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Technology is evolving surprisingly, and the market is flooded with various motherboard options. However, motherboards are the base of any system, so we will explore multiple gaming motherboards to help you find the one most suitable for you. If you are a professional gamer looking for a good motherboard, this blog is for you. 

Top Motherboards 

Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Xtreme (best overall) 

Coming on number one, we have the Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Xtreme. Except for the lacking M.2 sockets, this board has everything you’ll need in an excellent motherboard with great value for money. 

Delivering class audio, 4 Thunderbolt ports of 40 Gbps, 10 Gb ethernet, M.2 support, and a high-end appearance, the Z790 Aorus Extreme has created a more significant challenge for its opponents. 

The Z790 Aorus Extreme is an excellent option for gamers looking for a flagship board. The only reason one might avoid this is the high price range. Even if it is cheaper than its opponents, $200-$400 is still a lot. Another factor to consider is that this is an E-ATX, so you’ll need a bigger case than the average ATX case. Regardless, the Z790 Aorus Extreme is perfect for people looking for flagship boards that are lighter on the budget. 

Specifications

Alternative 

If you are not satisfied with the lack of M.2 ports in  Z790 Aorus Xtreme, then with an additional $400, you can opt for MSI’s Z790 Godlike, which offers seven M.2 sockets. It is physically more extensive, but the high price range makes you think twice before buying it. 

ASRock B760M Steel Legend Wi-Fi 

With three M.2 sockets, micro ATX-size, B760 chipset, and a stylish design, we have the AsRock B760M Steel Legend Wi-Fi. At around $160, it provides an eDP port, integrated Wi-Fi 6E, and bright and colorful RGBs. Its power delivery may not seem like all that, but it is powerful and worth the price. 

Its performance is slower than multi-threaded boards, but it is still a solid gamer. The only limitation is the CPU cooling. 

One major drawback is the lack of USB ports (8) on the rear IO and the dated audio codec. Regardless, the AsRock B760M Steel Legend brings excellent value at a suitable price. 

Specifications 

Alternative 

Staying close to the price range, Gigabyte’s B760M Aorus Elite AX is recommended if you want a more premium appearance. However, it supports two M.2 ports, which is one less port than Steel Legend. Another option is MSI’s Pro B760M-A Wi-Fi, but it lacks M.2 ports and is not very famous in the looks section. Just a few dollars over budget, Asus Prime B760M-A AX is also a valid option, but it is not as good as Steel Legend. 

MSI MPG X570 Gaming Pro Carbon WiFi 

The MSI MPG X570 Gaming Pro Carbon WiFi lets you get the most out of  AMD’s 3rd gen Ryzen CPUs with four DIMM and two M.2 slots with PCIe 4.0 connections. The IO panel comprises seven USB Type-A ports and one USB Type-C port. A wireless antenna is included along with headers on the board to establish wireless connectivity and a gigabit ethernet port. This version of MSI MPG X570 supports Wi-Fi 6, which gives it a speed boost. Another notable feature is the existing HDMI port, which many X570 boards ignore. 

Some people might find the number of ports lacking; however, other than this, the MSI MPG X570 Gaming Pro Carbon WiFi is an excellent premium deal if you are willing to pay a reasonable sum of money for it.

Specifications 

Alternative 

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, then you can consider ASRock B760M Steel Legend WiFi. Details of Steel Legend are discussed in this blog. 

MSI MAG B660M Mortar WIFI DDR4 

The MSI MAG B660M Mortar WIFI DDR4 is an excellent option for a good motherboard without putting too much pressure on your budget. It includes six SATA ports, two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 sockets, a premium last-generation audio solution, and VRMs. 

Compared to its opponents, the MSI MAG B660M Mortar WIFI DDR4  is able to handle an i9-12900K processor while most can’t. 

Despite the missing RGB lighting and lack of M.2 ports, Mortar DDR4 has excellent processing and is light on the budget.  

Specifications 

Alternative 

If you are concerned about appearance, then with a few extra dollars, you can opt for the MSI PRO B660M-A WiFi DDR4 Motherboard, which comes with four SATA slots and 2 M.2 slots. There are few differences except for the different number of slots and the slight change in design. 

Asus Prime H610M-A D4 (last)

If you are looking for a cheap way to hop onto Adler Lake, this is the key.  The Asus Prime H610M-A D4 can support two M.2 sockets and a key-E M.2 socket, allowing you to add CNVi-based NICs for a good Wi-Fi connection. 

This is the cheapest option to get onto Adler Lake, but this, too, comes with drawbacks. There are fewer USB ports (6) and no USB C-type or 20 Gbps USB ports. You will also be limited in what processors you can use on this chipset. The performance is slower due to the heavy multi-thread loads, even on core i9. There is not much expansion possible because of the limited number and the slow speed of the ports. However, if you aren’t looking for the best Adler Lake experience, Asus Prime H610M-A D4 for $100 should suffice. 

Specifications 

NZXT N7 B550 

NZTXT’s debut AMD motherboard was a huge success. They added more USB ports to the rear IO and implemented cutting-edge Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5GbE. The appearance also changed drastically with the lack of on-board RGBs. 

The N7 B550 offers more and faster USB ports, a newer Wi-Fi chip, and the usually satisfying packaging. One of the biggest perks is that if you buy an older X570 motherboard, you will have to pay extra for PCI 4.0 bandwidth. Remember how the older motherboards are about the same price as the NZXT N7 B550. 

If you are a fan of integrated RGBs, their lack might be disappointing, and the absence of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (20 Gbps) ports might be inconvenient. Regardless, N7 B550 is a good deal for people looking for a good motherboard that is light on the budget. 

Specifications 

ASRock Z790 Taichi Lite 

Finding a board providing premium flagship qualities in the market is almost impossible. The ASRock Z790 Taichi Lite delivers all that for only $379.99. While other boards cost way more than that, the Z790 Taichi Lite offers dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, PCIe 5.0 M.2 socket, eight SATA ports, premium audio, and robust power performance. One of the most noticeable features is that none of the other boards in the same price range come close to this board hardware-wise. 

Taichi’s original style includes exposed PCB, stencil design, and simpler heatsinks. However, this board passes as a taichi even without any of these. The only drawback you’ll face is the appearance, which is not one of a taichi, but that won’t be too much of a problem if you are satisfied with its functions. One more drawback is the concurrent running of the M.2 ports. Even though it has five M.2 ports, only four work concurrently. However, that is not too much of a problem. If you aren’t looking for flagship looks and a suitable price, then the ASRock Z790 Taichi Lite is the one for you. 

Specifications 

Asus TUF Gaming B650 Plus WiFi

The Asus TUF Gaming B650 Plus Wi-Fi supports a 5Gbps Type-C front connector, two Type-A and four USB 2.0 ports, and a primary M.2 slot that supports up to PCIe 5.0. The board also includes 4+8-pin CPU power connectors and 12+2 phase design.

It has done a brilliant job with the cooling design for this board. The immense heat sinks provide a large air circulation surface area and prevent overheating. The biggest pros of this board are the cooling system, enhanced PBO modes, and refined BIOS. However, it does contain some flaws, like the high price range and the imitation of Wi-Fi 6. Regardless, it is a good deal if you are looking for a board that will not overheat and has a fair amount of USB ports. 

Specifications 

Gigabyte X570S Aorus Master

The X570S is an upgraded version of the original X570 with a few changes. This upgraded board does not require active cooling to run constantly and smoothly. It comes with four M.2 slots and an excellent heat sink. The rear IO consists of plenty of USB ports, such as two USB 3.1 Gen 1, a single Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port, four USB 2.0, and four USB 2.0. These features make this board favorable for port-hungry gamers. 

However, if it were to support 5G, it would’ve been ranked higher. This is the only drawback of this board. Even at only $400, it is still a good deal. 

Specifications 

ASRock A520M ITX/ac

Lastly, we have the ASRock A520M ITX/ac with Ryzen 5000 support and good value for money. In addition, the A520M board can do anything a board of double price can. With included Wi-Fi support, it supports 433 Mbps of speed, which is decent. It consists of two M.2 ports, four USB ports, and a Type-C port, which is a small number of ports but is sufficient for a mini-board. 

The board itself is great, except for a few letdowns. The audio is weak and could’ve been better, and the small heatsink is not an excellent measure for overheating. Besides these, A520M is a good value-for-money board, even if you have limited function due to the size. 

Specifications

Conclusion

Choosing the correct motherboard is crucial for building a system that meets your needs and requirements. The options listed above represent a diverse range of choices, catering to gamers, enthusiasts, and budget-conscious users alike. When selecting a motherboard, consider processor compatibility, form factor, connectivity options, and future upgrade potential. Whichever motherboard you choose, ensure it aligns with your computing requirements and preferences for an enjoyable user experience.