Upgrade Your Questions
Upgrade Your Questions
It's time to consider an upgrade to Zen 3. You currently have a 6850k with an X99 MSI Pro Carbon gaming card. For a 5800X, what motherboard would be best?
It varies based on your PC setup and the capabilities you need.
Unless you aim for intense overclocking contests, any B550 or X570 board will perform identically to another with the 5800X. Just choose your preferred size, USB versions, Wi-Fi options, networking speeds over 1Gbps, and the number of NVMe drives you need.
Well, this model suits most users when you're not targeting the cheapest options. https://www.newegg.com/asrock-b550-phant...6813157936 This is the most affordable full-ATX motherboard in the 500-series lineup, featuring Wi-Fi and dual NVMe ports. (One offers PCIe 3.0, the other 4.0) It includes six USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports on the back and an internal header for USB 3.2 Gen 1. (USB 3.0 is the standard for those familiar with naming conventions) Expect around $125 before tax and free shipping. Just note you'll need an older CPU to apply the BIOS update needed for the 5000 series processors.
The excitement comes from slight variations in features and quality between the $125 and $400 price points.
Honestly, opt for a B550 with Wi-Fi or an X570 with Wi-Fi. I’d pick the Aorus Elite X570 with Wi-Fi. I’m unsure if you prefer USB Type-C on the front or back, but what speed matters is 5 or 10 Gb/s. It can support SPDIF, 2.5 Gb/s networking, etc. As long as you avoid pushing the system to its limits, choosing a board around $200 is fine—it depends on what you connect. Just keep in mind some reviews might highlight issues, so check carefully. Don’t forget to get a Ryzen 3 compatible board or borrow an older CPU if you need to update your BIOS. Some high-end boards even let you update the BIOS without a CPU installed.