Best gaming motherboards in 2021

November 2 • 11:57 am

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The best gaming motherboard may not feel like an important choice, but it’s important to get right. A good motherboard will provide a foundation on which to design the rest of your dream rig, and will form a basis to power up your gaming experience. Choosing the best motherboard for your system determines case size, storage options, and how much of a CPU upgrade you can work up to.

Though there may not be a massive difference between motherboards packing the same chipset, there are several features aside from performance that matter just as much. Do you want to be able to overclock your CPU? Do you need high-performance RAM support? Do you need a small server’s worth of USB ports? These are just some of the things you should consider when getting ready to purchase a motherboard.

The best gaming motherboards also give you some level of future-proofing, as much as this ever-changing world will allow. Whether that’s in the form of a socket or chipset that can support the top-end processors, such as the Intel’s Z590 chipset and its Rocket Lake chips, or one that can deliver next-gen interconnects, such as the B550’s PCIe 4.0 support.

We’ve tested a bunch of both AMD and Intel motherboards over the past year, from Mini-ITX to ATX, so you can make an informed decision on which one is going to work best for you.

ASUS TUF GAMING Z590-PLUS WIFI Socket LGA 1200 USB 3.2 Intel Motherboard TUF GAMING Z590-PLUS WIFI - Best Buy

1. Asus TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WIFI

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU support: Intel 10th & 11th Gen

Socket: LGA 1200

Size: ATX

Memory support: 4x DIMM, up to 128GB, DDR4-5133

Expansion slots: 1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4), 1x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4), 2x PCIe 3.0 x1

Video ports: 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.0

Rear USB: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C, 5x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 6x USB 2.0

Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA 6Gbps

Network: Intel Wi-Fi 6E, 1x Intel 2.5Gb ethernet

REASONS TO BUY

+Decent value for money+Good VRM and cooling at this price+Subtle looks

REASONS TO AVOID

–4+8-pin power connectors could be restrictive–A few more USB at the back would be nice

This is a gaming motherboard positioned as an entry-level option for anyone looking to run Rocket Lake. Asus has always positioned its TUF products as reliable options, with decent pricing and a more basic feature set. Combined it means this is a good affordable option for someone after a no-fuss, solid, and reliable system. And given the pricing of many Z590 motherboards, that makes for a welcome change.

The TUF Z590 Plus features a subtle design with a particularly nice white font. You get a couple of little splashes of RGB around the right side too. It’s a nice look. There are three M.2 slots with the topmost one supporting PCIe 4.0. The two at the bottom are contained under a single heatsink. Also, note the vertical SATA ports that sticklers for cable management might find objectionable. There are a further two regular horizontal ports adjacent to the heatsink. You get six fan headers and two addressable RGB headers too.

This is a board for anyone who would prefer to allocate money towards a faster GPU or larger SSD instead of paying through the nose for 10G LAN or expensive add-in cards. And I can totally get on board with that. Bang for buck and the true essentials are the name of the game here. If you’re on a budget, it’s definitely one to look out for.

Gigabyte's Z590 Aorus Tachyon motherboard sets new world record for overclocking - - Gamereactor

2. Gigabyte Z590 Aorus Tachyon

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU support: Intel 10th & 11th Gen

Socket: LGA 1200

Size: E-ATX

Memory support: 2x DIMM, up to 64GB, DDR4-3200

Expansion slots: 1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x16 (x8), 1x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4), 1x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x1)

Video ports: 1x HDMI 2.0

Rear USB: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4x USB 3.2

Storage: 3x M.2, 8x SATA 6Gbps

Network: Intel Wi-Fi 6E, 1x Intel 2.5Gb ethernet

REASONS TO BUY

+Mega VRM and cooling+Endless tweaking options+Well featured for an OC board

REASONS TO AVOID

–Only really for overclockers–Inevitably expensive

Overclocking focused motherboards have made a proper comeback. This time around all the major manufacturers have Z590 boards specifically designed for serious overclocking. The dual memory slot design, all those buttons and switches, a monstrous VRM, and a unique layout are all aimed at making life easier for overclockers. Then there’s a comprehensive BIOS with extensive tweaking options. It’s clear that this isn’t a regular board with a fancy sticker slapped on.

The idea behind having only two memory slots instead of four is to minimize trace complexity and bring the slots closer to the CPU. This helps reduce latency and allows for a little more performance headroom compared to a four-slot design. The primary PCIe slot is not the topmost one either, it’s the one below it. This is another choice to aid overclockers who use LN2 cool a GPU by allowing extra room for pots and insulation.

The Gigabyte Z590 Aorus Tachyon won’t magically add frequency to your CPU and memory. What it will do is help you to extract the maximum efficiency out of your system, no matter what cooling you’re using. An enthusiast who loves to tweak, spending time reducing latency and tweaking sub-timings, or a gamer dedicated to finding a few extra FPS will enjoy peace of mind knowing you’ve got a board that’s specifically designed to take whatever punishment you throw at it.

3. Asus ROG Maximus XII Extreme

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU support: Intel 10th Gen

Socket: LGA 1200

Size: Extended ATX

Memory support: 4x DIMM, up to 128GB, DDR4-4700

Expansion slots: 2x PCIe 3.0 x16 (or x8/x8), 1x PCIe 3.0 x4

Video ports: 2x Thunderbolt 3 ports on extension card (DP1.4)

Rear USB: 10x USB 3.2, 2x USB 2.0

Storage: 2x M.2, 2x M.2 (DIMM.2 board), 8x SATA 6Gbps

Network: 1x 10Gb Marvell ethernet, 1x Intel ethernet, Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless

REASONS TO BUY

+High-end performance+Stunning bundle+Incredible build quality

REASONS TO AVOID

–Money-no-object pricing

If you want the best, most fully-featured Intel Comet Lake motherboard, then I’m afraid you’re going to have to pay for it. And pay through the nose if Asus’ Z490 Maximus XII Extreme is anything to go by. It is, as the name suggests, extreme, packing in a variety of luxurious and convenient extras (a frickin’ screwdriver with interchangeable heads for one), and it’s also one of the highest performing Z490 boards we’ve tested.

But it only really makes sense if you’re buying a K-series Core i9 and genuinely intend to overclock the nuts off it. The Maximus XII will allow you to get the highest clock speed out of your 10900K and won’t turn it into a pile of molten slag while you’re at it. The MSI Z490 Godlike is actually the fastest Z490 outright at stock speeds, but I’d rather have the ROG board in my camp if I’m going down the OC route.

Obviously, it’s only for the very highest of high-end PC builds; however, the $750 price tag means you could actually build a respectable full gaming PC for the price of this single motherboard. It’s an aspirational Z490 motherboard and arguably the best gaming motherboard for Comet Lake overclocking, but I’ll concede it’s not a particularly realistic purchase for most of us.

4. MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WiFi

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU socket: Intel 10th Gen

Socket: LGA 1200

Size : ATX

Memory support: 4x DIMM, up to 128GB, DDR4-4800 (OC)

Expansion slots: 3x PCIe 3.0 (x16/x0/x4 or x8/x8/x4), 2x PCIe 3.0 x1

Video ports: 1x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI

Rear USB: 5x USB 3.2, 2x USB 2.0

Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA 6Gbps

Network : 1x 2.5Gb LAN, Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless

REASONS TO BUY

+ More reasonably priced Z490 + Still competitive performance

REASONS TO AVOID

–Runs hot

The sparse back panel and missing OLED displays will tell you we’re back into normal motherboard territory with this MSI offering. The rarified air of the ultra-enthusiast ROG board up top might make one giddy, but the Z490 Gaming Carbon will bring us back down to earth without a bump. Sure, you’re never going to get the same level of luxury feature list as you’ll find with either the Maximus XII or MSI’s own Godlike boards, but when it comes to the nuts and bolts of pure performance, it’s right up there.

Where it matters, in the gaming performance stakes, there’s practically nothing between any of the Z490 boards we’ve tested, and it’s only ever a little behind when it comes to the actual CPU performance in productivity apps. However, when it comes to overclocking, the MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WiFi inevitably can’t compare to the big boys, with our 10900K running at its peak.

The power componentry and cooling aren’t enough to stop the thirsty CPU from throttling when it’s pushed to its 5.3GHz all-core maximum. But, while that might mean it’s not the board you’d choose for an overclocked Core i9 machine, that’s a tiny niche of gamers, and for either i5 or i7 CPUs, the MSI Gaming Carbon is still a quality home for your Comet Lake CPU.

MSI MAG B460M MORTAR, Electronics, Computer Parts & Accessories on Carousell

5. MSI MAG B460M Mortar WiFi

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU support: Intel 10th Gen

Socket: LGA 1200

Size: Micro ATX

Memory support: 4x DIMM, up to DDR4-2933 (i7,i9) or DDR4-2666 (i5)

Expansion slots: 2x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x1

Video ports: 1x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI

Rear USB: 4x USB 3.2 Gen (1x Type-C), 2x USB 2.0

Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA 6Gbps

Network: Realtek 2.5Gb LAN, Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless

REASONS TO BUY

+Great value+Strong VRM+Quality I/O and connectivity

REASONS TO AVOID

–Only 4 fan headers–B460 memory limitations

Grabbing one of the best Z490 motherboards might be appealing to your inner elitist, but the sticker price shock is definitely a problem. Sure, it would be nice to have 10Gb LAN, seven M.2 slots, or quad GPU support, but who really needs all that stuff? Most of us will be perfectly happy with a quality B460 motherboard, such as the MSI MAG B460M Mortar WiFi.

If you can put up with the memory speed limitation and have no intention of overclocking (well, with a K-series CPU anyway), then this is the kind of board that should be on your PC building wishlist. It ticks most of the important boxes, and at $125, it’s well priced, though the competition is tough with many premium B460 motherboards priced in this range.

It’s got a strong VRM configuration, 2.5Gb LAN, Wi-Fi 6, and adequate, if not particularly outstanding, I/O. Pairing it with a 65W non-K processor and having a crack at pseudo overclocking is definitely worth the minimal efforts too. If you can live with the maximum DDR4-2666 speed, something like an Intel Core i5 10600 and B460M Mortar, paired with a decent mid-range GPU, would deliver a quality, affordable gaming combo.

1200) ASROCK B460M PRO 4 | Advice จ.สุรินทร์ สาขา U071 (3 แยกโรงพิมพ์รุ่งธนเกียรติ)

6. ASRock B460 Steel Legend

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU support: Intel 10th Gen

Socket: LGA 1200

Size: ATX

Memory support: 4x DIMM, up to DDR4-2933 (i7,i9) or DDR4-2666 (i5)

Expansion slots: 2x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x1

Video ports: 1x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI

Rear USB: 4x USB 3.2 Gen (1x Type-C), 2x USB 2.0

Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA 6Gbps

Network: Realtek 2.5Gb LAN

REASONS TO BUY

+Quality VRM+Good value for money+Strong performance

REASONS TO AVOID

–No Wi-Fi–B460 memory limitations

The ASRock B460 Steel Legend is an awesomely named mid-range B460 entry. At USD 120, it’s what we’d call a mid-range B460 board. A look over the specs indicates that your $120 is well spent on some important areas. You get a pair of heatsink-covered M.2 slots, an e-key M.2 slot for an optional Wi-Fi card, a front USB Type-C header, and a good helping of RGB onboard.

The increased power demands of 10th generation CPUs mean motherboards generally have to include improved VRM designs, and on that front, the B460 Steel Legend is well equipped. It includes a 9+1 phase VRM powered by a single 8-Pin EPS connector. Each stage can deliver up to 60A. Bear in mind that overclocking is not allowed on B460 motherboards, so the VRM will not see extreme loads as you might get with an all-core overclocked Intel Core i9 10900K.

The ASRock B460 Steel legend will appeal to buyers who aren’t so interested in bells and whistles but want a solid ATX board capable of powering any 10th Gen CPU without bursting into flames. Integrated Wi-Fi would have been a nice cherry on top for the price, and that’s arguably one of the reasons we prefer the MSI B460M Mortar. But the ASRock B460 Steel legend is still a highly competitive offering and comes highly recommended by us. It shows its steel, one might say. If it had Wi-Fi, we might even have said it was legendary.

Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Master Review - Tom's Hardware | Tom's Hardware

7. Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU support: Intel 8th and 9th Gen

Socket : LGA 1151

Size: ATX

Memory support: 4x DIMM, up to 128GB, DDR4-4400 (OC)

Expansion slots: PCIe x16, PCIe x16 (x8), PCIe x16 (x4), 3x PCIe x1

Video ports: HDMI

Rear USB: 4x USB 3.2 Gen2 (1x Type-C), 2x USB 3.1 Gen1, 4x USB 2.0

Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA

Network: Ethernet, 1.73Gbps 802.11ac wireless

REASONS TO BUY

+No-compromise features, including triple M.2 slots+Slick RGB package with two LED headers

REASONS TO AVOID

–Visually ‘loud’ design

The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra competes with the MSI Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon AC and the Asus ROG Maximus XI Hero (Wi-Fi), lower price tag, and more features. It has triple M.2 slots for your super-speedy NVMe SSD needs, Intel Wi-Fi Wave2 and ethernet, a full RGB treatment with multiple headers, and ALC1220 audio. You’d have to climb right to the top of the product stack to get the same from MSI and ASUS, both of whom offer a little more polish but also charge plenty for the privilege. Though there’s a lot to be said for extreme motherboards, this is a great value Intel board.

The only real downside for us is that this mobo is perhaps a little too flashy and may not suit more restrained gaming builds. Thankfully, you can disable all the RGB bling within the BIOS if you want, though other elements may still clash. But that’s a small criticism of an otherwise top board.

Asus ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming Motherboard Μαύρο, Techinn

8. Asus ROG Strix Z390-I Gaming

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU support: Intel 8th and 9th Gen

Socket: LGA 1151

Size: Mini-ITX

Memory support: 2x DIMM, 64GB, DDR4-4800 (OC)

Expansion slots: 1x PCIe x16

Video ports: HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2

USB ports: 7x rear IO, 1x front IO, 4x internal

Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA

Network: Ethernet, 866Mbps 802.11ac

Lighting: Edge RGB, 1x Addressable Aura RGB

REASONS TO BUY

+Dual M.2 slot+Great overclocking and system performance

REASONS TO AVOID

–RGB Software issues–Runs run

As the price drops and the previous Z370-based model disappears from vendors, ASUS’s Strix Z390-I Gaming moves into the boutique ITX segment’s top spot. Despite its diminutive size and paucity of upgrade options, the ROG Strix Z390-I Gaming provides excellent performance and value. Boasting stable 5GHz overclocks using several memory speeds, including 3,600MHz with tweaking, its single PCIe x16 slot pushed top-shelf graphics cards to speeds that matched or exceeded most Z390 ATX boards during testing.

The smallest Strix has a lengthy features list, with no shortcomings despite the tiny form factor, including dual PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2 slots, Intel v219 ethernet, upgraded Intel 9560 2×2 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and an ALC1220A audio codec supported by isolated circuitry and headphone amps. Despite the dense set of features, the Strix Z390-I’s clean design makes quick system assembly and configuration an important consideration for ITX rig building.

It’s worth noting that this board can be hard to find, but the previous generation ROG Strix Z370-I model, with its slimmer design, remains an excellent alternative, especially at clearance prices.

Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero Review: Crosshair Goes Stealth for Zen3 | Tom's Hardware

9. Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU support: AMD Ryzen 5000 Series / 4000 G-Series / 3000 Series/ 3000 G-Series / 2000 Series / 2000 G-Series

Socket: AM4

Size: ATX

Memory: 4x DIMM, Up to 128GB, DDR4-4866 (OC)

Expansion slots: 2x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x1

Video ports: N/A

Rear USB: 4x USB 3.2 Gen1, 8x USB 3.2 Gen2 (1x USB Type-C)

Storage: 3x M.2; 8x SATA

Networking: 802.11ax 2.4Gbps Wi-Fi; Intel I211-AT 1G & Realtek RTL8125 2.5G LAN

REASONS TO BUY

+Clean design+Great performance+No chipset fan

REASONS TO AVOID

–Expensive

Asus’ ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero wants to be the last AM4 motherboard you’ll ever need. But what is it that makes a great motherboard? Features are important, as is a stable and refined BIOS, value for money, a good design, but sometimes intangible. Sometimes it’s that the damn thing works.

Motherboard testing is often one of the most painful things a tech journalist has to do. With some boards, you have to fight it to get it to do what you want, or expect it to, or have to or crank up some voltage setting to a level you don’t really want to, but the Dark Hero just boots the first time, even as we played with the memory clocks and timings and the Infinity Fabric.

The Crosshair VIII Dark Hero might not be the best AM4 motherboard ever made, we’d have to review a few hundred others to make that claim, but it’s an easy claim to make that the Dark Hero is certainly one of the best AM4 motherboards we’ve ever used. Time and months of user feedback will determine if the Dark Hero assumes a position as one of the truly legendary ROG motherboards, but we wouldn’t bet against that happening.

MPG X570 GAMING PRO CARBON WIFI

10. MSI MPG X570 Gaming Pro Carbon WiFi

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU support: AMD 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Gen Ryzen / Ryzen APUs

Socket: AM4

Size: ATX

Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4400

Expansion slots: 1x PCIe x16, 1x PCIe x16 (x4), 2x PCIe x1

Video ports: HDMI

Rear USB: 4x USB 3.2 Gen2 (1x Type-C), 2x USB 3.2 Gen1, 2x USB 2.0

Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA

Network: Ethernet, 2.4Gbps 802.11ac

REASONS TO BUY

+2 PCIe 4.0 M.2 Slots+Wi-Fi 6 Compatible

REASONS TO AVOID

–Too few USB ports

The MSI MPG X570 represents an amalgamation of bleeding-edge motherboard tech built to get the most out of AMD’s 3rd gen Ryzen CPUs. It has four DIMM slots that can handle speeds up to 4,400Mhz and two M.2 slots sporting PCIe 4.0.

The rear I/O panel features seven USB Type-A ports for peripherals and a single USB Type-C port for connectivity and high-speed data transfer. There are headers for the included Wi-Fi antenna to help with wireless connectivity, as well as a gigabit ethernet port. The MPG X570 supports Wi-Fi 6, and while that does necessitate a Wi-Fi 6 compatible router, it’s backward compatible with other Wi-Fi standards and gives the potential for a speed boost down the line. Also of note is the HDMI port, which many X570 boards omit (not that we’d really recommend using an AMD APU with integrated graphics in a high-end board like this).

The MPG X570 features enough compatibility to get the most out of your hardware now and in the future, provided you’re willing to pay a premium for it. While it’s certainly an excellent mobo, if you aren’t already committed to a shopping list of top-of-the-line components now or shortly, you may want to consider a slightly less expensive board for your needs.

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Best gaming motherboards in 2021

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