The Best Motherboards for Gaming

Apart from programming, coding, and streaming, gaming also has a different fan base. With the high-end components, one can build a professional PC. Gaming gear may significantly improve your gaming experience. PC components like motherboard and CPU are the basics of any operation you perform on your PC. Along with a suitable choice in choosing an excellent motherboard, the best CPU for gaming can also help you speed up your games. A PCB with extraordinary and upgraded features can be a real gamer changer. This buying guide will help you pick the best motherboard for gaming for your entire system.

The resolution on your PC screen, along with anti-lagging and no screen tearing, plays an essential role in giving you the best output in gaming, and the best graphics card can help you achieve that. You can find graphics cards in the tech market that provide 4K and 8k gaming. PC cases are not that important in elevating your game level, but they are vital for your overall system. If you are into PC aesthetics, then getting one of the best PC cases can make a difference in changing the overall look of your system with pre-installed RGB Lightning stripes and RGB fans.

Suppose one has to make a checklist for all the components involved in making your gaming experience elite. Then PSU needs to be on that list along with CPU, motherboard, graphics card, keyboard, mice, gaming pad and gaming chair, etc. Choose the best power supply for a gaming PC and help your system get the optimum power. Your gaming system would be incomplete without having a proper power supply. In this buying guide, we will specifically discuss gaming motherboards. We have selected products from popular and worthy brands like Asus, Gigabyte, ASRock, and MSI. It’s up to you which brand you will choose. Give this buying guide a read and make a prompt decision in selecting a compatible motherboard.

Our top picks

Quick Shopping Tips:

Socket Compatibility: This securing mechanism will let your motherboard connect with your processing unit. Before moving towards fancy features of the motherboard, one needs to check for the basics like socket compatibility. The product we have chosen shows compatibility with the AM4 socket and LGA 1200. The socket compatibility is also dependent on your CPU generation, and either it is from Intel or AMD. Check your motherboard socket compatibility before buying it either for gaming or generally.

Form Factor: The next basic you need to consider after socket compatibility is the form factor. Usually, you will find three main sizes for motherboards: ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini ATX. ATX is considered a standard size, but you can buy a motherboard with the form factor that supports your system. All these form factors will affect your system performance more. For instance, micro ATX and mini-ATX are not good options if you want to overclock; they are also not suitable for multi-GPU systems. A smaller board will come with fewer slots, specifications, and vice versa. Despite the size’s importance, your motherboard doesn’t directly affect your gaming performance.

PCIex16 Slot: The following is imperative for gamers as they allow expansion slots to be connected with your system. Moreover, being the fastest with more PCIe lanes, PCIe x 16 is necessary for a speedy gaming experience. The slot is also essential for the graphics card, which is eventually important for better graphics for your gaming. Your system needs to have at least one PCIex16 slot with multiples. But it would help if you looked for a motherboard with more than one slot, as it will only benefit your overall gaming performance.

Built-in Wi-Fi: With built-in Wi-Fi ability, you won’t need any extra Wi-Fi adapter for your system to be connected to the internet. Also, with the built-in Wi-Fi support, you can save your PCIe slot as you don’t have to plug in an extra cable. Many games like Player’s Unknown Battle Ground (PUBG), Fortnite Battle Royale, Counter-Strike, Global Offensive need a stable internet connection to operate. Moreover, with internet availability, gamers can connect with other gamers. Look for a motherboard with this feature and connect yourself with the world.

The Best Motherboards for Gaming: First look

The Best Motherboards for Gaming: In-depth Review

ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Apex is one of the great motherboards you can pick for gaming. Not only will it upgrade your gaming, but it also is better entirely for your system. Distinctive features include intelligent control, speedy game connectivity, Intel Turbo Boost Technology, PCIex16, Wifi 6E, Audio CODEC ALC4080, 24-pin main power connector, AURA Sync for RGB Lightning, Dual BIOS, and ROG, ASUS exclusive software. Shiny features like these make it perfect for gaming and programming. The operating system that the product uses is both Windows 10 and Windows 11. The following PCB uses the form factor of ATX, and the chipset that it supports is Z690. The product is considered the best Z690 motherboard for Alder Lake CPUs, with 16 cores recently launched in 2021. The socket that this PCB support is Intel LGA1200. Pairing this motherboard with your CPU will be a game-changer. With dual memory slots and massive memory of 32GB, the RAM speed that this product shows is 2666 MHz.

However, the RAM speed can go up to 4500 MHz upon overclocking. A user doesn’t have to worry about overheating because the product provides eight cooling fan headers. Along with other cable connections and multiple USB connections, the following PCB supports a USB Type C connection. The product is not only about the fancy features but also for outstanding performance. It shows the best results in all performance checking benchmarks. The DDR5 memory availability makes it the best motherboard; the memory type makes the overall processing of your motherboard super-fast. Moreover, with DDR5, you will have improved power management, excellent architecture, and smooth gaming. If you are looking for a motherboard that enhances your system’s performance and is a beautiful addition to your gaming, you should get this ASUS product.

Gigabyte Z590 Aorus Tachyon is built for extreme overclocking and optimum gaming. Gigabyte has always been famous for its PC peripherals, especially motherboards. The product supports 11th and 10th generations Intel Core Processors. The chipset it supports is Z590 and LGA1200 Socket compatibility. The voltage regulator is 12 phase, the VRM design uses an Intersil ISL69269 PWM controller for efficient working. The product also uses a main dual eight-pin CPU connector for more input data rendering. The availability of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi adds more to the product’s goodness. This PCB works the finest with Rocket Lake CPUs by Intel, having up to eight cores and based on Cypress Cove microarchitecture. The product is the best Z590 motherboard for Rocket Lake CPUs with all the exciting features. The product is not all about advanced features; the aesthetic provision ability also speaks for itself. It supports RGB FUSION 2.0 with Multi-Zone Addressable LED.

So, you will be having supreme performance as well as aesthetics. Along with seven USB Ports, the product also supports USB Type C. Multi GPU Technology like CrossFire Technology makes this product more worthy. The product’s form factor is E-ATX, giving you more connecting options. The product has dual memory channels with a massive memory of 64GB. It also provides a faster RAM speed of 3200 MHz, which can be leveled up upon overclocking like most motherboards; the following PCB supports ECC memory for detecting data corruption. The results are phenomenal with benchmarks like 7-Zip LZMA, Cinebench R20, 3DMark. One can play games with higher definition display, like the Hunter: Call of the Wild, Minecraft Dungeons, Rise of the Tomb Raider, LEGO Marvel’s Avengers, Sid Meier’s Pirates!. If you are a gamer, who needs a PCB that supports high-end gaming, then make sure to add the product to your buying list.

Asus ROG Maximus XII Extreme is a legendary motherboard that can help you properly professional gaming. The upgraded features are very distinctive and give a user more PC performance. If something goes wrong with the BIOS, one can reset it to the factory setting to clear CMOS again. The product supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as well. Moreover, it supports a USB charging boost which is a feature that allows a user to charge their devices like phones and tablets at a faster-charging pace. One of the most admirable features of the product is the massive 128GB of maximum memory. Along with that, the product has a dual memory channel and RAM speed of 2933MHz, which leveled up to 4800MHz upon overclocking. To increase security, the product manufacturers have installed Trusted Platform Module that helps a user minimize hacking issues. The following product is the best Z490 motherboard for Comet Lake CPUs. It goes in perfect sync with such CPUs having 14nm lithography, topped up to 4 cores with eight threads. Intel Processors with such specifications changes your expectation about gaming.

For Blu-ray drives and hard drive connections, the product has eight SATA 3 Connectors. Moreover, it has RJ-45 ports, which connect a PC with a Local Area Network. Four M.2 sockets are there in the product to transfer data faster. The form factor for this motherboard is E-ATX (Extended-ATX), and it uses the DDR4 memory type. Dual PCIex16, Thunderbolt 3 add-on card, and DIMM.2 module make it the best gaming motherboard. Realtek ALC1220 Codec sponsors high-definition audio. One can enjoy the RGB Light show via AURA Sync. With benchmarks like 3DMark and PCMark 8, the product shows excellent results. Battlefield V shows 151.7 FPS, as for games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Metro Exodus, the product shows 178.5 FPS and 128.5 FPS. The following result is way better than most of the gaming boards. Simply add this product to your buying list if you want a product that promises impressive features and performance.

ASRock B460 Steel Legend is good news for gamers looking for a motherboard with serious performance-giving attributes. Powered by ASRock, the product supports Intel CPUs of the 10th generation. Providing a user with DDR4 memory type and a remarkable 128GB of memory. Steel Legend will give you ultimate gaming performance and offer you eye-catching aesthetics with ASRock Polychrome SYNC. For maximum networking performance, the product has Dragon 2.5 Gigabit LAN, which is helpful for content creators, streamers, online video gamers, remote workers. The gaming experience takes a giant leap with the availability of 7.1 CH HD Audio, Nahimic Audio, and HDMI port for ultimate high-definition graphics. The chipset it uses is B460, and the form factor of standard ATX. the product is the best B460 motherboard for Comet Lake CPUs. Intel CPUs with such architecture are considered excellent for gaming and usual programming. Pairing up the following motherboard with such CPUs would be a great addition to your PC station.

Distinct features include XXL Aluminum Alloy Heatsink, High-Density Glass Fabric PCB 2.5G LAN, Shaped PCB Design, ASRock Full Spike Protection, ASRock Live Update & APP Shop. Advance and useful technologies like Dual Channel DDR4 Memory Technology and Turbo Boost Max 3.0 Technology powered by Intel are also there to add to the product’s goodness. This PCB offers six SATA connections, dual PCIex16 slots, dual PCIex1 slots, four USB 3.0, 3.1, or 3.2 Ports Onboard, dual USB 2.0, USB Type C, S/PDIF port, Realtek ALC1200 audio chipset, and dual RGB headers. With such promising specifications, this PCB is the best motherboard for sure. Despite all these spicy features, there is no onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Support. However, the gaming is still top-notch with the bundle of impressive attributes mentioned above. Metro Exodus at 1080p, Civilization VI at 1080p, and Far Cry New Dawn at 4K show commendable performances that will make you forget about minor flaws in the product.

Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is a product that a pro gamer surely needs for achieving excellent gaming results. ASUS has done a superb job manufacturing that motherboard, a combination of nearly perfect attributes. From robust built to aesthetics and high-definition performance, there is no competition against this product. Multi GPU support includes NVIDIA 2-Way SLI Technology, AMD 3-Way CrossFireX Technology, AMD 2-Way CrossFireX Technology. To enjoy high-definition audio while gaming, the product has Realtek ALC1220 7.1 Channel HD Audio with Premium Japanese audio capacitors to enjoy high-definition audio while gaming. The following PCB is an ultimate choice for AMD processors supporting AM4 socket, the best X570 ever created, and the last AM4 board you’ll ever need. Along with USB Type C, the product offers up to 5x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 4x USB 2.0.

Compared to the previously launched motherboard, this one has shown betterments in the power stages up to 90a. The RAM speed with this motherboard will go to 3200MHz, which increases to 4866MHz with overclocking. The product also supports ECC Memory which will help you detect data corruption. Pairing this product with either AMD Ryzen 5000 Series, 4000 G-Series, 3000 Series, 3000 G-Series, 2000 Series, 2000 G-Series Desktop Processors will help you achieve pro levels of gaming. This best motherboard shows great benchmarks like 3DMark Time Spy Extreme and Cinebench R20 for CPU rendering. One can play all high-end online games without screen tearing and lagging. Not only that, but the product is also a fine choice for multi-processing and programming. If you are a beginner in gaming, consider buying this PCB for betterment in gaming from the start.

MSI MPG X570 Gaming Pro Carbon WiFi is one of the masterpieces by MSI Global, a Taiwanese-based company famous for elite and high-end gaming gear. The company has done complete justice with the product making it the finest choice for gaming and general computing. MSI Mystic Light RGB and Ambient Link work like icing on top. The RGB Light show causes a mesmerizing effect for the user. Desktop processors with AM4 socket compatibility like AMD Ryzen 5000 Series, 2nd and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen, Ryzen 4000 G-Series, Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics, and 2nd Gen AMD Ryzen are supported by the product. This product’s memory type is DDR4, with 128GB; the initial RAM speed is 4400MHz, which gets better with overclocking. MSI has introduced a new software known as the Dragon Center, which helps the user in different modes like live updating, voice, and game boosting mode powered by the company.

The product is the best gaming motherboard for AMD Ryzen 3000 builds, with a robust built and non-competitive feature like PCIe 4.0 slot, Lightning Gen4 with M.2 Shield Frozr Technology, StoreMI Technology, AMD Turbo USB 3.2 GEN2 support. The aesthetics provided by the product are tremendous and make the product more attractive. The RGB show would be amazing with 20 lighting effects and 16.8 million color availability. It means that not only is the product the best motherboard for gaming, but it will be a lovely addition to one’s PC. For making your gaming experience more elite sound-wise, the manufacturers have installed AUDIO BOOST 4 with NAHIMIC 3. One may not find a motherboard with unique features within this price range. Consider giving this product a chance if you want to experience high-end gaming along with terrific smoothness.

Asus ROG Strix B550-E Gaming is another product by ASUS with all the upgrades a user needs to build a new gaming pace and performance. The DDR4 memory type and newer PCIe 4.0 promise top gaming and overall computing results. The product would be suitable for the CPUs that supports AM4 socket. The chipset it supports is B550. This PCB will turn over your gaming with the four DIMM, 128GB of memory, and ECC memory support. Moreover, the multi-GPU support will make it more worthy. With the availability of Wi-Fi 6, AX200 supports a dual-band frequency of 2.4/5 GHz and a channel bandwidth for HT20/HT40/HT80/HT160 technologies which makes it simply the best B550 motherboard. The Bluetooth version it supports is v5.1.

The audio for gaming will be of the upper class with SupremeFX Shielding Technology, ROG SupremeFX7.1-Channel High-Definition Audio CODEC S1220A that helps Jack-detection and multi-streaming. Content creators and streamers can get a lot of benefits from such features. The availability of exclusive ROG software like RAMCache III - ROG CPU-Z, GameFirst VI, and Sonic Studio III + Sonic Studio Virtual Mixer makes the product the best motherboard. The results of benchmarks like 3DMark Time Spy and Cinbench R20 prove the product’s worth. The product provides users gaming at 4K with games like 8Doors: Arum’s Afterlife Adventure, 9 Monkeys of Shaolin, Metro Exodus, etc. If you want pro gaming and high-end streaming, adding this product to your buying list will not be wrong.

Gigabyte A520 Aorus Elite is a God-sent gaming motherboard by Gigabyte manufacturers. The socket compatibility goes along with the AMD Ryzen 5000 Series, Ryzen 5000 G-Series, Ryzen 4000 G-Series, and Ryzen 3000 Series Processors with the AM4 sockets. The audio and visuals it provides will make your gaming experience more professional. We have HDMI DVI-D Ports support for better, multi-display and HD visuals. And for high-quality sound, the product has ALC1200 Audio support with audio capacitors. The form factor is standard ATX, making the installation of components more accessible. There is no USB Type C availability in the product, but it supports 8 USB ports overall. The reasonable price range of the product makes it user-friendly, the A520 Aorus Elite might be cheap, but it’s definitely not nasty.

The product offers Voltage detection, Temperature detection, Fan speed detection, along with water cooling flow rate detection. The unique feature of this product has included the gaming boost and smart backup of your precious data. The product also supports the operating system of Windows 10, 64-bit. This product’s RAM speed offers everything you look for in the best gaming motherboard, like 3200MHz, boosted up to 4733MHz. With massive maximum memory of 128GB and dual memory slots, the product supports 4 DIMM slots, allowing the user to add more RAM. The rendering performance with Cinebench R23, Blender, and POV-Ray is commendable. The product also shows acceptable arrangements with PCMark 10, AIDA64, and CrystalDiskMark 8. Beginner-level gamers and content creators can rely on this product as it won’t disappoint you.

Final Words

Everybody is now talking about video gaming and upgraded gaming gear. Gamers spend a lot of bucks on them, but sometimes they make mistakes in paying more attention to basics. A robust yet the best gaming motherboard can elevate your gaming to professional levels. We have piled up a few of the outstanding motherboards that you can pair up with your PC system and explore new levels of computing—several factors needed to be considered when buying a motherboard designed explicitly for gaming. For instance, the availability of PCIex16 slot, RAM speed it provides, memory, the availability of integrated GPU, etc.

We have taken products from famous like ASUS, ASRock, Gigabyte, and MSI. Few of them will go perfect for Rocket Lake, Alder Lake, and Comet Lake CPUs powered by Intel. In contrast, few will go in perfect sync with AMD processors. After checking the socket and chipset compatibility from these brands, you can choose products. The products promise to provide elite gaming and performance, but the aesthetics they provide are also worthy of admiring. Give this buying guide a read and explore gaming motherboards that have the attributes that can make your gaming professional and smooth.

Frequently Asked Questions