Best Motherboards of 2021

The Motherboard is an interesting piece of your gaming rig. It’s almost like the skeleton, a framework for the beautiful creation your glorious PC will eventually take. Let’s be honest, motherboards are often misunderstood. They’re not really something that makes your PC run faster (Although overclocking with a good Mobo might be easier). They’re also the piece that will affect the parts and pieces you can put into your PC. Like GPU and the CPU, Motherboards are broadly separated by the ancient power battle between AMD and Intel. While almost any manufacturer worth the salt has a hat in the ring, the CPU you go with is the defacto most important aspect of picking a motherboard. Why? The wrong socket type (I.E. thing your CPU plugs into) will make your CPU completely incompatible.

Your new motherboard won’t make your computer run faster. If it costs a ton of cash or is dirt-cheap. That’s just not the point. That being said, it may contain the occasional bottleneck or lack a feature causing parts to not be compatible or operate waaaaaaay under top-speed. Motherboards are instead defined by being chock full of features. They are feature junkies and incessantly use hard to understand jargon and weird proprietary software no one honestly cares about. At all. World’s Best Gaming is here to help you make an educated decision on Motherboards and give you the low down on the motherboard you’ll want. Scroll past our picks to learn a bit more about motherboards and look for more in-depth tech dives in the future as well.

What should I have as a goal in mind for a new Mobo?

You want all your parts to work together without slowing due to a bottleneck or being incapable of fitting on the same board. Motherboards are the frame for all the components you are placing into your rig so the biggest goal is compatibility.

Why only four?

Our tech guide goes in-depth on all you need to know about the mother and her feature rich lifestyle. The reality is that formfactor and features are what make mobos different. We could identify 20 FANTASTIC motherboards but 98% of gamers will care about a handful of features. It’s not fun when you are overwhelmed by options. So we picked the best option for those on a budget and then those who want an overall killer rig. They aren’t dirt-cheap mobos, you can generally find those on pcpartpicker by searching for the lowest price after-all. But these are the best value we think of in the ATX form-factor. We’re honest here at WBG after all.

Unlike other hardware roundups, we separate the motherboards by socket as having a CPU in mind is one of the most important initial factors. Additionally, all our selections are ATX as we will cover miniature builds in a future dedicated guide.

Best LGA 1551 Socket (Intel) Motherboards

BEST OVERALL (INTEL) – GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS ULTRA MOTHERBOARD

GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS PRO WIFI (Intel LGA1151/Z390/ATX/2xM.2 Thermal Guard/Onboard AC Wi-Fi/RGB Fusion/Gaming Motherboard)

• Supports 9th and 8th Intel Core processors
• Dual channel non-ECC unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs
• Intel optane memory ready
• 12 plus 1 phases digital VRM solution with DrMOS
• Advanced thermal design with multi cuts heatsinks and heat pipe. Bluetooth 5

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Features

Supports 8th and 9th gen Intel Chipsets

Dual Channel DDR4, 128GB RAM possible, 4 slots

Ethernet and Wi-Fi (Bluetooth 5 capable)

1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16)

1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x8 (PCIEX8)

1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x4 (PCIEX4)

3 x PCI Express x1 slots

1 x M.2 Socket 1 connector for an Intel® CNVi wireless module only (CNVI)

3 x M.2

6 x SATA @ 6/Gbs

CrossFire and SLI capable

USB Type-C ports

Literally does everything

Our Take

This is the best mobo. It just doesn’t compromise and adds the newer features you’ll actually want such as USB-C support. It’ll allow as much RAM as you want, multi-GPU setups, and tons of M.2/SSD solutions.

Now motherboards are all about features and we have a cheaper model below that doesn’t have all the top quality perks of the AORUS ULTRA. So the real question is what can justify the difference in price between the Gaming X and this?

Mostly convenience, future-proofing, and hard-core features. For instance, those using apple airpods can use bluetooth to connect to this. Pretty sweet, eh? Don’t have to get any deeper in the Apple Ecosystem with over-priced adaptors. Additionally the USB-C connection is great for creatives who might have a bunch of different devices to charge. This a fantastic mobo for streamers, those who want to push a system to the absolute limits, or those who know they’ll need an ungodly amount of disk-space.

BUDGET MINDED (INTEL) – GIGABYTE Z390 GAMING X MOTHERBOARD

GIGABYTE Z390 M Gaming (Intel LGA1151/Z390/Micro ATX/M.2/Realtek ALC892/Intel GbE LAN/HDMI/Gaming Motherboard)

• Supports 9th and 8th Gen Intel Core processors
• Dual Channel Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4
• New 10+2 Phases digital PWM Design
• High quality Audio Capacitors
• Dual Ultra-Fast M.2 with PCIe Gen3 x4 & SATA interface

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Features

Up to 128GB DDR4 RAM (4 Slots)

Crossfire Capable

Preinstalled I/O shield

LGA1151 Socket

10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet

1 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 @ 16

1 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 @ 4

4 x PCI Express 3.0 x1

AMD Crossfire capable

1 x M.2 (M2A)

1 x M.2 (M2M)

6 x SATA @ 6Gb/s

Loads of USB as usual

Thunderbolt add-in card connector

Our Take

The younger brother of our top pick! This is one of the best balances of price and features that we found for a gaming mobo. To go cheaper usually drops features or turns the mobo into a mini-atx build.

You want 128GB of RAM? Do it! Loads of storage? We got you covered! Basically, if you want a great price and an awesome mobo, there is little to dissuade you. Our overall winner is pricier because it involves Wi-Fi and some newer PCI Express formats but the jury is our how tangible of a difference that makes when gaming. This is a solid choice and will do what you need.

This is kind of stupid but we are raving fans of the pre-installed I/O shield. Those who’ve been around long enough, know what it’s like to slice a finger on the sharp metal bits or install a mobo into a case without putting on the shield. They make sure you don’t have to.

Best AM4 (AMD) Motherboards

BEST OVERALL (AMD) – MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS MOTHERBOARD

MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS Motherboard (AMD AM4, PCIe 4.0, DDR4, SATA 6Gb/s, M.2, USB 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI, ATX)

• Supports 2nd and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen/ Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics desktop processors for AM4 socket
• Supports ddr4 memory, up to 4400plus(oc) MHz
• Audio boost 4 technology with nahimic 3 software enhancement for immersive experiences

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Features

AM4 Socket support (2nd and 3rd Gen Ryzen)

4 Dual Channel RAM slots (Up to 128GB)

PCI Express 4.0 x16 (1 slot)

PCI Express 3.0 x1 (3 slots)

6 Sata ports @ 6Gb/s

M2_1 slot

M2_2 slot

7.1 Channel High Definition Audio

1 x LAN (RJ45) Onboard 10/100/1000Mbps Lan

2 x USB 2.0, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen1 ports

ATX

RGB LED

Our Take

MSI has made a phenomenal mobo with the MPG X570 Gaming Plus Gaming Motherboard. It comes with a ton of unique software from MSI that promises to make this boost and that boost but ultimately, if you know what we’ve said about the mobo, it’s all about features.

This is the gaming mobo you’ll want if you see yourself using an AM4 chipset processor, jamming in a ton of RAM, and adding in a beast of a GPU. It has room for those ever so quick M.2 SSD cards and just offers about every feature imaginable. Except Wi-Fi.

We love this though for the top of the line connections. PCI Express 4.0 and other aspects that are less common. This a great mobo for an AMD build.

It’s capable of overclocking your components as well but be wary as that is not a beginner step to take. No sense frying high-quality circuit boards for a few FPS.

BUDGET MINDED (AMD) – MSI X470 GAMING PLUS MOTHERBOARD

MSI Performance Gaming AMD X470 Ryzen 2ND and 3rd Gen AM4 DDR4 DVI HDMI Onboard Graphics CFX ATX Motherboard (X470...

• Supports 1st, 2nd and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen/ Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics and 2nd Gen AMD Ryzen with Radeon graphics/ Athlon with Radeon Vega Graphics desktop processors for Socket AM4
• Supports DDR4 Memory, up to 4133(OC) MHz

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Features

128GB DDR4 RAM with 4 Slots

3 x PCI-E x16

3 x PCI-E X1

6 x SATA 3Gbps

M.2 Slot x 2

Ethernet

CrossFire support

The usual trimmings

Our Take

This is probably the best budget mobo you can get with AM4 sockets. It allows for tons of RAM, you can plug as many GPU’s into as you’ll probably desire, and it has all the fixings and features you’d want from a mobo.

It’s best feature? Price. These are just really affordable and they’re not mini-atx. That’s awesome! Also having M.2 slots minimizes the impact that might be felt by having SATA III. Also consider that most devices can’t take advantage of SATA 6 speeds anyways.

This is a solid mobo. It doesn’t have the bells and whistles of bluetooth and such but you’ll also save a cool $150 allowing you to buy M.2 wifi cards to your hearts content. It’s just a solid buy.

What about Mini-ATX and other Motherboard options?

Mini-builds are AWESOME! So we at WBG are planning on doing a separate article. There are a few unique things to consider with Mini-ATX builds and we want to make sure you consider them before buckling down and making a big purchase (After-all, nothing is worse than having a case too big or a GPU too big!).

Everything you need to know about Motherboards

The Motherboard is your PC’s skeleton

Ever seen a really old mouse? One that uses a PS/2 Port I.E. one of those ports that looks like PacMan and a revolver had a love child. It’s on probably every motherboard you’ll see.

Despite using USB 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, C, and so on, computers rarely let go of an old technology and tend to add more overtime. The Motherboard is the source of these ports and can unfortunately have some random outdated pieces you’d only use 20 years ago. That being said, what they also offer is the ability to use a wide-range of peripherals.

The motherboard dicates what sort of monitor you can use with the GPU, the amount of devices you can plug in, how many HDD and SSD you can attempt to use, the placement of fans, basic audio, whether or not you have onboard Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or Blue-Tooth. Almost all the pieces of a modern PC can facilitate the motherboard when there is a lack or a feature that isn’t there but a good Mobo will make your PC so much easier to set-up, use, move, and place in a case.

What does a Motherboard do and what does it not affect?

Your motherboard basically connects all the pieces of your gaming rig together. It is a unifying piece. It’ll help the parts to communicate to each other meaning that legacy parts function and newer motherboards handle the latest technologies. That does mean an old Motherboard can affect the speed of a rig if a format changes (For instance SATA 3 vs SATA 6) but rarely will this make a tangible difference to anyone but the most hardcore enthusiasts.

The Motherboard itself won’t make your PC run faster. It’s just the frame, the unified center of all that is holy and technological. It will create some bottlenecks from time to time but by and large your motherboard is about what you need feature-wise and little else.

Why should I avoid buying any Motherboard and slapping it into my rig?

Compatibility! One of the biggest aspects of the Mobo is that it isn’t necessarily compatible with everything. For instance, buying a new fancy Mobo and pulling out your aging processor may cause you to burst into tears when the sockets don’t fit. Additionally Windows 10 often is associated with the specific Hardware you have in a machine. If you don’t have a product key but use a cheap or mass produced version (OEM), you may be locked out of Windows 10 and unable to activate it. Usually a phone call to Bill Gates and company can get you past this hurdle but it’s a real pain. Consider that when making this decision. Upgrading your motherboard affects a host of things.

Finally, your case. The Motherboard can come in a variety of sizes (ATX, mini-ATX, and more), depending on the ultimate style and build of your PC, you may find your case too big or too small. The size isn’t a huge factor but when making a micro or tiny build, this is something to consider.

What features do I need?

Storage solutions such as M.2 and SATA slots, the right socket for your chipset, Wi-Fi or wired internet solutions, and the right amount of RAM is really all you need. Most of the other features are fantastic to have but do you really need an outdated optical audio port or to be able to plug in every imaginable USB format? These things matter but ultimately, the stuff you’ll be concerned with as a gamer is usually, how hard can I push this puppy. So think, do I want to be able to upgrade RAM to 128GB? Do I want four hard drives? Do I want Wi-Fi? These are the things you’ll care about.

The Two Socket Types

LGA 1151/Socket H4 (Intel)

Compatibility

The LGA 1151 Socket is compatible with 6th generation to 9th Generation CPU’s from Intel. It first was released in 2015 and there is risk that the next CPU line will cause this socket to become outdated. That being said, the only consumer level choices from Intel that are worth purchasing come with this socket type.

Socket AM4 (AMD)

Compatibility

Arriving in full force in 2017, the Socket AM4 is compatible with any recent Ryzen generation and due to being relatively new is most likely future-proofed for quite awhile.

Motherboard Features

Motherboard Features

Form-Factor

While we won’t go in-depth in this guide, motherboards come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The smallest ones take a bit more knowledge on part choice and cooling while the ATX size motherboards are as easy as legos. Our guide covers ATX because we assume you want a raging bull of a battle-station that uses a full-size GPU and takes cooling seriously but not too serious. Look out for our mini-build guide in the future!

Ports

There is an inexhaustible amount of port options between different motherboards and to cover them now would not only age you immeasurably, new ports would enter in by the time you finished reading. When selecting your mobo, the ports you need to consider are any related to Audio, Video, Ethernet, and Peripherals. Most others you’ll rarely use.

RAM Slots

Modern motherboards normally have 4 RAM slots but that doesn’t mean all motherboards are created equal. Each one is tuned to use specific RAM at frequencies tested and set for that motherboard. Additionally some motherboards can handle 16GB while others handle 64GB and so on. For a Gaming Rig, 16 GB is the sweet spot but the future may demand more. That means having room for 32GB or more is wise. Those doing Video-Editing or other tasks will see the largest benefit from additional RAM. The current RAM generation is DDR4. When DDR5 arrives, the older motherboards will start bottlenecking.

Socket Type : AMD or Intel – Pick your Poison.

M.2 Slot

This fancy new slot has been making waves on the motherboard for allowing a host of fantastic peripherals. As nerdy as that sentence was, the M.2 is most often associated with newer SSD technology that is blazing fast. You’ll need to get a nice high-end one to really see the difference but the M.2. basically replaces the traditional SATA method (Which is still ridiculously fast compared to older standards). The M.2 is also used with Wi-Fi and bluetooth cards in some builds.

PCI-E slots

These slots dictate how many different cards you can put into your PC. Sound cards, graphic cards, ethernet cards, and more. The PCI-E 3.0 will eventually be replaced by PCI-E 6.0 but in general this format will use any modern GPU or peripheral.

One big thing to consider is the GPU size and how many PCI-E slots it’ll require. Most fancy GPUs require two slots of space. They’re also heavy so strap them in well, otherwise your mobo might bend like our plans in 2020.

SATA Slots

I never would have imagined I’d need more than four SATA slots but here we are. If you have a need for tons of SATA based parts (Such as multiple harddrives) than you’ll want to consider how many SATA ports your motherboard has and prepare for the future!

Ease of Use

While this isn’t a super tangible feature, motherboards are not all equal. Some have amazing design and simple features to make connecting cords easy as legos. Others require you to use zipcords and play mind games just to get your rig working correctly. Consider what direction ports face and what tetris-like ability it’ll require to build it from.

SLI and Crossfire

Just because a board says it is compatible doesn’t actually mean it is. Do research if you are planning to link more than one GPU. Rarely is this a good enough idea to warrant it factoring into your purchase. If you have multiple GPUs though you’ll want to know if they work beforehand.

Wi-Fi and BlueTooth

Despite it being 2020, PC builds don’t come with Wi-Fi. Most setups require some sort of planning that a wireless card helps us avoid. Take that responsibility! With a good wireless setup you don’t need to worry that you’ll be able to game from your bedroom without drilling ethernet holes in the wall. Wi-Fi for desktops can be hecka strong and BlueTooth is another feature to look out for. Despite PC products hating Apple fiercely, Airpods work with BlueTooth enabled motherboards.

The Case

Your motherboard connects with your case and should have a good guide in the box. Features of the case and the form-factor of the motherboard determine quite a lot in a build. Always consider this.

Dual Channel or Single Channel

Our RAM guide covers channel configurations but most motherboards would allow for Dual Channel these days which is often far more efficient in games.

F.A.Q.

What should I avoid when purchasing a Motherboard?

If the socket type is older than what we’ve put in our guide. Take it to the glue factory. Anything before 2015 would be destined to enter Elysian fields in the near future.

Also avoid Mobo’s that throw words like gaming pro masterforce shark into the title and tell you it’ll pump up the speed of your games. Mobo’s just don’t do that and if they have a hand in overclocking, you don’t want the board to be calling the shots.

My Motherboard overclocks, isn’t that cool?

No. It can void the warranty of your parts and often your board is drunk behind the wheel. Take special care to keep overclocking features disabled until you know what you are doing. Nothing burns a machine up faster than playing with electricity and lacking fans.

When should I replace my motherboard?

The best time is when you make a Socket jump. Generally features won’t age out enough that you warrant an upgrade and you’ll be pretty bitter if you spend $400 on a new board to stick crappy components in. An old board is actually fine as long as you have components that fit and you aren’t too concerned about newer features. That being said, overclockers may say “Top of the line boards are for me!” That’s fine, but it’s not for the novice and certainly not going to make Stardew Valley run any faster than Red Dead Redemption 2. It just won’t help.

This (Insert Blank) Motherboard has water-cooling, lights, shoots lasers etc. is it worth it?

Only you can answer how valuable blinking color lights are to you. Generally a neat looking PC is fun but it’s a waste of capital if you are maximizing game quality.

Why doesn’t my new GPU fit my mini-atx board!?

Ok, so this is part of the beginning journey with micro-builds. A smaller board can’t fit as many pieces. Say goodbye to SLI. Maybe even a longer GPU. Because of this, many smaller versions of GPU’s exist and basically run with the same quality. Building a small rig is much more than picking a small board so do some research beforehand. It’s better than torching money on mistakes here and there.

Thanks for Joining Us!

We hope you learned a bit more about processors and understand now why they’re ever so important but usually not the lightning in a bottle solution to high FPS. A good CPU will feel amazing, especially having Windows boot up quick, Chrome stop slogging around when you have a ton of tabs open, and your games stop background hiccups. We here at WBG hope to continue bringing you excellent articles on the top gear and games of today. Keep checking back for more content and if you are living with a bottleneck… perhaps get that fixed?