The AM3+ platform is a bit old when compared to AM4 and LGA1151 but that is also one of the reasons why these motherboards are inexpensive.
If you have one of these CPUs and need a new motherboard or are interested in building a budget PC then you have come to the right place. Here we are going to look into some of the best AM3+ motherboards that you can buy.
Before looking into the different options it is worth mentioning that the CPUs that are compatible with the AMD AM3+ socket are old and are not very efficient when compared to modern CPUs. They consume a lot of power and do not deliver as much performance. You might want to look into upgrading your CPU & motherboard to something like a motherboard for Ryzen 7 2700x.
The Best AM3+ Motherboards in 2020
1. Gigabyte GA-78LMT – Best AM3+ Motherboard
Moving on we have an option from Gigabyte. This one is a micro ATX motherboard that can fit into an ATX case but will come in handy if you are interested in building a smaller PC rather than a tower build. It comes with pretty much all the features that you are going to need for gaming.
The motherboard has a 4+1 phase power design and supports 125W AMD CPUs. While this is a smaller motherboard, you still have 4 RAM slots that support 2133 MHz speed which is not much compared to DDR4 but is decent for DDR3 memory. The motherboard features 2 PCIe ports and 6 SATA6 ports for storage. It has plenty of ports including VGA, DVI, HDMI USB 3.1 and USB 2.0.
Our Pick
If you are interested in building a relatively smaller PC on the AM3+ platform then this is an option that you should consider. The motherboard is smaller but it comes with all the features that you are going to need for gaming.
The motherboard has impressive onboard audio and even comes with dual BIOS in case something goes wrong. There is no RGB lighting or anything of the sort but this is an older motherboard so we do not expect to get those kinds of features anyways.
Pros
- Cost-effective
- Intuitive BIOS
- Dual BIOS
- Useful utilities
Cons
- Unlabeled temperatures in 3rd-party sensor programs
2. MSI 970 – Best Gaming AM3+ Motherboard
The MSI 970 Gaming motherboard has a sleek design. It comes in Black with Red accents which is a classic gaming combination. You have the iconic MSI dragon logo on the chipset. There are 4 RAM slots and the memory can run at 2133 MHz which is not much compared to modern standards but it is decent for DDR3 memory. The motherboard supports 32GB of memory in total.
There are heatsinks on different areas of the motherboard to keep the temperature of the components in check and dissipate heat. Audio Boost 2 delivers immersive audio. Premium quality components have been used for the audio and other features in general. The motherboard features 8-channel HD Audio if you are interested in that. M-Flash feature can be used to easily flash the BIOS.
The MSI 970 Gaming motherboard does not cost a lot of fo money but comes with all the features that you need for gaming. It looks nice too. If you need an AM3+ motherboard then this is a great option to consider.
Other than that, the motherboard supports 2-way SLI if you are interested in using multiple graphics cards. We recommend using a single powerful graphics card rather than a pair because developers do not actively support SLI and the scaling is not good in most games. The option is still there if you are interested in using it.
The motherboard features 2 PCIe ports and 6 SATA6 ports for storage. It has plenty of ports including VGA, DVI, HDMI USB 3.1 and USB 2.0.
Read also: Best Motherboard for i7 7700k
Pros
- Impressive build quality
- Great value for money
- Stealthy design
- Plenty of SATA 6 ports
- 2-way SLI support
Cons
- Does not have a speaker
3. ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z – Budget Motherboard for AM3+ AMD
The Crosshair series of motherboards is a premium series for enthusiasts and comes with all the bells and whistles that you could want. The same is the case with the Asus Crosshair V Formula-Z. Asus is known for making some of the best motherboards on the market this motherboard is no exception.
This is an ATX motherboard and will fit into any ATX case. This motherboard is great if you are interested in building a tower gaming PC. It comes with Red and Black which are the gaming colors. The motherboard features a combination of analog and digital design elements which improves efficiency and stability while offering better control.
If you are interested in getting the best premium motherboard that money can buy then this is an option that you should look into. You get all the essential features that you will need for gaming and much more.
There are 4 RAM slots and the memory can run at 2400 MHz which is not much compared to modern standards but it is decent for DDR3 memory. The memory speeds are higher than the other boards that we have looked into here. The motherboard supports 32GB of memory in total. You also get features like Native BIOS support and Fast Boot. There is a Fast Boot switch on the motherboard along with a power button which is great for first time builds.
All things considered, this is a premium motherboard with all the features that you can ask for and more. Some would even say that this motherboard is overkill.
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Pros
- Plenty of fan header
- Onboard power and reset buttons
- Impressive audio
- Premium build
Cons
- Overkill for most people
What AM3+ Motherboard Should You Pick?
We have only included the best AM3+ motherboards on this list and they are all the best in one way or another. The Asus Crosshair V Formula-Z is the best premium option that you can buy today. It might be overkill for most people but if you are looking for the best option that money can buy then this is definitely the one.
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