Four years old and going on strong for a fifth, AMD's Ryzen 5 5600X is one of the best-value desktop CPUs in recent history — it really is that great. Affordable with some of the best performance-per-dollar you could find, this Zen 3 chip is hanging on as long as it can, as long as compatible motherboards are still around. So, if you're planning to build an entry-level gaming rig on a budget for the lead into 2025, these are my top-rated motherboards to pair with the 5600X.
Recent updates
November 14, 11:10 AM ET: All picks checked for stock availability and active store listings. Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024 are already in full swing this month, so I've also added some advice on finding deals — Ben Wilson
The best motherboards for AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
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Best overall
I use this exact motherboard inside my own desktop, and it's one of the best value boards I've ever owned. No built-in Wi-Fi, but enough headers for fans and PCI 4.0 support for faster M.2 SSDs.
Best budget
One of the cheapest AM4 motherboards you'll find. I used this exact model before upgrading to the Tomahawk. There's no Wi-Fi support, and SSDs are limited to PCIe 3.0, but it's a no-frills marvel.
Best Micro ATX
The ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-Plus cuts out extra storage space but still features PCIe 4.0 for one M.2 SSD and USB 3.2 Gen 2 support. Great for cost-saving with mid-size cases or generally skipping sockets you won't use.
Best premium
ASUS' high-end ROG STRIX B550-F GAMING WIFI II features everything you could need, like PCIe 4.0 for fast SSDs, built-in Wi-Fi 6E, and 2.5Gb Ethernet for LAN plus USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 support. It's the catch-all 5600X board.
Best Mini ITX
You'll only want Gigabyte's Mini-ITX board if you're building a super-compact rig and don't mind sticking with PCIe 3.0 for storage and skipping USB-C support to keep costs down. It's basic but capable.
I've always used AMD processors in my custom-built desktop PCs and don't feel much temptation to switch. Besides the days of Athlon 64, I've had recent rigs with Ryzen 3000, 5000, and 7000 chips.
How to choose the right motherboard
My own desktop uses the MSI B550 Tomahawk with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, but I only chose this slightly more powerful sibling because it saw a significant discount that brought it so close to the price of a Ryzen 5 5600X, but it's totally compatible with both processors. Most importantly, I chose the Tomahawk because I wanted each of my PC case fans to have their own header pins and for my PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD to have a compatible slot.
Otherwise, I might have stuck with my previous board, the MSI B550 Gaming Gen3, if I hadn't upgraded my storage and case. Besides CPU and socket compatibility, that's what matters above all: proper support for your other components. If you're running a PCIe 4.0 solid-state drive, don't settle for a PCIe 3.0 motherboard. However, if you're not worried about the absolute fastest loading speeds, you can save some cash and stick with a more affordable 3.0 drive.
Should I wait for Black Friday or Cyber Monday?
Deals season is here again, and Black Friday is supposed to land on November 29 this year, with Cyber Monday following on December 2, 2024. As with every year before it, most retailers don't care about the dates and have already launched discounts on PC components, including some of my motherboard picks.
• Discounts on gaming laptops
• Our top-rated Windows laptops
• Early deals on gaming monitors
• Game Pass Ultimate discount
Cyber Monday should be better suited to motherboards since it's themed around digital storefronts selling electronics, but there aren't any hard and fast rules for deals.
My top pick, MSI's MAG B550 TOMAHAWK, is listed for $149.99 at Amazon. That's discounted from its usual price, but it has been even cheaper in the past, as low as $119.99 for Amazon Prime Day earlier this year in July, so I'd definitely suggest holding off on this one for a week or two.
On the high-end, even a no-holds-barred choice wouldn't set your budget back too far, as ASUS's ROG B550-F GAMING WIFI II is down to $159.99 at Amazon but has been even cheaper at around $142.49 during the same Prime Day. So, yes, you should wait for at least a little while if you can or take advantage of price-matching guarantees.
