AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X might have launched as one of the new Zen 5 chips, but its Zen 4 predecessor remains a great option available at a cheaper price. The Ryzen 9 7950X is still one of the most powerful desktop processors that AMD has ever released, and despite launching in 2022 it's still readily available for PC upgrades and fresh builds.
The Ryzen 9 7950X has 16 cores, 32 threads, and a 170W TDP; it pulls a lot of power and runs hot, but the AM5 socket is a crucial requirement when buying a motherboard. If you're coming from a Ryzen 5000 series desktop chip you'll need an entirely new board, and you'll want to be sure that the features are performance are up to your needs. I've collected six of the top AM5 motherboards best suited to the Ryzen 9 7950X to help you make the right choice.
Best overall
It's no surprise to see ASUS take the top spot; its ROG Strix line covers all the bases with plenty of overhead for overclocked performance. Besides the cute additions of a quick-release button on PCIe expansion slots, you get an outrageously fast pairing of three M.2 slots with PCIe 5.0 support and an extra at 4.0. Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5G Ethernet, a vast array of USB-A and USB-C ports, and a beautiful RGB aesthetic round up this heatsink-loaded board. Get it for about $440.
Also great
If you don't mind spending closer to $590, the Crosshair X670E Hero should be a great choice for enthusiasts with overclocking ambitions. It has an 18+2+2 power design, chunky heatsinks, USB4 ports, 2.5GbE LAN, five M.2 slots, two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, and Wi-Fi 6E. It's a beautiful board, but its size won't work in compact desktop builds.
Great for overclocking
ASRock's X670E Taichi has a 24+2+1 power design, heatsinks everywhere, and a clean look, great for enthusiasts who want style and performance. Best part? It only costs about $410 without any discounts. Extras include two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, quad M.2 slots for storage, and DDR5 RAM support. I/O is decent, with dual USB4, 2.5GbE LAN, and Wi-Fi 6E.
Best value
This B650 chipset board can't be beaten in sheer performance per dollar. You're covered for high-speed storage with a single PCIe 5.0 M.2 socket covered by a dedicated heat sink and two additional PCIe 4.0 M.2 sockets under their own. Six PWM/DC fan headers support the cooling you'll need for the 7950X's high temperatures, and Gigabyte even throws in Wi-Fi 6E for modern wireless networking alongside 2.5GbE Ethernet. Find it for around $200.
Best for budget overclocking
A step up in chipset features from the best value pick, this Gigabyte alternative features a 16+2+2 power phase design alongside massive storage options. If you know for a fact you're going to be tweaking your components for the maximum possible performance without overheating, push for the X670 chipset and keep things cool with the advanced thermal design on this board. You can usually find it for about $230.
Best for compact builds
Mini-ITX fans, this one is for you. The heatsinks might look oversized, but the Ryzen 9 7950X runs hot, so you'll need them. Component options are understandably reduced, but you still get PCIe 5.0 support for expansion and M.2 storage alongside the ROG Hive control unit for quick overclocking and audio I/O access. Built-in Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5G Ethernet come alongside USB4 ports, so modern connectivity wasn't sacrificed at this form factor. Pick it up for about $440.
My favorite motherboards for AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X
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You won't get far with a custom-built PC without the motherboard. As its name implies, it's where each component comes together to make a working computer. In the case of AMD's Ryzen 7000 and Ryzen 9000 chips, the motherboard must use the AM5 socket to be compatible.
The Ryzen 9 7950X is one of the most power-hungry and powerful CPUs from the Zen 4 era, and it even keeps up well with the newer Zen 5 Ryzen 9 9950X (more on that in the section below). No matter which board you're aiming for, you'll need to ensure that your other hardware is compatible.
RAM isn't much of an issue since you're locked into DDR5, leaving you to match only the number of memory sticks and the appropriate speeds supported by your motherboard. If you've been holding on to some older DDR4 kits, I'm afraid it's time to upgrade. Your most critical decisions come down to speed, so make sure your chosen motherboard supports the overclocking profiles (like AMD EXPO) you plan to use. Have a look at our favorite RAM for the Ryzen 9 7950X for more info.
Where it gets trickier comes down to the support PCIe version. If you want to use expansion cards or M.2 solid-state storage drives with the latest PCIe 5.0 speeds, you'll need to pick up a board with proper support, like the well-priced Gigabyte B650 AORUS ELITE AX ATX. PCIe 5.0 has quickly become the mainstream format, so consider the longevity of your devices.
The rest mostly comes down to luxuries like onboard Wi-Fi and the number of USB ports, but many motherboards in this roundup feature chunky heatsinks. Again, the 7950X draws a lot of power and raises the temperatures appropriately, so you must check for clearance when choosing an appropriate Ryzen 9 7950X cooler.
With all that in mind, the ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming is my top pick for most people, as long as they're comfortable spending about $440. The ASUS ROG Strix X670E Hero is an even more premium motherboard made for enthusiasts with heavy overclocking ambitions, but it costs about $590. A great alternative to the top two picks, even for overclockers, is ASRock's X670E Taichi at about $410.
Comparing AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X and Ryzen 9 9950X
AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X has been succeeded by the Ryzen 9 9950X, but that doesn't necessarily mean it needs to be replaced. The older chip has the same number of cores and threads, it draws the same 170W of power, and it ultimately delivers performance so similar you won't really notice in everyday computing.
Former Windows Central Senior Editor Rich Edmonds stated in his AMD Ryzen 9 7950X review:
"The most powerful processor available from AMD, this 16-core monster of a CPU is capable of smashing through even more intensive workloads. With a TDP of just 175W, it's possible to build a very powerful gaming PC."
Add in the fact that the Ryzen 9 7950X is now about $130 cheaper than the 9950X and you have yourself a tough decision to make. Windows Central Editor Ben Wilson said in his Ryzen 9 9950X review that "the multi-core generational leap is so minor from the 7000 Series to the 9000 Series that you won't see any significant differences to warrant the cost," which should give you some extra confidence in buying a last-gen chip.
I wrote a separate article with a more detailed comparison of the Ryzen 9 9950X and 7950X to help anyone still stuck on the fence.
