Best motherboards in 2023

Motherboards are the central component of building a new PC, so here are the best options you can find for your rig.

When building your own PC, one of the most important components is the motherboard. Sure, you’re going to need a powerful CPU and the fastest graphics card but it’s the motherboard that brings everything together. We recommend spending a considerable amount of time looking at various board options for Intel and AMD processors.

The choice of motherboard will determine what other components can be used inside your PC, including processor, storage, and even the chassis form factor. We’ve rounded up the best motherboards right here for Intel and AMD systems to help you make the right decision.

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Best AMD motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E Gaming

Source: ASUS

Specification

ASUS ROG Strix X670-E Gaming

Socket

AM5

Chipset

AMD X670

Form Factor

ATX

Power

18+2

Expansion

2 x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16, 3 x PCIe 5.0 M.2, 1 x PCIe 4.0 M.2

USB Ports

12 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, 3 x USB 2.0 headers

Warranty

3 Years

This is the almost same motherboard as another in this collection by name, but it has a very different socket and chipset. This ASUS ROG Strix X670-E Gaming is quite the motherboard, designed for AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors. It’s got DDR5 RAM support, PCIe 5.0, and the new AM5 socket for good measure.

The 18+2 stage power design is fantastic for overclocking your CPU, especially if you’re planning to use one of the non-X AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs. Both full-size x16 PCI slots support the newer PCIe 5.0 standard. Both x16 slots are armored and most of the available M.2 slots also support PCIe 5.0 so you can upgrade this PC further down the line with faster components.

The all-black, 8-layer PCB is paired with matching heatsinks and a splash of RGB looks as stylish as ever, but it’s not just skin deep. You have addressable RGB headers to sync your entire build using ASUS Aura. And as is so often the way, ASUS takes care to include premium-quality audio hardware on its best motherboards. Overclockers will get some good mileage, too, and the LED display in the top right-hand corner to display error codes is a welcome touch.

There are also more ports on this thing than you could ever use at once, as well as Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5G Ethernet. It puts a tick in all the important boxes.

Source: ASUS

ASUS ROG Strix X670-E

This motherboard has 18+2 power stages combined with a pair of PCIe 5.0 x 16 slots, four m.2 SSD slots of which three are PCIe 5.0, heatsinks and ports galore and ARGB. It’s an absolute beast of a motherboard, and even has Wi-Fi built in.

$496 at Amazon $500 at Newegg

Best Intel motherboard: Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Master

Source: Gigabyte

Specification

Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Master

Socket

LGA1700

Chipset

Intel Z790

Form Factor

ATX

Power

16+1+2

Expansion

1x PCIe 5.0 x16, 2x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1x PCIe 5.0 M.2, 4x PCIe 4.0 M.2

USB Ports

2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port, 7x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports

Warranty

3 Years

The Z790 chipset supports both 12th and 13th Gen Intel CPUs and is the latest flagship chipset for the company’s products. As such, the Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Master is our pick for the best overall Intel motherboard right now. Its price, features and performance combine to help it rise to the top.

The Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Master comes with four DIMM slots with support for up to 128GB of RAM. This particular motherboard supports DDR5 memory kits which means you will not be able to use your older DDR4 kits. According to Gigabyte, this board supports up to DDR5-8000 memory speeds. It’s not necessarily built for serious overclocking, but you can certainly squeeze additional performance out of the processor without issue.

Another noteworthy feature of the Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Master is the fact that it also supports PCIe Gen 5.0. While you can’t take advantage of the PCIe 5.0 slot just yet, we still think it’s good to have support for future peripherals. The Aorus Master motherboard also has five M.2 slots, and you also get as many as four SATA 6GB/s connectors with support for RAID 0,1,5, and 10. As one of the high-end Z790 motherboards, the Aorus Pro also comes with plenty of connectors and headers to connect all your external peripherals including fans, pumps, RGB lights, and more.

Source: Gigabyte

Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Master

There’s very little to dislike with the Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Master aside from the price. It’s expensive, but you get a lot of kit, including solid power delivery, excellent BIOS, and plenty of connections for all your components.

$500 at Amazon $500 at Newegg

Best motherboard for AMD Ryzen 5000 CPUs: ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming

Source: ASUS

Specification

ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming

Socket

AM4

Chipset

AMD X570

Form Factor

ATX

Power

12+4

Expansion

2x PCIe 4.0 x16, 2x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 2x PCIe 4.0 x1, 2x PCIe 4.0 M.2, 1x PCIe 3.0 M.2

USB Ports

7 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2

Warranty

3 Years

The ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming motherboard is one of the current flagship chipsets for AMD AM4 builds. It brings full support for PCIe 4.0 including devices connected to both its CPU-integrated controllers. This isn’t the best motherboard for AMD builds, but it brings a good mix of features and performs well for the price. The ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming motherboard features AMD’s AM4 socket, which means it’ll support Ryzen 3000 as well as Ryzen 5000 series processors. You can install up to 128GB of RAM using the four DIMM slots on this board.

This motherboard also comes with a good selection of ports by any standard. ASUS has included as many as seven USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, an optical S/PDIF out, a 2.5Gb LAN, Wi-Fi, as well an additional USB 3.2 Gen-2 USB-C port. You also get a DisplayPort and HDMI for Ryzen CPUs with integrated graphics.

The Strix X570-E Gaming motherboard also has plenty of RGB connectors and pump headers for water cooling. Most motherboards these days have enough fan headers, so that’s not an issue here either. Notably, you get two M.2 slots, a few SATA, and even PCI slots for connecting other components like, say, a sound card. As a premium motherboard from a reliable manufacturer, the Strix X570-E also comes with high-quality components and a great power delivery system.

Source: ASUS

ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming

The ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming motherboard uses high-quality component to deliver reliable performance. It’s the best board for most users looking to build a mainstream AMD machine.

See at Amazon

Best enthusiast Intel motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix Maximus Z790 Hero

Source: ASUS

Specification

ASUS ROG Strix Maximus Z790 Hero

Socket:

LGA1700

Chipset:

Intel Z790

Form Factor:

ATX

Voltage Regulator:

20+1

PCIe x16:

2 x PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slots

USB Ports:

7 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 6 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 2 x Thunderbolt 4, 2 x USB 2.0 ports

Warranty:

3 Years

Of the new generation of Z790 motherboards for Intel 12th and 13th Gen CPUs, this is one of the most expensive. But it’s also one of the most impressive, and until someone like Kingpin comes along, probably the board of choice for enthusiasts and overclockers. It’s a perfect companion to the new Intel Core i9-13900K if you’re looking to push it to its limits.

In that regard, the quality VRMs, 20+1 phase power design, and support for water cooling, well, basically everything, will come in handy. That said, the included heatsinks are extremely beefy and will do a decent job on their own. The BIOS is full-featured and solid, while being approachable for newcomers. But it isn’t just built for overclocking, it’s packing everything any enthusiast could want in building a killer PC.

That starts with the sheer quantity of options. Naturally, it supports up to 128GB of DDR5 memory, but you also have a pair of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, PCIe 4 expansion, and m.2 SSD support, Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6E, RGB, 2.5G Ethernet, and even killer audio. As an additional bonus, ASUS includes its Hyper expansion card which can be used for either a PCIe 5.0 SSD (when they’re available) or a pair of PCIe 4.0 SSDs to run in one of the expansion slots. If a motherboard were to tick all the boxes, it’s this one.

Source: ASUS

ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Hero

Expensive, but right now it’s the most impressive motherboard for Intel CPUs if you’re an enthusiast chasing the very best. It’s also a great choice if you’re a keen overclocker. 

$630 at Best Buy $630 at Newegg

Best B550 AMD motherboard: NZXT N7 B550

Source: NZXT

Specification

NZXT N7 B550

Socket

AM4

Chipset

AMD B550

Form Factor

ATX

Power

12+4 power stages

Expansion

1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 2x PCIe 3.0 x1, 2x PCIe 4.0 M.2, 1x PCIe 3.0 M2

USB Ports

1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 3 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 4 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB-A 2.0

Warranty

3 Years

The B550 chipset replaced AMD’s aging B450 chipsets on the market with some noteworthy improvements like PCIe 4.0 for GPUs and SSDs, dual-GPU configurations, and more. The B550 motherboards are recommended for those who’re not looking to splurge a lot of money to get the premium X570 features and NZXT’s N7 B550 is our pick in that regard.

NZXT worked with ASRock to build the N7 B550 motherboard for AMD CPUs. It’s one of the cleanest, best-looking motherboards you’ll find, taking design cues from NZXT’s signature line of PC cases. The majority of the board is covered in an easily removable shroud, and it’s behind these panels you’ll install your M.2 SSDs.

On the features side, the NZXT N7 B550 motherboard includes PCIe 4.0 support, Wi-Fi 6E, as many as six SATA ports, and plenty of USB ports on the rear IO. The motherboard also has fantastic power delivery to support even an overclocked Ryzen 9 5950X. Notably, the N7 B550 motherboard also supports 2.5GbE, so you’re not missing out on ethernet either. The NZXT N7 B550 is also known to handle performance well. It supports overclocking and can handle even the Ryzen 9 5950X at peak frequencies. VRM cooling can comfortably support even the most demanding AMD CPUs on the market, and it has a 12+2+2 phase power design.

Source: NZXT

NZXT N7 B550

NZXT worked with ASRock for the N7 and it’s a fantastic B550 board for most people looking for to build an AMD system.

$250 at Amazon

Best budget AMD motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS

Source: ASUS

Specification

ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS

Socket:

AM5

Chipset:

AMD B650

Form Factor:

ATX

Voltage Regulator:

12+2 DrMOS power stages

PCIe x16:

1 x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 5.0 M.2, 2x PCIe 4.0 M.2

USB Ports:

2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 2 x USB 2.0 ports

Warranty:

3 Years

The ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS motherboard comes with plenty of features you need, and none of the fancy features you don’t, making it a perfect choice for the budget-conscious AMD builder. Supporting the latest AMD Ryzen processors, you’ll find an AM5 socket on this more affordable Micro ATX motherboard.

Despite a relatively affordable price tag, the ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS comes with support for PCIe 5.0 for SSDs, dual-GPU configurations, and 4x 32GB (128GB) of RAM. It’s a little overkill but it’s nice to have the headroom for future upgrades. You even get heatsink covers for the M.2 slots.

The motherboard also comes with integrated Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5G LAN with first-party TUF features, making this a well-rounded board for the price. Alternatively, you can also check out the ASUS TUF Gaming B650M-PLUS variant of this board. It’s a smaller micro-ATX motherboard that costs a little less. It lacks some of the features you find on the larger board, though.

Source: ASUS

Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus

The Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus is a midrange motherboard with support for PCIe 5.0 SSDs and midrange to high-end Ryzen 7000 CPUs.

$240 at Best Buy $240 at Newegg $240 at Amazon

Best budget Intel motherboard: ASRock B660M Pro RS

Source: ASRock

Specification

ASRock B660M Pro RS

Socket:

LGA1700

Chipset:

Intel B660

Form Factor:

mATX

Voltage Regulator:

8 Phases

PCIe x16:

2xPCIe 4.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x1

USB Ports:

4 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB-A 2.0

Warranty:

3 Years

Alongside the launch of its 12th Gen CPUs, Intel also announced the new H670, B660, and H610 chipset motherboards which are suitable for 12th and 13th Gen. These new chipsets are generally more affordable than Z690 or Z790 motherboards. Out of the B660 selection, we think the ASRock B660M Pro RS is one of the best affordable choices.

The ASRock B660M Pro RS is an mATX motherboard that is priced at around $100. It offers an incredible amount of value and it’s a solid option to consider for budget 12th and 13th Gen builds. On the memory side, this motherboard supports DDR4 with speeds of up to 4800MHz. When it comes to the expansion slots, the ASRock B660M Pro RS motherboard only supports PCIe 4.0. You get two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots along with a single PCIe 3.0 x1 slot towards the bottom of the board. For storage, you get a single M.2 socket along with four SATA3 6.0GB/s connectors with support for RAID 0,1,5, and 10.

The LGA1700 socket at the center of the board is flanked by the VRM module to the left and four DIMM slots to the right. The ASRock B660M Pro RS has a reliable VRM module with an 8-phase design. It supports Intel’s Hybrid and Turbo Max 3.0 technology to boost the clock speeds of the chip. It probably isn’t a good fit for a high-end CPU, but paired with Intel’s more affordable offerings you’ve got a capable budget system.

Source: ASRock

ASRock B660M Pro RS

The ASRock B660M Pro RS is a solid B660-based motherboard for budget-centric Alder Lake builds. it supports DDR4 memory modules and comes with all the essential features to power Alder Lake chips.

$120 at Newegg

Best compact AMD motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming WIFI

Source: ASUS

Specification

ASUS ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming WIFI

Socket

AM5

Chipset

AMD X670

Form Factor

Mini-ITX

Power

10+2

Expansion

1x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1x PCIe 5.0 M.2, 1x PCIe 4.0 M.2

USB Ports

2x USB-C 4.0 ports, 5x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 3x USB-A 2.0 ports

Warranty

3 Years

The ASUS ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming WIFI is our pick for the best compact AMD motherboard on the market. Despite the form factor, this is one of the most premium motherboards in our collection with some thoughtful additions like the M.2 thermal guard with a multi-layered heatsink design.

This mighty ASUS ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming WIFI features an AM5 socket for Ryzen 7000 series CPUs. You can comfortably install even the high-performance Ryzen 9 7950X CPU and push all 16-cores and 32-threads. It also retains a full PCIe slot and lets you install an M.2 SSD and up to 64GB of RAM. You only get 2 DIMM slots though, so you be sure to pick a 64GB kit to go along with this board.

This motherboard also supports Wi-Fi 6, making it a future-proof option for those not wanting to deal with Ethernet all the time, but a 2.5Gb connection is available if cables are preferred. As for the ports, the ASUS ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming WIFI offers an HDMI port, two USB-C 4.0 ports, five USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, three USB-A 2.0 ports, the aforementioned Ethernet, and audio jacks.

Additionally, there are plenty of I/O connectors on the board for fans, extra USBs, an AIO pump, and more. This is one seriously powerful compact motherboard.

Source: ASUS

ASUS ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming WIFI

This compact ITX ASUS ROG Strix X670E motherboard has everything you’ll need for a powerful PC that can fit inside a smaller form factor chassis.

$450 at Amazon $450 at Newegg

Final Thoughts

Motherboards build a strong foundation for a PC build, and we’ve got a healthy list of options for you to choose from. If you’re building with Intel right now it’s a little easier since 12th and 13th Gen can both work off either a Z690 or Z790 motherboard. It’s a little trickier if you’re building with AMD since there’s a platform change between the Ryzen 5000 and 7000 series. Some of the best motherboards, such as the ASUS ROG Strix X770-E Gaming, command a premium price. But budget builders aren’t left out in the cold, with some excellent choices from the likes of ASRock.

• Choose the right socket: Make sure the board has the right socket to support your CPU of choice. It’s an important specification highlighted by each manufacturer. AMD CPUs use an AM4 or AM5 socket while the current-gen Intel CPUs require LGA 1700 sockets.
• Motherboard size: Most modern motherboards come in three sizes — ATX, micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX. ATX boards are more suitable for standard-size builds and they offer the most space for connections and slots. micro-ATX boards are slightly smaller with less room for ports. Lastly, mini-ITX boards are made for small enclosures with limited space. They have the least amount of ports and slots for peripherals.
• Pick your ports & slots: The smaller the size of your motherboard, the fewer ports and expansion slots you’ll get for your build. So plan your build accordingly.
• Wi-Fi card: If you don’t have access to Ethernet then you’ll need a Wi-Fi card. We recommend choosing a board with Wi-Fi 6 if you plan on keeping your PC around for years.
• Motherboard aesthetic: Since most PC cases have a transparent side panel a.k.a a window, you may want to consider a motherboard with some RGB lights or at least good aesthetics.

It really is the best time to be a PC builder right now. You can also check out our collection of the best monitors, ergonomic keyboards, and even high-quality webcams if you’re looking to create a fully-kitted setup with the best peripherals. As a rule of thumb, always remember to buy a component that suits your needs, and not because it’s new or the fastest on the market. It’s important to make sure your budget has enough room to accommodate the other supporting components for your build too.