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Here are the five best motherboards for your Ryzen 7 9700X that will run the CPU without thermal constraints.
The Ryzen 7 9700X is a capable gaming processor with eight cores and 16 threads. It sells in the mid-range segment and is often eyed by budget gamers who like the one-type core design. The competing 14600K is more powerful, but it sells at a much lower price and has several drawbacks, including e-cores, scheduling issues, and more. 9700X is on the AM5 platform, bringing extended support over the years (till 2027). Below are a few motherboards that will run the 9700X without breaking a sweat.
Also Read: 5 Best Motherboards for Intel Core i5 14600K
1. ASRock B650 PG Lightning
The PG lighting packs in enough power to smoothly drive the 9700X. The 16+2 phase VRM design is an easy fit for even the 9950X. There are two M.2 slots and two GPU slots, one at PCIe 5.0 x16 and the other at PCIe 4.0 x4.
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| VRM | 16+2 power stages |
| Chipset | AMD B650 |
| Socket type | AM5 (LGA 1718) |
| Memory | 4 x DDR5 DIMM slots, supports up to 256GB, DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s (OC) with Dual Channel and EXPO |
| NVMe Storage | 2 x M.2 Slots |
| GPU support | 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slot (x16 mode), 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (x4 mode) |
2. ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi
The ROG Strix B650-F is for gamers who want a reliable plug-and-play motherboard with an intuitive BIOS. The board has 14+2 power phases, enough to power even the 9950X. Regarding I/O, there are 3x M.2 slots and dual PCIe x16 slots. The only downside to this board is its limited availability.
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| VRM | 14+2 phases with robust power solution for Ryzen 9 |
| Chipset | AMD B650E |
| Socket type | AM5 (LGA 1718) |
| Memory | 4 x DDR5 DIMM slots, supports up to 128GB, DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s (OC) with Dual Channel and EXPO |
| NVMe Storage | 3 x M.2 Slots |
| GPU support | 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slot (x16 mode), 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (x4 mode); supports multi-GPU |
3. MSI B650M Mortar WiFi
The Mortar is for entry-level budget buyers looking to pair their 9700X with a suitable motherboard. Even if the power phases have a high count, they won’t be able to power higher-tier CPUs correctly (e.g., 9950x). As for I/O, there are two M.2 slots, and a Gen 5.0 x16 GPU slot, followed by a Gen 4.0 x16 (x4 mode).
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| VRM | 12+2+1 phases |
| Chipset | AMD B650 |
| Socket type | AM5 (LGA 1718) |
| Memory | 4 x DDR5 DIMM slots, supports up to 256GB, DDR5 up to 7600 MT/s (OC) with Dual Channel and EXPO |
| NVMe Storage | 2 x M.2 Slots |
| GPU support | 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slot (x16 mode), 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (x4 mode) |
4. Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX
Like the Mortar, the Aorus Elite AX shares the same aesthetic, but its VRM design is significantly more capable than that of the Mortar. Gamers who plan to upgrade to a higher-tier CPU later down the line may find this board attractive.
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| VRM | 12+2 phases with good budget VRM design |
| Chipset | AMD B650 |
| Socket type | AM5 (LGA 1718) |
| Memory | 4 x DDR5 DIMM slots, supports up to 128GB, DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s (OC) with Dual Channel and EXPO |
| NVMe Storage | 2 x M.2 Slots |
| GPU support | 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slot (x16 mode), 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (x4 mode) |
5. ASUS Prime B650M-A WiFi II
The Prime B650M-A is for users seeking a motherboard that provides sufficient power to run the 9700X at stock settings. Note that using unlimited power will result in VRM throttling the CPU. Using the negative curve optimizer will lower power draw, ensuring better performance and stability.
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| VRM | 8+2 phases |
| Chipset | AMD B650 |
| Socket type | AM5 (LGA 1718) |
| Memory | 4 x DDR5 DIMM slots, supports up to 256GB, DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s (OC) with Dual Channel and EXPO |
| NVMe Storage | 2 x M.2 Slots |
| GPU support | 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slot (x16 mode), 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (x4 mode) |
Verdict
All the motherboards are an excellent fit for the 9700X. The ROG Strix is the most powerful among the lot, while the B650M-A WiFi II is the one that gets the job done. Depending on your budget and use cases, choose the option that suits your needs.
Also Read: 5 Best Motherboards for Intel Core i5 14400F
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