Motherboard Conundrum for future build … which to buy?
Hi there. UK based gamer here. Requiring help with motherboards.
After a few years of console gaming alongside a gaming laptop which has served me well, I think I’ve had enough of console gaming and next generation I plan to go PC only (with maybe a Switch 2 and my current Steam Deck OLED) so I’ve been plotting and planning my next PC build over Christmas and I’m not in a particular rush to get it build, which with the release of new GPUs and processor has been the correct choice so far.
I’ve followed the main YouTube channels for PC building and I roughly know what I want, after the great reviews I knew I wanted an AMD Ryzen 9800X3D build. Last week I managed to get one for a slightly reduced UK price of £457 which I couldn’t pass up.
I need to have a PC tower that uses a Mini-ATX size as the place I will be keeping my PC will be quite restricted in size - I am waiting for the release of ‘Thermaltake The Tower 250’ because I love the look of those towers after seeing The Tower 200 in a local PC shop.
However, for the life of me cannot decide (or completely work out) which motherboard I want to have in it. Every time I start researching for a motherboard I get lost with which to pick. I know with some motherboards you might have to do a bios update for it to be able to accept the 9800X3D but if I could pick a good motherboard that avoids this, that would be handy.
I want a motherboard that will handle what I want with ease, not fussed about overclocking. I will not need much more than 2 m2 slots.
I plan on going with something like a 4070 Ti / 5070 Ti or a 5080 depending on cost and availability at the time of purchase so to potentially future-proof myself I want one with PCI-E 5.0. I’ll probably put 32gb RAM CL30 (or if I feel flush when it comes to getting RAM, maybe 64gb)
Here are a few I have seen. Feel free to send other recommendations.
Asrock B850i Lightning WiFi https://www.scan.co.uk/products/asrock-b850i-lightning-wifi - my current favourite but then I read bad reviews on AsRock so I dunno what to believe.
Gigabyte B850m Gaming X https://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigabyte-b850m-gaming-x-wifi6e
Asus TufGaming B650M-plus https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BHHVLN34?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=pepperegc-21&ascsubtag=ppr-uk-2795981798 (I suspect I may need to update the bios on this)
Thanks for any help in advance.