Best Motherboards for Gaming in 2024

Building your first gaming PC is an exciting process. When you start picking out parts, the graphics card and processor will probably grab your attention the most. But don’t forget, the gaming motherboard is the foundation. It’s what all the other components connect to. You may choose the best GPU and CPU out there, but they can’t perform to their full potential without a quality motherboard supporting them. So do some research to find the right gaming motherboard for your needs. What kinds of games do you play? What’s your budget? Asking these questions will help narrow it down. The gaming motherboard needs to have a powerful chipset to handle graphic-intensive games. It also needs ports and slots that allow smooth compatibility with everything else. Otherwise, what’s the point of expensive components if the motherboard holds them back? You don’t want to be disappointed after all your work!

This guide reviews some top motherboard options to consider. Building a powerful gaming PC is a big investment, so it’s worth taking the time to choose carefully. Browse through; I’m sure one will stand out as a good fit for you. Let me know if any other questions come up during your research process. We’ve compiled a list of some really sweet gaming motherboard that cover all the latest chipsets from Intel, AMD, and others. A lot of these are compatible with Intel’s 11th-generation Core i5 processors, which have 5 cores up to 4.1GHz, perfect for intense gaming sessions.

Plus, we’ve included board sizes from standard ATX all the way down to mini and micro. So if you’ve got a smaller case or want to save some money, check out our picks for mini and micro ATX that crush gaming just as well. Before settling on a motherboard, consider things like RAM slots, GPU support, size (ATX, mATX, etc.), and socket type— that kind of thing. These factors will determine if a board is a good fit for your system build. Double-check features like that so you can make an informed choice that’s right for your needs.

Best Motherboards for Gaming List

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Asus TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WIFI

Best Z590 Motherboard

Chipset: Intel ‌Z590‌ ‌ chipset | Socket: LGA‌ ‌1200‌ | Form Factor: ATX‌ | Voltage Regulator: 1‌4 + 2 | PCIe‌ ‌x16: 1 | USB Ports: 12 | Warranty: 3 Years

REASONS TO BUY

✓Budget-friendly

✓Excellent cooling and VRM

✓Comes with RGB headers

✓Super Fast

✓Supports WiFi

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Limited USB slots

The Asus TUF Gaming Z590 motherboard takes things to the next level compared to previous models. Equipped with the powerful Z590 chipset, it supports both 10th and 11th generation Intel Core processors. That means buttery-smooth speeds, whether you’re gaming or creating. All that power does generate some serious heat, but thankfully, Asus has you covered. The M.2 slots and efficient 1.6x larger VRM heatsink keep temps under control so your components can run at full throttle without throttling back. When gaming, you’ll appreciate the silky smooth performance with no lags or hitches. The PCIe 4.0 support also means you can add more RAM sticks down the line if needed to boost your memory game.

What really makes this board stand out is the increased bandwidth. That translates to lightning-fast data transfer speeds, so your GPU can deliver jaw-dropping visuals. The sweet RGB lighting is also a nice touch for any dedicated gamer. Between the advanced cooling, powerful specs, and extra expansion, you’re getting great value here. It’s the full package for serious gaming on a reasonable budget.

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Asus ROG Maximus XIII Hero

Best Intel Motherboard

Chipset:Intel ‌Z590‌ ‌ chipset | Socket:LGA‌ ‌1200‌ | Form Factor: ATX‌ | Voltage Regulator:16 | PCIe‌ ‌x16: 3 | USB Ports: 10 | Warranty: 3 ‌Years‌

REASONS TO BUY

✓Robust and powerful

✓Supports WiFi

✓High-grade audio

✓A great number of USB ports

REASONS TO AVOID

✗It’s expensive

The Asus ROG Maximus XIII Hero takes their legendary motherboard game to the next level. With extensive heat sinks and fun diagonal cutouts, it keeps components ice cold, and that’s crucial because we all know gaming creates some serious heat! Good news if you like to pack on the storage: this bad boy has a whopping six SATA ports, so you can add plenty of hard drives to beef up your space and speeds. It also provides a rock-solid 90A power delivery. The ports are neatly placed too, so cable management is a breeze.

You even get four super-fast M.2 slots, with two supporting the latest PCIe 4.0 standard. Install your games on an M.2 SSD and watch load times disappear—your whole system will feel insanely quick. In short, the Maximus XIII Hero gets the most out of your rig’s performance at ultra-high speeds. Built with serious durability too, this gaming motherboard will last you 4-5 years of gaming goodness. Sure, it ain’t cheap, but the features are totally worth splurging on, in my opinion.

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GIGABYTE X570 AORUS Elite Wi-Fi

Best X570 Motherboard

Chipset: 2nd and 3rd generation AMD Ryzen processor | Socket: AMD AM4 | Form Factor: ATX‌ | Voltage Regulator: 12 + 2 | PCIe‌ ‌x16: 2 | USB Ports: 4 | Warranty: 3 ‌Years‌

REASONS TO BUY

✓Robust build

✓Good value for the price

✓Affordable

REASONS TO AVOID

✗WiFi Chipset isn’t the latest Gen

The Gigabyte X570 AORUS Elite motherboard is perfect for your new AMD Ryzen build. Unlike previous models, it rocks the seriously fast PCIe 4.0 for SSD speeds. You also get dual M.2 slots plus a handy heatsink to keep your drives cool under pressure. It’s outfitted with 4 RAM slots too, so you can upgrade to a whopping 128GB down the line if needed. For the price, the performance is killer—this board rips in overclocked scenarios. Your games will stay buttery smooth no matter how intense they get.

Gigabyte also includes some serious, high-grade thermal paste right in the box. Called MX-4, it takes the edge off heat for cooler components. Feeling toasty? Apply a fresh layer and watch the temperature instantly plummet. Now it is a bit light on USB ports compared to pricier options. And there is no SLI support for multi-GPU madness. But if you prioritize raw gaming power on a reasonable budget, this one delivers where it counts. Just the ticket for a serious Ryzen build.

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Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming Wi-Fi

Best B550 Motherboard

Chipset: B550 | Socket: AM4 | Form Factor: ATX‌ | Voltage Regulator: 12 + 2 | PCIe‌ ‌x16: 2 | USB Ports: 8 | Warranty: 3 ‌Years‌

REASONS TO BUY

✓Includes magnetic WiFi 6 antenna

✓Budget-friendly price

✓Easily supports Ryzen 3900X processor

✓Powerful

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Some users have experienced WiFi connectivity issues

The Asus ROG Strix B550-F is definitely one of the best bang-for-buck motherboards out there, at under $200. In testing, this gaming-focused board crushed any tasks we threw at it without breaking a sweat. Rocking a solid 14-phase power delivery and 6 SATA ports, you also get dual M.2 slots with PCIe 3.0 and 4.0 support. Both have included heatsinks, so your storage stays frosty under pressure. Asus went with a clean, minimal design and paired it with some well-placed heatsinks to keep temperatures in check. Since the B550 chipset runs super efficiently, no heatsink is needed there.

For some RGB bling, it has headers front and back. Plus all the ports, features, and integrated WiFi you need. Audio quality is top-notch too. All in all, an awesome entry-level board for the price. If you’re looking to build a slick gaming rig without busting the budget, this Asus board is a no-brainer choice.

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Gigabyte X570S Aorus Master

Best AMD Motherboard

Chipset: X570S | Socket: AM4 | Form Factor:ATX‌ | Voltage Regulator: 14 + 2 | PCIe‌ ‌x16: 1 | USB Ports: 12 | Warranty: 3 ‌Years‌

REASONS TO BUY

✓Comes with Wi-Fi 6E

✓Increased number of USB slots

✓Impressive cooling system

REASONS TO AVOID

✗It’s expensive

The Gigabyte X570S AORUS Master is built like a tank but still stylish as hell. Using the efficient X570S chipset means no fan noise—just pure performance. You get 4 PCIe M. 2 slots, 14+2 power phases, WiFi 6e—it’s stacked. The 12+2 design pumps out a wild 840A too. Gigabyte keeps things chill with their signature Wingblade fan design. It works perfectly, shuttling excess heat out so components cruise at optimal temperatures. RAM support tops out at an amazing 128GB over 4 slots. Future-proof your rig however you like. Along with six SATA ports conveniently placed out of GPU interference,

Seriously stellar storage options with 4 M.2 slots ready for loads of SSD goodness. RGB nuts will adore the 5 onboard headers that light up the back like a disco ball. Without question, the X570S AORUS Master is the moth

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Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero

Best AM4 Motherboard

Chipset: AMD X570 | Socket:AM4 | Form Factor: ATX‌ | Voltage Regulator: 14 + 2 | PCIe‌ ‌x16:3 | USB Ports: 12 | Warranty: 3 ‌Years‌

REASONS TO BUY

✓Incredible performance

✓Sufficient USB ports

✓Supports Wi-Fi 6

REASONS TO AVOID

✗It’s expensive

Function-wise, the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero simply crushes it. For the high price, you’re getting 8 SATA ports, 90A VRMs, and up to 12 USB ports—totally worth it! The X570 chipset runs so cool too, thanks to the bundled heatsink that keeps temperatures under control no matter the load. Triple PCIe 4.0 x16 slots mean tri-SLI is possible with AMD or Nvidia cards. There is plenty of room for extra sound cards or networking accessories too. Storage for days with 8 SATA ports to hook up all your drives. Over 10 USB ports give your peripherals miles of freedom.

RAID setups with dual NVME drives unlock seriously fast data speeds on Ryzen platforms. RGB lighting and four headers (one controllable solo) energize the whole aesthetic. Stable, refined—this thing just gets the absolute most out of your components. Plus, Asus software and BIOS support are top-notch. You really can’t go wrong with the Crosshair VIII Dark Hero.

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MSI MAG B460M Mortar WiFi

Best mATX Motherboard

Chipset:B460 | Socket: LGA1200 | Form Factor: Micro ATX‌ | Voltage Regulator: 12 + 1 + 1 | PCIe‌ ‌x16: 3 | USB Ports: 6 | Warranty: 3 ‌Years‌

REASONS TO BUY

✓Good value for the price

✓Delivers great performance when gaming

✓Efficient cooling

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Has a few memory limitations

The MSI MAG B460M has tons of sweet features that make it a killer gaming board. Yeah, RAM speeds and OC are limited, but if that doesn’t bother you, then this thing crushes it. Even though it’s a micro ATX size, you still get pretty much everything the bigger ATX boards offer. Dual M.2 slots, 6 SATA ports, and 4 fancy fan headers keep everything running cool under pressure. The B460 chipset pairs perfectly with 10th-generation Intel chips thanks to the solid 12+2 power phase setup. An 8-pin connector makes sure none of your components go hungry for juice.

With some extra airflow, this thing shouldn’t break a sweat, but it’s no slouch on performance either. BIOS tweaks let you squeeze more out of non-K CPUs too, which is sweet. DDR4 Boost and WiFi 6 are super handy for gaming and productivity. MSI’s legendary audio makes games feel hyper-realistic. With a great VRM, wireless connectivity, and ports for days, this board is a total steal for the price point. Highly recommended!

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Gigabyte X570-I Aorus Pro

Best Mini ITX Motherboard

Chipset: AMD X570 | Socket: AM4 | Form Factor:MINI ATX‌ | Voltage Regulator:6 + 2 | PCIe‌ ‌x16:1 | USB Ports: 6 | Warranty: 3 ‌Years‌

REASONS TO BUY

✓Supports 16 core AMD processors

✓Delivers excellent power

✓Compact-sized design

REASONS TO AVOID

✗A little expensive

The Gigabyte X570-I AORUS Pro proves you don’t need a huge board to get huge features. Though the small form factor means limited expansion, this thing still packs a premium punch. Don’t let the compact size fool you; it can handle massive 16-core CPUs with 64GB of RAM and beefy GPUs. PCIe 4.0 and banked M.2 slots unleash fury. Plus, there are 4 SATA ports for loads of storage. A dedicated chipset fan and heatsinks everywhere keep hot components icy. Dual fan headers circulate airflow, so your mini PC stays cool while gaming for hours.

For bling purposes, RGB headers on the edge bring your light show dreams to life. Control via easy software too. No CPU or RAM is needed for BIOS flashes—just a USB drive. It works phenomenally out of the box for gaming. The only real downsides are that dual GPUs or front USB-C won’t fit some cases. But overall, it is an insanely strong choice for mini powerhouses.

Conclusion

With so many sick gaming motherboards to pick from these days, choosing can definitely be overwhelming. Let me give you some top recommendations based on your needs. For high-end AMD, you can’t go wrong with the Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero or Gigabyte X570S Aorus Master. Both absolutely crush it in performance, speeds, overclocking support, and awesome cooling/slots. Intel fans should check out the Asus TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WiFi, compatible with their killer 10th and 11th generation CPUs. On a budget? The Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi is seriously impressive for the price. You get premium features like 14-phase power, dual M.2 slots, and six SATA ports—it even supports PCIe 4.0!

Another solid value option is the Asus TUF Gaming Z590-Plus WiFi. Pair it with Intel’s 10th or 11th generation for stellar speeds at an affordable price tag. Gaming performance is off the charts. So whether you want high-end or entry-level gaming, these boards will deliver amazingly smooth gaming experiences.

How We Selected Best Motherboards for Gaming

When picking a mobo, first consider the form factor—how big is your case? The mid tower is standard; the full tower gives lots of space; and the mini ITX is tiny but portable. Know your size limits. Next, check the socket; this defines what CPU you can use. AMD uses PGA; Intel is mainly LGA these days, which is easily upgradeable. BGA-soldered chips shouldn’t be your move. For gaming, aim for 16GB RAM minimum. Make sure your board has enough slots to add more later too, as games demand more over time.

PCIe slots let you boost performance with things like graphics cards. The more, the better for options. Ports are also important; look for multiple SATA III 6Gb/s connections for super-fast storage like SSDs and HDDs. This really improves load times and data movement in games. Take time to consider these factors; they’ll make sure your mobo is the perfect match for your gaming needs both now and down the road.