You’ll want to have the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 if you want to get the most out of this value-packed processor.
Unfortunately, not every motherboard that claims to be the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 is worth your money. You’ll have to consider your budget first, as well as what you expect out of your motherboard.
Because of that, we’ve decided to help out by rounding up a few of the best Ryzen 5 3600 compatible motherboards on the market today.
Scroll down below and have a look.
Best Motherboard For Ryzen 5 3600
1. ASUS ROG Crosshair VI Hero (Wi-Fi AC)
This motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 isn’t just one of the best. It’s arguably the best.
The ASUS ROG Crosshair VI Hero (Wi-Fi AC) isn’t the cheapest, but it’s jam-packed with features that make its high asking price worth it. This includes an amazing UEFI BIOS, onboard 802.11AC WiFi, and a slew of optimization features. It even has 5-Way Optimization with Auto-Tuning and FanXpert for better system cooling.
True, overclocking performance depends a lot on how lucky you get with the silicone lottery. However, with this motherboard, you’ve given yourself the best chance possible. This means that, even if you don’t get quite lucky, you’re still getting a ton of performance for the money.
The best-in-class ROG-exclusive SupremeFX S1220 is hard to match. As a bonus, it has dual patent-pending SafeSlots for stronger PCIe slots.
To top it all off, it has Aura Sync RGB lighting, which we all know has been proven to improve performance.
Technical Specifications
- Socket: AM4
- Chipset: X370
Form Factor: ATX - Voltage Regulator: 8+4
- PCIe x16: 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8)
- USB Ports: 8 x USB 3.0; 4 x USB 2.0; 1 x USB 3.0 Type-A; 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C port
- Warranty: 3 years
Pros
- ASUS Aura Sync RGB lighting
- Header labels are clear
- Dedicated water cooling headers and sensors
- Extensive overclocking support
Cons
- Pricey
2. ASRock B450M Steel Legend
The ASRock B450M Steel Legend won’t win awards anytime soon. It’s not exactly built for performance. It’s not the most beautiful-looking motherboard either. However, it is affordable, and that’s not exactly half-bad when it comes to redeeming qualities.
Sure, it’s not the cheapest. There are cheaper B450 motherboards out there. However, it doesn’t compromise much in terms of features and looks at the same time.
With an updated BIOS supporting Ryzen 3000 series processors, a 6 power phase delivery, and a reliable PCB, this is a solid board on a great platform to build a PC with.
This makes it our pick for the best budget motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600.
Technical Specifications
- Socket: AM4
- Chipset: B450
- Form Factor: mATX
- Voltage Regulator: 6
- PCIe x16: 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 2.0 x1
- USB Ports: 1 x USB 3.0 Type-C; 1 x USB 3.0 Gen 2 Type-A; 4 x USB 3.0 Gen 1 Type-A; 2 x USB 2.0 Type-A
- Warranty: 3 years
Pros
- Affordable
- Beautiful RGB lighting
- Good selection of I/O ports
- Well-designed header and port layout
Cons
- No on-board WiFi
3. MSI MAG B550M Mortar
The MSI MAG B550M Mortar is a no-fuss motherboard. It has an understated and sleek all-black design going for it. Also, it has no RGB. However, what it lacks in loud aesthetics, it is jam-packed with features. Plus, because it’s using the B550 chipset, it’s future-proof.
More importantly, it’ll help you push a bit more performance out of your Ryzen 5 3600 with its 8+2+1 power phase delivery.
For some budget-friendly overclocking in micro ATX form, it’s hard to top what the MAG B550M Mortar can do.
As a bonus, it has a relatively low asking price. This means that you should have enough left over for a decent beefy cooler. Because of this, you might not get the highest overclock out of your Ryzen 5 3600, but at least you’ll keep it cool and stable all the while.
Technical Specifications
- Socket: AM4
- Chipset: B550
- Form Factor: mATX
- Voltage Regulator: 8+2+1
- PCIe x16: 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x4
- USB Ports: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1; 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2; 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C; 2x USB 2.0
- Warranty: 3 years
Pros
- Competitively priced
- Beautiful BIOS
- Excellent stock performance
Cons
- Overclocking could be better
- Lacks luxury features
4. ASRock Fatal1ty B450 Gaming-ITX/ac
What do you get when you take an affordable chipset and give it elite features in a compact form at an affordable price?
The ASRock Fatal1ty B450 Gaming-ITX/ac is the answer to that question.
This ITX motherboard lowers costs by using the B450 chipset. At the same time, it maximizes what the chipset can do by giving it the same overclocking performance as the more expensive models. Because of this, it’s perfect for budget-oriented builders who want to get even more out of the Ryzen 5 3600.
The only real issue with this is unreal expectations and the lack of USB ports.
Luckily, there are ways around the latter. We’re just not quite sure how you’d deal with the former. Although, once you get a chance to see this beauty tucked inside your ITX build and how much you saved without compromising performance, we’re inclined to believe that.
Technical Specifications
- Socket: AM4
- Chipset: B450
- Form Factor: ITX
- Voltage Regulator: 6+2
- PCIe x16: 2 x PCIe 3.0 x 16
- USB Ports: 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2; 4 x USB 3.1 Gen 1
- Warranty: 2 years
Pros
- Competitive CPU and DRAM overclocking
- Jam-packed with B450 features in ITX form
- Low price
Cons
- A limited number of USB ports
5. ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming 4 AC
Once again, ASRock proves itself a value leader with the ASROCK B550 Phantom Gaming 4 AC.
An entry-level gaming motherboard, the B550 Phantom Gaming 4 AC is a steal at its price. It has 8-phase power phase delivery and PCIe 4.0. Although one PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slot is a bit too few, four SATA ports help make up for this. Plus, even though most of its feature set is basic, it does have an Intel Wi-Fi 5 interface and RGB lighting.
Admittedly, the non-Wi-Fi version looks incredibly appealing. Those who don’t think that they’ll use the Wi-Fi feature might be more inclined to go that route.
With that said, whether you go for the Wi-Fi or non-Wi-Fi version, you’re getting a good product.
Any cheaper and you’ll find yourself limited to A520 micro-ATX boards with various limitations.
Technical Specifications
- Socket: AM4
- Chipset: B550
- Form Factor: ATX
- Voltage Regulator: 8
- PCIe x16: 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16, 2 x PCIe 3.0 x1
- USB Ports: 8 x USB 3.2 Gen 1; 2 x USB 2.0
- Warranty: 3 years
Pros
- Intel Wi-Fi 5
- Solid build quality
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Included manual printed too small
6. MSI MPG X570 Gaming Plus
The MSI MPG X570 Gaming Plus costs just as much as other B550 motherboards out there, which is just impressive.
That itself is its main selling point and should be enough reason for you to go out and buy it.
Seriously, this Ryzen 5 3600 motherboard is as future-proof and amazing as it gets at its price. However, it also helps that this motherboard is quite the performance as well. It won’t help you break records despite how lucky you get with your chip. However, it does have a 10-phase power delivery with 8 6A core voltage regulators.
Also, just in case it isn’t clear yet, the X570 is the superior chipset for the Ryzen 5 3600.
With that said, everything else about the MSI MPG X570 Gaming Plus is just a bonus at this point.
Technical Specifications
- Socket: AM4
- Chipset: X570
- Form Factor: ATX
- Voltage Regulator: 10
- PCIe x16: 2 x PCIe 4.0 x16
- USB Ports: 8 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A; 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A; 1 x USB 3.2 Gen Type C; 8 x USB 2.0
- Warranty: 3 years
Pros
- High-end features at a mid-range price point
- Future-proof
- Excellent cooling performance
Cons
- Software and BIOS leaves a lot to be desired
7. Gigabyte B550I Aorus Pro AX
The Gigabyte B550I Aorus Pro AX manages to walk the thin line between being pricier than its competition without being too expensive.
A premium offering with solid features, this small motherboard has official PCIe 4.0 support, Intel Wi-Fi 6 Interface, and two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots, all at a reasonable price.
The biggest selling point here is the PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots. It has the same amount of support as that of a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot. However, in terms of overclocking, the B550I Aorus Pro AX might also just give the Ryzen 5 3600 a bit more life. It has a direct 8-phase power delivery and support or up to DDR4-5300 memory. This is impressive considering the chipset and price.
All in all, this is as good as it can get for B550 chipset motherboards in ITX form.
Technical Specifications
- Socket: AM4
- Chipset: B550
- Form Factor: ITX
- Voltage Regulator: 6+2
- PCIe x16: 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16
- USB Ports: 1 x USB 3.2 (Gen 2) Type-A; 1 x USB 3.2 (Gen 2) Type-C; 4 x USB 3.2 (Gen 1)
- Warranty: 3 years
Pros
- Solid pricing
- Elite VRM design
- Impressive CPU overclocking
Cons
- Neutral almost bland design
8. ASRock B550M-HDV
A B550 motherboard is supposed to be affordable. It’s just that the ASRock B550M-HDV takes that to a whole other level.
This comes at a price point that you might usually only find A520 chipset motherboards in. However, because it’s a B550 board, it benefits from having a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot for current-gen and next-gen graphics cards. Plus, even though the VRMs are fairly basic, its 6-phase power delivery design should at least help your budget build be speedier than you initially thought.
The lack of USB 3.2 Type-C connectors is a shame and the lone M.2 slot leaves a lot to be desired. But, then again, we are talking about a budget-oriented motherboard here.
As far as sacrifices go, those are fairly reasonable if it means keeping the price this low.
Technical Specifications
- Socket: AM4
- Chipset: B550
- Form Factor: mATX
- Voltage Regulator: 6
- PCIe x16: 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x1
- USB Ports: 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2; 1 x USB 3.1; 2 x USB 2.0
- Warranty: 3 years
Pros
- Low, low, low price
- Has all the basic features you’ll need
Cons
- Limited overclocking performance
9. ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming Wi-Fi
The ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming Wi-Fi doesn’t just teether close to the X570 motherboard price range. It’s right up there. In fact, it’s even more expensive than most X570 motherboards, which might make you wonder why it’s here.
Well, for starters, it’s still cheaper than its X570 counterparts, and it’s arguably just as good.
So, while it’s priced like most X570 motherboards, it’s better than a lot of them too.
We’re talking about Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200, Bluetooth 5.1, 14-phase power delivery, and ASUS Stack Cool 3+. It’s even got the SupremeFX S1220A codec with DTS Sound Unbound and Sonic Studio III.
Now, price is still an issue. However, if it’s any consolation, there is a non-Wi-Fi version of the same board for substantially less.
Technical Specifications
- Socket: AM4
- Chipset: B550
- Form Factor: mATX
- Voltage Regulator: 12+2
- PCIe x16: 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x1 , 3 x PCIe 3.0 x1
- USB Ports: 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2; 6 x USB 3.2 Gen 1; 6 x USB 2.0
- Warranty: 3 years
Pros
- Premium feature set
- 14-phase power delivery
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1
Cons
- Feels too expensive for a B550 chipset motherboard
10. MSI B450 Tomahawk
Until the MSI B550 Tomahawk drops in price, the MSI B450 Tomahawk remains the better buy between the two.
The best thing about the B450 Tomahawk is it doesn’t give up much to the B550 Tomahawk.
As far as VRM cooling performance goes, it’s hard to beat what the B450 Tomahawk can offer at this price point. It can handle processors far better and more powerful than the Ryzen 5 3600. This makes the low-TDP processor a piece of cake for this motherboard.
The fact that it comes with a debug LED feature only reinforces the fact that it’s an awesome motherboard for overclocking.
If you’re building an AMD system on a budget, consider dropping money on this motherboard. You’ll get even more value out of the Ryzen 5 3600.
Technical Specifications
- Socket: AM4
- Chipset: B450
- Form Factor: ATX
- Voltage Regulator: 4+2
- PCIe x16: 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 2.0 x1 , 3 x PCIe 3.0 x1
- USB Ports: 2 x USB 3.1; 4 x USB 3.0; 6 x USB 2.0
- Warranty: 3 years
Pros
- Elite VRM cooling for the price
- Debug LEDs
- Neutral aesthetics
- Mystic Light software
Cons
- Audio and network controllers are bad
Is the Ryzen 5 3600X Compatible With B450 Tomahawk Max?
Part of the reason why many prefer the more expensive B450 Tomahawk Max over the regular B450 Tomahawk is it’s compatible with Ryzen 3000 series chips out of the box. It also comes with an updated 32MB bios chip.
This is a small but important detail. This is because it guarantees better support and compatibility for the future for the Tomahawk Max compared to the Tomahawk.
However, that is for another day to discuss.
For now, we’ll just answer the question.
Yes. The Ryzen 5 3600X is compatible with the B450 Tomahawk Max out of the box.
Is the Stock Cooler Good Enough for Ryzen 5 3600?
The Ryzen 5 3600 is a very power-efficient processor with decent overclocking potential. True, it all still depends on your luck. The silicone lottery isn’t always that forgiving. But, even at its worst, you should see some decent gains overclocking using the Wraith Stealth, the stock cooler for the Ryzen 5 3600.
Just make sure that you pair it with a performance-oriented thermal paste and good airflow.
However, for long-term overclocking, we do recommend getting an aftermarket cooler.
How Much RAM Do I Need for Ryzen 5 3600?
The Ryzen CPUs are popular for their performance and affordable pricing. They’re also known for being finicky when it comes to RAM.
At the very least, you’ll need at least two sticks of 3000MHz RAM for the Ryzen 5 3600. Of course, the faster your RAM sticks are, the better performance you’re going to get from the Ryzen 5 3600. However, to get the most performance, actual MHz isn’t as big of a deal. Instead, you’re better off tightening the RAM timings.
What Is The Best GPU For Ryzen 5 3600?
This question really depends on how you define the term “best”.
If you were, to say, the best value, the RX 580 is our recommendation. It’s a budget graphics card that fits well within the budget of system builds centered around the Ryzen 5 3600.
If you were talking about “best” as in before getting a bottleneck, we’d say get the most expensive graphics card that you can afford. If that means the RTX 2080 Super, then so be it. You’ll experience minimal bottlenecking if any at all. This is especially true at higher resolutions. At that point, CPU performance starts to become a moot point.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you’ve found the best motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 for your budget.
Regardless of which of these recommendations you end up going with, you’ll find yourself satisfied with your purchase.
We made sure to include a mix of new and old. This means that you’ll find older B450 and X470 chipsets here. At the same time, we also included newer X570 and B550 motherboards as well. This way, you have so much more to choose from.