So, you want the ideal motherboard for your Ryzen 5 5600X processor. Well, in order to extract the most out of the Ryzen CPU, you need a compatible motherboard.
Finding the correct motherboard can be tough, especially because there is so much technicality involved in buying a motherboard. Don’t worry, though, as I will simplify things for you.
This article will provide you with the ten best motherboards for Ryzen 5 5600X currently available in this market.
The motherboards in this article are spread around various price points so that you can find something you like within your budget.
But not only that, this article will go one step further and provide you with a buying guide as well. The whole purpose of the buying guide section is to clarify the tech jargons you come across when buying a motherboard.
In a Hurry? These Are the Best Motherboards for Ryzen 5 5600X
Eager to know the all amazing motherboards included in this article? The following is a quick glance at the motherboards you will see today.
*For more info on the motherboards below, click the “Jump to review” button to go to our overview of that motherboard.
Best Overall
Best Under $500
Best Under $400
Best Under $300
Mini-ITX Pick
Best B550
Best Under $250
Best Under $200
Micro-ATX Pick
Best Under $100
In-Depth Review
I know the quick glance has piqued your interest, and you want to know more about the motherboards that I have picked for Ryzen 5 5600X. So, without further ado, the following are the reviews of all the best motherboards for Ryzen 5600X.
Best Overall
1. Gigabyte X570 AORUS XTREME
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CONS
The Gigabyte X570 Aorus Xtreme is the most feature-rich AM4 motherboard on the market. Running on the X570 chipset, this motherboard also has top-level functionality. Albeit a little overkill for the Ryzen 5600X, the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Xtreme is the best motherboard for the Ryzen 5600X.
The main distinguishing point that puts this motherboard ahead of the X570 competition is its passive cooling ability. This means that you don’t have to worry about a pesky physical fan breaking all the time since this motherboard achieves the same cooling result passively.
Surprisingly, it is also the coolest X570 motherboard in the market, despite having an excellent direct 16-phase VRM design for optimal power delivery and performance.
There is no doubt that the technical capability of the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Xtreme is exceptional. Still, there is more to this motherboard than just performance.
This motherboard is packed with features. Some of the notable ones I especially enjoy using include a diagnostic LED screen, that is used to troubleshoot any error present in the motherboard.
Also, a physical power and reset button located at the top of the motherboard comes in handy when you want to reset or refresh the motherboard in a pinch quickly.
There are countless other features, the benefit of which varies from user to user.
The Gigabyte Aorus X570 also excels in terms of connectivity. It is one of the best motherboards around for cable management. If you are like me and hate dangling cables, this motherboard has you covered with its excellent placement of ports.
Notable Features
- Uses the E-ATX Form factor
- Based on the X570 chipset
- Supports AMD Ryzen 5000 series and 3000 series CPUs
- 4 memory slots with support for up to 128GB RAM at 4400MHz
- 4x PCIe 4.0 expansion slots
- 3x PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots and 6 SATA ports
- Dual Ethernet port; 10G LAN and 1G LAN
- Wi-Fi 6 connectivity is built into the motherboard
- Support for Hi-Fi audio with ESS-Sabre DAC
- Support for Q-flash plus BIOS flashback tool
- Clear CMOS button
All in all, as the name suggests, the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Xtreme is an extreme motherboard in all regards. It has exceptional performance, excellent VRM, great cooling, and is loaded with features. Therefore, this motherboard is a no-brainer.
Best Under $500
2. MSI MPG X570S Carbon EK X
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CONS
The MSI MPG X570S Carbon EK X is a very special and unique motherboard. Co-Engineered with EK, one of the best custom water-cooling manufacturers around, MSI is looking to pitch this motherboard as the premium ATX offering for gamers who care about cooling and performance.
You cannot mention this motherboard without talking about the EK water cooling block on the CPU and the VRM. This block is designed for cooling these two components, and needless to say, it does its job pretty well.
This motherboard has the best VRM temperatures out of all the motherboards in this article. This means you can use it for overclocking your Ryzen 5600X without worrying about heat.
This is the biggest advantage of this motherboard, but that does not mean it has nothing to offer elsewhere. The MSI X570S also has many features to speak of that are quite beneficial in daily use.
The best utility feature of this motherboard is the most simple one. With this motherboard, you don’t have to update the BIOS to support the Ryzen 5600X. Therefore, freeing you from all the worries.
This motherboard is up to the task when it comes to connectivity. Its large ATX form factor has a lot of space, which is utilized to the fullest for optimal port placement.
In terms of connectivity, it even triumphs over the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Xtreme, the best motherboard for Ryzen 5600X. This speaks volumes of the capability of the MSI MPG X570S Carbon EK X gaming motherboard.
Notable Features
- ATX form factor
- Based on the X570 chipset
- 14+2 phase VRM
- Supports AMD Ryzen 5000 series and 3000 series CPUs
- 4 RAM slots with support for 128GB RAM at 5300MHz
- 4x PCIe 4.0 expansion slots with two X16 slots
- 4x M.2 slots and 8x SATA ports
- Support for Wi-Fi 6E
- 2.5G Ethernet Lan
Overall, I would rate the MSI MPG X570S Carbon EK X very highly. It is one of the finest motherboards in terms of performance; therefore, if you want to overclock your Ryzen 5600X and want a motherboard with the best cooling, then the MSI MPG X570S Carbon EK X should be at the top of your list.
Best Under $400
3. Asus X570 ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (Wi-Fi)
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CONS
The Crosshair line from Asus stands tall as the best offering from the brand. Therefore the Asus X570 ROG Crosshair VIII Hero motherboard is one of the finest Asus motherboards available for the Ryzen 5600X. It has a large pool of features and is also technically very impressive.
On the technical front, this motherboard is nothing short of amazing. It has a great VRM that can withstand not only a Ryzen 5600X but even the Ryzen 5950x, all the while staying relatively cool under load.
The great cooling performance is partly due to an excellent cooling design. With the help of a fan and heat spreads across the motherboard, the heat dissipation is very well controlled.
Apart from that being on the ATX form factor, this motherboard does indeed come with 4 RAM slots that support a maximum RAM capacity of 128GB.
While having sound technical specifications, this motherboard is also ready to impress anyone with its features.
The most important feature that this motherboard has is the Asus EZ Flash utility, which allows users to update the motherboard BIOS with relative ease.
Through this feature, users can update BIOS without installing a CPU which is very much needed because this motherboard does not support Ryzen 5600X out of the box.
The Asus ROG Crosshair Hero X570 nails the connectivity part. Due to the large ATX form factor of the motherboard, Asus has a lot of real estate at their disposal, and hence they were able to fit in all the required ports on this motherboard.
Notable Features
- ATX form factor
- Based on the X570 chipset
- 14+2 phase VRM
- Supports AMD Ryzen 5000 series and 3000 series CPUs
- 4 RAM slots with support for 128GB RAM at 5100MHz
- 4x PCIe 4.0 expansion slots with three X16 slots
- 3x M.2 slots and 8x SATA ports
- 2x RGB ports, with support for AuraSync RGB lighting
- Support for Wi-Fi 6 with Mu-Mimo
- Dual LAN; 2.5G ethernet port and 1G Ethernet port
- Hi-fidelity audio encoding support
All in all, the Asus ROG Crosshair Hero is one of the better motherboards that Asus currently offers. If you are a fan of Asus and like their AuraSync software, buy this motherboard for the Ryzen 5600X.
Best Under $300
4. Gigabyte B550 Vision D-P
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PROS
CONS
The Gigabyte B550 Vision D-P is a stunning-looking motherboard due to its white color scheme. It, however, is not a one-trick pony, and besides its good looks, this motherboard is also well specced out and contains many useful features.
Gigabyte has been on a roll lately with its motherboards, and all of the models I have tested had very good VRMs. This motherboard is no exception. While the VRM is not on par with the top-tier motherboards around, it certainly is good enough to handle a Ryzen 5600X with relative ease.
Like all ATX motherboards, with the Gigabyte B550 Vision D-P, you get 4 RAM slots that can support a total RAM capacity of 128GB.
Technical bits aside, I want to focus more on the looks of this motherboard. There is no denying that the Gigabyte B550 Vision D-P is aesthetically beautiful.
Motherboard design has been getting very stale over the years, and this motherboard breathes a new life into this genre. The clean and simple white color scheme is refreshing and freshens things up a bit.
Fortunately, Gigabyte has not ruined the connectivity of this motherboard for the looks. It has a good number of ports, which cover all the necessary connectivity outputs that a Ryzen 5600X build may require.
Gigabyte has also sprinkled a heavy dose of features on this motherboard to keep this motherboard competitive at the $300 price tag. They have made a motherboard that offers the most features at the $300 price point.
Notable Features
- ATX form factor
- Based on the B550 chipset
- Supports AMD Ryzen 5000 series and 3000 series CPUs
- 4 RAM slots with support for 128GB RAM at 5400MHz
- 3x PCIe 4.0 expansion slots with all x16 slots
- 3x M.2 slots and 4x SATA ports
- 2x RGB ports, with support for Gigabyte RGB fusion software
- Support for Wi-Fi 6
- Dual LAN; both are 1G Ethernet ports
- Includes support for thunderbolt
Overall, the Gigabyte Vision D-P is a great AM4 motherboard on the B550 chipset. Sure, you are paying extra for the looks, but the looks here are backed by strong specifications and a great feature set, making this motherboard a very compelling option at the $300 price tag.
Mini-ITX Pick
5. Asus ROG Strix X570-I
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CONS
The Asus ROG Strix X570-I is a special Mini-ITX motherboard and a rare gem that is quite hard to find these days. This motherboard, despite its small size, offers decent functionality. The icing on the cake is that you enjoy most of the features available on the bigger-sized motherboards.
The aspect that fascinates me the most about this motherboard is the use of space. Asus has mastered the art of practicality in their small-sized motherboards, and this motherboard demonstrates the brand’s grip on that aspect in the best possible manner.
With the Asus ROG Strix X570-I, you get all the necessary ports and internal headers required for a Ryzen 5600X build.
The RGB headers of the motherboard are also supported by the Asus AuraSync software, which is currently the best RGB lighting software out there and allows for easy controls and fine-tuning.
Apart from useability and connectivity, the Asus ROG Strix X570-I delivers peak performance in other aspects as well.
The VRM of this motherboard is very good. It is on par with some of the better AM4 motherboards around.
The motherboard also supports RAM speeds up to 5100MHz due to the Mini-ITX form factor; you only get 2 RAM slots with this motherboard; hence the total capacity is limited to 64GB.
I am quite pleased that Asus has not stripped down on features in this Mini-ITX motherboard. It retains most of the features that other bigger-size Asus ROG motherboards have.
Notable Features
- Mini-ITX form factor
- Based on the X570 chipset
- Supports AMD Ryzen 5000 series and 3000 series CPUs
- 2 RAM slots with support for 64GB RAM at 4800MHz
- 3x PCIe 4.0 expansion slots with one X16 slot
- 2x M.2 slots and 8x SATA ports
- 2x RGB ports, with support for AuraSync RGB lighting
- Support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5
- 1G Ethernet port
Overall, the Asus ROG Strix X570-I was a pleasure to use. It is one of the better Mini-ITX motherboards. You should definitely incorporate it in your Ryzen 5600X build if you are going for a compact PC.
Best B550
6. Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master
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PROS
CONS
The Gigabyte Aorus Master is a no-compromise B550 motherboard. Therefore, it has the most comprehensive set of features in a very capable and thermally efficient package. Hence, this motherboard sits at the top of the AM4 B550 series motherboard throne.
Gigabyte made sure that their B550 flagship is as thermally efficient as possible, and for this, some great measures were taken. As a result, this motherboard only has the best hardware to make it as technically sound as possible.
The VRM of this motherboard is very cool under load. Even when you push things to the redline, the motherboard VRM still manages to stay relatively cool compared to other B550 motherboards.
I really don’t know where to begin in terms of the features. For starters, this motherboard comes with a lot of small features that are very useful, but it does not stop there.
The Gigabyte Aorus Master B550 also has enthusiast-level features that enhance its appeal for more seasoned gamers.
This motherboard also comes with Gigabyte’s Q-flash plus BIOS update feature, which allows users to update the motherboard BIOS quickly and safely.
Like the features, I also found the connectivity of this motherboard to be top-notch. Gigabyte is not fooling around with this motherboard. This is apparent when you examine the port situation, as this motherboard has all the ports you will ever need.
Notable Features
- ATX form factor
- Based on the B550 chipset
- 16 phase direct VRM design
- Supports AMD Ryzen 5000 series and 3000 series CPUs
- 4 RAM slots with support for 128GB RAM at 5400MHz
- 3x PCIe 4.0 expansion slots with three X16 slots
- 3x M.2 slots and 6x SATA ports
- 5x RGB ports, with support for Gigabyte RGB fusion
- Support for Wi-Fi 6
- 2.5G ethernet port with bandwidth management
All in all, the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master is a fantastic motherboard that is a step above its competition. There is no B550 motherboard good enough to challenge the dominance of this motherboard.
Best Under $250
7. ASRock X570 Steel Legend
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PROS
CONS
Most ASRock motherboards are usually centered around PC enthusiasts, but the ASRock X570 Steel legend is one that caters more to mainstream gamers. Staying true to its roots, this motherboard is very good. Hence, gamers craving value for money have a great option in the form of ASRock X570 Steel Legend.
The ASRock X570 Steel Legend, in typical ASRock fashion, has a very solid VRM. The VRM is designed to handle not only the Ryzen 5 5600X but also the more high-end Ryzen CPUs like the Ryzen 9 5900X. Therefore, you can set your future-proofing worries aside with this motherboard.
This is not bad for an entry-level X570 motherboard, considering you are paying less for this motherboard than some B550 motherboards.
ASRock has also not held back on the connectivity front. By taking full advantage of the ATX form factor, they have installed all the necessary ports on the motherboard.
Technical bits aside, this motherboard has a very appealing white and black color scheme, with subtle use of green LED lighting on the heatsink and the chipset cover.
ASRock has consistently implemented a camo design facet on the motherboard, which I have to say looks unique and stands out. So, in terms of looks, this motherboard gets full marks.
These marks, however, do take a hit when it comes to the features of this motherboard. Being an entry-level X570 motherboard priced at around $200, you can’t expect to have everything. Asrock has decided to cut corners on the features to reduce price, and I can see why.
Notable Features
- ATX form factor
- Based on the X570 chipset
- 10 power phase design
- Supports AMD Ryzen 5000 series and 3000 series CPUs
- 4 RAM slots with support for 128GB RAM at 4666MHz
- 5x PCIe 4.0 expansion slots with two X16 slots
- 2x M.2 slots and 8x SATA ports
- 2x RGB ports
- 1G Ethernet port
Despite not having any fancy features under its belt, this motherboard covers the basics quite well. While this motherboard is not for the feature fiends out there, if you are looking for a value-packed X570 option, then the ASRock X570 Steel Legends is for you.
Best Under $200
8. ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming
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PROS
CONS
There isn’t a manufacturer that has been as influential as Asus at carving out its brand identity. The ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming is the embodiment of that, as this motherboard is not only good mechanically but also has a good amount of features to boot.
Before I dive into the technical bits, can we just pause for a second and appreciate the design of this motherboard. The white and black color scheme looks great, and the subtle accents take the whole design up a notch. All this makes for a motherboard that is simply beautiful to look at.
Looks aside, Asus has also made quite a bit of effort in the technical department. It not only has a surprisingly decent VRM for the price but also supports high speeds up to 5100 MHz.
This motherboard also carries convenient features for daily use. The most important of which is the EZ Flash feature. We all know that Ryzen CPUs can be a bit fussy when it comes to BIOS; therefore, having this feature is a lifesaver at times.
This motherboard has ticked all the boxes, and connectivity isn’t going to put a dent into that streak. The ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming has all the ports and the internal headers you will need for a Ryzen 5600X PC build.
Notable Features
- ATX form factor
- Based on the B550 chipset
- Supports AMD Ryzen 5000 series and 3000 series CPUs
- 4 RAM slots with support for 128GB RAM at 5100MHz
- 6x PCIe 4.0 expansion slots with three X16 slots
- 3x M.2 slots and 6x SATA ports
- 2x RGB ports, with support for AuraSync RGB lighting
- 2.5G ethernet port with Asus LanGuard
Overall, the ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming is a decently capable AM4 motherboard that looks stellar and has a very good feature set.
Micro-ATX Pick
9. MSI MAG B550M Mortar
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PROS
CONS
It is not easy to pull off a Micro-ATX motherboard, but MSI has done it with finesse. The MSI MAG B550M Mortar is a great motherboard that, despite its small size, does not restrict or limit functionality. It also has a good mix of features and ports.
Most Micro-ATX motherboards are usually toned-down versions of full-sized motherboards. They have stripped-down features but not the MSI MAG B550M Mortar.
Connectivity is usually a concern in Micro-ATX motherboards, but I am pleased to inform you that you do not have to worry about connectivity when using the MSI MAG B550M Mortar because it has all the necessary internal headers at your disposal.
The only connectivity area this motherboard lacks is the PCIe expansion slots, but that should only be of concern if you want to connect more than one GPU to the motherboard, which I don’t recommend anyway.
I like the feature set of this motherboard and find it to be very satisfactory for the price.
I saved the technical specification of this motherboard for the last because this is where the little MSI MAG B550M Mortar shines. It dominates other motherboards in its league and has a superb VRM for a Micro-ATX motherboard.
The only negative of the motherboard I have to speak of is the support for up to 4400MHz RAM, which is quite on the lower side.
Notable Features
- Micro-ATX form factor
- Based on the B550 chipset
- Supports AMD Ryzen 5000 series and 3000 series CPUs
- 2 RAM slots with support for 64GB of RAM at 4400MHz
- 4x PCIe 4.0 expansion slots with two X16 slots
- 2x M.2 slots and 6x SATA ports
- 3x RGB ports, with support for AuraSync RGB lighting
- 2.5G Ethernet port
The MSI MAG B550M Mortar is the best in its class. It is the best Micro-ATX motherboard you can buy; hence if you are making an M-ATX build, there is no better choice than the MSI MAG B550M Mortar.
Best Under $100
10. MSI MAG A520M Vector WiFi
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PROS
CONS
I have to admit; that the MSI MAG A520M Vector WiFi is not the nicest motherboard out there, but it definitely is one of the better budget offerings available for the Ryzen 5600X.
Being on the A520 chipset, the MSI MAG A520 is limited in technical capability. Despite that, this motherboard fares quite well and can run a Ryzen 5600X with no issue whatsoever.
The VRM of this motherboard is not the best. The Micro-ATX form factor definitely does not help in that regard either. However, what is better is the support for RAM speed up to 4600MHz, which I have to admit is a pleasant surprise.
While not technically sound, this motherboard did impress me with its features. The connectivity was also a strong point of this motherboard, and for the price of sub $100, I was expecting much worse.
Needless, the motherboard includes all necessary ports that are sufficient enough for daily use.
That said, though, like other Micro-ATX motherboards, this one is not immune to the drawbacks of the Micro-ATX form factor. The drawback includes not getting PCIe expansion slots, but that issue only persists if you plan on using more than one GPU on your PC.
Notable Features
- M-ATX form factor
- Based on the A520 chipset
- Supports AMD Ryzen 5000 series and 3000 series CPUs
- 2 RAM slots with support for 64GB RAM at 4600MHz
- 3x PCIe 3.0 expansion slots with one X16 slot
- 1x M.2 slots and 4x SATA ports
- 2x RGB ports, with support for MSI Mystic lighting software
- Support for Wi-Fi 6
- 1G Ethernet port
On the whole, I wasn’t expecting much out of this motherboard, but after using the motherboard, my opinion regarding budget A520 motherboards has changed. As for the MSI MAG A520M Vector WiFi, just go right ahead and buy one if you are on a budget.
Ryzen 5 5600X Motherboard Buying Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Grab your favorite drink and settle in because the buying guide section is the one you don’t want to miss. The buying guide section aims to educate gamers on how to pick the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X.
The Ryzen 5 5600X is great, but if you don’t buy the right motherboard, you won’t be able to use it to its fullest potential. The question then remains out of all the motherboard offerings in the market, which one should you choose.
After going through this section, your doubts and queries will be answered regarding which motherboard you should choose.
So, with the preliminary introduction out of the way, let’s dive straight into the buyer’s guide.
Few Important Considerations Before Buying a Motherboard
Before you even set foot in the motherboard buying pit, the following are the few key aspects I want you to consider first.
- Budget for the motherboard
- Assessment of your needs
Having these two aspects nailed down allows you to make a better buying decision. The budget of the motherboard is directly related to your needs.
Basically, you want a motherboard that fulfills your needs at the lowest possible price. Doing this will allow you to chuck more money into the GPU of the PC, which is much more beneficial for gaming than ponying up for a fully kitted out motherboard only to not use any of its features.
Don’t worry if this seems a bit confusing right now because as we progress deeper into the buying guide, things will clear up and start to make more sense.
The Best Is Not Always the Right Choice
I have said it before, and I will say it again, you don’t necessarily have to get the best motherboard in order to enjoy a good gaming experience.
The problem with the “best” term is that it is highly subjective and situational. Subjective because what may be the best for one consumer may not be the best for the other. On the other hand, it is situational because there are so many variables involved in declaring something best.
At the end of the day, a gamer is free to choose a motherboard according to his needs, and therefore the term best doesn’t hold any weight. Therefore, I want you to pay less attention to the best product and focus on getting the right motherboard for your needs because that will be much better in the long run.
The Factors That Make up an Ideal Ryzen 5 5600X Motherboard
We can go on and on about what you should do before buying a motherboard, but that does not answer the query regarding what makes a motherboard good in the first place. Also, I reckon you want a simplified version of all the tech terms related to motherboards.
Therefore, this section is dedicated to that purpose. In it, you will not only find the main characteristics of a motherboard, but I will also touch upon how you can ensure that the motherboard you are buying is a suitable match for the Ryzen 5 5600X processor.
Form Factor
The form factor is directly related to the size of the motherboard. A motherboard is the cornerstone of any gaming PC and lays a foundation for all the other components of a gaming PC.
It is, therefore, very important to fit the right size motherboard in your gaming PC. A motherboard is typically denoted by 4 form factors, those being.
- E-ATX
- ATX
- Micro-ATX
- Mini-ITX
E-ATX form factor is the newest introduced, and it is also the largest size available for a motherboard. E-ATX motherboards have the standard size of 12 x 13 inches. The motherboard was mainly introduced because heat dissipation in motherboards was becoming an issue. The larger width of the E-ATX motherboards allows for better cooling, and some motherboards even come with a physical fan to boost their cooling potential.
ATX motherboards have been the standard form factor in motherboards for a while now. They are usually referred to as the “normal” sized motherboards that one can buy. The size of an ATX motherboard sits around 12 x 9.6 inches.
Micro-ATX motherboards are smaller than ATX motherboards by quite a margin. These measure 9.6 x 9.6 inches. A Micro-ATX motherboard provides a good balance between size and motherboard real estate.
Mini-ITX motherboards are the smallest of the bunch and measure in at 6.7 x 6.7 inches. These motherboards are typically not so mainstream and hence reserved for specialized builds. This is because they do not provide a lot of areas to work with and therefore are not suitable for gamers with minimal experience.
Which Motherboard Form Factor Is the Best for Ryzen 5 5600X?
There isn’t any right or wrong form factor. I know this doesn’t sound the best, but I hate to break it to you that the best motherboard form factor is the one that suits the PC.
Therefore, there is no one “best” form factor, and it depends on the situation. I say this because, like the motherboard, other PC components, for example, the PC case, also come in different sizes.
Ideally, you want all your components to be compatible with one another. Therefore, choose the motherboard form factor in accordance with other PC components.
For example, if you want to buy a compact tower case, then a Micro-ATX will be better suited; however, if you are buying a standard large size case, then an ATX or an E-ATX motherboard will be a better choice.
If you want more information on this topic, then you can refer to my thorough article on PC part compatibility.
Compatibility aside, the E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards also differ in terms of their functionality and features.
- The E-ATX and ATX motherboards, due to their large size, offer the maximum number of features that you can have on a motherboard. Hence these motherboards also have the best functionality and offer a diverse selection of ports.
- The Micro-ATX motherboard is not as feature-rich as ATX motherboards, but it is not far off in terms of connectivity. You only compromise some PCIe expansion slots and some select headers hence making this motherboard quite useable despite the size shrinkage.
- The Mini-ITX motherboard contains the least number of features. You could say it is barebones when compared to its E-ATX, ATX, and Micro-ATX counterparts. The functionality and practicality are also not all that great.
As you can make out, E-ATX, ATX, and Micro-ATX are the ones to get because Mini-ITX is just not feasible unless you are going for a specialized build.
That being said, I would stick with E-ATX or ATX for full-sized PC builds and Micro-ATX for compact gaming PCs.
CPU Socket Type
The CPU socket type is a relatively simple matter that has been complicated to death. The main reason why socket type is so confusing to many new gamers is because often it is explained wrong.
The socket of the motherboard is what matters to ensure compatibility with a given CPU. Due to its significance, gamers often complicate things.
The Ryzen 5 5600X processor uses the AM4 socket, and therefore, a motherboard having the AM4 socket will be compatible with this processor.
The main issue is that AMD does not change its socket all that often, so gamers get confused about which AM4 motherboard is the one to get. To decide that, you would need to know about the motherboard chipset because socket type and chipset go hand in hand so let’s see that.
The Chipset
The chipset is the fundamental talking point of a motherboard. Its significance can be judged from the fact that a motherboard name has the chipset number in it.
The chipset of the motherboard refers to the technology on which the motherboard is made. The latest generation AMD motherboards carry the 5000 series chipset. The 5000 series chipset comes in three types and those being:
- X series chipset e.g., X570
- B series chipset e.g., B550
- A series chipset e.g., A520
These chipsets differ from one another based on their capability.
The X series chipset is the most premium offering that supports the Ryzen 5 5600X processor. Therefore, the X570 motherboards are the ones to get if you want the maximum performance out of your Ryzen 5 5600X.
The B series chipset sits in the middle of the pack. It lacks some of the features of the more expensive X570 motherboard, but overall, the B550 offers good value for money.
The A-series chipset is usually found in budget motherboards and is a stripped-down version of the B550 chipset. It has the least number of features but can be feasible with the Ryzen 5 5600X if you are on a very tight budget.
As discussed in the Socket Type section, the socket and the chipset of the motherboard are both used for deciding the motherboard that is compatible with the Ryzen 5 5600X.
Now, after discussing both, the ideal motherboard for the Ryzen 5 5600X should have the AM4 socket and 5000 series chipset. It can either be from the X, B, or A series that does not matter all that much as long as the socket and the chipset match the description.
CPU Compatibility
Motherboards are not made for a single CPU but rather the whole generation line. So, the motherboards for the Ryzen 5 5600X are also compatible with other AMD CPUs. It is great peace of mind knowing that if you want to upgrade to a more powerful AMD CPU later on, it can be done.
AMD goes above and beyond with its compatibility. The motherboards made for the Ryzen 5 5600X will not only be compatible with 5000 series CPUs like 5800X or 5900X but will also be compatible with previous 3rd generation Ryzen processors like 3600X and 3900X.
This aspect of the AMD motherboard gives gamers the flexibility to upgrade to a better motherboard before buying a CPU. This is quite beneficial for upgrading a PC one component at a time.
VRM and Power Phase
The motherboard is the bed for all your other components, so the foundation needs to be good if you have any hopes of a reliable gaming PC. For a gaming PC, the motherboard VRM and power phase are very important.
A voltage power regulator (VRM) is the module in the motherboard that is responsible for supplying power to the CPU. Having a good quality VRM that maintains a constant voltage supply is very important for a smooth-running PC.
Also, the VRM of the motherboard should be as cool as possible. If a VRM gets hot under load, then it would lose out on sustainable performance and, therefore, limit the performance of the PC.
The Ryzen 5 5600X is also no slouch, and being a 6-core processor, it needs a motherboard with a solid VRM.
Memory Support
The memory support of the motherboard is another key factor to consider. The Ryzen 5 5600X is very picky about memory, so it is important that you get the motherboard with the right memory support.
You would want a Ryzen 5 5600X motherboard to have at least 4 RAM slots. Having 4 RAM slots will allow you to run dual or quad-channel memory configurations, which are a great way to boost the performance of the Ryzen 5 5600X processor.
A 4-RAM slot motherboard will also be better in the long run. Even If you don’t use all four slots right now, it will allow you to expand the storage to 32GB, 64GB, or even 128GB later on. Mind you, 128GB RAM support is only available in X570 motherboards.
Apart from having 4-RAM slots, a Ryzen 5 5600X motherboard should also support fast RAM speeds. For a decent motherboard, you are looking at a RAM speed of 3200MHz. However, high-end motherboards allow you to go much higher than that.
4000-4400MHz on some of the more expensive motherboards like the Gigabyte Aorus Xtreme is quite possible.
The takeaway here is that an ideal motherboard for the Ryzen 5 5600X should have 4 RAM slots and should support a RAM speed of 3200MHz at the bare minimum.
Storage Options
Like all other PC components, PC storage is also getting more complex these days. Nowadays, not only do you have a plethora of storage options available in the market, but the size of each game, application, and even media file has grown drastically.
Therefore, you might want to check if the motherboard you want to buy high-performance support storage for maximum efficiency.
There are two aspects that need to be checked for storage options. The first is the inclusion of SATA ports on the motherboard. SATA ports are used to connect 3.5″, 2.5″, and 5.25″ storage drives. The SATA drives are treated as the mass storage drives of the PC.
A motherboard in a typical manner should have at least 6 SATA ports for comfortable use. Besides, the SATA ports are the other thing you should get in the support for PCIe M.2 drives. The PCIe NVMe M.2 storage is the latest iteration of the storage module and is attached directly to a PCIe slot of the motherboard.
This drives great benefits due to being attached to a PCIe slot. It has over 3x the speed of a 2.5″ SSD storage drive, making it extremely fast for daily use. The speed, however, comes at a cost. These M.2 drives are quite costly and therefore are used to store only special games or applications.
For a Ryzen 5 5600X which benefits greatly from fast transfer speeds, you should ensure that the motherboard you are buying has support for at least two M.2 storage drives while offering 6 SATA ports as well.
PCIe Expansion Slots
The PCIe slot is where your GPU connects to the motherboard. Since the GPU is one of the integral components of a gaming PC therefore, automatically, the role of PCIe expansion slots becomes quite critical.
That being said, the PCIe expansion slot these days is not only used for GPU but also for NVMe connectivity as well for connecting sound cards and video cards.
On all Ryzen, 5600X motherboards, the type of PCIe expansion slot is the same. What differs is the number of them present on a motherboard.
An E-ATX and ATX motherboard has around 5-6 PCIe slots. A Micro-ATX motherboard, on the other hand, has 3-4 PCIe slots, while a Mini-ITX motherboard has 2 PCIe slots.
The PCIe slots also come in different sizes, which include x16, x8, x4, x2, and x1. Between these, the x16 PCIe slot offers the best performance because of its higher bandwidth capacity.
If you want to enjoy the maximum performance out of your Ryzen 5 5600X, then you should buy a motherboard that has at least one PCIe x16 slot. Luckily, most motherboards have at least one x16 PCIe slot, but higher-end E-ATX and ATX motherboards can have upwards of two.
Power Connectors
The power connectors are the cables that supply power to the motherboard and the other PC components installed on the motherboards. An assembled gaming PC needs to be powered with the help of the PSU.
The main cables that supply the power from the PSU to the motherboards are called the power connectors. The Ryzen 5 5600X is quite a demanding processor hence needs a fair bit of power to run. The same is the case with the Ryzen 5 5600X motherboards and other components of the PC.
All motherboards require a 1 x 24 pin power connector for the motherboard, 8 + 4 pin power connector for the CPU, and 2 x 8 pin power connector for the GPU at the very least.
Internal Headers
The internal headers refer to all the internal parts of a motherboard. Picking the motherboard with the right internal headers will make things so much easier for you.
While there are all sorts of various internal headers on a motherboard but broadly, they can be categorized in 3 different ways – the front panel headers, the fan and RGB headers, and the miscellaneous headers.
The front panel headers consist of all the headers that you will need to power the button and ports found on the front panel of the case. A typical configuration for the front panel headers looks something like this USB 2.0, USB 3.0, Type-C, HD Audio, Power button, reset button, and LED indicators.
Of course, this is prone to deviations depending on the case and the different types of motherboards available.
The fan and RGB headers on the motherboard are used for connecting case fans, CPU fans, RGB lights, and much more. In some instances, a single RGB fan or cooler may require a fan header as well as an RGB header to work.
Therefore, it is a wise idea to have at least 3 or 4 case fan headers, 1 CPU, and 2 or 3 addressable RGB headers. RGB headers come in two forms. 12V 4-pin RGB headers or 5V 3-pin LED headers.
12V and 5V aRGB headers connect different types of RGB fans and LED strips, and one is not compatible with the other so keep that in mind. It is always a good idea to have a motherboard that has both 12V RGB headers as well 5V LED headers.
Besides having addressable RGB headers, some motherboards even come with onboard RGB lighting. Seeing motherboards lit up inside a gaming PC is surely a very good look, but to get the RGB lighting, you will have to pay a premium because onboard RGB lighting is usually found on the more expensive X570 motherboards as opposed to the budget B550 or A520 ones.
Last but not least, there are some other headers that may or may not be present in a motherboard. Usually, these headers are more feature-based than anything, and their sole purpose is to provide more value to the users. Typically, the high-end motherboards are where you will find these sorts of internal motherboard headers.
Rear Ports and Connectivity
Arguably the Rear connectivity of the motherboard is one of the key differentiating aspects that separates good motherboards from not-so-good ones. After all, if you can’t access the ports you need, then the motherboard may be pointless for you.
While it is true that as you move up the ladder in terms of motherboard price, the rear connectivity also improves, that should not stop you from buying a motherboard with quality rear connectivity.
The usual physical ports at the rear include USB 2.0 Type-A, USB 3.0 Type-A, USB-C, ethernet, HDMI, DisplayPort, 3.5mm Audio ports, PS/2, etc.
A good motherboard should have a healthy mix of all of these ports and then some to provide maximum versatility to its users. Even if a motherboard has all these ports, it does not mean it’s good.
For example, a motherboard can have a 1Gbps ethernet port, 2.5Gbps ethernet port, or 5gbps ethernet port. The quality of the port heavily varies from motherboard to motherboard, and this is what separates good motherboards from back ones.
Therefore, remember to select the Ryzen 5600X motherboard that not only includes all the necessary rear connectivity ports but also maintains a good quality standard over them.
RGB Lighting
I have touched upon RGB lighting in the internal header section briefly, so let’s go over it in detail now. Although RGB lighting is not something that directly affects the performance of your PC but let’s be honest, guys, it’s 2024, and where have you seen a gaming PC in 2024 that does not come with RGB lighting.
Well, I haven’t seen a PC without RGB lighting, and RGB lighting has become a staple in gaming PCs. RGB lighting can be had from all sorts of different components: RGB case fans, RGB CPU coolers, RGB SSDs, RGB keyboards, and mice. Pretty much every PC component is now RGB.
Regardless of if you sit in the RGB camp or not, it doesn’t hurt to ensure that the Ryzen 5600X you are buying has RGB lighting or not. While aesthetics aren’t everything, I sure do believe RGB lighting can have a positive impact on the overall perception of the motherboard and the PC in general.
Motherboard BIOS
Every component or an electronic peripheral these days needs software to operate. The BIOS is, therefore, the software of the motherboard upon which it operates.
The BIOS can not only be used to monitor the activity of the motherboard but also to control the motherboard and the other PC components installed on the motherboard.
Since the BIOS is software, after all, it is prone to malfunctions and failures. BIOS failure is especially rampant in Ryzen 5600X motherboards, especially the cheaper ones. Some motherboards even need to be updated first before you can even use the Ryzen 5600X on them.
But don’t you worry, all the motherboards on this list will not give you any trouble of that sort. Most motherboards in this article will support Ryzen 5600x out of the box. The ones that don’t are easily BIOS upgradeable due to the BIOS flashback feature.
Warranty
Whether you have a lot of money to splurge on a Ryzen 5600X or are on a tight budget, having a warranty for components gives you great peace of mind. The good thing about motherboards is that they are only sold mainly by reputable brands like MSI, Asus, Gigabyte, and AsRock, so the warranty is not a concern.
All the manufacturers provide at least a 1-year warranty on their motherboards, while some high-end motherboards also get 3-year warranty coverage.
FAQs
Related Guides
Check out some of our related motherboard guides.
- Best Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600
- Best Motherboards for Ryzen 9 5900X
- Best B550 Motherboards
- Best Motherboard for Ryzen 7 5800X
Finals Thoughts
This wraps up our article on the ten best motherboards for the Ryzen 5600X CPU. After reading all the motherboards, it should now be quite apparent to you that no motherboard is the same, and they all are good in their own right.
Some motherboards might be the best in terms of cooling and VRM, like the MSI MPG X570S Carbon EK X, while some might be more focused on providing users with the greatest number of features, like the Asus X570 ROG Crosshair VIII Hero.
Then there are others like the Gigabyte X570 AORUS XTREME that are good in all aspects; however, they do cost quite a penny to get. Ultimately, the choice boils down to what you, as a consumer, want from a motherboard.
Different gamers have different needs; therefore, I have included a diversified list of motherboards unique from one another in this article. Look around; you will find something for yourself.
With that being said, let’s conclude the article. I hope you find the Ryzen 5 5600X motherboards in this article a good fit for your PC build. Before I sign off, do let me know which motherboard you bought in the comment section. If you have a motherboard that you want me to look at next, do share that in the comment section. If you have a motherboard that you want me to look at next, do share that in the comment section.
The Author Who Worked On This Article
Waleed Madni
A tech enthusiast with the spirit of a competitive gamer. Waleed has been around computers ever since he was young and has witnessed the progress of the machines he loves the most. Fascinated by what tomorrow has to offer, he keeps himself up to date with the latest technology and gaming trends.