Best Motherboard For RTX 3080 – Should you upgrade?
Here's the best motherboard for the RTX 3080
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The RTX 3080 is an excellent high-end graphics card, despite the launch of the RTX 4000 series. While the RTX 4080 is a great successor, not many people are buying it because of the price. So, sticking with the 3080 is still a good choice. However, if you’re building a new rig, then what motherboard do you need for RTX 3080?
Now Read: The best Gaming CPU of 2022
Well, there are certainly a lot of options to choose from. We reckon you will also be buying a new processor, so we will be taking that into account as well here. If you just bought an RTX 3080, then you might need to check your power supply and see if that’s due for an upgrade.
However, that’s a story for another guide. For now, let’s look at our picks for the best motherboard for RTX 3080.
What Is The Best Motherboard For RTX 3080?
Here are our top three picks:
- 01Best Intel Motherboard For RTX 3080Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Master
- 02Best AMD Motherboard For RTX 3080Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite
- 03Best Mid-Range Motherboard For RTX 3080MSI MAG B660 Tomahawk Wi-Fi
What Motherboard Do I Need For RTX 3080?
If you just bought an RTX 3080 or are planning to buy one, you will also likely need to upgrade your CPU or motherboard. This is of course unless you already have a decent motherboard/CPU combo. If that’s not the case, then you will need to buy a new motherboard for RTX 3080.
So, we recommend either the Z690/Z790 or the B660 motherboards if you want to go with Intel for this generation. You could also go with AMD, but X670 prices are a bit high right now. So, you might want to go with an X570 board instead. Pair that with a Ryzen 5 5600X or the Ryzen 7 5800X3D and you’re good to go.
Will An RTX 3080 Bottleneck My CPU?
A bottleneck occurs when one part of your gaming PC is significantly slower than the other. For example, if you have a faster GPU and a slower CPU, you will notice a bottleneck in some games. Fortunately, that’s not the case for games played at a higher resolution.
Ideally, you’ll want Ryzen processors like the 5800X/5800X3D or Intel processors like the 12400F, 12600K, or 13600K. You can still use processors like the 11400F, or higher. Even a 5600X will fare well when paired with the RTX 3080 for games at 4K. For gaming performance, you don’t need something over the top like a 13900K.
Motherboard and CPU combo
Bear in mind, that you have to get a compatible CPU for the motherboard you choose. Selecting a CPU is a whole other kettle of fish, but all you need to know is that ONLY Intel 12th and 13th-generation CPUs are compatible with the 600 and 700-series motherboards. Whereas, AMD Ryzen 7000 series are the only CPUs compatible with the AM5 socket motherboards.
Ensure you select the right CPU for your motherboard and one that does not bottleneck the RTX 4090. If you need some help we have a “Best CPU for RTX 4090” Article for you to browse.
Best Motherboard For RTX 3080: In-depth review
Now, let’s take a look at our picks for the best motherboard for RTX 3080. All of these boards use different chipsets since we wanted to keep things diverse across different budgets and Intel/AMD generations.
Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Master
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS Master
Form Factor
ATX
Socket
LGA 1700
Chipset
Z690
DDR5?
Yes
Form Factor: ATX | Power Stages: 19+1+2 | Connectivity: 3x USB 3.2 headers, 10x USB 3.2 ports (Gen 1 + Gen 2), 3x PCIe x16 slots, and 5x M.2 slots | PCIe Gen 5: Yes | DDR5 Support: Yes
When it comes to Z690 motherboards, the Z690 Aorus Master is one of the best motherboards for RTX 3080. This is one of the best motherboards on the market if overclocking is your cup of tea. While the Z690 chipset has been succeeded by Z790, the differences are subtle and this one will please almost any gamer.
You are getting a sleek design with a lot of armor around the PCIe and M.2 slots. It features a gigantic rear panel cover with an excellent RGB implementation. The board also features a lot of enthusiastic stuff such as error LEDs and BIOS flashback.
Other than that, you get a whopping number of M.2 slots (five to be exact) and three PCIe x16 slots. One of those slots also supports PCIe Gen 5. Of course, this beast of a motherboard also supports the fastest DDR5 memory modules on the market.
On top of that, you’re getting an overkill VRM configuration, one that is ready for overclocking. Connectivity is also great, and so is the support for all of your RGB peripherals.
For buyers of the new Intel processors, this one is worth looking at.
Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite
Gigabyte X570 AORUS Elite Wi-Fi
Amazon
Form Factor: ATX | Power Stages: 12+2 | Connectivity: 3x USB 3.2 headers, 6x USB 3.2 ports (Gen 1 + Gen 2), 2x PCIe x16 slots, and 2x M.2 slots | PCIe Gen 5: No | DDR5 Support: No
You might be wondering why we’re not recommending X670 motherboards for the Ryzen 7000 series processors. Well, it all comes down to pricing. If you’re in the market for a new Ryzen processor, the Ryzen 5000 series is more appealing thanks to the lower motherboard costs.
As such, we recommend the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite, one of the best AMD motherboards for the RTX 3080. The Aorus Elite focuses on value, and while it’s not as heavy on features as some of the higher-end boards, it nails the fundamentals.
For example, it has a robust 12+2 phase power delivery configuration. This work well with higher-end processors such as the 5800X3D or even the mighty 5950X. Apart from that, it features plenty of USB 3.2 Gen 1 and Gen 2 headers, with a good number of ports around the back.
Other than that, you get excellent memory overclocking for almost any DDR4 RAM kit out there. While there is no PCIe Gen 5 or DDR5 support, this board will please 90% of buyers who are looking for something high-end.
Finally, you’re also getting wireless networking and support for a good number of Ryzen processors.
MSI MAG B660 Tomahawk Wi-Fi
MSI MAG B660 Tomahawk WiFi
Form Factor:
ATX
Power Stages:
12+2
Connectivity:
3x USB 3.2 headers, 6x USB 3.2 ports (Gen 1 + Gen 2), 2x PCIe x16 slots, and 2x M.2 slots
PCIe Gen 5:
No
DDR5 Support:
No
- Excellent value
- Wireless connectivity
- Three M.2 slots
- No DDR5 support
- BIOS could be better
Form Factor: ATX | Power Stages: 12+2 | Connectivity: 3x USB 3.2 headers, 4x USB 3.2 ports (Gen 1 + Gen 2), 2x PCIe x16 slots, and 3x M.2 slots | PCIe Gen 5: No | DDR5 Support: No
The MSI MAG B660 Tomahawk Wi-Fi is an excellent motherboard for the RTX 3080. This is especially true if you want to pair it with a 12/13th Gen i5 processor. Putting a 3080 alongside that configuration will give you great gaming performance, at a lower cost than the more expensive DDR5 platforms.
The Tomahawk is a clean-looking motherboard with understated aesthetics. It does not feature any flashy RGB, but the overall appearance here is quite sleek. Now, let’s talk about some of the features.
First off, you’re getting a strong VRM configuration, one that can easily handle any processor you’d want to put inside it. While this is a DDR4 motherboard, it will still work well with most 12/13th Gen processors.
Apart from that, you’re getting plenty of USB ports, a good amount of USB 3.2 headers, two PCIe x16 slots, and three M.2 slots. You even get wireless connectivity, which is great for an ATX motherboard at this price.
For people who want great value, pair this with an RTX 3080 and 13600K and you will be set for a while.
Final Word
Any motherboard on this list will suit the RTX 3080 well. every motherboard is fully compatible with the technology and the hardware that features inside the RTX 3080. The only real factor to consider is the CPU you want to have. As this has a direct effect on the motherboard you are able to use. So choose a motherboard to suit your use case.
