Best motherboard for gaming 2023

We Help You Find The Best Gaming Motherboards For Your Needs

Table of Contents Table of Contents

For anyone looking to build a new gaming PC, finding the best gaming motherboard is a crucial, often overlooked step. You could already have a gaming rig setup but want to take advantage of a new Gen CPU and need one of the latest motherboards to go with it. looking for the best AMD motherboard specifically? We have an article for that.

Although this article is focused on 2023, it does contain some hardware from 2022. This is because we deem the hardware still relevant. As soon as anything changes, the article will be updated.

You may stumble across this page and be unsure how to navigate through a motherboard correctly as it may come across as a tricky obstacle to hurdle! We’ve got you covered.

Motherboard deals 2023

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READ MORE: Motherboard parts explained

Either way, finding the best motherboards out there can be incredibly difficult, and for some, the terminology and fear of getting compatibility issues can stop people in their tracks!

We want to take this headache away here at WePC, and we do that by doing the research for you.

We have been busy researching motherboards for various chipsets and socket types, we have purchased, built with, and tested our selections, all to give you a helping hand.

Sit back and read through our article, and by the end, you’ll be ordering the best motherboard for your needs.

If you are still a little unsure as to what may be compatible with what, then you can check all of your components are compatible with each other if you need to.

How We Choose

The recommendations we see here are considered the best motherboards for gaming and have been hand-selected for a reason.

Firstly, we conducted a thorough search to discover which motherboards gamers tend to prefer while trying to balance those with the highest reviews against those with the lowest price tags.

Reviews from various manufacturers were taken into account, as well as reviews from others in the PC gaming industry.

Next, we get our hands on as many of our recommendations as possible so we can see the build quality up close.

How We Test

From CPUs to the best motherboards for gaming, we like to get hands-on with all the hardware we recommend. Testing the products is a huge part of our overall selection process and it is a way we can be sure that a specific option is the best for the job.

Products must pass our testing which is largely a lot of gaming, with some other boring stuff but most if not every recommendation will have gone through a strict testing process.

With motherboards regardless of the chipset, we need to assess build quality, performance, and finally, value.

This process enables us to provide you with an accurate take on how well a motherboard performs and, ultimately, if it’s worth your hard-earned cash.

Things to Consider

Now that you’re aware of the best options available to you, you’re going to have to choose a gaming motherboard that best suits you and your needs.

If you’re asking yourself, ”What motherboard should I get?” we’d like to make sure you know what makes a good gaming motherboard, because there are a lot of factors to consider.

Here at WePC, we believe an educated consumer is an empowered consumer!

Form Factor

The physical footprint may be something you need to consider when choosing your motherboard. If you’re tight on space, you may want to consider a smaller-sized ITX computer case.

If you’ve got plenty of room and want to build an impressive system, then going for a larger form factor could be beneficial.

Whatever your case may be, there are several main types of form factors that motherboards come in.

Socket

Every motherboard is going to have a specific socket type. This is the physical slot on the motherboard that holds your CPU in place. You’re going to have to match up the socket type of your motherboard to your CPU making sure they are compatible.

Trying to fit the wrong processor into the wrong socket type can cause fatal damage to your components, and no one wants that.

To make sure your CPU and motherboard are compatible, check the specs.

Chipsets

A large factor when determining which motherboard is right for you and your needs is the chipset. Your chipset is a key factor in determining which features your motherboard comes with.

This ranges from PCIe lanes to SATA ports, and even overclocking support. Even if your processor allows overclocking, if the motherboard’s chipset doesn’t support it, then you won’t be able to do it.

With AMD & Intel having non-compatible sockets and chipsets, it’s always worth making sure that your latest hardware components are compatible. Especially when new RAM, motherboards, and CPUs are being released on an all too regular basis.

Let’s take a look at some chipsets from both Intel and AMD:

Intel

AMD

Memory

When it comes to checking memory compatibility, you need to pay attention to four things: Max supported memory, memory speed, multi-channel support, and how many memory slots are on the board.

Check the specs against the motherboard, this will let you know precisely what the motherboard will support when it comes to speed and how many memory slots there are.

Memory Location

Also, some motherboards will have their memory slots a little closer to the CPU than others. Once in a while, this can cause an issue with the CPU heatsink.

If you have a larger-than-normal heatsink for your CPU, you might want to make sure it won’t barge into your memory slot area.

PCI slots

Peripheral Component Interconnect, or PCI, is the physical slot in which you can expand the capabilities of your basic system.

This includes, but is not limited to things like:

There are two types of PCI slots: PCI and PCI Express (PCIe). The PCIe slot is a larger, faster version of the PCI slot.

Basic expansion cards such as a wifi adapter only require a much smaller PCI slot, while larger, more powerful cards such as your graphics card, require a larger and more powerful PCIe slot.

Making sure you have enough PCI slots for all of your components is important.

If you’re running multiple GPUs and want to add in say a network and a sound card or an NVMe expansion card, you might have to check to make sure your motherboard has enough slots to accommodate.

The other thing to look for is plenty of spacing. If you’re planning on running multiple GPUs that are large, you may need PCIe slots that are further apart to allow for adequate space.

Fan Headers

The last thing you need to make sure of is that you have enough fan headers for everything you plan on running.

If you’re running a lot of fans, or maybe RGB controllers, you’re going to have to make sure you have enough headers on the motherboard to support this.

If you’re interested in learning more about motherboards, then you can read all about how motherboards are made, as well as what all of the main components do.

Zen 4 CPUs

AMD’s Zen 4 CPUs require a brand new motherboard to function, they will not fit in your old AM4 motherboard, so you have very little choice in the way of saving money as you can with Intel. You HAVE to pick up a new motherboard. 

Fortunately, AMD has built-in AM4 cooler compatibility, so that’s one thing you don’t have to upgrade at least.

Which Gaming Motherboard Is Best For You?

So, you know the motherboards available to you, but which one is the best fit for you? Let’s take a moment to talk about that.

High-end

A high-end motherboard would be for someone who is either looking to push their gaming performance to the next level or needs something to help with their content creation.

The benefits of a high-end build include:

Mid-range

Buying a mid-range motherboard would be a good investment for anyone who doesn’t need all the bells and whistles of a high-end board, but still wants solid performance out of their machine.

The benefits of a mid-range build include:

Budget

Those that are interested in budget motherboards are probably looking for something that will get them up and running without breaking the bank.

Ultimately, budget boards make compromises to accommodate such low prices. However, that’s not always a bad thing.

The two budget boards we’ve recommended are from reliable providers, and have plenty of room for add-ons, making them very versatile and good value for money.

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Best motherboard for gaming 2023

Here we will list the best motherboards for gaming in 2022. This includes picks from all over the spectrum, incorporating both high-end enthusiast options and budget options.

ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme

Best AM5 motherboard

ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme

ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme

Form factor

EATX

Power stages

20 + 2

Connectivity

2x USB4 ports, 10GbE Ethernet, advanced audio system, and Wi-Fi 6E adapters.

PCIe Gen 5

M.2 & PCIe x16 slot

DDR5

Yes

5

/5

Editor’s Rating

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Pros

• Sleek design
• Efficient power stages
• Tonnes of connectivity
• DDR5

Cons

• Expensive

The Crosshair X670E extreme is a feat of engineering in its own right, it’s probably the highest-end AM5 motherboard you can own, next to GIGABYTE and MSI. 

We know that the Asus X670E ROG Crosshair Extreme features VRMs based on Infineon ASP2205 power management IC (PMIC) and Vishay SIC850 110A smart power stages. Also, the Crosshair Extreme will feature a 20 + 2-stage power delivery system.

The Crosshair obviously ships on the DDR5 RAM standard, out with the old and in with the new DDR5 memory technology. 

You can expect PCIe Gen 5 support on its 16x slot and PCI Gen 5 support for compatible M.2 drives too. Making for ultra-fast storage and almost real-time GPU communication times. 

The Crosshair Extreme features future-proof connectivity, featuring two state-of-the-art USB4 ports, 10GbE Ethernet, a more advanced audio system, and Wi-Fi 6E adapters. All of these features make for one exciting Asus ROG motherboard. 

ROG MAXIMUS Z790 EXTREME

Best Intel motherboard

ROG MAXIMUS Z790 EXTREME

ROG MAXIMUS Z790 EXTREME

Form Factor

E-ATX

Power stages

24+1

Connectivity

USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C and front-panel connector with Quick Charge 4+ up to 60W, eight USB 3.2 Gen 2, and two PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlots

PCIe Gen 5

Yes

DDR5

Yes

5

/5

Editor’s Rating

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Pros

• Strong power stages
• PCIe Gen 5
• Heightened DDR5 speeds
• Lots of connectivity

Cons

• Very expensive

The Maximus extreme features a 24 + 1 power stage setup with dual ProCool II power connectors, and premium metallic capacitors. Designed to take overclocking to the next level. 

We have PCIe Gen 5 support on a single M.2 SSD slot and both of the PCIe X16 slots, bringing greater speeds to the likes of GPUs and NVMe SSDs respectively. 

The Maximus is equipped with DDR5 support up to 7600MHz, making the Maximus one of the best motherboards for DDR5 too.

The Maximus is also teeming with connectivity, here are some of the connectivity you can expect to find on the Z790 Extreme: Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C and front-panel connector, USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C and front-panel connector with Quick Charge 4+ up to 60W, eight USB 3.2 Gen 2, and two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots.

ASUS ROG Maximus Hero Z690 WiFi

Best last-gen Intel motherboard

ASUS ROG Maximus Hero Z690 WiFi

ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero WiFi

Form Factor

ATX

Socket

LGA 1700

Chipset

Z690

DDR5?

Yes

4.5

/5

Editor’s Rating

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Pros

• 6400+ (OC) MHz max memory speed
• 4X 32GB DDR55 DIMM slots (128GB total)
• 20+1 power stages (90A)
• Great for overclocking

Cons

• Less power stages than the most premium models
• Very expensive

The ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 is a fantastic premium motherboard and the best Z690 you will find. This latest iteration features everything you need to get the best out of your Intel 12th Gen Alder Lake CPU.

If you’ve no interest in buying a 12th Gen CPU then we’d probably recommend going for a Z590 instead, but the Z690 offers maximum future-proofing.

Equally, if you’re looking to pick up a lower-end Intel CPU this board probably isn’t worth your money either, as you wouldn’t make the most out of the features available here which are geared (and priced) with high-performance users in mind.

The ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 board comes with an LGA 1700 socket as befitting an Alder Lake-compatible motherboard. As far as motherboards go it has a fairly striking look, between the integrated aluminum I/O cover and Aura Sync RGB lighting system.

The board comes with all the features you’d want for a high-performance, premium board with a robust power solution of 20+1 power stages rated for 90 Amps and a sizable VRM heatsink, not to mention ASUS’ Intelligent Control technology (essentially AI overclocking) and ROG water cooling zone.

Ports include PCIe 5.0, PCIe 4.0, Dual Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, as well as a ROG Hyper M.2 card with Gen 5 M.2 support. Although we would have liked to have seen 10GB Ethernet support in a motherboard of this price range, the 2.5GB will do for most users.

ROG Maximus XIII Hero Z590

Best budget Intel motherboard

ROG Maximus XIII Hero Z590

ROG Maximus XIII Hero Z590

Intended Build

High-end

Form Factor

ATX

Socket

LGA 1200

Chipset

Z590

4

/5

Editor’s Rating

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Pros

• 5-way optimization
• High performance networking
• Solid overclocking potential

Cons

• Can get quite hot

The Asus ROG Crosshairseries has been quite popular over the years, and this X570 chipset is likely to follow suit. This board comes after the anticipated release of the new Ryzen chips with provision for PCI-e 4.0 and lightning-quick storage. The Hero overall is an excellent board with few weaknesses to differentiate it from the rest.

The design appears to be similar to the Formula motherboard as the base without the display and excessive VRM water block. The motherboard is incredibly aesthetically pleasing as you would expect from the ROG department. The large heatsink features an RGB ROG logo, as does the I/O shroud, making the motherboard pop visually.

It is worth noting that this particular board only supports 2nd and 3rd Gen Ryzen CPUs. Despite being an AM4 socket, it doesn’t work with the 1st Gen Ryzens, and if you plan on taking advantage of the PCIe 4.0 functionality, then you are going to need to pair this with a 3rd Gen Ryzen chip.

We see 2.5G LAN support along with Intels WIFI 6. You also get a Type-C USB port, a BIOS flashback button, and a clear CMOS button to take away some of the overclocking headaches RAM can bring.

Overall the Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Hero is packed with features and performs as well as some of the best. This board and its plethora of USB ports is an excellent board and a fantastic alternative to the Godlike for performance and financial reasons. The layout of This motherboard is great, the RGB is catchy, and it’s better than its predecessor!

MSI B450 Gaming Plus MAX

Best budget AMD motherboard

MSI B450 Gaming Plus MAX

MSI B450 Gaming Plus MAX

Intended build

Budget build

Form factor

ATX

Overclocking support

Yes

Socket

AM4

Chipset

B450

3.5

/5

Editor’s Rating

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Pros

• Excellent build quality
• Overclocking capabilities
• Good value

Cons

• Only 802.11 AC WiFi
• one NVME

The MSI B450 Gaming Plus MAX is officially the cheapest budget range board on our list, however, don’t be totally fooled with the price tag. MSI has had to make some compromises to achieve the low price range but they have kept the core features gamers are most concerned about.

With 64GB of 4,133MHz RAM supported, this board is perfect for an AMD Ryzen build. Having said that, you can still make use of the excellent features to pair this board with any of the Ryzen 3rd gen CPUs. You won’t even have to update the BIOS either.

MAX means this board is already updated to the latest BIOS so you can simply pop your new chip into this motherboard without the fear of a none boot.

Unfortunately, the Gaming Plus only comes with 1 M.2 slot meaning future expansion is going to be fairly difficult if you’re looking at using multiple M.2’s. It’s easy to let them off though seeing as though it comes to shelves at such an affordable price.

One of our favorite boards here at WePC that’s great for anyone looking to build a decent first-time gaming rig.

Final Word

You’re in good hands with every motherboard here. We like to think that we made the right choices here, but if you have any other suggestions please don’t hesitate to let us know.

The motherboard is the most important part of your PC, and it’s best that you don’t scrimp on it, the motherboard ties everything together, it’s the very foundation of your PC as you know it. Don’t let your motherboard choice suffer just to save a few bucks.