Best Motherboards for Ryzen 5 3600

The Ryzen 5 3600 is among the most popular processors, and the Ryzen 5 3600 is among the best AMD processors. Many gamers have put the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 through its paces in high-end and competitive gaming environments.

When tested in games, Ryzen 5 3600 has always performed well and has never caused a performance hit on the GPU. Ryzen 5 3600 does not have an “X” at the end of its name, although it performs virtually identically.

For the money, it’s a great deal. Even at 1440p, it’s capable of delivering 60+ frames per second. Even so, a mobo may be able to slow down your computer. The finest motherboard for the Ryzen 5 3600 is required for top-tier performance.

It’s feasible for most gamers who fall somewhere between the mid-range and high-end price range. Everyone in the gaming community wants it to be able to run the newest and greatest high-end hardware components.

The M.2 and x16 PCIe slots on a motherboard house the Ryzen 5 3600 must run PCIe 4.0. With this card, a reasonable amount of RAM clock speed overclocking should be possible. Easy-to-understand bios and enough software support are other important considerations when purchasing a motherboard.

With so many variables to weigh in, features like M.2 slots, the amount of M.2 RAM slots, and VRM count might decide between two motherboards. In the beginning, let’s go over some buying suggestions that will help ease the decision-making process.

Quick Shopping Tips:

Socket Form: AMD announced its AM4 socket in 2016 and committed to stick to the AM4 socket. All the motherboards from 2016 supported AM4 chipset to the full potential, but on the 7th of May, 2020, AMD announced Zen 3/Ryzen 5000 processors wouldn’t be compatible with the older motherboard. However, to date, X470 and B450 support the Ryzen 5000 series processors, and running Ryzen 5 3600 won’t be a problem on any motherboard.

VRM: Overclocking has found its way to the mid-range gaming community. The popularity and advantages are attractive for any new buyer. VRMs, bring down the voltages for the CPU by converting the power from the 12V PSU to 1.3V - 1.5V required by the processor. The higher number of VRM phases means that the heat produced from voltage conversion divides among the power phases efficiently; this ensures better overclocking and stability.

Memory Speed: In gaming, memory speed can make a difference needed for that 144Hz supporting monitor. If you manage to get extra fps with the help of overclocked RAM, you would want your mobo to be capable of reaching those top frequencies. Manufacturers mention each motherboard’s limitation to overclocking RAMs, VRM available for RAM, and their quantity. So be sure to check them before purchasing if you want the extra bit of fps.

Warranty: Loads of people face component failure problems after purchase. Motherboards are a complex assembly of small electronic parts put together to make computational power possible. To ensure that each component keeps working to its full potential, you will need the manufacturer to back you up with a solid plan; this shows their manufacturing quality and confidence in the device. It’s better to go for a more extended warranty period for the sense of security.

Best Motherboards for Ryzen 5 3600 at a glance:

  1. Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Formula
  2. ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming
  3. MSI MEG X570 ACE
  4. MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX
  5. MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS
  6. ASRock B450 Pro4
  7. ASRock B450M Pro4
  8. MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC

The Best Motherboards for Ryzen 5 3600 You Can Buy Today

Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Formula (Image credit: Amazon)

Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Formula

Best Premium Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600

SPECIFICATIONS

Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD X570 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 14+2 | PCIe x16: 2 | USB Ports: 25 (max) | Warranty: 1 Year

REASONS TO BUY

Liquid-cooled VRM and heatsinked M.2 slots

5G LAN, WiFI-6, BT 5.0, and 25 USB ports

Onboard Power/Reset buttons with Q-Code LED display

REASONS TO AVOID

No video card

Not the highest RAM overclocking

Active Chipset cooling under GPU

Let’s say you don’t want to cut corners when it comes to the details. Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Formula is the most incredible motherboard in our list of ultimate motherboards if you’re looking for an absolute powerhouse.

We’ll begin with the visual appeal. It makes a strong statement clearly and simply. The ABS top cover hides the distinctive ROG streaks and cutouts for the active chipset cooling system. The robust steel backplate safeguards your investment from the rear.

On the IO shield of this motherboard is a specific button for accessing the motherboard’s BIOS. The WiFi-6 and BT link the current generation of peripherals wirelessly. The Aquantia AQC-111 LAN, which can transport data at 5Gbps and stream UHD movies, is included in the package.

We should anticipate a premium price for a motherboard with such high-end functionality, which is the case with 

this one. Some users may find the active chipset cooling just beneath the GPU a little bothersome. Almost nothing is wrong with this motherboard. Some motherboards on the market can run RAM at more excellent clock rates than this one.

Our opinion is that it is the best motherboard for the Ryzen 5 3600. In addition, this motherboard supports the newest Ryzen 5000 series CPUs right out of the box.

To create a VRM cooling block for the motherboard, EK Water Blocks has teamed up with ROG. This feature is a big hit with overclockers since it allows them to keep the 14+2 VRM cool at high clock rates. It’s an essential component of every test bench. Connectivity, functionality, and quality have all been improved on this motherboard.

ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming (Image credit: Amazon)

ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming

Best Flagship Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600

SPECIFICATIONS

Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD X570 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+4 | PCIe x16: 3 | USB Ports: 15 | Warranty: 3 Years

REASONS TO BUY

AM4 socket compatible

Numeric diagnostic panel

PCIe 4.0 Multi-GPU support

REASONS TO AVOID

Only two M.2 slots

No USB Controllers

The Republic of gamers is a group joined by the elite gaming class. ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming is for users with a nick for overclocking and high-end gaming. The stunning RGB lighting penetrates through the streaks and ROG logo on the Pro Cool II heat sink. It’s visually stunning and operationally indefatigable with superb built quality. A decent price tag is all a gamer needs. It can support the latest RTX 3090 with the PCIe 4.0 x16 slots. The ability to house two M.2 drives with a heat sink will prevent any potential bottlenecking. It’s the best flagship motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600, without a doubt.

It is a perfect choice for gamers who will strictly use it for gaming. However, hardcore overclockers might need something from this motherboard. There are no voltage monitoring displays on the board, and power/reset buttons are also missing. It might be overkill for a processor like the Ryzen 5 3600 due to the 12+4 VRM features. If you are looking to upgrade your processor to the latest Ryzen 5000 series in the future, then this is a viable solution for you. As a flagship processor, we expected it to have three M.2 slots like its competition, but if you are not planning to install that many M.2 drives, it doesn’t matter.

Being the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600, it includes onboard postcodes for diagnostic purposes. It has SupremeFX S1220A, a high-end audio chipset for clear audio and pinpoints in-game position precision. The wireless connectivity with the latest AX type WiFi and BT 5.0 makes it an excellent choice for people with Bluetooth peripherals and audio devices. The onboard WiFi and BT devices are almost always more stable than external adapters. The capability to connect USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C USB and 18 more USB connectivity are more than enough for modern-day applications.

MSI MEG X570 ACE (Image credit: Amazon)

MSI MEG X570 ACE

Best Overall Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600

SPECIFICATIONS

Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD X570 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 12+2+1 | PCIe x16: 3 | USB Ports: 13 | Warranty: 1 Year

REASONS TO BUY

Onboard 2.5G plus Gigabit LAN

Three PCIe 4.0 M.2 Slots with heatsinks

Excellent OC capability with efficient component cooling

REASONS TO AVOID

No U.2 Ports

Limited SATA ports

If you are looking for the best bang for the buck but still willing to spend premium dollars, then MSI MEG X570 ACE is the best overall motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600. It is future compatible with the latest AMD Ryzen 5000 series. The three M.2 slots are all heatsinked with vicious-looking material, and the active chipset cooling keeps the motherboard running at its best possible performance. Under IDLE working conditions, the active fan cooling stops spinning to keep the noise level low. Memory overclocking is top-notch with 5000+ MHz.

People have reported issues with the RGB strips and ARGB headers mainly due to no upgradation of BIOS. Almost all the users ended up fixing issues after a BIOS update, so upgrade before using the mobo out of the box. The ability to have Dual BIOS is not a part of this motherboard, and the ability to monitor voltage on the motherboard is also not a part of its manufacturing. The mobo’s heat sinking property is top-notch; it takes the heat pipes from the VRM cooling to chipset cooling.

It has two LAN chipsets for building a small home network. In most parts of the world, these features are a part of local gaming networks during competitive environments. The subtle RGB lighting under the mirror on the heat sink will make your rig stand out in the crowd. It supports dual GPU SLI and CrossFire, which is a must for high-end gaming PCs. The wireless connectivity with WiFi-6 and BT 5.0 can make all your peripherals connect, transfer data, and sync important data across platforms. All these specs and features make it the best Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600.

MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX (Image credit: Amazon)

MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX

Best Budget Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600

SPECIFICATIONS

Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD B450 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 4+2 | PCIe x16: 2 | USB Ports: 11 | Warranty: 1 Year

REASONS TO BUY

Heavy Plated Gaming Heatsinks

MSI Mystic Light supported RGB headers

VGA cards protection for PCI-E Steel Armor

REASONS TO AVOID

No wireless connectivity

Missing dual M.2 slots

Building an affordable gaming PC is the most challenging task. Deciding between valuable and useless features in a motherboard is difficult. You have to look at your scope of work and the available hardware that you need to connect. MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX makes the whole process easy. It’s the best budget motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600. All the essential connectivity required for an above mid-range gaming PC is a part of this motherboard. The 11 USB port, including a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port and multi GPU support for AMD products, makes it an excellent choice for competitive gamers.

The B450 chipset is just enough for the Ryzen 5 3600. However, there are few drawbacks that you might need to consider. The lack of PCIe 4.0 might be a problem for users owning the latest RTX 3000 series. The lack of bandwidth due to the PCIe 3.0 may bottleneck your GPU but not as much as a slow CPU will slow it down. Some users might find it problematic to have only one M.2 slot on the motherboard. Lack of dual M.2 slots might restrict your available fast data access.

As far as Ryzen 5 3600 is concerned, the CPU poses no latest generation GPUs’ problem. MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX allows your RAM to reach high speeds up to 4133MHz using the 4+2 VRM set that comes with it. This motherboard gives a decent heat space for overclocking. However, users should avoid hardcore overclocking as 4 VRMs are just enough to take Ryzen 5 3600 to its max clock speed, as stated by the manufacturer. It comes with a flash BIOS button on the back panel and a PS/2 port for old window users.

MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS (Image credit: Amazon)

MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS

Best Enthusiast Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600

SPECIFICATIONS

Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD 570X | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 8+2 | PCIe x16: 2 | USB Ports: 16 | Warranty: 2 Years

REASONS TO BUY

Extended Heatsink Design

Onboard diagnostic LEDs with clean BIOS

Supports DDR4 Memory with up to 4400+(OC) MHz

REASONS TO AVOID

No SLI support

SATA connection needs GPU removal

If we talk about value for money, then MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS quickly takes the top spot. It has just the right amount of VRM from decent overclocking of Ryzen 5 3600. The memory clock speeds can also reach up to 4266MHz with this motherboard. The aesthetics are clean with a red and black combination leaving enough room for a high-end air-fin cooler to cope with the 65W TDP. There are two M.2 slots available for fast data transfer. A single heat sink for the M.2 slot is enough to avoid throttling right out of the box.

It has a user-friendly easy to use BIOS for people new to overclocking and tweaking hardware. Although not liked by many, active cooling still has a higher potential of keeping your hardware away from failure. The fan adjusts speed according to load and temperatures. MSI has strategically offset the active cooling system away from the PCIe x16 slot to keep GPU cool. However, the motherboard required GPU removal for connecting SATA devices. 

It features connections for the pump and reservoir. Hardcore overclockers and noiseless PC lovers need liquid cooling for a bottleneck-free performance. The motherboard comes with a guaranteed component working of 2 years. BIOS flash button is provided on the back panel to take back the BIOS to the initial condition in case some setting changes causing BSOD or some bootup problems. It is compatible with the topmost RAMs from the market.  The powerful heatsinks on the VRM allow enough cooling to support high frequency overclocking of the Ryzen 5 3600.

ASRock B450 Pro4 (Image credit: Amazon)

ASRock B450 Pro4

Best ATX Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600

SPECIFICATIONS

Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD B450 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 6+3 | PCIe x16: 1 | USB Ports: 13 | Warranty: 1 Year

REASONS TO BUY

Triple Monitor support

128GB RAM OC to 3200+MHz

Quad GPU support for Radeon

REASONS TO AVOID

No USB 3.2 Gen2

Audio quality is not the good

People who wouldn’t want to spend a penny above their required specification might need to consider ASRock B450 Pro4. The incredible price for the features is something nobody would mind. It comes with an 8+1 power phase VRM that can overclock Ryzen 5 3600 to its full potential and provide just enough potential to increase the clock speed of 128GB RAM to 3200+ MHz. Users that do not own a GPU at the start can go for this motherboard as it has 4K capable HDMI and DP 1.2 ports. The multi GPU support for the Radeon GFX card is top of its class. It hands down the best ATX Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600.

The perfect match of motherboard specification and processor is hardly available, but this motherboard suits the Ryzen 5 3600. There are few things you might need to consider before buying this motherboard. If you are looking to buy an RTX 2000 series GPU, look nowhere else; buy this motherboard. However, RTX 3000 series might bottleneck due to the lack of PCIe 4.0. The audio chipset on this motherboard is not the most widely used or appreciated. It’s just enough to keep the gaming performance accurate.

At this price, you get USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C, two PCIe 3.0 x16, and two M.2 drive slots. High-speed charging with 3.0A power out of Type-C connection is high enough to support most peripherals in the market. The ability to transfer 10Gbps The M.2 drive is fast enough to support both the SATA3 interface and the high-speed PCIe Gen3 x4 Ultra M.2 interface for 32Gb/s data transfer speeds. The thicker copper layer for this price point ensures efficient, long-lasting power performance. It is the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600.

ASRock B450M Pro4 (Image credit: Amazon)

ASRock B450M Pro4

Best mATX Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600

SPECIFICATIONS

Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD B450 | Form Factor: Micro ATX | Voltage Regulator: 6+3 | PCIe x16: 2 | USB Ports: 8 | Warranty: 3 Years

REASONS TO BUY

Dual M.2 slots on a Micro-ATX

Quad GPU support for Radeon

High-Density Glass Fabric PCB

REASONS TO AVOID

No onboard RGB

No PCIe 4.0 not support

As a gamer, you might want to go for a small rig in size and has all the necessary power to boost the gaming performance to its maximum. ASRock has the most economically feasible solutions for gaming PCs. If a mid-range PC with powerful performance is your thing, then ASRock B450M Pro4 should be your top choice. It goes directly to business with support for 3200+ RAM overclocking, and support for three monitor setup out of the box is rare at this price. The black and white theme goes with all the latest chassis designs/colors.

At this micro-ATX form factor, ASRock manages to fit dual M.2 slots with 32Gbps data transfer rates. The AMD store MI also makes files access as rapid as storing essential files on SSD instead of HDD. It lacks bling, and by bling, we mean RGB lightning on board, but it has an ARGB header and RGB header on board. Low memory overclock speed might be a concern for some users, but benchmarks suggest that RAM overclocking only provides a margin of performance improvement. In terms of output, just a few FPS not as big of an impact as using a lower power CPU or GPU.

However, if you are a frequent overclocker, overclocking won’t be required on the Ryzen 5 3600 for all the latest AAA titles or competitive games. Enthusiast overclockers that require the PS/2 port for running older window versions might want to consider this motherboard. It’s cheap and has all the necessary hardware for decent overclocking. The support for multi GPU on such a small motherboard is also incredible. It supports AMD Quad CrossFireX and CrossFireX. With the latest generation of Radeon GPU support. It’s the best mATX motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600.

MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC (Image credit: Amazon)

MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC

Best mITX Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600

SPECIFICATIONS

Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD B450 | Form Factor: Mini-ITX | Voltage Regulator: 6+2 | PCIe x16: 1 | USB Ports: 13 | Warranty: 1 Year

REASONS TO BUY

One-click VR ready

Made for 24hr operation

Audio Boost for proper DE-POP protection

REASONS TO AVOID

Single M.2 Slot

No Type-C USB connectivity

If you are looking for the best Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600, MSI has provided one of the most feasible solutions for a mini-ITX motherboard at a reasonable price. SFF chassis need a motherboard that can handle powerful performance in a small space. The MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC gives precisely that. The support for wireless connectivity with WiFi-5 and BT 4.2 will keep you connected. The good overclocking capability with 6+2 VRM can make the Ryzen 5 3600 run at its max frequency and take DDR4 RAM to 3466(OC) MHz. 

It has all the essentials for a gamer. However, there are few drawbacks. It cannot take RAM capacity above 64GB due to only two RAM slots. There is one M.2 drive slot. All of these are mainly due to the small size of the motherboard. It’s hard for any manufacturer to fit all ATX motherboard features into such a minor factor. It depends on the user. Mini-ITX users expect these things. However, WiFi-6 is also another thing that’s missing due to the B450 chipset. Overall it’s a good package, and we can easily name it the best mITX motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600.

The motherboard comes with diagnostic LEDs to troubleshoot a breeze. As MSI claims it to be capable of 24Hr online or offline gaming, its components are high-quality material to make long-lasting performance possible. The software that comes with MSI is always on point and capable of improving performance. X-Boost and Command Center are the two leading software. The Xboost can improve data transfer speeds from USB or M.2 drives, and the command center makes overclocking a breeze. It can control fan speed, clock frequencies, and much more.

Conclusion

We are considering that you are going to buy the Ryzen 5 3600 or already own one. You might be a user that prefers stability, performance, and budget-friendly products. Considering these things in mind, we included future compatible and each best Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600, like the Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Formula, and the ultimate budget options like the ASRock B450 Pro4.

We wanted our readers to get a depth analysis of each motherboard to make the best decision for themselves. Ryzen 5 3600 has enough power to support the latest gaming titles and maintain the support for a couple of more years. Considering the fact if you are an RTX 3000 series owner, we recommend you go for the x570 chipset as it is future compatible and has all the connectivity support for the latest tech.

We included MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS to give an economical solution with the latest PCIe 4.0 support. We also had some motherboards for HTPC lovers with enough power to act as a primary gaming PC. In the end, it’s the user’s choice to find the best fit for their requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which motherboard is best for Ryzen 5 3600?

We suggest the MSI MPG x570 Gaming Plus as the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 processor. It will not bottleneck the performance of the latest generation of GPU and SSDs. The price will also not break the bank. It has balanced features along with enough connectivity for any modern-day usage.

Does B450 Tomahawk Max support Ryzen 5 3600?

As long as your processor has the AM4 socket, B450 Tomahawk Max can support it. Ryzen 5 3600 works perfectly with motherboards like the ASRock B450M Pro4. We recommend that you go for a budget-friendly option for this processor. Buying the top-performing motherboard will make it future compatible but will be overkill for Ryzen 5 3600.

Is Ryzen 3600 compatible with B450?

Initially, AMD stated that B450 would not be supporting the Ryzen 3000 series, but AMD took back its statement and enrolled support with older chipsets using a simple BIOS update. MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX is a good recommendation with the B450 chipset.

What is the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600?

Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Formula is undoubtedly the best motherboard for the Ryzen 5 3600, but this doesn’t mean that it’s economically feasible. The high speed and top-class features come with a price tag. Buy this mobo if you are looking to upgrade your processor or GPU in the future.

Do B450 motherboards support Ryzen 3600?

Using a b450 motherboard with a Ryzen 3600 processor is perfectly acceptable, but make sure you obtain a motherboard with a solid VRM. The VRM is in charge of delivering electricity to the CPU.

Is B550 better than B450?

The newer AMD B550 offers a significant advantage over the older AMD B450 when it comes to the PCIe interface. When compared to the AMD B450, the AMD B550 has PCIe 4.0, which is twice as fast as the AMD B450’s PCIe 3.0. PCIe 4.0 supports data rates of up to 16 GT/s, compared to the AMD B450’s data throughput of just 8 GT/s.