Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you spent some time looking for a good motherboard simply because you were not sure about what you should be spending money on? Do not worry, with an abundance of offerings in the market, it is very normal to run into issues when you are looking for a motherboard that is genuinely good and things can only get more and more confusing from that point on.
A motherboard might not have a direct impact on gaming but it certainly determines whether or not everything you want to put inside your PC is going to be possible. In such situations, buying something that is not supported or something that is subpar is only going to create issues for you and we do not want that, do we.
Therefore, we have decided to shed light on the best motherboard for gaming and help out all those readers who are looking to build a good gaming PC and something that delivers exceptional performance across the board.
Reviewing the Best Gaming Motherboard
| Awards | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Motherboard | Buy on Amazon |
|
| Best AMD Motherboard | Buy on Amazon |
|
| Best Mini ITX Motherboard for Gaming | Buy on Amazon |
|
| Best AMD Motherboard for Overclocking | Buy on Amazon |
Let’s be honest, for those of us who have been building gaming computers for years are already aware of the fact that there is no shortage of some amazing motherboards in the market. But a lot of people are also those who are building a new gaming PC or upgrading after such a long time that they have lost touch with the market.
This round up is for everyone who is looking for some assistance and is in need of a good motherboard. We are going to be able to help you just fine and that too, without any complications. We are going to feature motherboards from both AMD and Intel, so you have plenty to choose from.
ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero WiFi
Specifications:
- Intel Z690 Chipset.
- 20-Phase VRM Design
- Socket LGA 1700.
- DDR5 Support.
- ATX Form Factor.
There is no denying that Asus as a brand has been consistent for the longest time and while it is true that we have seen some extremely outrageous offerings in the past from various companies, Asus has always kept it simple and at the same time, they have delivered consistent performance across the board, easily becoming one of the biggest and perhaps the best motherboard manufacturer along with other components.
That is why the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero WiFi was a no-brainer for me because I have used Asus motherboards in the past and I am currently using a ROG Maximus Z370 Hero and yes, while the motherboard is old, it delivers excellent performance so excuse me while I gush over the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero WiFi because this is an excellent motherboard, to say the least.
Right away, this is one of the most premium-feeling motherboards and it feels solid in hand; it is safe to say that at one point, you might think that the motherboard is overengineered and while some might raise concerns about that, it only goes to show Asus’ dedication towards providing the best part. Asus has also added a lot of quality of life improvements that make the user experience super-easy and convenient. Building a PC using this motherboard is a treat, to say the least.
Thankfully, looks are not the only thing that the motherboard is bringing to the table. For those wondering, this is perhaps one of the best motherboards for all the users who are looking to go with the overclocking flow as this motherboard brings a 20-phase VRM design, delivering a total of 90-amps. This allows you to push your Intel 12th generation processor to its limit. However, I would highly suggest that you have the appropriate cooler with it as well because that is extremely important and you cannot really go without it.
Asus has also made sure that for anyone who is looking for connectivity overload, there is enough to go with because the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero WiFi does deliver on that. Not just in terms of the wireless connectivity that you have but also when you are concerned about the ports. As someone who always runs out of USB ports, spending time with this motherboard was a treat because I could use as many USB devices without having to worry about running out.
Thankfully, the motherboard is also extremely stable in every situation, allowing you to simply install it and forget about running into any issues, which is always something most gamers want, to begin with.
Moving onto the points of consideration that might sway some people away from this motherboard and honestly, I had a hard time finding something bad about it. If you are looking for an RGB extravaganza, then you are not going to get that as it is pretty simple.
Overall, the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero WiFi remains to be one of the most promising motherboards that the market has to offer. Sure, there are some higher end offerings available from the same series but what you are looking at strikes the perfect balance and delivers exceptional performance across the board.
- Overclocking champion.
- Premium fit and finish.
- Excellent set of quality of life additions.
- Connectivity reigns supreme.
- The RGB lighting might not be enough for some.
ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero
Specifications:
- AMD X570 Chipset.
- 18-Phase VRM Design
- Socket AM4.
- DDR4 Support.
- ATX Form Factor.
The next motherboard that I am looking at is again from Asus but this time around, we are paying some attention to the red team considering how AMD has been making some waves in the processor market, too and has managed to capture an amazing market share, too. Needless to say, if you are an AMD user or a fan, in general, this motherboard is great, but how good is it?
Well, the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is something that should not be an unknown option to you. Asus has been paying AMD just as much attention, allowing you to pick up some really good offerings and this time around, I am looking at something that is on the upper echelon. What this means for the user is that if you have been searching for a motherboard that is powerful and stable enough for your Ryzen powered build, this is the way to go as you will not be let down in any way.
With that out of the way, the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero has a lot going for itself and that certainly is a good thing considering how at no point you feel like you are getting average hardware for the price you are paying. Yes, there is a premium involved but overall, you cannot get a better deal than this.
We can start by appreciating just how good the motherboard looks. Simply put, the reason why I picked up the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is because it brings the same level of aesthetic and quality that we have come to expect from Asus but this time around, you are looking at a darker theme and it looks lovely because the color neutrality only helps you to maximize the idea of using colored components. The overall lighting implementation is brilliantly done, too. So, if you have been wondering about how to sort that out, it really should not be an issue.
Thankfully, the motherboard is also excellent when you are talking about the performance. If you have been searching for something that does deliver great performance right out of the box, then this is what you need to pick as I can assure you that you will not be disappointed. I do understand some concerns users might have over the overclocking or stock performance. Thankfully, both of them are great. The motherboard has an impressive 18-phase power design that is good for overclocking both the memory and the CPU, so you are not really going to run into any performance issues. The motherboard offers perfect stability, so that is another plus point here because you are not really investing in something that is going to fail you at any point.
I also love the BIOS implementation that Asus has done here. Asus BIOS have always been among the best for the simplest reason that if you are looking for something that is performance oriented and super easy to use, this is the way to go. You have a lot of options to choose from and you can make sure that you are tinkering with the settings your way. Last but not the least, the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero brings one of the best implementations of VRMs that are powerful and do not run into any issues as far as the performance is concerned.
Thankfully, the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero does not disappoint in any way that might deter you to get something else instead. However, I would tell you that the memory overclocking could be a bit better.
Overall, the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is an excellent motherboard and easily one of the best motherboard for gaming that you can buy. Something that can deliver great looks and equally impressive performance without causing too many issues.
- Excellent performance right out of the box.
- One of the best VRMs.
- Great at overclocking.
- Looks amazing in neutral colors.
- RGB implementation is outclassed.
- The BIOS is a treat to use.
- Memory overclocking is limited.
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi
Specifications:
- mini ITX Form Factor.
- Intel Z690 Chipset.
- 10+1 Phase VRM Design
- Socket LGA 1700.
- DDR5 Support.
I believe it would be safe to say that mini ITX is an acquired taste for a lot of people. Simply because with a motherboard so small, there are usually some restrictions and while the restriction is not from the performance perspective, it is more from the build perspective, and that ends up bothering people to some extent, as well.
With that said, the motherboard in question is one of my favorites, the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi and while this might be the smallest motherboard that I have on the list, for those wondering about how it is going to perform, have no doubts as this easily manages to outperform some of the more expensive, larger motherboards.
Now, I do understand that mini-ITX is a form factor that not everyone is going to like, but honestly, if you are looking to build something smaller and convenient with all the necessary features that you can get, this motherboard does deliver. There is enough for everyone here with the back I/O having enough ports that you can use to get the most of your experience. These ports are not really going to create any issues for you in case you are worried, and the connectivity itself is solid, to say the least.
The motherboard also brings DDR5 support along with wireless options in case you are looking for Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. Now, an important thing to note here is that the 10+1 VRM phase design might not seem enough to a lot of people but I can assure you that during my testing, the motherboard did not really create a lot of issues and worked without any major setbacks. However, I would suggest that you do not try to push your CPU too far because there are going to be performance issues and we want to avoid those at any cost.
Asus has also done an excellent job with how this motherboard looks as we have got some really nice and understated looks with enough bling going on here, too.
Honestly, as far as the downsides go, I cannot really think of much that I dislike about this motherboard. In almost every aspect, the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi was more than satisfactory. However, I would say that the motherboard is not for enthusiast overclockers and that is about it.
Overall, I can more than comfortably say that the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WiFi is the motherboard to go for if you have been searching for something that is smaller and powerful, at the same time. The motherboard poses itself as an excellent combination of performance, looks, and form. It rarely disappoints and always provides a great experience.
- A lot of features for a small motherboard.
- Excellent performance through and through.
- Understated, gorgeous looks.
- Great value for money.
- All the connectivity you need.
- Not built for overclocking enthusiasts.
MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE
Specifications:
- E-ATX Form Factor.
- AMD X570 Chipset.
- 14+4+1 Phase VRM Design
- Socket AM4.
- DDR4 Support.
The last motherboard that we are looking at is from MSI now MSI has a brand that has gone through a lot and it is safe to say that the components that the company does manufacture are all great. You can go for something that is super high-end or you can choose something that is affordable. The point here is that if you are looking for something, there is a chance that MSI has it, and that is always a great thing, to be honest.
With that said, the motherboard in question is no odd or average motherboard. I am actually looking at the MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE as this is the one motherboard that almost everyone knows about and well, for all the right reasons because this beast does not know how to take it slow and easy. If you are looking for something that absolutely kills in terms of the performance or the feature set, then this is what you should be going for.
From the moment you take it out of the box, you will realize that this is not your standard or average motherboard. Why? Well, for starters, this thing is massive. The MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE is the only E-ATX motherboard that we have in this list and while it might look like something that is not a concern, it goes to show just how much attention MSI is paying to the details.
The motherboard is also built like a tank, so if you do prefer heavy, hefty, and big motherboards, this is something that is right up your alley. But am I just going to go ahead and talk about the looks or am I going to talk about other aspects of the motherboard too? Well, let’s get started on the performance.
The good news is that if you are in the mood to overclock, you would be more than happy to know that the MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE is an absolute beast in terms of overclocking as it lets you push your CPU to its limits. The 14+4+1-phase power design allows you to maximize the results and get some wonderful experience, to be honest. Needless to say, the motherboard is not going to let you down as far as the performance is concerned. I am more than happy to report that even when you are running the motherboard on stock clocks, the performance remains just as good, ensuring that you are making the right investment, which is one of the most important things that anyone can go through, to be honest.
The MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE also brings a lot of accessories in the box and while many might not want what the company is providing, I honestly think that these accessories only add value to the overall package and should you want to go ahead and make use of these accessories, you are good to go.
The best thing about this motherboard is that MSI has actually gone ahead and added a dial-up overclocking knob, and yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. Essentially a knob that lets you overclock your CPU and while it is fun to use, I would only suggest you to use it if you know what you are doing because we really do not want to run into issues.
The networking on the MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE is another excellent thing and you are also getting an add-in NIC card as well as a storage card for more storage.
As far as the downsides are concerned, you honestly only need to get this motherboard if you are looking to invest in the best of everything because the motherboard commands that.
Overall, the MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE is definitely the motherboard of choice if you want the best of all the worlds; it is extravagant and at points, unnecessary, but if you are searching for something that shows the true extremes of the PC master race, then investing in this motherboard is more than the right choice and will not disappoint you, provided you have the rest of the hardware to push it.
- Chock full of features.
- Excellent overclocking performance and great stability.
- Lots of accessories such as NIC and storage card.
- The looks and build quality are class-leading.
- Exclusive Godlike features for better user experience.
- The motherboard is definitely not for everyone.
How to Choose the Best Gaming Motherboard
Now that we are done exploring all the best gaming motherboards that are readily available, it is time to help our readers with the process of choosing. I am fully aware that things are not as easy as it might seem for some people who are doing it for the first time but I can assure you that the process is a lot easier than one might think.
There is not a lot of jumping required, in the first place. You can just look into the type of motherboard you are looking to buy, how much you can spend, and you would be all good to go as you can just get the right motherboard with ease.
Rest assured, this buying guide is only going to help you pick the right option.
- How Much Do You Want to Spend: We have to start by talking about just how much you are looking to spend on a good motherboard. Now, this is something that varies from person to person. A lot of times, you are more than okay with anything that has all the features that would be needed in a good motherboard. However, there are times when people just want to pay for something that is a lot more expensive than one might think under the hopes of actually buying something that is good and delivers solid performance. Therefore, deciding this is absolutely important.
- Which Platform You Want to Go For: Moving further, choosing the right platform is very, very important. Why? Well, the reasons behind that are rather simple. There were days when finding the right motherboard was not difficult because you could just go ahead and get your hands on an Intel motherboard, considering how Intel was the only key player. Now, you have AMD in the mix as well and choosing the right platform is more important now more than ever.
- Getting The Appropriate Chipset: Once you are done choosing the platform, you have to pick up the right chipset. With AMD, you have the X570, and other motherboards, whereas with Intel, you are looking at Z690 as the latest and then more affordable variants as you go down the line. Be sure that you buy the right chipset before you make your purchase.
- Do You Want to Overclock: Overclocking is something that has been looked down upon for a long, long time. However, I have come to realize that over the past couple of years, overclocking is something that has become a lot more4 accessible thanks to both Intel and AMD making it easier for everyone to go ahead and overclock the processor. So, if you have been wondering if you want to overclock or not, be sure that you are choosing the right motherboard with that. Now, AMD does make it easier to overclock as the option is available on most of the more affordable motherboards, too. However, with Intel, it is better if you spend on the Z series motherboard for the best experience.
- Preferred Form Factor: While it might not look or seem like it, form factor is one thing that matters a lot whenever you are thinking about going with a motherboard. After all, if you are fitting a massive motherboard in a small case, then that is one thing that is not going to work in your favor at all. Therefore, be sure that you have chosen the right form factor before you have invested in the motherboard or else you might have to make some adjustments.
- How Many Slots are Needed: You also have to keep in mind that when you are going ahead and buying a motherboard, you have to pay close attention to just how many slots you are going to need. A lot of the time, people think that they can make compromises towards the end but it is never the case. Therefore, to make things easier for yourself, it is better that you make this consideration beforehand so you do not end up with a motherboard that simply does not have enough slots for your needs. While we are at it, you should also consider the number of I/O ports you need on the back; after all, getting a motherboard that does not have enough I/O ports is not something that I will be suggesting to anyone because you never know just how many slots you are going to end up needing, this is the simplest reason why I always suggest you are investing in something good.
Conclusion
The days when getting the right motherboard was the simplest thing there is. However, things do not work like that anymore and a lot of the time, people need to pay attention to what they are spending money on because let’s be honest, no one really wants to end up with a motherboard that simply is not good enough.
I am fully aware of all the options that are available in the market and how to pick the right one. It definitely is not something that is easy to settle with and countless people do run into issues picking the motherboard they want.
Thankfully, the whole roundup is here to help you choose what I would call the best motherboard for gaming. I have added all the options that I believe to be excellent in every sense of the way, so it is all good in terms of choosing something good.
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I have been gaming for almost 24 years with extensive knowledge of all platforms and the gaming industry, in general. With interests in literature, art, gaming, and PC hardware.