What AM5 motherboard do I choose?

[Macro Device]

Got a small brainstorm today. The story is I am new to Ryzens and don't really feel like I can answer this Q myself. Not competent enough.

I might become an owner of a Ryzen 7700X CPU. Some rich kid is gonna sell it for a stupid $50 amount of cash but I only get a CPU. Everything else is not included.

I see it being planted instead of i7-11700 in my main PC and being used as my main PC as well as making i7-11700 (will even probably dismiss it and use an ES CPU from my specs) build my secondary system. The only way I load my CPU high is gaming. No 3D, no design, no programming, no nothing. My job is a writer so I don't really need anything better than 1st gen i5 for my job.

I do not want any liquid cooling. I have no intent to OC this CPU, it's 100% gonna be undervolted. Don't wanna spend any more than 20 quid ($25) on a cooler. 16 GB of RAM is enough but I'd buy 32 GB just in case (not interested in super clocked models, will just grab something average of 5.5 GHz or something and then tighten the timings a bit). I need WiFi and at least two m.2 sockets. At least 7 USB ports on the I/O shield is a must.

I'm brand agnostic and only want my motherboard to be as stable as possible considering $250 of budget. Form factor doesn't play any role, I'm fine with either ATX, m-ATX and E-ATX. m-ITX will also do as well.

These four are the cheapest motherboards meeting my needs. Which one is the least infamous for various glitches? 20 thousand rubles = 200 USD.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Gigabyte I would say, but that's mostly because I can't stand MSI's UEFI interface.
The Mortar should be fine as well, but I'd avoid the other two models, as they're pretty basic and are unlikely to get as timely AGESA/UEFI updates.

 

[Macro Device]

Does ASUS TUF GAMING B650M-PLUS WIFI make more sense than them? 30 bucks more expensive.

I can't stand MSI's UEFI interface.

Is it any different from LGA1151 era? I was OK with my Z170 Gaming Pro Carbon's UEFI UI.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Does ASUS TUF GAMING B650M-PLUS WIFI make more sense than them? 30 bucks more expensive.

No, you're just paying Asus tax at that point.

Is it any different from LGA1151 era? I was OK with my Z170 Gaming Pro Carbon's UEFI UI.

I guess not, they seem to have stuck with the same design for quite a while.

 

[Macro Device]

AGESA/UEFI updates.

With Intel, I only updated BIOS when something ridiculous happened such as no CPU support (e.g. 3th gen into a Z68 mobo) or no UEFI mode for PCI-E (same Z68 mobo lol). I heard AM4 and AM5 are not quite like that and you wanna update your BIOS every once in a while. Is that true?

 

[P4-630]

Gigabyte Aorus Master.

X670E AORUS MASTER (rev. 1.x) Key Features | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ...

www.gigabyte.com

 

[Macro Device]

Gigabyte Aorus Master.

X670E AORUS MASTER (rev. 1.x) Key Features | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ...

www.gigabyte.com

It is almost $500 where I live. Twice my budget.

 

[wNotyarD]

With Intel, I only updated BIOS when something ridiculous happened such as no CPU support (e.g. 3th gen into a Z68 mobo) or no UEFI mode for PCI-E (same Z68 mobo lol). I heard AM4 and AM5 are not quite like that and you wanna update your BIOS every once in a while. Is that true?

Every once in a while may be a stretch, but AMD is always ironing out its AGESA, especially to improve memory support.
So, unless you'd use a specific CPU or need to patch some security vulnerability, if your memory tags along fine there'd be no rush to update the bios. Just update the motherboard you choose to its latest (non-beta, unless you're a bit adventurous) when you get it, fire and forget.

 

[Macro Device]

you're a bit adventurous

As a matter of fact, I am. Thanks.

This Giga Gaming X AX, is it a good one anyway? Or should I stick to Mortar?

 

[wNotyarD]

As a matter of fact, I am. Thanks.

This Giga Gaming X AX, is it a good one anyway? Or should I stick to Mortar?

The Gaming X or the Aorus Elite you pictured? Between them, the Aorus Elite is vastly superior: it has better VRM, faster PCIe support and more USB ports in the back panel.
If Aorus Elite, it's the top choice. If Mortar versus Gaming X, then Mortar.

 

[TheLostSwede]

With Intel, I only updated BIOS when something ridiculous happened such as no CPU support (e.g. 3th gen into a Z68 mobo) or no UEFI mode for PCI-E (same Z68 mobo lol). I heard AM4 and AM5 are not quite like that and you wanna update your BIOS every once in a while. Is that true?

Yes, you do really want to upgrade the AGESA/UEFI when there are major releases, as it makes a huge difference to the platform.

Every once in a while may be a stretch, but AMD is always ironing out its AGESA, especially to improve memory support.
So, unless you'd use a specific CPU or need to patch some security vulnerability, if your memory tags along fine there'd be no rush to update the bios. Just update the motherboard you choose to its latest (non-beta, unless you're a bit adventurous) when you get it, fire and forget.

Well, yes, but there have also been the slow post time issues with the AM5 platform which appears to have been fixed now and other issues like that.
Doesn't have to be just about performance.

 

[wNotyarD]

Well, yes, but there have also been the slow post time issues with the AM5 platform which appears to have been fixed now and other issues like that.
Doesn't have to be just about performance.

I thought the slow post times had to do with memory training, though? Sure, I was a bit unclear, but I kinda umbrella'd it under improving memory support.

 

[TheLostSwede]

I thought the slow post times had to do with memory training, though? Sure, I was a bit unclear, but I kinda umbrella'd it under improving memory support.

Yes, but that has been vastly improved and it now doesn't happen on every boot, which was apparently the case early on.
Support for XMP/EXPO support has also been vastly improved.
AMD also made a lot of other improvements in the 1.0.0.7 releases, which are the ones worth installing, ideally version c of those.

 

[kapone32]

Got a small brainstorm today. The story is I am new to Ryzens and don't really feel like I can answer this Q myself. Not competent enough.

I might become an owner of a Ryzen 7700X CPU. Some rich kid is gonna sell it for a stupid $50 amount of cash but I only get a CPU. Everything else is not included.

I see it being planted instead of i7-11700 in my main PC and being used as my main PC as well as making i7-11700 (will even probably dismiss it and use an ES CPU from my specs) build my secondary system. The only way I load my CPU high is gaming. No 3D, no design, no programming, no nothing. My job is a writer so I don't really need anything better than 1st gen i5 for my job.

I do not want any liquid cooling. I have no intent to OC this CPU, it's 100% gonna be undervolted. Don't wanna spend any more than 20 quid ($25) on a cooler. 16 GB of RAM is enough but I'd buy 32 GB just in case (not interested in super clocked models, will just grab something average of 5.5 GHz or something and then tighten the timings a bit). I need WiFi and at least two m.2 sockets. At least 7 USB ports on the I/O shield is a must.

I'm brand agnostic and only want my motherboard to be as stable as possible considering $250 of budget. Form factor doesn't play any role, I'm fine with either ATX, m-ATX and E-ATX. m-ITX will also do as well.

These four are the cheapest motherboards meeting my needs. Which one is the least infamous for various glitches? 20 thousand rubles = 200 USD.View attachment 311116

If you plan on getting more storage or getting a Capture card the ATX board is the best choice. Gigabyte seem to be better but there is absolutely nothing wrong with MSI.

 

[GerKNG]

Whatever meets your requirements towards USB, m.2, LAN etc.
You can run any CPU on any board and they will all be the same (with the exception of extreme overclocking)
no need to waste money

 

[Belfaborac]

^What he said. According to your first post you're not going to overclock or do anything adventurous with the system, so basically anything which fits your USB/M.2/etc requirements will do.

 

[Macro Device]

Aorus Elite you pictured?

It wasn't me. I'm way too poor for this mobo.

Whatever meets your requirements towards USB, m.2, LAN etc.
You can run any CPU on any board and they will all be the same (with the exception of extreme overclocking)
no need to waste money

My concern was about surprises I can face with certain boards. Like, y'know, some mobo is perfectly fine all around but can go sound glitches on Fridays for unknown reasons. I wanted the most stable device I can get for my money. I know the best I can get is so-so but anyway.

^What he said. According to your first post you're not going to overclock or do anything adventurous with the system, so basically anything which fits your USB/M.2/etc requirements will do.

Okay, will get that Mortar then. Unless someone points at some real issue with this mobo before I commit (Sep 11).

If you plan on getting more storage or getting a Capture card the ATX board is the best choice.

A capture card, will probably never happen.
More storage, unlikely to be more than one additional 4+ TB SSD. I'm easy on that, already have 5 times more the storage than I actually need. This is why I don't care about form factor much.

 

[Belfaborac]

My concern was about surprises I can face with certain boards.

The chance of encountering such can never be eliminated though, no matter what recommendations you receive on a forum. I've had boards from every major manufacturer glitch out or die on me once upon a time, sometimes several in a row (3 dead Gigabytes in a row means I'll likely never go that route again, even though I know it was just terrible luck or a bad batch), so casting a die or flipping a coin is usually as good as asking for advice.

 

[ir_cow]

GB X670 AORUS Elite AX https://www.techpowerup.com/review/gigabyte-x670-aorus-elite-ax/
ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi https://www.techpowerup.com/review/asrock-b650e-steel-legend-wifi/

 

[Vya Domus]

Whatever meets your requirements towards USB, m.2, LAN etc.
You can run any CPU on any board and they will all be the same (with the exception of extreme overclocking)
no need to waste money

Nah this is definitely not true anymore, on lower end boards higher end CPUs will throttle more even at stock.

 

[Macro Device]

GB X670 AORUS Elite AX https://www.techpowerup.com/review/gigabyte-x670-aorus-elite-ax/
ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi https://www.techpowerup.com/review/asrock-b650e-steel-legend-wifi/

Can't afford the former. The latter, by how much is this better than MSI MAG B650M Mortar?

CPUs will throttle more even at stock.

Not a big deal. I don't need the whole potential of this CPU, I'm perfectly fine with i5-11400 kinda speed. I just decided why the heck not and am committing to a lucky cheap upgrade to AM5.

The chance of encountering such can never be eliminated though

I know and I'm asking for the lowest chance, not for the zero since it's impossible to get no possibility of problems at all. Say, one board has 2% chance of going bozo and another has 1.8%, I will stick to the latter.

 

[Belfaborac]

Unless you specify by what measure it's a bit like asking " how long is a piece of rope?".

 

[GerKNG]

Nah this is definitely not true anymore, on lower end boards higher end CPUs will throttle more even at stock.

the low end A620M Pro RS ITX crap board for 120€ handles a 7950X in P95 indefinetly without problems and has a decent headroom VRM temperature wise.

 

[Belfaborac]

I know and I'm asking for the lowest chance, not for the zero since it's impossible to get no possibility of problems at all. Say, one board has 2% chance of going bozo and another has 1.8%, I will stick to the latter.

Sure. Trouble is, no-one can give you those percentages unless they're just pulling them out of thin air, in which case they're worth as much as said air. Al they/we/you have to go on are reviews and personal experience, which counts for exactly nothing statistically.

 

[Taraquin]

Asrock B650m HDV. Cheap, good vrm, 2x dimm so usually easier ram tuning/oc.