Image credit: Unsplash
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, along with other 3rd gen Ryzen processors, made headlines with Intel-beating performances when it was first launched. Even today, the CPU holds strong with its higher Level 3 cache that enables it to perform super-fast data access needed for an ultra-smooth gaming experience.
GIF credit: Linus Tech Tips YouTube
The CPU stacks up well against other 2nd and 3rd gen Ryzen processors:
Image credit: PCgamer
But in order to access the advancements that the processor brings, the most important one being the PCIe 4.0-ready architecture, it’s important to use a motherboard that’s well-equipped with interfaces that support new-gen hardware components. Most importantly, it’s important to choose the right motherboard that has the bandwidth to help you access the advancements in computing performance that AMD Ryzen 7 3700X brings.
The first important step to choosing one of the best motherboards for Ryzen 7 3700X is learning about chipset compatibility in order to make a well-informed decision. If you are someone who is already aware of the AMD AM4 socket and the chipset architectures based on it, you can skip this step.
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X socket and chipset compatibility
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is based on the AMD AM4 socket and the motherboards that are compatible with the CPU are only the ones that have chipset architectures based on this AM4 socket. The good news is, there are several AMD chipset architectures that are based on the AM4 socket.
The latest chipset based on the AMD AM4 socket is the AMD X570 chipset. This new chipset boasts the latest-gen interface support, including PCIe 4.0 support. Other top-tier features such as extended bandwidth for PCIe 4.0 graphics and Gen 4 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs make this chipset architecture crush every other high-end chipset in the market. The one downside of this latest chipset architecture though is it comes with a hefty price tag.
Image credit: AMD
Another beefy AM4 socket-based chipset architecture for AMD Ryzen 7 3700X (and other AMD Ryzen 3000 series CPUs) is AMD B550. It is another AMD Ryzen 7 3700X-compatible chipset architecture that is PCIe 4.0 ready. This architecture is designed to support up to 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes when paired with an AMD Ryzen Processor. Similar to the AMD X570 chipset, AMD B550 is priced relatively high as it is designed for enthusiast builds.
Image credit: AMD
AMD X470 chipset architecture has been around for quite a while. Although it does not support PCIe 4.0, it does support 3rd gen Ryzen CPUs, including the Ryzen 7 3700X, and includes PCIe 3.0 support for SSD storage and graphics. The biggest advantage that the AMD X470 chipset architecture has over the latest new-gen options is it has become significantly affordable.
Image credit: AMD
Another affordable option is the AMD B450 chipset architecture. Being a previous generation chipset architecture, AMD B450 isn’t suited for high-end gaming PC builds with top-tier setups such as multi-GPU configuration. However, it sure can handle CPU overclocking for mid-tier games. The best part, it is one of the best options in terms of affordability.
Image credit: AMD
Motherboard form factor
If you’re new to buying a motherboard, it’s important to know that there are various standards for motherboards that translate into different form factors, the mainstream standards being Standard ATX, Micro ATX, and Mini ITX.
Companies that build motherboards based on the chipset architecture provided by CPU manufacturers usually design motherboards in all of these form factor standards in order to cater to varying market needs.
Image credit: Tom’s Hardware
Standard ATX motherboard is the most powerful. Due to a large-sized form factor, this motherboard type includes multiple PCIe ports, more RAM slots, higher CPU overclocking support, a large-sized I/O bay, and better thermal management support. High-end Standard ATX motherboards usually aren’t affordable.
Micro ATX motherboards are the best options for a limited PC build budget. They are smaller in overall dimensions than Standard ATX motherboards and have fewer PCIe ports and RAM slots. Many Micro ATX motherboards don’t support multi-GPU setup. In a nutshell, Micro ATX motherboards are good for mid-tier performance gaming PC builds.
Mini ITX motherboards are the most compact out of the three. They are suitable if you prefer a compact gaming PC tower. Mini ITX motherboards have several limitations, including the availability of just one PCIe x16 bus. Also, they have limited CPU overclocking support and many models do not have an integrated heatsink in the VRM.
Best motherboards for Ryzen 7 3700X: Standard ATX models
Standard ATX motherboards are available with the latest AMD X570 chipset architecture. Also, there are no shortages of Standard ATX motherboards that are based on the previous-gen AMD X470 chipset architecture.
Here are two Standard ATX models:
1. Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero (AMD X570 chipset) – check it out here (Best motherboards for Ryzen 7 3700X for ATX)
Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is undoubtedly one of the most powerful Standard ATX motherboards in the market that you can get your hands on. It makes one of the best motherboards for Ryzen 7 3700X as it is based on the latest AMD X570 chipset architecture. This essentially means that this motherboard can easily support a multi-GPU setup in the new-gen PCIe 4.0 front.
Support for PCIe 4.0 also means that this motherboard is capable of delivering the best performance out of the latest gen 4 NVMe SSDs. Higher bandwidth for CPU overclocking support of this motherboard helps Ryzen 7 3700X maintain extremely fast processing speeds enabled by its higher L3 cache.
Pros:
- PCIe 4.0 supported
- Perfectly compatible with the Zen 2 architecture of Ryzen 7 3700X
- Integrated M.2 and I/O heatsinks
Cons:
- Price is on the higher side
- Limited header connectors
2. ASRock Taichi Ultimate (AMD X470 chipset) – check it out here
If the AMD X570 chipset architecture seems overkill for your requirements, you can go for the AMD X470 architecture. And one of the best-performing yet affordable motherboards based on this architecture is the ASRock Taichi Ultimate. This Standard ATX motherboard does not have PCIe 4.0 buses, but it sure does sport two dedicated PCIe 3.0 x16 buses for multi-GPU and/or multi-NVMe SSDs setup.
ASRock Taichi Ultimate makes up a great affordable platform to build mid-tier gaming PCs as it supports SATA 3, USB 3.1, and 10Gb-a BASE-T ethernet. Additional features such as AMD Quad CrossFireX support, ultra M.2 support, and integrated heatsinks make this motherboard one of the bests in its class.
Pros:
- Additional PCIe 2.0 x16 bus included
- Nvidia Quad SLI supported
- RGB lighting module included
Cons:
- No support for PCIe 4.0
- Only one USB Type C port available
Best motherboards for Ryzen 7 3700X: Micro ATX models
Micro ATX motherboards are in a league of their own when it comes to combining high-performance capabilities with affordability. Despite the misconception, Micro ATX motherboards do support the latest-gen chipset architectures.
Here are two Micro ATX motherboards that vary in terms of chipset architecture, overall interface compatibility, and pricing:
1. Gigabyte Aorus Pro (AMD B550 chipset) – check it out here (Best motherboards for Ryzen 7 3700X for Micro ATX)
Gigabyte Aorus Pro is one of the few Micro ATX motherboards to take full advantage of the latest AMD B550 chipset architecture. The motherboard, despite having a compact form factor, offers one PCIe 4.0 x16 bus and two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 buses for a dedicated GPU and multiple SSDs configuration.
As one of the best motherboards for AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, Gigabyte Aorus Pro also supports Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4 RAM with four dedicated DIMM slots. This model also includes plenty of additional features such as enlarged VRM heatsinks, multiple temperature sensors, and a pre-installed I/O shield.
Pros:
- PCIe 4.0 supported
- Dedicated M.2 thermal guard used
- Daisy chain routing used for DDR4 4000MHz RAM system
Cons:
- Only one PCIe 4.0 x16 bus available
- Integrated I/O shield takes quite an amount of space
2. MSI Pro-M2 Max (AMD B450 chipset)- check it out here
If you want to stick to a Micro ATX motherboard format and don’t want to have top-of-the-line chipset architecture for affordability, you cannot go wrong with MSI Pro-M2 Max. This motherboard is based on the previous-gen AMD B450 chipset architecture and therefore supports up to PCIe 3.0 generation for GPU and storage.
MSI Pro-M2 Max supports CPU overclocking and Turbo M.2 for SSDs based on the NVMe architecture. Similar to other high-end motherboards, this model includes DDR4 boost which is a proprietary feature from MSI. Other features, including heavy plated integrated heatsinks, HD audio connectors, and surge protection add more value to this Ryzen 7 3700X motherboard.
Pros:
- Performance boost for NVMe SSDs
- DDR4 daisy-chaining supported
- Sturdy integrated heatsink design
Cons:
- No support for PCIe 4.0
- Only one PCIe 3.0 x16 bus available
- No integrated I/O shield
Best motherboards for Ryzen 7 3700X: Mini ITX models
Mini ITX motherboards are well-suited for those who prefer to build a compact and well-performing PC without breaking the bank. Many people perceive Mini ITX motherboards to only support previous generation chipset architectures. However, this is only partially true as there are modern Mini ITX motherboards that do support the latest chipset architectures.
Here are the two best motherboards for Ryzen CPUs (including Ryzen 7 3700X) in the Mini ITX form factor category:
1. Asus ROG Strix X470-I Gaming (AMD X470 chipset) – check it out here (Best motherboards for Ryzen 7 3700X for Mini ITX )
Asus ROG Strix X470-I Gaming is undoubtedly one of the best motherboards for Ryzen 7 3700X CPU as it is specifically designed for AMD Ryzen 3000 series desktop processors. Similar to other motherboards based on the AMD X470 chipset architecture, this Mini ITX motherboard supports up to PCIe 3.0 generation.
Asus ROG Strix X470-I Gaming packs plenty of other features, including integrated WiFi and Bluetooth modules, support for the SATA 3 interface, support for USB 3.1, and an addressable 3 pin header. Integrated VRM and M.2 heatsinks are the other two important highlights of this motherboard.
Pros:
- Optimized trace pathways for DDR4 memory
- Ram Cache II feature supported
- Dedicated RGB header included
Cons:
- PCIe 4.0 isn’t supported
- Only one PCIe 3.0 x16 bus available
- No integrated I/O shield
2. Asus ROG Strix X570-I Gaming (AMD X570 chipset) – check it out here
The new-gen PCIe 4.0 interface isn’t just reserved for Standard ATX and Micro ATX motherboards as it is available in Mini ITX motherboards as well. And one of the most powerful PCIe 4.0 Mini ITX motherboards in the market is the Asus ROG Strix X570-I Gaming. This motherboard supports GPUs and NVMe SSDs based on the PCIe 4.0 standard with its single PCIe 4.0 x16 bus.
Asus ROG Strix X570-I Gaming’s strength also lies in the memory department as it combines dual-channel DDR4 DIMM slots with memory trace layout technology. This model also has a dedicated audio module and integrated impedance sensors.
Pros:
- PCIe 4.0 supported
- SATA 3 interface supported
- 1GbE ethernet connectivity supported
Cons:
- Only one PCIe 4.0 x16 bus available
- Only two headers available
Over to you
PC motherboards aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. As such, it may take more research for you to find the motherboard that not only suits the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X CPU but also precisely meets your GPU, RAM, storage, PC tower size, and networking requirements.
To make your research journey easier and simpler, check out this extensive list of motherboards that are compatible with the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X CPU. Check it out here.
Image credit: PC Part Picker
Also, you can take help from this online PC builder tool to virtually set up your ideal gaming PC in order to make a well-informed decision.
Image credit: Microcenter