Choose an AM5 MOBO that avoids coil whine and delivers fast boot times.
Choose an AM5 MOBO that avoids coil whine and delivers fast boot times.
Hey, you're aiming to assemble your first PC this month and have already gathered all the parts (CPU R5 7600 Non x). The main hurdle is the AM5 motherboards—seemingly problematic. From the benchmark videos I watched with many AM5 boards, Gigabyte managed the quickest starts at around 25 seconds, though still slower than my old gaming laptop. On the flip side, Reddit discussions about Gigabyte AM5 boards highlight a lot of complaints about coil whine, which is something I’d really avoid. That’s why I chose the MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK, but it’s reported to have boot times between 45 to 60 seconds. With so many AM5 options out there, picking the right one feels tricky. Anyone have tips on which motherboard or brand is currently performing best?
I've tested the MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK and ASUS TUF B650 PLUS WIFI across several configurations, and everything runs smoothly with no issues or audible whine. The slower startup speeds are typical for DDR5 on AM5 boards, but the recent BIOS updates have made a big difference. My ASUS TUF B650 PLUS WIFI starts in about 10-12 seconds, and I haven't detected any noise at all! Recent BIOS updates helped a lot. Personally, I'm sensitive to sounds like coilwhine—especially since I grew up in the early 90s, so it doesn’t bother me much.
I've worked with RAM that isn't in the QVL list and also with RAM in the QVL list without any problems on both motherboards. All of them are EXPO rated at 6000mhz for both CL32 and CL30. I've used two sticks, not four. For the MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK builds, I've tried the 7600/x, 7800X3D, and 7900X3D models.