What AM5 motherboard for new build

[HankSc0rpi0]

Have not posted here in 14 years and so had to setup new account as forgot my username and password and email address has changed since. Anyway, finally got around to building a new PC (part list below) for gaming and general use. The only thing I am short is a Motherboard.

But other then AM5 motherboard I am stumped which model. I would like some advice on what I should go for. Budget not really a concern. However I hate rgb. I am not interested in overclocking so I guess 18+2 power stages @110amps and heavy duty heatsinks won't matter.
I also don't need a dozen usb ports, thunderbolt/usb4, latest ethernet or wifi7. So I should probably be looking at B650/B650e. Gen 5 NVME support would be nice down the road though when the things run cooler and have better random r/w performance.

Are boot time issues still a thing with expo turned on or has this been ironed out in bios's. I made sure to buy memory that are on the QVL for these boards I read up on

Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master - bit thread on reddit a year old complaining about black screen on heavy work loads
MSI B650 Tomahawk
MSI x670e Tomahawk
MSI MPG x670e Carbon
Asus Prime x670e Pro Wifi
Asus ROG x670e-f Gaming Wifi


There are the parts I have bought and I am connecting to an LG C2 42 OLED :
7800x3d
32gb corsair ddr5 6000mhz cas30 expo
Crucial t500 nvme 2tb
Sapphire 7900xtx Nitro+
Corsair 5000d airflow case kitted out with Noctua NF-A12x25 fans
Corsair RMS Shift 1200w PSU
EK Nucleus CR360 Dark AIO

 

[Vipernet]

Boot times aren't an issue now with latest updates. I'd go for the Asus ROG board.

 

[HankSc0rpi0]

Thanks.

Is an AIO needed to cool a 7800X3D. I also happen to have an unused Noctua NU21A gifted from a friend and was thinking of air cooling instead. Just a thought.

 

[Tetras]

So I should probably be looking at B650/B650e. Gen 5 NVME support would be nice down the road though when the things run cooler and have better random r/w performance.

I'd get the Tuf B650-Plus, it has one PCI-E 5.0 M.2 slot and is one of the cheaper B650 boards.

 

[JollyJamma]

I also don't need a dozen usb ports, thunderbolt/usb4, latest ethernet or wifi7. So I should probably be looking at B650/B650e. Gen 5 NVME support would be nice down the road though when the things run cooler and have better random r/w performance.

Funny enough, Pci-e gen 5 is probably the least useful out of the list of Thunderbolt, USB4, updated ethernet, Wifi 7. A better onboard SSD controller and more RAM on the SSD would be better than having the latest PCI-e version for performance.

PCI-e is very useful for the server market where you can use 2 lanes to deliver the same performance and use the other two for something else (more storage, a 10gig NIC, etc)

You also don't need huge VRMs for AMD as they don't run hot and they don't overclock to the point where overkill VRMS are needed unless you're using LN2.

Of those listed, I'd probably go with the cheapest option that has enough features to satisfy your needs but the pricing of all of those appears to be quite varied.

 

[HankSc0rpi0]

Thanks for the replies. I thought the 7800X3D chip runs hot ? Can it be air cooled or must it be an AIO ? I am thinking of going for the Asus Prime X670E Pro WiFi. It's the bottom rung of Asus's X670E's but I like the silver / white colour scheme. Seems to have all the connectivity I would need. 14+2 70a power stages so not as good as the ROG Strix 670e-f's 16+2 90a but like above poster said it won't matter for AMD. So the only benefit of ROG boards is the RGB, fancier heatsinks and overclocking ability ?

One thing I always wonder about with Asus AM5 boards, Asus always say to fit the m2 rubber pad for single sided m2 storage devices but I never seen anyone do this on Youtube. Is the rubber pad required to make contact and support the ssd so the heatsink doesn't bend it ?

Btw, I have a chance to buy an MSI x670e MPG Carbon board for the same price as the entry level Asus Prime board. It usually retails for around the 500 euro mark but a bricks and mortar near me has it on sale. Would MSI x670e be problematic or no different from other brands. The memory I have is on the QVL for the Asus and MSI.

Thanks

 

[Tetras]

I thought the 7800X3D chip runs hot ? Can it be air cooled or must it be an AIO?

It runs hot whatever cooling you have, but the power consumption is low, so it easy enough to tame it for the peerless assassin or similar.

 

[HankSc0rpi0]

Thanks. Also I see some boards have External Clock Generator and some don't. Is this only useful when you want to overclock which I won't be doing anyway ?

 

[HankSc0rpi0]

So looks wise I like the Asus Prime x670e Pro the best. Nicest colour scheme. https://www.asus.com/motherboards-components/motherboards/prime/prime-x670e-pro-wifi/

But for same price I can get the MSI MPG Carbon x670e which seems a higher end board. https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MPG-X670E-CARBON-WIFI

The MSI has 16x or 2 x 8x PCIe lanes, 2xM2 5th gen and 2xM2 4th gen. The Asus gets a single 16x and 1 4x PCIe lane, with 1xM2 5th Gen, 2 M2 4th Gen and 1 M2 3rd Gen. If you use the 3rd gen is knocks out sata ports, neither which I care about.
The Asus also gets the quick release latch for GPU.

I have 2 Gen 4 nvme's and down the road may get a 5th Gen when they run cooler, so I guess either board is fine. Regarding GPU, my card is so massive I won't be using and 2nd PCIE-e slot.

Both have enough connectivity on the back. Undecided which to get.

MSI
2x USB 2.0
6x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type A
1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type C
1x USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type C
Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5Gbps LAN
Supports S/PDIF output

Asus
2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2
(1 x Type-A, 1 x Type-C)
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
Realtek 2.5Gb Ethernet
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C
4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A

 

[mickyflinn]

The MSI board had debug led also which can be handy I think the carbon edges it.

 

[HankSc0rpi0]

Thanks. Any difference in stability and support for 7800x3d between Asus and MSI ?

 

[mickyflinn]

Thanks. Any difference in stability and support for 7800x3d between Asus and MSI ?

I honestly think it's pot luck if you have any issues and hopefully you won't which ever board you get. Making sure you get memory from the motherboard QVL list can help but most memory work regardless and keeping the bios up to date

I'm not a fan of Asus customer service but hopefully you never need them and I still recommend Asus if the price is right .

The boards are very different in terms of assestics so that does play a factor if your trying to achieve a look.

At the same price point I'd take the MSI every time.

 

[HankSc0rpi0]

Thank you. The main reason I am considering the MSI is price and it seems to be a level up compared to the Asus Prime. I can get both for the same price. I would expect the competing board for the MSI to be the ROG Strix.
As it happens the Corsair DDR5 I bought is on the QVL for both manufacturers. Will decide today.

Neither boards have external clockgen and the MSI has 18+2+1 90a power stages versus a 14+2 70a on the Asus. Does that make any difference whatsoever for stock 7800x3d ?

Considering aesthetics, I am running a black 5000D airflow (though considering the Phanteks NV5) with black chromax noctua NF-A12x25's with white rubber grommets. I am also using Black and White Corsair PSU Type 5 PSU cables. So was thinking the Asus might look nicer

 

[mickyflinn]

Neither boards have external clockgen and the MSI has 18+2+1 90a power stages versus a 14+2 70a on the Asus. Does that make any difference whatsoever for stock 7800x3d ?

Probably no difference, the MSI has more power phases which equates to better power efficiency and delivery being a higher end board but the difference could be minimal..

Please use the reply button makes life so much easier, tx.

 

[HankSc0rpi0]

Went with strix x670e-f in the end. No issues. Now to decide on gpu as the AMD I came into possession of was DOA. Am thinking 4080 or maybe stretch to 4090 but could do without coil whine or 12vhpwr cable issues. For that reason was considering a Gigabyte Windforce V2 or MSI Gaming X Slim. Anyone have experience of either ? From what I have read on forums, very little coil whine reported unlike MSI Suprim or the Asus Strix or Tuff gaming.

 

[Scooby-DoobyDoo]

Go MSI - Avoid Asus!

 

[Solz]

Go MSI - Avoid Asus!

+1 asus not good for me!

 

[GoogalyMoogaly]

I'm having a similar issue, I can't decide between the MSI MPG x670e Carbon and the Asus ROG x670e-f Gaming Wifi. The Asus is cheaper, but the MSI has more front-panel USB3 connectors and doesn't use the Intel network hardware. Is that still an issue?
Are there any other plus points or negative points for either board that I'm forgetting? I'm guessing the whole voltage thing has been sorted now?

 

[Tetras]

Is that still an issue?

Yes, but YMMV.

I'm guessing the whole voltage thing has been sorted now?

Yes, assuming you have a recent BIOS that includes the fixes.

 

[sx_turbo]

I'd get the Tuf B650-Plus, it has one PCI-E 5.0 M.2 slot and is one of the cheaper B650 boards.

2nd this, your use case doesn't really call for the more expensive boards, the tuf board is a solid board aswell.

Just make sure bios is the latest type