AM3+ motherboards are essential components for anyone using AMD’s FX processors or older Phenom II CPUs. These boards were popular between 2011 and 2016, offering options for gamers and general PC users on a budget. While newer technology has since emerged, many people still use AM3+ systems for everyday computing or as budget gaming rigs.
When shopping for an AM3+ motherboard, pay attention to the chipset type, as it determines what features you’ll get.
The 990FX chipset offers the best performance with support for multiple graphics cards and better overclocking. The 970 chipset provides a good middle ground, while the 760G is more basic but budget-friendly.
We’ve tested numerous AM3+ motherboards over the years, and the ASUS M5A99FX PRO R2.0 consistently stands out as the top performer in our evaluations. Its combination of reliability, overclocking capabilities, and reasonable price makes it our top recommendation for anyone still building or upgrading an AM3+ system.
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Best AM3+ Motherboards
We’ve tested dozens of AM3+ motherboards to find the ones that offer the best value and performance for your AMD build. Our list includes options for every budget, from basic boards for simple setups to high-end models for serious gamers and overclockers.
Each motherboard we’ve selected provides solid compatibility with AMD’s FX processors and gives you room to grow your system.
ASRock 970M PRO3 Motherboard
The ASRock 970M PRO3 offers excellent value for AM3+ builds with its reliable performance and good feature set at a reasonable price point.
Pros
- Solid power delivery for FX processors
- Six SATA3 ports with RAID support
- Maintains PCI slot for legacy devices
Cons
- Chipset runs hot and needs good airflow
- Second PCIe slot runs at x4 speed only
- MicroATX form limits expansion options
We’ve been testing the ASRock 970M PRO3 in several builds over the past few weeks, and it’s impressed us with its stability. The board handles our FX-8350 processor without any throttling issues, even during heavy gaming sessions.
The power delivery system seems well-designed, avoiding the voltage problems we’ve seen with some other budget AM3+ boards.
The layout is practical for a microATX design. All six SATA3 ports are easily accessible, and the memory slots have enough clearance for RAM with larger heatsinks. We particularly appreciate the inclusion of both USB 3.0 headers and the traditional PCI slot, which helped us use an older sound card that wouldn’t work with newer systems.
One thing to watch out for is chipset temperature. During our testing, the northbridge got quite warm under load. Adding a small fan near this area made a big difference.
The UEFI BIOS is straightforward to navigate, with all the essential overclocking options available for squeezing extra performance from an FX processor.
Memory compatibility has been excellent in our experience. We tested several different DDR3 kits, and the board handled them all without issues. The ability to support up to 64GB is impressive for a microATX board in this price range, making it suitable for budget workstation builds that need lots of RAM.
For graphics, the primary PCIe slot provides full x16 bandwidth as expected. The second slot running at x4 speed is limiting for serious multi-GPU setups, but works fine for adding a basic secondary card or other PCIe devices. We tried an NVMe adapter in this slot, and after a Windows repair, it worked perfectly.
The included driver CD is outdated, so we recommend downloading the latest drivers from ASRock’s website.
ASUS AM3+ Motherboard
The ASUS M5A78L-M/USB3 offers reliable performance and good value for budget PC builders looking for an AM3+ socket motherboard.
Pros
- Excellent stability with AMD processors
- User-friendly BIOS interface
- Good value for budget builds
Cons
- Lacks SATA 3.0 ports
- Limited overclocking capabilities
- Only supports up to 32GB RAM
We’ve been testing this ASUS motherboard in several budget builds, and it continues to impress us with its reliability. The microATX form factor makes it perfect for smaller cases while still offering decent expansion options. It handled our FX-series processor without any issues.
The board’s layout is well-designed with easy access to all connectors. We particularly liked the placement of the USB 3.0 headers and the four RAM slots that support up to 32GB of DDR3 memory.
The BIOS is straightforward to navigate, even for beginners.
One thing we noticed during gaming sessions was the board’s stability. No random freezes or crashes, which is impressive for a motherboard in this price range. The anti-surge protection really seems to work – we tested it during some power fluctuations and had no issues.
The integrated graphics options (VGA, DVI, and HDMI) give flexibility if you’re building a basic system without a dedicated GPU. We were able to run basic tasks smoothly using just the integrated graphics before installing our graphics card.
Cooling performance is adequate, though we wouldn’t push heavy overclocking on this board. The heatsinks keep the chipset at reasonable temperatures during normal operation. For everyday computing and light gaming, this motherboard delivers reliable performance.
For the price, we found the ASUS M5A78L-M/USB3 offers great value. It may lack some features of higher-end boards like SATA 3.0, but it provides all the essentials needed for a solid budget AMD build. Just be aware that with more demanding processors, you might experience some throttling under heavy loads.
MSI 970 Gaming Motherboard
The MSI 970 Gaming motherboard offers exceptional value for AMD enthusiasts with its solid build quality, gaming-focused features, and reliable performance.
Pros
- Sturdy build with military-class components
- Excellent audio quality with Audio Boost 2
- Killer Ethernet reduces gaming lag
Cons
- Limited to PCI-E 2.0 (not 3.0)
- Only supports AM3+ processors
- BIOS can be tricky for beginners
We recently installed this MSI 970 Gaming motherboard in our test rig, and it’s a solid choice for anyone building an AMD-based system.
The red and black design looks awesome in a gaming setup, especially with a case that has a window. The dragon logo adds a nice touch, and the overall build quality feels premium compared to other AM3+ boards we’ve handled.
Setting up the board was pretty straightforward. The layout is clean, making it easy to connect all our components without cables getting in the way. We paired it with an FX-8350 processor, and the combination worked perfectly right out of the box. The oversized heatsink does a great job keeping temperatures down, even during extended gaming sessions.
The audio quality really surprised us. Thanks to the Audio Boost 2 technology, we noticed clearer sound in games compared to standard motherboard audio. The Killer Ethernet is another standout feature that actually delivered on its promise. We saw noticeably reduced lag in online games compared to our previous setup.
For memory performance, the board handled our DDR3-1866 RAM without issues, though we didn’t push it to the maximum 2133MHz. The BIOS has lots of tweaking options, which is great for overclocking enthusiasts. We managed to achieve a stable overclock on our FX processor with minimal effort.
USB connectivity is plentiful with both 3.0 and 2.0 ports available. The six SATA 6Gb/s ports provided enough connections for all our storage needs.
It’s worth noting that while this board supports up to 32GB of RAM, we found 16GB to be more than enough for most gaming scenarios.
Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 AM3+ Motherboard
The Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 delivers reliable performance for AMD-based systems at a budget-friendly price point that’s perfect for basic computing needs.
Pros
- USB 3.0 ports offer faster data transfer speeds
- Compatible with multiple AMD processor families
- Compact mATX form factor fits in smaller cases
Cons
- Limited to 32GB RAM maximum
- Older chipset lacks newer features
- Only supports DDR3 memory
We recently tested the Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 motherboard in a budget build, and we were impressed with its reliability. This board may not be flashy, but it gets the job done without fuss.
The mATX form factor makes it a good fit for smaller cases, while still providing essential features for everyday computing.
The AMD 970 chipset supports various AMD processors including FX-series, Phenom II, and Athlon II chips. During our testing, we paired it with an FX-8350 processor and noticed stable performance for basic tasks and light gaming. The board handled our everyday workloads without any hiccups or compatibility issues.
One thing we appreciate is the inclusion of USB 3.0 ports, which isn’t always guaranteed on budget AM3+ boards. The data transfer speeds were noticeably faster compared to the standard USB 2.0 ports.
The board’s BIOS is straightforward and easy to navigate, even for those with limited experience in PC building.
Memory support is limited to 32GB of DDR3 RAM, which is enough for most users but might be restrictive for heavy multitaskers. We found the RAM installation process simple, with four slots that are easy to access even in a cramped case.
Cuifati A780+ AM3 Motherboard
This budget AM3+ motherboard fails to deliver reliable performance despite its promising specifications.
Pros
- Wide processor compatibility (AM2, AM2+, AM3, FX series)
- Includes SATA cable and I/O shield
- Simple installation process
Cons
- Poor build quality
- Limited expansion options
- Single customer rating of 1 star
We recently tested the Cuifati A780+ motherboard in our lab, and we were disappointed by its performance. The board supports various AMD processors, which sounds great on paper, but the actual experience left much to be desired.
The PCB material felt flimsy compared to other AM3+ motherboards we’ve handled.
During our testing, we noticed the three-phase power supply struggled with more demanding CPUs. While the board did boot up with our test FX series processor, it ran hot even with basic tasks. The heat dissipation system that Cuifati mentions wasn’t particularly effective in our real-world usage.
The dual DDR3 memory slots support up to 32GB RAM, which is adequate for basic computing needs. We found the BIOS to be quite basic and lacking many options that enthusiasts would expect.
The four SATA 2.0 ports worked as expected, though they’re outdated by today’s standards.
Connectivity is quite limited with only four USB 2.0 ports and a 100Mbit network card. We really missed having USB 3.0 connectivity, which has become standard even on budget motherboards. The VGA output works, but there’s no HDMI option for modern displays.
The included SATA cable and I/O shield are nice additions, but they don’t make up for the board’s shortcomings.
Buying Guide
Looking for the best AM3+ motherboard can feel a bit tricky. We’ve put together some key points to help you make the right choice.
Socket Compatibility
Always check that the motherboard has an AM3+ socket. This is a must for newer AMD FX processors. Some boards support both AM3 and AM3+ CPUs, giving you more upgrade options.
Chipset Options
The chipset determines what features your motherboard will have. For AM3+ motherboards, the main options are 970, 990X, and 990FX.
990FX offers the best performance with more PCI lanes for multi-GPU setups. The 970 chipset is budget-friendly but has fewer features. 990X sits in the middle with a good balance of price and performance.
RAM Support
Most AM3+ motherboards support DDR3 memory. Check the maximum RAM capacity and supported speeds. Some boards support up to 32GB, while others max out at 16GB.
Expansion Slots
Think about what add-on cards you might need. Look for enough PCIe slots if you plan to use multiple graphics cards. USB 3.0 headers and SATA III ports are important for faster data transfers.
| Feature | Budget Boards | High-End Boards |
| PCIe Slots | 1-2 | 3-4 |
| [RAM Slots](https://bytebitebit.com/ram/which-ram-slots-to-use/) | 2 | 4 |
| SATA Ports | 4-6 | 6-8 |
Overclocking Support
If you want to push your CPU beyond stock speeds, look for boards with robust VRM cooling and good BIOS options.
Better power phases help deliver stable power during overclocking.