MSI Meg X570 Unify
It seems like all the gamers want to do is play CyberPunk 2077 in 4K resolution running above 60+ fps. Most of them don’t recognize that the graphic card is more important than the CPU when it comes to 4k gaming. Running CyberPunk 2077 at 4K resolution, RTX ON, and Ultra Settings is a piece of cake for Ryzen 5 5600X. Only 30% of the CPU is used to run the game; this leaves significant room for the CPU to process live streaming software load. However, for your complete system to work flawlessly, you have to pick the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X. A motherboard that can communicate rapidly and give sufficient connectivity for peripherals deserves to be called a Ryzen 5 5600x motherboard.
At A Glance:
Best pick
Best Overall Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X
ASUS ROG Strix X570-E
✓ ROG-patented pre-mounted I/O shield
✓ Diagnostic LED with easy to use UEFI
✓ Powerful Overclocking with great aesthetics
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Staff Pick
Best Flagship Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X
MSI Meg X570 Unify
✓ 5000+MHz RAM overclocking
✓ Three M.2 slots with efficient heat sinks
✓ Well built with reinforced PCIe slots for large GPUs
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Budget Pick
Best Budget Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X
MSI MPG B550 Gaming Edge
✓ Latest WiFi-6 with BT 5.1
✓ Quality 6layer PCB and 2oz copper
✓ It runs cool with full-sized heat sinks
View on AmazonPCIe 4.0 has become essential for high-performance gaming/content creation rigs. We have reviewed the top motherboards that are readily available, are either X570 or B550 chipset, and have PCIe 4.0 slots. All the latest high-performance M.2 drives and graphic cards require PCIe 4.0 to utilize the bandwidth and provide high data transfer speeds. We will discuss the overclocking capability, connectivity, and potential bottleneck depending on the motherboard. Some provide RGB lighting with comprehensive liquid cooling installation options. We will state the pros/cons of motherboards that are primarily related to gamer/content creators and comment on the aesthetics so you can make a well-informed decision.
Quick Shopping Tips
Brand: Numerous brands provide unique solutions for motherboards. However, brands with good after-sales have a high reputation amongst gamers. The selection of top brands helps you get better after-sales service and warranty claims. Brands with low reputation tend to give smaller warranty periods and impose harsh conditions for replacement.
Power Phases: Power phases are essential to stable CPU operation under overclocked conditions. If you have a low number of power phases, the CPU’s performance when overclocked may be affected by each phase’s heat production. The higher number of power phases means you can reach higher core frequencies with stable operation for a more extended period.
Multi-GPU: If you have a decent amount of budget in hand, then opting for a multi-GPU scenario can let you achieve the 100+fps mark on all the latest games, including Metro Exodus. The addition of a second GPU can increase the frames per second by 50%. It might be the most expensive option, but some people want to achieve the best of the best.
Audio: Audio is critical for competitive gamers. Top-rated gamers like Shroud prefer ROGs SupremeFX audio chipset due to its dead silent noise and high enough decibels to give off the slightest of sound during gameplay. Motherboards come with separate audio layers to isolate them from any interference from other components and provide surge protection to avoid damaging the audio chipset.
Our Recommendations For Ryzen 5 5600X Motherboard
| Award | Modal | Design | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X | ASUS ROG Strix X570-E |
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View on amazon |
| Best Mini ITX Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X | ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming |
|
View on amazon |
| Best Flagship Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X | MSI Meg X570 Unify |
|
View on amazon |
| Best Enthusiast Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X | ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming |
|
View on amazon |
| Best Micro ATX Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X | ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS |
|
View on amazon |
| Best Budget Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X | MSI MPG B550 Gaming Edge |
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View on amazon |
| Best ATX Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X | ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus |
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View on amazon |
ASUS ROG Strix X570-E
Best pick
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Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD X570 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+4 | PCIe x16: 2 | USB Ports: 15 | Warranty: 3 Years
Asus has made a name for itself by providing top-of-the-line products. Even the best competitive gamer Ninja is a Republic of Gamers (ROG) part. ASUS ROG Strix X570-E is a motherboard with a 12+4 power phase VRM that can distribute the voltage regulation load across twelve power phases for stable performance. It can take RAM speeds up to 5100MHz, which is the highest possible memory clock speed to date. It comes in black and grey color PCB and RGB lighting, making sure everybody sees a ROG member.
Despite being the best product in the market, it still has some cons. We do believe that space to accommodate only M.2 drives at this price point is too low. The power efficiency under IDLE conditions is still pretty low compared to its competition. Users expect to have onboard power and a reset button for testing at this high-end hardware price. However, they have included a postcode LED for rapid problem diagnosis.
It is the best overall motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X. It can take the Ryzen 5 5600x to its maximum clock speed of 4.6GHz without breaking a sweat. This motherboard can house two properly heatsinked M.2 drives to ensure that no throttling makes your gaming performance lag. SupremeFX S1220A is a high-quality audio chipset that allows 113dB RMAA performance. Proper shielding of the audio signal path reduces background noises. It’s a motherboard that has an appropriate design for thermal loads. The VRMs cooling is done with an 8mm pipe, and the chipset is cooled via an active cooling fan. It is indeed the best motherboard for 5600X.
The Pros
✓ ROG-patented pre-mounted I/O shield
✓ Diagnostic LED with easy to use UEFI
✓ Powerful Overclocking with great aesthetics
The Cons
✗ No onboard power/reset button
✗ M.2 slots are lower for the price
✗ Quad SLI and CrossFire missing
ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming
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Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD X570 | Form Factor: Mini-ITX | Voltage Regulator: 8+2 | PCIe x16: 2 | USB Ports: 12 | Warranty: 3 Years
If we consider, some of our readers might want to build a gaming beast within an SFF to make it look like a console. We have included the best mini ITX Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X. ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming is meant for gaming, and its sole purpose is to provide sheer competitive performance to ATX motherboards. It comes with two M.2 drive slots with proper heat sinks. Onboard RGB lightning with AURA sync. Asus has successfully incorporated 8+2 VRM on this motherboard for powerful overclocking capability.
When it comes to ROG products, price is something you have to compromise on it. Asus’s manufacturing technique to build a compact motherboard is high, resulting in a premium price. The X570 is a chipset known to run hot, so being passively cooled requires a well-ventilated chassis that is hard to find in SFF. High flow rate cases are recommended in this case. It does consume higher power than the low spec versions, but it’s worth the price. The 8-channel audio is through 3 port connections which are considered inferior to the six-port system.
Being a small-sized motherboard means it is more challenging to engineer a product that functions well with no interference between the respective modules. They have still placed a high-end small-sized SupremeFX S1220A audio chipset for superior sound quality for competitive gaming. It comes with the latest WiFi-6 and BT 5.0 to make wireless internet connectivity seamless. Overclocking is a strong suit of Asus, and RAM overclocking for this motherboard can take the clock speeds up to 5100MHz, which is the highest in the business. The superior ability to have 12 USB connections of a mini-ITX is the best in the industry.
The Pros
✓ Wireless connectivity with WiFi-6 & BT 5.0
✓ High-fidelity audio with SupremeFX S1220A
✓ Premium build quality with aluminum backplate
The Cons
✗ No USB Controllers
✗ Fewer ports than competitors
✗ X570 runs hot on passive cooling
MSI Meg X570 Unify
Staff Pick
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Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD X570 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+2+1 | PCIe x16: 3 | USB Ports: 22 | Warranty: 1 Year
If you are looking to go all matt black on your gaming rig, then look nowhere else. MSI has created a visually stunning and functionally powerful motherboard, the MSI MEG X570 Unify. Running competitive games like Overwatch, CS: GO, and Fortnite above 100+ fps won’t be a problem. This MSI motherboard is meant to be a Ryzen 5 5600X motherboard. It has 12+2+1 power phases to provide smooth power transmission to power-hungry Ryzen 5 5600X when overclocked. It can take RAM speeds up to 5000+MHz and improve the frames per second.
It is as plain as a motherboard can get. It includes no onboard RGB lighting. However, it features three onboard headers for connecting RGB lighting to make your gaming PC light up. One of the drawbacks of Nahimic 3, as reported by users, is that you cannot use generic drivers to get solid audio out of the chipset. You will have to use Nahimic 3 specifically from Windows Store to get it working with true potential. For competitive gamers and streamers, Nahimic 3 provides well-balanced voice audio for an immersive gaming experience.
Its actively cooled chipset and passively cooled M.2 drives make sure that data transfer speeds remain flawless. It can provide lighting speeds of 64GBps from the M.2 drives using the PCIe 4.0 protocol. Game loading times will be faster than ever before. The 2.5G LAN and WiFi-6 solution with the latest Bluetooth provide the newest network connectivity that all gamers need. This motherboard allows you to utilize the SAM feature built-in latest Radeon GPUs for faster performance. It will enable the motherboard to use the VRMs in GPUs under stressed conditions to boost performance. It is the best flagship motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X.
The Pros
✓ 5000+MHz RAM overclocking
✓ Three M.2 slots with efficient heat sinks
✓ Well built with reinforced PCIe slots for large GPUs
The Cons
✗ No on-board RGB lightning
✗ Generic audio drivers don't work
✗ IO shield bends easily and hard to unscrew
ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming
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Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD B550 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+2 | PCIe x16: 2 | USB Ports: 14 | Warranty: 3 Years
ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming is a gorgeous looking motherboard that comes in black color with a pink accent, making it a suitable choice for pink PC cases. The attractive price tag for the B550 chipset also makes it a wise choice for gaming rigs between mid-range and high-end. It has a subtle ROG logo on a heat sink that is AURA synced to give your chassis an eye-turning look. Asus always delivers the best audio with its ROG SupremeFX audio giving out 113dB intensity.
Despite being a B550 chipset, this Asus ROG series motherboard features PCIe 4.0 x16 slot for primary GPU and M.2 drives. However, if you want to go for the dual graphics card setup, your second GFX card will face a bottleneck if it’s a PCIe 4.0. The second PCIe x16 slot only supports PCIe 3.0 interface. The second M.2 drive is also PCIe 3.0, and installing a PCIe 4.0 M.2 drive will cause a performance decrease. Considering most gamers don’t need a dual GPU setup and won’t use dual M.2 drives, this motherboard is a perfect choice for a mid-range gaming PC.
It is the best enthusiast motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X. It can run the latest hardware at its highest potential. It’s an intelligent choice for tight-budget gamers planning to play CyberPunk 2077 and Assassins Creed: Odyssey at 60+fps at almost 30% CPU load. The chipset is passively cooled, which provides low noise operation for quiet gaming PC lovers. The six-layer PCB and well-manufactured components make it a durable and long-lasting investment. The 12+2 power phases can make your Ryzen 5 5600X roar overpowering and potentially provide future proof investment.
The Pros
✓ Precise features for 4K gaming
✓ Dual Channel Memory Architecture
✓ 12+2 VRM and comprehensive connectivity
The Cons
✗ No U.2 Ports
✗ Both M.2 drives are not PCIe 4.0
ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS
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Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD B550 | Form Factor: Micro-ATX | Voltage Regulator: 8+2 | PCIe x16: 2 | USB Ports: 14 | Warranty: 3 Years
Keeping our list of best motherboards for 5600X diverse, we thought to introduce the TUF series from ASUS. If you have a knack for minimalist design and a tough-looking motherboard, then ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS is the best choice you can make. It comes with attractive onboard RGB lighting on the bottom left of the motherboard. Being a micro-ATX motherboard, it still features two headers for RGB with AURA Sync. RAM speeds can be taken to 4600MHz using the 8+2 VRM setup. A decent overclocking can also be achieved with low VRM temperature considering eight power phases.
The chipset itself does not support PCIe 4.0 for the PCIe x16 slot, but if you plan to install the Ryzen 5 5600x onto this motherboard, then one of the PCIe x16 will run at PCIe 4.0 bandwidth provided by the CPU. It does not support SLI for Nvidia, which might be a drawback for the team green. A Ryzen 5000 series will also support PCIe 4.0 for one of the M.2 drives. One of the M.2 drives is not heatsinked. Users will have to go for a third-party solution for heat sinking second M.2 drive.
The VRM on this motherboard is heatsinked with extensive surface area to ensure a stable voltage supply to the CPU. The thermal pad provides maximum head transfer between components. Consistent performance for high data transfer rates of M.2 drives are ensured by proper heatsink with thermal pad. The 2.5G LAN with the Asus Turbo LAN lets you optimize your network consuming software for an uninterrupted gaming session that does not lag or drag during intense gaming moments. As a competitive shooting game streamer like Call of Duty, milliseconds count when hitting a target. It is the best micro ATX motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X.
The Pros
✓ AI Noise Cancelling Microphone
✓ Digi+ VRM for maximum durability
✓ TUF LANGuard and TurboLAN technology
The Cons
✗ No Diagnostics Panel
✗ PCIe 3.0 for older Ryzen processor
✗ No support for USB 3.2 Gen2 Type C for front panel
MSI MPG B550 Gaming Edge
Budget Pick
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Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD B550 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 10+2+1 | PCIe x16: Two PCIe 4.0/3.0 | USB Ports: 13 | Warranty: 1 Year
Like other brands that offered the B550 chipset, MSI has similar features; they have added the WiFi-6 with BT 5.1. The latest wireless connectivity is provided. This MSI motherboard can easily offer the addressable RGB header in MSI MPG B550 Gaming Edge. The reliable 10 power phases with high current capability allow stable overclocking for Ryzen 5 5600x. MSI MPG has a high surface area for heat sinks cooling VRM, Chipset, and M.2 drives. The highest 64GBps performance can be easily achieved with PCIe 4.0 while using the Ryzen 5000 series processor.
MSI decided to go for RGB right underneath the passive cooling chipset heatsink. Some users don’t like the unique location for RGB. However, with RAINBOW pin max 3A(5V) for 75 LEDs, MSI MPG can quickly provide the addressable RGB header. One of the M.2 slots does not come with a heatsink. You will need to consider buying an aftermarket solution for your M.2 drive to avoid any throttling. The number of Type-A USB ports on IO shields is low since some users like Oculus Rift require a higher number of connections.
It is the best budget motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X. The 6-layer PCB with 2oz thickened copper, and the high after-sales reputation of MSI make this motherboard a wise choice. It can support the latest Nvidia RTX 3090 graphics card with PCIe Steel Armor reinforced PCIe x16 slots. You can reach incredible 5100MHz memory speeds with this motherboard. It has support for liquid cooling pumps with speed control for added control. The 13 USB ports that it can handle include a USB Gen 3.2 Type-C reversible connector support.
The Pros
✓ Latest WiFi-6 with BT 5.1
✓ Quality 6layer PCB and 2oz copper
✓ It runs cool with full-sized heat sinks
The Cons
✗ Some SATA disabled with dual M.2 connected
✗ No pre-installed heatsink for the second M.2 drive
✗ PCIe 4.0 only for primary GFX card and M.2 drive
ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus
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Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD X570 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+2 | PCIe x16: Two PCIe 4.0 | USB Ports: 13 (max) | Warranty: 3 Years
We thought of adding another Asus product to our list as the best motherboard for 5600X. ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus is from the TUF series of gaming products meant for long-lasting and reliable performance under stressed conditions. It comes with an active chipset cooling that ensures unthrottled and uninterrupted gaming performance. The x570 chipset lets it provide complete PCIe 4.0 support for a multi-GPU setup and dual M.2 drives. The 12+2 power phase modules allow sufficient distribution of VRM loads to keep the temperatures under control during overclocked conditions.
Despite having a high price tag, it does not include a WiFi or BT module. There is no front-panel USB 3.1 Gen2 port. It does support up to 13 USB connections that also have a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C connection at the back panel. The audio chipset is not of the highest quality, but clarity is ensured by using separate layers on PCB and shielding to provide flawless noise-free performance. The active chipset cooler sits right underneath the GPU that could cause heating issues.
Users have reported that Asus with this motherboard provides a UEFI-based BIOS design that is easy to use and understand. The out of the box performance requires no tweaking for Ryzen 5 5600x processor. The PCIe slots are reinforced to provide sagging protection against heavier cards that have become a norm since Nvidia’s RTX 3090. The subtle RGB on the bottom right and RGB headers plus Aura Sync deliver aesthetics that most gamers desire. It is the best ATX motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X.
The Pros
✓ On-board diagnostic LEDs
✓ PCIe 4.0 slots across all critical slots
✓ User-friendly BIOS the design and wireless connectivity
The Cons
✗ No Type-C USB on the front panel
✗ The Black and Yellow combination is not for everyone
Summary For Ryzen 5 5600X Motherboard
| Award | Modal | Design | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X | ASUS ROG Strix X570-E |
|
View on amazon |
| Best Mini ITX Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X | ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming |
|
View on amazon |
| Best Flagship Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X | MSI Meg X570 Unify |
|
View on amazon |
| Best Enthusiast Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X | ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming |
|
View on amazon |
| Best Micro ATX Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X | ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS |
|
View on amazon |
| Best Budget Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X | MSI MPG B550 Gaming Edge |
|
View on amazon |
| Best ATX Motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X | ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus |
|
View on amazon |
Conclusion
It all comes down to deciding whether to go for the B550 chipset or the X570 chipset. Manufacturers like Asus and MSI both have a variety of options in both chipsets. If you want an honest opinion about which chipset to prefer, then we have two theories. Number One, B550 is a fantastic chipset that runs cool and has all the essentials like the PCIe 4.0 required for modern GPUs and M.2 drives. All it needs is a Ryzen 5000 series processor to get it working. It comes with its drawback of PCIe 3.0 for multi-GPU and secondary M.2 drives. Number Two is to go for X570, which has all you would ever need in a chipset for an AM4 socket. Considering the track record of AMD, they are not switching socket design anytime soon. X570 is future-proof with the latest connectivity and diversity. However, it also has its drawback of running hot. In the end, it’s up to you to decide what’s best for you. We hope you find the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which motherboard is best for Ryzen 5 5600X?
ASUS ROG Strix X570-E is the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 5600X. It has postcode LED, heatsinked M.2 slots, onboard RGB, 12+4 power stages, dual LAN, and WiFi. The motherboard looks brilliant with the RGB ROG logo and Asus Strix iconic text design. The superior audio chipset of SupremeFX S1220A also steals the limelight.
Is B550 enough for 5600X?
B550 is more than enough for a single GFX card and single M.2 drive owners. It will ensure that the maximum performance is extracted from the high-quality ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS is one of the best B550 motherboards that offer high-quality components and PCB for longer life.
Is Ryzen 5 5600X good for gaming?
Ryzen 5 5600X is, without a shadow of a doubt, best for gaming. It can handle 4k gaming while utilizing less than 50% of its resources. Owning a motherboard like ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Formula, which is made for content creators, can adequately use the Ryzen 5 5600x by simultaneously streaming, encoding and gaming.
What Gen is Ryzen 5 5600x?
Ryzen 5 5600x is Zen3 architecture which means it's from the 3rd generation of the Ryzen series. Motherboards like MSI MEG X570 Unify utilize the capabilities of this processor to the maximum. It provides sufficient overclocking ability to take this Ryzen 5 5600x to the highest clock frequencies and provide 100+fps gaming with a decent GPU.
Rustam Iqbal
Hi, I'm Rustam Iqbal. I love traveling, computer hardware, and software. I’m constantly trying to learn new skills and programming languages. Reviewing new pieces of hardware is one of my favorites hobbies. Drop by any time to leave me a message if you have any questions.
