This article takes a close look at the MSI Performance Gaming AMD X470 Ryzen 2ND and 3rd Gen AM4 DDR4 DVI HDMI Onboard Graphics CFX ATX Motherboard (X470 Gaming Plus Max), and asks whether it still makes sense to buy in 2026.
Overview
The MSI X470 Gaming Plus Max is an ATX motherboard for AMD Socket AM4, built on the X470 chipset with DDR4 memory support, DVI-D and HDMI 1.4 video outputs, and AMD CrossFire support.
The verdict up front: this is not a board for someone building a whole new PC from scratch. It is a board for someone who already owns DDR4 memory and an AM4 processor and wants a few more years out of that hardware.
Check the retailer's page for the latest user reviews. But a high score and a good deal today are different things.
As covered below, the price has drifted well above what this class of board originally sold for.
A quick buyer's table:
| If this is you | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You own a Ryzen 2000/3000 chip and DDR4 | Worth considering | Swap the board, keep the CPU and RAM |
| You are building a new PC | Skip it | PCIe 3.0 only, one M.2, no Wi-Fi — not worth today's price |
| You want a cheap APU build (2200G/3400G) | Conditional yes | The DVI/HDMI outputs only work with an APU |
| You want PCIe 4.0 SSDs or a modern GPU | Skip it | Everything drops to PCIe 3.0 |
| Your existing X470 build died | Worth considering | Restores the same configuration, but compare used prices |
Rows three and five are where opinions split. The APU route is easy to misread, and the repair case is a tug-of-war between convenience and a scarcity premium.
Read the caveats below before deciding either way.
Compatibility Guide
Socket: AMD AM4. Officially supports Ryzen 2000 series (Pinnacle Ridge) and 3000 series (Matisse).
Note that Ryzen 7000 and newer moved to the AM5 socket and physically will not fit — "it's AM4" does not mean recent Ryzen chips work here.
Memory: DDR4-2133 to 3466+ (OC). The supplied spec sheet lists a 64 GB maximum in dual channel.
Listings differ on DIMM slot counts, so if you plan on four sticks or 2x 32 GB, confirm on the manufacturer page and check the memory QVL first. Ryzen of this era responds well to memory speed, but DDR4-3200 is the realistic target on X470; anything beyond that varies kit to kit.
Form factor: standard ATX, so any mid-tower or larger case will take it. Power: 24-pin ATX plus 8-pin CPU, with 550W as the recommended PSU target.
That figure assumes a Ryzen 5 class CPU and a mid-range GPU — budget more headroom for a power-hungry card.
Storage: 6x SATA 6Gb/s and a single M.2 slot (PCIe 3.0 x4 / SATA).
NVMe works fine as a boot drive, but one M.2 slot is a real limitation by 2026 standards; a second NVMe needs a PCIe adapter card.
The DVI-D and HDMI 1.4 outputs sit on the rear I/O panel.
The most common misunderstanding: those ports only produce a picture when an APU with integrated graphics is installed (Ryzen 3 2200G, Ryzen 5 3400G — the G-suffix models). A Ryzen 5 3600 has no integrated GPU, so a discrete graphics card is mandatory.
Networking is Realtek RTL8111H gigabit, audio is Realtek ALC892 7.1ch, and USB covers USB 3.1 Gen2 (Type-A + Type-C), USB 3.1 Gen1 and USB 2.0.
There is no 2.5GbE and no Wi-Fi, so plan on a PCIe card or USB adapter if you need wireless.
Will Ryzen 5000 Work?
This is the question people ask most. AMD committed in 2020 to adding Zen 3 (Ryzen 5000) support to 400-series chipsets, and BIOS updates enabling it followed from board makers.
So "X470 can never run a 5000 series chip" is not accurate.
Three conditions apply. First, a BIOS update is mandatory.
Second, a 5000 series CPU will not POST on older firmware, so you need a working 2000/3000 series chip on hand to perform the flash — and this board is reported to lack USB BIOS Flashback, meaning there is no CPU-less update path. Third, which exact models pass depends on MSI's published CPU support list and BIOS version.
Check that page before you buy.
There is a power consideration too. X470-era VRM designs were not aimed at sustained Ryzen 9 workloads, so 12- and 16-core parts under continuous full load need real thought about cooling and case airflow.
A Ryzen 5 to Ryzen 7 class chip is the sensible ceiling.
Product Info
Released in 2019 as part of MSI's mid-range gaming lineup. The "MAX" suffix marks a revision with reworked BIOS storage so the board can hold a wider CPU support table — a plain X470 Gaming Plus without MAX is not the same thing.
When shopping used or grey-market, verify that MAX is in the model name.
Key specs: AMD X470 chipset, AM4 socket, DDR4 (2133-3466+ OC) up to 64 GB, PCIe 3.0, DVI-D and HDMI 1.4 outputs, USB 3.1 Gen2 (Type-A + Type-C), Realtek RTL8111H gigabit LAN, and Realtek ALC892 7.1ch audio.
Warranty is the standard manufacturer term, and registration may be required.
Pricing deserves a warning. The Amazon JP listing showed ￥40,776 as of August 30, 2026, which is far above what this class of ATX board sold for when current.
The product is discontinued, and thin ongoing demand for AM4 maintenance and repair explains the premium. The listing is fulfilled by a marketplace seller, so the figure swings with stock.
The eBay entry returned only "See listing" at capture time, so no street price can be quoted there. Always confirm the price on the product page right before buying.
The volume and average suggest no systemic quality or early-failure problem — though most of those reviews were written while the board was still a current product.
How It Compares
| X470 Gaming Plus Max | B450 era | B550 | X570 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCIe | 3.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 for GPU/M.2 | 4.0 |
| Ryzen 5000 | BIOS update, verify first | BIOS update, verify first | Native | Native |
| Chipset fan | None | None | None | On many models |
| Role | Extending an AM4 build | Cheaper extension | Default new AM4 build | High-end AM4 |
For a new AM4 build today, B550 is the straightforward answer: PCIe 4.0 M.2 support and Ryzen 5000 compatibility out of the box on most units.
The value of the X470 Gaming Plus Max is not performance — it is the ability to keep running the parts you already have. If you want to reuse DDR4 on the Intel side instead, an LGA1700 DDR4 board is another route.
Best Use Cases
Extending an existing AM4 build. If a Ryzen 5 3600 or Ryzen 7 2700X, DDR4 memory and a PCIe 3.0 NVMe drive are already sitting on your desk, dropping them into this board brings the machine back with no other purchases.
Like-for-like repair. When a board dies and you would rather not redo OS activation and drivers, matching the chipset is the shortest path back to a working PC.
A cheap APU office or media box. Pair a Ryzen 3 2200G or Ryzen 5 3400G with the DVI/HDMI outputs and you get a no-GPU machine that is fine for documents and video.
Again: APU only.
CrossFire experiments. Two-way Radeon CrossFire is supported, but modern games essentially do not use multi-GPU.
Treat it as a hobby exercise.
Setup Notes
- Check whether your CPU is 2000/3000 series or 5000 series.
With only a 5000 series chip, you may not be able to flash this board at all. 2.
Look up the current BIOS version and the CPU support list on MSI's product page before assembly. 3.
Boot once with the older CPU, update the BIOS, then swap in the target CPU. 4.
Bring memory up at JEDEC speed first, then enable XMP. Starting with XMP makes it impossible to tell a bad kit from a bad setting.
- If you use a SATA-based M.2 drive, check the manual for which SATA ports get disabled.
Things to Consider
PCIe 3.0 is the ceiling. A PCIe 4.0 SSD or a newer GPU will run at 3.0 bandwidth.
For gaming the GPU gap is usually within a few percent, but SSD sequential throughput is visibly capped — that is the source of most "my fast SSD isn't fast" complaints.
Today's price is scarcity, not value. The ￥40,776 captured on August 30, 2026 reflects a discontinued part with residual demand.
If you can spend that much, a newer platform gives you more. Add up the whole build before deciding that this is the cheap option.
The BIOS chicken-and-egg problem. With no USB BIOS Flashback, you cannot update without a CPU the shipping firmware already supports.
Buying a unit whose listing does not state its BIOS version carries real risk.
**Listing data can disagree with reality.Check the retailer's page for the latest price. Amazon listings can also show seller or registration details that do not match the actual product.
Accept the expansion limits. One M.2 slot, gigabit rather than 2.5GbE, no Wi-Fi, and ALC892 audio all sit a step below current-generation norms.
Adding those later costs slots and money.
Memory OC varies. DDR4-3466+ is a ceiling, not a guarantee.
Plan around rated speeds, treat XMP as a bonus, and pick a kit from the QVL if you want a quiet life.
FAQ
Q: Can I run a Ryzen 5 5600X or another 5000 series chip? A: Conditionally yes.
AMD added Ryzen 5000 support to 400-series chipsets, and the right BIOS enables it on supported combinations. But the flash requires an older CPU (this board is reported to lack USB BIOS Flashback), and exact compatibility depends on MSI's CPU support list and BIOS version.
Verify before buying; B550 or X570 is the safer route if you want certainty.
Q: Will the DVI/HDMI outputs work without a graphics card? A: Only with an APU that has integrated graphics (Ryzen 3 2200G, Ryzen 5 3400G — G-suffix models).
A Ryzen 5 3600 has no iGPU, so a discrete card is required. Getting this wrong is the classic "built it, no picture" failure.
Q: Does the M.2 slot take NVMe or SATA drives? A: Both — PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe and SATA 6Gb/s.
Using a SATA M.2 drive may disable one of the SATA ports; check the manual for the specifics.
Q: Is Wi-Fi included? A: No.
Networking is the Realtek RTL8111H gigabit wired LAN only. Add a PCIe Wi-Fi card or a USB adapter if you need wireless.
Q: Can I mount an AIO liquid cooler? A: Yes, the board uses the standard AM4 retention, so any AM4-compatible pump block fits.
Whether a 240mm or 280mm radiator fits depends on your case. VRM heatsink clearance is rarely an issue.
Product Disclosure (Amazon)
- Manufacturer: MSI
- Seller: Reg shop
- Fulfilled by: Reg shop
- ASIN: B07Y468HV3
- Note: This article covers a manufacturer-made product based on Amazon listing details.
