Choosing the best motherboard for gaming (or really the best board for another type of computing task) is an essential step in your system build, even though things like CPUs and graphics cards usually get more attention. Essentially, every part of your PC plugs into your motherboard. Its form factor (ATX, E-ATX, Mini ITX, etc.) will dictate the size of the PC case you’ll need to use. And a board’s socket and chipset will determine which processors you can install.
If you’re unsure which motherboard chipset you’re after when choosing the best gaming motherboard, or you have other questions that aren’t addressed here, you can visit our motherboard basics page and our motherboard buying guide features to help narrow down your options.
The picks below start with recent Intel motherboards (with AMD motherboards further down), including the best gaming motherboards designed for Intel’s latest 12th Gen “Alder Lake” and upcoming Raptor Lake CPUs, as well as older 11th Gen “Rocket Lake” and “Comet Lake” processors. You’ll find our recommendations for the best motherboards for Z690, B660, H610 and Z590 here (with Z790 on the way soon), as well as Intel’s aging high-end desktop (HEDT) LGA-2066 socket and X299 chipset, supporting the X-Series and Extreme line of processors.
The best gaming motherboards for AMD CPUs (including Ryzen 5000 and Threadripper) follow our Intel picks below. For more on that front, you can also head to our dedicated pages for the best X570 motherboards and best B550 motherboards for more specific tested recommendations and picks. And stay tuned for our picks for X670E and X670 motherboard options in the coming weeks as well. With Ryzen 7000 now out in the wild, we’re actively testing motherboards with AMD’s 32-thread Ryzen 9 7950X now, and B650E and B650 boards should follow soon after at more affordable prices.
That said, last-gen Ryzen 5000 processors and AM4 motherboards are still capable performers, and enticingly affordable (and likely to only become more so in the near-term). But just know that if you opt for an AM4 motherboard now you are buying into a dying last-gen platform. Most (if not all) new AMD processors will be released on the new AM5 socket/platform, solely with DDR5 support. Like AMD’s now last-gen AM4, Intel’s Z790 (and existing Z690)-chipset motherbaords still support the older, more affordable DDR4 RAM on some models.
When choosing a motherboard, consider the following:
- Get the right socket for your CPU. You can find great CPUs from either Intel or AMD. But whatever processor you choose, make sure that your board has the correct socket to support it. The latest mainstream AMD chips use AM4 CPU sockets while Intel’s 10th Gen and 11th Gen Core CPUs require LGA 1200 sockets, while 12th Gen (Alder Lake) uses LGA 1700, as will upcoming 13th Gen (Raptor Lake) CPUs.
- Smaller boards = fewer slots and features. Motherboards come in three main sizes–for more info see our diagram and explanation of motherboard parts. From largest to smallest, there’s ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX. (Yes, Mini is smaller than Micro). You can use a smaller chassis with the micro or mini boards, but you’ll have to settle for fewer card expansion slots, sometimes fewer RAM slots, and other connectors.
- Pay for built-in Wi-Fi and high-end ports only if you need them. Don’t spend extra for wireless if you are using Ethernet. You can future-proof your PC by getting USB 3.2 Gen 2 and/or Thunderbolt support. But Thunderbolt is very rare on AMD motherboards.
The Best Intel Gaming Motherboards: Z690, Z590, Z490 X299
At around $330, the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro is a mid-range Alder Lake motherboard that covers all the bases very well, with minimal sacrifices. There are ample storage options, including four M.2 sockets, updated audio, and a new appearance. In our extensive testing, performance, thermals and overclocking were also well within the range of other Z690 boards we’ve tested.
Between its 13 USB ports on the rear IO, four M.2 sockets and capable power delivery, all at a price that’s well below flagship options, there’s a lot to lovea bout the Z690 Aorus Pro. So long as you don’t require integrated RGB lighting or Wi-Fi 6E out of the box (you still get Wi-Fi 6), the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro is an excellent Alder Lake motherboard to build your Z690 system around.
Read: Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro review
ASRock’s Z690 Extreme WiFi is a great motherboard to build your Alder Lake-based system around if you’re looking to save money to spend on other components. Its out-of-the-box performance with some heavily multi-threaded applications was somewhat slower than average in some tests, but lightly threaded workloads and game testing saw this board shine. Hardware-wise, the board is well-equipped for its price, including three M.2 sockets, a whopping eight SATA ports, dual Ethernet ports (1GbE/2.5GbE), and integrated Wi-Fi 6E. The board looks good too, with its mostly black design, dark blue accents, bright RGB LEDs, and aesthetically pleasing notches in the PCB.
There are many competing options in the $200 price range, but only the ASRock Extreme comes with integrated Wi-Fi 6E and eight SATA ports. If you’re into RGB lighting, which the Asus and MSI do not have at this price, the Extreme WiFi 6E is the way to go. Unless you need more than five USB-A ports on the rear IO, the Z690 Extreme is the best Z690 board we’ve tested around the $200 mark.
Read: ASRock Z690 Extreme WiFi 6E review
The Gigabyte Z690I Aorus Ultra Plus has proved itself in our testing to be a well-performing, good-looking, and a cost-effective option in the Z690 ITX space. Priced well at $329.99, it’s cheaper than most of the competition, and it includes two M.2 sockets, a modern premium audio codec, and high-quality 105A MOSFETs to feed any CPU. Plus it’s an RGB-inclusive design.
If we look at the competition, we have ASRock’s Z690 Phantom Gaming-ITX/TB4 ($299.99), the MSI MEG Z690I Unify ($399.99) and Asus’ ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi 6E ($409.99). These are more than capable ITX boards, with the difference coming down to price and your needs. All of these boards include Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5 GbE, at least two SATA ports and two M.2 sockets. The other boards have additional SATA ports, while the MSI is the only one with three M.2 sockets. The ASRock falls short if you compare audio codecs, but few users would notice a difference.
We like what the Gigabyte Z690I Aorus Ultra Plus has to offer. The new board fixed problems with the previous version’s PCIe slot and brought us a generally well-rounded and definitely a well-priced SKU. It’s also the only Z690-based ITX board with integrated RGB LEDs to make the it visually stand out in your case. Those who are looking to use more than two SATA drives will need to look elsewhere, but otherwise, the Ultra Plus is the best Z690 Mini-ITX option available for the price.
Read: Gigabyte Z690I Aorus Ultra Plus review
The Z690 Aorus Tachyon comes with robust power delivery that supports sub-ambient overclocking of any compatible Alder Lake CPU. The 105A SPS MOSFETs, large heatsink, and overclocking tools ensure the board doesn’t get in the way of top achievable clock speeds. And in our testing, it performed above average overall, with some of the fastest results in our new Blender benchmark, Cinebench R23 and Procyon Office, with our game tests also showing results slightly higher than average for the Z690 boards we’ve tested.
The E-ATX Aorus Tachyon has several features that make overclocking easier too, including buttons to raise/lower the CPU ratio, cooldown functionality, limp modes, multiple BIOS capability, Tantalum capacitors around the socket area (better and easier for insulating for sub-zero runs), and more.
Although this board is made for overclocking, it still does most everything else well too. From the four M.2 sockets and six SATA ports to the last-gen flagship Realtek audio solution, it comes packed with features that are useful for most any type of user. Still, those who need more than 64GB of RAM (professionals, content creators, etc), will have to look elsewhere.
Read: Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Tachyon Review
So long as you don’t plan on overclocking your CPU or want to use PCIe 5.0 devices before your next upgrade, the MSI MAG B660M Mortar WIFI DDR4 and its B660 chipset makes for a great option for those looking to get into Alder Lake without putting a heavy burden on your build budget.
It lacks the fancy looks or RGB lighting of pricier boards, but does come with everything you need to get the most out of a stock-clocked Alder Lake CPU. The Mortar includes two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 sockets, six SATA ports, a premium last-generation audio solution and VRMs that easily manage the flagship Core i9 CPU.
In our testing, performance on our B660M Mortar was similar to those of the Z690-based DDR4 boards we tested previously. In other words, this sub-$200 motherboard was able to utilize our i9-12900K processor to its fullest while costing a third less than most Z690 offerings.
Read: MSI MAG B660M Mortar WIFI DDR4 review
After our benchmark testing and a close look at its ample feature set, the Asus ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WIFI has proved to be a worthy compact motherboard in the budget-friendly B660 space. The tiny board comes equipped with a PCIe 5.0 slot, two M.2 sockets, integrated Wi-Fi 6, and a last-gen premium audio solution. The only real concern hardware-wise is with the hot VRM temperatures, but do note this was during a stress test and isn’t a typical loading scenario.
Outside of that, the performance across all of our testing was good, easily competing with the other DDR5-based boards. For $219.99, it’s reasonably priced, feature-rich and a good performer. You can’t ask for much more out of this class of board. The Asus ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WIFI is the ITX board of choice if you’re looking to save some money and don’t plan to overclock your Alder Lake processor. If you do, there are Z690 options (we reviewed two already, the ASRock Z690 PG ITX-TB4 and MSI MEG Z690I Unify) though most of these are well over $300.
Read: Asus ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WIFI review
Of the sub-$120 Intel H610-chipset motherboards we’ve tested, Asus Prime H610M-A D4 is the only one that supports two M.2 sockets for storage, and a key-E M.2 socket lets you easily add CNVi-based NICs for speedy and reliable Wi-Fi.
If you’re looking to get into Alder Lake on the cheap and will not overclock, the H610 chipset is the least expensive way in, but it’s not without drawbacks. There are fewer USB ports and what’s available is slower (no 20 Gbps USB or Type-C ports, for example).
While the entire Alder Lake processor stack is technically supported, you’re limited in what processors you can utilize with this chipset, considering the slower performance we saw in heavy multi-threaded loads with our Core i9 on all tested H610 motherboards. And don’t expect loads of external expansion. There are just six USB ports here, none of them faster than the pair of teal 10 Gbps ports. But if you’re not trying to run the best Alder Lake has to offer, this sup-$110 board is a good way to get the latest and greatest Intel has to offer without putting huge a hole in your bank account.
Read: H610 Motherboard Roundup: i9-12900K Meets Sub-$120 Micro ATX
The Asus ROG Maximus XIII Hero has the premium parts and attractive looks to stand out, despite its fairly high price. From its clean, high-end appearance to the robust power delivery, four M.2 sockets and a premium audio solution, the Hero is a well-rounded, feature-laden solution in the upper-midrange of the Z590 motherboard space. With more-than-capable 90A power phases and dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, plus the four PCIe 4.0 M.2 sockets and premium audio bits, the board justifies its $499 price.
Tested performance compared to the other Z590 models we’ve tested to this point was spot on, and often negligibly faster in many of our tests. Memory testing went without a hitch, with DDR4 3600 supported at 1:1, and it easily handled the DDR4 4000 kit. And overclocking testing proceeded without any issue.
Read: Asus ROG Maximus XIII Hero Z590 review
The Asus ROG Maximus XIII Extreme Glacial is a full-featured Z590 motherboard that include robust power delivery, premium audio with a DAC, five M.2 sockets, 10 GbE and integrated Wi-Fi 6E and includes a custom waterblock. While pricing is tough to take, the Extreme Glacial ($1499) represents what flagship-class motherboards should be.
And as you would expect with a high-end board, our testing didn’t reveal any issues in terms of the Maximus XIII Extreme Glacial’s performance. The board delivered average or above average results in the 3DMark tests and actual game tests.
Read: Asus ROG Maximus XIII Extreme Glacial review
Fully equipped for the 48 lanes of Intel’s 10th generation Core Extreme processors, the X299X Designare 10G comes loaded to the brink with Intel X550 dual 10Gb/s Ethernet and a pair of Thunderbolt 3 headers with dual DisplayPort passthrough on Intel’s 40Gb/s controller. A four-drive M.2 expander card and 2.4Gb/s Wi-Fi 6 finish a package of which the added component value far outweighs the price difference over its closest competitor.
Read: Gigabyte X299X Designare 10G review
The Best AMD Gaming Motherboards: X570(S), B550, TRX40, X470 and B450
AMD’s current flagship X570/X570S chipset brings with it full support for PCIe 4.0, including devices connected to both its CPU-integrated and chipset-based PCIe controllers, and the transfer rate between the CPU and chipset is likewise doubled. We’ve tested several X570 boards, including many models refreshed for AMD’s Ryzen 5000 CPUs, as well as a few with the updated X570S chipset that does away with the fan. The price premium for X570 models is still a serious consideration, as its X470 predecessors do not support the PCIe 4.0 integrated into the new CPUs.
If you want to save some money, consider a B550 motherboard, which has PCIe 4.0 support, but generally only enough lanes for one fast SSD and graphics card. Note, though, that many higher-end B550 boards approach or exceed the price of X570 alternatives. So shop carefully based on the features you need or are likely to use in the future.
If you’re not sure which chipset you’re after or have more basic questions, you can visit our motherboard basics and motherboard buying guide stories to help narrow down your board buying options.
The Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Extreme is the first AMD Extreme board since the X370 days, and it doesn’t disappoint. In addition to its premium appearance, the board comes with one of the most capable VRMs we’ve seen. So its overclocking ability is only limited to your cooling capability and the limitations of your silicon. Other features are also top-notch, including the latest Realtek/Supreme FX audio codec, 10 GbE and Wi-Fi 6E.
The Thunderbolt 4 ports and front-panel USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports give you plenty of fast connectivity as well. And if you need a lot of fast storage, you’re well taken care of with up to five M.2 modules that can work simultaneously. If you’ve got $800 to spend on an X570 motherboard, the ROG Crosshair VIII Extreme should be at the top of your list.
Read: Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Extreme review
Packed with 12 USB ports (eight of which are USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds), a 2.5G LAN port, eight SATA ports, and integrated Wi-Fi 6, he Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Hero Wi-Fi is a good base for a high-end build.
Read: Asus X570 ROG Crosshair VIII Hero Wi-Fi Review
The Gigabyte X570 Aorus Ultra focuses on doing basic things very well, such as its twelve 40A core voltage MOSFETs and triple PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 storage slots. With nothing more than a 2.4Gb/s Wi-Fi 6 module to add to its basic Gigabit Ethernet, the paucity of premium add-in features helps Gigabyte to maintain a sub $300 price despite the cost of PCIe 4.0 compliance.
Read: Gigabyte X570 Aorus Ultra review
Asus’ ROG Strix B550-F Gaming Wi-Fi delivers premium features including SupremeFX Audio, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200, solid power delivery and more. It’s a good option around the $200 mark, though there are similarly specced boards that cost less. If you don’t need Wi-Fi capability, the non-Wi-Fi version of the same board costs $30 less with the same specifications, making it easy to recommend if you plan on using Ethernet or have your own wireless card.
Read: Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming Wi-Fi review
NZXT’s first foray into AMD motherboards is a success. Coming in late to the game allowed the company to implement feedback from its Intel boards, adding more USB ports to the rear IO. The additional time also allowed NZXT to implement cutting-edge Wi-Fi 6E as well, alongside 2.5GbE. Outside of that, the appearance changed significantly from the company’s previous boards, with shrouds dominating the surface and an absence of on-board RGBs.
With an MSRP of $229, the NZXT N7 B550 costs about $15 more than our primary pick, but delivers a newer Wi-Fi chip, more and faster USB ports, and solid performance in a package that’s visually distinct from all other B550 competition. If you can spend this much and don’t need the extra PCI 4.0 bandwidth that comes with similarly priced older X570 motherboards, the NZXT N7 B550 is well worth considering.
Read: NZXT N7 B550 review
Savings on the Best Motherboards
Whether you’re buying one of the best motherboards or a different model, you may find some savings by checking our list of coupon codes, especially our list of Newegg promo codes and Micro Center coupons.
MORE: How To Choose A Motherboard
MORE: All Motherboard Content
MORE: CPU Benchmarks
