Best Motherboard for Ryzen 5 2600 | All Budgets
Trying to find a solid motherboard to pair with your Ryzen 5 2600 CPU? Well, look no further as we deep dive into various options for your Ryzen 2600 build.
Are you also looking for the best GPU for the Ryzen 5 2600? I have listed some GPUs in this article.
Before we start the list, it is important that we understand the importance of correctly pairing your Ryzen 5 2600 and motherboard. There are different characteristics that CPUs and motherboards have that allow them to be compatible to each other.
Features to Consider For the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Motherboard Compatibility
Chipset
The chipset is a silicon backbone that works with different CPU operations. It controls some parts of the motherboard — some being additional PCIe lanes, storage devices, external ports, and other peripherals. Chipsets are important because how much you pay for the motherboard could have an effect on how advanced the chipset is. Higher-end chipsets have overclocking abilities, more PCIe lanes, USB ports, and improved speeds.
Best Motherboards for Ryzen 5 2600 | All Budgets
Generally speaking, form factor is the size, shape, and other physical specifications of hardware. This definition applies to motherboards as well. Simply put, the form factor is the size of the motherboard. Here are some of the form factor motherboards:
There may be different reasons that the form factor is important in determining which motherboard is for you:
- Space — There are different space requirements for every person, so the size of the motherboard is an important factor. Some do not have much desk or floor space, so for that type of person, a Micro-ATX motherboard and below would be for that person. A person with a lot of desk or floor space could pick from whatever motherboard type that on the market.
- Style — The form factor of the motherboard is critical and depends on the style of computer you would like to build. Some people prefer smaller builds, cube builds, or even larger towers which can change which type of motherboard you choose.
- Ease of Installation — Smaller motherboards tend to be easier to install, so if the process of building your computer seems to be a daunting task for you, smaller motherboards could be for you. Micro-ATX motherboards also tend to be more compatible across many PC cases, while the same cannot be said for Standard-ATX motherboards.
- Footprint — If you are environmentally aware, smaller motherboards would better suit your interests and you do not really mind, you can opt for larger motherboards.
PCI Slots
A peripheral component interface/Interconnect slot is a slot that allows one to attach add-on controller cards and devices. It allows the user to add graphics cards, sound cards, RAID controllers, network cards, and more.
For the most part, they are outdated and are being replaced by the PCI express standard, but they still are helpful.
RAM
Random Access Memory provides memory that is temporarily used by the CPU and GPU. Standard-ATX motherboards tend to have more RAM slots than smaller motherboards which can be a huge advantage for those who need a lot of space to multitask. Those who use smaller motherboards would have to pay for more expensive RAM options if they would like to see the same results.
Most motherboards operate on DDR3 or DDR4 RAM. For the Ryzen 5 2600, the motherboard and RAM should operate on DDR4.
SATA and NVMe
When looking at motherboards, consider checking if the motherboard comes with SATA or NVMe ports. These ports are what actually connect your motherboard to your external memory (ex. SSD).
Most motherboards come with both the SATA and NVMe ports, so you will not need to worry too much about it.
Socket
The socket is critical to the functioning of your build. If you get the wrong CPU for the socket on you motherboard, your system will not work. The CPU you choose will determine the motherboard that you look for. Since the Ryzen 5 2600 is made by AMD, you will need to choose CPUs that are compatible with AM4.
Now that we have gone over some components that are important when choosing a motherboard, we can now go through our top three choices of good motherboards for the Ryzen 5 2600.
Asus ROG Strix X570E — High Tier Ryzen 5 2600 Motherboard
There is no doubt that the Asus ROG Strix is one of the most best gaming motherboards on the market. This ATX motherboard has many features and characteristics that sets it apart.
The Strix X570E has 4 DIMM slots that can run DDR4 RAM with a clocking speed of up to 4400Hz. This means that the motherboard can accommodate up to 128 GB worth of RAM
The motherboard comes with a pre-mounted I/O Shield which reduces the need for you to set it up manually. This improves the PC building process overall.
There are eight USB 3.2 Gen Type A Ports and one USB 3.2 Gen Type C which is more than enough for all of your peripherals and needs.
Product Specifications
Chipset Type: X570 Chipset
CPU Socket: AM4
Compatible Processors: 2nd and 3rd AMD Ryzen™, 1st and 2nd Gen AMD Ryzen™ with Radeon™ Vega Graphics Processors
Display: HDMI, DisplayPort
Form Factor: ATX
If you have the money to spend on a premium gaming motherboard, the Asus ROG Strix X570E will not disappoint. It will make a great Ryzen 5 2600 motherboard combo.
MSI Performance Gaming AMD X470 — Mid Tier Ryzen 5 2600 Motherboard
The MSI Performance Gaming X470 is a solid motherboard that has cross-gen Ryzen support and its BIOS 5 has an easy to learn layout and has advanced tuning capabilities.
This motherboard supports DDR4 memory with a clocking speed of up to 4133 Mhz. It can handle heavy and high performance GPUs with its durable steel PCIe Slots.
The Mystic Light and Mystic Light Sync software contains 7 colors and effects which give the user a bit more customization to the aesthetic of the motherboard.
Product Specifications
Chipset Type: X470
CPU Socket: AM4
Compatible Processors: AMD 3rd Gen Ryzen, AMD 2nd Gen Ryzen, AMD Athlon
Display: HDMI, DisplayPort
Form Factor: ATX
The MSI Performance Gaming also comes with man things that could improve the experience:
2 SATA Cables
Case Screw Guide
Drive CD
I/O Shield
Product Registration Card
MSI Product Catalog
Quick Installation Guide
User Manual
Although the competition is high at this price point, the MSI Performance Gaming X470 Max is a reliable choice. If you would like better performance without breaking the bank, try checking out the Plus model of this motherboard.
Gigabyte B450M DS3H V2 — Best Budget Motherboard For Ryzen 5 2600
Impressively, the motherboard has hybrid fan pin headers which allow it to automatically detect the type of cooling device.
The motherboard also has a smart fan feature that stops the fan from running whenever the system falls below a specific temperature. This can save excess energy.
You can personalize the motherboard’s RGB with 7 different colors: green, sky blue, blue, pink, red, yellow, and white.
The B450M has seven clocking speeds that you can choose from (in MHz): 2133, 2400, 2666, 2933, 3200, 3466, and 3600
Product Specifications
Chipset Type: B450
CPU Socket: AM4
Compatible Processors: AMD 3rd Gen Ryzen, 2nd Gen Ryzen, 1st Gen Ryzen, 2nd Gen Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics, 1st Gen Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics, and Athlon with Radeon Vega Graphics Processors
Display: HDMI, DVI-D Ports
Form Factor: Micro ATX
The Gigabyte B450M DS3H V2 is one of the best budget options on the market, as there are not many choices for its price.
Conclusion
I would like clarify is that choosing lower-end options may restrict performance and features. For example, some lower-end motherboards do not come with Multi-GPU SLI or does not offer overclocking.
Even with the newer models coming out, the Ryzen 5 2600 is still a strong CPU is able to compete in today’s gaming sphere. No matter what price point you are at, there are still great motherboards to pair with your Ryzen 5 2600.
I sincerely hope that this article has given you an idea of where to start in your pursuit for a motherboard for your Ryzen 5 2600 build.