AMD’s Ryzen 5000 processors launched back in late 2020; led by the flagship AMD Ryzen 9 5950X processor. According to my testing, it is still one of the fastest gaming processors an individual can purchase when building a high-end PC for gaming and editing/rendering. The Ryzen 9 5950X maximizes both the gaming and productivity potential of your build, which is why you need a competent motherboard to pair with it. My testing has led to the formation of this comprehensive list of the very best motherboard options.
Our top motherboard picks for the Ryzen 9 5950X are presented in this informative comparison table:
Last update on 2023-12-13
If you’re rocking the Ryzen 9 5950X, check out our guides:
Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 5950X
These motherboards for the Ryzen 9 5950X have earned my recommendation through testing and hands-on use:
- Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5950X: ASUS TUF Gaming X570-PRO (WiFi 6)
- Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5950X: MSI MEG X570 UNIFY
- Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5950X: ASUS ROG Strix B550-A
- Best B550 Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5950X: MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK Gaming
- Best Overclocking Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5950X: ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII DARK HERO
- Best Mini-ITX Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5950X: Gigabyte X570-I AORUS Pro WiFi
ASUS TUF GAMING X570-PRO (Wi-Fi 6)
Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5950x
Other Specifications: CHIPSET: AMD X570 | MEMORY: 4 x DIMM, 128GB MAX (DDR4) DISPLAY OUTPUTS: HDMI, DISPLAY PORT | REAR USB PORTS: 4x USB 3.2 gen 1, 2 x USB 3.2 ports, 1x type-C | BLUETOOTH: bluetooth v5.1 | LAN: Intel I225-V 2.5GB | Storage: 8 x SATA 3.0 ports
Pros
- Bluetooth v5.1 & WIFI 6
- DDR4 Upto 5100MHZ
- PCIe 4.0 support
Cons
- Limited Rear I/O ports
ASUS TUF GAMING X570-PRO is one of the cheaper X570 motherboards for the Ryzen 9 5950x with value for money features; it does have all of the features that could comfortably make use of most of Ryzen 9 5950’x power; moreover, it is even possible to overclock the 5950x on ASUS TUF GAMING X570-PRO. The motherboard also includes WIFI 6 connectivity along with Bluetooth 5.1, which is always a plus, especially in this price category.
One thing that stood out was the fact that it supports RAM speeds up to 5100mhz. Along with that, the ASUS TUF GAMING X570-PRO’s CPU VRM delivers 12 Phase 50 A power which should be enough for supporting the Ryzen 9 5950x. Because of the heatsink, the ASUS TUF GAMING X570-PRO manages to maintain stable VRM temperatures even under heavy load.
The motherboard contains a total of 8 SATA 6 Gb/s ports and two PCI Express 4.0 x 16 slots. A total of 6 fan headers are provided, and the fan speed can be controlled in the BIOS.
A Display Port and an HDMI port are also present for integrated graphics, which is always a nice inclusion, especially for an X570 motherboard at this price range.
The motherboard itself looks very clean and simple, which should look nice with most builds, and the heat sinks provide sufficient cooling for the VRMs; as for the RGB, there isn’t much of that either, the single strip of RGB trails down the ASUS logo on the heatsink, which looks good when paired with a couple of case fans.
What We Liked
One thing that is apparent right off the bat is the sheer amount of value the motherboard provides, along with powerful VRM. The eight SATA ports were a nice inclusion too; in addition to that, the cooling solution is better than most motherboards of this price range. Support for Integrated graphics is also present, along with an HDMI port and a display port.
What We Disliked
There isn’t a lot to dislike about the motherboard, the only real issue that I was able to point out was the small selection of ports found on the REAR I/O, which could have been better if ASUS had paid a bit more attention to the USB side of things.
Who is this for?
The TUF GAMING X570 PRO has something for everyone; while some might be overjoyed by the addition of WIFI 6 and Bluetooth, some might buy it for a simple look. Keeping all of these factors in mind, the TUF GAMING X570 PRO is undoubtedly the Best Overall Motherboard For the Ryzen 9 5950x.
MEG X570 UNIFY
Best High-End Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5950x
Other Specifications: CHIPSET: AMD X570 | MEMORY: 4 x DIMM, 128GB MAX (DDR4) DISPLAY OUTPUTS: – | REAR USB PORTS: 4 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type C port | BLUETOOTH: bluetooth 5 | LAN: Realtek RTL8125, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 | Storage: 6x M.2, 6x SATA
Pros
- Bluetooth v5.1 & WIFI 6
- DDR4 UP TO 5100MHz
- Great VRM
- PCIe 4.0 support
Cons
- No video output(s)
The MEG X570 is a 6-PCB layered ATX motherboard, which is exactly something you would want in a PCIe 4.0 motherboard. It is a high-end motherboard and it is clear how much effort MSI has put into engineering this motherboard. It’s for people that are looking for the latest and greatest for their CPU.
The highlight of the MEG X570 UNIFY is the cooling solution, a massive heatsink linked with a copper wire for better heat transfer. The cooling solution is made of metal, making it one of the most heat-efficient motherboards available. The VRM implementation on the MEG X570 UNIFY is far better than the ones seen on other MSI motherboards. It’s a 12 phase VRM, essentially running as a 6+2, which gets doubled using the doublers on the back to get the 12 phases.
Another thing that is noticeable right off the bat is that the rear I/O does not have ANY video outputs; while that might be a letdown for some people, in all honesty, if you end up going for this motherboard, you are probably going to be using a dedicated video card with its video outputs so that should not be that big of a problem. However, due to the GPU shortage, if you are using integrated graphics, then you should stay away from this pick as there are no video outputs.
There are also a total of 7 fan connectors, one of them being a water pump connector. Having only one water pump connector means you won’t be able to use dual custom water-cooling which might be a bummer for some of the enthusiasts interested in this motherboard. A second water pump connection would’ve been welcomed.
What We Liked
The PCIe 4.0 implementation on this motherboard has been far better than anything MSI has done in the past, with a 6 layered PCB, signal bleeding and interference are prevented. From the fundamentals to the excellent cooling solution, There are a lot of things that MSI did right with this one.
What We Disliked
This motherboard does not have any kind of RGB in it. No PCB RGB, no chipset RGB, no nothing, just a standard high-end motherboard without fancy lighting effects focus of Stealth. The addition of display outputs would have also been a nice feature to see here.
Who is this for?
Most PC enthusiasts will likely be a fan of the MEG X570 UNIFY just because of the number of features it provides in this price range. Therefore, the MEG X570 UNIFY is the Best High-End Motherboard for Ryzen 9 5950x.
ASUS ROG STRIX B550-A
Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5950x
Other Specifications: CHIPSET: AMD B550 | MEMORY: 4 x DIMM, 128GB MAX (DDR4) DISPLAY OUTPUTS: 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2| REAR USB PORTS: 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2 x USB 2.0 | BLUETOOTH: – | LAN: Intel® I225-V 2.5Gb Ethernet | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA
Pros
- Aesthetically pleasing
- PCIe 4.0 support
Cons
- NO WIFI & BLUETOOTH
Next up on the list is the beautifully designed ASUS ROG STRIX B550-A; with a solid mix of aesthetics and features, the ROG STRIX B550-A is overall one of the best White motherboards For Ryzen 9 5950x based on AM4 chipset, you can buy to date.
ASUS’s ROG STRIX B550-A uses the AMD B550 chipset and has a very unique look to it. It’s for those looking for an aesthetically pleasing motherboard that matches the color scheme of their build while also doing its job as a high-quality motherboard.
The VRM consists of 12 power stages for the CPU and 2 power stages for the ram, which is decent for overclocking a less power-hungry CPU, but I would not get my hopes up for overclocking a 5950x or even a 5900x using this motherboard. It also includes premium alloy chokes and capacitors, allowing for better tolerance. It has 2 M.2 slots, the first one being PCIe 4.0 while the other one is a PCIe 3.0 which is just perfect.
The rear I/O panel consists of 1 x Display Port, 1 x HDMI port, 2 x USB 2.0, 4 x USB 3.2 GEN 1 Type-A ports, along with a 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port. As far as external connectivity goes, the rear I/O consists of a Wired 2.5 Gigabit LAN.
The lack of WIFI and Bluetooth might throw some people off, but most people should be good with a Gigabit ethernet, and it is priced appropriately, so there should be no complaints regarding that.
For audio, it features built-in ROG supreme fx audio technology with preloaded DTS sound and bound application for a more immersive surround sound experience; furthermore, the audio settings can be tweaked using the sonic studio 3 software.
Best Features
The gorgeous black and white finish of this motherboard is the one thing that stands out the most. You get a motherboard that is fully capable of supporting the Ryzen 9 5950x while also maintaining the look and aesthetic of your overall build.
Minor Flaws
Unlike their competition, ASUS decided to ditch the front USB 3.2 type c headers, which might be a big problem for some buyers; furthermore, WIFI and Bluetooth are also not present on this motherboard. Most motherboards in this price category, especially B550 motherboards have built-in WIFI connectivity which we would have loved to see here too.
Who is this for?
If you’re a fan of white gaming PC builds, then the ASUS ROG STRIX B550-A will definitely appeal to you. All things considered, the ASUS ROG STRIX B550-A is definitely the Best White Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5950x
MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK Gaming
Best B550 Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5950x
Other Specifications: CHIPSET: AMD B550 | MEMORY: 4 x DIMM, 128GB MAX (DDR4) DISPLAY OUTPUTS: DisplayPort, HDMI| REAR USB PORTS: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2 x USB 2.0 | BLUETOOTH: – | LAN: Intel® I225-V 2.5Gb Ethernet | Storage: 3x M.2, 4x SATA
Pros
- 10+2+1 Phase Power Design
- Great Value
- PCIe 4.0 support
Cons
- NO WIFI & BLUETOOTH
Like its predecessor, the MSI B450 tomahawk max, the B550 tomahawk Max from MSI also provides the best features for the chipset it supports, which is why it has been listed as the best B550 motherboard you can currently buy for the 5950x.
The B550 tomahawk max gaming is an excellent pick for a value B550 motherboard. It features a 10+2+1 phase power design which is an upgrade from the previous generations, the heatsinks over the power delivery extend over the I/O area which not only makes them effective but also add a lot to the design of the motherboard. The extended heatsink is also one of the main reasons this motherboard provides such excellent value in this price category. The VRM is exceptionally good, considering this is in the B550 range.With a 10 phase, 60A power output, and a beefy heatsink, it stays cool even under stress.
With the inclusion of PCIe gen 4, this is a huge step up from the previous generation of this motherboard, particularly when it comes to storage. The rear I/O has an excellent selection of ports with 2 x USB 3.2 gen 1 ports and 2 USB 3.2 gen 2 ports, which are always nice. Along with that, it has a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port and another 1 Gigabit Ethernet port. While the inclusion of 2 LAN ports doesn’t make sense here, any additional ports are always welcome. That’s about it for the rear I/O.
Another thing to note here is that the ram frequencies will start to decrease as you add more sticks to it. MSI themselves have mentioned this on their official website. As for the storage, there are 6 SATA ports included.
The MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK does not support the Ryzen 3000 APUs they are built around the zen 2 architecture, which means that the display port and the HDMI will only be used with the current generation of Ryzen APUs.
There is no built-in WIFI or Bluetooth which would have been nice to see in this price range; ditching the second 1 Gigabit LAN port for a WIFI would have made more sense in my opinion. Moving on to the RGB side of things, we don’t get to see much of it in this one either. It’s only on the motherboard’s heatsink, which can be turned off directly from the switch included on the motherboard.
Overall, this motherboard brings amazing value while delivering solid performance as a B550 based motherboard, a definite step-up from the previous tomahawk motherboard, and is capable of running the Ryzen 9 5950x flawlessly.
What We Liked
A feature that we love is that the four lanes that go in the top lighting M.2 slot give a high-speed NVMe PCIe gen 4 drive, so you get full bandwidth support. The Ethernet speed is 2 ( 2.5Gbps & 1Gbps), unlike any of its competitors, which rest in this price range. This provides incredible high bandwidth with low latency, perfect for gaming or transferring data. It also offers two 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports on its rear I/O plate that is permanently attached which makes it easier to install in the case.
What We Disliked
The unavailability of WIFI and Bluetooth serves as a minor letdown. It would even make it prominent among expensive motherboards. Its RGB is also very limited to only the chipset and could have been improved by spreading through multiple components of the motherboard.
Who is this for?
If you’re looking for a B550 chipset motherboard, then the MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK Gaming is meant for you. It is the Best B550 Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5950X.
ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero
Best Motherboard for Overclocking Ryzen 9 5950x
Other Specifications: CHIPSET: AMD X570| MEMORY: 4 x DIMM, 128GB MAX (DDR4) DISPLAY OUTPUTS: DisplayPort, HDMI| REAR USB PORTS: 8 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, | BLUETOOTH: Bluetooth 5.1 | LAN: Intel® I211-AT Gb LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 8x SATA
Pros
- 14 + 2 VRM with 90 amp power stage
- PCIe 4.0 support
- Great selection of rear I/O ports.
Cons
- Expensive
Next up on the list is ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero; while the name is a bit of a stretch, it is a premium motherboard that is compatible with the Ryzen 5000 series right out of the box.
There’s a massive heatsink on top of the motherboard. There’s also another heatsink underneath the I/O shield. Both of the heatsinks are connected with a heat pipe to help with dissipation and ASUS has also used a thermal pad which helps in further lowering the temperatures. The power delivery was the main focus for this motherboard; with the dark hero, ASUS has improved the power delivery while maintaining low temperatures, which results in better overclocking. The dark hero has a 14 + 2 VRM with 90 amp power stages.
The addition of good cooling with a great power delivery makes this motherboard perfect for overclocking. This feature-packed motherboard is best suited for overclocking and will mostly support anything that you throw at it.
The rear I/O has everything that you would need, perhaps even more than what an average PC user makes use of. The rear I/O consists of 12 USB ports, which is a staggering amount even for a premium motherboard, for of which are USB 3.2 gen 1 ports and 8 USB 3.2 gen 2 ports. There are also 2 LAN ports on the rear I/O, the first one being 2.5 gigabits per second while the second port is 1 gigabit per second.
As for the design of the motherboard, it’s an all-black finish which will go well with most of the builds. The design and aesthetic aren’t lacking in any way here, it is clear that ASUS has put a lot of effort here. The motherboard also has WIFI 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity. There are also 8 SATA Connectors found on the motherboard, along with all of the USB headers you’ll need.
What We Liked
The availability of the extra 4 pins along with the 8 pin power cable gives you the choice of going all in. The power delivery is extraordinary, offering more headroom for overclocking to its utmost potential, suitable for gaming.
What We Disliked
The expensive price is a key factor one might not opt for.
Who is this for?
If you like to push your PC to its limits, then the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero offers enough power to satisfy you. The motherboard is truly the Best Motherboard for Overclocking Ryzen 9 5950x.
GIGABYTE X570 I AORUS PRO WIFI
Best Mini-Itx Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5950x
Other Specifications: CHIPSET: AMD X570| MEMORY: 2 x DIMM, 64GB MAX (DDR4) DISPLAY OUTPUTS: 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 2 x HDMI 2.0| REAR USB PORTS: 1 x USB 3.1, 1 x USB 2.0 | BLUETOOTH: Bluetooth 5.1 | LAN: Intel i211AT Gigabit
Pros
- Great VRM Design
- WIFI 6/Bluetooth 5.0
Cons
- Few USB ports
Our last pick for the best motherboards for Ryzen 9 5950x is the Gigabyte X570 I AORUS pro mini itx, this one is a bit unique because of its small mini itx form factor. It packs all the power of your standard X570 motherboard into a small form factor motherboard for those who want to fit this into their mini build.
Saying that it’s as good as the previously mentioned X570 motherboard might be a bit of an overstatement; however, with a size of 17x17cm, there is a nice balance between size, power, design, and overall features.
As for the VRM, it has 8 direct phases (6+2); these are 70 amps phases which means the power delivery should be more than enough even for the most demanding CPUs like the Ryzen 9 5950x, it should also be able to overclock it to some extent. To be able to run a CPU of this caliber with a form factor like this is what makes this different from other mini itx motherboards.
The 8 layered PCB allows for great heat dissipation, along with a massive heatsink which should be enough to keep the entire motherboard cool, even with an overclocked Ryzen 9 5950x. The design and engineering on this motherboard are amazing and the real-world performance is no different from any other normal-sized ATX motherboard. There are 2 m.2 slots, one on the front and the other one on the back of the motherboard.
The rear I/O, as expected, is a bit lacking but that is what you should expect from a mini itx motherboard. It consists of 3 video outputs, which doesn’t make sense here. I would’ve loved to see more USB ports instead of the video outputs here. Aside from the video outputs, the rear I/O has 4 USB 3.2 ports, 2 USB 3.2 gen 1 ports, and a LAN port.
The GIGABYTE X570 I AORUS PRO is a well-built motherboard, with great cooling and amazing compatibility. Its ability to overclock even the Ryzen 9 5950x is impressive, making this the best mini itx motherboard for the Ryzen 9 5950x.
Things We Liked
There is a lot to like about the GIGABYTE x570 AORUS PRO. The VRM even exceeds the performance of some of the most capable ATX motherboards, which was a delight to see here. Its ability to overclock even the best processors currently available while also maintaining decent temperatures is shocking. We were amazed to see how well the motherboard performs even with an overclocked processor.
Features We Disliked
An absurd amount of display ports were not needed, especially for a motherboard of this size, where the addition of a single port can draw the line between being operable and being a complete disaster. GIGABYTE should have gone with more USB ports instead of display ports.
Who is this for?
The GIGABYTE X570 I AORUS PRO WIFI is aimed at those gamers who plan to build a small form factor gaming PC. Given its features and performance, it is the Best Mini-Itx Motherboard For Ryzen 9 5950x.
How We Tested & Picked The Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 5950X
When you’re looking to purchase a motherboard, it’s important to consider the following key elements.
- Chipset: The chipsets for the AM4 socket are the first thing you need to consider when buying a motherboard for your CPU. The AM4 socket has been deemed the most flexible socket in x86 history, so it should not be difficult to choose a chipset with the perfect upgrade path as it supports multiple Chipsets like A520, B550, and X570.
- Form Factor: Motherboards of every chipset are always available in different form factors, be it mini-ITX, micro ATX, E-ATX, or standard ATX; the form factor you choose is going to depend upon the casing you end up going with, if it’s small, go with a mini itx, if it’s a normal-sized case, go with a standard-ATX.
- VRM: The VRM, or the Voltage Regulator Module, is an important component of a motherboard that supplies and controls the voltage throughout the motherboard. VRM directly impacts the overclocking of the CPU, a stable power delivery is a must for overclocking which is why you must make sure that your motherboard has decent VRMs
- Cooling: Most motherboards have a heatsink that keeps the temperatures low and tries to avoid thermal throttling. You need to make sure the components remain under a certain temperature threshold even under heavy load. Thermal throttling is experienced when the high temperatures make the components run slower to lower the overall temperature.
- Aesthetics: You should never completely disregard the look of your motherboard, it can either completely ruin your build or make it look 5 times better. When looking at a tempered glass case, the motherboard stands out more than the rest of the components so you should opt for a decent-looking motherboard if you somewhat care about the look of your build.
Common Questions About Ryzen 9 5950x
Any motherboard that has an AM4 socket will be compatible with the Ryzen 9 5950x, even older chipsets like the X470 and B450 should be compatible with a BIOS update.
No, the Ryzen 9 5950x does not have an integrated GPU just like most Ryzen 9 5000 series CPUs.
The best overall motherboard for the 5950x is the ASUS TUF GAMING X570-PRO. It should provide a seamless experience with decent Overclocking.
The Ryzen 9 5950x is compatible with the B550, B570, and A520 chipsets, other than that it is also backward compatible with some of the older generation chipsets like the X470 and B450 chipsets, all you need is a quick BIOS update and you are good to go.
The 5950x is a step up from the 5900x, offering more cores and more thread. It is worth buying over the 5900X.
The Ryzen 9 5950x is a 4th gen AMD processor based on the Zen 3 architecture.
We’ve gone beyond and tested more Ryzen 5000 series motherboards:
- Best Motherboards For Ryzen 9 5900X
- Best Motherboards For Ryzen 7 5800X3D
- Best Motherboards For Ryzen 7 5800X
- Best Motherboards For Ryzen 5 5600X
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[Casings & Motherboards Expert]
Faizan Ahmed is a Computer Hardware Specialist and professional writer covering all the ranges of different PC Casings alongside the latest Motherboards. He is the man to read when you’re buying a casing for your PC, need a Motherboard for your specific processor, or are concerned about the socket or CPU Cooler.
Having a keen eye for the details, his research includes the latest updates and technologies implemented in the sector and the quick response to approaching them ASAP. Before working on Tech4Gamers, Faizan has written immensely on freelancing platforms under the Tech niche, ranging from PC Components to different smart devices, software, and even Game Reviews and Guides.
He’s also written on websites like WhatIfGaming and Mondestuff. Faizan is an early PC gamer, and this prolonged interaction with the PC and Games has made him the perfect candidate for expressing his ideas and concepts in words for others in the community.
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