Which budget B650 motherboard should I buy for Ryzen 5 9600X?

Congrats on the new build! Honestly, for that budget, the ASRock B650M Pro RS WiFi DDR5 is really hard to beat. I have used it in a couple of friend's builds and it is super solid for the price. It actually has three M.2 slots, which is rare for a budget board, and the VRM cooling is more than enough for a 9600X since it is a pretty efficient chip anyway. If you want a full-size ATX board instead of micro-ATX, check out the Gigabyte B650 Eagle AX AM5 ATX. It is usually right around $150 and has great Wi-Fi 6E. Just a heads up, since you are using a 9000 series chip, make sure the board has a BIOS Flashback button (both of these do) so you can update it without needing an older CPU. I would personally go with the ASRock tho, it is just a great value.

Wait, quick question - are you restricted to a Micro-ATX case or can you fit a full ATX board? That really changes your expansion options tbh. Quick tip: make sure the board has BIOS Flashback, since the 9600X is so new it might not boot if the factory BIOS is old. Check out the ASRock B650M PG Riptide WiFi DDR5 AM5 too, it is a great step up.

Looks like everyone has given some really solid advice so far. To recap, the main things you need to watch out for are that BIOS flashback button since you are using the new 9000 series chip, and making sure the VRMs dont get too toasty during long gaming sessions. I tend to be a bit paranoid with my builds because I like them to last 5+ years without any hiccups. Even though you are on a budget, I would suggest looking at the ASUS TUF GAMING B650M-E WIFI DDR5. I have always leaned towards the TUF line because they use higher-grade chokes and capacitors that are actually rated for longer lifespans. It has two M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 6, and the heat sinks on the VRMs are chunky enough that you wont have to worry about thermal throttling when the 9600X boosts. The reason I emphasize the cooling is that heat is basically the silent killer for motherboard components over time. If you get a board with thin or non-existent heatsinks, it might work fine now, but those components might degrade faster under heavy load. This Asus board usually stays right around that 150-160 dollar mark and it feels a lot more substantial than some of the entry-level MSI or ASRock boards. Just my two cents if you want something that you can basically install and forget about for years.

Saw this earlier... do you need many USB ports? Honestly, the Gigabyte B650M DS3H Wi-Fi DDR5 is a super safe choice that fits your budget and wont let you down.

Gonna try this over the weekend. Will report back if it works!

Totally agree on checking for BIOS flashback, its a lifesaver. Id personally grab the MSI PRO B650-S WIFI ATX because the VRM cooling is super reliable for long sessions.

This thread is gold. Bookmarking for future reference 🔖