The Best Gaming Motherboards in 2023

Like keyboards, mice, and headsets, motherboards appealing to gamers have become increasingly popular in new builds. Compared to other motherboards, these gaming-oriented components fully take advantage of the power of the latest CPUs, memory, and graphics cards. The best gaming motherboard is compatible with Intel’s 13th generation or AMD’s 7000 series of processors. In addition, these vital components offer support for DDR5 RAM and advanced GPUs like NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 40 line of graphics cards.

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Shopping for a gaming motherboard is often tricky since they emphasize cutting-edge features that the average user isn’t yet familiar with. What, if any value capabilities like PCI Express 5 will have in the near future remains unclear, but motherboards with this spec carry a high premium nonetheless. To avoid costly mistakes, gamers should first decide on whether they prefer an AMD or Intel processor and then determine if their system will use a mini ITX, ATX, or E-ATX form factor. Also, buyers should ensure that their chosen motherboard provides enough ports for storage and external peripherals. The following gaming motherboards include a wide variety of feature sets and are appropriate for both small and large budgets.

The MSI MPG Z790 Edge Wi-Fi Gaming Motherboard is the best gaming motherboard for enthusiasts looking to pair the latest Intel CPUs with a well-rounded performer. With as many as five M2 slots coupled with an excellent heatsink cover that also extends over the VRMs, the MSI MPG Z790 Edge has you covered in more ways than one when it comes to storage needs. Sporting an excellent 16+1+1 phase power delivery system, it can handle some of the more powerful Intel processors without breaking a sweat.

On the networking front, it has you covered with both a 2.5G Ethernet connection and Bluetooth support with the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard for those looking to run things wirelessly. The MSI MPG Z790 Edge Wi-Fi Gaming Motherboard feels premium in many aspects with its polished design, an integrated I/O plate, and heatsinks all of which add to the aesthetic of what is a beautiful-looking motherboard.

At the same time, it can improve in some ways. Unlike some of its competitors, it lacks a PCI-E 5.0 M2 slot despite having a PCI-E 5.0 X 16 GPU slot which could be a deciding factor for users getting this motherboard with future-proofing in mind. For others, the lack of any onboard RGB might affect their purchase decision and make them look for something that has a more gaming-centric RGB theme. Thankfully, MSI does have you covered with an upsell in their own product line in the form of the MSI MPG Z790 Carbon Wi-Fi Gaming Motherboard.

The ASUS ROG Strix X670E-F Gaming Wi-Fi is a motherboard that offers everything most gamers and creators could ask for from an AMD AM5 motherboard. Featuring AMD’s highest-end X670E chipset coupled with an excellent VRM configuration, it supports all of AMD’s latest and greatest CPU offerings including the latest AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and the gaming champion, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

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It has a fair amount of overclocking tools under the hood, supporting AMD EXPO profiles of at least 6400MHz while allowing steady and stable overclocking performance for the bulk of AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series processors. With plenty of I/O and networking options, it supports Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6E, and 2.5G Ethernet, easily covering your bases in terms of connectivity. The highlight of this motherboard’s expansion potential is the 4 M2 slots, 2 of which support PCI-E 5.0 with the other 2 running at PCI-E 4.0 speeds in tandem with a PCI-E 5.0 x16 slot for your gaming CPU.

All in all, the ASUS ROG Strix X670E-F Gaming Wi-Fi doesn’t represent amazing value for AMD’s AM5 platform (that will probably be a B650E-based motherboard). However, it offers excellent overclocking potential, plenty of I/O and expansion slots, and a comprehensive networking suite that makes it the best motherboard for gaming for AMD enthusiasts.

The ASRock B760M Steel Legend Wi-Fi Motherboard has a legacy to fulfill thanks to the excellent reputation of its predecessors that pushes the boundaries of what is possible from a mid-range motherboard with impressive networking capabilities. With support for up to three M2 drives and excellent overclocking potential, it offers much more than a traditional mATX motherboard in terms of value given the price point it sells at.

Among Intel options, the ASRock B760M Steel Legend Wi-Fi Motherboard makes some sacrifices to become the best motherboard for gaming on a budget. ASRock reduces the number of fan headers on the board to a measly three while also being restricted to PCI-E 4.0 for M2-based storage speeds; it does however come with PCI-E 5.0 support on the GPU slot and support for stacking as many as four DDR5 RAM DIMMs on an mATX board. Clutter may become an issue with this limited form factor which presents obstacles for first-time PC builders.

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Looking at the total picture, the tradeoffs this motherboard makes are some most PC builders can live with, and it offers impressive value, durability, and connectivity in a lean package that should appeal to users designing a new PC.

The GIGABYTE B650 AORUS Elite AX is an entry-level B650 motherboard for AMD users looking to upgrade to the AM5 platform as a long-term investment given how long the AM4 socket has been in the market. While the B650 AORUS isn’t the most feature-packed B650/B650E motherboard out there, it does a more-than-fair job of being an excellent alternative to the entry-level B650 motherboards it competes with. This motherboard throws excellent power delivery, outstanding I/O options, decent networking, and an above-average aesthetic into the mix to offer a formidable combination of value and performance to end users.

Gamers however might take a dim view of the B650 chipset and the somewhat limited PCI-E 4.0 speeds the GPU slot runs at. While it’s currently not an issue, we expect PCI-E 5.0 GPUs to be in play as early as next year, and they could look to take advantage of the extended bandwidth that the Gen 5 PCI-Express slots have to offer.

Overall, the AORUS Elite AX is not the best gaming motherboard you can get for future proofing yourself with AM5. Still, it’s by far the best one you can get today for the AM5 platform.

The EVGA Z790 Classified Gaming Motherboard is designed for gamers who want to eke out as much extra performance as possible from their existing processors and memory. This board has all the tools you need to do so making it the best motherboard for gaming among the most demanding users. State-of-the-art features such as USB 4.0 ports at the rear of the motherboard coupled with 10G Ethernet support out of the box set it apart from most mid-range motherboards as it vies for and secures a position among the best Z790 motherboards money can buy.

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It does have its quirks, however. While the 90-degree rotation on the CPU and ram slots appeals to most overclockers, it might clash with some cases thanks to the E-ATX form factor the motherboard takes on to make room for the rotated ram slots. A questionable limitation of the Z790 Classified is the lack of a PCI-E 5.0 M2 slot which would otherwise be considered a no-brainer for a motherboard at this price point.

All in all, while the Z790 Classified is hardly a perfect motherboard, it does check all the boxes for performance-hungry gamers and offers a business-as-usual design with a large backplate that covers all but the CPU area. We also feel the right angle connectors in play are essential upgrades that should be a part of all motherboards, making cable management a much easier task than similar, competing motherboards.

The ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme Motherboard is ASUS’s most premium offering that packs an impressive amount of tech into its E-ATX form factor with support for both 10G Ethernet, USB 4.0, and Wi-Fi 6E coupled with Bluetooth 5.3. Arguably one of the best looking AMD motherboards in the market currently thanks to its OLED screen on the motherboard itself as well as ASUS’s fan-favorite Anime Matrix LEDs making their way back for ASUS’s flagship motherboard offerings, the Crosshair X670E Extreme doesn’t look out of place in any setup.

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With excellent overclocking potential backed by a stable 20+2 phase power supply and plenty of M2 slots, the ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme has you covered for extreme overclocking performance while looking superb doing so thanks to its aesthetic edge over similar motherboards.

Packed to the brim with future-proof tech, the ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme Motherboard is not everyone’s cup of tea given the price point it commands, but for enthusiasts, gamers without budgetary restrictions, and leading content creators, it’s a no-brainer as the best gaming motherboard among performance-centric AMD fans.

When designing a power-efficient compact gaming rig, gamers often have to make some unfortunate compromises with performance and connectivity. The ASRock Z790 PG-ITX/TB4 is the ideal gaming motherboard for small-form-factor PCs, removing many of the limitations of typical mini ITX boards. Supporting 13th and 12th-generation Intel CPUs, this ASRock motherboard includes a 10-layer PCB and 10+1+1 power phase design that makes overclocking a realistic possibility.

The ASRock Z790 PG-ITX/TB4 is complete with one PCIe 5.0 x 16 slot for a powerful graphics card, though installing them in smaller cases is often a challenge. Storage-wise, the motherboard is well-equipped, but gamers will have to settle for three M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots. External storage is often a necessity with mini ITX gaming PCs, and the ASRock Z790 PG-ITX/TB4 includes two USB4/Thunderbolt ports, which aren’t found on some larger and more expensive motherboards. Also, there is one USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 for front I/O ports, and six USB 3.2 Gen 2 connections on the rear of the board.

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Separating itself from the mini ITX competition, the ASRock Z790 PG-ITX/TB4 has some unique features including Doubleshot Pro, which combines Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5G Ethernet connections for a maximum network bandwidth of 4.9 Gbps. Doubleshot Pro intelligently routes high-priority traffic to the fastest networking protocol. Also, onboard audio is often taken for granted on motherboards. However, it becomes more critical with smaller PCs since users are less likely to install dedicated sound cards. The ASRock Z790 PG-ITX/TB4 relies on SteelSeries Nahimic Audio for rich and powerful 360-degree surround sound, as well as to remove interference from voice communications.

As much as the ASRock Z790 PG-ITX/TB4 accomplishes with a limited amount of space to work with, there are a few downsides to the motherboard worth noting. To accommodate overclockers, there are some large heatsinks on the board which tend to make already precarious cable management more difficult. In addition, there are some reports of DDR5 memory incompatibility, but these have largely disappeared with firmware updates. Regardless, the ASRock Z790 PG-ITX/TB4 is the best gaming motherboard for compact gaming PCs, boasting the same features included on top-tier alternatives.

For cutting-edge performance potential, the DARK K|NGP|N motherboards from EVGA continue to be the first choice of overclockers. The EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N is an even more expensive version of the Classified which is solely focused on experimentation. Although gamers will appreciate the lofty specs of the DARK K|NGP|N, this substantial E-ATX motherboard is best suited for testbeds.

When it comes to overclocking, power phases on a motherboard are critical, as they keep a stable and sufficient power flow to a CPU and other vital components. The EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N comes through in this regard, with a 21-phase VRM, supplemented by two fans to keep overtaxed CPUs running cool. Perhaps the most easily identifiable feature of the DARK K|NGP|N motherboards is their CPU socket and memory slots which are rotated 90 degrees from the typical orientation. This design choice results in the memory sockets sitting toward the top of the motherboard and airflow easily moving across the CPU socket.

The EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N supports DDR5 memory but only has enough capacity for 64 GB of RAM, well short of some high-end competitors. Instead, the motherboard focuses on squeezing out as much performance as possible from one or two DDR5 memory sticks, allowing for clock speeds of at least 8000 Hz. The EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N offers plenty in the way of storage capacity, with three PCI Express 4.0 M.2 sockets, although some other elite motherboards ship with PCI Express 5.0 capabilities.

What the DARK K|NGP|N lacks in memory capacity, it makes up for with tools to monitor everything going on with the board even before a system boots up. Overclockers will appreciate the Multi-Function Post Indicator in conjunction with a series of LED lights and a probelt header, which can inform testers of unsafe temperatures, voltages, and various system errors.

Emphasizing features that mainstream gamers aren’t likely to use, the EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N is the prototypical enthusiast-grade motherboard that aims to unlock the full potential of Intel 12th and 13th-generation CPUs. Even so, the DARK K|NGP|N is the best motherboard for gaming for users who enjoy spending as much time tweaking their system as they do playing games.

The E-ATX MSI MEG X670E GODLIKE demands a lot of faith from buyers to make such a massive investment in a motherboard. Even so, GODLIKE boards have a well-deserved reputation for allowing gamers to experience breakthrough performance on their rigs. The 24+2+1 power phase design with 105A per stage is essential for overclocking AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPUs. MSI also relies on a modified thermal module with a wavy fin construction combined with Frozr AI software to effectively dissipate the heat expected when pushing system limits.

When gamers spend this much money on a motherboard, some perks not usually found with more affordable competitors are almost necessary. The M-Vision Dashboard definitely helps to justify the asking price of the MSI MEG X670E GODLIKE, supplying critical information about CPU temps and updates about system events. Users can also utilize this 4.5-inch touchscreen LCD to turn PCs on and off and toggle between different motherboard configurations before full boot-ups. Obviously when overclocking, having accessible information about the status of a system is critical.

The MSI MEG X670E GODLIKE is suitable for more than just a testbed, with six slots for M.2 storage solutions, including one PCIe 5.0 X 4 connector. Buyers will also never run out of connections for traditional 2.5 and 3.5-inch hard drives, thanks to eight 6Gbps SATA ports. Unfortunately, there is no USB 4/Thunderbolt available on the motherboard, which is disappointing considering its extreme pricetag. Gamers will find a maximum of 15 USB 3.2 ports available either on the I/O shield or internal headers to partially compensate for this drawback.

Not surprisingly, the MSI MEG X670E GODLIKE welcomes DDR5 memory, with four slots for up to 128 GB of RAM. Overclockers will find the motherboard a great setting to test the capabilities of their memory with the ability to achieve clock speeds up to 6600 MHz. If something happens to go wrong, users can rely on the Smart Button on the I/O shield to return to a safe BIOS configuration.

Asking for a serious financial commitment, the MSI MEG X670E GODLIKE is far from a mainstream gaming motherboard. However, other than its surprising lack of a USB 4 port, the board is about as future-proof as there is among X670E contenders. The MSI MEG X670E GODLIKE is the best motherboard for gaming aimed at overclockers and buyers are not looking to upgrade again anytime soon.

The Keys to Deciding on a Gaming Motherboard

As this guide has demonstrated, there is an incredible array of motherboards available, catering to various budgets and performance requirements. Still, such an extensive selection of components can lead to confusion when deciding on the best gaming motherboard for a new rig. Fortunately, following a few basic guidelines can make the buying process smoother.

Generally, gamers should decide on a CPU for a build before any other component, since it will influence the choice of a motherboard. Other parts like graphics cards, memory, hard drives, and stylish cases are generally compatible with motherboards designed for either AMD or Intel processors. For owners of Intel 12th or 13th-generation CPUs, a gaming motherboard like the MSI MPG Z790 Edge Wi-Fi provides a healthy amount of features and storage ports for modest budgets. Similarly, motherboards ideal for AMD 7000 processors such as the ASUS ROG Strix X670E-F take advantage of the fastest DDR5 memory, with some RGB lighting to add some style to a gaming PC.

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For gamers who seek to maximize the potential of their systems, the EVGA Z790 Classified is a more pricey Intel motherboard that boasts four USB 4/Thunderbolt ports for lightning-fast storage. In addition, a high-performance gaming motherboard like the EVGA Z790 Classified allows for a decent amount of overclocking, though not to the level of the enthusiast-grade EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N.

Regardless of budget and whether a buyer takes enough risks to attempt overclocking, there is a motherboard that can serve as the key building block to any custom gaming rig.

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FAQ

Q: What is the best AMD AM5 chipset you should get for gaming?

The AMD X670E chipset has the greatest amount of PCI-E 5.0 bandwidth available from the processor with up to 24 direct PCI-E 5.0 lanes being supported, making it both the best and the most future-proof chipset you should choose for gaming.

Q: What are the latest Intel Chipsets for gaming PCs?

The latest Intel chipsets are the 13th generation-supporting Intel B760 and Z790 motherboards that support a plethora of new improvements including better RAM clocks and 13th gen processor support.