The Best AMD Motherboard to Suit Any Computer Needs
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ASRock Micro ATX DDR3 1066 AMD Motherboard -
ASUS Micro ATX 1066 DDR AMD Motherboard -
ASUS F1A55-M Micro ATX AMD Motherboard -
ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Formula AM4 AMD Motherboard -
ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus AMD Motherboard -
MSI Performance Gaming AMD Motherboard -
MSI Computer ATX DDR3 1066 Motherboards 990FXA GAMING -
ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus AMD Motherboard -
ASUS PRIME A320M-K AM4 DDR4 AMD Motherboard -
Gigabyte GA-A320M-S2H Ryzen AM4/MicroATX AMD Motherboard -
Buyer's Guide
There are a wide range of AMD motherboards available, depending on your particular needs and goals for your computer. Along with Intel, AMD is the leading manufacturer for CPUs and motherboard chipsets, which determine many of the basic functions and operation speeds of your computer. Your choice in motherboard is extremely important, since many other component decisions are often based on it.
Everything, from the type of RAM you can use to the number of video cards you can install, all depend on the motherboard you choose and its specifications. AMD has a number of solid chipsets and CPU sockets to choose from, including the older FM2 board, as well as newer models like the FM2+ and AM3+. Check out the AMD motherboard buyer’s guide and out picks for the best AMD motherboards in 2022 below for more information and tips to help you pick the best model for your computer.
Best AMD Motherboard Worth Considering in 2022
ASRock Micro ATX DDR3 1066 AMD Motherboard - Best AMD Motherboard Overall
Built around AMD's 970 and SB950 chipset, this is an outstanding AM3+ micro-ATX motherboard from ASRock. For starters it offers four DIMM slots supporting sixty-four megabytes (Mb) of DDR Ram at speeds up to twenty-four hundred megahertz (Mhz). It offers two PCI Express Gen 2.0 x16 slots that allow multi-GPU setups along with an excellent southbridge with six SATAIII ports running at speeds up to six gigabytes per second (Gb/s). This board also provides a full range of RAID functions and comes with a Realtek ALC892 audio chipset for full high-definition (HD) 7.1 channel support. With little in the way of downsides, this is an outstanding motherboard at a very reasonable price.
ASUS Micro ATX 1066 DDR AMD Motherboard - Runner Up
This is a best of the best ATX budget offerings from Asus in the AM3+ socket class. This motherboard starts things off with a UEFI bios replete with a full range of overclocking options which are easy to use for even novices. The board is bundled with Asus's excellent AI Suite II software so users can access the many bios options from inside Windows. It’s equipped with four DIMM slots that allows up to thirty-two gigabytes of DDR3 Ram running at speeds up to twenty-one hundred thirty-three megahertz (Mhz).
This motherboard also provides one PCI Express Gen 2.0 x16 slot, two PCI Express x1 slots, and three legacy PCI slots. Although this means multi-GPU setups aren’t possible, this is still a good array of slots for those interested in picking up a budget board. Finally, it offers six SATAIII ports with support for drives running at up to six Gigbytes per second (Gb/s).
ASUS F1A55-M Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Honorable Mention
This is an outstanding micro-ATX offering from Asus based on the A55 chipset. It is equipped with two DIMM slots supporting up to thirty-two gigabytes of memory running at speeds up to twenty-two hundred fifty megahertz (Hz). It has a single PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot and one PCI Express x16 slot running at x4 speeds which gives it full support for multi-GPU setups. There are also six SATA ports and support for drives at speeds up to six gigabytes per second (Gb/s). Finally, it has aRealtek ALC887 audio chip for some impressive eight channel sound. In the end, this is an outstanding offering in the micro-ATX form factor that comes at a reasonable price.
ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Formula AM4 AMD Motherboard - Consider
When it comes to toughness, high quality and overclocking stability, this is board is second to none. This AM3+ 990FX board has been around a few years, and is in fact the same board I use in my own PC. It features four DIMM slots supporting up to thirty-two gigabytes of DDR3 memory running at speeds up to twenty-four hundred megahertz (MHz). It features four PCI Express slots for GPU's that can be used in several combinations of x16, x8, and x4 speeds for full multi-GPU support.
This board also has UFI BIOS with a comprehensive range of overclocking options that won't disappoint veterans or casual overclockers alike. Although lacking some of the features of newer AMD motherboards, this offering is unsurpassed when it comes to overclocking. The downside is this top notch performance comes at a high price.
ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus AMD Motherboard - Best AMD Motherboard for Overclocking
This offering from Asus features extensive overclocking options and a reputation that is second to none although it lacks some of the features of newer boards. It features TUF ceramic heatsink coating which gives it fifty percent more dissipation area on the boards VRM circuits which are crucial for handing the high wattage’s used when overclocking AMD CPU's. It has three PCI Express x16 slots and an additional PCI x4 slot allowing a full support of three-way GPU setups.
This motherboard also features four DIMM memory slots for up to thirty-two gigabytes (Gb) of memory running at speeds up to eighteen hundred sixty-six megahertz (Mhz). This represents excellent performance but it’s not quite as fast as some of the other boards which made our list. All-in-all, this is a top notch offering which definitely needs to be on your short list.
MSI Performance Gaming AMD Motherboard - Best AMD Motherboard for Performance
This recent AM3+ offering from MSI is a top notch board aimed at gamers. It uses AMD's 990FX chipset but adds several features to bring it more up to date with board offered for Intel CPU's. First, it features a killer E2205 Gigabit LAN chip for lag-free gaming. It features four DIMM slots supporting up to thirty-two gigabytes (Gb) of memory running at speeds up to a class leading twenty-four hundred megahertz (MHz). It also has Sound Blaster Cinema 2 eight channel sound for outstanding audio. It also features three PCI Express x16 slots for full support of multi-card GPU setups. If you’re in the market for an AM3+ board with almost nonexistent downsides, this one deserves a close look.
MSI Computer ATX DDR3 1066 Motherboards 990FXA GAMING - Best AM3+ Motherboard
This recent offering from MSI is aimed at gamers and designed to compete with similar motherboards from competing manufacturers. It uses AMD's 99FX chipset and adds several features to bring this pick more up to date with motherboards offered for Intel CPU's. It’s equipped with Sound Blaster Cinema 2 eight channel audio and features three PCI Express x16 slots for full support of multi-card video setups. It’s also been designed with an E2205 Gigabit LAN chip for worry free networking and four DIMM slots supporting up to thirty-two gigabytes (Gb) of memory running at speeds up to twenty-four hundred megahertz (MHz).
ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus AMD Motherboard - Best AMD Motherboard for Overclocking
This offering from Asus features extensive overclocking options and a reputation that is second to none although it lacks some of the features of newer boards. It features TUF ceramic heatsink coating which gives it fifty percent more dissipation area on the boards VRM circuits which are crucial for handing the high wattage’s used when overclocking AMD CPU's. It has three PCI Express x16 slots and an additional PCI x4 slot allowing a full support of three-way GPU setups.
This motherboard also features four DIMM memory slots for up to thirty-two gigabytes (Gb) of memory running at speeds up to eighteen hundred sixty-six megahertz (Mhz). This represents excellent performance but it’s not quite as fast as some of the other boards which made our list. All-in-all, this is a top notch offering which definitely needs to be on your short list.
ASUS PRIME A320M-K AM4 DDR4 AMD Motherboard - Best FM2+ Motherboard
This is a fine offering from Asus that will appeal to builders on a budget as it offers a comprehensive UEFI BIOS with features for both casual users and overclockers alike. This motherboard is bundled with Asus's in-house AI Suite 3 software for full access to many features from the Windows desktop. It has four DIMM slots offering support for up to sixty-four megabytes (Mb) of DDR3 Ram at speeds up to twenty-one hundred thirty-three megahertz (Mh). It has a gen 3.0 PCI Express x16 slot and offers dual-GPU support when combined with an AMD APU featuring integrated graphics. However, these sort of GPU setups don't offer as good of software compatibility as more conventional multi-GPU setups.
Gigabyte GA-A320M-S2H Ryzen AM4/MicroATX AMD Motherboard - Best FM2+ Motherboard
This micro ATX offering from Gigabyte makes our list thanks to its high build quality and a good feature set. It offers two DIMM slots supporting up to sixty-four megabytes (Mb) of DDR3 RAM at speeds up to twenty-four hundred megahertz (Mh), easily putting it at the top of its class especially for a board with only two slots. This board has one PCI express gen 3.0 x16 slot for full compatibility with the newest GPU's although you'll need to look elsewhere if you want to run multiple discrete GPU's. It uses a Realtek ALC887 audio subsection supporting7.1 channel sound although you must use a front panel module on your PC for access to all 7.1 channels. Finally, it offers Realtek GbE LAN chip for full Gigabit LAN support.
Buyer's Guide
Although there are a lot of technical aspects and numbers to consider when looking at different motherboards, they are ultimately pretty simple to understand. Your motherboard basically acts as a nervous system within your computer, connecting all the components and hardware together. If you already have components you want to use, such as a processor, memory, and hard drive, then make sure you pick out a motherboard which is compatible with all of them. On the other hand, if you’re building a new system from scratch, then your motherboard impacts all the other pieces of hardware you can choose. Either way, look at the different elements of a motherboard and consider all your components as part of a whole.
Socket Type
The socket type on a motherboard indicates what types of CPUs can be installed onto it. For AMD models, the major socket types are FM2, FM2+, and AM3+. Within those major types, however, there are a number of different CPU types and models that can be installed in each socket.
For example, an AM3+ socket can work with different AMD Phenom II and Athlon II CPUs. If you already have a processor you want to use, make sure you choose a motherboard with a socket type that it can fit into. For a new system, pick out a motherboard and processor that are compatible. For more information about different types of AMD CPUs, check out the processors/CPUs buyer’s guide.
Manufacturer
The manufacturer is who actually assembles the motherboard, using AMD’s chipset and specifications. Common manufacturers include ASRock, Gigabyte, ASUS, and MSi. Each manufacturer has different motherboard series and models to choose from, but you can’t usually tell a lot about a board just from the name.
Looking at the specifications and details of a board is much more useful, so make sure you consider everything about a motherboard before making your choice. However, different manufacturers offer warranties of varying lengths, so look for a manufacturer and model with a 2-3 year warranty for the best protection possible.
CPU Type and Chipset
While the CPU type might seem similar to the socket type on a motherboard, they’re different specifications and should both be considered. An AMD Phenom II X6 is a recent processor that runs quite fast, while an older model like an AMD Sempron is slower. Both of these CPUs can fit into the same socket type, however, so it’s important to look at both the socket and processor type. For even more information about processors, check out the processors/CPUs buyer’s guide.
Different AMD motherboards also have different chipsets installed on them, like the south bridge. For most computer users, this isn’t a major issue and the chipset usually relates to the socket type and when a board was made. For enthusiast computer builders, however, you’ll want to consider the chipset on a board and choose a model with the best south bridge available to reduce potential bottlenecking.
Memory Type and Quantity
Since the memory or RAM in a computer is installed directly into the motherboard, it’s very important to consider how much RAM you want and how fast you want it to be. Motherboards have a set number of memory or DIMM slots on them, and the board will also have a maximum amount of memory it supports, measured in gigabytes or GB. A board with four slots that supports up to 64GB of memory can handle four 16GB sticks of RAM, while a board with four DIMM slots and support for up to 32GB of RAM can only handle four 8GB sticks or two 16GB sticks of RAM.
The speed of your memory is also important, measured in megahertz or MHz, and you should consider what type of RAM you have. Most AMD motherboards support DDR3 memory, so look for that type of RAM. If you want the best performance, then look for a motherboard that supports fast memory such as 2133MHz DDR3, which is going to be much faster than something like 1600MHz RAM.
Expansion Slots
The expansion slots on a motherboard are used to install additional components inside of a computer directly onto the board. While these slots can be used for sound cards or networking cards, expansion slots are frequently used for video cards. PCI Express or PCIe slots are best for modern video cards, and though PCIe 3.0 is the fastest current standard, you’re more likely to find PCIe 2.0 slots on an AMD motherboard.
To run multiple video cards together in CrossFire or SLI, make sure you choose a board with multiple PCIe 3.0 or 2.0 slots. The bandwidth of expansion slots is indicated by a number such as x4 or x16. For the best performance, look for a board with multiple x16 PCIe slots, although you can still get good speeds from a board with slots which share bandwidth. For more information on video cards and running multiple cards together, take a look at the graphics card buyer’s guide.
Storage Connections
Storage refers to hard drives that can be installed into a computer and connected to the motherboard. Older hard drives require Parallel or PATA connections, while newer models use Serial or SATA ports. The speeds of hard drive connections are indicated in gigabytes or GB. Motherboards with higher speeds reduce potential bottlenecking, so you can take full advantage of faster hard drives. Look for a motherboard with a good number of fast ports so you can connect as many hard drives as needed to your motherboard.
Back Panel Ports
A motherboard’s back or rear panel gives you ports and connections for external hardware and devices to connect to your system. This panel is exposed on the back of a computer system and includes connections like ports for a mouse and keyboard. There are usually a number of USB ports of various generations on the back panel of a motherboard, so look for a board with numerous USB 3.0 ports. Most boards also have USB 2.0 ports, so consider how many ports of each generation you need, then pick an appropriate motherboard.
You’ll usually find audio ports on the rear panel, and some of them have optical or video ports, especially models with onboard graphics chips. Some motherboards also have an external SATA port for an external hard drive. Ultimately, look at how many other devices and components you want to connect to your computer, and pick a board with enough of the right connections for your setup.
Additional Onboard Features
In addition to the ports on the rear panel, there are also numerous onboard connections on a motherboard. Motherboards often have USB connections for ports on your computer case, so make sure you choose a board that supports as many additional USB ports as your system includes.
Connectors for a CPU and case fans are important, giving you control over fan speeds and system cooling. There are also typically front-panel audio and power connections on a motherboard, but these are pretty standard, so you don’t need to look for them specifically.
Physical Form Factor and Power Requirements
You’ll want to consider the physical size or form factor of your motherboard before picking the right model for your system. For a full computer tower, an ATX board will fit perfectly, but you can also use a MiniATX board. Midsize towers are usually a better fit for MiniATX boards, but you might be able to fit a full ATX board into it. Smaller towers and computer cases are good for MicroATX and NanoATX boards, so consider how large your computer case is and choose the right form factor to fit into it.
You’ll need at least a 350-400 Watt power supply for your computer system, so make sure you choose a motherboard that works with your PSU. Look at the power ports the motherboard has, and pick a power supply with the same connections and wattage necessary for your board. To learn more about PSUs, check out the power supply buyer’s guide.
Overclocking Options
While you might consider the processor and video card to be more important components for overclocking, there are certain motherboard features that can make a board ideal for overclocking. Heat dissipation is important, so look for a board that supports liquid cooling and has excellent heatsinks to help deal with high heat generated from overclocking your system. If you’re really interested in overclocking your system as much as possible, consider a motherboard with voltage regulators and test points that let you detect power spikes and keep your system running safely.
