Best x470 motherboard
Best x470 motherboard
Which X470 model is most suitable for overclocking and which is the overall best? I’ve learned a lot about the Aorus X470 and AsRock X470 motherboards. The Taichi model features a "Digi Power (IR Digital PWM) 16 Power Phase Design Premium 60A Power Choke Dual-Stack MOSFET (DSM), capacitors Nichicon 12K Black." The Aorus Gaming 7 offers 10 phases, 2 phases for SOC (Memory Controller) with digital power, delivering 40A per Vcore phase and 50A per SOC phase, along with 8+4 solid-pin CPU power connectors similar to the Taichi. The other AsRock X470 variant includes Intersil Digital PWM 12 Power Phase Design Premium 45A Power Choke and capacitors, Nichicon 12K Black, and matching CPU power connectors. The Aorus X470 also has a 3-phase PWM with lower RDS(on) and a 4+4 parallel power design using hybrid digital power MOSFETs, plus an 8-pin CPU power connector. I just mentioned AORUS and ASROCK since MSI and ASUS haven’t specified their VRM details—please let me know if you have a better recommendation. What do these terms mean and which ones are superior? Help is needed; I’ve put in a lot of effort on this post.
You do realize there is practically ZERO overclocking headroom on any of the Ryzen platforms beyond what the PBO and PBO2 configurations can offer, right? In general the consensus is that overclocking on Ryzen is generally a waste of time because the gains are so minimal IF AT ALL.
I'd be worried only about getting a board that is able to run the desired CPU without overheating the VRMs, while utilizing the maximum factory boost profile, and leave it at that because you're liable to be beating your head against a wall that isn't going to move no matter how expensive the board is or how good the VRM configuration is.
What CPU are you running? What kind of OC are you looking to achieve?
What is your memory configuration and WHICH sticks are you planning to run?
What CPU cooler are you going to be using?
If you really want a good board, the Crosshair VIII Hero, Taichi, Gaming 7 and Gaming M7 AC are all great boards. Consensus is that the Crosshair Hero, no surprise there since the Hero boards usually are the best board for the money without diving into much more expensive options, is the best overclocker at or near it's price range.
It has the following:
https://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/8...he...dex10.html
But honestly, for MOST users, considering there is not a lot to be gained with an overclock anyhow, something like the B450 Tomahawk or Gaming Pro carbon, both of which have excellent VRMs and performance/quality, are more than suitable for any of the Ryzen CPUs up to and including the 3900x.
There remains ample overclock potential, but success hinges on securing a favorable silicon selection. A few enthusiasts achieve 3800x at 4.5GHz or even higher, though this remains an outlier rather than the norm. In certain cases, pushing the Integrated Function to 1900 and the RAM to 3800 with precise timing can yield noticeable gains. This approach doesn’t necessitate a motherboard equipped with exceptionally powerful VRM solutions.
CaseKing offers overclocked 3700x models running at 4.3GHz across all cores, maintaining a voltage of 1.4V or lower. Some 3800x units reach 4.4GHz under similar conditions. Occasionally, a 4.5GHz speed is possible if circumstances align (rare). At these frequencies, 3800x with an IF of 1900 and RAM calibrated to CL15 or CL14 can handle most 9900K systems in games (see bottom [1]). These chips boast a time spy CPU rating exceeding 11,500.
Specific examples include:
- 3800x at 4.4GHz with IF 1900 and 3800 RAM, achieving a score of 11,962.
- 3800x at 4.5GHz with similar specs, scoring 11,973.
Extreme performance is also seen in scores surpassing 12k, achieved mainly by fine-tuning RAM timings. For optimal results with a Ryzen 3800x, a high-quality binned b-die RAM kit is essential. Options include G.SKILL’s DDR4-3800 CL14 kit for AMD Ryzen 3000 & X570 or VENGEANCE® LPX 16GB DDR4 DRAM 5000MHz C18 kit (black). If timing adjustments aren’t feasible, purchasing a budget CL16 kit and adjusting voltage to 1.5V can still yield decent results.
Some enthusiasts opt for a more affordable 3600 CL16 b-die kit, raising the voltage to 1.5V and targeting CL14 at 3800. These kits typically cost around £120.
Ultimately, maximizing performance at 4.4GHz all cores on a 3800x or 4.3GHz all cores on a 3700x demands careful RAM configuration. Focusing on RAM timing is key for achieving strong scores. Time Spy CPU ratings often exceed 11,600 at these speeds.
90% of users will be satisfied with a mid-tier board, PBO/2 and a suitable 3200-3600mhz 16-32GB memory package. Ryzen compatible options such as Flare X or Neo are appreciated. B-die is preferable. Anything that actually performs at the rated speed is acceptable for most users.
If you're a tinkerer or an overclocking enthusiast who enjoys getting the best value, zx128k advice could be relevant.
Only a few people seek binned CPUs, and those typically aren't looking for hardware tips. Still, it's possible.
Getting additional clocks doesn't necessarily offer much real benefit. The TimeSpy synthetic CPU benchmark can be quite misleading, and improving it by a few hundred points on a high base score is hardly significant. Moreover, it's unlikely to translate into tangible results in everyday use. The effort and cost involved—especially when paired with expensive components like a CaseKing binned CPU—often don't justify any meaningful advantage. It also adds to the complexity, as you must use their recommended parts and cooling solutions, which are premium and pricey.
So overall, it seems pointless for me, especially if I'm starting with second-generation but definitely third-generation CPUs. Unless the goal is simply to chase benchmark numbers, this approach doesn't seem worthwhile.
There isn't one standard measure that fully captures real-world performance, unless everything you're testing is that specific benchmark. That's why sources like Anandtech provide numerous results across many tests, helping you understand the broader context.
Are you sure you want me to share numerous benchmarks? The previous time I did it matched the same result as the time spy CPU score. Certain titles like World of Tanks Encore went to Intel, while others chose AMD. Also, keep in mind that an extreme 9900K with 5.2GHz all-core overclock, along with high frequency and tight timing, still ranks first in games. This doesn’t imply the 3800X can’t compete with many 9900K builds once properly overclocked.
Why purchase a X470? You can find an Asus X570 Tuff Gaming or Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite for significantly lower prices than the premium X470 models at $180, and both options use the same MOSFETs as the more expensive boards. They also support a 3950x without issues.
View: https://youtu.be/zuyuS04lD4o
View: https://youtu.be/OMRUhtMs9Ok
@zx128k
The difference in rankings doesn’t matter much because the FPS output is well beyond typical monitor refresh rates and most GPU capabilities, making it essentially unnoticeable to the user. The 5.2GHz clock speed is also a luxury for the wealthy, as cooling a nearly 300W unit would require a substantial custom build just to manage the heat.
When speed reaches 70mph, you don’t need to spend over $100k on a Ferrari to achieve that in five seconds—most cars can do it in ten. And what’s useful is 300mph performance only as a race track benchmark.
Some aspects are really not worth arguing about.
Games similar to Metro Exodus often achieve a steady frame rate of over 60fps at 1080p using RTX, especially on most systems.