Planning to build a compact PC? There’s a good chance the small form factor PC cases you’re considering will support motherboards up to a maximum size. Mini-ITX are the smallest form factor motherboards and we’ve compiled a list of the best Mini-ITX motherboards for AMD and Intel processors.
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Source: Asus
Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi
Best Intel
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Source: ASUS
ASUS ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming WIFI
Best AMD
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Source: Gigabyte
Gigabyte B760I Aorus Pro
Best value Intel
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Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra
Best value AMD
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Source: MSI
MSI MPG B560I Gaming Edge WiFi
Best budget Intel
Our top picks for best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2023
Source: Asus
Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi
Best Intel
The best compact Intel motherboard with strong connectivity
When building your own compact PC, it’s important to choose the right motherboard for your needs. A Mini-ITX motherboard is inherently at a disadvantage compared to larger boards due to restricted connectivity. Asus tried to cram just about everything it could onto this PCB.
- Memory Slots
- 2
- Memory Type
- DDR5-7600
- Form Factor
- Mini-ITX
- Chipset
- Intel Z790
- Socket
- LGA 1700
- Power Phases
- 10+1
- PCI Slots
- 1
- Storage
- 1x PCIe 5.0 M.2, 1x PCIe 4.0 M.2, 2x SATA
- Audio
- Realtek ALC4050
- Networking
- 2.5 GbE, Wi-Fi 6E
- Internal I/O
- 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1
- Rear I/O
- 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2, 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB-A 2.0
- Solid reliability
- Good connectivity
- Two PCIe M.2 slots
- Limited overclocking potential
- Two DIMM slots
- Expensive
Asus makes some excellent motherboards, especially if you’re planning to use Intel 12th or 13th Gen Core series processors. We’re long-time fans of the ROG Strix I range of Mini-ITX motherboards and the Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi is the latest premium compact motherboard from the brand. There are some impressive numbers on the specifications list, including support for up to 96GB of DDR5-7600 RAM, which should result in some great performance with the best CPU your budget can afford.
Then there’s the 2.5GbE networking and Wi-Fi 6E for getting online. Because this board is a Mini-ITX, you will only have a single PCI slot available, but it’s at least rated for PCIe 5.0. The same goes for the two M.2 slots, one being PCIe 5.0 and the other PCIe 4.0. That’s plenty of storage for most PCs, but Asus did include two additional SATA ports for hooking up SSDs or HDDs. The ROG Strix Hive is a handy accessory that connects to one of the available I/O USB ports on the rear. This thing brings USB ports, audio jacks, FlexKey, BIOS FlashBack, and AI Overclocking to your fingertips.
Building a POC inside an SFF chassis can mean reaching for buttons and ports may prove troublesome, which is where the ROG Strix Hive comes into play. It won’t be for everyone, and you may not require it, but the accessory is handy to have included.
Source: ASUS
ASUS ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming WIFI
Best AMD
Our favorite compact board for small AMD systems
$428 $470 Save $42
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.
- Brand
- Asus
- Memory Slots
- 2
- Memory Type
- DDR5-6400
- Form Factor
- Mini-ITX
- Chipset
- AMD X670
- Socket
- AM5
- Power Phases
- 10+2
- PCI Slots
- 1x PCIe 5.0 x16
- Storage
- 2x SATA, 1x PCIe 5.0 M.2, 1x PCIe 4.0 M.2
- Audio
- ALC4050
- Networking
- Intel 2.5Gb, Wi-Fi 6E
- Internal I/O
- 1x USB 3.2-C Gen 2, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1
- Rear I/O
- 2x USB-C 4.0, 5x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 3x USB-A 2.0
- Good connectivity
- Two M.2 slots
- Supports AMD Ryzen 9 CPUs
- Expensive
- Two DIMM slots
- Limited overclocking support
The Asus ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming WIFI is the AMD version of the best Intel Mini-ITX motherboard recommended above. It has the same M.2 setup, as well as two DIMM slots for DDR5 RAM, though this AMD platform only supports speeds up to 6400MT/s. There’s similar connectivity too, including 2.5GbE and Wi-Fi 6E networking, as well as USB-C 4.0. The same issue can be said about the ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming WIFI in that it’s a little too pricey for many and the two DIMM slots can seem limiting.
If you can overlook the price and want the very best AMD motherboard for building a compact PC, you can do much worse over the Asus ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming WIFI. Inside the packaging, you’ll find the same ROG Strix Hive that moves some of the USB ports, audio jacks, FlexKey, BIOS FlashBack, and AI Overclocking buttons to a more convenient location. Overall, it’s a killer board with stable power delivery, a reliable BIOS, and enough headers and ports for most of the best ITX cases.
Source: Gigabyte
Gigabyte B760I Aorus Pro
Best value Intel
Get more for your money with this compact motherboard
The Gigabyte B760I Aorus Pro is a more affordable Mini-ITX motherboard with support for Intel 12th and 13th Gen processors. You’ve got access to DDR5 RAM, PCIe 4.0 M.2 storage, 2.5GbE networking, wireless connectivity, and plenty of USB ports.
- Brand
- Asus
- Memory Slots
- 2
- Memory Type
- DDR5-8000
- Form Factor
- Mini-ITX
- Chipset
- Intel B760
- Socket
- LGA 1700
- Power Phases
- 8+1+1
- PCI Slots
- 1
- Storage
- 2x PCIe 4.0 M.2, 2x SATA
- Networking
- 2.5 GbE, Wi-Fi 6E
- Internal I/O
- 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 2.0
- Rear I/O
- 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB-A 2.0
- Supports up to DDR5-8000 RAM
- More affordable Mini-ITX option
- Good connectivity
- Single PCIe 4.0 x16 slot
- Limited overclocking potential
- Single PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot
Not everyone requires (or can fully make use of) a $400 motherboard, which is why we’re recommending the Gigabyte B760I Aorus Pro as our more affordable pick for Intel processors. The company has cut a few corners when it comes to M.2 storage and the full-size x16 PCI slot, but there’s potential here for an impressive, small PC build. There’s full support for up to DDR5-8000 RAM, which is a considerable step higher than our top Asus pick, and there’s ample connectivity on the rear I/O panel.
Losing out on some features such as the Asus Hive that allows for easier access to ports and buttons does allow for a more budget-friendly PC. As is the case with most Mini-ITX motherboards, you’ll be sacrificing something compared to larger ATX options. For this board, we’re happy with its specifications sheet, including the 8+1+1 phase power delivery, which should be enough to handle even the Intel Core i9-13900K. Just don’t go getting any ideas about overclocking.
Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra
Best value AMD
This is the board for your budget-friendly AMD PC build
The Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra is an AM5 mini-ITX motherboard that’s ideal for PCs running midrange Ryzen 7000 chips; it comes with an 8+2+1 stage VRM and a PCIe 5.0 slot for NVMe SSDs.
- Memory Slots
- 2
- Memory Type
- DDR5-6400
- Form Factor
- Mini-ITX
- Chipset
- AMD B650
- Socket
- AM5
- Power Phases
- 8+2+1
- PCI Slots
- 1
- Storage
- 1x PCIe 5.0 M.2, 1x PCIe 4.0 M.2, 4x SATA
- Audio
- Realtek ALC4080
- Networking
- 2.5 GbE, Wi-Fi 6E
- Internal I/O
- 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 2.0
- Rear I/O
- 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB-A 2.0
- More affordable Mini-ITX option
- Good connectivity
- DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0 SSD
- Single PCIe 4.0 x16 slot
- Limited overclocking potential
The Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra is an amazing value AMD motherboard for AM5 processors. The board has an 8+2+1 phase power delivery design, which is more than enough for running anything up to an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. Then there’s the PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot joined by an additional PCIe 4.0 slot for all your storage needs. If you happen to require more than two drives, Gigabyte managed to pack in not two but four SATA ports.
This is a more affordable motherboard and as such you won’t have a PCIe 5.0 slot for the GPU, but PCIe 4.0 is still good enough for playing the latest games. Like other ITX motherboards, the Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra isn’t great for overclocking, and you will find it rather limiting when expansion cards and other components are included in the PC build. It’s our favorite for a budget-friendly AMD system.
Source: MSI
MSI MPG B560I Gaming Edge WiFi
Best budget Intel
For those on the tightest of budgets
MSI MPG B560I Gaming Edge WiFi is a good motherboard with full support for Intel 10th and 11th Gen processors. If you’re not wanting to use the very latest technology from Intel, this would be a good way to save money.
- Brand
- MSI
- Memory Slots
- 2
- Memory Type
- DDR4-5200
- Form Factor
- Mini-ITX
- CPU Support
- Intel 10th and 11th Gen
- Chipset
- Intel B560
- Socket
- LGA 1200
- Power Phases
- 6+2+1
- PCI Slots
- 1
- Storage
- 1x PCIe 4.0 M.2, 1x PCIe 3.0 M.2, 4x SATA
- Audio
- Realtek ALC897
- Networking
- 2.5 GbE, Wi-Fi 6E
- Internal I/O
- 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-A 2.0
- Rear I/O
- 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 4x USB-A 2.0
- Affordable
- Good connectivity
- No DDR5 or PCIe 5.0 support
- Only works with older CPUs
There’s saving money by cutting features on a current-gen motherboard and then there’s saving even more by moving back to the previous generation of processors. That’s precisely what the MSI MPG B560I Gaming Edge WiFi enables with its LGA 1200 socket and Intel B560 chipset. This motherboard is perfect for a PC build with an Intel 10th or 11th Gen processor with full support for DDR4 and PCIe 4.0.
Even though this is a good few years old now, the MSI MPG B560I Gaming Edge WiFi has 2.5GbE and Wi-Fi 6E networking. There are also countless USB ports on the rear, four SATA ports, two M.2 slots, and a single PCI slot for your GPU. It won’t win awards for performance, but the board will allow you to build a capable system without unnecessary features you may not utilize.
Source: ASRock
ASRock B550M-ITX/AC
Best budget AMD
A great foundation for a compact budget AMD PC
The ASRock B550M-ITX/AC is a more basic motherboard than many on the market, supporting older AM4 processors from AMD. It can be found at more affordable prices, making this a good choice for more compact budget-friendly PC builds.
- Memory Slots
- 2
- Memory Type
- DDR4-4733
- Form Factor
- Mini-ITX
- Chipset
- AMD B550
- Socket
- AM4
- Power Phases
- 8
- PCI Slots
- 1
- Storage
- 1x PCIe 4.0 M.2, 4x SATA
- Audio
- Realtek ALC887/897
- Networking
- 1 GbE, Wi-Fi
- Internal I/O
- 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen1, 1x USB 2.0
- Rear I/O
- 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen1, 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen, 2x USB-A 2.0
- Affordable
- Supports DDR4 RAM
- Good connectivity
- No DDR5 or PCIe 5.0 support
- Only works with older AMD CPUs
If there were to be the most basic motherboard in our collection of best Mini-ITX motherboards, it would be the ASRock B550M-ITX/AC. This is an affordable motherboard that supports AM4 processors, such as AMD Ryzen 3000 and 5000 series chips. These older components can be found at discounts where stock is available, making it a good choice for those on tighter budgets.
There’s no support for DDR5, nor are there any PCIe 5.0 slots, but you do get a single M.2 slot, four SATA ports, some good USB connectivity on the rear, an 8-phase design for power, and a decent BIOS solution. Paired with the right AMD Ryzen CPU and this could become quite the compact gaming PC.
Choosing the best Mini-ITX motherboard
There’s a lot to consider when shopping around for a motherboard, including price, performance, and connectivity. This is all the more important for Mini-ITX motherboards as they’re considerably more pricey than their larger ATX counterparts. You get less motherboard surface area and as such fewer features, but this does allow for some seriously compact PC builds. Our favorite motherboards for Intel and AMD processors are the Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi and ASUS ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming WIFI, respectively. They’re essentially the same board but with different sockets and chipsets.
Source: Asus
Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi
Best Intel
When building your own compact PC, it’s important to choose the right motherboard for your needs. A Mini-ITX motherboard is inherently at a disadvantage compared to larger boards due to restricted connectivity. Asus tried to cram just about everything it could onto this PCB.
Source: ASUS
ASUS ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming WIFI
Best AMD
$428 $470 Save $42
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.
