B450 ITX motherboard from Good B450
B450 ITX motherboard from Good B450
Hi, I'm planning a build using an R5 3600 and focusing on RAM upgrades since the CPU won't be heavily overclocked. I've checked several B450 ITX boards online, but many seem to have reliability problems. Do you have any suggestions for motherboards that work well with this setup? Your feedback would be appreciated!
Amazon.com lists the GIGABYTE B450 I AORUS PRO WiFi as an AMD Ryzen AM4/M.2 Thermal Guard board with built-in WiFi, HDMI, DP, USB 3.1 Gen 2, and more. It offers a solid set of components including a quality sound card, SPDIF header, strong wireless performance, Intel wired LAN, and ten USB ports on the IO shield. The VRM performance is average compared to other ITX models, though it should handle a 3600 A BIOS update. It doesn’t support BIOS flashback, meaning you can’t update the BIOS without the CPU installed. Newer Ryzen 3rd generation boards have been released since June-July, so unless this model was recently stocked, it’s likely outdated. This board shares many features but has slightly weaker wireless LAN and fewer USB ports. It comes with a bit more robust VRM and costs roughly $20 more than similar options. Amazon.com also advertises the ASUS ROG Strix B450-I Gaming Mini ITX motherboard, featuring AMD Ryzen 2, DDR4 memory, HDMI, M.2 slots, USB 3.1 Gen 2, and a strong VRM.
Unless you're buying from a MicroCenter or similar big store and can verify the box says "Ryzen 3000 ready," many boards are sold without the BIOS update. If you're okay with waiting, handling paperwork is fine—using the 200ge loaner program or sending the board back for a BIOS update works too. Check out the info here: https://www.extremetech.com/computing/29...rd-updates and https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/faq/pa-100. Personally, I prefer the Rog Strix b450-i for its upgrade potential later. Either option looks decent for a 3600 MHz build.
Unfortunately, it seems no major manufacturer is promoting "Ryzen 3000 Ready" ITX boards. Maybe it's just because they're targeting a smaller audience, or perhaps they aim to push the X570 models instead. While the new X570 ITX units boast excellent VRMs—often outperforming similarly priced ATX boards in price range of $200–240—they remain over $200, which can be tough for budget-conscious builders. Personally, I’d have enjoyed trying an ITX build otherwise; a Cougar KAZE setup would have been quite enjoyable.