Best AM4 Motherboards: Budget, Midrange, and Premium Picks
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The best AM4 motherboards by budget: MSI, ASUS TUF and ROG Strix B550 picks plus chipset and VRM advice.
AM4 motherboards still cover a huge price range, from basic A520 and B550 micro ATX boards around $70 to X570 boards that can cost several hundred dollars. Because AM4 runs proven Ryzen 3000 and 5000 processors with affordable DDR4 memory, it remains a popular way to build or upgrade a budget gaming PC. This guide to the best am4 motherboards shows what each price tier gets you and where spending more makes a real difference.
We cover three top picks by budget, what each price tier delivers, the features worth paying for, white board options, long term costs and answers to common questions. Every board in the table above is sold new on Amazon US. Before buying, check the maker's CPU support list for your processor, and ground yourself before handling the board to avoid static damage.
Top 3 Picks by Budget
Our picks are the MSI B550M PRO-VDH WiFi as the budget pick, the ASUS TUF Gaming B550-PLUS WiFi II as the midrange pick and the ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi II as the premium pick.
We compared chipset, power delivery, PCIe 4.0 and M.2 support, networking, BIOS features, form factor and price, along with the overall pattern in owner feedback. We did not build with these boards ourselves; the notes reflect maker specifications.
Best Budget Pick: MSI B550M PRO-VDH WiFi
The MSI B550M PRO-VDH WiFi suits budget gaming and home office builds in compact cases, at around $90. MSI lists the B550 chipset with PCIe 4.0, a Gen 4 M.2 slot with M.2 Shield Frozr, dual channel DDR4 up to 128GB at 4400 MHz, built in WiFi and Bluetooth, D-SUB, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, a heatsink thermal pad rated for 7W/mk and a Flash BIOS button that updates the BIOS without a CPU or memory installed.
Two strengths stand out: built in WiFi at a budget price and easy BIOS flashing for newer Ryzen chips.
The limitation is a micro ATX layout with fewer expansion slots. Skip it if you need many PCIe cards.
Best Midrange Pick: ASUS TUF Gaming B550-PLUS WiFi II
The ASUS TUF B550-PLUS WiFi II is for gaming builds that want solid power delivery and fast networking, at around $110. ASUS lists 8+2 DrMOS power stages, fanless VRM and chipset heatsinks, WiFi 6 and 2.5Gb LAN, dual M.2 slots with one PCIe 4.0 x4, HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C and Type-A, BIOS Flashback and an addressable RGB header.
Its strengths are robust power for 8 to 12 core Ryzen chips and 2.5Gb Ethernet.
The trade off is a plain design without premium extras.
Best Premium Pick: ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi II
The ASUS ROG Strix B550-F suits enthusiasts building a high end AM4 system, at around $165. ASUS lists support for Ryzen 3000 and 5000 series plus 5000 and 4000 G series processors, 12+2 teamed power stages, WiFi 6E and Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet, PCIe 4.0, dual M.2 slots, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, HDMI 2.1, BIOS Flashback and Aura Sync RGB.
The appeal is strong power delivery and the newest WiFi 6E networking on AM4.
The limitation is a higher price than most B550 boards.
What Your Money Gets You at Each Price Tier
AM4 motherboards fall into three rough price tiers. Here is what to expect.
Budget Tier: What to Expect
Around $70 to $90 buys basic B550 and A520 micro ATX boards. The ASRock B550M-HDV, at around $70, lists 6 power phases, one Hyper M.2 slot, HDMI, DVI-D and D-Sub outputs and DDR4 up to 4733+ when overclocked. The GIGABYTE B550M K, at around $75, adds two M.2 slots. These boards suit Ryzen 5 builds, but simpler power delivery limits heavy overclocking.
Budget boards often skip WiFi, so check for a WiFi label in the name, like MSI's PRO-VDH WiFi or PRO B550M-VC WiFi, if you cannot run an Ethernet cable to your PC.
Midrange Tier: The Sweet Spot for Most Buyers
Around $100 to $170 buys full ATX B550 boards with better power and networking. The GIGABYTE B550 Gaming X V2, at around $100, lists a 10+3 power phase design, two M.2 slots and front USB-C. The GIGABYTE B550 AORUS Elite AX V2, at around $166, adds 12+2 phases, WiFi 6 and 2.5GbE. This tier handles Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 chips comfortably.
Midrange boards also add conveniences like integrated I/O shields, front USB-C headers and more fan headers, which make building and cooling easier. For most gamers, this is where the best balance of features and price sits.
Premium Tier: When Spending More Pays Off
Above around $200, you get compact and specialty boards. The GIGABYTE B550I AORUS PRO AX, at around $210, packs WiFi 6, 2.5GbE and two M.2 slots into mini ITX for small builds. X570 boards add more PCIe 4.0 lanes but cost much more; most gamers do not need them.
Features Worth Paying For in the Best AM4 Motherboards
A B550 chipset, solid power delivery, PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, good networking and BIOS Flashback are worth paying for. Extra RGB and features you will not use are not.
Chipset: A520, B550 or X570
A520 is the budget chipset with PCIe 3.0 and no overclocking support. B550 adds PCIe 4.0 for the graphics card and main M.2 slot and supports overclocking, which makes it the best value for most builds. X570 adds PCIe 4.0 to more slots for heavy storage and expansion.
Note that some Ryzen G series chips with built in graphics run the board's PCIe slots at 3.0 speeds, so check your CPU's specs if PCIe 4.0 matters to you.
Power Delivery (VRM)
More and better power stages keep high core count CPUs stable. Budget boards with 3+3 or 6 phase designs suit Ryzen 5 chips, while 8+2 to 12+2 designs, like ASUS TUF and ROG Strix, suit Ryzen 7 and 9. Good VRM heatsinks help under long loads.
Phase counts are only part of the story. Heatsink size, airflow in your case and the quality of the power stages all matter, so read the maker's specs and look for large, finned VRM heatsinks on boards meant for high core count chips.
Memory and Storage (DDR4 and NVMe)
All AM4 boards use DDR4, not DDR5. Most gamers do well with 16GB to 32GB of DDR4 in dual channel. Choose a board with at least one PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot for a fast NVMe SSD, and two M.2 slots if you plan to add storage later.
Ryzen chips generally run well with DDR4 around 3200 to 3600 MHz. Enable the memory profile in the BIOS, called XMP or EXPO on many boards, so the RAM runs at its rated speed.
Networking, Form Factor, and BIOS Features
Built in WiFi saves buying an adapter, and 2.5Gb LAN helps on fast networks. ATX boards offer more slots, micro ATX boards fit smaller cases and mini ITX boards suit compact builds. BIOS Flashback, Flash BIOS buttons and Q-Flash Plus let you update the BIOS without a CPU, which helps when pairing older boards with newer Ryzen chips.
Best AM4 Motherboards for Specific Needs
Some builders want a board that matches a theme.
Best White AM4 Motherboards
The best white am4 motherboards use white or silver heatsinks, PCB covers and shrouds that match white cases and components. The NZXT N7 B550, at around $250, lists a white metal cover over the B550 board. Check that white boards still offer the power delivery and ports you need.
Long Term Costs to Factor In
AM4 is a mature platform, so you can save on DDR4 memory and proven CPUs, but future upgrades are limited to existing AM4 processors. A good B550 board can carry you from a Ryzen 5 to a Ryzen 7 or 9 later. Factor in a CPU cooler, a quality power supply and an NVMe SSD. Built in WiFi avoids buying an adapter.
If you already own DDR4 memory and an AM4 cooler, reusing them makes an AM4 upgrade especially cheap compared with moving to a new platform.
FAQs
Is AM4 still worth buying?
Yes, for budget and midrange builds and upgrades. AM4 boards and DDR4 memory cost less than newer platforms, and Ryzen 5000 chips still handle gaming well. Choose AM5 if you want a longer upgrade path and DDR5.
Used parts are common, but buying the board new keeps the warranty.
B550 or X570: which should I choose?
B550 is the better value for most gamers, with PCIe 4.0 for the GPU and main M.2 slot. X570 suits builders who need more PCIe 4.0 lanes for multiple fast SSDs or expansion cards.
How much RAM do I need for gaming?
16GB of DDR4 is the minimum for modern gaming, and 32GB gives room for streaming and heavy multitasking. Use two sticks for dual channel performance.
Check the board's memory support list for approved kits.
Do I need a BIOS update for Ryzen 5000?
Sometimes. Older B550 and A520 boards may need a BIOS update for Ryzen 5000 chips. Boards with BIOS Flashback or a Flash BIOS button, like ASUS TUF and MSI PRO-VDH, can update without a CPU installed.
Check the board's support page for the minimum BIOS version for your CPU.
What are the best reviewed AM4 motherboards?
Among the best reviewed am4 motherboards on Amazon, the MSI B550M PRO-VDH WiFi and ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi II have large owner review bases, and the ASUS TUF B550-PLUS WiFi II and GIGABYTE B550 boards are also popular picks.
Final Thoughts
The best am4 motherboards pair a B550 chipset with power delivery that fits your CPU, at least one PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot and the networking you need. The MSI B550M PRO-VDH WiFi is a strong budget choice, the ASUS TUF B550-PLUS WiFi II is the sweet spot and the ASUS ROG Strix B550-F is a premium AM4 board.
For more PC guides, see the best power supply for gaming PC, the best computer fans, the best gaming SSD and the best gaming monitors 1440p. Then compare current prices in the product table above.
