Best budget AM5 motherboards for 2024

When AMD released the Ryzen 7000-series desktop CPUs, the only AM5 motherboards around were high-end or mid-range models using the X670 chipset. Thanks to the arrival of the budget B650 mobos, gaining entry into the current-gen processors has become more affordable than ever. These inexpensive AM5 motherboards still come with the latest technology, like DDR5 RAM, USB4, and in some cases, PCIe 5.0. Some models even have PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots for the fastest NVMe SSDs to be installed on the motherboard without requiring a PCIe expansion card.



Related

Best motherboards for Intel CPUs in 2024

Our collection of the best motherboards for Intel CPUs includes a variety of boards ranging from budget options to high-end offerings.

Luckily, prices on the 7000-series CPUs and DDR5 memory have dropped since 2023, and with AMD Ryzen 8000 APUs making the rounds, there’s no better time to upgrade to an AM5 system. In this list, we’ve rounded up what I feel are the best options for different users and price points, so you can build the AM5 system tailored to your needs.


Our picks for the best budget AM5 motherboards

A transparent render of the ASUS Prime X670-P Wi-Fi

Best overall

ASUS Prime X670-P Wi-Fi

Killer features at an affordable price

$210 $230 Save $20

The ASUS Prime X670-P Wi-Fi is one of the cheaper AM5 boards that costs as much as its B650 brethern but offers the same features as the high-end X670 boards. 

Pros

  • Ships with three M.2 slots
  • Built-in Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5G LAN connectivity
  • 12+2 DrMOS power stages provide better VRM cooling
  • Supports both ECC and non-ECC memory
Cons

  • Doesn’t support PCIe 5.0 for GPUs
  • No debug LEDs

With their obscenely high price tags, X670 motherboards aren’t something you’d spot in a lineup of budget AM5 mobos. However, the Asus Prime X670-P Wi-Fi is an exception to this rule, as it costs almost half as much as its brethren. But don’t let its cheap price fool you; the Asus Prime X670-P Wi-Fi packs a host of features under the hood.


Starting with the cooling provisions, the mobo packs a 12+2 power phases, which is more than enough for most AMD processors except, perhaps, the heat engine that’s the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. Storage-wise, it provides six SATA headers and lets you plug in three M.2 SSDs. What’s even more surprising is the fact that this budget X670 motherboard supports both ECC and non-ECC memory modules, and you can push the RAM frequencies up to 7600MHz. The connectivity options are also rock-solid, as you get one 2.5GbE RJ45 socket, seven USB 3.2 Type-A ports, two USB 2 Type-A connections, one HDMI output, one DisplayPort socket, one USB Type-C connection and one PS/2 port, alongside the usual audio jacks.


Asus also provides a BIOS Flashback button to help you install the latest firmware version without plugging in a CPU. As for the drawbacks, although it does support the superior bandwidth of the PCIe 5.0 standard for an M.2 slot, the remaining M.2 connections and x16 expansion slots still run on the outdated PCI Express Gen 4 interface. The lack of debug LEDs is also a bit of a downer, as they can be a lifesaver during troubleshooting. But aside from these minor issues, the Prime X670-P Wi-Fi is our favorite X670 motherboard for those on a budget.


render of the asus strix b650e-f gaming motherboard from a slight left angle

Premium Pick

Asus ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi

Premium B650 chipset with PCIe 5.0 graphics support

$262 $290 Save $28

The Asus ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming WiFi is a premium B650 chipset motherboard for the AM5 platform with support for PCIe 5.0 graphics, capable of overclocking thanks to a supplemental 4-pin EPS socket.

Pros

  • PCIe 5.0 graphics
  • Premium quality
  • BIOS FlashBack button
Cons

  • Stretching the ‘budget’ designation
  • No 5Gb LAN

Asus’s ROG Strix B650E-F Gaming Wi-Fi is a worthy choice for a more premium AM5 motherboard while still keeping within a limited budget. It has a 12+2 VRM power delivery solution and 8+4 pin power sockets similar to the more-affordable TUF, this time rated for 80A. The additional ‘E’ on the chipset brings new features. The top x16 slot is also PCIe 5.0, to go along with the primary M.2 slot. That gives some measure of future-proofing, as PCIe 5.0 graphics cards are still a ways off.

Asus also stuffs the back I/O panel even further, with one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2 port and ten additional USB ports — two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, four USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, and four USB-A 2.0. Asus added both HDMI 2.1 and DP 1.4 for onboard graphics output. There are dedicated 3.5mm audio jacks for line out/headphones, line-in, mic, c/sub, and rear, although no S/PDIF for optical audio. There is a S/PDIF header on the motherboard, but you’ll need to purchase the adapter separately as it is not included. It also has Wi-Fi 6E and ROG Strix RGB accents glowing from a darker aesthetic. The only thing that’s not to like is the price, which, at nearly $300, is much higher than we’ve been used to paying for midrange motherboards.


The MSI Pro A620M-E motherboard.

Cheapest option

MSI PRO A620M-E

The cheapest way to get an AM5 rig together

$70 $75 Save $5

MSI Pro A620M-E is the most cost-effective way to get an AM5 build running without unnecessary frills, supporting PCIe 4.0 graphics and SSDs.

Pros

  • The cheapest AM5 motherboard
  • PCIe 4.0 support
  • DDR5-6400+ support
Cons

  • Limited to 65W CPUs
  • Only two RAM slots

The latest chipset to come out with support for the AM5 socket is the A620 platform. It’s aimed at entry-level builds running the 65W Ryzen 7000 CPUs. That’s the non-X or non-X3D versions, which is fine because the lower-power CPUs are also aimed at entry-level PCs. The MSI Pro A620M-E is currently one of the very few sub-$100 AM5 motherboards on the market.

Some major compromises had to be made to get to that low price point. The x16 slot is limited to PCIe 4.0, as is the M.2 slot. Given the type of PC builds this motherboard will be used for and the lack of any worthwhile PCIe 5.0 hardware, that’s fine for most basic computing. It has one HDMI 2.1 output and one VGA, a rarity on modern motherboards and possibly indicative of the basic workstation builds this is aimed at. It also has three 3.5mm audio jacks for line out/speakers, line-in, and microphone.


MSI also dropped two RAM slots, leaving the Pro A620M-E with two, which can use overclocking profiles rated up to 6400MHz. Given that DDR5 modules are dual-channel anyway, that still means effectively quad-channel if both are used. The other compromise is on the I/O panel, with only two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports and four USB-A 2.0 ports, though it also includes RJ45 Ethernet (at 1Gbps), two PS/2 ports, and three audio ports for line in, mic in, and line out.


asus tuf gaming b650 plus wifi motherboard

Best value

Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi

The price to performance champ for AM5

The Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi is a mid-range Asus motherboard that supports one PCIe 5.0 SSD and is perfect to pair with mid-range Ryzen 7000 CPUs with its 12+2 stage power delivery.

Pros

  • Perfect balance of price and performance
  • Extended RAM speed support
  • Three M.2 SSD slots
Cons

  • No PCIe 5.0 graphics support
  • No 5GbE LAN

The TUF line was my preferred motherboard series for the AM4 chipset, and this trend continues in the AM5 series. The TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi brings gaming and productivity features that will give enough performance for most use-cases, with the motherboard opting to add PCIe 5.0 M.2 support for fast storage options. You also get two PCIe 4.0 M.2 sockets, with all having heatsinks. It supports DDR5 with four slots, with speeds of up to 6400MHz. The 12+2 VRM power solution can support high-end Ryzen 7000 CPUs, thanks to 8-pin and 4-pin plugs for CPU power (while many B650 boards are limited to 65W).

That’s the core of the TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi, but the rest of the features on this board are also impressive. It has eight USB ports on the back I/O panel, with three running at 3.2 Gen 1 speed and one at the faster 3.2 Gen 2×2 spec. Asus added both HDMI 2.1 and DP 1.4 ports for onboard graphics use, as Ryzen 7000 has an RDNA 2 iGPU on all chips. And while most B650 boards have 2.5Gb Ethernet, Asus also includes 2×2 WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. There are dedicated 3.5mm audio jacks for line out/headphones, line-in, mic, c/sub, and rear, although no S/PDIF for optical audio. The six PWM fan headers should be enough to cool a midrange PC, and one is a slightly higher amperage for use with an AIO CPU cooler.


Gigabyte A620I

Best mini-ITX

Gigabyte A620I AMD AM5 ITX Motherboard

Small in size, big in features

$130 $150 Save $20

Gigabyte’s A620I ITX AM5 motherboard is a great way to get yourself access to the AM5 socket (and a Ryzen 7000 chip) in the ITX form factor without breaking the bank. For well under $200, you get a M.2 slot, two SATA ports, Wi-Fi 6E, a decent selection of USB ports, and more.

Pros

  • 5+2+1 power phase is decent for a budget mini-ITX mobo
  • Decent connectivity options
  • Very budget-friendly
Cons

  • Doesn’t provide PCIe 5.0 interface for the GPU or SSD
  • Caps at a max memory frequency of 6400MHz

When contrasted against ATX and mATX form factors, the small size of mini-ITX motherboards restricts a lot of their functionality. But if you’re in need of an ultraportable PC, the Gigabyte A620I AX is a worthwhile option.

Starting with the VRMs, you’re looking at 5+2+1 power stages. On a normal-sized motherboard, a VRM of such limited caliber would have been a no-go, though it can get the job done on a mini-ITX mobo. On the RAM front, you only get two DDR5 memory slots that, sadly, can only hit a frequency of 6400MHz. The graphics card slot is PCIe 4.0 x16, and the same holds for the single M.2 slot on the Gigabyte A620I AX.


Connectivity is one aspect where this budget mini-ITX mobo surpasses most rivals. A total of three USB-A 3.2 ports, two USB-A 2.0 sockets, one USB Type-C connection, an Ethernet port, and three audio jacks make up the rear IO ports. The inclusion of a BIOS Flashback button makes updating BIOS and recovering from corrupted BIOS much easier.

A transparent render of the Asus TUF Gaming B650M-Plus Wi-Fi

Best mATX

Asus TUF Gaming B650M-Plus Wi-Fi

Surprisingly capable despite its small size

$190 $210 Save $20

Tiny yet powerful, the Asus TUF Gaming B650M-Plus Wi-Fi motherboard may not feature as many PCie slots as its full-sized ATX counterparts, but it’s a solid m-ATX motherboard for smaller form-factor systems.

Pros

  • Supports up to 128GB of DDR5 memory
  • 12+2 power stages
  • WiFi 6E and 2.5GbE Ethernet
Cons

  • No PCIe 5.0 support for GPUs
  • Limited M.2 and PCIe slots

Full-sized ATX mobos may be the norm, but their smaller mATX siblings have started to grow in popularity. As such, there are quite a few motherboards in the mATX category that you can grab without blowing a hole in your pocket. But none of them are as amazing as Asus TUF Gaming B650M-Plus Wi-Fi. The 12+2 power phases work well for the most part, and you’re unlikely to see sky-high thermals unless you slot in one of the powerful X3D chips from the Ryzen 7000 family.


Moving on to the rest of the board, you’ll be glad to know that one of the two M.2 slots uses PCIe 5.0 speeds, with the remaining one at PCIe 4.0. Besides four SATA ports and two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, you’ll find an HDMI and a DisplayPort output alongside five 3.5mm audio jacks for headphones, line-in, line-out, rear speakers, and mic. You also get WiFi 6E and 2.5Gb LAN. That’s a ton of connectivity for any mATX motherboard, rounded out by a USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 connection, three USB Type-A 3.2 ports, and four USB Type-A 2.0 sockets.


gigabyte B650 Aero G motherboard

Best for Creators

Gigabyte B650 Aero G

Creator-focused feature set

$230 $270 Save $40

The Gigabyte B650 Aero G is a creator-focused mid-tier motherboard for the AM5 platform geared for stability, with a one-cable solution for display output, charging, and data.

Pros

  • VisionLink for one cable data, power, and display
  • PCIe 5.0 M.2
  • Snazzy design
Cons

  • No PCIe 5.0 graphics
  • No x8/x8 PCIe slot split

While most budget AM5 motherboards have one or two standout features, few can claim a unique selling point. The Gigabyte B650 Aero G is a creator-focused midrange motherboard for AM5 chips designed for a one-cable connection to a graphics pen display. Gigabyte calls this system VisionLINK, which sends a DP 1.4 video output over a USB-C port in alt mode, along with 60W power delivery and data transfer. It’s compatible with a handful of Wacom and Huion pen displays that use USB-C, removing the usual cable mess.

While this motherboard doesn’t carry the B650E chipset, Gigabyte has included support for PCIe 5.0 SSDs, which is usually exclusive to those higher-end chipsets. That joins two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots and four SATA connectors. The back I/O panel has the USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, also used for VisionLINK, three USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, four USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and two USB-A 2.0 ports. You get HDMI 2.1 for onboard graphics, 3.5mm audio jacks for speakers and mic, and S/PDIF output. It also has a DisplayPort input, which loops one output from your dedicated graphics card and pipes it into the VisionLINK port for use with an attached pen display.


A transparent render of the NZXT N7 B650E

Best Style

NZXT N7 B650E Gaming Wi-Fi 6 Motherboard

A blank canvas for your creativity

$270 $320 Save $50

The NZXT N7 B650E is the antidote to the overdone gamer aesthetic with monotone minimalism, tons of USB ports, and inbuilt NZXT CAM RGB control to light up your PC.

Pros

  • All-metal design
  • PCIe 5.0 graphics and M.2
  • Lots of USB ports

Most midrange AM5 motherboards choose either gamer styling with edgy lines and RGB lighting or basic designs that are better if your case doesn’t have a window. NZXT says you should proudly show off your motherboard, and its N7 B650E is the result. It uses minimalist metal panels to cover everything but the ports and slots of the motherboard, with a jet black version to go with your shiny new parts. The best part — it’s not style over substance.


Hiding away behind those panels is a solid 16+2+1 power phase design rated to 90A. That means it can handle the largest CPUs in the Ryzen 7000 range, putting it ahead of most of its class. It supports DDR5-6000, Ryzen’s sweet spot, and has PCIe 5.0 support on the top x16 slot for graphics and one of the three M.2 ports. The rear I/O panel is well-provisioned, with one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, two USB-A Gen 2 ports, four USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and two USB-A 2.0 ports. NZXT adds WiFi 6E to the 2.5Gb LAN for connectivity. You also get HDMI 2.1 for onboard graphics use, S/PDIF optical output, and five 3.5mm audio jacks for surround sound use.

Picking the best budget AM5 motherboard

If you’ve been rocking the ol’ reliable AM4 chipset, upgrading to an AM5 system is an exciting but expensive prospect. The new technology stuffed into Ryzen AM5 chips is powerful, but upgrading also means new memory modules. For the new platform, I recommend the Asus Prime X670-P Wi-Fi if you want to get the perfect balance between price and functionality. Apart from a noticable lack of PCIe 5.0 support for GPUs, it has everything from fast memory frequencies, three M.2 drives, and an easy BIOS flashback.


A transparent render of the ASUS Prime X670-P Wi-Fi

ASUS Prime X670-P Wi-Fi

$210 $230 Save $20

The ASUS Prime X670-P Wi-Fi is one of the cheaper AM5 boards that costs as much as its B650 brethern but offers the same features as the high-end X670 boards. 

If cost is the primary factor, I recommend the MSI Pro A620M-E, which will get a new AM5 PC build humming along for less than $100. It gives you DDR5 but lacks PCIe 5.0, and the 88W maximum that the VRM solution can supply means you’ll be limited to low-power Ryzen processors.

Related

Best AMD CPUs in 2024

AMD makes some of the best desktop CPUs you can buy right for gaming and productivity, and these are the best options around.

But if you can stretch your budget a bit, feel free to check out our collection of the best AM5 motherboards to see what jumping up to the high-tier chipset brings. You should also check out our recommended CPU coolers for AM5 so that you have everything needed to build that new PC.

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