I'm building a PC (check out my parts list here: pcpartpicker.com/list/FPDNTM) and I'm not sure which motherboard to go with. I've heard suggestions about B650, X670, and X870 options. I'm basically looking for a versatile motherboard that leans a bit towards gaming. Any advice?
2 Answers
When choosing a motherboard, consider what I/O features you need because the chipset will determine those. For example, if you start with a B650, going to an X670 gives you more lanes for devices attached to the chipset. If you want extra PCIe 5.0 support, look into the E versions. The X870 offers fewer lanes than the X670 but comes with a USB4 controller. If you're unsure about what I/O features you might need, it's pretty common and B650 usually just requires a BIOS update for compatibility.
I’d recommend the B850 motherboard if you want a solid mix of features and price, typically around $200-$230. If you need USB 4.0, then go for the X870. Most major brands have good boards in that range, just check the reviews. A heads up, I'd steer clear of ASRock for now, as some users have reported issues with frying AM5 CPUs. If you're into gaming and productivity, the 9900X could be a cheaper and effective alternative compared to the pricier 9950X. The 7800X3D is also worth considering for gaming, depending on your budget.
I read on Tom's Hardware that the 9900X has solid single-thread performance. I'm planning to stream games, do some video editing, and mess around with Unreal Engine 5, so I’m still weighing my options.
Really? The 9900X performs similarly to the 9950X3D but costs less? That caught my interest. I was considering the 7800X3D but now I’m in a dilemma.
I'm kinda lost on what I/O features I actually need. B650 sounds easy since it only mentioned a BIOS update, but how do I figure this out?