Top choice board for 7800X3D is the MSI MEG or ASUS PRIME B550M.
Top choice board for 7800X3D is the MSI MEG or ASUS PRIME B550M.
Hello everyone, I'm working on planning my first self-built PC. I've got a list of parts to buy over the next few weeks and a clear vision of what I want. The biggest decision is choosing a motherboard to go with my 7800X3D—between an X670E and a B650E, I'm stuck and can't decide. I also need advice on which board to pick specifically. For other components, I already have a 3080 that could be upgraded to a 5080/5090 later. I might also consider a PCIe 5.0 SSD if I can find one priced similarly to a 4.0 SSD. Any tips or suggestions would be really helpful! Edit: My budget is around £300-£350 or less, and I'm based in the U.K. Thanks for reading!
Your budget could make a difference and the country you choose matters too. Both chipsets are great options, but consider this: do you need those additional PCIe lanes and SATA ports? If not, opt for the B650E and be confident in your decision!
And you’re definitely on the right track. For a single graphics card plus a couple of NVMe drives, your setup will comfortably cover your requirements. You also have four SATA ports ready to expand with more storage options. At around £350, you can easily purchase a high-end B650E board from any preferred supplier. Right now many are questioning ASUS warranty policies, but I’ve personally preferred Gigabyte and MSI. While the X99 SOC Champion had some hiccups, my experience with Gigabyte’s X99, X299, B350 and B450 boards has been mostly positive. The top-tier models start near £215, which means you’re well-positioned for a great purchase if you choose that path!
I set up my 7800X3D earlier this year using the ROG Strix B650E-F. The decision came from needing PCIe 5.0 compatibility for upcoming GPUs, so I picked an "E" chipset. The X was pretty limited compared to B. Asus also provides solid long-term BIOS update support, particularly if you skip the older models.
When you're on a tighter budget, spending too much on unnecessary features can leave you short on what matters most. What features do you need from your motherboard? If you just need to run basic applications and the VRM can handle CPUs above the 7950x model, you won’t require anything beyond 150 pounds. This affordable option offers solid power phases, minimal connectors—including a PCIe 5 slot for M.2 drives. The main advantage of newer models is the PCIe 5 port for GPUs, though many modern GPUs can work fine on PCIe 3.0.
Consider alternatives if your setup lacks the extra PCIe lanes on X670E. Opt for B650E or even B650 Really any board will support 7800X3D at full capacity. Verify M2 slots, PCIe5 components, and USB requirements. Prices aren't current, but you can find details here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1...sp=sharing
Two identical posts appear here discussing this topic. Check out the others for more details.