The first thing you need to consider when choosing a motherboard is what type of processor you’ll be using. If you’re using an AMD processor, you’ll need a motherboard with an AM4 socket, and if you’re planning on getting a shiny new ZEN 3 chip, you’ll need a motherboard with a B550 or Z570 chipset like the MSI MPG X570. However, if you plan on going the Intel route, chipset matters a little bit less, just make sure to get either an LGA1151 socket for their 9th gen CPUs or LGA1200 for the latest 10th gen like the ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero. ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI Hero LGA1151 has one of the safest and most straightforward designs with its ROG Armor steel covering and SafeSlots, making it easy to put together a gaming PC without the worry of wear and tear. The gaming motherboard includes one-click overclocking for your processor but is built to keep from overheating with its real-time dynamic system monitoring, flow-rate heater feed and dual-water temperature header for cooling. It includes three ports of high-speed USB 3.0 connectivity, two PCIe SATA ports, as well as 2x2 802.11AC dedicated Wi-Fi, allowing for instantaneous Internet connectivity. Socket: LGA 1151 | Form Factor: ATX | M.2 Slots: 2 | DIMM Slots: 4 | PCIe Slots: 3 x PCIe 3.0 x16, 3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 | USB Ports: 7 USB-A, 1 USB-C | RGB: Yes It’s not just the best Internet-ready gaming motherboard on the list; this little number offers up to 32GB of DDR4 memory, three USB 2.0 ports, six SATA ports for a ton of hard drive space and supports the latest-gen AMD Ryzen processors. Connectivity is where this motherboard shines — it includes Dual Mode Bluetooth for wireless devices and state-of-the-art Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections that allow up to 1.86GB per second speeds for the Internet. Socket: AM4 | Form Factor: ATX | M.2 Slots: 2 | DIMM Slots: 4 | PCIe Slots: 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16, 2 x PCIe 3.0 x1 | USB Ports: 7 USB-A, 1 USB-C | RGB: Yes The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra comes with built-in 2x2 802.11AC Wi-Fi connectivity, three 3.0 PCIe USB ports, two SATA ports for hard drives, as well as four slots for up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM. The system is able to support 7th generation Intel Core processors up to 3866MHz (3.8Ghz), so while you can’t max it out completely, you can still get a hefty running gaming motherboard that can tackle most PC video game demands. Like other ASUS motherboards on the list, it is built with patent-pending Safe Slots that protect your components by firmly anchoring them for a sturdy hold. Socket: LGA1151 | Form Factor: ATX | M.2 Slots: 3 | DIMM Slots: 4 | PCIe Slots: 3 x PCIe 3.0 x16, 3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 | USB Ports: 9 USB-A, 1 USB-C | RGB: Yes Some other quality of life improvements include an integrated I/O shield for easy installation as well as front-panel USB-C connectors and Wi-Fi 6 wireless compatibility. In addition to the typical ethernet jack and 3.5mm audio ports, the Aorus Ultra includes an array of 9 USB-A ports for peripherals and a back panel USB-C connection for data transfer. The included warranty covers any malfunctions you might experience for up to 3 years after your purchase, and with AMD reportedly supporting the AM4 socket well through 2021, meaning this mobo will continue to serve you well as long as you take care of it. Socket: AM4 | Form Factor: ATX | M.2 Slots: 3 | DIMM Slots: 4 | PCIe Slots: 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 4.0 x8, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x4, 2 x PCIe 3.0 x1 | USB Ports: 9 USB-A, 1 USB-C | RGB: Yes The ASUS TUF B360 Motherboard includes four memory slots for DDR4 RAM with a maximum size of 64GB, allowing for a moderately fast running system. Impressively, the gaming motherboard includes six USB 2.0 ports, allowing for a huge expansion of hardware connected devices. Aside from its expanded ports, the board is built with audio noise guard with high-quality audio capacitors. It also includes a Realtek GbE LAN with cFos Speed Internet Accelerator for direct ethernet connections with the Internet, assuring for stable online multiplayer. Socket: LGA1151 | Form Factor: ATX | M.2 Slots: 2 | DIMM Slots: 4 | PCIe Slots: 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16, 4 x PCIe 3.0 x1 | USB Ports: 8 USB-A | RGB: No It’s the most adaptable gaming motherboard on the list and can accept new computer components without the worry of driver incompatibility issues. Its solid thick board weighs 4.15 pounds and measures 11.1 x 13.1 x 2.9 inches, ideal for mid-tower computer cases. This gaming motherboard is built with enough slots for all gaming needs, including two PCI slots, eight SATA ports, two USB 3.0 ports for fast connectivity, as well as four memory slots that can support up to 64GB of DDR3 type RAM. Unique to its design, this motherboard includes Intel Ethernet built with gaming networks in mind, making for solid online connectivity. Socket: LGA1151 | Form Factor: ATX | M.2 Slots: 2 | DIMM Slots: 4 | PCIe Slots: 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16, 4 x PCIe 2.0 x1 | USB Ports: 7 USB-A, 1 USB-C | RGB: No The Maximus XII Extreme Motherboard allows up to 64GB of DDR4 SDRAM, meaning it can handle even the most memory demanding games. The gaming motherboard includes a huge variety of ultra-fast connectivity options, with four USB 3.1 ports and a 10GB per second transfer that assures zero hiccups in hardware performance for equipment such as mouses and keyboards. Included are 8 onboard SATA III ports for an unnecessary amount of hard drives and dual-band 3x3 802.11ac Wi-Fi connections that allow up to 1300Mbps connections without the need for an ethernet wire. It’s built with SupremeFX Gaming Audio that allows lossless sound no matter how wild your game gets and features an award-winning easy BIOS menu, so you can make adjustments internally and safely without overloading your gaming PC. Socket: LGA1200 | Form Factor: EATX | M.2 Slots: 2 | DIMM Slots: 4 | PCIe Slots: 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x4 | USB Ports: 10 USB-A, 2 USB-C | RGB: Yes Don’t let its size fool you. The Asus ROG Strix Z390-I Gaming Motherboard is still built for gaming, and can, with its two memory slots, hold up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM. It includes SafeSlot connectivity that integrates metal framing for a stronger, sturdier hold for components such as heavy graphics cards. Gamers can even overclock with the motherboard’s easy-to-use BIOS system and can connect via Wi-Fi through its dedicated onboard 802.11 ac compatibility. Socket: LGA1151 | Form Factor: Mini-ITX | M.2 Slots: 2 | DIMM Slots: 2 | PCIe Slots: 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 | USB Ports: 6 USB-A, 1 USB-C | RGB: Yes The motherboard is emblazoned with tons of sharp RGB lighting as well as 4 RGB fan headers. The back of the motherboard features a total of 9 USB-A ports and a single USB-C port and comes packaged with wi-fi baked in. The motherboard comes with a pair of M.2 slots for easy storage expansion and a supported RAM speed of 4600MHz. This RGB enabled motherboard features all the trappings you would expect from a modern motherboard but unfortunately doesn’t include Gen 4 PCIe support, which will place a bit of a cap on your hardware’s performance. Socket: LGA1200 | Form Factor: ATX | M.2 Slots: 3 | DIMM Slots: 4 | PCIe Slots: 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x4, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x1 | USB Ports: 9 USB-A, 1 USB-C | RGB: Yes The motherboard comes with RGB lighting and Wi-Fi built-in, as well as a trio of M.2 slots for storage expansion. All 3 PCIe slots also support a gen 4 interface, allowing for better communication between your graphics card and the rest of the components installed in your motherboard, which results in a higher performance cap. The rear of the motherboard comes equipped with a grand total of 9 USB-A ports alongside a single USB-C and the typical array of optical and 3.5mm audio connections. It’s important to note that if you currently have a motherboard with an AM4 socket, it will likely be compatible with any of AMDs 5000-series CPUs, but that may depend on your current chipset and BIOS firmware. Socket: AM4 | Form Factor: ATX | M.2 Slots: 3 | DIMM Slots: 4 | PCIe Slots: 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x8, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x4, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x1 | USB Ports: 9 USB-A, 1 USB-C | RGB: Yes Onboard audio - You can always add a great soundcard if you need to, but why not buy a gaming motherboard that already has a high-quality audio processor built right in? Audio takes a back seat to graphics most of the time, but fantastic sound can really transform your gaming experience. Built-in streaming engine - Do you ever record or stream your gameplay? If you do, look for a gaming motherboard that has built-in capture technology to allow you to stream in full HD without impacting your game performance. If you’re using AMD CPUs things are a little more simple, as their consumer-level CPUs are all compatible with their AM4 socket type, and will reportedly continue to be supported for some time.
