The AMD FX-8350 is one of the best processors to match with your custom computer, but don’t forget about the motherboard. Finding a great one to pair with the AMD FX-8350 is a difficult process. We have all the information you need for a well-informed purchase.

The ASUS M5A99FX PRO and the ASUS M5A99X EVO R2.0 are the top two motherboards available for an AMD FX-830. We compile data based on performance and value to provide our top two picks. If you are experiencing speed or storage troubles, it might be time to upgrade your motherboard. 

Important Considerations 

We have chosen our top two motherboards on the market to pair with an AMD FX-8350 processor for optimal. The process took into consideration some key factors required for the two to meet necessary requirements. 

Chipset type

Chipsets handle data with a smooth flow. The chipset connects the data to different parts of your computer. The AMD FX 8350 is an extremely fast processor and with a more up-to-date chipset, you can ensure that it operates even faster. 

Operating system

Not all operating systems work with every motherboard.  Some motherboards are designed for a specific type of OS. Others operate better with Windows 10. Be sure of the correct operating system before you buy! 

Brand compatibility

Picking a well-established brand for your motherboard is a recommended and reliable option.

Computer requirements

A motherboard isn’t a “one size fits all” part. Take the time to understand your computer and what type of components you need to match up with for a best fit. 

Pricing

The highest or lowest price isn’t the most important factor. We like to analyze a motherboard and decide whether the price makes it a good value or not. 

Motherboard Components

The motherboard is made up of 6 main components. Each component serves a major purpose to the motherboard’s purpose. 

CPU

The CPU is the computer microprocessor. This acts as the main source of knowledge in the computer – the brain. The CPU executes all major coding, mathematical, and instruction calculations to process requests. 

RAM

The RAM is the random access memory chip. This chip is responsible for data storage during usage to improve performance. It does not retain this memory, acting as a temporary place of storage. 

BIOS

The BIOS refers to the Basic Input/Output System. This functions as a read-only memory system. The BIOS objective is to provide an interface between the system and the hardware. 

CMOS Battery

The CMOS or Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor battery is a memory block. This memory block stores information even when the device is powered off. 

CPU Clock

The CPU clock is a simple function that allows the CPU to synchronize with perfectly timed pulses. This synchronization keeps the processor operations flowing. 

Chipset

The chipset directs the flow of data such as main memory. Chipsets are broken up into two types – the Northbridge and the Southbridge. The Northbridge is the host bridge and connected directly to the CPU. Southbridge is responsible for implementing slower motherboard capabilities. 

What to look for

Every motherboard will include 4 primary characteristics that should be considered. 

• RAM
• Processor socket
• PCI slots
• Form factor

The recommended RAM in your motherboard is 16GB. The motherboards we recommend here all have a RAM of 32GB.

AMD processors are compatible with a PGA processor socket. Keep this in mind when shopping and be sure to buy a motherboard compatible with the correct processor socket. 

PCI slots are ways to plug-in expansion cards to your motherboard. The necessity depends on your motherboard usage. Gamers should look for a motherboard with access to multiple PCI slots. 

The form factor is basically just the size of your motherboard. Take some measurements of what you need and be sure your next purchase will fit into your computer. 

ASUS M5A99FX PRO AMD Motherboard

The ASUS M5A99FX Pro R2.0 is a standard ATX motherboard. This provides users with versatility because it is compatible with a lot of different options.  

Some key features include: 

Upgraded hardware and a native BIOS support system. This comes with a 2-second fast boot. This motherboard is Windows 8+ support ready. The faster system reboot eliminates delays on all Windows and IOS versions. 

It includes 3 dual intelligent processors. These processors come with DIGI+ power control, DRAM and CPU power, and SMART DIGI+ key features. 

The network iControl feature gives users a  real-time network bandwidth control application.  This allows users to easily prioritize bandwidth to different applications.

Another feature is Remote GO!. This provides seamless wireless connections and turns the smart handhelds into a home entertainment console.

There are 3 modes to choose from Normal, Turbo, UASP.  Each mode is designed to improve overall read/write performance quickly and easily. 

Some popular uses for this board are graphic design and building out desktops. This is a great choice to handle both of these tasks with ease. 

For those who prefer an AM3+ chip, This board will crush anything you throw at it. This motherboard handles very well and has been reviewed for high performance, even on default settings. 

ASUS M5A99X EVO R2.0 AM3+

The ASUS M5A99X EVO R20 AM3+ is another board that offers similar functionalities at a lower cost. 

This board has a single legacy PCI slot, two 1x PCI-E slots, and three x16 PCI-E slots to accommodate gaming requirements. The CPU socket is clean and smooth. To the right, there is an 8-Pin CPU power connector.

This board also changes the norm of the traditional red color motherboard. It is built in a stylish blue and looks very unique.  

Other features include:

3 dual intelligent processors. These processors come equipped with DIGI+ power control, DRAM and CPU power, and SMART DIGI+ key features. 

This board also puts a priority on booting the USB mouse during BIOS. This allows for very complex GUI BIOS that can be controlled with a mouse pointer.

Remote GO! This is another feature you can access with this board. It is a one-stop PC remote control. 

Don’t forget about the USB 3.0 Boost either. The USB 3.0 has faster transmissions with UASP to support RAID. 

The Comparison

This is a breakdown of the key features both motherboards can offer. 

The ASUS M5A99FX PRO 2.0 offers more audio features without any glaring negatives that we notice.

The ASUS M5A99X EVO R2.0 AM3+ is a bit cheaper of an option. It may be the better choice for someone who can go without the add-on features and less PCI-Express x16 slots. 

What to expect

Upgrading your motherboard comes with some perks and features that can really enhance your experiences. 

A new motherboard has fresh RAM with no cached data stored yet. This will increase your speeds and with increased GBs, you will have plenty of speed and space to operate. 

New external connections are important, especially for gamers. Adding extras to your new motherboard will give you new accessory access. 

An older board with FX 8350 will provide a worse user experience. With an upgrade, you can expect a much smoother look and feel to the interface. It will also eliminate technical issues and speed up your processes. 

You can expect to place heavy-duty loads onto your new motherboard without worry. The upgrade is designed to give you more gaming and building abilities without sacrifice.

Whether the struggle is between storage or speed, a new upgrade will solve your problem. New motherboards also provide thermal protection to keep them safe and longer-lasting.  

What is the best choice for gaming?

The ASUS M5A99FX PRO 2.0 is a preferred choice for gaming. It is the more expensive option but provides some key features that make it the superior option. 

The PCI-e slots are limited to x8/x8 when running dual graphics cards on the ASUS M5A99X EVO. Increased PCI-e slots are important for gamers, especially those operating with gaming accessories. The ASUS M5A99FX PRO 2.0 provides more slots without dual graphics card limitations. 

Is the AMD FX-8350 a gaming processor?

The AMD FX-8350 is a high-end gaming processor. It provides high-quality graphics that are perfect for gaming. 

The integrated graphics quality pairs well with the powerful sockets to give the best gaming experience. It also provides a strong core count and overclocks well during gaming.

The FX-8350 has a large amount of L2 AND L3 cache and does have a higher power consumption than competitors. 

The FX-8350 separates itself in multi-threading gaming and outperforms comparable competitors in this area.

The FX-8350 provides high resolutions. This causes the GPU to be taxed because it has to work hard to produce each frame but it handles it well. 

The high refresh rate/high FPS in the FX-8350 is the main concern for gaming. It can start a bottleneck because the refresh rate can’t keep up.

Overall, the FX-8350 is a good gaming processor and performs at a high level. 

What is the max temp for AMD FX 8350?

The maximum temp for the FX-8350 is 60c or 140f to the individual cores. Beyond this temperature, it runs the risk of permanently damaging the processor.

Applications like AIDA 64 can be used for temperature monitoring to protect the processor.

The socket temperature resistance can be increased based on the motherboard’s capabilities. AMD recommends no higher than 60c and some cases 62c. 

AMD FX-8350 or Intel Core i7 3770K?

The i7 3770K boasts an impressive quartet of 3.5GHz cores. These are left unlocked and can reach 3.9GHz when overclocked. The 3770K also has an Intel HD Graphics 4000 with 8MB of L3 cache. 

The 3770K also has an integrated GPU. Both processors offer a competitive edge under different circumstances.

The FX-8350 has much higher processing power, despite the same amount of L3 cache. It has eight cores that all clock in at 4GHz and the ability to reach 4.2GHz. This is a big upgrade compared to the 3770K in terms of raw speed. 

The 3770K can be considered a slightly better gaming processor because of the integrated GPU feature. The great graphics paired with good speed is what gamers are looking for.

The FX-8350 is better used by people who do a lot of multitasking efforts. The eight cores give it a unique ability to handle a lot of different things at once such as video editing and encoding. This can be done while having other objects running on the side too.

Which is for you

Now that you can see the strengths and weaknesses of each processor, you can decide the best one for your needs. 

Gaming enthusiasts may be more suited to settle with the Intel Core i7 3770K. But if the plan is to add extra activities on top of your gaming, stick with the AMD FX-8350. It is a more powerful processor overall.

The AMD FX-8350 paired with the ASUS M5A99FX PRO 2.0 is a beast. This motherboard improves the gaming capabilities of the FX-8350 without downgrading your cores speed.  You may be interested in our other article about AMD graphics Card

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