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The Ryzen 7 5800X is the middle-of-the-road Zen 3 CPU that’s excellent at gaming and is a solid choice for productivity purposes. At its current price, the 5800X is a pretty solid deal, especially for gamers. Another positive regarding the 5800X is the fact the CPU can work great on a number of different motherboards.
When it comes to B550 and X570 boards, you can pair this CPU with a large number of budget models, saving some cash while not giving up on performance. Below you can find the best motherboards for Ryzen 7 5800X. If you want to build a gaming rig, check out the budget and mid-range offerings, as well as the mATX section. Those wanting the best specs, no matter the price, will find a couple of great high-end boards for the 5800X. Finally, if you want to build an SFF PC, scroll down to the end of the list.
Now, before you check out our first pick, you could spend a couple of minutes reading about the best CPU coolers for Ryzen 7 5800X. After you’ve found the right cooling solution take a look at the best graphics cards for Ryzen 9 5900X. The two CPUs have almost the same in-game performance, so any GPU that works with the 5900X will work just as well when paired with the 5800X. Last but not least, we have a buying guide for readers who want more motherboard choices. Our list of the best B550 motherboards includes a number of models that’ll work great with the 5800X.
1. MSI B550-A Pro: Best budget B550 motherboard for Ryzen 7 5800X
The most affordable budget B550 board that comes without hidden limitations is the B550-A Pro from MSI. This is our pick for the best budget B550 motherboard for Ryzen 7 5800X. The board’s secondary M.2 slot works at full PCIe 3.0×4 instead of x2, as seen on many cheap B550 boards. Further, the VRM here is by far the best in the budget class. This board can handle anything you throw at it, so running a 5800X won’t be an issue.
Specs-wise, the B550-A Pro doesn’t pack a ton of goodies, but it does offer enough for most users. Support for DDR4 4400 MT/s memory, six SATA III, and two M.2 slots (remember, B550 boards come with one PCIe 4.0×4 and one PCIe 3.0×4/2 M.2 slot). There are two PCIe x16 slots (x16 and x4) and two PCIe x1 slots.
The board comes with a 2.5Gb LAN, which is nice to see on such an affordable motherboard. On the flip side, the audio section here is pretty basic. It’s powered by the Realtek ALC892 audio codec, which is a bare-bones solution.
The rear I/O hosts two USB 3.2 gen2 ports (one is USB-C), two USB 3.2 gen1 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, and a Flash BIOS button, allowing you to install BIOS updates without a CPU. Cheaper alternatives either come with inferior VRM or a crippled secondary M.2 slot, or both. We don’t recommend going below the B550-A Pro in case you want a budget B550 board.
2. ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Plus: Best budget X570 motherboard for Ryzen 7 5800X
Now, some of the cheapest X570 boards should run the stock 5800X just fine. The thing is, for only a few more bucks, you can get the ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Plus, a board that has an excellent VRM for the price along with a nice bundle of features. This is our pick for the best value X570 motherboard for the 5800X.
The TUF Gaming X570-Plus has support for DDR4 4400 MT/s memory, eight SATA III ports, two M.2 slots, and three PCIe x16 (x16, x8, x4) slots coupled with three PCIe x1 slots. Connectivity options include 1Gb LAN (also Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5 on the AC version of the board, which is about 10 percent more expensive).
The audio section is pretty solid, with the Realtek ALC1200 audio codec at its helm. Finally, the rear I/O hosts three USB 3.2 gen2 ports (one of those is USB-C) and four USB 3.2 gen1 ports. You also get the usual selection of audio ports on the back. It’s worth mentioning that the board does not have a BIOS flash button so ask the seller to update the BIOS if needed in order to run a Ryzen 5000 CPU.
3. MSI B550 Tomahawk: Best mid-range B550 motherboard for Ryzen 7 5800X
Do note that, due to the fact that we’ve decided not to recommend any of the cheapest X570 boards, the mid-range X570 boards shown here are way more expensive than the mid-range B550 picks. Look at it this way: mid-range B550 boards shown here are in-line with the budget X570 boards. In other words, they offer great VRMs, solid spec sheets, and lots of features for the price.
In fact, in case you don’t need two (or more) PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, it’s better to pick one of these instead of a budget X570 board. You see, B550 boards are cheaper on average than X570 models with their only downside being fewer PCIe 4.0 lanes. The best B550 motherboard for the R7 5800X in this category is the MSI B550 Tomahawk. This is a great all-around board that has lots of positives.
The B550 Tomahawk supports memory speeds up to 4800 MT/s; it features six SATA III and two M.2 ports as well as two PCIe x16 ports (x16, x4) and two PCIe x1 ports. You also get the Realtek ALC1200 codec, which is the base of the audio section of the board.
Connectivity options include dual gigabit (2.5Gb+1Gb) LAN ports. Finally, the rear I/O hosts two USB 3.2 gen2 ports (one is USB-C), two USB 3.2 gen1 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, a selection of audio connectors, and a BIOS flash button.
As you can see, the B550 Tomahawk has a slightly lower audio quality, less USB 3.2 ports, and only one PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot compared to the budget X570 models. On the flip side, you get support for faster memory, 2.5Gb LAN, and a BIOS flash button; all meaningful upgrades.
4. MSI MEG X570 Unify: Best mid-range X570 motherboard for Ryzen 7 5800X
The mid-range X570 board shown here is way above the quality of most mid-range B550 boards on the market. You’re looking at stuff like three M.2 slots, higher audio quality, more USB 3.2 ports, and more OC-friendly features. The best mobo for the 5800X among the mid-range X570 models is the MSI MEG X570 Unify. This is an excellent overclocking model that also packs lots of extra features.
The only major issue with this Unify is that it comes with only four SATA III ports. Luckily, everything else is top-notch, including the slick all-black design. You have support for DDR 4600 MT/s memory, three M.2 slots, three PCIe x16 slots, and two PCIe x1 slots. The audio quality is in line with other mid-range B550 and budget x570 boards, thanks to the Realtek ALC1220 codec.
Connectivity options include a 2.5Gb LAN as well as a wireless card that supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5. On the back, the board hosts four USB 3.2 gen2 ports, two USB 3.2 gen1 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, as well as the Clear CMOS and BIOS flash buttons. Other OC-friendly features include debug LEDs, POST code, as well as PCB-mounted power and reset buttons.
5. Gigabyte B550 Vision D: Best high-end B550 motherboard for Ryzen 7 5800X
The best high-end B550 motherboard for the 5800X has a lower price than our mid-range X570 pick. Still, the Gigabyte B550 Vision D is a high-quality board with excellent connectivity options that’s in line with mid-range X570 boards. This one, though, isn’t made for OC but for stability.
The B550 Vision D is an excellent choice for professionals and gamers who want an extremely attractive board, need a white motherboard for their build, or want a stable board made from high-end components. Another reason for getting this board is Thunderbolt support.
The only reason why we would consider a mid-range or high-end X570 board over the Vision D is in case you absolutely need three PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots or more than four SATA III ports. If you like the design, do check out our guides for the best white graphics cards and best white PC cases to complete your all-white PC build.
The Vision D has support for up to 5200 MT/s DDR4 memory (ECC memory included) as well as four SATA and two M.2 slots. Expansion slots include three PCIe x16 slots (the board’s tested with Quadro GPUs and works fine) without a single PCIe x1 slot.
Connectivity-wise, the board’s awesome. You have a dual gigabit (1Gb+1Gb) LAN, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5. And the rear I/O is one of the richest we’ve ever seen on an AM4 motherboard.
You’ve got four USB 3.2 gen2 ports (two of those are USB-C with Thunderbolt support), four USB 3.2 gen1 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and a selection of audio connectors. The board also includes the BIOS flash button and POST code, both found on the PCB.
6. ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero: Best high-end X570 motherboard for Ryzen 7 5800X
The high-end X570 boards deliver maximum OC results. They target users who want it all in a single package and don’t care about the price. Realistically, you don’t need a board this expensive for the 5800X except if you have money to burn. If you do decide to get a high-end X570 board, one of the best high-end X570 for the R7 5800X is the ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero from ASUS.
This board allows Ryzen 5000 CPUs to achieve high-frequency all-core OC while keeping the excellent single-core performance of Ryzen CPUs. The 5800X has a (single-core) boost clock set at 4.7GHz, so you won’t get any single-core performance benefit by using the Dark Hero. Still, this is one of the best AMD boards around.
First of all, we like the design. The PCB and heatsinks are painted in all shades of black, and the addition of subtle RGB effects improves the overall aesthetics. But Dark Hero isn’t just a fancy-looking board. It’s packed with features.
You have support for up to 4866 MT/s DDR4 memory, eight SATA III ports, and three M.2 slots. Then there are three PCIe x16 slots (x16, x8, and x8) and even one PCIe x1 slot. Connectivity options are, again, excellent. There’s a 2.5Gb LAN port, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.1.
The audio quality is superb, thanks to the high-end setup by ASUS. Finally, the rear I/O has eight (yes, 8!) USB 3.2 gen2 ports, four USB 3.2 gen1 ports, a Clear CMOS, and BIOS Flashback buttons. You also have the POST code, power button, and debug LEDs found on the PCB.
7. ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-Plus: Best mATX motherboards for Ryzen 7 5800X
Now, while there are a number of pretty solid mATX B550 boards, there’s a serious lack of quality mATX boards on the X570 market. You have the ASRock X570m Pro4, and that’s about the only solid pick on the X570 market. With that said, we don’t recommend that one. The best Micro ATX motherboard for the Ryzen 7 5800X is based on the B550 chipset.
If you need a quality B550 mATX board take a look at the ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-Plus. This is a very affordable motherboard that also comes in Wi-Fi flavor (Wi-Fi 6 plus Bluetooth 5.1), which is priced about ten percent higher than the wireless-less edition.
When it comes to specs, the TUF Gaming B550M-Plus has a superb VRM considering its price. The board also supports DDR4 memory up to 4866 Mt/s, has four SATA III and two M.2 slots as well as two PCIe x16 (x16, x4) and one PCIe x1 slot.
The audio chip found inside the board is the Realtek ALC S1200A, a phenomenal choice for such an affordable motherboard. Connectivity options include 2.5Gb LAN, and on the rear side, you can find two USB 3.2 gen2 (one is USB-C) ports, two USB 3.2 gen1 ports, and two USB 2.0 ports. There’s also the always handy BIOS Flash button.
8. Gigabyte B550I Aorus Pro AX: Best Mini-ITX B550 motheboard for Ryzen 7 5800X
Before we present you our picks for the best Mini-ITX motherboard for the 5800X, let’s share some findings that show potential issues when pairing Mini-ITX B550 and X570 boards with Ryzen 5000 CPUs.The Ryzen 9 5900X and 5950X don’t run at their full clock speeds when installed on B550 and X570 ITX boards.
This could be a software bug that a BIOS update can solve. The 5800X isn’t tested, but it’s possible it suffers from the same issues. So, in case you’re interested in a Mini-ITX board for a Ryzen 5000 CPU, do some research and see whether board manufacturers have resolved the issue before pulling the trigger.
Now, while the basic B550M-ITX/AC from ASRock could probably handle the 5800X without issues, we don’t recommend getting the bottom of the bin board for such an expensive CPU. Your best choice, at least when it comes to the B550 ITX models, is the B550I Aorus Pro AX. This is a relatively affordable ITX motherboard that includes almost everything you might need.
You have a single PCIe x16 slot here as well as four SATA III and two M.2 slots. Memory support goes up to DDR4 4866 MT/s. The audio section is powered by the Realtek ALC1220-VB codec, a pretty solid choice. Connectivity options include a 2.5Gb LAN, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.
Finally, the rear I/O hosts three USB 3.2 gen2 (one is USB-C), four USB 3.2 gen1 ports, as well as the BIOS Flash button. The only major downside of the Aorus Pro compared to its competition is the lack of the front USB-C internal connector.
9. ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming: Best mini-ITX X570 motheboard for Ryzen 7 5800X
The best X570 Mini-ITX board for the R7 5800X is the ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming. It’s quite expensive, but if you manage to find it at its recommended price, it’s worth it thanks to the excellent VRM, slick design as well as a ton of features packed into such a small size.
The board supports DDR4 memory up to 4800 MT/s, and it comes with the usual single PCIe x16 slot, four SATA III ports, and two M.2 slots.
The audio chip used is the S1220A, and the connection options on this board include gigabit (1Gb) LAN, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5. The rear I/O features four USB 3.2 gen2 ports (one of those is USB-C), four USB 3.2 gen1 ports, as well as a selection of audio connectors.
Why buy Ryzen 7 5800X?
The Ryzen 7 5800X is stuck right in the middle of the Ryzen 5000 CPU lineup. It’s not a workstation powerhouse like the 5900X and the 5950X, but it’s also not a relatively affordable beast of a gaming CPU like the 5600X.
That’s not to say that the 5800X doesn’t pack a heavy punch. This 8-core and 16-thread CPU is trading blows with the 10900K in most productivity apps while achieving basically the same results in games. That’s a solid result against a 10-core CPU that uses much more power than the 5800X while selling at a noticeably higher price.
The 5800X could be a solid choice as a future-proof gaming CPU since the 5600X packs just six cores while the 5800X has eight. But the reality is that the 5600X has about the same overall performance as eight-core Zen 2 CPUs found in the PS5 and the Xbox Series X/S.\
This means that the Ryzen 7 5800X should stay an excellent gaming CPU for a considerable future, especially if you play at higher resolutions where the GPU is the main limiting factor and where even the RTX 3080 or 3090 can induce a GPU bottleneck and 1440p and 4K resolutions.
Despite its awkward positioning, the 5800X is an excellent CPU in itself, and you didn’t make the mistake of getting one. It’s a much better deal than the 10900K; it’s a gaming beast and should stay one for a long time. The bonus is that, when needed, it can get any kind of work done without breaking a sweat.
Another positive about this CPU is the fact that all Ryzen 5000 CPUs have excellent power optimization. The 5800X doesn’t need a state-of-the-art motherboard or a high-end cooling setup to run properly. If you already own a quality B450 or X470 board, it should work fine with the 5800X. All you have to do is wait for the BIOS update before installing the CPU.
Purchases through our links may earn LEVVVEL a commission.