Best B450 Motherboards For AMD Ryzen in 2023

A motherboard is one of the essential components of any computer system, as all of the parts have to attach to it. As of now, the three generations of Ryzen processors are compatible with three chipset motherboards. These are the B450 chipset, which is currently used for budget builds, the x470 chipset for mid-range gaming, and x570 for high-end enthusiasts. The overclocking potential of the B450 chipset compared with x470 is not that different, but it offers a low number of USB 3.0 ports, SATA3 slots, and fewer expansion lanes. While most of the motherboards are compatible with Zen2 processors, you might need a BIOS upgrade for some models.

There are some other chipsets too that support Zen2 processors, but they aren’t worth it these days. Usually, enthusiasts consider Ryzen series CPUs because of their low price and overclocking potential. As in Intel, you can’t overclock non-K processors while that’s not the case with AMD as their multiplier is factory unlocked, and you can push them to new potentials. The main difference between A320, B350, and B450 is the number of storage and connectivity interfaces and VRM and MOSFETs cooling systems. Their price is almost the same, and even some B450 gaming motherboards are cheaper than other chipsets, so it’s good to go with them.

8 Best B450 Motherboards for Zen 2 in 2023

Design	Motherboard	Price
	MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC	Check Price
	MSI B450 Tomahawk	Check Price
	Gigabyte B450M DS3H	Check Price
	ASRock B450M-HDV	Check Price
	Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro Wi-Fi	Check Price
	Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite	Check Price
	ASUS ROG STRIX B450-I	Check Price
	MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC	Check Price

MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC

We are starting our list of Best B450 Motherboards with the most utmost hardware in the B450 chipset, proficient in handling the Ryzen 7 3700x processor. This motherboard’s overclocking potential is no less than any premium x470 chipset board, but it lacks some additional USB and SATA ports. This motherboard is packed with some premium features like RGB lights, Wi-Fi, and a high-speed USB Type-C port. That’s the reason why we placed this motherboard first on our list. Price-wise this motherboard is costly, especially for budget processors, but it is worth it for its features. The looks of this motherboard are straightforward, but with RGB lights, it looks great.

MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC has four DIMMs, enabling you to install memory up to 128GB at the core clock of 3200Mhz. This is rare in B450 motherboards to support 128GB of memory because most of the motherboards have 64GB dual-channel support only. While it also has five PCI expansion slots from which two are full-length PCIe x16, and three are PCIe x1 for expansion cards. The back I/O panel has six Audio ports, while for connectivity, it has USB Type-A ports and one Type-C port. The controllers implemented on this motherboard are a bit expensive and affecting the overall price of this board.

This motherboard is a bit pricey because, for its cost, you can easily get an entry-level x570 chipset motherboard. A price cut down would be much appreciated, but you can still get it because of its premium features. The memory overclocks of this motherboard are unhappy, but you can do something average for the processor. The wiring of the M.2 and PCI expansion slot is confusing while this was fixed in its successor. 

With all of its greatness, it’s one of the best motherboards you can get for Zen2 processors, but still, it can’t perform high-end chipsets. The VRM of this motherboard is of 12 Phase while it is configured in 8+4 way, which is the same as of entry-level x570 chipset motherboards. If you don’t plan to upgrade to Zen3 and don’t want PCIe Gen4, this will be the best B450 motherboard for you.

Specifications

MSI B450 Tomahawk

MSI launched several B450 chipset motherboards on the release of Zen+ processors, while most of them are refreshed versions of the last chipsets. That’s the same case with MSI B450 Tomahawk, as it is a revised variant of B350 with some minor specifications and features tweaks. This motherboard’s main notable features are RGB lights integrated onboard, USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, and a better VRM cooling system with extended heatsinks. The features set of this board are the same as its predecessor, but it has different aesthetics from B350 Tomahawk with a black color base and some grey touch.

The overall specifications of this motherboard are not like the board mentioned above, but it has everything a mid-range build demand. The memory support of this board is disappointing compared to Gaming pro Carbon because it accepts 64GB of memory, which you can split into four modules. The rear panel of MSI B450 Tomahawk has a pair of USB 3.1 Gen2 ports while it has several other USB ports, including Type-A and Type-C. This board has four right-angled SATA ports near the 24-Pin connector while it also has two straight angled SATA ports with an M.2 slot.

There is nothing much wrong with this motherboard except a few things, including it doesn’t have a secondary M.2 slot, which is even available in some budget models. Also, the RGB headers of this motherboard are not independently controllable resulting in the use of some third-party software. The overclocking potential of this motherboard is good enough for Zen+ processors, but it can perform average with Zen 2 processors.

MSI B450 Tomahawk is the right choice if you own a mid-range processor from Ryzen 3000 series, but for Ryzen 2nd generation, this motherboard outperforms other competitors. The main thing that makes this motherboard better than its competitor is its VRM cooling system with which you can overclock the processor. I would say only consider this motherboard if you have a hundred dollars budget; otherwise, if you can spend more there, we have some more choices too.

Specifications

Gigabyte B450M DS3H

Gigabyte did their best in this motherboard in terms of features and price value as it’s a budget-friendly choice for entry-level builds. It’s a micro-ATX motherboard with a lower number of ports and slots, so you have to negotiate. This motherboard has a pair of Realtek controllers for audio and networking, which are cheap and offer everything. Gigabyte cut off some premium features, including RGB lights from this motherboard, but it has an RGB header for LED Strip. The looks of this motherboard are straightforward as it has a black-colored base with a grey circuit printed on it.

As we know, m-ATX motherboards are smaller in size resulting in a low number of expansion slots, but this one has two PCIe x16 slots and one PCIe x1 for expansion cards. Gigabyte B450M DS3H has four USB 3.1 5GBPS ports and several USB ports, including Type-A, while it lacks a Type-C port. The rear panel also has an ethernet port and three audio ports with studio class audio code. Also, it has HDMI 2.0 and DVI port on the backside while it lacks a Display port and VGA, which might be disappointing for APU users.

This motherboard lacks the BIOS Flashback feature means you have to borrow a 2nd generation processor from someone to update its BIOS to install a 3rd generation processor. There are only two fan headers on this motherboard, including the CPU fan, which is not enough for any modern build. Overall, I would say that this motherboard lacks some advanced features necessary these days.

Entry-level builds don’t need more overclocking potential power, and the hardware we consider for them are usually those we need. In simple terms, we can say that we don’t pay for those features that we don’t need in budget hardware. That’s the same with Gigabyte B450M DS3H as it has every necessary thing a budget gaming build needs but doesn’t offer overclocking and premium features.

Specifications

ASRock B450M-HDV

In addition to our entry-level products list, we got another option for budget builds, especially for Ryzen Zen+ APUs. This motherboard is similar to the board mentioned above but is slightly better in terms of features and controllers. ASRock B450M-HDV has dual onboard Realtek controllers for Audio and Networking solutions. This board is mainly targeted for APU builds, but in the entry-level category, you can call it features enriched. There are two different variants of this motherboard, but they are pretty much the same except for some looks on the top side. The base of ASRock B450M-HDV is colored in black while it has white-colored heatsinks.

The specifications of this motherboard are no different than any budget range motherboard as it offers two PCI expansion slots. As the main target of this board is for budget users, Gigabyte might cut off the Crossfire support. There are six SATA 6 slots from which two are in a straight angle while four are in the right corner, and with any big graphics card, you can utilize all these slots. There are four USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and some video output ports on the rear panel.

This motherboard is targeted towards the APU users while it lacks DisplayPort, which might be disappointing for Ryzen APU owners looking for a B450 board. It would be much better if this motherboard comes with a USB Type-C port. The expansion of memory in this motherboard is limited, and also its overclocking power is not that good, so spend more and get something sturdy. Some users report that they find it hard to save the XMP profiles.

ASRock B450M-HDV is no different from the other mentioned motherboard because both have identical features and almost the same price point. I would suggest this motherboard over the B350 chipset because of the better chipset and more ports and slots. The power delivery of this motherboard to different components is enough for general use as it has 4+3 Phase VRM, which is fed by a single 4-Pin power connector. In the end, I would say it’s the best B450 motherboard for budget builds.

Specifications

Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro Wi-Fi

We are not out of the budget category and bringing something special for you from the Gigabyte Aorus series. The main target of the Gigabyte Aorus series is high-end users, especially enthusiasts who want something special than others and the same case with this board. If you got a high-end CPU from Zen2 and are looking for a B450 motherboard, there might be no other best choice than the Aorus Pro wi-fi. We will discuss the specifications of this motherboard later and start with the aesthetics. The top of this motherboard is clean and has black color on base with the Auros logo printed in grey and some metallic heatsinks.

Specifically, Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro wi-fi is better than all others mentioned till now as it has three full-length PCIe x16 slots with PCI Steel Armor on the primary slot. For storage, it has six SATA 6 slots from which two are located near the 24-Pin power connector while the four are right-angled on the bottom right. With these SATA slots, it also has two M.2 slots with great looking heatsinks, and you can install NVMe and wi-fi modules in it. The controllers integrated on this motherboard are quite expensive as it also has built-in wi-fi which affects the net price of this board.

I found nothing wrong with this motherboard as it is available for very affordable price value and serves premium features. It would be a plus point if this motherboard has more overclocking potential, but it’s okay for its price. If you are going to pair some high-end processors with it, you might lack some features like SLI support due to PCI bandwidth in B450 motherboards.

The three PCI and two M.2 slots are those features that amazed me about this motherboard where you can install three AMD graphics cards. This option is rare in B450 chipset motherboards as a few of them offer three PCIe x16 slots. Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro wi-fi has 8+3 Phase Power Design VRM, which is the same as entry-level x570 chipset boards. However, still, it’s not capable of overclocking 3000 series processors at max potential.

Specifications

Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite

Gigabyte B450 Aorus Elite is a sibling from the motherboard mentioned above but lacks some features which are available in Auros Pro. This includes the extra PCIe x16 slot and an M.2 slot with the heatsink on the top side. While this model is available in three different sizes, including ATX, m-ATX, and ITX, their price varies with their size and features too. This motherboard’s overclocking potential is not that great, but it offers something average for Ryzen 3000 series processors. This motherboard looks identical to the one mentioned above as it has a gigabyte original color scheme with RGB lights.

There are two PCIe x16 slots and two PCIe x1 slots for expansion cards and graphics cards while it also supports multiple AMD graphics cards. This motherboard has two PCI slots while the primary slot has a heatsink attached to it. The back of this motherboard has several USB 3.1 ports, including Type-A and Type-C mode, also Ethernet ports, and audio caps. The DIMMs accept 64GB of memory, which you can split into four modules and support a dual channel. If you have any plan to use APU with this motherboard, it also has some video output ports, including HDMI and DVI.

This motherboard lacks some premium features that its sibling is offering, including the third PCI slots, the heatsink on the secondary M.2, and Wi-Fi. The rest of the things are okay and acceptable in this motherboard, but the overclocking potential of this motherboard for Zen2 processors is not that good. I would recommend you to get this if looking for something cheaper than the Auros Pro.

The VRM cooling of this motherboard is good enough, and with that, you can overclock high-end processors to push their core clock a bit. Crossfire support is also a great thing in the mid-range motherboard, but it would be much better if these motherboards also support SLI.  Overall if you are looking for a motherboard for Ryzen 7 2000/3000 series processors, this motherboard will give excellent value for its price.

Specifications

ASUS ROG STRIX B450-I

The second last B450 motherboard we got is from the ASUS Rog Strix series but specially made for compact builds and ITX cases. This motherboard lacks some features compared to other ATX size motherboards, including fewer SATA, USB, and PCI expansion slots. This motherboard is a sibling from B450-F, which was undoubtedly one of the best premium motherboards from ASUS in their Rog lineup. Strix B450-I is equipped with a SupremeFX S1220A audio codec and an Intel Gigabit networking controller for networking, and they are a bit expensive for any mid-range motherboard. This motherboard has black color on its base, and some elegant grey touch with RGB lights integrated, which gives a great overall look.

ITX motherboards are not individually robust like ATX and m-ATX motherboards, but still, they offer all the basics for your build but lack future expansion. Where this motherboard requires PCIe x1 slots, ASUS integrated best-in-class Wi-Fi and other controllers. The 32GB of memory support with a clock speed of 3200Mhz is suitable for small builds, which you can split into two modules. Also, the SATA slots are reduced from six to four but still enough for any compact build, and it also has an M.2 slot with the heatsink. We can conclude that this motherboard has all the essential features for its price but doesn’t serve like any ATX board.

With this motherboard, you might face some USB 3.1 compatibility options, as reported by some users. The controllers on this motherboard are not that great, especially Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and they could be much better. With overclocking, the power consumption of this motherboard is too high even in the idle situation. The RGB lights on this motherboard are not directly controllable, and you might need to install some third-party software for it.

Small Form Factor builds a bit more expensive than the standard system because of the small hardware used and high-end features. ASUS ROG STRIX B450-I is not as expensive as its competitors but serves excellent value for its price. The VRM cooling of this motherboard is not that great, but you can still push Zen+ processors to their new limits. I would only recommend this motherboard if you are serious about SSF builds.

Specifications

MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC

There we end up with another B450 chipset ITX motherboard, which serves the same as the motherboard mentioned above but has some advantages over it. MSI puts everything in this motherboard without taking it above the budget-friendly price value. MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has 8 Phase Power Design VRM, which is configured in 6+2 mode and fed by a single 8-pin power connector. You might already know the prices of small hardware, but MSI targeted this one for the small entry-level builds without crossing the hundred- and twenty-dollar figure. The aesthetics of this motherboard are great as it has black color on PCB and some red diagonal on the heatsinks.

This board has four SATA 3 ports, and all of them are at a straight angle while it also got a high-speed M.2 for lightning-fast speed SSDs. The PCI slots are reduced from four to one in the ITX variant, and you can install any heavy graphics card on it. There are several USB 3.1 ports on its rear I/O panel, including Type-A and Type-C, while there are ethernet, audio and Wi-Fi antenna slots too. Like other ITX motherboards, this one also got RGB lights integrated on the board and Wi-Fi too. For any small form factor build, this motherboard offers many features.

MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC has 802.11 AC Wi-Fi while there are motherboards for the same price, offering much better controllers. This motherboard lacks a lot of features that are available in ATX motherboards, but that’s okay because it’s not the manufacturer’s fault. Also, one M.2 slot is not enough for modern builds, and we need at least two or even more.

MSI made a wallet-friendly option for SSF builds built with excellent quality components and offers excellent overclocking potential. If you plan to install any Ryzen 2000 series processor on this motherboard, you can easily overrate it to get more performance. As you know, most AMD users consider these processors because of their overclocking potential, so it’s not good to go with those motherboards which don’t support overclocking.

Specifications

Conclusion

Those users who don’t like to spend much on the motherboard and looking for some performance identical to high-end motherboards can consider the B450 chipset. However, you have to compromise on a few features that premium motherboards from the x470 chipset are offering. The best B450 motherboard you can get is Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro Wi-Fi, it’s not much expensive while providing a great feature set. There is a competitor of this motherboard from MSI, but it’s a costly option but offers high overclocking power and that’s MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC placed first on our list.

The budget options are from Gigabyte and ASRock, namely Gigabyte B450M DS3H and ASRock B450M-HDV, respectively. These motherboards are targeted for entry-level builds, especially APUs, as they offer video output ports and all necessary features. While these are the entry-level hardware, there are some options for ITX builds, including ASUS ROG STRIX B450-I and MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC. We have also listed some other options too, which you can check out for your Ryzen build.

Joe Smith

Joe, a computer science graduate and PC hardware expert, boasts a decade of experience in the field. His lifelong passion for gaming drives him to excel as a prominent figure in the gaming community, consistently pushing boundaries with cutting-edge technology.