Intel and AMD have launched their new technology of CPUs into the wild. With these releases, come a slew of recent motherboard decisions. There are many acquainted faces from previous generations, loaded up with the most recent tech like DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5.
For the final a number of months we’ve been painstakingly going over these motherboards with a fine-tooth comb: What options do they provide for on a regular basis players? How good is the construct high quality and design? How good is the efficiency supplied? These issues come collectively to create the intrinsic worth supplied by every motherboard, and to reply the all-important query: “Is this motherboard worth it?”
Each motherboard brings with it a nuanced expertise: from opening the field, to holding it in your palms, to updating drivers, and to lastly utilizing it for gaming.
We’ll additionally make a giant deal out of pricing, as a result of it’s a significant step in selecting a motherboard. We gained’t sugar coat it: Motherboard costs have gone up on common with the brand new technology, so we need to ensure you’re getting worth to your greenback. From costly fanatic motherboards, to a extra reasonably priced ones—we’ve received you coated.
In this gaming motherboard roundup, we’re going to cowl premium choices, midrange choices, and extra reasonably priced choices. (Truly “budget” motherboard choices shall be for a future roundup, as AMD continues to be releasing extra reasonably priced choices to compete with Intel, and Intel has extra coming as effectively.)
Best gaming motherboards for Intel
1. Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Hero – Best premium Intel gaming motherboard
Pros
- Great for each players and content material creators
- Excellent I/O, M.2 drive choices, and USB ports
- Attractive design and sturdy construct high quality
Cons
- 10GbE networking can be welcomed
- Gamer-only PC builds could also be higher off with the cheaper Strix fashions
Price When Reviewed:
629.99
If you’re after a premium motherboard to your Intel 13th-generation CPU, the Asus ROG Z790 is without doubt one of the greatest decisions available on the market. The Intel i9 13900Okay makes a superb pairing right here, with twin 20+1 energy levels providing overkill efficiency.
Packing DDR5, PCIe Gen 5, and a great deal of USB ports, it has loads of I/O, too. M.2 drive slots are lots—with three onboard, plus an included ROG M.2 PCIe card that permits you to add two extra. Other standout options embody Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5Gb networking, and extra “heatsinks” than you rely.
Packaging is properly finished, with a premium field and accent inclusion to match the $629.99 MSRP. The motherboard can also be very well-built and feels substantial within the palms, with a weighty heft.
The ROG, or “Republic of Gamers,” branding has been fashionable with fanatic players. Part of the reason being the gamer-centric design, which this motherboard has in spades. Like RGB? You’ll be at house right here, with a stupendous I/O space show. The remainder of the motherboard is adorned with high-quality finishes and loads of thermal “armor” covers, too. The VRM heatsinks look downright imposing—and do their job tremendously effectively.
With efficiency to match the aesthetics, players will discover a great deal of overclocking options right here too. A terrific BIOS, Clear CMOS, and an onboard energy button all make your overclocking life simpler!
This motherboard is little question amongst the costlier, however for the fanatic who doesn’t thoughts spending a bit extra to get some further options and properly finished particulars, it provides worth—with few compromises on aesthetics or efficiency.
Read our full
Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Hero review
2. MSI Z790 Edge WiFi DDR4 – Best midrange Intel gaming motherboard
Pros
- Good set of options for each players and content material creators
- Plenty of I/O, 5 M.2 slots, and 10 USB ports with 20Gb/s USB
- Beautiful silver design, plus built-in I/O defend
Cons
- $369 MSRP isn’t horrible, however DDR4 must be cheaper
- No improve path after 13th-gen Intel, as Z790 is the final earlier than a chipset change
Price When Reviewed:
$369
You’ll get some mighty bang to your buck within the midrange phase: sufficient options and aesthetics to impress, however at a value you may abdomen.
The MSI Edge WiFi Z790 is a main instance. Besides boasting a wholesome characteristic set, the board is available in both DDR5 or DDR4 variations, providing you with much more flexibility in your price range, do you have to select to stay with reminiscence you have already got or to save lots of on buying last-gen modules. (We’d go for the DDR5 model ourselves, as a way of future-proofing, however you may count on to pay about $30 further for that help.)
Both variations help 12th-gen and 13th-gen Intel CPU—the 16+1+1 part VRM can deal with even the i9 13900Okay for gaming. However, a midrange CPU such because the 13600Okay or 13700Okay would make a superb pairing right here. You’ll additionally get plenty of I/O—with 10 USB ports, together with quick 20Gb/s. Five M.2 slots and PCIe Gen 5 within the type of a 16x slot spherical out the choices.
Aesthetics are king with this board—the white and silver design shall be a chic basis for any construct. The complete motherboard is roofed with good thermal armor and tasteful accents. The construct high quality is strong, besides.
With a value of $369, and the flexibility to pair with cheaper DDR4 and an older Intel 12th-gen CPU, there’s nice worth right here. While it doesn’t have the flamboyant field or accouterments of costlier motherboards, it’s received the options you’ll want at a superb value vary.
3. MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 – Best bang-for-the-buck Intel gaming motherboard
Pros
- Great for each players and no-frills content material creators
- Good providing of I/O, M.2 slots, and loads of USB
- Edgy, however clear design
Cons
- Gamers wanting extra RGB flare might want to look elsewhere
- MSRP of $309 is truthful, however we’d prefer to see this DDR4 model cheaper on account of no DDR5 and extra restricted PCIe Gen 5
Price When Reviewed:
$309.99
If you need to get pleasure from almost the identical next-generation efficiency in video games as you’d in rather more costly motherboards, the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk has you coated. Sure, it’s not a premium $500-plus behemoth, however it has precisely the options you’ll have to have an ideal expertise. And certain, there are some cheaper choices on the market, however this board offers you a great deal of options for the worth.
As with the Edge WiFi Z790 above, choosing DDR4 helps reduce the construct prices significantly. Support for 12th- and 13th-gen Intel CPUs offers you plenty of choices and value flexibility You’ll get the identical 16x PCIe Gen 5 discovered on many costlier motherboards, plus Wi-Fi 6E and a pair of.5Gb LAN. No skimping on M.2 slots right here, both—you’ll get a complete of 4 PCIe Gen 4 slots! That’s adopted by 10 USB ports on the again, (20Gb/s) and even BIOS Flashback and Clear CMOS. All informed, it ought to go away solely essentially the most demanding players needing extra.
Top it off with a clear, no-frills design, and also you’re many of the manner there by way of options in comparison with pricier choices. The motherboard is fundamental by way of RGB, however you do get RGB headers. You additionally get PWM fan headers and even nice VRM efficiency, with a fancy-sounding 16+1+1 “Duet Rail Power System” that may deal with even an i9 Intel CPU!
In phrases of worth for what you’re getting, it’s an ideal bundle. You’ll even have a considerably cheaper platform value by combining the $309 MSRP, cheaper DDR4, and big range of Intel CPUs to pair with.
Read our full
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 review
Best gaming motherboards for AMD
1. Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero – Best premium AMD gaming motherboard
Pros
- Well-rounded options for players and content material creators
- High construct high quality, premium really feel
- Next-gen efficiency: VRMs, DDR5, PCIe Gen 5, USB4
Cons
- Overall increased AM5 platform prices make this a premium expertise
- 10GbE networking can be welcome at this stage
Price When Reviewed:
$699.99
AMD’s new AM5 platform brings with it some mighty-fast CPUs such because the Ryzen 9 7950X. With this energy, you’ll want a premium motherboard to pair with it: Enter the Asus ROG X670E Hero. Repeating a lot of what makes the Hero an fanatic favourite on Intel and previous AMD X570, it’s again with much more options.
DDR5, PCIe Gen 5, all there—and these PCIe lanes are very expansive on the X670E chipset. Not solely will you get two PCIe Gen 5 16x slots, however you’ll additionally get 4 onboard M.2 NVMe slots. Two of them are PCIe Gen 5, and two are Gen 4—now that’s storage efficiency! Wait, there’s extra! With the included accent PCIe Gen 5 card, you may add an extra NVMe drive.
Nestled amongst the 12 rear USB ports, you’ll discover USB4, which has related 40Gb/s speeds to Thunderbolt 4. The common Wi-Fi 6E and Intel 2.5Gb LAN are right here too, plus a couple of good usability options: Asus Q-Release and Q-Latch, for the PCIe slot and M.2 slots, respectively. These make swapping out parts easy.
But you desire a ROG Hero due to the aesthetics and RGB, proper? With a resoundingly weighty construct high quality, the general design can also be attractive. There are shiny and matte finishes all through, however your eye will rapidly be drawn to the showy RGB as a substitute. Nicely finished—and better of all, it utterly matches the design and makes for a premium expertise.
With new Ryzen CPUs such because the 7950X3D fashions popping out, these looking for most efficiency will do effectively with the ROG Hero, which has the 18+2 teamed energy levels to deal with blazingly quick CPUs.
The mixture of wonderful options and mouth watering eye-candy definitely justifies its $699 MSRP. This board is for fanatic players wanting a premium expertise. With DDR5 getting cheaper, and extra Ryzen CPU fashions being launched, there are extra alternatives for general decrease platform prices, too.
Read our full
Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero review
2. Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master – Best midrange AMD gaming motherboard
Pros
- New tech is right here—DDR5, PCIe Gen 5
- Plenty of M.2 slots, USB ports, and community connectivity
- Great VRM efficiency for any Ryzen 7000 CPU
- AM5 sturdy future upgradability
- Great construct high quality and worth general
Cons
- 4 SATA ports could also be a restrict to some (a B650E limitation)
- Missing sooner USB port is 3.2 Gen 2 20Gb/s
- M.2 PCIe Gen 5 might restrict GPU pace to 8x if all populated
Price When Reviewed:
349.99
AMD offers us numerous choices with AM5—comparable to B650E, which has barely decreased performance in comparison with X670E. The value can also be decreased—and in our opinion, you’ll nonetheless get many of the goodies. It simply has a couple of much less PCIe Gen 5 lanes, USB ports, and SATA ports. Keep in thoughts that AM5 solely offers you entry to Ryzen 7000 CPUs, because it’s a totally new platform. (Sorry, Ryzen 5000 followers, you’ll have to stay to X570 Or B550)
The Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master brings its $349 MSRP to the Ryzen AM5 lineup. While it solely has 4 PCIe Gen 5 lanes, it’s greater than you’ll get with B650—due to the “E” designator. They’re used optimally right here, with 4 onboard M.2 NVMe slots. SATA ports prime out at 4—however given the beneficiant NVMe storage, you’ll doubtless by no means saturate these choices for many gaming builds.
The I/O doesn’t cease there, with a whopping 13 USB ports on the again, as much as 10Gb/s USB Gen 2. While you gained’t get USB4, you’d should pay extra for the privilege. Other nice choices embody Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5Gb LAN, and HDMI-out for the combine iGPU.
The Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master nonetheless appears premium—even when it’s cheaper than its X670E brethren. With an easy monochromatic design, it has the precise nuanced touches simply in the precise locations.
Numerous these visible niceties additionally translate to efficiency—with the spectacular VRM heatsinks having some actual presence. You’ll even have thermal pad “armor” protecting the NVMe slots, for purposeful aesthetics. 16+2+2 Digital VRM not solely appears nice, however it may possibly deal with the fantastic efficiency of even the Ryzen 9 CPUs.
Certainly, players who selected the B650E Aorus Master gained’t really feel like they’re lacking something. It’s a premium design with a good value for subsequent technology expertise.
Read our full
Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master review
3. MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi – Best bang-for-the-buck AMD gaming motherboard
Pros
- Great set of options for the $260 value
- Three M.2 slots, 20Gb/s USB, PCIe Gen 4
- Good networking and audio choices
- Stealth design appears nice, plus Integrated I/O defend and screwless M.2
Cons
- Would be nice to see M.2 slot covers on all areas
- Price means some limitations (no PCIe Gen 5) don’t take full benefit of AM5
Price When Reviewed:
239.99
While the launch of AM5 initially introduced with it a bevy of pricier motherboards, we’re beginning to see extra reasonably priced choices, too. We’ll chorus from calling these “budget,” however they do symbolize an ideal bang-for-buck worth.
The MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk enters the fray at $239 MSRP and packing the B650 chipset. You’re not paying for costly overhead options right here that you could be by no means use, comparable to these discovered on X670E. Instead, you’re getting simply the precise praise of specs that can maintain your gaming construct buzzing alongside.
It’s all DDR5 right here—so when you can’t lower your expenses by utilizing DDR4, you’re a minimum of on the identical stage floor because the costlier motherboards for capabilities. You’ll additionally get the identical Wi-Fi 6E and a pair of.5Gb LAN as on costlier motherboards. Add to that three PCIe Gen 4 NVMe M.2 slots, however no PCIe Gen 5. That’s okay—the tradeoff is value it since nothing can saturate PCIe Gen 5 slots presently.
The board’s USB isn’t any slouch, with as much as 20Gb/s Type C out there. Performance continues with the 14+2+1 VRM energy system, completely able to taming the Ryzen CPUs— though the Ryzen 5 and 7 pair greatest with this value-oriented providing.
How about aesthetics? They’re minimalist, in a great way. Attractive design with stealthy darkish colours abounds. Granted, you don’t get the RGB social gathering or overkill armor plates on the PCIe space of costlier motherboards, however that’s advantageous. The VRM heatsinks are greater than adequate and look nice. The understated look has the bonus of becoming virtually any construct’s design aesthetic.
Overall, it’s an ideal performer with simply the precise options—with out skimping on necessary parts. Best of all, it retains the worth considerably decrease than different choices.
Read our full
MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi review
What to search for in a gaming motherboard
When you’re selecting your motherboard to your gaming rig, there are various necessary issues to think about. We’ve narrowed down essentially the most very important and important to your buy.
Choose your platform: Intel or AMD
The first merchandise in your listing must be whether or not you’re going with crew Blue (Intel), or crew Red (AMD). For instance, would you like essentially the most future-proof motherboard out there as of immediately for CPU upgrades? Then AMD is your greatest guess, as a result of AM5 simply launched and will have extra help than Intel’s older 13th-gen platform.
Or maybe you’d choose to save lots of a couple of dollars and are okay with both 12th- or 13th-gen Intel CPUs for some time.
Know the {hardware} you need to use prematurely
Plan out the {hardware} you intend to make use of in your motherboard, to verify it is going to be adequate. For instance, solely Intel presently helps each DDR4 and DDR5 RAM, in the event you’d prefer to nonetheless use the previous.
Also concentrate on sure PCIe lane and bandwidth limitations. For instance, in the event you’re planning to make use of three or extra NVMe PCIe Gen 4 drives, you might have considered trying the higher-end AMD X670E platform or Intel Z790 platform. These sometimes offers you extra PCIe lanes. If you’re advantageous with only a couple, the cheaper B650 AMD motherboards may match simply advantageous.
You’ll additionally need to look carefully at CPU-cooler compatibility; some newer motherboards might have adapters to work with older brackets. The identical holds true for motherboard measurement —ATX being the usual for many. If you might have a small kind issue case, you’ll doubtless want Mini-ITX or Micro-ATX to suit.
Know the essential specs and what you’re doubtless to make use of
While players is probably not as demanding as content material creators who might require options like Thunderbolt and 10Gbe networking, there are nonetheless important fundamental options you have to be conscious of.
If you intend to make use of Wi-Fi, ensure that your motherboard comes geared up with it—not all of them do. If you intend to arrange a beefy flight- or racing-simulation rig, you’ll need to ensure that to have loads of USB ports, for instance.
Price to efficiency issues—take note of the small print
Motherboards can have so many variations that it’s typically complicated to the buyer, so take note of the small print and options. If your specific use case doesn’t require fancy options like USB4 or 10Gb networking, you may typically save massive quantities of cash foregoing them—and get many of the efficiency in any other case.
How we consider gaming motherboards
We take a scientific method in each motherboard analysis, with a cautious eye on the next:
Specs and options
The nuts and bolts of every motherboard: For the worth, does it have the requisite options {that a} gamer would want and respect, and the way are these options carried out within the consumer expertise?
Design
Are the visible aesthetics interesting, and do they symbolize the board’s meant objective? Is it effectively laid-out, and does it incorporate PC build-friendly design issues?
Performance
How effectively does it deal with the most recent CPUs and tech like DDR5? Does it have quick USB, PCIe lanes, and different I/O? Do BIOS updates handle necessary points in a well timed method?
Value
Given every thing the motherboard provides for its asking value, does it present good worth for the gamer and an general good expertise?