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- Form Factor: ATX
- Memory Type: DDR4
- Memory Speed: 5100MHz
- Max RAM: 128GB
- Form Factor: ATX
- Memory Type: DDR4
- Memory Speed: 5100MHz
- Max RAM: 128GB
- Form Factor: ATX
- Memory Type: DDR4
- Memory Speed: 5300MHz
- Max RAM: 128GB
- Form Factor: ATX
- Memory Type: DDR4
- Memory Speed: 5100MHz
- Max RAM: 128GB
- Form Factor: ATX
- Memory Type: DDR4
- Memory Speed: 5100MHz
- Max RAM: 128GB
- Form Factor: ATX
- Memory Speed: 5100MHz
- Max RAM: 128GB
- Form Factor: Mini ITX
- Memory Type: DDR4
- Memory Speed: 4400MHz
- Max RAM: 64GB
- Form Factor: ATX
- Memory Type: DDR4
- Memory Speed: 5100MHz
- Max RAM: 128GB
Despite AM5’s arrival in late 2022, AM4’s productivity champ remains a tempting buy, especially if you have lots of DDR4 RAM laying around. It’s foolish to pick the 5950X up for gaming alone as it can handle virtual machines, streaming, and a YouTube video or three on top of running games like Biomutant without batting an eye. However, this CPU is just what the doctor ordered for folks who work hard and play harder! If your mind is set, getting the best motherboard for Ryzen 9 5950X is the next step.
The X570 lineup is chock-full of capable motherboards vying for your attention. It’s no wonder that finding a suitable one can be a chore. Any of our picks will serve your 5950X well, but we’ve made the selection more varied by considering price, specs, and size. Behold the cream of the crop and get the motherboard that resonates the most with your needs and budget.
GIGABYTE X570S AORUS Master
Socket: AM4 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Type: DDR4 | Memory Speed: 5400MHz | Max RAM: 128GB
- Outstanding VRM and cooling in general
- Four M.2 slots
- 12 USB ports & WiFi 6E on I/O
- One less Ethernet port than the original
Our favorite 5950X mobo is an improved version of an already remarkable model. The X570 AORUS Master focused on overclocking, providing one of the best cooling solutions and VRMs in the generation. Its X570S refresh leaves the chipset fan behind while bringing improvements to storage, connectivity, and cooling.
The refreshed Master board has a more “grown-up” aesthetic as it ditches most of its shiny bits for black metal and plastic. The chipset redesign is still brushed aluminum with a glitchy AORUS logo similar to those on Gigabyte’s Alder Lake boards. If you can believe it, there’s even more armor than before, and the I/O shield looks particularly imposing. The redesign also brings more tasteful and subdued RGB.
The original was already equipped with an excellent VRM solution, and the X570S improves on it dramatically. It has 14+2 proper phases, meaning no teaming or doubling is involved. Gigabyte also switched out the MOSFETs for new 70A ones, bringing the total power delivery to your CPU to an overkill 980A. Two 8-pin EPS connectors ensure an ample supply at all times.
Having so many phases to pick up the slack means the processor’s surroundings will never get unduly hot. Doubly so, thanks to Gigabyte’s unique take on VRM heatsinks. Rather than use slabs, the Master has two connected fin arrays whose design massively improves surface area and cooling efficiency. The board is a basis not just for AIO-assisted overclocking but works well with LN2 for users brave enough to go for the world record.
The Master is one of the most feature-rich boards for cooling in general. It has a mind-boggling ten fan headers, four of which are the hybrid kind that also accommodates water pump components. This lets you implement a complex water loop and have the mobo pick up the slack in powering most of them.
Obey Your Master
The addition of an extra M.2 slot is more than welcome. It brings the grand total to four PCIe 4.0 M.2 and six SATA drives. There are plenty of lanes to go around, so you can potentially hook ten drives up at once. Three more PCIe 4.0 x16 slots round out this part of the board. Next to them is an audio cage containing Chemicon and WIMA capacitors that support the high-end ALC1220-VB codec.
An overview of the remaining internals returns our focus to the Master’s overclocking aspect. It has eight voltage read points that allow for direct and accurate readings. Noise and temperature sensors are included too. Reset and power buttons are present, as is a two-digit debugger that easily pinpoints boot-up problems. More mundane connections include an add-in port for Thunderbolt cards, USB A & C for the case I/O, and four RGB headers.
The I/O is after our own taste – chock-full with sensible ports that are all likely to get some use in productivity and gaming PCs alike. Twelve USB ports take up the lion’s share of the real estate. Only a third are USB 2.0, and the USB-C port is as fast as it gets at 20Gbps. Gigabyte upped the WiFi to 6E but abandoned the second Ethernet port, leaving you with a 2.5G fixed connection. A gold-plated audio stack and buttons for clearing the CMOS & flashing the BIOS complete the selection.
ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Hero
Socket: AM4 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Type: DDR4 | Memory Speed: 5100MHz | Max RAM: 128GB
- Unmatched versatility
- Exceptional storage & connectivity options
- Robust VRM
- Chipset fan might blow hot air onto the GPU
The eighth member of ASUS’s HERO line continues the tradition of uncompromising excellence. It’s an expensive but incredibly well-rounded board worthy of second place. The back I/O has everything but the kitchen sink, and there are enough connections inside for lightning-fast access to terabytes of data. Couple that with a sleek design & serious overclocking chops, and you’ve got a mobo worthy of Team Red’s most potent desktop CPU.
Nothing says high-end like an understated design, and the Hero wears it proudly. It borders on the drab when unlit since only a broad steel line breaks up the otherwise uniformly black top. Turning the RGB on introduces a splash of color but doesn’t stray into garishness, lighting up the ROG eye on the chipset heatsink and a bold HERO on the I/O shroud. You could use the provided headers to introduce more lighting, but would you want to with a setup this good?
The Hero makes full use of X570’s integrated PCIe 4.0 support. This allows for three M.2 drives and as many graphics cards to utilize the new standard. You’ll have to wait for GPUs that actually support it, but finding a PCIe 4.0 storage device shouldn’t be a problem. Still need more space? Then feel free to make use of the eight SATA ports on offer too.
X570 motherboards differ from their Intel counterparts in that the chipset needs a fan due to higher voltages. The Hero’s execution is both solid and potentially problematic. On the one hand, the fan has a lifespan of 60,000 hours and won’t be heard over the rest of your system. On the other, it’s positioned underneath the first x16 slot and partially blows air out onto your graphics card.
You can do much to minimize the impact of hot air by taking advantage of the board’s abundant resources. For example, each M.2 slot gets its own beefy heatsink, and eight PWM headers allow for a varied air-or water-based cooling setup. Finally, the two sizeable VRM heatsinks share a copper heatpipe connection and expel heat efficiently.
The Hero Your CPU Needs
Speaking of VRM, the Hero has one of the best implementations around. It features twinned phases that effectively transform a physical 7+1 setup into 14+2 phases, delivering 960A to the CPU and SOC. Your 5950X will never draw as much, so its surroundings will remain cool with minimal wear per phase.
There’s room in the back for every peripheral and external device you can think of. A whopping twelve USB ports wait for your input, none of which are older than USB 3.2 Gen1. The 20Gbps USB-C is one highlight; a SupremeFX S1220-backed audio stack is another. The board’s audio section features an amplifier designed to make your headset experience even richer.
A lack of monitor connections frees up room on the I/O for more practical features, like two Ethernet ports and Intel’s Wi-Fi 6 antennas. Overclockers will also find the BIOS flashback and clear CMOS buttons indispensable.
MSI MEG X570S ACE MAX
Socket: AM4 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Type: DDR4 | Memory Speed: 5300MHz | Max RAM: 128GB
- Ridiculously over-engineered VRM
- Better sound & networking
- Substantially reworked I/O
- Reduced to a single Ethernet port
Not wanting to get upstaged by Gigabyte, MSI also introduced the X570S refresh across several boards. The ACE MAX is the best of the bunch, offering a staggering VRM upgrade, the latest networking & audio upgrades, and many storage options. It could just as well be higher on the list, but the Master is cheaper while offering much of the same.
Unlike the new Tomahawk, the ACE has undergone considerable aesthetic changes. If anything, replacing the original’s fan grille and M.2 covers with more subtle plating makes it look much more like a high-end Gigabyte offering. The beautiful light-up dragon on the I/O dispels any such notions. There’s enough of the older board’s golden trim left for further visual distinction.
Someone at MSI must have been designing VRM for the 12900K and decided to slap it onto the ACE refresh. It has 16+2+1 direct phases that supply the 5950X with 90A of power each. Ridiculous, right? Well, not if you’re going for near room-level VRM temperature readings. One look at the heatpipe-connected VRM heatsinks is enough to take such claims seriously.
An ACE in the Hole
The ACE cements its place among the elite with its storage and port selections. It accepts four PCIe 4.0 M.2 drives, shielding each from heat with thickly-padded metal slabs. If you need extra room for legacy drives, eight more SATA ports stand by. Metal reinforcements grace all three x16 slots, but your GPU should slide into the top one for optimum bandwidth. There’s even a lone x1 slot if you need it.
Cooling is another feature the ACE doesn’t take lightly. Apart from the standard CPU & water pump headers, you’ll find six more for case fans. Additionally, you can connect a water flow regulator and two thermal sensors to really push the custom water cooling envelope. Other internals worth mentioning include 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 and 1x 10Gbps USB-C for the case and a second optional 8-pin EPS connector. The board has both a debug code LED display and four debugging LEDs.
We spy many welcome changes on the I/O. Rejoice, for a PS/2 port no longer plagues it. Ditching the second Ethernet jack is much more disappointing, but at least you get WiFi 6E instead. The 5+1 audio stack is revitalized since it works through the new ALC4080 codec. USB saw a bump from eight to twelve connections, including an upgrade to 20Gbps USB-C and three 10Gbps USB-A plugs. Clearing the CMOS or flashing the BIOS remains as easy as before.
GIGABYTE X570S AERO G
Socket: AM4 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Type: DDR4 | Memory Speed: 5100MHz | Max RAM: 128GB
- Four M.2 slots
- 10 USB ports on I/O, including 20Gbps VisionLink
- Premium audio
- Doesn't have WiFi 6E
So far, we’ve only talked about boards with a heavy focus on either gaming in general or overclocking. The CPU will undoubtedly let you enjoy titles like F1 22 in all their glory. Still, the 5950X is destined for more than that. Building upon the Vision Legacy, Gigabyte has introduced the last of our X570 picks and the best motherboard for Ryzen 9 5950X content creators. It has plenty of room for the fastest drives, sports unique connections, and will let you make the most out of your CPU purchase.
The AERO G continues the Vision legacy of highly functional, no-nonsense design. We’re happy to take a breather from all the gaming edginess and bask in the simple sophistication of the board’s angular lines and large heatsinks. Many of its accents are white, which bodes well for white case and peripherals owners. RGB is absent, but you may add some through headers if that’s your thing.
Don’t mistake the board’s specialized nature for lack of well-roundedness. For example, its 12+2 60A VRM configuration is robust enough to support an overclocked 5950X, while the regular and quarter-pipe heatsinks around them handle heat absorption commendably.
Most of the AERO G’s users will care about other things, like storage. Creatives engaged in 3D rendering, video creation, or encoding need access at a moment’s notice to considerably more terabytes than regular gamers. That’s why the board’s four heatsink-protected M.2 slots are an outstanding feature. They all accept 110mm long disks and don’t interfere with the six SATA plugs unless the last drive uses PCIe.
A Boon for Creators
A slew of high-quality capacitors peek under their own shroud and enable the flagship ALC1220-VB codec for the back I/O. You also have access to three GPU slots. The top two receive shielding, and all of them support AMD CrossFire & SLI. It’s a feature barely worth mentioning for gaming nowadays. Still, anyone whose workday involves hours of rendering will appreciate the boost.
It wouldn’t be a Gigabyte without plenty of cooling features. Only two associated headers are hybrids, but there are eight in total. You may also attach noise or temperature sensors to regulate fan speeds based on either factor. The case I/O gets 5Gbps USB-A & 10Gbps USB-C. Another option is to add Thunderbolt through a separate header.
The I/O offers many of the AERO G’s most intriguing features. Having ten USB ports at your disposal is no small matter, especially since two are USB-C. One is regular, while the other employs VisionLink technology. It’s a Thunderbolt-like connection that incorporates power delivery, data transfer, and video-out in one. There’s also DisplayPort that serves as an input rather than output.
The rest is standard but no less welcome. WiFi 6 antennas and 2.5G Ethernet are responsible for networking, and the audio stack is fully realized. There are no buttons to make BIOS updates easier, however.
Asus ProArt X570 Creator WiFi
Socket: AM4 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Type: DDR4 | Memory Speed: 5100MHz | Max RAM: 128GB
- Excellent wired and wireless networking
- Comes with two Thunderbolt 4 ports
- Supports three PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots
- Expensive
Gigabyte isn’t the only company to offer motherboards centered on content creation. Before the AERO G, there was ASUS’s ProArt, a model created with a similar mindset. It trades blows with the AERO G and offers superior networking along with two Thunderbolt 4 ports. However, Its competitor is the best motherboard for Ryzen 9 5950X on the creative front since it’s considerably less expensive.
We wish these artsy boards were more prevalent as their aesthetics are refreshing compared to the over-the-top gaming style. The ProArt exudes refinement through its functional aesthetics and tasteful golden trim. The I/O shroud draws particular attention with its fun interpretation of the board’s name and transparent plastic material.
The board’s VRM setup is similar to The AERO G’s as 12+2 teamed phases comprise it. However, ASUS outfitted it with 70A MOSFETs that total 120A more juice for your 5950X. It’s debatable how many users will bother to overclock the already primed 5950X, but the ProArt and its hefty heatsinks can oblige those who do.
Despite being older, the ProArt forgoes a chipset heatsink. It has one fewer M.2 slot than the competition. Luckily, the three slots it does have all work with PCIe 4.0 SSDs.
Using all three will cut the lane count to one of the full-length expansion slots. The top one isn’t affected and has metal bracing, so it’s the logical choice for current and future high-end graphics cards. You get six more SATA ports should you need access to data saved on older drives.
Competing for the Creative Crowd
Your imagination is the only thing ASUS wants to be on fire and has outfitted the ProArt with excellent cooling to that end. It has eight headers for the CPU, fans, and water pump components. Fewer are hybrids than on the AERO G, but the count is the same.
This is another board with a thermal sensor header and 10Gbps USB-C as its highest-rated case I/O connection option. It has three ARGB and a regular RGB header if you want to disrupt the aesthetic with colorful lighting. The four LED POST debugger is your sole means of troubleshooting startup problems.
The back I/O is as fetching as its internal cover. It starts with HDMI and a DisplayPort in connection & continues with WiFi 6E. Twin 10G and 2.5G Ethernet jacks solidify the ProArt’s connection supremacy. On the other hand, the audio stack lacks an optical S/PDIF out and depends on the older ALC1220A codec.
Diverse USB connectivity is among the ProArt’s best features. Two Thunderbolt 4 ports are a rare sight even on the most advanced AM5 motherboards and contribute much to the steep price. Sets of four 5Gbps and 10Gbps USB-A ports accompany them, totaling a respectable ten.
MSI MAG X570S Tomahawk WiFi
Socket: AM4 | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Type: DDR4 | Memory Speed: 5100MHz | Max RAM: 128GB
- Excellent value for the money
- Improved WiFi & audio
- Solid port selection and VRM
- Still has PS/2
The X370S Tomahawk Max WiFi continues the trend of updates to already critically acclaimed models. Its predecessor fixed the dismal VRM of X570 MSI boards past, so the refresh focuses on other areas. It’s cooler, quieter, has better connectivity, and won’t cost you more if you catch it on a sale.
MSI’s changes to the board’s aesthetic weren’t as comprehensive as Gigabytes. The chipset heatsink got the most substantial rework, which makes sense given its lack of a fan. That area is also the board’s only native RGB source, with addressable and regular headers available on opposite sides of the PCB. Speaking of, it’s still black with grey stenciling topped with solid heatsinks that protect vital components.
Components such as the unaltered VRM. That’s OK, as MSI ensured it would be an excellent fit for any AMD processor the first time. You get 12+2 mirrored phases at 60A each, supplying power from the 8-pin and 4-pin EPS connectors steadily. That’s a lot better than the price difference between the Tomahawk and our first two picks would have you believe.
Cooling-wise, the mobo is well equipped to handle anything. Its two sizeable VRM heatsinks aren’t connected, but that takes little away from their efficiency. System cooling includes two headers for the CPU and four more non-hybrid ones for case fans. You won’t find any overclocking-specific tools either. Still, the USB, RGB, front panel, and other headers, are adequate for the price. A four-LED debugger is present, which is always appreciated.
Putting Its Improvements to Good Use
The bottom of the board has an open design yet accommodates capable heatsinks for the chipset and two PCIe 4.0 M.2 disks. You may augment high-speed storage with six more SATA ports, all working together with no rail limitations. Both the x16 slots are PCIe 4.0 compliant too, and the top one has armor. Two more x1 PCIe 3.0 slots are available for various expansion opportunities.
The Tomahawk’s RAM slots received a once-over too. The original’s supported DDR4 RAM with a max frequency of 4600MHz. A single DIMM you stick into the X570S version can now tick at 500MHz higher speeds. That doesn’t matter much for Ryzen processors, but it does mean that maintaining 3600MHz for all four slots is a given.
The I/O might be last on our checklist, but it’s where the X570S’s enhancements are most evident. The audio stack has optical S/PDIF out and runs on the updated ALC4080 codec. The WiFi got a bump up to 6E, and the HDMI jack is now on version 2.1. The rest is the same – eight varying USB ports, the BIOS flash button, and an antiquated PS/2 port.
GIGABYTE X570 I AORUS Pro Wi-Fi
Socket: AM4 | Form Factor: Mini-ITX | Memory Type: DDR4 | Memory Speed: 4400MHz | Max RAM: 64GB
- Two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots
- Excellent build quality
- Good value
- I/O layout could be better
Small form factor PCs occupy a vibrant niche and can make for some of the most original setups out there. You’d think that the Mini-ITX motherboards at their core couldn’t handle a 16-core processor, but one look at the X570 I AORUS Pro Wi-Fi’s spec sheet should put any fear to rest. It’s easily the best motherboard for Ryzen 9 5950X if SFF is your jam and could even give a few lessons in product design, thermals, or stability to larger competitors.
There’s a family resemblance between this pocket powerhouse and the AORUS Master. It’s evident in the prevalence of dark tones, brushed textures, and gunmetal gray accents. You won’t get to see much of the PCB since most of the surface is clad in armor. However, it is thicker than on standard-sized mobos at eight layers to prevent any kind of interference. There’s even a little room for RGB on the side, with two headers waiting for more.
Heat buildup can be problematic inside small form factor PCs. You may be sure that the X570 I AORUS Pro Wi-Fi’s contribution is minimal, though. It’s reinforced by a backplate that draws more heat away while making the board less susceptible to bending. There’s also the combination M.2 slot and chipset heatsink, not to mention the comparatively large metal slab that cools the VRM.
Speaking of VRM, it’s above and beyond what you’d expect from such a tiny Ryzen 9 5950X motherboard. AMD’s finest won’t break a sweat thanks to eight single phases supplying it with 70 amps of clean power each. That’s enough to keep temperatures well within acceptable levels and even do some minor overclocking if the system’s overall cooling is up to it.
A Study in Efficient Space Management
The board’s internal connections are few but balanced. You get only two fan headers whose scarcity is offset by their hybrid nature, meaning you get to connect either fans, pumps, or flow monitors. There are USB 2.0 and 3.2 headers on top of that, plus four SATA connectors for more storage than the two M.2 drives bring.
While you do get two M.2 slots, they’re not equal. The front one gets preferential treatment since it’s PCIe 4.0 like the single X16 GPU slot. The one in the back doesn’t have its own heatsink and can only reach PCIe 3.0 transfer speeds. The amount of usable memory is reduced to 64GB since size limitations allow for only two DIMM slots. Any pair of high-density DDR4 RAM sticks will fit, but you might want to go for the low-profile kind to avoid clearance issues in tight conditions.
Everything about the AORUS has been great so far, but we’re disappointed with Gigabyte’s design approach for the I/O. Why does a board as small as this need three video outs when one would have been enough? That leaves room on the already cramped I/O for only three analog 3.5mm plugs, Ethernet, Wi-Fi antennas, and a measly six USB ports. At least one of them is USB-C.
ASUS TUF Gaming X570-PRO
- Good price for the performance
- Ample storage options
- 2.5G Ethernet and quality audio
- Top M.2 slot lacks heatsink
Do you appreciate the ASUS’s approach to motherboard design but don’t want to pay for a pricey Crosshair VIII Hero? Then it’s time to step it down a notch and embrace the TUF alliance! Suspend your disbelief – pairing a $200-ish mobo with AMD’s flagship CPU isn’t as crazy as it sounds. The TUF Gaming X570-PRO comes equipped with a power delivery system more than capable of handling the processor’s comparatively modest requirements.
Aesthetics might be a point of contention for this motherboard. Its base is glossy black, with complex gray stencils crossing the PCB diagonally to add some visual interest. While these are fine for most, the yellow accents found throughout might not be.
This is not a mobo you’d want at the center of your pristine white case, but it’s sure to find an audience nevertheless. RGB lovers don’t have much to look forward to since onboard lighting is limited to a single strip, and there are only three headers to augment it.
Looks aside, the TUF Gaming X570-PRO impresses with a grounded feature set that rivals more expensive competitors. Take the VRM, for example. It incorporates the twinning technology seen on the HERO, which allows each phase to provide double the power through pairs of power stages without needing a more sophisticated PWM controller. The resulting current is sufficient to run the 5950X at stock settings or dabble in some basic overclocking without issue.
The area around the CPU is cramped, so get a cooler that doesn’t take up much space. Inspecting downward sees the board open up and introduce a multitude of internal connections. Included are five fan and one pump header, not to mention a speedy USB-C header for the front of your case. Eight SATA drives mean there’s no more excuse not to tackle your Steam backlog, with two more M.2 drives available for titles that could benefit from booting up faster. Sadly, only one of them has a heatsink.
That brings us to the motherboard’s weakest offering – the I/O. It’s not bad, but there are several problems ASUS could have addressed. HDMI, DVI, and PS/2 take up a fair chunk of its real estate, and you have to mount the backplate yourself. You’re left with only seven USB ports as a consequence. The single 2.5G Ethernet is par for the course given the price, while Wi-Fi and a fully realized audio stack are pleasant surprises.
