If you have been looking for an alternative to Intel’s i5 9400F, a 6 cores and threads processor, you might have come across the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X. Initially, it was only available as an OEM part for the Chinese market. But later, it appeared on the international market too.
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As a CPU without an integrated graphics card, the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X competes against Intel’s graphics-less CPUs. The 3500X, though matching the same number of cores and threads, differs in performance. The 3500X delivers an overall better performance in gaming and productivity than the 9400F.
In a nutshell, the Ryzen 5 3500X is a solid processor for PC builders. But to use this processor at its full capacity, it’s important to pick the right motherboard. Luckily, I have rated and reviewed 5 of the best motherboards for AMD Ryzen 5 3500X.
Let’s get to it shall we?
Best Motherboards For Ryzen 5 3500X | 2022
| Best Motherboards For Ryzen 5 3500X | Form Factor | Chipset | Warranty | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming 4 Wi-Fi AX | ATX | X570 | 3-Year | |
| ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS Wi-Fi | microATX | B550 | 3-Year | |
| MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk Wi-Fi | ATX | X570 | 3-Year | |
| Gigabyte B550I AORUS PRO AX | mini-ITX | B550 | 3-Year | |
| ASUS Prime B550M-A Wi-Fi | microATX | B550 | 3-Year |
| Best Motherboards For Ryzen 5 3500X | Form Factor | Chipset | Warranty | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming 4 Wi-Fi AX | ATX | X570 | 3-Year | |
| ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS Wi-Fi | microATX | B550 | 3-Year | |
| MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk Wi-Fi | ATX | X570 | 3-Year | |
| Gigabyte B550I AORUS PRO AX | mini-ITX | B550 | 3-Year | |
| ASUS Prime B550M-A Wi-Fi | microATX | B550 | 3-Year |
For a price of less than $200, the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X is a good option for people looking to build a gaming PC. Its lower power consumption, PCIe 4.0 support, and cheaper price make it a definitive choice for budget PC builders. That’s why we have selected the best motherboards for this processor.
I have categorized each of these motherboards into – Top Pick, Runner-up, Extreme, Mini-ITX, and Budget.
Top Pick: ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming 4 Wi-Fi AX
The ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming 4 is currently the best motherboard on our list. If you are looking for a motherboard that offers excellent performance at a reasonable price, then this motherboard is for you.
This motherboard supports AMD AM4-based processors like the Ryzen 2000, 3000, 4000 G-Series, 5000, and 5000 G-Series. It comes with four DIMM slots that can hold up to 128GB of RAM; overclockable at 4666+MHz. It supports HDMI 1.4 and DisplayPort with max resolution up to 4K@60Hz.
The ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming 4 also has two PCIe 4.0 x1 slots, dual M.2 slots, with the top one supporting PCIe 4.0 x4, and the bottom one M.2 supporting both PCIe 4.0 and SATA SSDs. Other features include Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth v5.2.
Overall, this motherboard is a solid option to reap the full benefits of Ryzen 5 3500X.
Pros
- Can hold up to 128GB of memory
- Dual M.2 slots
- Comes with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth v5.2
- Attractive black and gray colored theme
- Two full-length PCIe 4.0 slots
- Excellent overclocking capabilities
Cons
- No USB Type-C ports on this motherboard
Runner-up: ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS Wi-Fi
The ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS competes well against the other microATX motherboards of similar price. That’s why it is the second-best option to be considered for 3500X.
This motherboard supports all the AM4-based AMD processors. It comes with four DIMM slots with max memory support of up to 128GB. The top memory speed you can get on this motherboard is 4800MHz (OC). It supports HDMI 2.1 with max resolution up to 4K@60Hz, DisplayPort 1.2, and AMD 2-Way CrossFireX Technology.
The board also has four SATA ports, two M.2 slots, and several USB connections, including a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C connector on the rear. It comes equipped with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth v5.1 for connectivity.
Summing up, if you are looking for a microATX motherboard with impressive features, the ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS can be your best choice.
Pros
- Can hold up to 128GB of memory
- Dual M.2 slots
- Comes with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth v5.1
- Good overclocking support
- USB Type-C feature is available
Cons
- Limitations due to microATX form factor
- A little weak audio
- Unattractive look
Extreme: MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk Wi-Fi
While the ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming 4 is the best option for you, I decided to add an extreme motherboard for enthusiast overclockers.
The MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk is probably the best motherboard with extreme overclocking capabilities under $250. If you ever get this motherboard for under $200 on sale, I would recommend you to go for this one. It offers the best VRM performance in terms of price
This motherboard has four DIMM slots that can take up to 128GB of memory; overclockable at 4600+MHz. It supports HDMI 1.4 with max resolution up to 4K@24Hz and AMD 2-Way CrossFireX Technology. It is also equipped with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth v5.1.
Other features include six SATA ports, two M.2 slots, and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C connector on the back.
That said, the MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk with the best VRM thermals and impressive features justifies the price tag. The absence of DisplayPort might disappoint you, but since the 3500X doesn’t have an integrated graphics card, it doesn’t matter anyway.
Pros
- Can hold up to 128GB of memory
- Dual M.2 slots
- Equipped with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth v5.1
- Excellent VRM performance
- USB Type-C feature is available
Cons
- No DisplayPort on this motherboard
- Doesn’t support HDMI 2.1
Mini-ITX: Gigabyte B550I AORUS PRO AX
If you are looking to build a mini-tower gaming PC, then the ATX or microATX motherboards won’t work. In that case, I have picked the right mini-ITX motherboard for your needs. The Gigabyte B550I Aorus PRO AX is one of the best mini-ITX motherboards for the Ryzen 5 3500X.
The Gigabyte B550I Aorus PRO AX supports AMD Ryzen 5000 Series/ Ryzen 5000 G-Series/ Ryzen 4000 G-Series and Ryzen 3000 Series Processors. It has two DIMM slots that can hold up to 64GB of memory; overclockable at 5300MHz. It supports two HDMI ports with a max resolution of 4K@60Hz and a DisplayPort with a max resolution of 5K@60Hz. This motherboard also includes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth v5.0.
This motherboard also includes PCIe 4.0 devices with compatible CPUs, four SATA ports, as well as two PCIe M.2 slots, and 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet.
Overall, the Gigabyte B550I Aorus PRO AX is one of the best mini-ITX motherboards currently available.
Pros
- Can hold up to 64GB of RAM
- Great performance
- Comes with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth v5.0
- Dual M.2 slots
- Compact size
Cons
- No heatsink on second M.2 slot
Budget: ASUS Prime B550M-A Wi-Fi
If you are on a tight budget with not able to spend more than $150 on a motherboard, I have got the cheapest microATX motherboard you can buy right now. The ASUS Prime B550M-A is the cheapest and decent entry-level motherboard with sufficient features.
This motherboard comes with four DIMM slots that can hold up to 128GB of memory. The max memory speed you can get on this motherboard is 4866MHz. It supports HDMI 2.1 with a max resolution of 4K@60Hz, a DVI-D port, and a D-Sub port. It is also equipped with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth v5.2, which is impressive for a motherboard at this price.
There are no USB Type-C ports but two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports and four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports in the rear. Apart from that, it has four SATA ports and two PCIe M.2 slots.
Overall, for people on a tight budget, the ASUS B550M-A will be the best option for 3500X.
Pros
- Can hold up to 128GB of RAM
- Good performance
- Comes with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth v5.2
- Dual M.2 slots
- Three video output
Cons
- No USB Type-C port
- VRMs run a little hot
Wrapping Up
While there are lots of high-performing motherboards available on the market, none of them are easily affordable. Great features and performance come at a price. It depends on your capability to spend on a single point. It is true motherboards are an important component of your PC, but you’ll also need to be sure they work within your budget.
If you need the best performing motherboard for your 3500X but at a reasonable price, no doubt the ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming 4 should be your pick anytime. But for PC builders under a tight budget, the ASUS B550M-A should be considered.
Lastly, you can pick any of these motherboards from the list according to your preference. Each of them is compatible with the AMD Ryzen 5 3500X out of the box.
