Best Motherboards for AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X in 2020

Motherboard
Motherboard

AMD launched the Ryzen Threadripper 3970X with a whopping 32 cores for enthusiasts and creators. To push this impressive CPU to the limit, you'll need an equally brilliant motherboard. We've rounded up some of the best motherboards around.

Gigabyte Aorus Pro WiFi

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Entry TRX40

This may be one of the more "affordable" TRX40 motherboards you'll come across, but it's still more pricey than even high-end AM4 platforms. This motherboard has everything you need to create a capable Threadripper system, including M.2 slots, 12+2 phase VRM design, as well as eight RAM slots.

ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme

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Enthusiast

So this motherboard from ASUS is likely out the reach for most PC budgets, but if you want one of the best motherboards for Threadripper processors, this is one fine example. It boasts five M.2 solid-state drives (SSD), USB 3.2 Gen 2, and AMD StoreMI, as well as plenty of premium components for stable operation.

Gigabyte Aorus Master

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Value Pick

We list this as a value pick since you get plenty of features for your money, including an advanced VRM setup compared to the Aorus Pro we listed above. Some other minor enhancements result in a far more capable and stable workstation.

MSI Creator

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For Creators

If you're a creator, this aptly named motherboard from MSI is worth considering. It has 10Gb LAN, Wi-Fi 6 support, plenty of USB slots, eight RAM slots, nine fan headers, 16+3 phase power design, active cooling for the chipset, and even a bundled expansion card for a further four PCIe Gen 4.0 M.2 slots. That's quite the feature list.

ASUS ROG Strix TRX40-E Gaming

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Sleek Design

And those of you who prefer RGB lighting over everything else, ASUS has the ROG Strix TRX40-E Gaming motherboard with premium looks, three M.2 slots, USB 3.2 Gen 2, an addressable OLED display, active 16 stage VRM cooling, Wi-Fi 6, handy BIOS tools, as well as plenty of fan headers.

Choosing the best TRX40 motherboard

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When looking to use a Threadripper processor, especially the 3970X, you're going to need to part with some serious cash for a motherboard. Unfortunately, you can't use the AM4 (or TR4) socket and need one with TRX40 support. You don't need to go overboard, which is showcased with our Gigabyte Aorus Pro WiFi top pick.

If you're building quite the stunning system and have budget to spare, the ASUS ROG Strix TRX40-E Gaming not only looks good but comes with everything you need for a stylish build. There are some neat features like active 16 stage VRM cooling, as well as chipset cooling, and even an OLED display.

Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.