If you thinking of buying the latest AMD Ryzen processor then you need an AM4 Socket motherboard for it. AMD Ryzen processors come with a new socket type which is AM4 and they can only be used in AM4 Socket motherboards. So if you already have an AMD PC and want to upgrade to the latest AMD Ryzen processor then you have to change your motherboard. Also, you have to change your RAM too as all AMD Ryzen processors and motherboard supports DDR4 RAM. Like Intel Kaby Lake Motherboards, AMD has also introduced totally new chipsets for the new AM4 Socket motherboard.
The new chipsets introduced by AMD for Socket AM4 motherboards are A320, B350, and X370 chipsets. These are the chipsets for regular-sized micro-ATX and ATX motherboards. For mini-ITX motherboards or small form factor (SFF) motherboards, AMD has launched A300 and X300 chipsets. All of the new AMD A4 Socket Motherboards support DDR4 RAM and feature USB 3.1 Gen2 (except SFF motherboards).
AMD X370 chipset is for overclockers and enthusiast gamers who want to build an ultimate AMD Ryzen Gaming PC using a multi-GPU setup. AMD X370 chipset motherboard supports dual PCI-Express 3.0 x16 graphics card slots and using it you can run two AMD graphics cards in CrossFire or SLI mode. It supports overclocking and you can overclock your AMD Ryzen processor to much higher frequencies.
AMD B350 chipset is also meant for building a high-end AMD gaming PC but it only supports only one PCI Express 3.0 x16 graphics card slot for providing maximum bandwidth to only a single graphics card. It can also support multi-GPU setup but the second and third PCIe slots will be only PCI Express 2.0. It also supports overlocking like the X370 chipset.
AMD A320 chipset is for budget PCs, HTPCs, or for mainstream users who want to build an affordable low-budget gaming PC. Motherboards using A320 chipsets do not support overclocking but come with almost all connectivity options that are more than enough for an average user.
For a powerful small factor gaming PC, you have an AMD X300 chipset. It supports overclocking and dual PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots. AMD A300 chipset is for budget SFF motherboards and it does not support overclocking.
Check out: Best Intel X99 Motherboards for Gaming and Work
Update: AMD has released its new X470 and B450 Chipsets for Second Generation Ryzen Processors. These new Ryzen 2000 series processors work best on X470 Motherboards and B450 Motherboards. X470 is a high-end chipset and B450 is a mid-range or mainstream chipset for AMD Ryzen or AM4 Socket processors.
Comparison of AMD AM4 Chipsets
Here is a comparison between various AM4 motherboard chipsets based on the features they offer.
Segment | Chipset | USB 3.1 Gen 2 | SATA | GP PCIe | Overclocking | CrossFire / SLI (2×8 PCIe 3) |
Enthusiast | X370 | Native | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mainstream | B350 | Native | Yes | Yes | Yes | – |
Essential | A320 | Native | Yes | Yes | – | – |
Enthusiast SFF | X300 | – | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Essential SFF | A300 | – | Yes | Yes | – | – |
Best AMD AM4 Socket Motherboards for AMD Gaming PC
Here are the best socket AM4 motherboards for AMD Ryzen 7 and AMD Ryzen 5 Processors. I have included motherboards from budget to high-end gaming motherboards. All the below-mentioned AM4 motherboards also support AMD 7th Generation A-series / Athlon Processors and AMD Ryzen APUs with Vega graphics.
Mid Range Gaming Motherboards (B350 Chipset)
ASUS PRIME B350-PLUS Motherboard
This is an affordable mid-range gaming motherboard from Asus. ASUS PRIME B350-PLUS is an AM4 Socket motherboard and is based on the B350 chipset, which is a high-performance AMD chipset for gaming. The motherboard comes with two PCI-Express x16 slots for running two AMD cards in a CrossFire multi-GPU setup.
This is a solid motherboard that has got high-quality components. It comes with M.2 Socket for connecting high-speed M.2 Solid State Drives (SSDs) at 32 Gb/s. It supports AMD Ryzen / 7th Generation A-series / Athlon Processors and DDR4 RAM. You can easily overclock your AMD Ryzen processor and DDR4 memory on this motherboard as it fully supports overclocking.
Other features include LED lighting, onboard audio, UEFI BIOS, EZ Flash, Asus Safe Slot, USB 3.1, Overvoltage protection, efficient cooling, and more. This is a value-for-money ATX motherboard for AMD Ryzen processors and it is priced at around 100 dollars.
ASUS PRIME B350-PLUS Motherboard Specifications | |
Socket Type | AM4 |
Form Factor | ATX |
Chipset | B350 |
Processor Support | AMD Ryzen / 7th Generation A-series / Athlon Processors |
RAM Support | DDR4 3200 (OC), up to 64GB, Dual Channel |
Slots | DIMM x 4, PCI-E x16 x 2, PCI-Ex1 x 2, PCI x 2, M.2 |
Ports | SATA 6Gbps x 4, USB 3.1 x 2, USB 3.0 x 4, 8 x USB 2.0 |
Features | ASUS 5X Protection III, LED Lighting, Realtek Audio and LAN, Asus SafeSlot, UEFI BIOS, CrossFire support |
Overclocking | Yes |
Display Output | VGA, HDMI, DVI |
Buy Asus Prime B350 Plus Motherboard
MSI B350 TOMAHAWK Motherboard
MSI B350 TOMAHAWK is another great AM4 Socket gaming motherboard based on the B350 chipset. If you are not into Asus then this motherboard will really cheer you up. The motherboard supports the latest AMD Ryzen processors and DDR4 RAM. Using this motherboard you can overclock your AMD Ryzen processor for extra performance.
This ATX motherboard comes with two PCI-Express x16 slots where you can plug in two AMD Graphics cards and can run them in CrossFire mode. Various features include M2. Slot, RGB LED Lighting, DDR4 Boost, PCI-E Steel Armor, USB 3.1 Gen1, Click BIOS 5, and more.
MSI B350 TOMAHAWK Motherboard Specifications | |
Socket Type | AM4 |
Form Factor | ATX |
Chipset | B350 |
Processor Support | AMD Ryzen / 7th Generation A-series / Athlon Processors |
RAM Support | DDR4 3200+ (OC), up to 64GB, Dual Channel |
Slots | DIMM x 4, PCI-E x16 x 2, PCIex1 x 2, PCI x 2, M.2 |
Ports | SATA 6Gb/s x 4, USB 3.1 x 7, USB Type C x 1, USB 2.0 x 6, Realtek Audio, |
Features | CrossFire, RGB LED Lighting (Mystic Light Sync), VR Ready, DDR4 Boost, Steel Armor PCI-E slots, Audio Boost Click BIOS 5, Gaming LAN |
Overclocking | Yes |
Display Output | VGA, DVI, HDMI |
High-end Gaming Motherboards (X370 Chipset)
ASUS PRIME X370-PRO Motherboard
ASUS PRIME X370-PRO is an affordable X370 chipset motherboard for the latest AMD Ryzen processors. This is a high-end gaming motherboard that comes with three PCI-E x16 slots and supports 2-Way SLI from Nvidia and 3-Way CrossFire from AMD.
This is a full-size ATX motherboard that comes with loads of features and connectivity options. This is an unlocked motherboard and supports overclocking of both AMD Ryzen processors and DDR4 RAM. Major Features include ASUS Aura Sync RGB Lighting, M/2 Slot (32Gb/s), USB Type connector, USB 3.1 ports, Asus SafeSlot, 5-Way Optimization, Gaming Audio & LAN, Overclocking Protection, and more. You can get this motherboard for under 200 dollars and do check out the link below for its availability.
ASUS PRIME X370-PRO Motherboard Specifications | |
Socket Type | AM4 |
Form Factor | ATX |
Chipset | X370 |
Processor Support | AMD Ryzen / 7th Generation A-series / Athlon Processors |
RAM Support | DDR4 3200 (OC), up to 64GB, Dual Channel |
Slots | DIMM x 4, PCI-Ex16 x 3, PCI-Ex1 x 3, M.2 |
Ports | SATA 6Gb/s x 8, USB 3.1 x 3, USB 3.0 x 8, USB 2.0 x 5, USB Type-C x 1 |
Features | SLI & Crossfire support, Aura Sync RGB Lighting, Gaming Audio & Lan, Asus SafeSlot, 5X Protection III, UEFI BIOS, Easy Overclocking, Overclocking Protection |
Overclocking | Yes |
Display Output | DisplayPort, HDMI |
Buy Asus Prime X370 Pro Motherboard
MSI X370 GAMING PRO CARBON Motherboard
This is another affordable and high-quality X370 gaming motherboard for AMD Ryzen processors. As its name suggests, the motherboard is optimized for delivering top gaming performance. It comes loaded with features and various connectivity options for your gaming and everyday needs.
MSI X370 GAMING PRO CARBON ATX Motherboard comes with three PCI-Express x16 slots and supports both Nvidia SLI and AMD CrossFire multi-GPU configuration. Features include M.2 Slot for NVMe SSDs, RGB LED Lighting, Overclocking, DDR4 Boost, VR Ready, Click BIOS 5, Military Class 4 components, Gaming LAN, and Audio, USB 3.1 Gen2, and more.
MSI X370 GAMING PRO CARBON Motherboard Specifications | |
Socket Type | AM4 |
Form Factor | ATX |
Chipset | X370 |
Processor Support | AMD Ryzen / 7th Generation A-series / Athlon Processors |
RAM Support | DDR4 3200 (OC), up to 64GB, Dual Channel |
Slots | DIMM x 4, PCI-E x16 x 3, PCIex1 x 3, M.2 x 2 |
Ports | SATA 6Gb/s x 6, USB 3.1 x 9, USB Type C, USB 2.0 x 6 |
Features | SLI, CrossFire, VR Ready, DDR4Boost with Steel Armor, RGB LED Lighting, Gaming Audio & LAN, Click BIOS 5, EZ Debug LED |
Overclocking | Yes |
Display Output | DVI, HDMI |
Buy MSI X370 GAMING PRO CARBON Motherboard
Ultimate Gaming Motherboards (X370 Chipset)
ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR VI HERO Motherboard
If you want the ultimate AM4 gaming motherboard for your top-of-the-line AMD Ryzen processor then ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR VI HERO will not let you down. This is the motherboard you should get if you are planning on getting AMD Ryzen 7 1800x or AMD Ryzen 7 1700x processor for building your ultimate AMD gaming PC.
This ATX motherboard is based on the X370 Chipset and comes with high-quality components and has great build quality. This motherboard is built for hardcore gamers and overclockers who do not compromise on performance. It comes with three PCI-E x16 slots and supports both Nvidia SLI (2-Way) and AMD CrossFire (3-Way) Multi-GPU setup. It comes loaded with features and has got every connector in the book. Major features include M.2 Slot, Aura RGB LED lighting, USB 3.1 ports, ROG Water Cooling Zone, Gaming Audio & LAN, 3D printing friendly, DDR4 & CPU Overclocking, UEFI BIOS, USB Type C, Asus SafeSlot, Current & Voltage protection, RAMCACHE III, VR Ready and more.
ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR VI HERO Motherboard Specifications | |
Socket Type | AM4 |
Form Factor | ATX |
Chipset | X370 |
Processor Support | AMD Ryzen / 7th Generation A-series / Athlon Processors |
RAM Support | DDR4 3200 (OC), up to 64GB, Dual Channel |
Slots | DIMM x 4, PCI-E x16 x 3, PCI-Ex1 x 3, M.2 Socket 3 |
Ports | SATA 6Gbps x 8, USB 3.0 x 10, USB 3.1 x 3, USB 2.0 x 6, USB Type C |
Features | SLI, CrossFire, UEFI BIOS, NVMe SSD support, Gaming Audio & LAN, AURA Sync RGB lighting, 3D Printing Mounts, Asus SafeSlot, ROG Water Cooling Zone, DDR4 Overclocking, BIOS Flashback |
Overclocking | Yes |
Display Output | NA |
Buy Asus ROG CROSSHAIR VI HERO Motherboard
MSI X370 XPOWER GAMING TITANIUM Motherboard
MSI X370 XPOWER GAMING TITANIUM is the ultimate AM4 Socket gaming motherboard from MSI. This motherboard is even more expensive and feature-rich than the ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR VI HERO motherboard. It is also based on the X370 chipset and supports all the latest AMD Ryzen processors.
The motherboard comes with three PCI-E x16 slots and supports both SLI and CrossFire Multi-GPU setup. It comes with two M.2 slots and has even got a U.2 slot for connecting high-speed NVMe SSDs. This is one of the best gaming motherboards for serious gamers, overclockers, and performance enthusiasts who only care about performance. Other features include RGB LED Lighting, DDR4 Boost, Gaming Audio & LAN, BIOS Flashback+, UEFI BIOS, Steel Armor PCI-E Slots, VR Ready, and VR Boost. So if you want the best AM4 Socket motherboard for your high-end AMD Ryzen processor then this is the one you should buy.
MSI X370 XPOWER GAMING TITANIUM Motherboard Specifications | |
Socket Type | AM4 |
Form Factor | ATX |
Chipset | X370 |
Processor Support | AMD Ryzen / 7th Generation A-series / Athlon Processors |
RAM Support | DDR4 3200 (OC), up to 64GB, Dual Channel |
Slots | DIMM x 4, PCI-E x16 x 3, PCI-E x1 x 3, M.2 x 2, U.2 |
Ports | SATA III x 6, USB 3.1 x 10, USB Type C, USB 2.0 x 7 |
Features | SLI, CrossFire, Gaming Audio & LAN, UEFI BIOS, VR Ready, VR Boost, Click BIOS 5, RGB LED Lighting, DDR4 Boost, Audio Boost 4, Steel Armor Slots, BIOS Flashback+, USB 3.1 Gen 2 |
Overclocking | Yes |
Display Output | HDMI, DisplayPort |
Buy MSIX370 POWER GAMING TITANIUM Motherboard
Important Note: All the above-mentioned AM4 motherboards officially support Windows 10 Operating System only. They may or may not work on older operating systems that include Windows 8 and Windows 7.
Final Words
In the end, I would like to say that if you are building a powerful AMD Gaming PC using an AMD Ryzen processor then you can buy any of the above-mentioned AM4 Socket motherboards according to your budget and requirements. All the AMD A4 Motherboards mentioned here provide the best gaming performance in their class and come loaded with all the latest features and connectivity options. If you have any queries regarding AMD Ryzen processors or AM4 Socket motherboards then feel free to ask me by leaving a comment below.
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