For those looking to build a Ryzen 7 3700X or Ryzen 7 3800X system, you’ll likely have two main questions: 1) Do I go for an X570 motherboard that’s specifically designed for the new Ryzen 3000 series chips, and supports PCIe 4.0? Or, 2) Do I decide to use a previous generation X470 or B450 motherboard, all of which are compatible with the new Zen 2 processors by AMD?
Each option has its benefits and drawbacks. With an X570 motherboard you are future-proofing your build, and benefitting from the blisteringly fast new PCIe 4.0 interface. However, X570 motherboards are priced very steep in comparison to the older chipsets. Opting for a B450 or X470 motherboard for the Ryzen 7 3700X or 3800X, you can pick from a range of more affordable options, still with exceptional VRM quality and performance.
All B450 and X470 chipset motherboards support Ryzen Zen 2 processors, and all they require for compatibility is a BIOS update, so you’re going to want a board that offers BIOS Flashback, or that already has the latest compatible BIOS out of the box.
Although the X570 is the latest and greatest chipset for Zen 2, if you don’t plan on overclocking the 3700X or 3800X, we suggest you choose a B450 or X470 motherboard for your next build. If you do plan on overclocking and prefer a bit more future-proofing, check out our motherboard roundup for the Ryzen 9 3950X. If you’re still working out whether to pick the 3700X or 3800X, we recommend checking out this guide.
The Ryzen 7 3700X and 3800X have far more efficient power consumption and lower TDP (65W) than the second generation of Ryzen. For example, an overclocked Ryzen 7 3800X consumes less power than a conservatively overclocked Ryzen 7 2700X. Thus, any B450 or X470 motherboard capable of housing an overclocked Ryzen 7 2700X is more than capable of running the new 3700X and 3800X.
Now let’s take a look at the best motherboards for 3700X & 3800X builds, drawing from not just X570 chipset motherboards but also the B450 and X470 chipsets that support the new Ryzen 3000 processors including the Ryzen 7 3700X.
Best Motherboards for Ryzen 7 3700X and 3800X – Our Recommendations
| Award | Motherboard | Design | VRM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall B450 Motherboard for 3700X and 3800X | Asus ROG STRIX B450-F |  | 8 Phase (6+2) |
| Best Overall X470 Motherboard for 3700X and 3800X | ASRock X470 Taichi Ultimate |  | 16 Phase (12+4) |
| Best mini-ITX B450 Motherboard for 3700X and 3800X | MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC |  | 8 Phase (6+2) |
| Best High-Performance X570 Motherboard for 3700X and 3800X | Asus Crosshair VIII Hero |  | 16 Phase (7+1 x2) |
Best Overall B450 Motherboard for Ryzen 7 3700X & 3800X
B450 chipset motherboards are proving to be more than enough for the Ryzen 7 3700X, with excellent VRM quality and design for an affordable price. If you’re not looking to overclock the Ryzen 7 3700X and want a capable budget B450 motherboard, we recommend the Asus ROG STRIX B450-F.
The STRIX B450-F offers a solid 8 Phase (6+2) VRM, at an incredibly reasonable price. Many VRM Tier lists indicate the STRIX B450-F was sufficient for overclocking the 2700x, which has much higher power consumption than the 3700X and 3800X and makes it the most sensible choice for conservative budgets.
Best Overall X470 Motherboard for Ryzen 7 3700X & 3800X
Two X470 motherboards are considered best-in-class for the X470 chipset, each with awe-inspiring VRM quality and chock-full of features. Enter, the ASRock X470 Taichi Ultimate and ASUS Crosshair VII Hero. The Taichi Ultimate is significantly cheaper than the Hero, so it gets our recommendation for overclocking with the 3700X and 3800X on an X470 board.
The X470 Taichi features a 12 phase VRM (6 phases using doublers) for the VCore and a 4 phase VRM for the SoC. With top-tier VRM, this X470 motherboard is capable of extreme overclocking even a Ryzen 9 3950X!
Features include 2x M.2 slots, of which one has a heat shield, USB 3.1 Gen 2 connectivity, Wi-Fi, and a POST-Code readout for overclocking. The only notable negative is where the X470 Taichi does feature Wi-Fi, it is rated at 433MBps, which is not great for 2020.
The Taichi Ultimate is by far the best value high-end motherboard for overclocking any of the 3000 Series Zen 2 processors on an X470 platform.
Best mini-ITX motherboard for Ryzen 7 3700X and 3800X SFF Builds
If you’re after a mini-ITX motherboard capable of extreme overclocking the 3700X/3800X in a small form factor system, then you’re in luck. The MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC is regarded as the best B450 ITX motherboard with a fantastic VRM, decent BIOS, and great features, including a DisplayPort (missing from other ITX B450 motherboards), integrated Wi-Fi, 4x SATA, and M.2 support.
Unfortunately, the B450I Gaming Plus cannot apply a voltage offset, which is not ideal for XFR2 and temperature management. That said, the physical VRM layout on this ITX motherboard outweighs this drawback and secures our firm recommendation for the best B450 mini-ITX motherboard for the Ryzen 7 3700X and 3800X.
Best High-Performance X570 Motherboard for Ryzen 7 3700 & 3800X
The Asus Crosshair VIII Hero. Asus is doing something right here with their jaw-dropping power delivery, at a significantly lower price than both the MSI X570 Godlike and Gigabyte X570 Aorus Xtreme.
The Crosshair VIII is a much more sensible option for prosumers and enthusiasts interested in extreme overclocking with Zen 2 processors, which also helps to keep the overall size of your system down at a standard ATX form factor vs. the Extended-ATX Godlike and Aorus Xtreme. With VRM performance this competitive, it almost makes you wonder whether it’s even remotely justifiable to spend around ~$130 more for the Godlike or Aorus Xtreme.
Summary
The Ryzen 7 3700X and 3800X offer much flexibility when you consider their low TDP + exceptional performance in production workloads. Here, we have tried to offer just as much flexibility when it comes to selecting your platform should you decide to pick one up!
Best Overall B450: Asus ROG STRIX B450-F – Excellent power delivery and an uncompromised feature-set ensure you save a good chunk of money compared to X470 and X570 options while still providing ample support for either the 3700X or 3800X.
Best Overall X470: ASRock X470 Taichi Ultimate – Still attainable for a more reasonable price than flagship X570 models, and still offering excellent VRMs to allow for extreme overclocking of even the 3950X!
Best mini-ITX B450: MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC – Builders in search of budget ITX options, look no further. With the Gaming Plus, you’re getting performance competitive with even many X570 options, and excellent features overall for budget-minded mini-ITX builds.
Best High-Performance X570: Asus Crosshair VIII Hero – If you do want the ultimate platform for you 3700X or 3800X, and have even a remote interest in extreme overclocking, then you’re going to need the Crosshair VIII Hero. The top of the line in regards to VRM design and quality, at a lower price, and with a smaller form factor (ATX vs. eATX) than boards like the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Xtreme and MSI X570 Godlike.
- Related: Best X570 Motherboards for Ryzen 3000 Processors
- Related: Ryzen 3700X vs 3800X: Which are the key differences?
- Related: Best CPU Coolers for Ryzen 7 3700X / 3800X Builds in 2020
- Related: Ryzen 7 3800X vs Ryzen 9 3900X: Which is best for gaming?
- Related: Best PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs for Ryzen Zen 2 Builds
Featured Builds
