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Any powerful computer owes its performance to an ideal CPU and motherboard combination. Without the right combination, the bottlenecks will always hamper its performance. Sometimes, you won't be able to fit the necessary peripherals. Other times, the CPU will fail to perform to its full potential. Sure, you can get the best CPU and the best motherboard out there. But it doesn't necessitate optimal performance. Only the best CPU and motherboard combo can give you the right results.
From entry-level budget options to medium and high-end choices for professionals, we have you covered. Let's take a look!
1. AMD Ryzen 9 3900X With ASUS X570-PRO
When you want to game with no holds barred and still get a combination that can last a couple of years, think about pairing AMD Ryzen 9 3900X with ASUS X570-PRO. And the best thing about this combo comes at a very reasonable cost.
The processor is one of the fastest you can find today. With 12 cores and 24 threads, you can juice up the CPU performance to 4.7GHz.
The only thing to worry about while working with this beast is cooling. And Asus Prime X570-Pro meticulously keeps up. It features the most comprehensive cooling controls ever designed. You can configure it via Fan Xpert 4 or the UEFI BIOS. There's a dedicated header that supplies over 3As for highest-performance PWM or DC water pumps. Plus, it also has a second dedicated header for AIOs. Impressed yet?
While it's challenging to locate a budget-friendly X570 motherboard, this ASUS board suits anyone who wants the latest chipset features on a basic platform. It has got a lot going in favor, such as metal heatsinks for the VRMs and other top-notch components.
Buy CPU Here: Amazon
Buy Motherboard Here: Amazon
2. AMD Ryzen 5 3400G With ASRock B450M-HDV
Now, we're moving towards the midrange CPU and motherboard combinations, starting with the ASRock B450M-HDV motherboard and AMD Ryzen 5 3400G processor. The combined cost of this combo reaches nearly $300. This isn't too much considering AMD Ryzen 5 3400G easily competes with Intel's Core i7-7700K.
Not to mention, the integrated graphics card Radeon RX Vega 11 is a major plus. We'd opt for a discrete GPU any day. With 4 cores, 8 processing threads, and a 6Mb cache, the processor can deliver a smooth performance during some of the popular video games. The base clock speed is 4.2 GHz, but you can overclock the crap out of this mean chip. And yes, it comes unlocked for overclocking.
The motherboard is an AMD Promontory B450 chipset with an updated BIOS to support Ryzen 3000. It has excellent VRM heat sinks, two m.2 ports for Sata and NVME, easy bios, great I/O, four DIMM slots, five fan headers, and a PCI-E layout that actually makes sense. However, a major limitation of this board is that it only boots from a single SATA channel. You can't use it if you put in an SSD on M.2-2.
During our tests, the combo worked flawlessly. If you're building a Ryzen 3400G gaming system on a budget, consider ASRock B450M-HDV.
Buy CPU Here: Amazon
Buy Motherboard Here: Amazon
3. AMD Athlon 200 GE With ASUS A320M-K
Here are an entry-level, budget-friendly CPU and motherboard combo. With a combined cost of nearly $150, an ASUS A320M-K motherboard and AMD Athlon 200 GE processor is a combo to boot. We'll explain why!
As this is an entry-level option, the processor supports 2 cores, 3 GPU cores, 5 Mb cache, and 4 threads for multitasking. It has a clock speed of 3.2 GHz. Plus, it comes with a built-in Radeon Vega Graphics card. It's a low power consuming CPU, with a very quiet fan. We noticed that the hardware h265 [4k] and h264 decoding keeps the processor nearly idle.
The motherboard's Integrated processor is also decent. Moreover, the motherboard boasts NVMe M2, USB 3.0, and Gigabit LAN compatibility. Besides, it supports up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM. Its safe slot Core adds PCIe slot protection from any damage by heavyweight GPUs.
The only problem with this combination is that ASUS A320M-K is not overclockable. You can increase the RAM clock speed, though. Overall, If you're setting up a simple NAS, HTPC, or general-purpose machine, nothing can beat A320 for the price. However, if you're building a gaming system, have a look at other options in this list.
Buy CPU Here: Amazon
Buy Motherboard Here: Amazon
4. Intel Core i5-10600K With MSI MAG Z490 Tomahawk
A much better mid-range option is Intel's 10th Gen Core i5-10600K on MSI MAG Z490 Tomahawk motherboard is another exceptional combination. With a combined cost of nearly $470, the slick motherboard goes far too well with Intel's latest jewel in the crown.
The processor supports 6 cores, 5 Mb cache, and 12 threads for multitasking. The motherboard sits at a sweet spot for users who want to overclock their i5-10600 without any additional features. The VRM is excellent - good enough to run the processor over 5Ghz without any problem. Besides, the board has plenty of USB3.2 ports, PCIe slots & dual gigabit LAN for additional accessories.
Two large heatsinks are perfect for keeping your processor cool, especially when you're pushing your machine to the limits. During our tests, the temps hit the low 60s with an overclock speed reaching approximately 4.7Ghz. There are two M.2 slots in the motherboard, each getting a share of the two heatsinks.
If you're looking for the latest yet budget-conscious processor motherboard combo for a gaming build that will also smoke anything you throw at it, then this is your deal.
Buy CPU Here: Amazon
Buy Motherboard Here: Amazon
5. Intel Corei9-10900K With MSI MEG Z490 Godlike
If money isn't your problem, consider having Intel's current flagship Corei9-10900K chip with a midrange motherboard such as MSI MEG Z490 Godlike. This package comes at a whopping $1300 range, give and take. Keep in mind; the Intel Corei9-10900K is different from Intel Corei9-10900KF because it has on-board video functionality.
The processor has a clock speed of 3.7GHz, which can be overclocked to an impressive 5.3GHz. It also boasts 10 cores, 20 threads, 20 Mb intel smart cache, and a built-in Intel UHD Graphics 630 card.
Likewise, ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming is an exceptional motherboard for overclocking the i9-10900K. It packs colored debug LEDs, POST, BIOS flashback, and a superb VRAM. It also has a rich collection of other features like support for 4800MHz DDR4, 2 M.2 slots, and 6 SATA III ports. There are two PCIe x16 slots with support for Crossfire as well as SLI.
Overall, the RGB effects fulfill your gaming design quota, with the Core i9 processor doing the rest. However, the rest of the board is covered in a charcoal black finish that looks spectacular. The only downside of this combination is the outrageous cost. It's definitely not for the faint of the heart.
Buy CPU Here: Amazon
Buy Motherboard Here: Amazon
Best CPU Motherboard Combo - Ultimate Buyer's Guide
Before you head out to purchase your favorite CPU motherboard combination, it's pertinent to look at some important aspects of the purchase. These include:
Your Needs
As we mentioned in the reviews section, some of these are entry-level combos while others are mid-range and pro-level combinations. Therefore, their prices vary significantly, from under $150 to upwards of $1500. Entry-level combinations are good for everyday office and home media use, while professionals need performance and upgrading. Select a combination that best suits your needs.
Motherboard Chipset and Model Compatibility
Check the revision level on the motherboard you want to buy. Make sure the processor you're eying can be attached and is compatible with the motherboard model. This is normally printed on the package, but not always. So it's better, you know before visiting a shop that both motherboard and CPU you want are compatible with each other. For example, a CPU built for overclocking should be paired with a motherboard that supports overclocking. Otherwise, you won't get the feature you want.
Cooling Options
If you're going for a high-end processor, it will need an efficient cooling mechanism in place. Most low-end and even mid-range motherboards won't be able to fulfill the cooling requirements of the latest processors - especially when you're overclocking the processor. So you may have to install any additional air or water-based cooling mechanism. Make sure the motherboard has enough space to accommodate your cooling needs.
CPU Motherboard Bundle?
Typically both CPUs and Motherboards are sold separately. However, some companies do sell both components in a bundle. We recommend purchasing these components separately. Purchasing a bundle will only limit your options in the future, which you should avoid at all costs.
Final Thoughts
So, our rundown of the best CPU motherboard combo ends here. We hope you got to learn a few things along the way. Throughout the reviews, we tried to stick to different combos for different budgets and all types of users. Hopefully, the info presented in this article will help you make an informed decision in the future.
