27/02/2026 5:25 pm
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so im finally pulling the trigger on the 9700X next week and im super hyped to get this build going!! ive been looking at boards and everyone keeps mentioning the MSI Mag B650 Tomahawk but then i saw some reddit threads saying the boot times are still a mess and honestly i just want something that works. should i jump to X670 for future proofing or is that just overkill?
i really need:
- 3 M.2 slots for my scratch drives
- built-in wifi (ethernet isnt an option in my new apartment)
- plenty of usb ports for my editing deck
budget is like $250 max cuz i spent way too much on the gpu lol. what are you guys actually using with the 9000 series chips?
5 Answers
12
27/02/2026 6:20 pm
To add to the point above: unfortunately, modern board reliability isnt as good as expected. I recommend the ASUS TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi AM5 ATX for its methodical circuit protection and professional stability.
11
27/02/2026 7:30 pm
Basically, you might want to consider lane distribution carefully. Filling three M.2 slots on B650 boards often forces PCIe lanes to bifurcate or disables specific headers entirely. I would suggest the ASRock B650E PG Riptide WiFi AM5 since it offers better signal integrity for your scratch drives. Be careful with RAM compatibility at high speeds on these early 9000 series bios revisions tho.
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27/02/2026 7:01 pm
🙌
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27/02/2026 5:50 pm
@Reply #1 - good point about those early boot time reports, but most of that stuff has been cleared up with bios updates. Using the MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi in a couple builds lately and its been snappy. Still, I totally get wanting to stay away from the drama. If you want a board that actually hits your specific needs under $250, the ASRock B650E Steel Legend WiFi is basically the sweet spot. It has been rock solid for me and the stability is great. Here is why it works so well:
- You get PCIe 5.0 for the GPU and your main M.2, which is actual future proofing.
- It has the 3 M.2 slots you need for those scratch drives.
- Rear I/O is loaded with USB ports for your editing gear.
- WiFi 6E is included and actually stays connected. Quick practical tip... AM5 boards do this memory training thing on the first few boots where they just sit there with the lights on. Dont freak out! Its normal. Just make sure you update to the latest BIOS using the flashback button before you even put the 9700X in. It fixes like 90 percent of the weirdness people post about on reddit. You really dont need X670 unless you are running a ton of storage, so stick with a high-end B650E and you'll be happy. I can walk you through the bios stuff if you get stuck, just ask!
1
27/02/2026 5:40 pm
I was in the same boat when I switched to AM5. im pretty cautious with new tech and those MSI boot time complaints were a huge dealbreaker for me. I just wanted something reliable that worked. I ended up with a Gigabyte board and I am very satisfied with the stability so far. It just works.
- Gigabyte B650 AORUS ELITE AX V2 AM5 Motherboard : This is the one I use. It has the 3 M.2 slots you need and the wifi is rock solid. Booting is way faster than what I have seen on other boards.
- ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS WiFi ATX Motherboard : Very safe pick for reliability and has plenty of USB ports for an editing deck. It has three M.2 slots too. Honestly, going X670 is likely overkill for a 9700X unless you need tons of extra lanes. B650 is more than enough for a stable daily driver.
