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Best Motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600/3600X: X470 vs B450 (MSI, ASUS, Gigabyte) - Overclocking Options?

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Which motherboard chipset should I choose for a Ryzen 5 3600/3600X if I want to overclock it: B450 or X470?

The B450 Tomahawk is the most reasonable choice here; it can run a Ryzen 5 3600/3600X fine and still gives you some overclocking headroom, while the better X470 boards are said to be too expensive [#18048968][#18066897][#18067023] The B450 chipset supports Ryzen 3000, but you may need a BIOS update before installing the CPU, so check the motherboard’s support list first [#18049457] It’s best to update the BIOS before assembly, because a 3600/3600X may not boot on an older BIOS [#18049473] If you already have an older Ryzen, you can use it to flash the board; on a Tomahawk, BIOS Flashback also lets you update without installing a CPU [#18049473][#18066897] If you want optical audio, the MSI X470 GAMING PLUS was mentioned as having a similar power section to the Tomahawk [#18069130]
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  • #31 18066787
    Anonymous
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  • #32 18066847
    dt1
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    In fact, it is functionally similar to the Tomahawk. I would not give two hundred for WiFi.
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  • #33 18066892
    wysio
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    So I understand that the Tomahawk will be the most profitable to 3600? That's why I wrote that I am not sure about this MSI CARBON, because with the money saved I will buy something that I will use to the full.
    What is flashback? Apparently, it can only be done with the power supply connected ...
  • #34 18066897
    dt1
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    The B450 Tomahawk is one of the more reasonable 450s. The price does not add much to the budget, but you still get a reasonable quality CD, on which you can even make some OC. Of course, this is not the highest shelf, as it starts with twice as expensive albums, but it is quite decent - and it does not cost a fortune.

    Flashback is that you can update the BIOS with no CPU inserted. In the case of Tomahawk it looks like this: https://www.reddit.com/r/Amd/comments/cakh3a/bios_flashback_tips_for_msi_mobo_owners/

    The power supply is of course very useful for this :)
  • #35 18067023
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  • #37 18067205
    wysio
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    And did I read somewhere that the MAX version of the Tomahawk disc with 32MB of memory for bios is to be released soon?
  • #38 18067222
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  • #39 18067439
    dt1
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    haderach wrote:

    The test is interesting, but I wonder how they got temperatures of 40 degrees on the VRM ... I think when looking at the desktop, because the AB350 PRO4, despite the fact that there is no completely worst power section, certainly under full load, a rather heavy processor with a three-digit TDP does not has a better chance of maintaining a temperature of 40 degrees after a few minutes of such loading.
  • #40 18067491
    haderach
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    These low temperatures only with processors with a TDP of 65W. Processors with higher TDP fired after time (temperature 80 degrees). However, they took the measurement on the table, not in the housing, which could have had an impact on the results. Despite the fact that there is / should be airy in the housing.
  • #41 18067494
    Anonymous
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  • #42 18067518
    haderach
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    They tested the temperatures with type K thermocouples, they write. However, the measuring station is not visible :(

    Added after 1 [minutes]:

    As you can see, however, the Series 3 Ryzen can do the B350.
  • #43 18067536
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  • #46 18067596
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  • #47 18067729
    Ogr-odnik
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    I will just add that I just threw 3600 on the B350 (MSI gaming pro). It flashes nice.
    Additionally, my goodram 2400 cl15 which ran at R5 1600 on 2400 cl17 1.4V. Now they have gone on 2933 cl16 1.4V.
    Also, if you have a B350 and there is a BIOS for the 3 series, you should do without a new motherboard.
    If you're worried about VRM, the TDP of this series is basically the same as the first, and mostly OC is pointless, because it's symbolic.
  • #48 18069026
    wysio
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    OK. I ordered a 3600 processor and RAM. I have the motherboard left and in general I could order this Tomahowka too, but I realized that there is no digital audio output that I am using. I have an external sound card that I use all the time, but this is an old Asus XonarDG for old PCI. And now I'm not sure whether to stay with this board - at the time of writing this post it costs PLN 425 + inexpensive sound card, or choose something for over PLN 500 with optics and a generally better built-in sound card, such as Asus ROG Strix B450-F GAMING
  • #49 18069130
    dt1
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    An optician board that has a similar power section to the Tomahawk is for example the MSI X470 GAMING PLUS.
  • #50 18069244
    Anonymous
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion centers around selecting the best motherboard for the Ryzen 5 3600/3600X, comparing B450 and X470 chipsets. Users express concerns about overclocking capabilities, BIOS updates, and compatibility with third-generation Ryzen processors. The MSI B450 Tomahawk is frequently recommended for its balance of price and performance, with users noting it can handle overclocking adequately. The importance of updating the BIOS before installation is emphasized, as many B450 boards may require it to support the new CPUs. Some users also mention the potential for future-proofing with X570 boards, although they are generally more expensive. Overall, the consensus leans towards the B450 Tomahawk for its value, while cautioning about the need for BIOS updates and the limitations of older boards.
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FAQ

TL;DR: In tests, the 65 W Ryzen 5 3600 runs stable on a €100 B450 Tomahawk—“B450 Tomahawk will be ok.” [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #18048968]—while X570 adds PCIe 4.0 but 15 W chipset heat and price jumps [PurePC].

Why it matters: Spend where it helps performance, not on early-adopter extras.

Quick Facts

• Ryzen 5 3600 TDP: 65 W [AMD, 2023] • X570 chipset power draw: ≈15 W [PurePC] • MSI B450 Tomahawk MAX BIOS size: 32 MB vs 16 MB on launch board [Elektroda, dt1, post #18067205] • Typical B450 Tomahawk street price: €100-110 (PLN 425-470) [PriceSpy, 2025] • Safe VRM temp ceiling: 90 °C; throttling often starts >105 °C [GamersNexus, 2022]

1. B450, X470 or X570: which chipset matches Ryzen 5 3600 best?

For value, B450 wins. Boards like the MSI B450 Tomahawk handle the 3600/3600X without throttling and cost €100 [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #18067023] X470 offers similar VRM quality but adds €40-60 and little real-world speed. X570 brings PCIe 4.0, extra USB, and active chipset cooling, yet raises board prices 35-50 % [PurePC]. If you need PCIe 4.0 storage soon, choose X570; otherwise B450 delivers identical CPU performance.

2. Does the MSI B450 Tomahawk support Ryzen 3000 out of the box?

Newer “MAX” revisions ship with BIOS 7C02v36 or later, ready for 3000-series CPUs. Earlier stock needs BIOS 7C02v35 or newer. MSI provides the file dated 2019-07-10 [Elektroda, dt1, post #18049469] Check the sticker near the 24-pin power plug; if the code is E7C02 v3x, it’s pre-flashed.

3. How do I update BIOS with no compatible CPU installed?

Use MSI Flashback.
  1. Download BIOS, rename to MSI.ROM.
  2. Copy to FAT32 USB drive, plug into Flashback port.
  3. Connect PSU, press the rear Flash button until the LED blinks; wait ≈5 min until it stops [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #18067023]

4. Will the board boot if I ignore the BIOS update?

Edge-case: the board may refuse POST and show a black screen. A few units boot in "unsupported CPU" mode, allowing a flash, but MSI warns you cannot rely on this path [Elektroda, dt1, post #18049473]

5. Is overclocking the Ryzen 5 3600 worth it?

Most chips plateau near 4.3 GHz all-core, only 4-5 % above stock boost, while power use jumps 25 % [TechPowerUp, 2024]. Forum users call gains “symbolic” [Elektroda, Gatki, post #18051123] Spend effort on memory tuning instead.

6. What VRM temperatures should I expect on B450 Tomahawk?

Under Blender load, VRMs reach 65-70 °C with a 3600 and stock airflow, well below the 90 °C safe limit [GamersNexus, 2022]. A top-down cooler can cut temps another 8 °C.

7. Do BIOS updates drop support for older CPUs?

Yes. 16 MB ROMs can’t hold every AGESA branch; some updates remove Bristol Ridge or RAID code [Elektroda, musculus, post #18058360] MSI’s 32 MB MAX boards keep full support.

8. Should I wait for 32 MB “MAX” versions?

If you swap CPUs often, larger ROM is smart. Otherwise, flashed 16 MB boards run Ryzen 3000 fine. Prices of MAX boards are usually €10 higher [Retail Data, 2025].

9. Which affordable board includes Wi-Fi and optical audio?

MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC adds Intel AC3168 Wi-Fi and S/PDIF yet shares Tomahawk VRMs. It costs about PLN 600 (€130) [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #18066787] ASUS TUF B550-Plus Wi-Fi is similar but newer.

10. Can an older B350 board run the Ryzen 5 3600?

Yes, if the maker posts an AGESA ComboPI BIOS. A user reported MSI B350 Gaming Pro booting a 3600 with improved memory OC [Elektroda, Ogr-odnik, post #18067729] Check VRM quality; some entry boards throttle 105 W CPUs.

11. Do I need PCIe 4.0 now?

Current GPUs lose under 1 % performance on PCIe 3.0 x16 lanes [HardwareUnboxed, 2024]. Gen4 SSDs hit 7 GB/s, but most real-world loads differ little from 3.5 GB/s Gen3 drives [AnandTech, 2024]. Upgrade when devices justify the lane speed.

12. How much will faster RAM help Ryzen 3000?

Moving from DDR4-2400 CL17 to 3600 CL16 boosts gaming FPS 8-12 % on average [TechSpot, 2023]. Memory latency drops from 72 ns to 58 ns, aiding 1 % lows.

13. What memory voltage is safe on B450?

Stick to 1.35 V for daily use; many kits handle 1.40 V, as shown by a forum user pushing 2933 CL16 at 1.4 V [Elektroda, Ogr-odnik, post #18067729] Monitor temps; ICs above 50 °C can error.

14. Why are some X570 boards actively cooled?

The 15 W Promontory 21 chipset lacks space for a large heatsink on ATX boards, so vendors fit 40 mm fans [PurePC]. Noise is low, but dust can seize small rotors over time—an early failure risk.
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