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Intel and AMD have launched their new era of CPUs into the wild. With these releases, come a slew of recent motherboard selections. 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 avid gamers? How good is the construct high quality and design? How good is the efficiency provided? These concerns come collectively to create the intrinsic worth provided 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 arms, 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 an important step in selecting a motherboard. We gained’t sugar coat it: Motherboard costs have gone up on common with the brand new era, so we wish to be sure to’re getting worth to your greenback. From costly fanatic motherboards, to a extra inexpensive ones—we’ve bought you coated.
In this gaming motherboard roundup, we’re going to cowl premium choices, midrange choices, and extra inexpensive choices. (Truly “budget” motherboard choices shall be for a future roundup, as AMD remains to be releasing extra inexpensive choices to compete with Intel, and Intel has extra coming as properly.)
Best gaming motherboards for Intel
1. Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Hero – Best premium Intel gaming motherboard
Pros
- Great for each avid gamers 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 Thirteenth-generation CPU, the Asus ROG Z790 is without doubt one of the finest selections in the marketplace. The Intel i9 13900K makes a superb pairing right here, with twin 20+1 energy phases 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 a lot—with three onboard, plus an included ROG M.2 PCIe card that allows you to add two extra. Other standout options embody Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5Gb networking, and extra “heatsinks” than you depend.
Packaging is properly finished, with a premium field and accent inclusion to match the $629.99 MSRP. The motherboard can be very well-built and feels substantial within the arms, with a weighty heft.
The ROG, or “Republic of Gamers,” branding has been common with fanatic avid gamers. Part of the reason being the gamer-centric design, which this motherboard has in spades. Like RGB? You’ll be at residence right here, with an exquisite 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 properly.
With efficiency to match the aesthetics, avid gamers will discover a great deal of overclocking options right here too. An incredible 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 additional options and properly finished particulars, it presents 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 avid gamers 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 protect
Cons
- $369 MSRP isn’t horrible, however DDR4 needs to be cheaper
- No improve path after Thirteenth-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 section: 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 function 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 additional for that assist.)
Both variations assist Twelfth-gen and Thirteenth-gen Intel CPU—the 16+1+1 part VRM can deal with even the i9 13900K for gaming. However, a midrange CPU such because the 13600K or 13700K would make a superb pairing right here. You’ll additionally get a lot 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 sublime basis for any construct. The total motherboard is roofed with good thermal armor and tasteful accents. The construct high quality is strong, as well.
With a value of $369, and the power to pair with cheaper DDR4 and an older Intel Twelfth-gen CPU, there may be nice worth right here. While it doesn’t have the flamboyant field or accouterments of costlier motherboards, it’s bought 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 avid gamers 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 wish to see this DDR4 model cheaper as a consequence of no DDR5 and extra restricted PCIe Gen 5
Price When Reviewed:
$309.99
If you wish to get pleasure from practically the identical next-generation efficiency in video games as you’ll in rather more costly motherboards, the MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk has you coated. Sure, it’s not a premium $500-plus behemoth, nevertheless it has precisely the options you’ll have to have an awesome expertise. And positive, there are some cheaper choices on the market, however this board gives you a great deal of options for the worth.
As with the Edge WiFi Z790 above, choosing DDR4 helps minimize the construct prices significantly. Support for Twelfth- and Thirteenth-gen Intel CPUs provides you a lot 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 avid gamers needing extra.
Top it off with a clear, no-frills design, and also you’re a lot of the approach 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 awesome bundle. You’ll even have a considerably cheaper platform price 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 avid gamers and content material creators
- High construct high quality, premium really feel
- Next-gen efficiency: VRMs, DDR5, PCIe Gen 5, USB4
Cons
- Overall larger AM5 platform prices make this a premium expertise
- 10GbE networking can be welcome at this degree
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 a further NVMe drive.
Nestled amongst the 12 rear USB ports, you’ll discover USB4, which has related 40Gb/s speeds to Thunderbolt 4. The normal Wi-Fi 6E and Intel 2.5Gb LAN are right here too, plus just a few good usability options: Asus Q-Release and Q-Latch, for the PCIe slot and M.2 slots, respectively. These make swapping out elements easy.
But you need a ROG Hero due to the aesthetics and RGB, proper? With a resoundingly weighty construct high quality, the general design can be attractive. There are shiny and matte finishes all through, however your eye will shortly be drawn to the showy RGB as a substitute. Nicely finished—and better of all, it fully 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 properly with the ROG Hero, which has the 18+2 teamed energy phases to deal with blazingly quick CPUs.
The mixture of fantastic options and mouth watering eye-candy definitely justifies its $699 MSRP. This board is for fanatic avid gamers 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 robust 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 provides us numerous choices with AM5—resembling B650E, which has barely decreased performance in comparison with X670E. The value can be decreased—and in our opinion, you’ll nonetheless get a lot of the goodies. It simply has just a few much less PCIe Gen 5 lanes, USB ports, and SATA ports. Keep in thoughts that AM5 solely provides 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 need to 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 a simple monochromatic design, it has the suitable nuanced touches simply in the suitable locations.
Quite a lot of these visible niceties additionally translate to efficiency—with the spectacular VRM heatsinks having some actual presence. You’ll even have thermal pad “armor” masking the NVMe slots, for practical aesthetics. 16+2+2 Digital VRM not solely appears nice, however it may well deal with the fantastic efficiency of even the Ryzen 9 CPUs.
Certainly, avid gamers 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 era 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 protect 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 inexpensive choices, too. We’ll chorus from calling these “budget,” however they do characterize an awesome 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, resembling these discovered on X670E. Instead, you’re getting simply the suitable praise of specs that may hold your gaming construct buzzing alongside.
It’s all DDR5 right here—so whilst you can’t get monetary savings through the use of DDR4, you’re at the very least on the identical degree 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 at present.
The board’s USB is not any slouch, with as much as 20Gb/s Type C obtainable. Performance continues with the 14+2+1 VRM energy system, completely able to taming the Ryzen CPUs— though the Ryzen 5 and seven pair finest 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 superb. The VRM heatsinks are greater than ample and look nice. The understated look has the bonus of becoming virtually any construct’s design aesthetic.
Overall, it’s an awesome performer with simply the suitable options—with out skimping on vital components. 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 numerous vital 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 needs to be whether or not you’re going with workforce Blue (Intel), or workforce Red (AMD). For instance, would you like essentially the most future-proof motherboard obtainable as of as we speak for CPU upgrades? Then AMD is your finest wager, as a result of AM5 simply launched and may have extra assist than Intel’s older Thirteenth-gen platform.
Or maybe you’d desire to save lots of a couple of bucks and are okay with both Twelfth- or Thirteenth-gen Intel CPUs for some time.
Know the {hardware} you wish to use upfront
Plan out the {hardware} you propose to make use of in your motherboard, to ensure will probably be ample. For instance, solely Intel at present helps each DDR4 and DDR5 RAM, in the event you’d wish 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 gives you extra PCIe lanes. If you’re superb with only a couple, the cheaper B650 AMD motherboards may fit simply superb.
You’ll additionally wish to look carefully at CPU-cooler compatibility; some newer motherboards might have adapters to work with older brackets. The similar holds true for motherboard measurement —ATX being the usual for many. If you’ve got 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 avid gamers will not be 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 propose to make use of Wi-Fi, ensure your motherboard comes outfitted with it—not all of them do. If you propose to arrange a beefy flight- or racing-simulation rig, you’ll wish to ensure 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 patron, so take note of the small print and options. If your explicit use case doesn’t require fancy options like USB4 or 10Gb networking, you may typically save massive quantities of cash foregoing them—and get a lot 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 admire, and the way are these options applied within the person expertise?
Design
Are the visible aesthetics interesting, and do they characterize the board’s meant objective? Is it properly laid-out, and does it incorporate PC build-friendly design concerns?
Performance
How properly 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 vital points in a well timed method?
Value
Given every thing the motherboard presents for its asking value, does it present good worth for the gamer and an general good expertise?
FAQ
Are Gaming motherboards value it?
Typically, gaming motherboards will slot in properly with each aesthetics and have units. There is an opportunity that you will have to pay the next value for fanatic fashions, nonetheless. More decadent RGB and feature-rich motherboards will command a premium, and sometimes have related performance to much less “gaming” targeted motherboards.
How a lot RAM is required for gaming?
There was a time when 16GB of RAM was the gaming commonplace—however we’re seeing a change. Together with higher-resolution shows and potent graphics playing cards, 32GB of RAM is slowly changing into related. Sure, you’ll nonetheless be superb with 16GB of RAM for many gaming—however new titles are sometimes pushing move that quantity already.
Is DDR5 value it?
Both AMD and Intel assist DDR5 RAM on their new platforms, with Intel nonetheless having some motherboard choices for DDR4. Prices for DDR5 RAM have grow to be considerably extra cheap recently, and availability is nice. While efficiency nonetheless isn’t an enormous leap in comparison with a great DDR4 equipment, it definitely is healthier in lots of use circumstances. Since will probably be the usual going ahead, it’s doubtless value it to spend money on DDR5 as most new motherboards would require it.
What is the standard lifespan of a gaming motherboard?
In phrases of construct high quality, most motherboards have a tendency to simply final years—particularly since they’re protected inside your PC case. In uncommon exceptions, some could be broken— such because the pins on the CPU socket, or random quick circuits.
In phrases of element compatibility, it may well range. For instance, AMD’s AM4 platform loved years of CPU upgrades as much as the Ryzen 9 5950X. Intel sometimes helps at the very least two generations of CPUs on a motherboard: A Z690 motherboard can take each a 12900K and a 13900K, for instance. Currently AMD’s AM5 can have the longer lifespan in comparison with Intel’s Thirteenth-gen, which is able to ultimately have a socket change.
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