Best motheboard for these requirements?

[Duranson]

Hey everyone,

 

I made a similar post about this yesterday, but I've refined my question, so hopefully this will be a more straightforward and easy thing to answer.

 

Basically, I want a Mini-ITX motherboard for a Ryzen 9 3950x CPU, with a max memory of 64GB or larger. It needs to have at least 2 m.2 m-key slots, and it needs to have enough headers to support my case's USB-C, Headphone jack, and USB-A. USB-C headers (or usb 3.2 gen 2) on mini-itx motherboards seem really rare, so this narrows down the list a lot.

 

Also, as far as the ports that I actually use on my computer, obviously I use 2 DP cables out of the graphics card for each of my monitors, but as far as the motherboard, I use: An ethernet cable, 1 USB-A port for my mouse dongle, 1 USB-A for my keyboard dongle, 1 USB-A for my microphone, and occasionally I need to plug in a USB-A drive or whatever, but that's obviously not a permanent thing. Likewise, I occasionally need to charge my headphones with a USB-A port, but again that's pretty quick.

 

It would also be nice if the board had good WiFi in case there were times when I didn't have ethernet available.

 

Finally, I need at least 2 sata 6gb headers but that's really easy to find on almost every motherboard.

 

So yeah, what suggestions do you all have?

[xdeathshot20]

i think the only board that i can think of at least that might support everything that your looking for is the asus crosshair 8 impact but its a mini dtx board meaning its slightly longer then mini itx but still smaller then micro atx

 

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/ROG-Crosshair-VIII-Impact/

[Bombastinator]

Yep. It’s easier alright.  I’m strongly suspecting you are SOL.

 

 miniITX has only two memory slots.  All miniITX won’t do it at all without 32gb ram sticks.  For a 3950 you need x570 or b550.  Some b550 have  a 3.2 gen2 header.  If they do they will have only one on the back.

 

i would suggest looking at the most expensive models and see if they even have what you want.  They still probably won’t though.

[Duranson]

45 minutes ago, xdeathshot20 said:

i think the only board that i can think of at least that might support everything that your looking for is the asus crosshair 8 impact but its a mini dtx board meaning its slightly longer then mini itx but still smaller then micro atx

 

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/ROG-Crosshair-VIII-Impact/

My case doesn't support mini-dtx, according to their website. How is this board? Will it work with me needs and be a good overall board? https://pcpartpicker.com/product/XBH8TW/asus-rog-strix-b550-i-gaming-mini-itx-am4-motherboard-rog-strix-b550-i-gaming

[Duranson]

46 minutes ago, Bombastinator said:

Yep. It’s easier alright.  I’m strongly suspecting you are SOL.

 

 miniITX has only two memory slots.  All miniITX won’t do it at all without 32gb ram sticks.  For a 3950 you need x570 or b550.  Some b550 have  a 3.2 gen2 header.  If they do they will have only one on the back.

 

i would suggest looking at the most expensive models and see if they even have what you want.  They still probably won’t though.

I found one model that seemed to meet all of my requirements, https://pcpartpicker.com/product/XBH8TW/asus-rog-strix-b550-i-gaming-mini-itx-am4-motherboard-rog-strix-b550-i-gaming . Is this good and will it be able to do everything I want well, or should I pick up a different board?

[Bombastinator]

7 minutes ago, Duranson said:

I found one model that seemed to meet all of my requirements, https://pcpartpicker.com/product/XBH8TW/asus-rog-strix-b550-i-gaming-mini-itx-am4-motherboard-rog-strix-b550-i-gaming . Is this good and will it be able to do everything I want well, or should I pick up a different board?

Looks like it will.  That memory is going to be pricey.  Iirc the b550 itx strix is an ok board.  B550 seems to be highly thought of though there are complaints about its high price. I could be wrong about the quality though.  There should be reviews of it. You may want to read a few.

 

From what I can see it ticks your boxes.  I don’t anticipate another board that will to be all that much cheaper.

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, Duranson said:

I found one model that seemed to meet all of my requirements, https://pcpartpicker.com/product/XBH8TW/asus-rog-strix-b550-i-gaming-mini-itx-am4-motherboard-rog-strix-b550-i-gaming . Is this good and will it be able to do everything I want well, or should I pick up a different board?

That's a nice board. 

 

[Duranson]

9 minutes ago, ShrimpBrime said:

That's a nice board. 

 

Great, and you think it will be fine with a Ryzen 9 3950x?

[Guest]

9 hours ago, Duranson said:

Great, and you think it will be fine with a Ryzen 9 3950x?

Yes. 8+2 power phase will handle it no problem.

[Haro]

9 hours ago, Duranson said:

Great

If it can handle a 3900x ( which it can) it will handle a 3950x. Current output is very similar between these two chips. 

[Mateyyy]

The X570-I (at least at MSRP) is only $20 more than the B550-I, and I'd argue it's more than worth that small difference, even if it's just for the VRM.

The B550-I has a 4 phase VRM with 45/50A DrMOS power stages, whereas the X570-I has the same power delivery as on the Crosshair VIII Impact, which is on 70A smart power stages.

 

Considering this will likely be in a cramped ITX case, I'd spend the extra $20 for the better power delivery. Not to say that the B550-I won't handle a 3950X, but when overclocked/PBO especially it will most likely put out more heat than the X570-I would.

[Haro]

13 minutes ago, Mateyyy said:

The B550-I has a 4 phase VRM with 45/50A DrMOS power stages

Correct me if I'm wrong but the I uses 4 phase 50A with doublers afaik.  ( I forgot which it could be 6617's but I could be wrong.)

Edit. 

I just double checked and it looks like it doesn't. So my bad lol. 

Edited July 10, 2020 by TofuHaroto

[Mateyyy]

4 minutes ago, TofuHaroto said:

Correct me if I'm wrong but the I uses 4 phase 50A with doublers afaik.  ( I forgot which it could be 6617's but I could be wrong.)

ASUS doesn't use doublers. They do have some weird phase counts because of the lower-end controllers that they use if I'm not mistaken, though they still have some very solid VRMs despite this, on their higher-end boards especially.

 

Either way, the power delivery on the B550-I will run a 3950X but will put out more heat compared to the X570-I, probably not by an amount that will affect other components in the case by a significant margin but still.

[Haro]

1 minute ago, Mateyyy said:

ASUS doesn't use doublers

I edited my post. I was wrong. My bad.