Are you ready to dive into the new X870 AMD desktop build options? Today, we're going to explore the new 9000 series Ryzen range of AMD processors and various ASRock motherboards worth looking into as of Q1 of 2025.
In this ASRock focused review, we'll analyze the compatibility of the AMD 9900X processor and the X870 motherboard selection criteria with both air coolers and all-in-one liquid coolers. If you're considering an upgrade to your system with 256GB of RAM, stick around to find out if it's truly worth it.
On the subject of RAM for these new systems I found out that they support 256GB RAM for the 8000 series CPU onwards so the 8900X and the 9900X will support the full 256GB of RAM!
The one 7900X machine I refer to here is not mine by the way, my pal Gavin built it and asked me to test it, so I included the temp ranges on that for the Noctua CPU Cooler.
The real RAM limit seems to be 256GB, best achieved with two DIMM slots. The AMD website pages on these new 9000 series chips talks of 256GB RAM on X870 and I just tested it and can confirm it works swell with two x 128GB DIMMS.
You can use 4 DIMM slots but then the memory clocks down as these motherboards only have two Channels for memory.
Bear this clocking reality in mind as you go here.
AMD 9900X: Power Unleashed
I looked and played with all the various Ryzen chips and have decided for myself that the 12 core 9900X is the best value point CPU and focus only on that one.
A lot of gamers seem to like the 6 core 9600 and it as a lot more affordable and some of my cohorts are 9950X bigots for Ultra gaming purposes and use that but I have not seen many pushing that chip to anywhere near max capabilities.
The 4090 and 5090 series Nvidia GPU shod ones do manage to keep it busy though.
The AMD 9900X processor is a beast of a chip, designed to deliver unrivaled power for demanding tasks. With its impressive core count and high clock speeds, the 9900X is a powerhouse that can handle anything you throw at it. Whether you're a gamer, content creator, or professional in need of top-tier performance, the 9900X has got you covered.
My own needs are geared towards a verge.io 2 node cluster with KVM based Hypervisors and running mostly Linux virtual machines for my own various use cases.
I like Linux VM's because they come with Libre Office suite, the OS is light and fast and the command line power feeds my inner geek demon like no other.
I only run Windows VM's because there is no Linux version of Visio or Microsoft Office yet and several of the geek tools I run like RVtools analyzer are so far Windows only tools.
So I usually have at least one Windows 10 VM on my verge.io cluster and am about to try build a Windows 11 VM for my Fritz Chess software, RVtools Analyzer and Microsoft Visio needs as Windows 10 will be a problem come October 2025 when all support ends.
Building a Windows 11 virtual machine with that TPM bollocks on most HCI platforms seems to be a problem for me so far because all the HCI platforms seem to ignore the BIOS based vTPM and a physical TPM plugged into the motherboard for some reason.
A lot of storage tools I use in my new job at Hitachi Vantara are also Windows based so there is no getting away from Windows but I got a company based Lenovo running Windows 11 to solve that issue.
An IT professional has to have at least one kickass Windows desktop for that purpose IMHO, unless they work in just Mainframe environments at any rate.
Smart companies let their SE's and Solutions consultants have a 16" workstation laptop that can boot both Linux and Windows.
I myself have a verge.io cluster that points to my Synology DS918Plus NAS and find that this setup is pretty awesome.
I also recently bought myself a Lenovo P19s Gen 2 Ryzen Powered laptop and Hitachi Vantara supplied me with the Intel version of the same class machine though I tried pretty hard to get the AMD Ryzen box like my own P16s rig.
I also have my M3 Macbook Air, two Threadripper 5000 series workstations, two Ryzen 5000 boxes running verge.io on 5900X chips with 128GB RAM each and this new X870 rig to round out my home office compute setup.
The new 9900X3D Chips are coming but based on what the 9700X3D is doing with price gouging at around $379 recommended retail but you will find they were actually going for around $899 around Christmas of 24, if you could even get one!
A week into 2025 I see Amazon and NewEgg are selling them around $409 but this is just an 8 Core CPU.
I suspect it will be two years before I go there with the 12 core myself and this will probably be around $999-$1299 on the 9900X3D when it does actually come out after the price gougers do their usual post new launch rip off antics.
I like to wait for all that clamor and demand to die down before I go spending my hard earned Yankee Dollar!
X870 Motherboard: The Backbone of Your System
For this reason I personally find that the vanilla 9900X 12 core CPU is a great compromise that can be run air cooled for the workloads that I chuck at a machine.
I am not subjecting anything to Baldur's Gate-type gaming workloads, and after dealing with exotic AIO cooling systems and the accompanying noise in rigs gone by, I've decided to only use air cooling for my processors in my home office going forward.
At one time I had five 5900X rigs all running AIO custom loops in my office all running at the same time and the combined AIO cooling noise was damaging my hearing.
My wife asked why I was always shouting on the phone and I got a dBm sound meter and was pretty shocked how that AIO noise was boiling the frog slowly.
I must admit the new AIO coolers actually seem dead silent but cost a lot more than I want to pay.
If I was to build a custom AIO loop again I would also be buying a very custom case for it that quenched all that noise and them exotic case things can run up to $1199 a pop.
Pairing the 9900X with the right motherboard is crucial for maximizing its potential though.
The typical X870 motherboard offers a robust platform with a plethora of features tailored for high-end users. From multiple PCIe slots for expansion to advanced connectivity options, the X870 is a motherboard that can keep up with your demanding workload.
After playing with the Aorus X870 and the various ASRock steel legend and a few other ASRock X870 boards I decided to grab the X870 Pro RS without WiFi but it was back ordered to March and I grabbed a Steel Legend X870 WiFi board when I couldn’t get any clear ideas from Amazon, ASRock or Newegg when it would turn up.
Air Cooler vs. AIO: Keeping Cool Under Pressure
When it comes to cooling your system, you have two main options: air coolers and all-in-one liquid coolers. Air coolers are reliable, cost-effective solutions that offer decent thermal performance. On the other hand, AIO liquid coolers provide better cooling efficiency and are ideal for overclocking your system to extract every bit of performance from your hardware but can come at a noise level cost to your ears.
I recently found out that nearly all instructions from Air cooler vendors for installing AM4 and AM5 brackets are incorrect. As a result, the cooling surfaces fail to adequately cover the chips IHS jacket, which they are supposed to cover 100%.
I replaced my BeQuiet Dark Pro 4 with the Noctua NH-U9S, which allowed me to see the CPU after installation. It was evident that only two-thirds of the IHS was covered, so I opted for the alternate mounting for the AM3 chips for my 5000 series fare, which resolved the cooling issue.
I tested this same cooling system on a 7900X and 9900X and found similar issues and you need a special kit for the AM4/5 chips which they will send you free of charge.
I was astounded how well this Noctua cooler cooled the later CPU series as a result.
For Nutanix virtualization host purposes, these CPUs won't be pushed to the extent that games like Baldur's Gate would, so you can effectively use these Noctua air coolers on these chips with satisfactory results.
With this cooler fully aligned to cover the IHS jacket, my 5900X now operates at 29 degrees C (previously 73), the 7900X at 54 degrees C, and the 9900X at 66 degrees C.
Is It Worth the Upgrade to 256GB RAM?
Now, the big question: is upgrading to 256GB of RAM worth it? Well, it depends on your specific needs. If you're running memory-intensive applications like video editing software, 3D rendering programs, or virtualization tools, having more RAM can significantly boost your system's performance. However, for the average user, 256GB of RAM may be overkill and unnecessary.
However, for those of you dabbling with HCI like I am, this newer memory limit is a major game changer for your own home lab shenanigans.
The main issue is that Air cooling may not be practical for a 9900X CPU, so you will have to consider the impact of an AIO water cooling loop and potentially live with the dBm increase consequences if you cannot get the temps down like I did with Noctua Air coolers.
The AMD technical documentation mentioned 256GB RAM is now supported; however, after consulting with all the motherboard vendors, I found that they all state 256GB is for Ryzen 8000 and 9000 CPU and 192GB is supported on the 7000 series.
I missed the Ryzen 7000 series by the way but it appears that this was the first series Ryzen CPU with no pins.
This is where I also discovered that a company named ASRock, to which I recently and inadvertently switched one of my systems too, indeed supports ECC RAM on their motherboards!
I bought an ASRock motherboard for one of my 5900X CPU as well and love it!
I chatted with some motherboard junkies who informed me the memory management and simplicity of the ASRock BIOS sets it wide apart from the other vendors and finding out it has superior memory management capabilities sealed the deal for me there.
ASRock motherboards train themselves to best work with the memory it is armed with. You may have a few resets and blue screens in the first week of operation while it adjusts but after that stability is the name of the game and it is a game changer for Virtual machine hosting IMHO!
Choosing the Best Motherboard for 256GB RAM
When opting to upgrade to 256GB of RAM, it is essential to carefully choose the motherboard from reputable brands like ASUS, Gigabyte Aorus, MSI, or ASRock. The X870 motherboard is particularly recommended for its ability to support high RAM capacities beyond the previous 128GB limit. Featuring a sturdy build, generous expansion slots, and overclocking support, the X870 is well-equipped to meet the needs of power users and enthusiasts.
There is more PCI bandwidth and PCI-e v5 on some slots is available.
If you want the whole gamut of PCI-e 5.0 bandwidth you will need to opt for one of the X870E motherboards but honestly, for a single node Nutanix CE 2.1 rig one of the cheaper boards looks like it will do just fine with PCI-e bandwidth all considered into the equation.
For memory stability purposes and this workload use case I strongly recommend ASRock as the only serious solution here.
I see 9900X CPU are listed at $429 at the moment - this is also a 12 Core CPU which I can attest to by the way, it rocks for HCI or Power desktop use cases!
The 9900X3D chips will be available soon, and I've been testing them at the AMD lab in Santa Clara using Nutanix CE 2.1, where I've observed impressive VM benchmarks on these chips.
You might have observed that the 8 Core 9700 version is consistently sold out, as are the ASRock X870 motherboards. However, by August 2025, these initial supply problems will ease somewhat. I highly recommend waiting for these new X3D chips if you desire exceptional performance.
Final Verdict: The Ultimate Showdown
In conclusion, the combination of the AMD 9900X processor, X870 motherboard variant, and a high-performance cooling solution creates a formidable setup that's sure to impress even the most discerning users.
Whether you opt for an air cooler or an AIO liquid cooler, the performance gains from upgrading to this powerhouse duo are undeniable. And if you're considering 256GB of RAM, rest assured that the X870 motherboard is more than capable of meeting your requirements.
What are your thoughts on this ultimate showdown of AMD hardware? Are you ready to take your system to the next level with the 9900X and X870 motherboard? Share your insights and experiences in the comments below!
The above link is a Google sheets read only doc that shows all the motherboard details you could shake a stick at! It is very useful indeed!
When I installed this beauty, I noted the new 9900X CPU's no longer have pins! This is long overdue and basically ensures the CPU is immortal if you handle it correctly.
I struggled with the new CPU nest and clip but it was straightforward to install!
I also tried a Noctua NH9 and am very pleased with the results.
It idles at 44 degrees C and runs at 73 degrees C at full load. The directions for the right CPU offset was also wrong and please note to pay attention to this if your processor runs hotter than normal as this is almost always the fix.
I installed mine at 0 degrees Offset as 7 was too much and did not cover the CPU IHS.
I could not believe how lightning quick the new system is either! It is like a smooth Rolls Royce with instant response compared to any of my other gear.
The Memory is clocking at 4800MHz no matter what timing I have tried and it is 6000 MHz DDR5 Crucial RAM, in two 16GB sticks.
I will need to figure that out as I get into things.
Ryzen master died 57 minutes into Auto tuning and did not deliver much.
I upgraded the BIOS almost immediately and elected to run Windows 11 Pro on it and loaded a few drivers from the ASRock support site without any incident.
The machine is very snappy indeed and I was pleasantly surprised by the slick and sublime nature of the device compared to any of my multitudes of other devices.
The Noctua NH9 install instructions were wrong and I had to dismantle the thing to get the IHS metal suitably covered before applying the thermal paste to the tops of the IHS segments.
It idles at 43 Degrees C and settles at 71.3 degrees centigrade with my Chess software cranking all 12 cores to the Maximum.
This is ideal for Silicon performance on AMD Ryzen 9000 series chippery by the way.
If I was running a 9950X I would definitely AIO it!
I could only strap one of the fans the NH9 came with on the cooling fin block and could get it a few degrees cooler if I really need it but I will have to source a smaller unit that would fit better than the second NH9 fan.
I have not started seriously looking yet for one and may need to for the RAM to run at 6000 MHz I suspect.
Neway I have been onboarding at Hitachi since Jan 6th and have been focusing on that but as I do get past that will start to use this box much more for work and my own personal computing stuff.
So far, so good!
Till next time amigos!
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