The AM3+ is a socket type offered in several CPUs, and the compatible motherboards with these chips are perfect for top-tier performance. This socket is an upgrade to the AM3, with a 942 pin count and a long diameter of 0.51 mm, making it a better version. It is designed for the CPUs built on the AMD Bulldozer microarchitecture, plus it can accommodate the AM3 processors as well. On top of that, numerous changes have been made, and many features have been added to this socket to improve the overall performance, compatibility, and input power flow to the processor.
Therefore, you need the best AM3+ motherboard that can help you get true performance from a system while playing your favorite games or doing content creation. This is because a motherboard is the chief hardware component operating as the backbone of the rig. You’re going to get an appealing gaming experience only if you have chosen a perfect mobo. Due to this reason our tech lover team has tested and reviewed several AM3+ compatible motherboards to find an ideal mobo for your system. You must read this post until the end to gather a better idea about the topic.
Quick Shopping Tips:
Every modern AM3+ motherboard has many features, specifications, and most importantly, various terminology that you must understand before choosing a compatible motherboard. We have chosen the chief factors and must-have features for any motherboard to filter them effectively and fastly. The best thing is to note down these factors on a page or save our article, so whenever you are researching mobos, you have something very near to you for your help.
Memory and Frequency: Every motherboard comes with specific memory and memory frequency specifications. Before choosing one, choose while asking a question, how much storage is this mobo offering? If your choice has at least 64 GB of memory or more than this, you can go for it. Moreover, there are some rated frequencies for a motherboard on which it can provide you with the next level of performance. Ensure that your component has enough memory frequencies and others for being a proper match within the rig.
CPU compatibility and Socket: We don’t want to buy a mobo that is incompatible with our system and chip. The CPU and motherboard compatibility could be defined in terms of connectivity as well as performance. Make sure the CPU has support for the AM3+ socket; plus, it provides enough data flow or data transfer rate between the mother circuit and itself. It might be possible to connect these components using some convertors, but it would not be an efficient way to follow.
Cooling: If you are a gamer, you would be well aware of the cruciality of cooling while playing a high-end game. It’s the utmost important factor while calculating the long life of the mobo and the operational speed it will provide. Numerous solutions are available in this component to control and maintain the temperature and cooling. One of the technologies that prevent heating the mobo is FanXpert technology. So, you have to check whether it has this feature or something more advanced installed in it.
Connectivity: Connectivity, or connectivity option, is another aspect that you must check in every motherboard while choosing one. When I said, connectivity options, these include both wired options and wireless features like WiFi and Bluetooth. First, check your usage and needs, and calculate how many USB ports, SATA connectors, and PCIe slots you need. After that, ask yourself, do you really need built-in WiFi and Bluetooth? Suppose you do need these features. In such a case, check these in the motherboard.
The Best AM3+ Motherboard List
ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Professional
Best Compact AM3+ Motherboard
Brand: ASRock | Series: Fatal1ty | Chipset: Northbridge: AMD 990FX, Southbridge: AMD SB950 | Socket: AM3, AM3+ | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual-channel | Memory Slots: 4 DDR3 DIMMs | Memory Size: 64GB DDR3 | Memory Speed: 2100MHz DDR3 | Onboard WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0
REASONS TO BUY
✓Affordable
✓Attractive design
✓Excellent performance
✓Good stock efficiency
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Unimpressive overclocking
ASRock is one of the most popular names when it comes to manufacturing top-notch motherboards. It has not just started manufacturing impressive products some years ago but has been doing this for decades. We can see its technical expertise in the ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Professional which is a one-decade-old motherboard but still be used in current-era PCs. You can pair it with the AMD FX-8150 processors or other good-quality AM3+ CPUs to utilize its true overclocking and performance potential. In short, it will definitely give you an all-time famous competitive performance.
The board’s design combined two chipsets together, AMD 990FX on the north bridge and AMD SB950 on the south bridge. Moreover, you can pair four DDR3 DIMMs to get a massive 64GB memory while running at 2100MHz of memory speed. For connectivity, there are a total of four USB 3.0 ports on the board, two are on the back and two are on the front panel. Remember, there is no option for wireless connectivity like WiFi or Bluetooth. But Gigabit LAN Ethernet for networking purposes, along with 7.1 CH HD Audio support gives an enhanced-quality audio output.
In the end, I would like to tell you more about the board’s design, thermal structure, and power design. Well, there is ASRock Digi Power with an 8+2 power phase structure to ensure effective power input, especially for overclocking. Other than that, a large heatsink is also given on the board to ensure that everything works fine. In short, it’s quite appreciable to build such a best compact AM3+ motherboard but with pretty much everything necessary feature on the top. Moreover, the red and black theme inspirations look very eye-catching so will definitely boost your rig’s beauty in no time.
ASUS TUF SABERTOOTH 990FX
Best Overall AM3+ Motherboard
Brand: ASUS | Series: TUF | Chipset: AMD 990FX/SB950 | Socket: AM3+ | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual-channel | Memory Slots: 4 DDR3 DIMMs | Memory Size: 64GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 1866MHz DDR3 | Onboard WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0
REASONS TO BUY
✓More than enough expansion slots
✓Efficient cooling system
✓TUF components
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Only one graphics card connector
The SABERTOOTH 990FX AM3+ mobo is from ASUS’s most famous TUF series. It can support all the FX, Phenom II, Athlon II, and Sempron 100 series CPUs just like Gigabyte 78LMT-USB3 R2 does, the board we reviewed at the start. This motherboard has an AMD 990FX + SB950 chipset and a front-side data bus of 2.666 GHz to connect the CPU, RAM, chipset, and other buses for faster communication. The physical specifications include a standard ATX form factor with 244 mm x 305 mm dimensions as ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z and MSI 970.
It offers an all-rounder specification set that makes it the best overall AM3+ motherboard and versatile to use. There are 3x PCIe 2.0 x16 / x8 mode slots, one PCIe 2.0 x16 / x4 mode slot, one PCIe 2.0 x1 slot, and one 1 x PCI Slot. To improve the sound quality, that brand has installed a Realtek ALC892 audio chipset with oct-audio channels. Other features included TUF components, ASUS DIGI+ power control utility, Efficiency Switching Power Design, and more. The 8 + 2 digital power phases provide stable and consistent power to the entire system and linked components.
The UEFI BIOS with 2.0a version is embedded into it with a memory size of 64 Mbit. ASUS has played wisely while putting ultimate cooling features into this gaming beast, and it needed to fall into the category of the best AM3+ motherboard. Firstly, Ceram! X – Heatsink Coating Technology provides 50% more area to dissipate produced heat fast while having ceramic-coating technology along with it. Secondly, TUF Thermal Radar allows the system for real-time temperature detection to adjust the fan speed according to the temperature automatically.
ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z
Best Budget AM3+ Motherboard
Brand: ASUS | Series: Crosshair | Chipset: AMD 990FX | Socket: AM3+ | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual-channel | Memory Slots: 4 DDR3 DIMMs | Memory Size: 32GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2400MHz DDR3 | Onboard WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 8 SATA 3.0
REASONS TO BUY
✓Cheap AM3+ motherboard
✓Dual-channel memory
✓Provides good overclocking
✓8x SATA3 pins
REASONS TO AVOID
✗No ECC support
Crosshair V Formula-Z is number two on our list due to its tech-rich specifications and features. This dual am3+ motherboard has four slots for 32 GB of DDR3 memory with a 240-pin DIMM slot type, and the maximum memory frequency can reach up to 2.4 GHz. The T-Topology design for DDR3 memory promises to have no issue using four sticks at a time. Furthermore, the dual-channel RAM is way better than the single-channel in terms of performance due to having two separate controllers. With AMD’s 990FX chipset, your motherboard is capable of tackling Bulldozer architecture.
The board has an Extreme Engine Digi+ II design with 8 + 2 power phases and a 2-phase memory power design. This power design uses a powerful combination of analog and digital design elements to improve speed and make it the best budget AM3+ motherboard. The standard ATX Form Factor with 244 mm x 305 mm dimensions is the most commonly used in a huge number of PC cases. Like, Gigabyte 78LMT-USB3 R2, the low number of expansion slots is not an issue anymore. There are 3x PCI 2.0 x16 slots, one PCIe 2.0 x16 x4 mode slot, and 2x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots available in it.
The unavailability of SATA3 pins was a negative point in 78LMT-USB3 R2 but not in this masterpiece. With the 8x SATA3 structure, the SSDs can now operate at peak, providing the best graphics, performance, and boosted clock frequency. The ASUS is famous for overclocking, and it holds several world records in this feature. If we talk about this board, it has incredible heat dissipation capability allowing stable overclocking. Moreover, to take full advantage of the boost clock frequency, TurboV EVO has been added, which is an efficient overclocking manager and perfect to support its output.
ASUS M5A78L-M Plus
Best Cheap AM3+ Gaming Motherboard
Brand: ASUS | Series: Unknown | Chipset: AMD 760G (780L)/SB710 | Socket: AM3+ | Form Factor: micro ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual-channel | Memory Slots: 4 DDR3 DIMMs | Memory Size: 32GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2000MHz DDR3 | Onboard WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0
REASONS TO BUY
✓Affordable
✓Excellent Audio quality
✓MicroATX form factor
REASONS TO AVOID
✗No documentation in packaging
The ASUS M5A78L-M Plus was in 2018 to compete with other affordable top am3+ motherboards. It supports AMD FX, Phenom II, Athlon II, and Sempron 100 series processors to help users universally fulfill their gaming needs with AMD 760G (780L) and AMD SB710 chipsets. The dual-channel 4x DIMM 64 GB memory slots of DDR3 Unbuffered memory are being offered with this. The memory clock frequency rate can fluctuate depending on the CPU and CPU type. The AMD FX series can go up to 1.866 GHz, and AMD 100/200 AM3 series can support up to 1.066 GHz of clock rate.
There is a PCIe 2.0 x16 slot, a PCIe 2.0 x1 slot, and one PCI slot that offers numerous expansion options. The 6x SATA3 ports are available to run your SSDs while supporting Raid 0, Raid 1, Raid 10, and Raid JBOD. For ease of connectivity, 8 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports are given, where four are in the back panel and four are at mid-board; plus, Out of 4x USB 3.0 ports, two are at the back panel, and two are at mid-board. As ASRock 970M Pro3, it also has a microATX form factor with 24.4 cm x 22.9 cm dimensions and can be accommodated by several PC cases.
It has AMI BIOS installed into it with 16 Mb Flash ROM. Every gamer demands clear audio to effectively detect the subject and voice in gaming. Keeping this in mind, the company has used Realtek ALC887/897 8-Channel high definition Audio CODEC with Audio Shielding technology. This best cheap AM3+ gaming motherboard has AMD Cool ´n´ Quiet technology that reduces overall power consumption and heat production. Ultimately, the fans cool the component quietly and effectively. Moreover, a new and updated 4-engine version provides a system power-saving mode that also saves your pocket.
ASRock 970M Pro3
Best MicroATX AM3+ Motherboard
Brand: ASRock | Series: Pro | Chipset: Northbridge: AMD 970, Southbridge: AMD SB950| Socket: AM3/AM3+ | Form Factor: micro ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual-channel | Memory Slots: 4 DDR3 DIMMs | Memory Size: 64GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2400+ MHz DDR3 | Onboard WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0
REASONS TO BUY
✓Enough memory of 64 GB
✓Solid Capacitor for longer life span
✓6x SATA3 pins
✓Pure black PCB appearance
REASONS TO AVOID
✗No onboard video chipset
✗Maybe less durable
The ASRock 970M Pro3 is here with mind-blowing features and performance for those who want the best out of the best without spending too much. This best am3+ gaming motherboard is powered by AMD 9070 and SB950 chipset to support AMD AM3 and AM3+ CPUs. Memory is a crucial aspect of any motherboard because the performance relies on it as well. The dual-channel supports 64 GB of DDR3 memory. The memory is divided into four slots, where each slot has 240 pins. Just like Gigabyte 78LMT-USB3 R2, this also has a Micro ATX form factor to build a compact system.
The board stands with 2x PCIe 2.0 x16 slots, one PCIe 2.0 x1 slot, and one PCI slot. So, it has become effortless with these options to connect new video cards or other components without buying a new motherboard. The rear panel contains many other I/O ports like 2x USB 3.0 ports, 6x USB 2.0 ports, 1x RJ-45 LAN Port with LED, and HD Audio Jacks. The audio jacks can be used for line in, front speaker, or microphone. There is a 32 MB UEFI Legal BIOS that further has GUI support and Plug-and-Play support to make it the best microATX AM3+ motherboard with versatile specifications.
The Realtek ALC892 audio chipset is being used with a 7.1 CH HD audio channel. Moreover, no one likes to have a motherboard that doesn’t last long. Hence, this mother circuit comes with a Solid Capacitor design in which solid caps ensure the stable performance and longer lifetime of the component. Other vital features include 6x SATA3 pins with 6.0 Gb/s connectors and one 24-pin ATX Power connector. If you like the hardware components with black color then, this will impress you with a pure black PCB look and Sapphire Black PCB to showcase a rugged and mysterious system.
GIGABYTE GA-970A-UD3
Best gaming AM3+ Motherboard
Brand: Gigabyte | Series: Unknown | Chipset: Northbridge: AMD 970, Southbridge: AMD SB950 | Socket: AM3/AM3+ | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual-channel | Memory Slots: 4x 1.5V DDR3 DIMMs | Memory Size: 32GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2000MHz DDR3 | Onboard WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0
REASONS TO BUY
✓Adequate expansion slots
✓Enough SATA 6Gb/s pins
✓Multi-display support up to 2 VGA cards
REASONS TO AVOID
✗No onboard video chipset
The GA-970A-UD3 is an AM3+ socket motherboard launched to provide a high-speed gaming experience via GIGABYTE 333 onboard acceleration technologies. It powers AMD FX, Phenom II, Athlon II, and Sempron 100 series processors with AMD 970 and AMD SB950 chipsets. The front-side bus (FSB) is 2.4 GHz, slightly less than ASUS TUF SABERTOOTH 990FX, and is used to coordinate RAMs, CPUs, chipsets, and other buses for faster operational speed. This board offers the same memory specifications as four DDR3 DIMMs and as the previous ASUS M5A97 motherboard,
The board has 2x PCIe x16 / x4 slots, 3x PCIe x1 slots, and 2xPCI slots to meet the expansion requirements. The 6x SATA 6Gb/s pins are included in this beast mobo offering various levels like RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, and RAID JBOD. Nobody wants a mother circuit to have unclear or dull audio. To meet the users’ needs, the component has onboarded Realtek ALC889 audio chipset with 8 audio channels to improve the quality. Like other long lists of socket am3+ motherboards, this has a standard ATX form factor with 305 mm x 244 mm dimensions.
The UEFI DualBIOS brings BIOS configuration to a whole new level with a 32-bit color imaging graphical interface and excellent mouse navigation. Multi-display support has been added to it which makes it the best gaming AM3+ motherboard and able to take two VGA graphics cards via AMD CrossFire technology. The board also has a Realtek 8111E LAN chipset embedded on the mother circuit to reach from 10Mbps to 1000Mbps internet speeds. The rear panel also has several other ports like 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, 2 x USB 3.0 ports, 8 x USB 2.0 ports, and 6x Audio ports.
ASUS M5A97 R2.0
Best Mid-range AM3+ Motherboard
Brand: ASUS | Series: Unknown | Chipset: Northbridge: AMD 970, Southbridge: AMD SB950 | Socket: AM3/AM3+ | Form Factor: ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual-channel | Memory Slots: 4 DDR3 DIMMs | Memory Size: 32GB DDR4 | Memory Speed: 2133MHz DDR3 | Onboard WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0
REASONS TO BUY
✓Affordable
✓Adequate SATA ports
✓Enough ports for connectivity purposes
REASONS TO AVOID
✗No integrated Graphics card
The ASUS M5A97 motherboard is the next product on the list with an all-rounder performance and an affordable mid-tier price tag that is within everyone’s reach. It’s undoubtedly the best mid-range AM3+ motherboard that supports the advanced 9-series chipsets, AMD 970 and AMD SB950. On the Northbridge, AMD 970 tackles the CPUs and memory functions while, on the Southbridge, AMD SB950 takes over the peripheral interfaces. This board can accommodate up to four DDR3 DIMM slots to make up to a 32GB memory space with up to 1.333GHz memory speed.
When we talk about power design, you may feel it lagging compared to others on our list. There are 6 + 2 power phases, one NB power phase, and two memory power phases. We have enough expansion slot options with 2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slots, 2 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots, and 2 x PCI slots. If you have noticed, this is the first motherboard on our list with two legacy PCI slots that permits you to connect modems, disk controllers, network card, and more. For the connectivity of HDDs and SSDs, there are 2x external SATA3 ports in the front panel and 6x SATA6 ports with AMD SB950.
Various other ports are also available with this ASUS am3+ motherboard including 14 x USB 2.0 ports (8 at back panel, 6 at front panel), 4x USB 3.0 ports (2 at back panel, 2 at front panel), 2 x eSATA ports, and 1 x Audio port with 6 audio jack. For clear audio purposes, the Realtek ALC892 HD CODEC is embedded into it. If you don’t want extreme-level performance but rather need a system to do the regular tasks, you can consider this if you want a cheap mobo without breaking your bank balance. However, you may have to compromise on performance depending upon your work play.
Gigabyte 78LMT-USB3 R2
Best Flagship AM3+ Motherboard
Brand: Gigabyte | Series: Unknown | Chipset: Northbridge: AMD 760G, Southbridge: AMD SB710 | Socket: AM3, AM3+ | Form Factor: micro ATX | Memory Architecture: Dual-channel | Memory Slots: 4 DDR3 DIMMs | Memory Size: 32GB DDR3 | Memory Speed: 1600MHz DDR3 | Onboard WiFi: Not available | SATA ports: 6 SATA 3.0
REASONS TO BUY
✓Affordable
✓Good connectivity options
✓Has 4+1 phase power design
✓Excellent Audio quality
REASONS TO AVOID
✗Doesn’t have SATA3
The Gigabyte 78LMT-USB3 R2 uses a low-end 760G chipset to carry AMD’s FX, Athlon II, and Phenom II processors. In comparison with top-end 990FX chipsets, the 760G offers fewer features and is situated at the opposite end of the spectrum. One more thing to be noted, this best flagship AM3+ motherboard comes with an integrated onboard graphics card, the Radeon HD 3000 GPU. This ATX motherboard isn’t that suitable for gaming purposes which is understandable for such a cheap am3+ motherboard, although it would be fine for regular desktop uses.
The four DIMM DDR3 memory slots where each can support up to 8 GB of RAM are enough for a system. The old versions and their stats say that this one is the best AM3+ motherboard that will have decent performance. The AMD’s old chipset, FX-8350, provided a comfortable amount of effectiveness with 4 GB DDR3 RAM with 1.6 GHZ of memory frequency. With increased specifications, this in-line mobo to its older versions will be doing the next level of speed. Its super-fast external storage supports the titular USB3, which isn’t common in low-priced mobos.
When we talk about the extension slots, we might feel it is slightly low. There is only one PCIe 2.0×16 slot to connect external graphics cards, one PCIe x1, and one legacy PCI slot. Instead of SATA3, the six SATA2 ports come with this card suitable for HDDs but not for SSDs. However, we would be having plenty of room for storage with Hard Disk drives. We can use different monitors with HDMI, VGA, and DVI-D graphics output resulting in an impressive gaming experience. Overall, this board is suitable for budget-friendly users for basic PC use.
Conclusion
The market has numerous options to find the best AM3+ motherboard with several high-end and advanced features and specifications. We have tried every possible way to bring accurate and authentic reviews of all the products on our list. We have added the socket am3+ motherboards with the best values, affordable prices, user lovings, and more while considering every user in our minds. If anyone is still confused about choosing one, the user guide may help him before reading the specific product. Feel free to contact us to get our assistance if you think we can help you out throughout the process.
If someone needs a higher-memory board, you may go for ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z, MSI 970, Asus M5A97, or GIGABYTE GA-970A-UD3, which all offer 32 GB. All the TUF series boards are very famous for their strict builds and long lives. Hence, you may invest in them to get these features. The ASRock 970M Pro3 is renowned for tackling heated and high-temperature situations due to its rugged structure. In addition, if you want a compact motherboard with all-rounder features, you can check ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Professional. Otherwise, you must check the whole list in this post for more boards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AM3+ good for gaming?
AMD’s FX 4350 AM3+ CPU is most likely the finest choice for those who need a gaming CPU but don’t need to run overwhelming multi-threaded programs. To form this a reasonable processor for gaming, AMD employments a beautiful tall base clock speed of up to 4.2 GHz and a boost clock speed of up to 4.3 GHz.
What is a good AM3+ motherboard?
On the off chance that you do not have a super-colossal budget for your components, go with the Asus M5A97 and you will be upbeat with it. You get Asus quality in a budget board that’s simple to utilize and permits you to designate more of your cash towards amusement-changing equipment.
What is the fastest AM3 socket processor?
The quickest CPU for attachment AM3 is the Phenom II X6 1100T. In spite of the clear need for a multi-threading bolster, the Phenom II X6 processors, especially the 1100T, given substantial picks up over the Phenom II X4 965. Distant Cry 2 is among the way better cases of a diversion optimized for multi-core processors.
Is AM3+ compatible with AM3?
Yes, the AM3+ socket can accommodate the AM3 processors because it’s a back-compatible socket. However, you may feel a slight lag in the performance because the AM3+ provides more speed and efficiency with the same AM3+ socket processors. But, you don’t have to worry if you have an AM3 processor regarding compatibility.
What is the cheapest AM3+ motherboard?
ASUS M5A78L-M LX PLUS AM3+ AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard, ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard, and Gigabyte AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gbps USB 3.0 ATX AM3+ Socket DDR3 1600 Motherboards (GA-970A-DS3P).
Motherboards & Graphics Cards Writer
