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ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£60
  • Avg. price in US: ~$80
  • CPU socket: AM3+
  • Chipset: AMD 970
  • Form factor: ATX

ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

4.6

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the motherboard's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best motherboards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

4.2

Technical Score

10.0%

8.7

User score

Poor
4.2

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

4.8

Memory

16.0%

4.5

Platform & Features

16.0%

3.3

Storage

15.0%

5.0

Network

13.0%

2.6

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.2

Expansion

8.0%

4.2

Power & Cooling

5.0%

5.9

Audio

Poor
8.7

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.2

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.2
(691)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
(701)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Excellent
  • 3.9
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    4.3

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    1.0

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    9.0

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

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Best prices in UK

Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The ASRock 970 Pro3 R2.0 is an ATX motherboard built on the AMD 970 and SB950 chipset, designed to support AM3+ and AM3 processors including 8-core CPUs up to 140W. Key specifications include four DDR3 DIMM slots supporting up to 64GB of dual-channel memory at overclocked speeds of 2100+ MHz, two PCIe 2.0 x16 slots with AMD Quad CrossFireX support, and six SATA3 6.0 Gb/s connectors with RAID functionality. It features 100% solid capacitors, a 4+1 power phase design, and modern connectivity such as four USB 3.1 Gen1 ports and 7.1-channel HD audio via the Realtek ALC892 codec. Main advantages include a high-density glass fabric PCB for humidity protection and proprietary features like X-Boost for easy overclocking and Fast Boot for rapid OS loading. Notable drawbacks include limited overclocking potential due to the lack of VRM heatsinks and reported lag when navigating the UEFI BIOS with a mouse.

Technical Specifications of ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

4.8

Memory

16.0%

4.5

Platform & Features

16.0%

3.3

Storage

15.0%

5.0

Network

13.0%

2.6

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.2

Expansion

8.0%

4.2

Power & Cooling

5.0%

5.9

Audio

4.2
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has a technical score of 4.15 points, which is lower than that of 94.7% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.2

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.2
(691)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
(701)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

8.7
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has a user score of 8.74 points, which is higher than that of 77.2% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
10
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has a popularity of 10 points, which is higher than 79.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the motherboard's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a motherboard that offers a strong balance of features, performance, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

4.6

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

6.2
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.2 points, which is lower than 88.9% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The brand that makes the motherboard.
When it matters: When you have a brand preference for support, BIOS, or build quality.

Importance: MEDIUM

Asrock
CPU socket
What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

Importance: HIGH

AM3+
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 uses the AM3+ CPU socket, which is less advanced than that of 96.9% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.7% of motherboards.
CPU platform

Importance: MEDIUM

AMD
Chipset
What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

Importance: HIGH

AMD 970
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 uses the AMD 970 chipset, which is less advanced than that of 91.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.1% of motherboards.
Paired with SB950 southbridge.
Form factor
What it is: The physical size standard of the motherboard, such as ATX or Micro-ATX.
When it matters: When you need the board to fit a specific case size.

Importance: HIGH

ATX
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has the ATX form factor, which is more versatile than that of 47.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 52.2% of motherboards.
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DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: DDR5

DDR3
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 uses DDR3 memory, which is older than that of 86.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 13.4% of motherboards.
Memory slots
What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4

4
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.5% of motherboards and equal to 72.5% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

64 GB
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 supports up to 64 GB of memory, which is less than 62.6% of motherboards and equal to 24.3% of motherboards.
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.5% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
What it is: The highest officially supported memory speed for the motherboard.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=6400 MT/s

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N. of M.2 sockets
What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=3

0
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has 0 M.2 sockets, which is fewer than 88.4% of motherboards and equal to 11.7% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

Importance: HIGH

N/A
N. of SATA 3 connectors
What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

6
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has 6 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 52.6% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
What it is: The RAID modes officially supported by the motherboard storage platform.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple drives in a RAID setup.

Importance: MEDIUM

0/1/5/10
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
NVMe RAID support
What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

Importance: LOW

no
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not support NVMe RAID. 59.8% of motherboards support this feature.
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N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is equal to 68.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is equal to 55.6% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 3.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need more full-length expansion slots.

Importance: MEDIUM

0
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has 0 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is fewer than 59.5% of motherboards and equal to 40.5% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

Importance: HIGH

x16/x4
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 uses x16/x4 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is less flexible than that of 50.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 9.6% of motherboards.
PCIe bifurcation support
What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not support PCIe bifurcation. 61% of motherboards support this feature.
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Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8

8
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has 8 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 40.3% of motherboards and equal to 30.7% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=14

12
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has 12 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 72.4% of motherboards and equal to 16.6% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=1

0
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has 0 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.6% of motherboards and equal to 35.4% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB-C ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C connectivity across the whole build.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=2

0
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has 0 USB-C ports (including headers), which is fewer than 69.6% of motherboards and equal to 30.4% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
Show more
LAN speed
What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.5GbE

1 Gbps
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 supports LAN speeds up to 1 Gbps, which is lower than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 49.1% of motherboards.
LAN controller
What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek RTL8111E
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 uses the Realtek RTL8111E LAN controller, which is less advanced than that of 89.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.7% of motherboards.
N. of RJ45 ports
What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

Importance: LOW

1
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has 1 RJ45 ports, which is equal to 85.6% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes onboard Wi-Fi hardware instead of requiring a separate adapter.
When it matters: When you want wireless networking without adding an extra card.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 49.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)

N/A
Show more
Audio codec
What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek ALC892
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 uses the Realtek ALC892 audio codec, which is less advanced than that of 80.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 8.5% of motherboards.
Audio channels
What it is: The audio channel configuration supported by the onboard sound solution.
When it matters: When you want surround sound from the motherboard audio outputs.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 7.1

7.1
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=120 dB

95 dB
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has an audio SNR of 95 dB, which is lower than that of 84.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 10.1% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

no
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not support a headphone amp. 63% of motherboards support this feature.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
What it is: The number of rear 3.5mm audio jacks on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more analog audio connection options.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5

6
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has 6 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 86.6% of motherboards and equal to 13.4% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=12

4+1
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has 4+1 VRM phases, which is fewer than 95.7% of motherboards and equal to 1.1% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=2

1
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has 1 CPU power connectors, which is equal to 54.5% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

5
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has 5 fan headers, which is more than 35.8% of motherboards and equal to 14.5% of motherboards.
Pump header
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a dedicated header designed for a liquid-cooling pump.
When it matters: When you build with an AIO or custom liquid cooling loop.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not have a pump header. 77% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
What it is: The maximum current the dedicated pump header can supply.
When it matters: When you want to make sure the pump header can power your cooling setup.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2 A

0 A
ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 supports up to 0 A on the pump header, which is lower than that of 74.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 25.7% of motherboards.
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ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 vs the average motherboard

  • 2 more PCI slots
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.
    What it is: The number of legacy PCI slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you need compatibility with older expansion cards.

    Importance: LOW

    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.2 vs 0
  • 2 more PCIe 2.0x16 slots
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe 2.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you compare older full-length expansion options.

    Importance: LOW

    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.2 vs 0
  • 1 more USB 2.0 headers
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.
    What it is: The number of internal USB 2.0 headers available for case connections.
    When it matters: When your case or accessories need internal USB connections.

    Importance: LOW

    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.3 vs 2
  • 2 more SATA 3 connectors
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
    What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=6

    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.6 vs 4
  • 2.67x cheaper
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 is cheaper than the average motherboard (£60 vs £160).
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 is cheaper than the average motherboard (£60 vs £160).£60 vs £160
  • 4 more USB 2.0 ports
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 2.0 ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you use many basic USB peripherals.

    Importance: LOW

    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.6 vs 2
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
    What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
    When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.x16/x4 vs x16/x1
  • 2.4x more popular
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 is more popular than the average motherboard (10.00 vs 4.165).
    What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 is more popular than the average motherboard (10.00 vs 4.165).10 vs 4.17
  • 2 more SATA 3 connectors
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • 2 more PCI slots
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more PCI slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCI slot/s.
  • 2 more PCIe 2.0x16 slots
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
  • 1 more USB 2.0 headers
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.
  • 4 more USB 2.0 ports
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
  • 1 more 3.5mm audio jacks
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (6 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.

Total
Overall
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Audio
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD 970 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    Paired with SB950 southbridge.
  • No BIOS flashback support
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • No integrated graphics support
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not support integrated graphics, while the average motherboard does. 89.4% of motherboards support integrated graphics.
  • Older CPU socket
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has older CPU socket than the average motherboard (AM3+ vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Not ready for Windows 11
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 is not ready for Windows 11, while the average motherboard is. 77.1% of motherboards are ready for Windows 11.
  • No debug LED indicators
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not have debug LED indicators, while the average motherboard does. 78.8% of motherboards include debug LED indicators.
  • Fewer BIOS update options
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer BIOS update options than the average motherboard (UEFI utility, Windows app, DOS vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app). The average motherboard offers UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app BIOS update methods.
  • 8 years older release date
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 is older than the average motherboard (2,013 vs 2,021). The average motherboard was released in 2,021.
    June 2013
  • No TPM connector
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not have a TPM connector, while the average motherboard does. 86.7% of motherboards include a TPM connector.
  • Narrower Windows support
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has narrower Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
  • 50% less maximum memory capacity
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (64 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 57.4% lower overclocked RAM speed
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has a lower overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (2,100 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4,933 MT/s.
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • No NVMe RAID support
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
  • 1 fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer PCIe 3.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slot/s.
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
  • 3 fewer total USB connections
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (12 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
  • 2 fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
  • 1 fewer total USB-C connections
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 1 fewer HDMI outputs
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer HDMI outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 HDMI outputs.
    no onboard video outputs
  • More basic LAN controller
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111E vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • 20 dB lower audio SNR
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (95 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • More basic audio codec
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more basic audio codec than the average motherboard (Realtek ALC892 vs Realtek ALC898). The average motherboard uses Realtek ALC898 audio codec.
  • No headphone amp support
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not support a headphone amp, while the average motherboard does. 63% of motherboards support a headphone amp.
  • No optical S/PDIF out
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not have optical S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does. 55.7% of motherboards include optical S/PDIF out.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (4+1 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • No pump header
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not have a pump header, while the average motherboard does. 77% of motherboards include a pump header.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • 2 A lower pump header current limit
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has a lower pump header current than the average motherboard (0 A vs 2 A). The average motherboard provides pump header current of 2 A.
  • 61 mm wider
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 is wider than the average motherboard (305 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD 970 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    Paired with SB950 southbridge.
    What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
    When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (AMD 970 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.AMD 970 vs Intel B860
  • More basic LAN controller
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111E vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.
    What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has more basic LAN controller than the average motherboard (Realtek RTL8,111E vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C). The average motherboard uses Marvell AQtion AQC113C LAN controller.Realtek RTL8111E vs Marvell AQtion AQC113C
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
    What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 2.5GbE

    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=3

    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.0 vs 2
  • No NVMe RAID support
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
    What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
    When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

    Importance: LOW

    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 50% less maximum memory capacity
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (64 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
    When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=128 GB

    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (64 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.64 GB vs 128 GB
  • Older DDR memory generation
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
    When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: DDR5

    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR3 vs DDR4
  • No BIOS flashback support
    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard can update BIOS without needing a fully installed or supported CPU to boot first.
    When it matters: When you may need to update BIOS before the system can boot.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0 does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.2
691 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
701 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0?

  • Excellent price-to-performance ratio for budget-conscious builds
  • Clean and aesthetically pleasing layout with a high-density glass fabric PCB
  • Strong connectivity options including 6x SATA3 ports and 4x USB 3.0/3.1 Gen1 ports
  • User-friendly UEFI BIOS that is easy for beginners to navigate
  • Supports a wide range of AM3+ and AM3 processors, including 8-core CPUs

What customers dislike about ASRock 970 PRO3 R2 0?

  • Weak VRM design (4+1 power phase) makes it unsuitable for significant overclocking
  • Lack of VRM heatsinks can lead to thermal throttling or instability under high loads
  • Not ideal for high-TDP 8-core processors (like the FX-8000/9000 series) due to power limitations
  • Some users reported laggy or difficult mouse navigation within the UEFI BIOS interface
  • Occasional reports of reliability issues, such as SATA devices disappearing or system hangs
  • Limited expansion speed as the PCIe 2.0 x16 slots run at x8 mode when used in CrossfireX

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