When most people talk about their gaming PCs, you often hear them boasting about which processor they have, or if they have upgraded to the latest graphics card.
But your motherboard is easily one of the most important parts of your gaming computer. Choosing the right motherboard can mean you have a future-proof gaming PC.
Here are some of the best gaming motherboards available today.
Most gamers look for a motherboard that is as stylish as it is powerful. The Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Xtreme checks all the right boxes. Not only is it one of the most stylish RGB gaming motherboards around, but it also has all the right ingredients to make one of the most powerful gaming PCs around.
With built-in Wi-Fi 6E, you don’t need to worry about buying a separate Wi-Fi card, you get the best and fastest technology straight out of the box. The Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Xtreme also features an impressive 10 USB ports as well as an additional two USB-C ports, perfect for those with lots of gaming accessories.
Thanks to the Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Xtreme’s thermal reactive armor, overclocking has never been easier, or safer. Push the limits of your gaming PC without needing to worry about temperatures slowing you down.
- 12th-gen Intel ready
- Tantalum polymer capacitors
- Thermal reactive armor
- Direct Touch Heatpipe II
- PCIe 5.0
- Four M.2 slots
- Brand: Gigabyte
- CPU Included: No
- Graphics Card Interface: PCIe 5.0
- Memory Slots: 4
- Memory Type: DDR5
- Form Factor: EATX
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- USB Ports: 10 + 2 USB-C
- RBG Support: Yes
- M.2 NVMe Connector: Yes
- CPU Support: LGA 1700
- 12th Gen Intel and DDR5 compatible
- Stylish design
- Efficient thermal cooling
- Too big for standard ATX cases
Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Xtreme
The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon Wi-Fi is perfect for those looking for a feature-rich next-gen motherboard. The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon Wi-Fi ticks all the right boxes with support for Intel’s 12th gen processors as well as DDR5 and built-in Wi-Fi 6E.
For those needing a little extra storage, you will be pleased to know there are four M.2 connectors giving you more than enough room to expand your storage. MSI’s signature Shield Frozr design helps to keep your SSDs running cool, reducing throttling and ensuring optimal performance at all times.
The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon Wi-Fi also comes with Bluetooth 5.2, making it easier than ever to connect your favorite gaming controller or Bluetooth headset.
- 12th gen Intel support
- DDR5 up to 5600MHz (OC)
- Four M.2 connectors
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth 5.2
- Brand: MSI
- CPU Included: No
- Graphics Card Interface: 3x PCIe 5.0 x16
- Integrated Graphics: No
- Memory Slots: 4
- Memory Type: DDR5
- Form Factor: ATX
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- USB Ports: 9 + 1 USB-C
- RBG Support: Yes
- M.2 NVMe Connector: 4x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x PCIe 3.0 x4
- CPU Support: LGA 1700
- Plenty of M.2 slots
- Plentiful USB ports
- Great for overclocking
- Value for money
- Not the best onboard audio
If you’re not interested in having the latest-gen hardware in your gaming PC, the MSI MPG X570 Gaming Plus is a great option. Compatible with both 2nd and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen processors, you can still create an impressive gaming rig and boast high FPS without needing to splash out on the latest hardware.
While the MSI MPG X570 Gaming Plus might be an impressive-looking motherboard, it does lack the usual over-the-top RGB lighting that gamers tend to lean toward. This makes it an even sweeter deal for those that aren’t that impressed with RGB hardware.
The MSI MPG X570 Gaming Plus might be a great motherboard, offering impressive value for money, but the one thing it does lack is an onboard Wi-Fi card, which could be a dealbreaker for some.
- Frozr heatsinks
- Audio boost 4 technology
- Pre-installed IO shielding
- 2nd and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen support
- Brand: MSI
- CPU Included: No
- Graphics Card Interface: 1x PCIe 4.0
- Integrated Graphics: No
- Memory Slots: 4
- Memory Type: DDR4
- Form Factor: ATX
- Wi-Fi: No
- USB Ports: 4x Gen1 Type-A (front), 4x Gen1 Type-A (rear), 1x Gen2, Type-A, 1x Gen2 Type- C
- RBG Support: Yes
- M.2 NVMe Connector: 1x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x PCIe 3.0 x4
- Impressive value for money
- Great for overclocking
- No AM5 or DDR5 support
- Not enough USB ports
The GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master is one of the most impressive motherboards for those looking to create a powerful AM5 gaming PC. With the latest Bluetooth 5.3 technology built-in, Wi-Fi 6E, AM5 support, and DDR5, it’s easily one of the most future-proof motherboards out there today.
The NanoCarbon aluminum backplate, coupled with Thermal Guard III ensures the GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master stays cool and keeps your components running efficiently. Of course, cooler temperatures give you more room to overclock, letting you push your gaming PC even further and helping to push the best FPS possible in-game.
The GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master is a large E-ATX motherboard. While that does give you more room to work with, you will need to make sure you have an E-ATX case to fit it.
- AMD Ryzen 7000 Series processor support
- Direct 16+2+2 phases digital VRM
- M.2 Thermal Guard III
- NanoCarbon aluminum backplate
- Bluetooth 5.3
- EZ-Latch Plus M.2 connectors
- DDR5 compatible
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Brand: Gigabyte
- CPU Included: No
- Graphics Card Interface: PCIe 5.0
- Memory Slots: 4
- Memory Type: DDR5
- Form Factor: EATX
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- USB Ports: 8
- RBG Support: Yes
- CPU Support: AM5
- Innovative design features
- Impressive thermal design
- Stylish I/O shroud
GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master
You don’t always need to get the latest and greatest hardware to produce solid frames on the latest AAA games. That’s why the ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero is a great choice for those looking to save money, without sacrificing quality.
The ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero comes with some impressive AI features, designed to help keep your gaming PC running cool as well as to push performance to the next level. AI networking helps you to maintain great ping in games, while AI noise cancellation helps you to keep your computer running quieter without affecting performance.
Not only is the ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero a powerful gaming motherboard, thanks to the ROG logo, but it’s also one of the most stylish gaming motherboards around too.
- 11th gen Intel support
- M.2 heatsinks
- Wi-Fi 6E
- ProCool II connectors
- AI overclocking
- AI cooling
- Brand: ASUS
- CPU Included: No
- Graphics Card Interface: 1x PCIe 4.0
- Integrated Graphics: Yes
- Memory Slots: 4
- Memory Type: DDR4
- Form Factor: ATX
- Wi-Fi: Wi-FI 6E
- USB Ports: 2x Thunderbolt-4 USB Type-C, 6x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB 2.0
- RBG Support: Yes
- M.2 NVMe Connector: 2x PCIe 4.0
- CPU Support: LGA 1200
- Great value for money
- Super fast Wi-Fi 6E
- Efficient cooling
ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero (WiFi 6E) Z590
The ASUS ROG Strix Z590-E is designed for Intel LGA 1200 sockets and comes with the latest connectivity technology. It supports Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6E, and offers ports for M.2 SSDs and Thunderbolt 4. So, if you’re looking for a next-gen motherboard that won’t break the bank, this is a solid option.
Configurable via the BIOS or using Fan Xpert 4, the ASUS ROG Strix Z590-E comes equipped with some built-in cooling features. This includes a fan header, AIO pump fan header, water pump header, M.2 heatsink, M.2 backplate, and 4-pin PWM/DC fan headers.
The ASUS ROG Strix Z590-E comes with everything you’d expect from a mid-range motherboard and outdoes itself in some areas too. But one thing that isn’t in question is its stylish design, embodying the ROG spirit with RGB LEDs.
- 11th gen Intel Core processor support
- Tri-band Intel Wi-Fi
- AI overclocking
- AI cooling
- Brand: ASUS
- CPU Included: No
- Graphics Card Interface: PCIe 4.0
- Integrated Graphics: Yes
- Memory Slots: 4
- Memory Type: DDR4
- Form Factor: ATX
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- USB Ports: 1x USB 3.2, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB 2.0 headers
- RBG Support: Yes
- CPU Support: LGA 1200
- Good value for money
- Great networking
- Plenty of M.2 slots
- Blurry display
- Limited shelf life
FAQ
Q: Do Gaming Motherboards Make a Difference?
Gaming motherboards are often designed not only to have better parts used with them but also to have better cooling. Having improved cooling makes it much easier and safer for users to then overclock their gaming PCs and push them even further.
Most gaming motherboards also include optional software that can make overclocking even easier.
Q: Do All Gaming Motherboards Have RGB Lights
Most gaming motherboards these days do include RGB lights. But for those that prefer not to have them, there are RGBless options out there.