Best gaming motherboards in 2021
The best gaming motherboards from the top Intel and AMD chipsets.
The best gaming motherboards from the top Intel and AMD chipsets. (Image credit: Future)JUMP TO:
- Intel Z490
- Intel B460
- Intel Z390
- AMD X570
- AMD B550
- AMD A520
At the center of any amazing gaming PC is the motherboard. It’s the backbone of your rig that fits in all the key components you need in order to play all of your favorite games. Choosing the best motherboard for your system determines the size of the case you’ll use, what your storage options are, and what your CPU upgrade options are further down the line, among other things, so choosing the best motherboard is key to a problem-free build.
Even though there’s not much difference between motherboards built around the same chipset these days, it’s still important to get the motherboard that is right for you and for what you have in mind. These days it’s more a question of features than performance.
Fundamentally, your motherboard choice comes down to CPU socket support, ports, size, and overall quality. Beyond all that, there are a few other things to consider. Do you want the option to overclock your CPU at some point? Do you need high-performance memory support? Replacing your motherboard down the line is an awkward endeavor—make sure you have all your bases covered now instead.
The best gaming motherboards can also offer a modicum of future-proofing, as much as anything can in this fickle, fast-moving PC technology landscape of ours. Whether that’s a socket or chipset that can support the new processors of today, such as the Intel’s Z490 chipset and its Rocket Lake chips, or one that’s able to deliver next-gen interconnects, such as the B550’s PCIe 4.0 support.
We’re testing a bunch of Z590s at the moment, but aside from some more solid, though still mildly flaky PCIe 4.0 support, Intel’s 500-series boards don’t appear to offer all that much.
1. Asus ROG Maximus XII Extreme
The best board for a Comet Lake Core i9
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU support: Intel 10th GenSocket: LGA 1200Size: Extended ATXMemory support: 4x DIMM, up to 128GB, DDR4-4700Expansion slots: 2x PCIe 3.0 x16 (or x8/x8), 1x PCIe 3.0 x4Video ports: 2x Thunderbolt 3 ports on extension card (DP1.4)Rear USB: 10x USB 3.2, 2x USB 2.0Storage: 2x M.2, 2x M.2 (DIMM.2 board), 8x SATA 6GbpsNetwork: 1x 10Gb Marvell ethernet, 1x Intel ethernet, Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless
If you want the best, most fully-featured Intel Comet Lake motherboard, then I’m afraid you’re going to have to pay for it. And pay through the nose if Asus’ Z490 Maximus XII Extreme is anything to go by. It is, as the name suggests, extreme, packing in a variety of luxurious and convenient extras (a frickin’ screwdriver with interchangeable heads for one), and it’s also one of the highest performing Z490 boards we’ve tested.
But it only really makes sense if you’re buying a K-series Core i9 and genuinely intend to overclock the nuts off it. The Maximus XII will allow you to get the highest clock speed out of your 10900K and won’t turn it into a pile of molten slag while you’re at it. The MSI Z490 Godlike is actually the fastest Z490 outright at stock speeds, but I’d rather have the ROG board in my camp if I’m going down the OC route.
Obviously, it’s only for the very highest of high-end PC builds; however, the $750 price tag means you could actually build a respectable full gaming PC for the price of this single motherboard. It’s an aspirational Z490 motherboard and arguably the best gaming motherboard for Comet Lake overclocking, but I’ll concede it’s not a particularly realistic purchase for most of us.
2. MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WiFi
A vaguely affordable high-end Z490 motherboard
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU socket: Intel 10th GenSocket: LGA 1200Size : ATXMemory support: 4x DIMM, up to 128GB, DDR4-4800 (OC)Expansion slots: 3x PCIe 3.0 (x16/x0/x4 or x8/x8/x4), 2x PCIe 3.0 x1Video ports: 1x DisplayPort, 1x HDMIRear USB: 5x USB 3.2, 2x USB 2.0Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA 6GbpsNetwork : 1x 2.5Gb LAN, Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless
