TRX40 Motherboards For 3rd-Gen Threadripper (2021 Update)

AMD’s 3rd-generation Threadripper CPUs still offer the best value by far if you are building a high-end desktop (HEDT) system in 2021.

The closest Intel competitors such as the Xeon W-3175X top out at 28 cores, so AMD’s only real competitor at the moment is AMD itself in the form of its Threadripper Pro platform. However, the 3rd-gen 64-core/128-thread TR 3990X is only marginally bested by the significantly pricier Threadripper Pro 3995WX in common rendering tasks.

For owners of previous-gen Threadripper systems, the downside is that the 3000-series generation uses the sTRX4 socket, meaning that 3rd-gen chips can’t be dropped into X399 motherboards. In other words, you are going to need a TRX40 motherboard to pair with your TR3 CPU.

Here, we will take a look at the alternatives for different use cases and budgets.

Best Value Vs High-End TRX40 Motherboards

Although it may offer much better value than the alternatives, there is no such thing as a budget Threadripper 3 build. All boards are well above the specs of mainstream platforms such as X570 and B550 in terms of the I/O offered. Other than plenty of PCIe 4.0 lanes, you get native USB 3.1 Gen2 and, more importantly, support for up to 256 GB of quad-channel DDR4 RAM, regardless of your choice. Nevertheless, prices and feature sets differ a great deal.

Product

Best Value

GIGABYTE TRX40 AORUS PRO WIFI (sTRX/AMD/TRX40/Fins-Array Heatsink/12+2 Phases Infineon Digital VRM/3x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2/Intel WiFi 6/Intel GbE LAN/ATX/Motherboard)

Premium E-ATX

ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme TRX40 Gaming AMD 3rd Gen Ryzen Threadripper sTRX4 EATX Motherboard with 16 power stages, PCIe 4.0, WiFi 6 (802.11ax), USB 3.2 Gen2 and Aura Sync RGB

Image

Form Factor

ATX

E-ATX

VRM

12+2-Phase Infineon

16-Phase Infineon TDA21472

Max. RAM Clock

4400 MHz (OC)

4733 MHz (OC)

Wi-Fi Adapter

Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200

Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200

Ethernet Adapter

1 GbE

10 GbE (Aquantia)

PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots

3

5

PCIe x16/x8/x1 Slots

2+2+1

2+2+0

USB 3.1 Gen 2

5x Type-A + 2x Type-C

9x Type-A + 2x Type-C

Audio

Realtek ALC4050H + ALC1220-VB

ROG SupremeFX S1220

Best Value

Product

GIGABYTE TRX40 AORUS PRO WIFI (sTRX/AMD/TRX40/Fins-Array Heatsink/12+2 Phases Infineon Digital VRM/3x PCIe 4.0x4 M.2/Intel WiFi 6/Intel GbE LAN/ATX/Motherboard)

Image

Form Factor

ATX

VRM

12+2-Phase Infineon

Max. RAM Clock

4400 MHz (OC)

Wi-Fi Adapter

Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200

Ethernet Adapter

1 GbE

PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots

3

PCIe x16/x8/x1 Slots

2+2+1

USB 3.1 Gen 2

5x Type-A + 2x Type-C

Audio

Realtek ALC4050H + ALC1220-VB

Premium E-ATX

Product

ASUS ROG Zenith II Extreme TRX40 Gaming AMD 3rd Gen Ryzen Threadripper sTRX4 EATX Motherboard with 16 power stages, PCIe 4.0, WiFi 6 (802.11ax), USB 3.2 Gen2 and Aura Sync RGB

Image

Form Factor

E-ATX

VRM

16-Phase Infineon TDA21472

Max. RAM Clock

4733 MHz (OC)

Wi-Fi Adapter

Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200

Ethernet Adapter

10 GbE (Aquantia)

PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots

5

PCIe x16/x8/x1 Slots

2+2+0

USB 3.1 Gen 2

9x Type-A + 2x Type-C

Audio

ROG SupremeFX S1220

Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Gigabyte’s TRX40 Aorus Pro WiFi is highly capable, but still one of (if not the) most affordable TRX40 motherboard. It offers a powerful VRM, three M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots, and an onboard WiFi 6/ax adapter. The ROG Zenith II Extreme (detailed below), on the other hand, is Asus’ premium option and doubtlessly one of the best TRX40 motherboards. Some highlights include an even more powerful VRM, 10 GbE LAN, and no less than five M.2 slots.

Now for a more detailed look at the manufacturers’ TRX40 product stacks for professionals and prosumers aiming to build a high-end system based on Threadripper 3.

Asus TRX40 Motherboard Lineup

ASUS TRX40 Motherboards	Form Factor	VRM	DDR4 Support	PCIe 4.0 M.2 Slots	Ethernet/ Wi-Fi	USB 3.1 Gen2
ROG Zenith II Extreme Alpha	E-ATX	16-phase	4733 MHz	5x	10 Gbps 1 Gbps WiFi 6/ax	9x Type-A 2x Type-C
ROG Zenith II Extreme	E-ATX	16-phase	4733 MHz	5x	10 Gbps 1 Gbps WiFi 6/ax	9x Type-A 2x Type-C
ROG Strix TRX40-E	ATX	16-phase	4666 MHz	3x	2.5 Gbps WiFi 6/ax	7x Type-A 1x Type-C
Prime TRX40-Pro	ATX	16-phase	4666 MHz	3x	1 Gbps	3x Type-A 1x Type-C

Asus’ TRX40 Flagship: Asus ROG Zenith II Extreme Alpha

Asus has an excellent track record in the high-end motherboard segment. So, we’re comfortable starting off our roundup with the ROG Zenith II Extreme Alpha. This board features eight RAM slots (four channels, as all TRX40 boards), plus four PCIe x16 slots for multiple GPUs or other add-in cards. It also comes with no less than five M.2 PCIe 4.0-based storage slots, including two on a separate add-in card (included).

In terms of connectivity, you get an Aquantia ACQ-107 10G Ethernet port, plus another 1Gbps LAN port, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), and Bluetooth 5. The 16-phase VRM should be up for the task of powering the 3rd-gen Threadrippers up to the Threadripper 3990X with 64 cores, 128 threads, and 280-watt TDP. Note that Zenith II Extreme Alpha is a more recent version of the Zenith II Extreme (without the “Alpha”). The main difference between the two is the Alpha’s improved VRM with 16 Infineon TDA21490 90 A power stages.

Although gaming is not the primary focus of the Threadripper platform, this motherboard is part of the ROG (Republic of Gamers) lineup. If you enjoy light shows, you can “RGB up” the system to your heart’s content using this board’s headers.

Pros:

• Five M.2 slots
• Aquantia ACQ-107 10G Ethernet port
• Five M.2 slots
• Wi-Fi 6/ax and Bluetooth 5

Cons:

• Very expensive
• Onboard fan

All things considered, we are quite confident that this is one of the best TRX40 motherboards that you can get your hands on for the 3rd generation of AMD’s Threadripper CPUs. “This is a board that … fully realizes its Extreme name and potential”, as Hexus.net puts it.

Manufacturer’s product page

MSI TRX40 Motherboard Lineup

MSI TRX40 Motherboards	Form Factor	VRM	DDR4 Support	PCIe 4.0 M.2 Slots	Ethernet/ Wi-Fi	USB 3.1 Gen2
Creator TRX40	E-ATX	16-phase	4666 MHz	7x	10 GbE WiFi 6/ax	5x Type-A 2x Type-C
TRX40 Pro 10G	ATX	12-phase	4666 MHz	4x	2x 1 GbE 1x 10 GbE	3x Type-A 2x Type-C
TRX40 Pro WiFi	ATX	12-phase	4666 MHz	4x	2x 1 GbE WiFi 6/ax	3x Type-A 2x Type-C
TRX40-A Pro	ATX	12-phase	4666 MHz	2x	2x 1 GbE	3x Type-A 2x Type-C

Creator’s Delight: MSI Creator TRX40

Like the aforementioned board, this one has a 16-phase power design, making it capable of supporting the TR3 CPUs with headroom to spare. Like all boards on this list, the Creator TRX40 comes with 10GbE LAN + 1Gbps LAN connectivity, and Wi-Fi 6.

For storage, you get three M.2 slots and six SATA ports for SSDs and HDDs. The motherboard also features the normal eight RAM slots. The color scheme is more subtle than some of the gaming-themed TRX 40 motherboards, which may be a plus for professional users. All these features do come at a cost as this is in no way an inexpensive option.

An interesting feature is that you can use the M.2 Xpander-Aero add-in card with this motherboard to get four additional M.2 slots if you need them. In other words, this board is highly suited to creative types with storage-intensive workloads like high-res video editing.

Pros:

• 10 GbE LAN + WiFi 6
• Four PCIe x16 slots
• 3+4 M.2 slots
• 16-phase power design

Cons:

• Chipset fan
• Expensive, but more affordable than other high-end options

All things considered, the MSI Creator is a premium motherboard with a premium price, although it’s one of the cheaper flagship models. And for the price, you get a motherboard that is not only able to support higher core-count CPUs properly but also brings lots of premium features to the table – not least the ample M.2 storage capacity. Also, read the review by Guru3d.com.

Manufacturer’s product page

Gigabyte TRX40 Motherboard Lineup

Gigabyte TRX40 Motherboards	Form Factor	VRM	DDR4 Support	PCIe 4.0 M.2 Slots	Ethernet/ Wi-Fi	USB 3.1 Gen2
Aorus Xtreme	XL-ATX	16+3-phase	4400 MHz	4x	10 GbE WiFi 6/ax	7x Type-A 2x Type-C
Designare	XL-ATX	16+3-phase	4400 MHz	4x	2x 1 GbE WiFi 6/ax	5x Type-A 1x Type-C Thunderbolt 3 (AIC Card)
Aorus Master	E-ATX	16+3-phase	4400 MHz	3x	1x 5 GbE 1x 1 GbE	5x Type-A 2x Type-C
Aorus Pro WiFi	ATX	12+2-phase	4400 MHz	3x	2x 1 GbE WiFi 6/ax	5x Type-A 1x Type-C

Note: The Designare TRX40 offers Thunderbolt 3 connectivity via an included add-in card. 

Gigabyte’s Mothership: TRX40 Aorus Xtreme

Aorus is Gigabyte’s gaming-oriented premium brand, and the TRX40 Aorus Xtreme is the top TRX40 motherboard that the company has to offer right now. It is, of course, a high-end motherboard that is covered all over (chipset and M.2 slots) with heat sinks. Some might say this is overkill but it does keep the components cool while looking very tidy. The design is sleek and sophisticated compared to other flagship boards, so it should blend in well with the rest of your workstation build.

The motherboard uses a 16+3 power design which makes it powerful enough for the latest line of Threadrippers, including the 3990X. It also features 8 RAM slots, 4 PCIe x16 slots, 4 M.2 slots, and 10 SATA 6Gbps ports. Like the Asus competitor, this one comes with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 for wireless connectivity.

Just like the front, there is plenty of coverings on the back as well. As with every other high-end motherboard today, you also get RGB lighting that can be synced with other supporting parts and peripherals. The PCIe slots and RAM slots are reinforced for better GPU support and durability.

Pros:

• 16+3 power design
• 4x M.2 slots
• 10 SATA ports
• Onboard power and reset buttons

Cons:

• Very expensive
• Chipset fan

The Gigabyte TRX40 Aorus Xtreme is one of the most sophisticated motherboards on the market for the 3rd generation of Threadripper CPUs. It comes with all the features provided by the chipset and then some, although it is not by any means cheap. Read the review by Bit-tech.net.

Manufacturer’s product page

ASRock Motherboard Lineup

ASRock TRX40 Motherboards	Form Factor	VRM	DDR4 Support	PCIe 4.0 M.2 Slots	Ethernet/ Wi-Fi	USB 3.1 Gen2
TRX40 Taichi	ATX	16-phase	4666 MHz	6x	2.5+1 GbE WiFi 6/ax	2x Type-A 2x Type-C
TRX40 Creator	ATX	8-phase	4666 MHz	3x	10+2.5 GbE WiFi 6/ax	2x Type-A 2x Type-C

Best ASRock: TRX40 Taichi

As per customary, ASRock offers a flagship Taichi board for the Threadripper 3000 platform. The design is similar to the X570 Taichi and features a black and silver theme. The motherboard has plenty of heatsinks that match its overall design.

In terms of power delivery, it has a 16-phase power design with black capacitors that match the aesthetic of the motherboard.

The chipset has dual cooling fans to keep the thermals in check. These should be great for cooling but they are nevertheless additional moving parts that make some noise and may fail eventually. On the other hand, this appears to be very common with PCIe 4.0 motherboards even in the mainstream segment.

Additionally, the board features Wi-Fi 6 for fast wireless speeds. It also supports the Hyper Quad M.2 add-in card, which provides four additional M.2 slots if you need lots of ultra-fast storage space. All these features make this TRX40 motherboard great for 3rd-generation Threadripper CPUs. It also comes with a BIOS flashback button in case anything goes wrong.

Pros:

• 2+4 M.2 slots
• 16-phase power design
• Purity Sound 4 & DTS Connect

Cons:

• Pricey
• Chipset fan

All things considered, this is an exceptionally powerful motherboard and a good pairing for any of the 3rd-gen Threadripper CPUs. There are plenty of heat spreaders on the motherboard to keep the thermals in check. If you like ASRock motherboards then this is probably a great TRX40 option. It comes highly recommended based on the review by Techpowerup.

Manufacturer’s product page

Best Value TRX40 Motherboards

None of the boards that support this high-end platform are inexpensive. But by scaling back on some of the less important features, most builders can save quite a lot and still get a very powerful board with everything they will ever use. These are our top picks that compromise the least in the critical areas.

Asus ROG STRIX TRX40-E Gaming

This high-end alternative from Asus might not be the most sophisticated model, but it looks impressive overall. As it’s an Asus product, you get the usual ROG Strix looks with some RGB added. The motherboard has 16 power stages and dual 8-pin power connectors for the CPU.

Moreover, it features a large heatsink and a fan for cooling the VRM. The board’s 8 RAM slots support 4400+ MHz OC speeds. It has three M.2 slots, two of which are hidden beneath the massive heatsink and get cooled from the fan. You also get plenty of connectors for storage.

The Strix comes with Wi-Fi 6 and also has an onboard OLED that can be customized, as well as a premounted I/O shield for easy installation. This is DIY-friendly and ideal for people who want to build their own PCs.

Pros:

• 16 power stages
• Wi-Fi 6
• A bit cheaper than the premium options

Cons:

• A “gaming” design might not appeal to all

The Asus ROG STRIX TRX40-E is a bit more affordable than the other models that we have looked at on this list but it still offers a very nice feature set and lots of I/O.

Manufacturer’s product page

Gigabyte TRX40 Aorus Master

A slight step down in the TRX40 range from Gigabyte, we find the TRX40 Aorus Master. The design and color scheme of the board is similar to other Gigabyte motherboards that we’ve seen. It features the customary eight RAM slots and supports 4400+ MHz memory in quad-channel mode. Its 16+3 phase VRM should be more than capable of handling all Threadripper 3000-series CPUs.

For blazing-fast Internet speeds, you get AQUANTIA 5 GbE LAN and Intel GbE with cFosSpeed, but it also includes Wi-Fi 6. The motherboard features 4 M.2 slots and each of them comes with a heatsink. Additionally, it comes with the USB TurboCharger feature for fast charging of mobile devices.

As with all high-end Gigabyte motherboards, you get RGB FUSION 2.0 in different zones of the motherboard as well as RGB headers for syncing the lighting effects with other supported parts and peripherals. The Q-Flash Plus feature allows the user to update the BIOS without installing a CPU, GPU, or RAM, which can come in handy in many situations.

Pros:

• 5 GbE LAN + Intel GbE LAN with cFosSpeed
• 4 M.2 Slots
• Wi-Fi 6
• Q-Flash Plus feature

Cons:

• Design is very similar to older models

The TRX40 Aorus Master comes with most of the bells and whistles that you can ask for in a high-end motherboard. It should be ideal for content creators who need the extra I/O along with the extra cores and threads.

Manufacturer’s product page

Asus Prime TRX40-Pro

The Asus Prime TRX40 Pro is a somewhat more wallet-friendly option with a relatively clean look as compared to other motherboards on this list. What makes the board stand out is mainly that it comes in white.

It has an integrated I/O shield for easy installation and like all the other motherboards on this list, this one comes with 8 RAM slots that support 4400+ MHz RAM. The VRM components are cooled properly with heatsinks and there is an active cooling fan on the chipset as well.

Other highlights of this motherboard include 16 power stages, RGB lighting headers, and three M.2 slots for fast PCIe 4.0 storage. To keep costs down, you will have to do without Wi-Fi or high-speed LAN, but you get plenty of the usual connectivity including USB Type-C.

Pros:

• Integrated I/O shield
• 16 power stages
• Three M.2 Slots

Cons:

• No Wi-Fi or ultra-fast LAN

Although no Threadripper system can be called affordable, the Asus Prime TRX40 Pro is comparatively cheap compared to the other motherboards on offer for this platform. While it doesn’t have onboard Wi-Fi or ultra-fast wired LAN, far from everyone will be able to utilize (or want to pay extra for) 10 GbE or onboard OLED panels.

Manufacturer’s product page

These are the most interesting TRX40 motherboards for AMD’s Threadripper Gen 3 that we’ve seen so far. Don’t hesitate to let us know what you think in the comments.