When you’ve got a high-performance chipset such as the Ryzen 5 3600, you would also want the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 in order to unleash its full potential. Statistically speaking, this processor is one of AMD’s hot-sellers, simply because it provides top-notch performance and falls in a very sweet price bracket. This six-core, twelve-threaded Zen2 processor can deal with all kinds of gaming and productivity tasks quite smoothly. In simple words, it is one of the best budget gaming CPUs currently available on the market. However, if you are one who deals with productive tasks on a daily basis, then you might want to check out our guide on the best processors for productivity.
You might have gotten your hands on a 3600 and a great GPU, but it doesn’t end there. A lot of PC builders tend to neglect the importance of a solid motherboard that holds all the components together. In their attempts to save a few bucks, they end up buying an incapable motherboard, which inherently limits their processor’s performance to a great extent.
Best Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600: At A Glance
| # | Preview | Product Name | Award | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Hero | Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600 | Check Price |
| 2 |  |
Asus TUF Gaming X570 Plus | Best Gaming Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600 | Check Price |
| 3 |  |
Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master | Best B550 Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600 | Check Price |
| 4 |  |
MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk | Best Budget Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600 | Check Price |
| 5 |  |
ASRock B550m Steel Legend | Best Micro-ATX Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600 | Check Price |
| 6 |  |
Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro Wifi | Best B450 Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600 | Check Price |
| 7 |  |
ASRock B450m Steel Legend | Best Cheap Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600 | Check Price |
| # | 1 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Hero |
| Award | Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 2 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | Asus TUF Gaming X570 Plus |
| Award | Best Gaming Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 3 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master |
| Award | Best B550 Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 4 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk |
| Award | Best Budget Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 5 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | ASRock B550m Steel Legend |
| Award | Best Micro-ATX Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 6 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro Wifi |
| Award | Best B450 Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Details | Check Price |
| # | 7 |
| Preview | |
| Product Name | ASRock B450m Steel Legend |
| Award | Best Cheap Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Details | Check Price |
Last Update on 2021-10-12 at 15:33 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
With that said, choosing the perfect motherboard for your 3600 is not as easy as it seems. If you dive into the market without any research at hand, then you will find yourself lost in the sea of options. Ryzen processors are known to be quite versatile and flexible, which means that they are compatible with a wide range of motherboards. Thus, there’s plenty to choose from, especially after the release of the B550 chipset. To make life easier for you, we have rounded up a list of all the motherboards for Ryzen 5 3600. After an extensive amount of research and nitpicking, we were able to finalize our top seven picks for the 3600. However, if you are looking to upgrade to AMD’s 5000 series CPUs, then have a look at the motherboards for Ryzen 5000 CPUs.
1. Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Hero
Best Overall Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600
Pros
- Premium Look
- Extremely Robust VRMs
- 3x PCIe x16 Slots
- Actively Cooled Chipset Heatsink
Cons
- Only 2 M.2 Slots
Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: X570 | Memory: 128GB @5100MHz | Storage: 2x M.2, 8x SATA | Expansion Slots: 3x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x1 | USB Ports: 4x USB 3.2 Gen1, 7x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-A), 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C)
Check PriceWe’re starting off our Ryzen 5 3600 motherboard list with the premium Crosshair lineup from Asus. The Asus ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Hero is a difficult one to ignore when talking about the best motherboards for AMD Ryzen processors. While listing the best motherboards for Ryzen 7 3700x or even the motherboards for Ryzen 7 1800x, we couldn’t bring ourselves to ignore the HERO and put it at the top.
Aesthetically, the motherboard looks luxurious with an all-black PCB covered in heatsinks and a large rear I/O cover. The heatsinks over the power circuitry are black with inlets. The rear I/O cover is divided into three parts – the top one with a brushed aluminum finish and ‘Crosshair VIII’ carved onto it. Under it, over a stripe with shiny silver finishing is written ‘HERO’ with integrated RGB lighting. The shiny silver stripe extends all the way to the bottom-most M.2 heatsink. Over the chipset heatsink, we have the classic ROG emblem lightened up with RGB. All the RGB can be customized through the Asus Aura Sync software.
Let’s move on to the thing that matters most, the performance of the motherboard which is also the reason this motherboard sits at the top of our list. The Hero hosts a 14+2 VRM design surrounded by two massive heatsinks. A heatpipe extends from the heatsinks to the I/O cover, increasing the overall surface area for better heat dissipation. There is a dedicated heatsink for each M.2 slot and an actively cooled chipset heatsink with a fan rated at 60,000 hours. In short, the power delivery and thermal performance of this motherboard are one of the best and even comparable to some of the best X399 motherboards that are extremely robust.
As for the memory section, it can accommodate up to 128GB of DDR4 RAM at 5100MHz overclocked speeds. The Crosshair VIII Hero is equipped with a duo of M.2 slots and eight SATAIII ports. Both the M.2 slots have dedicated heatsinks and support PCIe Gen4 SSDs. Speaking of SSDs, make sure to check our guide on the best PCIe Gen4 SSDs. Some motherboards offer three M.2 slots at a similar price range, however, most users won’t even utilize the second slot. Moreover, there are two PCIe 4.0 x16 reinforced slots and another normal PCIe 4.0 x16 slot. A PCIe 4.0 x1 slot is also provided.
The features on this motherboard just keep getting better as we move on. Even the rear I/O port has no flaws. It features twelve USB ports arranged in the following way: seven USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-A) ports, one USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C) port, and four USB 3.2 Gen1 ports. You can connect all USB devices you like and still have ports remaining. Moreover, a BIOS flashback button and a clear CMOS button are also present. Two LAN ports have been provided for network connectivity. Lastly, it has an optical S/PDIF out port and five gold-plated audio jacks, powered by the ROG SupremeFX S1220 codec.
All things considered, the Asus ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Hero is basically a motherboard with no flaws except for its high price. This motherboard comprises top-quality VRM, exceptional thermals, premium aesthetics, and numerous connectivity options which make it the best X570 motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600.
2. Asus TUF Gaming X570 Plus
Best Gaming Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600
Pros
- 14-Phase VRM Design
- Reasonable Price
- Excellent Storage Options
- Simple And Minimal Design
Cons
- No M.2 Heatsink For Primary Slot
Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: X570 | Memory: 128GB @5100MHz | Storage: 2x M.2, 8x SATA | Expansion Slots: 2x PCIe 4.0 x16, 3x PCIe 4.0 x1 | USB Ports: 4x USB 3.2 Gen1, 2x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-A), 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C)
There’s a reason why Asus owns the crown in the motherboard market: their motherboards never fail to impress. Unsurprisingly enough, their TUF Gaming X570 Plus has managed to grab the second spot on our list, thanks to its moderate pricing and well-rounded feature set.
Their TUF Gaming lineup is one step lower from their flagship Crosshair or ROG lineup. It is particularly targeted towards gamers on a budget who are looking for a no-fuss option. Starting off with aesthetics, the X570 Plus features the trademark TUF Gaming color scheme, which is black and yellow. There are a bit of grey accents on the PCB as well, which creates an attractive color contrast. RGB LEDs can be found under the right-hand side of the board, and around the chipset heatsink. Speaking of heatsinks, the X570 Plus packs stylish, decent-sized heatsinks with brandings on them.
The aesthetics are great, but this motherboard’s main concern revolves around delivering excellent performance. To achieve this, it makes use of a 12+2 VRM design with 50A MOSFETs capable of delivering up to 480A current output. In simplified terms, this setup is more than enough to handle a 3600 on stock and overclocked settings. We also recommend getting a budget CPU cooler for that extra push and added aesthetics. The cooling rituals are performed by medium-sized heatsinks joined together by a direct-touch heatpipe. An actively cooled chipset heatsink keeps the X570 chipset far from overheating. All of this combined with legendary Asus reliability means that the TUF Gaming X570 Plus will not disappoint you, at least for a long time.
The X570 Plus houses four DIMM slots featuring a dual-channel architecture, allowing you to install 128GB RAM on your rig. This time around, we only get to see two M.2 slots (both supporting the PCIe 4.0 interface) instead of three. Both slots support NVMe and SATA accelerated drives, and also come with dedicated heatsinks. Further, eight SATA3 6GB/s ports are also given. The primary GPU slot is an Asus Safeslot and operates at PCIe 4.0 x16 speeds. In addition to the primary slot, a PCIe 4.0 x4 slot and a PCIe 4.0 x1 expansionary slot are also included.
X470 Motherboard guide: Best X470 Motherboards
One thing that Asus could have done better is that they could have provided more USB ports on the back panel. There are seven USB ports in total: three USB 3.1 Gen2 (including one Type-C) and four USB 3.1 Gen1. However, you can always add a USB hub for extra ports. But other than that, the I/O panel ticks all boxes: PS/2 combo port, HDMI, DisplayPort, 2.5G LAN, BIOS Flashback and Clear CMOS buttons – the X570 Plus has it all. The audio department consists of five 3.5mm audio jacks and an optical S/PDIF, the usual stuff. A Realtek ALC S1200A audio codec is installed to handle the audio side of things.
To sum up, the Asus TUF Gaming X570 Plus is a superb mid-range motherboard aimed at hardcore gamers. For this reason, it claims the title of the best gaming motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600.
3. Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master
Best B550 Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600
Pros
- Great Overclocking Headroom
- Triple M.2 Support
- 12 USB Ports
- Onboard WiFi
Cons
- Price Is Even Higher Than Some X570 Motherboards
Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: B550 | Memory: 128GB @5100+MHz | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA | Expansion Slots: 1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 2x PCIe 3.0 x16 | USB Ports: 6x USB 2.0, 5x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-A), 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C)
Taking the fourth spot on our list is the Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master featuring AMD’s B550 chipset. The B550 Aorus Master is currently one of the most capable B550 motherboards that money can buy.
Gigabyte’s motherboards always have that trademark Gigabyte elegance when it comes to aesthetics. You can easily tell by looking at this board that this is a premium product. We’re talking about an all-black PCB with very stylish heatsinks that feature a brushed aluminum finish. There’s not a lot of RGB to look for: the only elements of RGB lighting are present on the shroud and on a small portion of the VRM heatsinks. Nonetheless, there are eight four-pin fan headers along with five dedicated RGB headers to cater to all your lighting requirements like RGB fans or RGB strips. The Aorus emblem, which is a trademark feature of the Aorus lineup, is engraved on the chipset heatsink.
Moving on to the good stuff, the performance – this motherboard has got what it takes to handle the most power-intensive CPUs. Thanks to a monster 16-phase VRM arranged in a 14+2 pattern with 70A power stages, the B550 Aorus Master can handle subsequent overclocking with great ease. Pair this top-notch VRM with an advanced heatsink system and the results are incredible. A fins-array heatsink connected to a thermal heat pipe and baseplates is used for effective heat dissipation. The bottom line: the B550 Aorus Master allows you to overclock your Ryzen 5 3600 without any major signs of thermal throttling.
The B550 Aorus Master allows you to store up to 128GB of DDR4 memory at 5200MHz+ advertised speeds. There are three M.2 slots that operate at PCIe 4.0 x4 speeds. The primary slot allows both SATA and PCIe devices while the other two only offer support for PCIe drives. Six SATA 6GB/s ports are also provided alongside, although we would have loved to see eight at this price tag. On the graphics side of things, we have a full-length PCIe 4.0 x16 slot along with two full-length PCIe 3.0 x4 slots. This setting is more than enough for most users, but if you were hoping for more, then you might want to go for a higher-end X570 motherboard. Moreover, there is no support for SLI or CrossFire, so be mindful of that.
More AMD Motherboards: A520 Motherboards
The rear I/O panel is quite a busy one as we get to see 12 USB ports on the B550 Aorus Master. Six of these ports are USB3.2 Gen2 (including a type-C) while the other six are USB 2.0. Gigabyte has also provided a complete networking package which includes a WiFi 6 AX200 controller along with a 2.5GbE ethernet port. The audio stack consists of five analog audio jacks and an optical S/PDIF, all fueled by Realtek’s ALC1220-VB audio codec. Lastly, the option of HDMI connectivity is also available.
All in all, the B550 Aorus Master is a highly capable motherboard packed with tons of features. It takes a hit due to its awfully high price tag, which makes it land on the fourth spot on our list. But that doesn’t change the fact that it is still one of the best B550 motherboards for Ryzen 5 3600.
4. MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk
Best Budget Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600
Pros
- Dual LAN Support
- Excellent Price To Performance Ratio
- Decent Overclocking Can Be Done
- Integrated RGB
Cons
- Very Few USB Ports
Form Factor: Micro-ATX | Chipset: B550 | Memory: 128GB @4733+MHz | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | Expansion Slots: 1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x1 | USB Ports: 2x USB 2.0, 4x USB 3.2 Gen1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-A), 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C)
As we saw, the B550 Aorus Master is a true enthusiast motherboard with a hefty price tag. For the average consumer, however, it might be a little out of budget. Enter MSI’s flagship killer, the MAG B550 Tomahawk. With the Tomahawk, MSI has managed to bring down the price tag to a massive extent without compromising much on features.
MSI has taken a minimalistic approach when it comes to the Tomahawk’s aesthetics. Right off the bat, we get to see a black and grey-themed PCB. The same theme is carried on to the massive heatsinks that take up a significant amount of space on the board. When companies produce a budget motherboard, they often exclude RGB lighting to minimise costs. This is not the case with the Tomahawk, as MSI has fitted RGB LEDs under the chipset heatsink. The lighting can be controlled via MSI’s Dragon Center software, and it makes the board all that more pleasing to look at.
The MAG B550 Tomahawk houses a 13-phase VRM configured in a 10+2+1 setting. The 60A MOSFETs are cooled by two chunky VRM heatsinks that perform incredibly under heavy workloads. We subjected it to a series of tests with the 3600, and were quite impressed by the Tomahawk’s performance. MSI has also included M.2 Frozr shields to ensure optimal performance of your solid-state drives. A water pump header and eight PWM/DC fan headers are also provided. Thus, we can safely conclude that this motherboard provides decent overclocking headroom on the Ryzen 5 3600.
Like every other B550 ATX board, the Tomahawk supports up to 128GB RAM at 5100MHz max frequencies. There are two M.2 slots, one of which supports PCIe 4.0 x4 while the other slot is capped at PCIe 3.0 x4. Alongside the M.2 slots, you get six SATA connectors rated at 6GB/s. At the middle of the board, we have a primary PCIe 4.0 x16 slot and a secondary PCIe 3.0 x16 slot. Furthermore, two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots powered by the B550 chipset are also provided. One feature that even the Aorus Master failed to provide is included in the B550 Tomahawk, and that is two-way AMD CrossFire.
It is worth mentioning that the MAG B550 Tomahawk from MSI has its dark sides, too. The I/O panel, for example, is quite ill-equipped with only six USB ports (two of which are USB3.2 Gen2). The absence of integrated WiFi is also a bummer that can be fixed using a PCIe Wifi card. What you do get, however, are two ethernet ports rated at 1GbE and 2.5GbE. A standard five-pin audio stack with optical S/PDIF is provided. The audio department is managed by Realtek’s ALC1200 codec, which is better than what most competitors provide at this price.
Long story short, the MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk motherboard is a solid motherboard that you can get at an extremely reasonable price point. Its superb performance and spot-on pricing make it the best budget motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 on our list.
5. ASRock B550m Steel Legend
Best Micro-ATX Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600
Pros
- Interesting Look
- Commendable Storage Options For An M-ATX Board
- Premium Audio Codec
- Hi-Density Power Connector
Cons
- Utilizing The Second M.2 Slot Disables 2 SATA Ports
- No Onboard WiFi
Form Factor: Micro-ATX | Chipset: B550 | Memory: 128GB @4733+MHz | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | Expansion Slots: 1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x1 | USB Ports: 2x USB 2.0, 4x USB 3.2 Gen1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-A), 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C)
Next up on our list of the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 is a micro-ATX form-factor motherboard from ASRock. The B550m Steel Legend from ASRock is one eye-catching board with a bold black and silver theme with camo patterns.
It seems as if ASRock has designed this motherboard with an intention to strike the eye. A black PCB with camo patterns (especially around the socket) paired with shiny silver heatsinks really jumps off the page. Along with that, ASRock has gone with subtle RGB placement that adds a flair to the board. Over the rear I/O cover, we see an ‘S’ engraved that too illuminates with RGB. Even the all-in-one chipset heatsink is one busy-looking heatsink with a gray triangular pattern towards the right for contrast. Although the board is compact, it definitely is stylish-looking. However, if you are an RGB lover, you can install an RGB controller for fans and LED strips since the motherboard has limited RGB headers.
ASRock has gone with a 10-phase VRM design with 50A DrMos paired with an 8+4 Hi-Density power connector. It ensures smooth power delivery and also improves thermal performance along with reduced power loss. The heatsinks also work hand-in-hand with VRMs by driving heat away and keeping the VRMs cool for an uninterrupted experience. Not only that but the all-in-one heatsink over the B550 chipset and the M.2 slot also prevent thermal throttling. In conclusion, the Steel Legend is a capable motherboard in terms of performance, however, you must not expect out-of-the-park overclocking performance.
In terms of memory, it features four DIMM slots that support 128GB of RAM at 4733+MHz overclocked speeds. For the storage department, there are two M.2 slots along with six SATA3 ports. Moreover, the primary M.2 slot also has PCIe 4.0 support. However, it must be noted that lanes are shared among the second M.2 slot and SATA3_5_6 ports, so using one disables the other. Furthermore, the board features two full-length PCIe slots out of which the primary supports PCIe gen4. Since the motherboard does not have any Wifi module, you can install a PCIe Wifi module in the provided PCIe 3.0 x1 slot.
Speaking of the rear I/O panel, it has a pre-mounted shield and a decent amount of ports. As for the USB ports, it features two USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-A and Type-C) ports along with four USB 3.2 Gen1 and two USB 2.0 ports. A single LAN port is also provided, making use of the Dragon 2.5G module. An HDMI and a DisplayPort are also included for onboard graphics which however might not be useful when paired with the 3600. The audio codec used here is the Realtek ALC1200 that provides rich audio through the five gold plated audio jacks.
With that said, the ASRock B550m Steel Legend is the best micro-ATX motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 packed with excellent features and performance. It also comes at an affordable price point, which is the cherry on top.
6. Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro Wifi
Best B450 Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600
Pros
- Considerable Overclocking Support
- 128GB Of RAM Can Be Installed
- Superb Audio Codec
Cons
- Only 6 USB Ports
- Underwhelming PCIe 2.0 Is Utilized
Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: B450 | Memory: 128GB @3600MHz | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | Expansion Slots: 1x PCIe 3.0 x16, 2x PCIe 2.0 x16, 1x PCIe 2.0 x1 | USB Ports: 4x USB 3.2 Gen1 , 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-A), 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C)
The next contender is the B450 Aorus Pro Wifi from Gigabyte. This motherboard is a sweet spot for users who don’t need PCIe 4.0 speeds but want a premium experience. Due to its impressive performance, it is also listed in our best B450 motherboards lineup.
Gigabyte’s Aorus motherboards give off a classic premium vibe that just screams the Aorus’ name. The B450 Aorus Pro Wifi is also one stylish and sleek-looking board with a black and silver theme going around. It boasts shiny silver VRM and chipset heatsinks with orange accents that add an Aorus vibe to the board. The rear I/O cover also carries on the black and silver theme with ‘Aorus’ carved on the silver part, with RGB illuminating it. It looks as if the I/O cover is taken straight out of a Transformers movie. More RGB can be seen bottom left of the motherboard and the backlit Aorus falcon over the chipset heatsink.
Well enough of aesthetics, now let’s move on to the function of this board. It offers an 11-phase VRM in an 8+3 design with phase doublers. The cooling rituals are done by two fairly large-sized heatsinks that perform decent enough to even overclock the 3600. They are further aided in dissipating the heat by the large I/O cover. We tested out different coolers with the Ryzen 5 3600 and B450 Aorus Pro Wifi configuration. The Fractal Design Celsius+ S24 Prisma produced the best thermal results at 4.3GHz and 1.212v. However, under our Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black Cooler Review, you will find the best balance between thermals and acoustics with the same configuration.
Related Read: Best X370 motherboards for overclocking
The Aorus Pro Wifi is packed with four DIMM slots based on a dual memory architecture that supports 128GB RAM at 3600MHz speeds. There are two PCIe 3.0 x4/x2 slots for M.2 SSDs that support both PCIe and SATA SSDs. Six SATAIII ports are also provided. As for the expansion slots, three full-length slots and one x1 slot are available. However, only the primary x16 slot supports PCIe 3.0 whereas the remaining slots conform to PCIe 2.0.
It is without a doubt that the I/O panel is quite underwhelming, giving you only six USB ports to play with. Two of these ports are USB 3.1 Gen2 (including a Type-C) while the rest are USB 3.1 Gen1. A 1GbE Intel (I211-AT) ethernet controller handles the networking, and HDMI/DVI-D connectivity is also provided. Also located on the back panel are 5 analog audio jacks and 1 digital audio jack, all powered by an ALC1220-VB codec by Realtek.
All in all, Gigabyte’s B450 Aorus Pro Wifi is an ultimate value motherboard for its price and feature set. It is pretty much the best B450 motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 that the market has to offer.
7. ASRock B450m Steel Legend
Best Cheap Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600
Pros
- Cheap
- Applaudable Performance For The Price
- Eye-Catchy Aesthetics
Cons
- Restricted Storage
- No Heatsinks For M.2 Slots
Form Factor: Micro-ATX | Chipset: B450 | Memory: 128GB @3533+MHz | Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA | Expansion Slots: 1x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1x PCIe 2.0 x16, 1x PCIe 2.0 x1 | USB Ports: 2x USB 2.0, 4x USB 3.2 Gen1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-A), 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C)
We saw how the B550m Steel Legend was packed with amazing aesthetics and adept power delivery. Similarly, its predecessor, the B450m Steel Legend is also a capable motherboard for the Ryzen 5 3600 and even cheaper.
The B450m Steel Legend is very similar to its successor, the B550m Steel Legend in terms of looks. Near the CPU socket, we have the same camo theme on the PCB surrounded by silver VRM heatsinks. A minor difference can be seen on the former’s rear I/O cover as instead of an ‘S’, there is a cutout with RGB lighting. Moreover, the chipset heatsink is also smaller with RGB all around it. All the RGB can be configured using the Polychrome software.
In terms of performance, it features a 6-phase power design with premium 60A chokes for rock-solid durability. Moreover, the alloy heatsinks responsible to keep the thermals in check do a fine job at stock settings. The chipset heatsink also prevents the B450 chipset from heating. However, there are no heatsinks for any of the M.2 slots, so you might want to look for an aftermarket heatsink for your M.2 NVMe drive. In short, the B450m offers the bare minimum performance required for the Ryzen 5 3600, so overclocking is out of the books.
Moving on to the expansion slots, the board features two-full length PCIe slots. However, there is no support for PCIe 4.0, so you only get to see PCIe Gen3 and Gen2 interfaces on these slots. Storage is also quite limited since there are only four SATA3 ports and two M.2 slots. Not only that but the second M.2 port shares lanes with SATA3_3, so you can use only one at a time. Lastly, the memory support is up to 128GB at 3533+MHz speeds, so no issues there.
The rear I/O panel features eight USB ports, which is quite impressive considering that even the premium Asus TUF Gaming X570 Plus has only seven ports. There are two USB 3.2 Gen2 ports Type-A and Type-C each, four USB 3.2 Gen1 ports, and two USB 2.0 ports. Moreover, there is an HDMI port, a DisplayPort, and an optical S/PDIF out port. For wired connectivity, there is an RJ-45 LAN port using the Realtek Gigabit LAN module. A nice inclusion is the ASRock full spike protection for the ports, which negates or minimises the damage caused by power spikes.
All in all, ASRock B450m Steel Legend is a solid budget AM4 motherboard for those who require just the bare minimum performance with no overclocking or any premium features. Also, for that very reason, it is titled as the best cheap motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600. Not to mention, there are even cheaper options like A320 motherboards however, we suggest you only get them temporarily if you are extremely restricted on budget.
Factors To Consider While Buying
Before you go out to buy a motherboard for your 3600, you might want to ask yourself, “What exactly do I want in a motherboard?”. Once you’ve reached a clear-cut answer, you move on to the next stage which is research. There might be several answers to that question, and those are the factors that lead you to your penultimate decision.
Chipset
The first step is deciding which chipset to opt for. It’s an established fact that Ryzen processors are compatible with a large variety of motherboard chipsets. Frankly speaking, that’s not always a blessing, since there’s greater room for confusion like pairing a high-end Ryzen 5 5900x with an A520 motherboard. In simple words, the safest choices for the Ryzen 5 3600 are the X570, B550, X470, and B450 chipsets. There are other options, but these are the best in terms of value. If you’re willing to go all-in on features and money is no obstacle for you, then you’d pick an X570/B550. However, if you’re willing to sacrifice a bit of upgradability and features for a handful of cash, then you should go for the older 400-series chipsets.
Form Factor
Alright, you’ve decided your chipset of choice, now it’s time to choose the form factor. Motherboards generally come in three main form factors: the full-sized ATX, a subcompact micro-ATX, or a mini-ITX. You would want to choose one that complies with your casing’s size. Keep in mind that features are generally inversely proportional to the size of the board.
Thermal Performance
In order to buy the best motherboard for your Ryzen 5 3600, it is important that you take into consideration the thermal performance of the motherboard. Now you must be wondering, “How could I possibly know the performance of a board without testing it?”, so a simple answer to that would be by researching. You must go through the reviews of the motherboards and hear what the experts have to say about it. With this, you can get a thorough idea about what kind of performance each has to offer. This is the final (and most crucial) step for buying the perfect motherboard for your rig.
Common Questions About Ryzen 3600
AMD has built a reputation in the market for making its Ryzen processors cross-compatible with a variety of motherboards. The Ryzen 5 3600 can be hooked on to a top-of-the-line X570/B550 motherboard, a midrange B450/X470 motherboard, or a cheap A320 motherboard. However, we would not recommend going for the A320 as the VRMs and heatsinks struggle to handle the 65W TDP processor. A 500-series motherboard is always the safest choice in all aspects including features, performance, and future upgradability.
It is true that the 3600 still holds its relevance today. It is probably one of the best-priced chipsets on the market, so it is very popular amongst gamers and content creators who are on a constrained budget. It also outperforms its Intel counterparts in terms of pricing, performance, and sheer value. A one-word answer to this question: Yes.
The Ryzen 5 3600 is a solid budget option if you’re planning on gaming and streaming simultaneously. Its six cores and twelve threads enable it to deal with some of the most intensive multitasking routines with ease. Make sure to pair it with a decent GPU and capable motherboard and you’re good to go.
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