Motherboard for 9800X3D

[geokilla]

Thinking of buying a 9800X3D for $400CAD and I'm looking for a B650/B850 motherboard to go with it. I'm pairing it with a RTX 3070 and old NVME SSD so I don't need PCI-E Gen 5. I use Logitech Z5500 speakers so I'm looking for a motherboard that is good enough to make the most out of these speakers like my MSI Z490 Gaming Edge does with the Realtek ALC1200. I was considering the MSI B850 Tomahawk WiFi but read that the Realtek ALC4080 is not a very good codec due to being USB audio. So with this requirement in mind, what motherboard does everyone recommend?

[TVwazhere]

There's a master list of AM5 motherboard specs and features that can help you narrow your search

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NQHkDEcgDPm34Mns3C93K6SJoBnua-x9O-y_6hv8sPs/edit?gid=2064683589#gid=2064683589

 

Most B850 series seem to use ALC4080, ALC1220 or ALC897. I have done absolutely no research into audio codecs so I'm not familiar with the differences. 

[Why_Me]

24 minutes ago, geokilla said:

Thinking of buying a 9800X3D for $400CAD and I'm looking for a B650/B850 motherboard to go with it. I'm pairing it with a RTX 3070 and old NVME SSD so I don't need PCI-E Gen 5. I use Logitech Z5500 speakers so I'm looking for a motherboard that is good enough to make the most out of these speakers like my MSI Z490 Gaming Edge does with the Realtek ALC1200. I was considering the MSI B850 Tomahawk WiFi but read that the Realtek ALC4080 is not a very good codec due to being USB audio. So with this requirement in mind, what motherboard does everyone recommend?

https://www.asus.com/us/motherboards-components/motherboards/tuf-gaming/tuf-gaming-b850-plus-wifi/

 

PCPartPicker Part List

Motherboard: *Asus TUF GAMING B850-PLUS WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard  ($279.99 @ Amazon Canada) 
Total: $279.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-06-18 11:20 EDT-0400

[OddOod]

33 minutes ago, geokilla said:

Logitech Z5500 speakers

Wow, how are those things holding up after two decades? Kinda impressed.

[GuiltySpark_]

39 minutes ago, geokilla said:

I use Logitech Z5500 speakers so I'm looking for a motherboard that is good enough to make the most out of these speakers

Basically anything on sale today at this point. Back in the day these sort of speaker setups were impressive before we really knew any better but if you take a step back, they're tiny little maybe 2.5"-3" drivers in plastic enclosures. Surprised after all these years the foam surrounds haven't started deteriorating or the electronics conked out. Common issue with the Klipsch ProMedia line that was similarly popular around the same timeframe. 

 

Didn't people get all hot and bothered about good audio cards for these then just use optical out, bypassing the audio card entirely? How did you plan to connect it? 

 

43 minutes ago, geokilla said:

MSI B850 Tomahawk WiFi but read that the Realtek ALC4080 is not a very good codec due to being USB audio.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but those speakers simply don't have the resolution or clarity to allow one audio codec chip to stand out over another. 

 

I really wouldn't be too worried about this. What does it being connected internally via USB have anything to do with it anyway? Even the highest end DSD capable external DAC's connect via USB.

[geokilla]

1 hour ago, OddOod said:

Wow, how are those things holding up after two decades? Kinda impressed.

 

59 minutes ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

Basically anything on sale today at this point. Back in the day these sort of speaker setups were impressive before we really knew any better but if you take a step back, they're tiny little maybe 2.5"-3" drivers in plastic enclosures. Surprised after all these years the foam surrounds haven't started deteriorating or the electronics conked out. Common issue with the Klipsch ProMedia line that was similarly popular around the same timeframe. 

 

Didn't people get all hot and bothered about good audio cards for these then just use optical out, bypassing the audio card entirely? How did you plan to connect it? 

 

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but those speakers simply don't have the resolution or clarity to allow one audio codec chip to stand out over another. 

 

I really wouldn't be too worried about this. What does it being connected internally via USB have anything to do with it anyway? Even the highest end DSD capable external DAC's connect via USB.

Actually I never used them before. My family friend bought them a long time ago and he gave them to me as he can't use a computer anymore. I know they were considered great speakers back in the day but I never looked into how it connects to the computer. I'm currently using Logitech X-530 right now which I'm pretty happy with. Looking at Best Buy's site and prior LTT AMD Tech Upgrade videos, I recall LTT staff buying studio style speakers like the Edifier R1280T.