporating a uniform design scheme. This beast is a sight for sore eyes. It features 16-phase VRMs with 90A MOSFETs that can easily handle the Ryzen 7 3700X.
In fact, it is definitely an overkill for this processor, so you should enjoy overclocking it as much as possible. This is the type of board that can easily handle the latest 5950X at its full capacity, so the ryzen 7 3700X is a non-issue.
This best enthusiast motherboard support 128gb of RAM, and each of those DIMMs can be overclocked to 5100MHz. That sets it apart from the competition. You also get to play around with ASUS Armory Crate which allows you to customize RGB lighting.
Furthermore, you get three M.2 slots that can operate PCIe 4.0 speeds. A dynamic OC mode can help you to automatically switch between Precision Overdrive and Manual OC for the best of both worlds. Another exclusive feature.
All in all, the only major complaint we have with this motherboard is the price. You can buy a decent flagship motherboard/processor combo for the price of this single board. However, for those who love the aesthetics and impressive overclocking ability, it is quite the motherboard.
Rating:
VRM Design: 9/10
Aesthetics: 9/10
Connectivity: 9/10
Value for money: 7.5/10
Overall Rating: 8.62/10
7. ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming-ITX – Best Mini-ITX Motherboard
Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4400MHz | Chipset: AMD B550 | Form Factor: ITX | Voltage Regulator: 8 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Wi-Fi 6, 2.5 GbE LAN, Bluetooth
Pros:
- A good amount of features for ITX
- Fast PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot
- Reliable power delivery
- Visually pleasing design
Cons:
- Only four SATA ports
- A bit expensive
It’s not always about ATX and mATX. We want to pay some attention to our readers who are fans of the ITX form factor.
If you are one of those people, then the ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming ITX is perhaps the best ITX motherboard for Ryzen 7 3700X. It’s not as expensive as its X570 counterparts but still manages to hold its own in the ITX realm.
For example, this board still manages to include 4-pin smart fan headers on the ATX motherboard. This board also includes RGB LEDs at the bottom of the word, which provides a nice glow towards the bottom of the casing.
It even has RGB headers at the top if you want to add some spice into your build. As with most ITX motherboards, this one only includes two DIMM slots. You are also a bit limited with only four SATA ports.
Fortunately, the Phantom ATX form factor makes up for this with two M.2 slots. One of these is PCIe Gen 4, and the other is Gen 3. You also get 2.5-gigabit ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, and high-quality audio.
While it is a bit expensive for a B550 offering, you might have a hard time distinguishing between this and other X570 ITX motherboards. That still does not justify the price but makes it a bit more tolerable.
All in all, this is perhaps the best option for people looking for an ITX motherboard for the ryzen 7 3700X. It has the high power delivery to drive a high-end GPU and the ryzen 7 3700X while making sure everything is stable at load.
Not bad at all for a small form factor build. But, all of this comes at an above-average price tag. If you’re on a budget you might have to consider other options.
Rating:
VRM Design: 8/10
Aesthetics: 9/10
Connectivity: 9/10
Value for money: 7.5/10
Overall Rating: 8.375
8. MSI MAG X570S Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi – The Overclockers Dream
Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 5100MHz | Chipset: AMD X570 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+2 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Wi-Fi 6, 2.5 GbE LAN, Bluetooth
Pros:
- Competitive pricing
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are a welcome addition
- Premium MOSFETS
- 14-phase power delivery is impressive
Cons:
- Three M.2 slots would have been preferred
- Design is a bit generic
The MAG X570S Tomahawk MAX is one of the most impressive motherboards from the MSI lineup for X570. This rendition ditches the active cooling system and opts for a passive solution instead. It also has better audio, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth support. A definite step up from its predecessor.
In terms of design, we have to admit that it seems a bit generic at first glance. Especially the color combination, which sticks out a bit in a lot of builds. However, it does fall in line with previous MSI motherboards. The RGB lighting is at a bare minimum as well. Fortunately, this thing does make up for it with the performance.
It uses an impressive 14-phase VRM design paired with 60A MOSFETs for the maximum performance boost. It can easily drive a 5950X, so a Ryzen 7 3700X should not be a major issue. It also adds debug LEDs, a feature loved by enthusiasts.
However, the design is a bit too simple and the 2x M.2 slots can be a bummer for some enthusiasts. If you’re going for this best enthusiast motherboard keep these points in your mind before making the final decision.
Rating:
VRM Design: 9/10
Aesthetics: 7.5/10
Connectivity: 8/10
Value for money: 8/10
Overall Rating: 7.87/10
9. ASUS Prime X570-P – Entry Level Motherboard For Ryzen 7 3700X
Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4400MHz | Chipset: AMD X570 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+2 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network:Realtek GbE LAN
Pros:
- Decent VRM design
- Aura Sync is a great addition
- Great overall value
Cons:
- Only Dual M.2 slots
- No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- Generic design
Asus’s Prime series of motherboards have always existed for the sole purpose of representing great value. The Prime X570-P is no different. It brings all of the goodness of an X570 board into a more affordable package for the average gamer.
This budget board features two full-length PCIe 4.0 slots, dual LAN M.2 slots, and budget-friendly Realtek controllers for LAN and audio.
The design for this motherboard is quite simple. The chipset heatsink is actively cooled via a fan and features a white and silver design. The PCB itself is mostly black and white.
There is no rear-panel cover here, which is common with Prime motherboards. While the design itself is quite boring/generic, it does get the job done for the price. The heat-sink uses a respectable 12+2 phase VRM design.
Other than that, you get six SATA ports, a Realtek controller for the LAN chipset, and more. Aura sync is still present here and that’s good to see in a motherboard at this price.
Overall, the value proposition is great, and while you miss out on some advanced features, it’s a great buy on a tight budget.
Rating:
VRM Design: 7.5/10
Aesthetics: 7/10
Connectivity: 7.5/10
Value for money: 8.5/10
Overall Rating: 7.62/10
10. MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS – Entry-level X570 option
Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4400MHz | Chipset: AMD X570 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 8+2 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network:Realtek GbE LAN
Pros:
- Great reliability in the long run
- Two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots
- Affordable pricing
Cons:
- VRMs tend to overheat at high loads
- Chipset heatsink louder than others
- No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
Last but not least, we have MSI’s entry level motherboard dubbed the MPG X570 gaming plus. It just so happens that it is equipped with modest features, but does not skimp out on the fundamentals of a great X570 gaming motherboard. While a few things are lacking here, it’s a decent purchase at the right time and price.
The entire aesthetic of this best motherboard for ryzen 7 3700x originates from the familiar red and black theme. This design starts from the heatsinks and carries over to the PCB.
Some people may not care, but this color scheme and aggressive design start to look a bit dated in 2022. The power delivery of this motherboard is based on an 8+2 design along with a Rectifier PWM controller.
All in all, wireless connectivity is plenty if you want to connect several different devices. What this device lacks in performance, it makes for it with its enticing pricing.
Rating:
VRM Design: 7/10
Aesthetics: 7.5/10
Connectivity: 7/10
Value for money: 8/10
Overall Rating: 7.3/10
Best Motherboard for Ryzen 7 3700x Buyer’s Guide
Compatibility and Futureproofing
When looking to buy the best motherboard for ryzen 7, the first two things worth considering are compatibility and futureproofing.
We already talked about how things are complicated in terms of the chipset support for the Ryzen 7 3700X. However, this isn’t just limited to this specific processor, as the same issue applies to both Intel and AMD Ryzen processors.
You need to consider which chipset you are buying for a certain processor. For example, you could go with a B450 motherboard for the 3700X. However, there’s always the possibility of you wanting to upgrade down the line.
You might also want to purchase a PCIe Gen 4 SSD, so going with either X570 or B550 might be the wiser choice. Similar logic applies to different generations of processors. You need to decide based on compatibility with newer hardware.
The other thing is futureproofing. Some people just buy PC parts once and then forget about everything for a couple of years. Others like to upgrade periodically.
You need to figure out where you land on this spectrum, and how often you will be switching between components. Remember futureproofing does tend to come at a price in most situations.
Expansion Slots
In order to make the decision for compatibility and futureproofing clearer, you need to be sure about the number of expansion slots. Even then, knowing the number isn’t enough, you want to know how fast each slot is, and if you will even be benefitting from that speed in the first place.
PCIe Lanes and Generations: PCIe lanes physically link PCIe devices with the chipset or CPU. A higher number of lanes means you can connect more devices at the maximum speed. PCIe Gen 4 is twice as fast as PCIe Gen 3. This allows SSDs to be faster and room for graphics cards to improve in the future.
PCIe x16 Slots: On the other hand, PCIe x16 slots are primarily used for graphics cards. Others might also want to go for RAID cards or PCIe storage. PCIe x16 slots use 16 PCIe lanes. PCIe x1 slots also exist and are used for port expansion, network adapters, SATA expansion, etc.
M.2 Slots: An M.2 slot is where you can internally mount SSDs to a motherboard. These may use either PCIe lanes from the processor or just use good old SATA. Typically, an M.2 drive will take 4 PCIe lanes to function at high ethernet speed.
You might ask yourself why all of this are important. Well, consider it this way: An X570 motherboard supports more PCIe 4.0 lanes. This means you can connect two PCIe 4.0 SSDs at maximum speeds.
On B550, you only get 4 lanes of PCIe 4.0 for the M.2 slot, meaning the other slot will use PCIe 3.0. How much that matters to you depends on your use case.
VRM
VRMs are perhaps the most underappreciated but crucial aspect to consider when buying a motherboard. Voltage Regulator Modules effectively regulate the flow of voltage into the CPU, ensuring continuous operation and a constant current supply.
If you’re looking to overclock a powerful processor like the 3700x, you’ll need a motherboard that comes with good quality VRMs. To avoid thermal throttling at those overclocked settings, a stable VRM also necessitates a highly efficient cooling system.
Once you’ve discovered the right combination of VRM and cooling, you’ll be able to get the most out of the Ryzen 7 3700x without any problems.
Deciding On The Form Factor
Deciding on the form factor is less important for the average builder. Most people will just go with whatever form factor of the motherboard is recommended to them, and not think much about it.
However, it is important to be aware of the different form factors to make a better purchasing decision.
ATX: This is the standard form factor for most motherboards. It has a good number of ports, expansion slots, usually four DIMM slots, and all the hybrid fan headers that you could want.
To put it short, you won’t notice a lack of any ports or connections on most ATX motherboards.
mATX: Micro-ATX tends to omit a couple of expansion slots, and might also get rid of a few headers, depending on the model. The number of DIMM slots remains the same as on ATX.
These motherboards are a bit smaller, and due to the omission of some ports/connections, they are also a tad bit cheaper.
ITX: ITX or Mini-ITX is perhaps the more complicated out of the three. It has the fewest expansion slots: usually one PCIe X16, and one or two M.2 slots. There are only two DIMM slots and fewer connectors for storage.
With that said, they are great if you want to build a small and compact gaming PC.
Network Features and Connectivity
When we talk about network features, we are mostly concerning ourselves with Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Bluetooth. All three are important, but depending on your usage, you might be able to get by without Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Of course, this depends completely on the end-user, if you want to save some money by going with a motherboard that does not have Wi-Fi, by all means, do so.
We still believe that having Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built-in to a motherboard is quite handy. It makes troubleshooting easier in a pinch.
Gigabit ethernet is quite important these days. You might be able to get 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet on some boards. If you have faster internet, this is worth caring about.
Next, we need to talk about wireless connectivity. With newer motherboards, USB 3.1 Gen 2 is not something you need to worry about, it has become the standard.
You should worry about the actual number of those ports, however, depending on how many you need. Type-C is also something many people use.
Other ports such as audio, ethernet, Wi-Fi antenna ports, optical audio, S/PDIF, are also worth going over once just to be on the safe side. A lot of motherboards will not have Thunderbolt support, so make sure you find the right one if you need it.
Figuring out the right value for you
Answering the question about value for any motherboard is a bit tricky. You can’t exactly judge a motherboard based just on its performance. Different motherboards will appeal to different people.
For example, a high-end X570 with beefy VRMs, excellent memory overclocking support, and premium design will not appeal to a mid-range or budget user.
On the flip side, that same motherboard will be quite appealing to a hardware enthusiast. They might use all the features and take full advantage of them. For that person, these best motherboard features are valuable.
Not so much for your average Joe. Another example could be that someone who is a fan of SFF PCs will see the value of ITX boards, while just about everyone else will not care.
It is important to plan out what features, form factor, and performance you want ahead of time. This will allow you to find a motherboard that’s the right fit for you. That’s where the real value lies.
FAQs
Is it worth buying Ryzen 7 3700X in 2022?
The Ryzen 7 3700X is still worth a buy-in 2022. This is because it happens to be a near-perfect blend of value and synthetic workload performance. Few processors manage to hold up long after their successor is on their market. There’s a reason the 3700X is one of them.
Is the Ryzen 7 3700X good for 3080?
The Ryzen 7 3700x is good for the RTX 3080 because the pairing of the two is an excellent combination for both gaming and production workloads. If you plan to play games at 4K or 1440P, you won’t be disappointed because of little to no performance bottleneck happening whatsoever.
Is Ryzen 7 3700X bad for gaming?
The Ryzen 7 3700X is not bad for gaming in terms of raw performance. Many people believe that the 3700X is not a great value for gaming when it comes to pricing and availability. But, when you pair it with a high-end graphics card, that’s where it starts to shine in terms of versatility. It performs quite well in both gaming and synthetic benchmarks. In short, it’s still great for gaming in 2022.
Is Wraith prism enough for 3700X?
The Wraith Prism is not enough for the 3700X if you’re going to overclock your CPU. The Wraith Prism performs quite reasonably well under factory clocks if your ambient temperature sensors are not too hot and your case has good airflow. However, a cooler upgrade is recommended for most people to see a bigger jump in terms of overclocked performance.
Should I overclock my Ryzen 7 3700X?
You should overclock your Ryzen 7 3700X to get the most out of it. However, doing so with the 3700X is quite a daunting task. You might end up losing performance in terms of gaming, due to known stability issues with the 3700X. Multi-threaded performance is a bit better, but the gains are negligible for the average person.
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