image showing the best motherboard for gaming

Best motherboard for gaming 2024: Latest motherboards for AMD & Intel

A comprehensive look at the market’s leading gaming motherboards

Silent PC Review is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More

Table of Contents

Alright, you’ve figured out the CPU you want, and now it’s time to grab the best motherboard for gaming, or at least a motherboard that plays well with it. It might sound simple, but for new builders, the variety of options can be a bit overwhelming. Making the right call for a gaming motherboard becomes way easier when you decide your budget and what features matter to you. Need heavy overclocking? Care about connectivity? Thinking of upgrading storage or RAM down the line? These questions might seem like a lot, but once we nail down your preferences, you’ll be chill, and your build will be on track.

For most gamers, a solid motherboard from a reputable brand is all you need. No need to break the bank unless you’re a hardcore enthusiast with super-specific requirements. Whether you’re into AMD or Intel, rocking the latest tech, or sticking with the previous generation, there’s a motherboard that fits your budget. So, no worries – we’ll find the right motherboard for you.

What motherboard is best for you?

The best motherboard for gaming is the one that fits your CPU and budget. There is a lot of quality in boards above entry-level these days, so less hurdles to jump for those new at PC building. Flagship chipsets such as the Z790 and X670E are the most desirable but if you are on a budget you may want to opt for something else. Another option at present is of course going for older-generation processors and motherboards, saving you a lot of money without sacrificing much performance.

Best motherboard for gaming: MSI Z790 Tomahawk Wifi

MSI Z790 TOMAHAWK WiFi

Form factor

ATX

Power stages

16+1+1

Connectivity

2.5 GbE LAN, audio, USB 3.2, WiFi 6E, DisplayPort and more

PCIe Gen 5

GPU X16 and M.2

DDR5

Yes

Pros
  • Good quality, affordable option for those with i9-13900K CPUs and below
  • Decent level of connectivity
  • DDR5 kits up to 7200+(OC) MHz supported
Cons
  • Not enough for the enthusiast

As we are searching for the best motherboard for gaming, we thought we would leave the high-end options till last. There are many better motherboards than this from MSI, however, if you are here for a reliable board and simply want to game, this has more than enough to support your high to mid-range gaming PC.

The MSI Z790 Tomahawk motherboard is designed for users seeking dependable performance, especially when faced with the decision between a mid-low range Z790 and a decent Z690 motherboard. With the added capability of supporting DDR5 memory and impressive speeds exceeding 7200 MHz, this motherboard is the ideal centerpiece of an exceptionally high-speed gaming PC. Moreover, the array of connectivity options is notably abundant, ensuring gamers have all the essential features at their disposal.

Best AMD gaming motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming X670E-Plus Wifi

ASUS TUF Gaming X670E-Plus WiFi

Form Factor

ATX

Power stages

14 + 2

Connectivity

USB 3.2, USB Type C, Display and HDMI ports, 2,5GB ethernet, Audio.

PCIe Gen 5

M.2 & PCIe x16 slot

DDR5

Yes

Pros
  • Sturdy, reliable, well priced
  • A lot of the high-end features gamers desire without overspending
Cons
  • Too basic for the enthusiast

For those who are looking at building a brand-new AMD gaming PC, this X670E from ASUS is the perfect balance of performance and value. This is ready to go and support your next-generation PC, with DDR5 and PCIe 5 support. If you are looking at including a 7800X3D and above in your new PC, this board will work well.

There is room for four M2s and you can clock your RAM up to 6400Mhz. This may not be the best X670E available, however, for the price and overall quality, it’s a bargain. If you are in search of an AM5 board that is better suited to more extreme overclocking or requires more connectivity options, see further down.

Best ITX motherboard: GIGABYTE Z790I Aorus Ultra

GIGABYTE Z790I AORUS Ultra

Form factor

Mini-ITX

Power stages

10+1+2 Direct Digital VRM Solution

Connectivity

Dual M.2/ PCIe 5.0/ USB 3.2 Gen2X2 Type-C

RAM Support

DDR5 128GB (4400 MHz)

Pros
  • Decent connectivity for ITX
  • DDR5/ PCIe 5 support
Cons
  • Expect to spend more for ITX form factor

For anyone considering a small form factor PC build, you are going to need the best mini ITX motherboard for the job. There are a couple of reasonable options, however, the Gigabyte Aorus Z790I Ultra offers a nice balance of features for the price. These types of boards come with limitations in terms of overclocking and connectivity but it is a trade-off most compact system builders are familiar with.

With fast DDR5 RAM support and PCIe 5 compatibility, you have everything you need for your next-gen system.

Best budget Intel motherboard for gaming: MSI B760 Gaming Plus Wifi

MSI B760 Gaming Plus Wifi

Form factor

ATX

Power stages

12 Duet Rail Power System with P-PAK

Connectivity

PCIe 4.0, M.2, 2.5Gbps LAN, USB 3.2 Gen2

RAM support

DDR5 64GB (6800Mhz)

Pros
  • DDR5 support with memory overclocking headroom
  • Excellent features and connectivity for the price
Cons
  • PCie 4

The MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi Gaming motherboard is a top choice for gamers seeking the ultimate performance and connectivity options while on a budget. With support for DDR5 memory, a powerful VRM design, and a host of advanced features, this motherboard gives you a decent feature set for the price.

while it may only support PCIe gen 4, the rest of the board is kitted out ready to take your gaming to the next generation. This would be ideal for anyone building a mid-range system on a strict budget – giving you something you can upgrade into. With DDR5 RAM support you can ensure you hit some impressive speeds, with this board allowing support for up to 128GB of 6800MHz RAM.

Best budget AM5 motherboard: B650M AORUS ELITE AX

Gigabyte B650M Aorus Elite AX

Form factor

Socket AM5

Power stages

Twin 12+2+2 Phases Digital VRM Solution

Connectivity

2* M.2/ PCIe 5.0/ USB 3.2 Gen2X2 Type-C/Intel 2.5GbE LAN

RAM support

DDR5 128GB (6666 MHz)

Pros
  • Excellent price to performance
  • PCIe 5 support
  • Fast DDR5 RAM support
Cons
  • would avoid putting a flagship CPU inside this

Those looking to build an affordable AM5 gaming PC should consider the B650 line of boards. this Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX is about as budget as we would tend to recommend for anyone looking to build a next-generation system. This board comes with DDR5 and PCIe 5 support, giving you something to upgrade in to in the future.

The massive heat sinks enhance heat dissipation efficiency around the MOSFETs. For storage, the motherboard offers 3x M.2 slots and 4x SATA 6Gb/s ports. Out of these, two M.2 slots are directly linked to the processor– 1x PCIe 4.0 and 1x PCIe 5.0. Additionally, the third slot, a PCIe 4.0 slot, stems from the chipset.

Best high-end Intel motherboard: GIGABYTE Z790 Aorus Master

GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS MASTER 

Form Factor

ATX

Power stages

20 + 1 + 2

Connectivity

USB 3.2, USB Type-C, DisplayPort, Audio, Q-Flash, Clear CMOS, and 10GB/s ethernet

PCIe Gen 5

Yes

DDR5

Yes

Pros
  • Solid overclocking potential & an all round top-level motherboard
  • DDR5/ PCIe Gen5 compatible
  • Excellent connectivity options
Cons
  • Reserved for enthusiasts, very expensive

It was hard not to have the Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Master as our top selection but the average gamer is not going to need this. A step behind the enthusiast-level Aorus Extreme, the Master is the ideal pick for anyone building the best gaming PC they can possibly afford. If you plan on just gaming, this board is overkill, however, if have the needs for what this motherboard offers, it’s a solid option.

The Master is armed with PCIe Gen 5 support, incorporating a solitary PCIe Gen 5 M.2 slot and a PCIe Gen 5 x16 GPU slot. Just like the ROG Maximus, the Master offers unwavering support for DDR5 memory clocked at speeds of up to 7600MHz, a perfect pairing for your 13900K.

Best high-end AMD motherboard: ASRock X670E Taichi

ASRock X670E Taichi

CPU Socket

Socket AM5

RAM Memory Technology

DDR5

Chipset Type

AMD X670

Pros
  • PCIe 5.0 GPU and SSD support
  • Support for DDR5 at bus speeds of, 6500MHz
  • Quality and reliable model
Cons
  • Slightly overkill for just gaming

The X670E Taichi stands out as one of the best AM5 motherboards around, with Its robust VRM design boasting an impressive 24+2+1 stage configuration. The board is packed with style and more importantly, connectivity options. The motherboard is primed for lightning-fast performance, supporting 6400MHz DDR5 memory, and housing two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots.

How to choose the best motherboard for you based on your CPU

  • Pick a CPU that fits into your budget first (after prioritizing your GPU of course)
  • Figure out your budget for the motherboard, then choose a chipset accordingly – aim high but if the price is getting too steep consider something more affordable
  • Don’t go too cheap – Unless you are on the strictest budget for a cheaper PC build, aim for quality and treat this as an investment
  • Take time to consider what connectivity/ I/O options you want, think about features such as Wifi, Thunderbolt, and RAM generation/ speed
  • If you are purely seeking a motherboard for gaming and nothing else, do not overspend on “the best”

As a general rule, if you are looking to build one of the best gaming PCs you can with an Intel i9 or AMD Ryzen 9 CPU – you should spend the money and grab yourself a Z790 or X670E motherboard. This isn’t an absolute must, however, it is strongly advised. There are motherboard tier lists available to help when it comes to finding the best value.

When you start dipping into systems that feature high-end Intel i7 or Ryzen 7 processors, you are still going to need quality, however, the very best isn’t necessary. While you may not need to go all out here, you should still aim for a flagship Z790 or X670E motherboard pairing. Some older generation motherboards such as the Z690 chipset are cheaper and feature DDR5 compatibility, making them another great option.

When you get into the Intel i5 and Ryzen 5 processor realm, we still think a flagship motherboard chipset is a good way to go, however, builders are often on stricter budgets at this level. The good news, you can get something like a B650 or a B760 motherboard instead – saving you a heap of cash.

Best motherboard for gaming FAQs

Does the motherboard affect PC performance?

The answer to this really depends, yes, technically the motherboard can have an impact on the performance of the PC but only when there is something wrong. The motherboard is all about input and output, with its main impact being geared towards overclocking. Performance can be affected in several ways and while it is generally less significant than the other components, it is still wise to choose the best motherboard you can.

Which motherboard manufacturer is the best?

That’s a really difficult question to answer, every motherboard manufacturer has its strengths and weaknesses. For example, high-end ASUS motherboards are one of the best when it comes to overclocking and VRM support, but they are incredibly expensive.

In summary

After settling on your preferred graphics card and CPU, the next step is to locate the ideal gaming motherboard that syncs seamlessly with your new gaming PC. There’s a motherboard option for every budget and system requirement; however, it’s essential to ensure that if you opt for a high-end motherboard, you make the most of its capabilities. Our top pick for gamers is the MSI Z790 Tomahawk, but for those desiring greater robustness, especially for overclocking purposes, the Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Master might be the better choice.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About the Author