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Even though CPUs and graphics cards get more attention, choosing the best Gaming Motherboards is one of the most important parts of building a PC. Even though the processor, graphics card, and system memory are all important for a PC to work, it’s the motherboard that holds everything together and acts as the backbone.
It’s easy to choose the wrong motherboard, so we’ve put together a list of some of the best ones to help you make the right choice. This includes the socket, chipset, storage interfaces, headers/ports, and other parts. The processor installed on a motherboard is a big part of how well it works, but we’ll help you choose the best one for playing PC games.
Best Gaming Motherboards Comparison Table
| Chipset Type | RAM Memory Maximum Size | RAM Memory Technology | Dimensions | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Xtreme | 128GB DDR4 | DDR4 | ATX | N/A | $699.99 |
| Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro | 128GB DDR5 | DDR5 | ATX | N/A | $399.99 |
| MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi | 128GB DDR4 | DDR4 | ATX | 1.6kg | $249.99 |
| MSI MAG B660M Mortar WIFI DDR4 | 128GB DDR4 | DDR4 | Micro ATX | 1.5kg | $149.99 |
| Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Hero | 128GB DDR4 | DDR4 | ATX | N/A | $549.99 |
| MSI Z790 Edge WiFi DDR4 | 128GB DDR4 | DDR4 | ATX | N/A | $349.99 |
| ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming | 256GB DDR5 | DDR5 | ATX | N/A | $599.99 |
Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Xtreme
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Chipset | Intel Z790 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Memory Speed | 4800MHz+ (O.C) |
| Memory Slots | 4 x DDR4 DIMM |
| Maximum Memory | 128 GB |
| Expansion Slots | 3 x PCIe 4.0 x16, 2 x PCIe 3.0 x1 |
| Storage | 3 x M.2 slots, 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports |
| Networking | 10GbE LAN, 2.5GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
All of the flagship-class Z790 motherboards have the best features and specs, but the Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Extreme is the best value. You lose a couple M.2 sockets compared to more expensive boards, but this bird has everything else you could want and more and costs between $200 and $400 less than the competition.
The Z790 Aorus Extreme has 10 Gb Ethernet, 40 Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports, flagship-class audio, PCIe 5.0 GPU and M.2 support, overkill power delivery, and the high-end look you’d expect from a high-end board. MSI’s Z790 Godlike has a few more features, like seven M.2 sockets, but it also costs $400 more and is bigger, which makes it hard for most people to recommend unless money is no object.
The Good
- High-end features and a top-notch build.
- There are many ways to connect, so data can move faster.
- Memory and storage options that are fast
- Advanced system for handling heat
The Bad
- A price point that is too high may not be good for budget builds.
- May have trouble working with certain parts
Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA 1700 |
| Chipset | Intel Z690 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Memory Speed | 5333MHz+ (O.C) |
| Memory Slots | 4 x DDR5 DIMM |
| Maximum Memory | 128 GB |
| Expansion Slots | 3 x PCIe 5.0 x16, 2 x PCIe 4.0 x1 |
| Storage | 3 x M.2 slots, 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports |
| Networking | 2.5GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
The Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro is a mid-range Alder Lake motherboard that does a good job of covering all the bases with few trade-offs. There are a lot of storage options, including four M.2 slots. The audio has been updated, and the look has changed.
We did a lot of testing, and the performance, thermals, and overclocking were all about the same as other Z690 boards we’ve tested. There’s a lot to like about the Z690 Aorus Pro. It has 13 USB ports on the rear I/O, four M.2 sockets, and good power delivery, all at a price that’s well below that of flagship boards.
The Good
- New DDR5 memory technology is supported
- Better support for PCIe 5.0 for faster data transfer
- Options for high-speed networking for easy connection
- Stable performance thanks to a strong thermal design
The Bad
- Doesn’t connect to Thunderbolt 4
- The price might not be good for budget builds.
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Chipset | Intel Z790 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Memory Speed | 4800MHz+ (O.C) |
| Memory Slots | 4 x DDR4 DIMM |
| Maximum Memory | 128 GB |
| Expansion Slots | 2 x PCIe 4.0 x16, 3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 |
| Storage | 3 x M.2 slots, 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports |
| Networking | 2.5GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 |
Most of the time, MSI’s Tomahawk motherboards get high marks. They tend to focus on a core set of features rather than the high-end features that are common on boards that cost a lot more. If you don’t care about bells and whistles but still want something that can run a demanding Core i9 13900K CPU, you might be interested in Tomahawk models.
The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi is part of MSI’s second-tier subbrand MAG, as the name suggests. It’s between the Pro range and the MPG and MEG high-end ranges. Compared to what some top-of-the-line boards sell for, though, it’s not bad at all. But there is a lot of competition from other sellers in the same price range.
The Good
- Pricing based on value for budget builds
- For a mid-range motherboard, it has a lot of features.
- Good options for networking to move data faster
- Build quality is solid, and performance is reliable.
The Bad
- Support for PCIe 4.0 is limited
- Might not be good for a lot of overclocking
MSI MAG B660M Mortar WIFI DDR4
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA 1700 |
| Chipset | Intel B660 |
| Form Factor | Micro-ATX |
| Memory Speed | 5200MHz+ (O.C) |
| Memory Slots | 4 x DDR4 DIMM |
| Maximum Memory | 128 GB |
| Expansion Slots | 2 x PCIe 4.0 x16, 2 x PCIe 3.0 x1 |
| Storage | 2 x M.2 slots, 6 x SATA 6 |
This MSI MAG B660M Mortar WIFI DDR4 is a slightly cheaper Alder Lake option than some of the Z690 boards on the market. It gives up some of the niceties, but still has a great set of features. Not only does this little micro-ATX board have a great power design, but it also has eight USB ports on the back panel and a bunch of internal headers on the board itself.
This board doesn’t support overclocking or DDR5, but since it’s one of the cheaper ways to get into the Alder Lake platform, it makes sense to go the DDR4 route. In the UK, there is a DDR5 version, but we haven’t been able find in the US. This is one of the best Gaming Motherboards that you can buy right now.
The Good
- Smaller builds can use a compact form factor.
- Memory and storage options with high speeds for the best performance
- Options for faster and more reliable connections that come from advanced networking
- PCIe 4.0 is a way to prepare for the future.
The Bad
- There may not be enough room for multiple GPUs if there aren’t enough expansion slots.
- Might not have all of the high-end features that higher-end motherboards do.
Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Hero
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Chipset | Intel Z790 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Memory Speed | 5333MHz+ (O.C) |
| Memory Slots | 4 x DDR4 DIMM |
| Maximum Memory | 128 GB |
| Expansion Slots | 3 x PCIe 5.0 x16, 2 x PCIe 4.0 x1 |
| Storage | 3 x M.2 slots, 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports |
| Networking | 10GbE LAN, 2.5GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
The Asus ROG Z790 is one of the best options on the market if you want a high-end motherboard for your Intel 13th-generation CPU. The Intel i9 13900K is a great match for this because it has two 20+1 power stages that provide more than enough performance.
It has a lot of I/O, too. It has DDR3, PCIe Gen 5, and a lot of USB ports. There are a lot of M.2 drive slots—three on the motherboard and two more on an included ROG M.2 PCIe card. The MSRP is matched by a high-quality box and accessories that go with it.
The Good
- High-end features and a high-end build quality
- Uses the latest PCIe 5.0 standard, which speeds up data transfer.
- Options for advanced networking for easy connection
- Robust system for managing heat for effective cooling
The Bad
- A price point that is too high may not be good for budget builds.
- Because it has more advanced features, it may be harder for beginners to pick up.
MSI Z790 Edge WiFi DDR4
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA 1200 |
| Chipset | Intel Z790 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Memory Speed | 5333MHz+ (O.C) |
| Memory Slots | 4 x DDR4 DIMM |
| Maximum Memory | 128 GB |
| Expansion Slots | 3 x PCIe 4.0 x16, 2 x PCIe 3.0 x1 |
| Storage | 3 x M.2 slots, 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports |
| Networking | 2.5GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
This is shown by the MSI Edge WiFi Z790. The board has a good number of features and comes in either DDR5 or DDR4 versions, giving you even more budget flexibility if you want to use the memory you already have or save money by buying last-generation modules. Both versions work with 12th-gen and 13th-gen Intel CPUs.
For gaming, the 16+1+1 phase VRM can even handle the i9 13900K. But a middle-range CPU like the 13600K or 13700K would be a great match here. You’ll also get a lot of I/O, including 10 USB ports, one of which is fast (20Gb/s). Five M.2 slots and a 16x slot for PCIe Gen 5 round out the options.
The Good
- Mid-range motherboards have prices that are competitive.
- Memory and storage options that are fast
- Options for advanced networking for easy connection
- Solid performance for both games and work
The Bad
- May not have as many high-end features as higher-end motherboards.
- Limited PCIe 4.0 support may not be suitable for future upgrades
ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Socket | LGA 1700 |
| Chipset | Intel X670 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Memory Speed | 6400MHz+ (O.C) |
| Memory Slots | 4 x DDR5 DIMM |
| Maximum Memory | 128 GB |
| Expansion Slots | 3 x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16, 2 x PCIe 3.0 x1 |
| Storage | 3 x M.2 slots, 8 x SATA 6Gb/s ports |
| Networking | 10GbE LAN, 2.5GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
This motherboard from ASUS has everything you need to build a gaming PC. The ASUS ROG Strix X670-E Gaming is a great board that works with AMD Ryzen 7000 processors and DDR5 RAM. Then there’s PCIe 5.0 support for storage and expansion, so you can connect the fastest SSDs and most powerful graphics cards.
This motherboard from ASUS has everything you need to build a gaming PC. The ASUS ROG Strix X670-E Gaming is a great board that works with AMD Ryzen 7000 processors and DDR5 RAM. Then there’s PCIe 5.0 support for storage and expansion, so you can connect the fastest SSDs and most powerful graphics cards.
The Good
- Support for cutting-edge DDR5 memory for the best performance ever
- There are a number of PCIe 5.0 slots for fast GPU and storage expansion
- Strong networking options, including a 10GbE LAN for very fast connections
- Multiple M.2 and SATA ports give you a lot of storage options.
The Bad
- A price point that is too high may not be good for budget builds.
- PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 may not be fully used with the hardware we have now.
FAQs
After benchmark testing and a close look at its many features, we found that the Asus ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WIFI is a good small motherboard in the B660 price range. The tiny board has a PCIe 5.0 slot, two M.2 sockets, built-in Wi-Fi 6 and a premium audio solution from the last generation.
The best board for gaming is the Asus ROG Maximus Z690 Hero. The MSI Pro B660M-A is a cheap Intel motherboard. A great AMD motherboard is the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Xtreme. The Asus TUF Gaming X570-Plus (Wi-Fi) is an AMD motherboard that costs less.
For this reason, more expensive motherboards will have more phases of power delivery and better cooling for the VRMs on the board that control the voltage to the CPU. As a result, motherboards that cost more are better for people who want the best performance from their parts.
Not Necessarily a Better Job. Even though gaming motherboards have their benefits, they don’t always perform better than a good mainstream motherboard. At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide if those extra features are worth the extra money.