When planning to build a powerful gaming PC, one of the biggest challenges is dealing with temperatures. With many new CPUs managing to reach soaring heat when put under strain, the last thing you want is to experience frame drops due to your system overheating.
One way to deal with overheating issues is to build a custom loop. Motherboards with built-in water blocks make keeping your CPU and VRM cooler easier by including them in your custom loop. But there are a few challenges, firstly, there are not as many motherboards built with water cooling built-in, but also, when you find a good one, they are generally more expensive than standard motherboards.
So, to help you pick the right motherboard for your custom-built PC, These are the five best water-cooled motherboard gaming available today.
There’s no denying that the GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme WATERFORCE is one of the most stylish motherboards ever released. With its RGB water blocks and stunning design, you won’t need to put much effort into making your computer look incredible.
But, with the GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme WATERFORCE running an LGA 1151 socket, you are restricted to 8th and 9th gen Intel processors, which also limits your other hardware capabilities, which might be a deal-breaker for some.
As well as the outdated socket, the GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme WATERFORCE also comes in at a ridiculously high price, which in itself might be enough to put some people off. But for those looking to create a water-cooled 8th or 9th gen Intel build, this could be the perfect water-cooled motherboard, letting you overclock without worrying about temperatures and pushing your PC further than ever before.
- Two Thunderbolt 3 ports
- Bluetooth 5
- Game boost
- Fast boot
- Water cooling flow rate detection
- AORUS all-in-one monoblock
- Brand: GIGABYTE
- CPU Included: No
- Graphics Card Interface: PCIe 3.0
- Memory Slots: 4
- Memory Type: DDR4
- Form Factor: E-ATX
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- USB Ports: 8 + 2 USB-C
- RBG Support: Yes
- CPU Support: LGA 1151
- Stunning design
- Incredible cooling performance
- Perfect for overclocking
- Only supports 8th and 9th gen Intel CPUs
- Extremely expensive
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Xtreme WATERFORCE
If you are looking for a water-cooled motherboard that works with a newer processor, the ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Extreme Glacial is an excellent choice. With the LGA 1200 socket, it can work with 11th gen Intel processors, letting you create a powerful gaming PC with unparalleled cooling.
The ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Extreme Glacial has tons of AI features, including AI cooling, networking, and noise cancelation, making it much easier to get your games running at optimal settings and pushing out more frames per second without causing strain on your system.
With Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and Thunderbolt 4, the ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Extreme Glacial is a feature-rich motherboard that runs as great as it looks. Speaking of how it looks, it also has a built-in OLED screen that takes the aesthetics to the next level.
- Compatible with 10th and 11th gen Intel Core processors
- AI Overclocking and cooling
- LiveDash color OLED screen
- 6HGz Wi-Fi
- Brand: ASUS
- CPU Included: No
- Graphics Card Interface: PCIe 4.0
- Memory Slots: 4
- Memory Type: DDR4
- Form Factor: E-ATX
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- USB Ports: 8 + 2 USB-C
- RBG Support: Yes
- CPU Support: LGA 1200
- Incredible cooling performance
- Stunning design
- Five M.2 slots
ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Extreme Glacial
For those looking for a water-cooled AMD gaming build, the ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Formula is not only a great choice but a more affordable one too. Compatible with the AMD Ryzen 5000 series, it’s the perfect motherboard for creating high-powered gaming PCs, without needing to worry about the motherboard getting too hot.
The ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Formula features Wi-Fi 6 with MU-MIMO making it perfect for those with high-speed internet connections. And thanks to the built-in Bluetooth card, you can even connect gaming controllers and Bluetooth headsets to your PC.
With well-placed RGB lighting, as well as the LiveDash OLED screen, the ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Formula is a seriously stylish motherboard that will complement the rest of your gaming setup.
- Ryzen 5000 support
- On-board Wi-Fi 6 with MU-MIMO support
- LiveDash OLED
- Brand: ASUS
- CPU Included: No
- Graphics Card Interface: PCIe 4.0
- Memory Slots: 4
- Memory Type: DDR4
- Form Factor: ATX
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
- USB Ports: 11 + 1 USB-C
- RBG Support: Yes
- CPU Support: AM4
- Plenty of USB ports
- Reasonable price
- Great cooling efficiency
- Minor issues with connectivity
ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Formula
If you want to create a high-end, 12th gen Intel gaming PC with DDR5, the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Formula might just be the perfect liquid-cooled motherboard. It checks all the right boxes for those wanting to create a future-proof beast of a gaming PC.
As well as boasting three high-speed M.2 slots, the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Formula also comes with the Asus ROG Hyper M.2 card, giving you more M.2 slots, so you can upgrade your storage and download more of your favorite games.
The ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Formula’s silver heatsinks and IO shroud feature well-placed RGB lights on top of the sleek silver design. It feels solid, looks incredible, and comes with everything you need to build the ultimate water-cooled gaming PC.
- DDR5 compatible
- Intel 12th compatible
- Thunderbolt 4
- AI overclocking and cooling
- VRM heatsinks with EK CrossChill III
- ROG water-cooling zone
- Dual embedded backplates
- Brand: ASUS
- CPU Included: No
- Graphics Card Interface: PCIe 5.0
- Memory Slots: 4
- Memory Type: DDR5
- Form Factor: ATX
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- USB Ports: 9 + 3 USB-C
- RBG Support: Yes
- CPU Support: LGA 1700
- Very efficient cooling
- Intel 12th gen and DDR5 compatible
- Includes a ROG Hyper M.2 card
- AI overclocking can be temperamental
ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Formula
If you are looking for a powerful liquid-cooled motherboard on a mid-range budget, the MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X is a great option. With an LGA 1200 socket, you can choose between 10th and 11th gen Intel processors, as well as DDR4 RAM that can go up to overclocked speeds of 5333MHz.
The MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X comes with a cleaning brush, EK leak tester, Corsair RGB cables, and RGB splitters. It also comes with a free USB drive, which comes in handy for flashing the BIOS.
With an RGB logo on the IO shroud and RGB lighting on the CPU and VRM monoblock. The MSI MPG Z590 Carbon EK X looks absolutely stunning, making it the perfect choice for RGB enthusiasts.
- Custom-designed EK monoblock
- Audio Boost 5
- Brand: MSI
- CPU Included: No
- Graphics Card Interface: PCIe 4.0
- Memory Slots: 4
- Memory Type: DDR4
- Form Factor: ATX
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- USB Ports: 9 + 1 USB-C
- RBG Support: Yes
- CPU Support: LGA 1200
- Plenty of USB ports
- Monoblock VRM/CPU cooling
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2
- Doesn’t support 12th-Gen and 13th-Gen Intel CPUs
FAQ
Q: Is Water Cooling Better Than Fans?
Water cooling distributes heat much more efficiently than traditional fans. Not only does this make them much more efficient coolers, but it also reduces the need for fans to work as hard, which can result in an overall much quieter gaming PC.
Q: Do You Need to Refill a Liquid-Cooling System?
If you are using an AIO (all-in-one) or a closed loop, then no, you should not need to change the liquid. However, if you are using an open loop, you do need to flush and refill your liquid coolers, which should be done yearly to ensure the cooling remains efficient.