Best AM4 Motherboard 2024 – our top, best all round, and budget AM4 motherboard picks
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Wondering what the best AM4 motherboard is? You’re not alone. AMD’s line of Ryzen CPUs entered its 4th generation in 2020, achieving what many had long anticipated. For the first time in what seemed like an eternity, AMD had unequivocally surpassed Intel in the CPU hierarchy. Consequently, the demand for AM4’s best motherboards soared, making the quest for the best AM4 motherboard a widely discussed subject.
The Ryzen 9 5950X CPU, brimming with power for both single and multi-core tasks, dominated the best CPU rankings. Yet, it wasn’t solely the 5950X that left an indelible mark. AMD’s entire 5000 Series CPUs dazzled with exceptional performance, often outperforming or matching their Intel counterparts.
- 01Simply the best on the page!Editor’s Pick
- 03Another great AM4 Motherboard
A quick look at our top picks you should consider the ASUS ROG Strix X570-F, Gigabyte X570 AORUS Master, and ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Plus, whilst we keep this page updated to provide a good range of choices for your Ryzen CPUs.
If you don’t have time to read the full article, we have selected the ASUS ROG Strix X570-F as the best AM4 motherboard in 2024. AMD adhered to its promise by ensuring that all the latest chips maintained compatibility with the AM4 socket. Whilst the likes of the 5800X3D still reign supreme to this day.
What is the Best AM4 Motherboard?
The best AM4 motherboard is one that can support a wide range of socket AM4 processors and support the latest and greatest in GPU technology. Thankfully, all of the X570 and B550 AM4 motherboards support PCIe 4.0 on at least one slot, meaning they have sufficient PCIe bandwidth to support even the latest GPUs.
Storage technology is beginning to fall a little behind, as we now have PCIe Gen 5 storage on some newer models, but if you want to save some money, you have to make some sacrifices. With that in mind, we have chosen the ASUS ROG STRIX X570-F Gaming Motherboard as the best AM4 motherboard.
Best AM4 motherboard – ASUS ROG STRIX X570-F Gaming
ASUS ROG STRIX X570-F Gaming Motherboard
Form Factor
ATX
Overclocking Support
Yes
Socket
AM4
Chipset
X570
- One of the nicest looking boards available
- Built-in heat sink Fan
- Great overclocking potential
- Very expensive
The ASUS ROG STRIX X570-F motherboard is regarded as one of the best boards you can buy with a huge amount of features to go along with its rather large price tag. This motherboard is by no means a budget option as it comes with a high-quality 12+2 digital power phase design, which requires a large thermal heat sink.
Design-wise, you can’t knock the ROG STRIX X570-F. The motherboard features Aura Sync RGB which can be optimized to your exact requirements within the ASUS software suite. Armory Crate also allows you to customize other settings on the motherboard and view power and heat statuses.
Other more functional features include a new heatsink design, M.2 expansion card, and Intel Gigabit ethernet connectivity. The board also features PCIe 4.0 support, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2, and dual M.2 slots – alongside USB 3.2 Type-A and Type-C connectors. Overall this is a superb motherboard and its onboard WIFI capability is fantastic. ASUS is not messing around with the X570-F.
Runner up AM4 motherboard – GIGABYTE X570 AORUS Master
GIGABYTE X570 AORUS Master
Intended Build
High-end
Form Factor
ATX
Overclock Support
Yes
Socket
AM4
Chipset
X570
- High-end performance
- Dual ethernet with 1 x 2.5GbE
- Triple PCI-Express 4.0 M.2 slots with heatsinks
- Plethora of features including Wi-Fi
- Expensive
- Steel back plate adds quite a bit of weight
For consumers who run high-end setups and strive to push their system to its limits, The Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master is a fine way to go. This board offers a lot of the premium features high-end enthusiasts are after and it comes in at half the price of the Gigabyte Aorus Extreme Master and MSI Godlike models.
This board may well be overkill for the majority of AMD Ryzen users but for those operating at the higher end of the scale, the introduction of PCIe 4.0 and 2.5Gbps ethernet controller could be tempting when you consider the price. Other features include a clear CMOS and Flash buttons, alongside Wi-Fi, and individual heatsinks for the M.2 drives.
The Master advertises 14 direct phases (12+2) by 50A Infineon IR3556 MOSFETs, which in turn are cooled by a traditional fin heatsink. the PWM chip is a true 16-phase controller manufactured by Infineon and isn’t just your typical lower-phase-count unit that uses doublers. This motherboard also comes with DualBIOS, offering you a bit of extra protection. We see PCIe 4.0 slots with ultra-durable armor, and finally, the board features a nice dash of RGB lighting.
So if you’re a Ryzen PC builder and fancy more onboard storage availability, a 2.5Gbps controller, and all the premium features you could want, the X570 Aorus Master is a great option.
Best Wifi AM4 motherboard – ASUS TUF GAMING X570-PLUS (WI-FI)
ASUS TUF GAMING X570-PLUS (WI-FI)
Intended Build
Mid/High Builds
Form Factor
ATX
Socket
AM4
Chipset
X570
- Features geared towards to gamers
- Comes equipped with WI-FI
- Excellent overclocking headroom
- Can be considered on the expensive side
ASUS TUF X570-Plus is one of their premium offerings that has been aimed primarily towards gamers, giving consumers a wide variety of popular features such as their signature RGB backlighting, a powerful delivery heatsink, and support for up to DDR4-4133Mhz RAM when overclocking.
Some people may be questioning whether or not it’s worth upgrading their old X470 which has served them so effectively. Well, the biggest refinement that ASUS has made to the new X570 is in the souped-up power delivery heatsink, something we have seen in ASUS products in recent history.
Another of the big differences we have seen from the last generation of boards is the increased RAM speed capacity which now sits at 4,133Mhz when overclocked. As many will know the perfect partnering RAM for any AMD chip will have speeds that are north of 2,600Mhz. This motherboard is perfectly assembled to squeeze every last drop of performance out of the components that it will inevitably be paired with.
Best budget X570 AM4 motherboard – ASUS Prime X570-P
ASUS Prime X570-P
Intended Build
Low/Mid range
Form Factor
ATX
Overclocking Support
Yes
Socket
AM4
Chipset
X570
- Good budget performance
- Reinforced PCIe slots
- Rom for two Gen 4.0 M.2 slots
- Pretty basic design
- Lacking in premium features
This board ships with two full-length PCIe 4.0 slots, dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, and budget controllers handling your audio and networking. The overall design is basic and the chipset is actively cooled by nicely designed heatsinks. The chipset is running on an 8-phase power delivery and the heatsink manages this well.
The main features are, as mentioned, the expansion and m.2 slots but there is no Wi-Fi or lavish heatsinks through the board. Memory support is reasonable, with slots that support up to 128GB that can be overclocked up to 5100Mhz. The board also features six SATA ports, six USB 3.1 G2 Type-A ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and your standard three 3.5mm audio jacks but unfortunately no Type-C connections.
With a board that offers as much value as the Asus Prime X570-P, there is little point dwelling on what this doesn’t have. This board is the perfect way for most gamers to save money and still build with the X570 chipset.
Best B550 AM4 Motherboard – ASUS ROG Strix B550-F
ASUS ROG Strix B550-F
- Great value
- Support for future processors
- Expensive
Tying for the lead on interesting design, ASUS once again goes head-to-head with MSI. ASUS’ ROG Strix series has always had some fun and interesting design, particularly with its graphics cards. We see the same unique branding here on this B550-F motherboard. We can see the bold ROG eye logo and a futuristic “cyberpunk-inspired” aesthetic.
This motherboard features the latest PCIe 4.0 through one of the two M.2 slots on the board. This is designed to provide the best storage flexibility and data speeds. The ROG Strix is designed with 3rd generation AMD Ryzen CPUs so it’s the perfect match if that’s your CPU of choice.
The cooling system features an ASUS ProCool power connector, a CPU fan header, and an AIO pump fan header. The motherboard is also kept cool with a 6-layer PCB which helps to dissipate heat quickly around the VRM to give you a more stable overclock.
Also included is a host of ROG-exclusive software that will deliver great gaming and audio enhancements. These include the ASUS’ 5-Way Optimization utility which you can use for overclocking among other things. The RAMCache III is impressive because it can boost game-load times – something we can all benefit from.
Best ITX AM4 motherboard – ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming
ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming
Intended Build
Mid/High end AMD builds
Form Factor
Mini-ITX
Overclock Support
Yes
Socket
AM4
Chipset
X470
Finally, we come to our last entry from ASUS and it comes in the shape of their incredibly potent X570-I Gaming motherboard, labeled to show that it is part of the ITX form factor.
As with all Mini-ITX boards, compromises have been made to accommodate such small physical dimensions. The first noticeable change is how this board only comes with 2 DDR4 RAM slots, however, these slots can hold up to 64GB in capacity, with the ability to XMP your RAM to 4800Mhz.
It comes with one M.2 slot which has its private heatsink to help dissipate heat, creating a better environment for the SSD to operate in. We also see 1 PCIe slot and a bunch of SATA ports that finish off the motherboard nicely. One thing we enjoyed seeing on this was the onboard WiFi adapter that you don’t usually get with Mini-ITX boards so that was certainly refreshing.
Things to consider when selecting the best AM4 motherboard
So above is a stripped-back, sneak peek at our list of best AM4 Socket motherboards. Now, you might be asking yourself, that’s brilliant but what separates these boards from one another? What should I be looking for when deciding which to choose?
They’re great questions and ones people ask regularly. We’ve decided to break down the most important aspects of the motherboard and explain what they do and why they’re important. We do this to educate you as an informed consumer is much more likely to make the correct component choice.
The following are some of the aspects of a motherboard you should be taking into consideration when researching which one to purchase.
Motherboard Form Factor
The form factor is the physical size of the board, we cover a broad range of motherboard forms so it’s a great point to discuss the features and benefits of the main types. The most popular forms range from E-ATX (designed for PC enthusiasts looking to build the best of the best) right down to the Mini-ITX (for consumers who want a build with an extremely low footprint).
The footprint is something you need to figure out at the start of the build process. If you start a build not knowing the form factor of your board you might find at the end of the build that certain components just won’t fit. Which is going to be annoying, time-consuming, and potentially costly.
Below we have put the different forms into a chart so you can compare them:
| Form Factor | Size (in inches) |
|---|---|
| Mini-ITX | 5.9 x 5.9 |
| Mini-ATX | 6.7 x 6.7 |
| microATX | 9.6 x 9.6 |
| ATX | 12 x 9.6 |
| eATX | 12 x 13 |
Socket
There are various types of motherboard sockets, at the time of this socket the two main types were INtel’s LGA 1151 and AMD’s AM4. In this article, we’re concentrating on the AM4 socket. The socket is the physical slot on the motherboard that holds your CPU in place and connects it to the rest of your PC. Intel has the LGA1151 and AMD has their AM4. This means AMD’s processor WILL NOT be compatible with any of the LGA1151 boards and vice versa.
Please never try to force the wrong processor into the incorrect socket type as it can cause fatal damage to your newly purchased components. If you’re ever unsure when putting components together always check our How to Build a Gaming PC article. But these also change after some generations, as AMD moves to AM5 and Intel increases sizes too.
Best AM4 chipsets
What are the best AM4 chipsets? Probably the most important factor when choosing which motherboard to start with is the chipset. The chipset, for those that are unaware, is the key factor in determining which features your motherboard comes with. The features range from PCIe lanes and SATA ports right through to overclocking support and USB generation.
You need to make sure you know your motherboard’s chipset before you start buying the other components or you might find yourself in a position where you’ve bought a piece of hardware that has nowhere to live or is underutilized. Also, with technology advancements moving quicker than ever, always check to see if your specs are up-to-date. Several older and cheaper boards don’t have M.2 support or DDR4 RAM for example.
Below is a chart of the chipsets that the AM4 platform has to offer.
| Chipset | PCI Express Lanes | SATA Ports | M.2 Ports | USB 3.1 Gen 1 | USB 3.1 Gen 2 | Overclocking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supported | ||||||
| A320 | 1 PCIe 3.0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 6 | No |
| 4 PCIe 2.0 | ||||||
| B350 | 1 PCIe 3.0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | Yes |
| 6 PCIe 2.0 | ||||||
| X470 | 2 PCIe 3.0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 10 | Yes |
| 6 PCIe 2.0 | ||||||
| B450 | 6 PCIe 2.0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Yes |
| B550 | 6 PCIe 3.0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Yes |
| X570 | 16 PCIe 4.0 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 8 | Yes |
What memory is compatible with AM4 motherboards?
Memory is one of the most important components you can buy when you’re putting an AMD build together. Due to the nature and build features of the Ryzen chips, the best way to maximize performance power is by equipping your build with rapid RAM. Therefore you need to make sure your motherboard can accommodate the RAM you want to pair it against. Things to be mindful of are max-supported memory, memory speed, multi-channel support, and how many memory slots are on the board.
The easiest way to check whether your motherboard is compatible with the RAM you currently own or want to buy is in the motherboard specs. It will tell you straight away how much and what speed RAM it can accommodate. For AM4, the best DDR4 memory is a good start since this is the only memory standard supported. The maximum officially supported DDR4 speed on the AM4 platform is 3200MHz, anything over that is considered an overclock.
Particularly important when purchasing a smaller form board is the location of the memory. The memory location is rarely going to be an issue. However, if you’re mad into overclocking you may have purchased a large, aftermarket custom CPU cooler. In some cases, the larger-than-normal heat sink can become a real problem. Just make sure if you are choosing a larger cooler that the RAM is located far enough away to accommodate both.
PCI Slots
Peripheral Component Interconnect, or PCI, is the physical slot in which you can expand the capabilities of your basic system. This includes, but is not limited to things like:
- Wifi card
- Video card
- Extra USB ports
- NVMe expansion cards
There are two types of PCI slots: PCI and PCI Express (PCIe). The PCIe slot is a larger, faster version of the PCI slot and usually houses your graphics card.
If you plan on having dual GPUs running then it’s always important to make sure you have enough PCI slots. A lot of the time, manufacturers will compromise slots to reduce the price, so making sure all your cards and expansion packs are catered for should be highly prioritized. The other thing to look for is plenty of spacing. If you’re planning on running multiple GPUs that are large, you may need PCIe slots that are further apart to allow for adequate space.
FAQs
is AM4 still good in 2024?
AM4 is still a fantastic option in 2024 for those who want power on a smaller budget. AM4 still plays host to the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, one of the best value Ryzen CPUs in the world, that can surpass the likes of the 12900KS in some gaming workloads.
AM4 is still perfect for your graphics card, no matter how advanced, as the X570 and B550 still has PCIe Gen 4.0 available to it. However, storage speeds are beginning to suffer with the introduction of PCIe Gen 5 storage options.
At the end of the day, you get what you pay for. AMD kept this socket alive for years and made some pretty impressive advancements upon it. Just for that alone, we consider AM4 worth it. If you want high performance on a tighter budget, AM4 is the way to go, and it should serve you well for years.
What Is Socket AM4 Motherboard?
AM4 is a PGA CPU socket designed especially for all AMD processors with Zen, Zen+, Zen 2, Zen 3, and Excavator microarchitecture. Basically, if you want an AMD gaming build, you’ll need a motherboard with an AM4 socket. Released in September 2016, it was designed to be a one-stop, universal socket for new processors, rendering previous formats, AM3+, FM2+, and FS1b redundant. Featuring support for both single and dual-channel DDR4 memory, it was able to compete with Intel’s advanced sockets.
There are currently three series of chipsets under the AM4 umbrella, with eight options in total, but for gaming, you’ll most likely only need to decide between two series. Typically found in high-end boards designed for ultra-low latency gaming, the X-Series is the premium option. The B-Series is more of a consumer-friendly option, and due to its affordability, is the most popular choice for standard gaming builds.
Is AM4 Future Proof?
AM4 has been an absolute workhorse up to the present day. It supports more CPUs than you could shake a stick at. Seriously…your arm would fall off, the stick would snap, and it’d be a whole thing. As thankful as we are for AM4’s stalwart service, it has many of us wondering just how much juice it has left. Surely AMD doesn’t plan to keep churning out backward-compatible CPUs forever. Eventually, something’s got to give, right? Sadly, this is true.
This doesn’t exactly mean that AM4 isn’t future-proof. A quality AM4 setup will still support all AAA games pegged for release in the foreseeable future, it just won’t be able to accommodate any new AMD CPUs. Until AMD stops producing AM4 CPUs entirely, you have nothing to worry about. With AM5 out you can get a more recent addition to your setup but that doesn’t mean an AM4 setup is a bad idea as a 5800X3D build for example can give you plenty of performance and for a better value.
Final Word
The best AM4 motherboards of 2024 offer a range of options to suit different needs. The top choice is the ASUS ROG STRIX X570-F, offering high-end features, although it may be overkill for most gamers. The Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master is a strong runner-up, providing excellent value and performance for premium builds.
For those seeking the best value, the Asus TUF Gaming X570-Plus stands out as a durable and cost-effective gaming motherboard. If you’re considering a B550 option, the Asus ROG Strix B550-E Gaming is feature-packed and reliable.
For budget-conscious gamers, the MSI B450 Gaming Plus Max is a top choice among budget AM4 motherboards. Finally, for mini-ITX builds, the Asus ROG Strix X570-I Gaming offers premium features in a compact form factor. This list covers a wide range of motherboard options to meet various needs and budgets.
