Best Msi Motherboards

Motherboards using the X299 chipset are considered to be high-end boards that are designed to fit Intel X series CPUs. This chipset can be used in conjunction with Intel i9 series processors as an i9 motherboard. In this guide, we will go over the best Intel X299 motherboards you can buy. Dec 27, 2018  The table below showcases our top picks for the best Z370 motherboard, the best X470 motherboard, the best X299 motherboard, the best H370 motherboard, and the best B450 motherboard. These aren't all of the motherboards on this list, though, and so if you want to check out more options that will meet your budget and needs, keep scrolling down to see more choices.

The best AMD motherboard can make a huge difference to your final gaming PC build. We've put the top AM4 options – from the latest X570 motherboards to X470 and B450 boards – through their paces so you can make the right Ryzen motherboard choice for your rig.

Choosing the best AM4 board is vital in getting the most out of your new AMD Ryzen CPU – be that a first, second, or third generation chip. You don't have to go for the latest X570 motherboard either, because the older 300-series boards from the likes of Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, and ASRock are still seriously capable, completely compatible, and a lot more affordable.

AM4 is a very stable platform with impressive potential future-proofing on offer. Most 400-series (and some 300-series) motherboards require only a diddy BIOS update to get working with AMD Ryzen 3000 chips, and brand new motherboards will come with a sticker that reads 'AMD Ryzen Desktop 3000 Ready' if a compatible BIOS has been pre-installed already. Otherwise you may first need to boot your system with a first- or second-gen Ryzen chip in order to update.

But that doesn't necessarily mean you can buy any ol' AMD motherboard with a compatible AM4 socket for your Ryzen chip – there are a bunch of other factors you'll need to take into account before finding the forever home for your new CPU. Do you have a PCIe 4.0 SSD? Do you aspire to run a multi-GPU rig? Do you want to build a micro machine PC?

What is the best AMD motherboard for gaming in 2019?

It's probably not much of a surprise to see Asus sitting at the top of the list, with the Asus ROG Strix X470-F Gaming our pick for the best AMD motherboard. We've gone for the X470 rather than the X570 version simply because of the huge price premium just to get PCIe 4.0 connectivity, and the lack of any tangible performance difference.

But Asus doesn't have it all its own way as both MSI and Gigabyte have excellent boards in their own right, especially if you're after something more affordable to build your Ryzen gaming rig around.

Best AMD motherboard for gaming

Asus ROG Strix X470-F Gaming

Approx. $170 | £180

STRIX X470-F specs

As you might expect from the ROG branding, this Asus X470 is a brightly coloured, expensive, powerful affair.

• ChipsetX470
• SocketAM4
• Form factorATX
• 3rd Gen supportYes (with BIOS update)

Pros
Cheaper than X570 alternatives
Plenty of features
Ports galore

Cons
But do you really need it?

Yes, we're still recommending the Asus ROG Strix X470-F Gaming to go with our favourite Ryzen processors even today. That's because, while AMD has released the X570 chipset to go with the 7nm Ryzen 3000 series CPUs, it's retained backwards compatibility, and this particular board has been proven just as capable when it comes to CPU performance.

It also delivers higher basic overclocking performance than the other X470 boards, even managing to near-enough match the latest X570 boards. And while this board is pricey, it's cheaper than its newer alternatives and incredibly feature-rich to boot. So if you can pass on PCIe 4.0 support, there's still life in this old dog yet.

Read our full Asus ROG Strix X470-F Gaming review.

RUNNER-UP

ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Plus (Wi-Fi)

Approx. $200 | £212

TUF X570-PLUS SPECS

Asus' entry-level enthusiast board shrinks the PCIe 4.0 markup into something a little more bite-sized.

• ChipsetX570
• SocketAM4
• Form factorATX
• 3rd Gen supportYes

Pros
PCIe 4.0
Wi-Fi
Feature rich

Cons
A cheap X570 is an oxymoron

Even a ‘budget' X570 is a considerable investment. After all, the chipset has been made almost exclusively for high-end, enthusiast boards. Yet the cheaper motherboards in the range today offer the best blend of performance, functionality, and affordability if you absolutely must have today's top tech.

The Asus TUF Gaming X570-Plus (Wi-Fi) is the cheapest X570 motherboard we've tested, and as such that makes it the most cost-effective entry point into the PCIe 4.0 ecosystem. It will still set you back far more cash than what is required by previous AM4 TUF Gaming motherboards, but if you cannot settle for anything less than the latest interconnect specification – and I know ya'll are thirsty for bandwidth – then the more than capable TUF board should see you through.

Read our full Asus TUF Gaming X570-PLUS (WI-FI) review.

Runner-up

MSI X470 Gaming Pro Carbon

Approx. $180 | £185

PRO CARBON specs

One of the most affordable of the X470 boards we've checked out, and packs in a great feature list. And RGBs. Obvs.

• ChipsetX470
• SocketAM4
• Form factorATX
• 3rd Gen supportYes (with BIOS update)

Pros
Affordable X470
You know you want that RGB
Sturdy

Cons
RGB lighting isn't for everyone

MSI's Gaming Pro Carbon is one of the most affordable of the X470 crew, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's light on features. Aside from the RGB LED downlighting inspired by The Fast and the Furious, MSI has also ensured it's got all the bases covered on the specs front, as well as the aesthetics.

The memory, GPU, and PCIe SSD slots have all been reinforced to avoid damage when poking components into them, the screw holes are double-protected so you don't break the PCB when installing, it's added both AMD's CrossFire and Nvidia's SLI multi-GPU support, and MSI has also specced-out a pair of VR-ready USB ports too. So it's got the performance chops and it's also an impressively feature-rich board for money – a worthy runner-up.

Best High-end AMD motherboard

MSI MEG X570 ACE

Approx. $370 | £350

MSI MEG X570 ACE specs

As an X570 motherboard the ACE is one of the finest, but cheaper boards remain a convincing alternative.

• ChipsetX570
• SocketAM4
• Form factorATX
• 3rd Gen supportYes

Pros
Filled to the brim with functionality
RGB lighting
PCIe 4.0

Cons
Expensive

As a whole it's difficult to recommend a hyper-high-end X570 motherboard. There's very little performance to be gained from the investment, and many of the bonus features included on these motherboards are useless for all but the most avid LN2 overclockers. Still, if you really have to own the best around, it's got to be the MSI MEG X570 Ace.

Super mario world full game. This board features a beefy feature set, with reinforced slots, Killer network support, and three NVMe SSD ports. Oh, and it's got an RGB LED infinity mirror built-in for that ‘daddy, daddy, look at me!' aesthetic. Obviously, because gaming. None of that is exclusive to the Ace, but, combined with PCIe 4.0 support, you know you have every base covered.

Read our full MSI MEG X570 ACE review.

RUNNER-UP

Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming

Approx. $327 | £300

Strix X570-E specs

Better than a budget pick, but thankfully a good bit less than top-tier enthusiast motherboards.

Best Msi Motherboard For I5 8400

• ChipsetX570
• SocketAM4
• Form FactorATX
• 3rd Gen supportYes

Pros
Best value high-end
Feature rich
Superb connectivity

Cons
X570 premium

The Strix X570-E is certainly an alluring offer. When you are choosing your components for your gaming PC, a part of you will always want to splash out on your motherboard just in case, and the X570-E is the perfect guilty purchase with heaps of USB ports, superb styling, great storage connectivity, and excellent performance.

The Strix X570-E is actually rather comparable to the Crosshair below, although draws the line at enthusiast functionality. However, even without absurd features that few ever touch ramping the price into the stratosphere, the X570 chipset still comes at a cost, and even the Strix X570-E can't escape that. So best only consider this board if you're less than concerned about splashing out your hard-earned cash.

Read our full ASUS ROG STRIX X570-E GAMING review.

Runner-up

Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (Wi-Fi)

Approx. $380 | £399

CROSSHAIR HERO specs

The board for tweakers and those needing more USB ports than you can shake an external drive at.

• ChipsetX570
• SocketAM4
• Form factorATX
• 3rd Gen supportYes

Pros
Quality build
Tons of USB ports
Beefy VRM

Cons
Exceptionally pricey

Asus' Republic of Gamers brand is always about the high-end and that's no different with its AMD boards. The Strix X470 just about pips the Crosshair VIII at the top of the pile because of its favourable price, but if money's no object, the Crosshair VIII takes the cake.

It's all down to the build quality and feature-set of the ROG board. It's the most USB-amicable of all the X570 motherboards we've looked at so far, and if you're spending this much on a motherboard, you really want it to be capable of everything without sacrifice. After all, you're paying for peace of mind that nothing has gone unsaid in the feature department with a motherboard of this calibre.

Read our full Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Hero (Wi-Fi) review.

Best cheap AMD motherboard

Gigabyte AB350-Gaming 3

Approx. $90 | £113

AB350-GAMING 3 specs

A surprisingly powerful and seriously affordable Ryzen board. Perfect for the Ryzen 5 chips.

The funny part is that with each build it would run fine the first time I logged in.However once I restarted every time no matter what I was getting some error saying that corsair link could not run because it might harm the computer. After changing corsairlink exe to corsairlink1.exe I was able to run just fine. Corsair drivers windows 10. Even after a restart whichto me means that corsair link does not run on windows 10 because it was black listed. I too though it was corsairs fault. I have not looked where yet.

Best Asus Motherboards In 2018

• ChipsetB350
• SocketAM4
• Form factorATX
• 3rd Gen supportYes (with BIOS update)

Pros
Cheap and cheerful
Supports Ryzen 3000
Healthy selection of ports

Cons
A little toasty

You might have expected to see a 400-series motherboard topping our list of the best cheap AMD gaming motherboards. But, in real terms, there's precious little to choose between the B350 and either the X470, B450, or X370 boards in our tests. And, considering out of all the Ryzen chips AMD has released, it's the cheaper Ryzen 5 chips we're recommending as our favourite gaming CPUs – spending anything over $100 on a supporting motherboard seems like overkill.

And so Gigabyte's smartly priced B350 board is the AM4 mobo we'd be lovingly jamming our Ryzen chips into – even Ryzen 3000. It's only a small price to pay, and yet, at stock settings it's one of the most capable of any of the AM4 boards we've tested so far. The downside being it is a little high on the power/thermal side of things. It's the toastiest of the boards, running hotter at both peak and idle temperatures, and that's borne out by the fact it also draws the most juice when running at full chat.

Read our full Gigabyte AB350-Gaming 3 review. Free partition manager windows 7.

Best compact AMD motherboard

Asus ROG STRIX X470-I Gaming

Best Asus Motherboards Reviews

Approx. $190 | £175

STRIX X470-I specs

A tiny board that still manages to pack in a host of features, RGB LEDs, and a decent amount of performance, too.

• ChipsetX470
• SocketAM4
• Form factorMini-ITX
• 3rd Gen supportYes (with BIOS update)

Pros
Teeny tiny
Feature-packed
It's so cute ^_^

Cons
Limited space for upgrades/SSDs

Judge Yoda by his size, do you? https://fernblidutre1971.mystrikingly.com/blog/warrior-free-download. No, and so you shouldn't. Likewise, Asus's mighty X470-I gaming shouldn't be judged purely on scale, either. It's a minuscule Ryzen X470 motherboard that still manages to pack in a wealth of features and enough performance so it never feels like a compromise.

Well, it might do if you're talking about USB and SATA ports, but if you're after server-level motherboard fare then the massive ROG Crosshair boards are probably more to your tastes. Inevitably, it's a little down in the overall performance metrics compared with the other top boards, but considering what Asus has packed into this tiny package it's a bit of a miracle mini motherboard.

Read our full Asus ROG STRIX X470-I Gaming review.

AMD has done it right creating the motherboard platform for its Ryzen processors. It hasn't tried to limit support, it's not opted to demand users upgrade their boards for every single iterative CPU update. No, it's created a stable AM4 platform that is supposed to support every mainstream desktop AMD chip from here to 2020.

And that means you don't have to go for the highest spec chipset in order to get the best performance from your Ryzen processor, and that's why we've given the win to Gigabyte's bargain-priced B350 board. It has a feature set that will cater to almost every gamer out there, and delivers frame rate performance that is the equal of much more expensive options.

Complimentary silicon: Grab one of the best CPUs for gaming

On the more high-end side it's hard to look past the gorgeous MSI MEG X570 ACE. It's feature-rich and performance heavy, but then, so is its price.

More Hardware Guides:

Either way, no matter your budget there's a great AM4 motherboard out there just waiting to be built into a great gaming rig.

You'll need to invest in one of the best motherboard possible if you're setting out to build the best PC your budget can afford. Sure, the best motherboards may not be as sexy as the best graphics cards or processors, but that shouldn't make a difference.

Having one of the best motherboards is just as important, as a motherboard serves as the foundation of your PC, helping your hardware reach its full potential by pushing it to its limits. The best motherboards utilize and optimize every inch of performance, as well as help you overclock better.

The best motherboards are some of the most crucial PC components in building computers, so don't settle for anything less. If you compromise and cheap out on your motherboard, it could die on you, forcing you to rebuild your entire PC from scratch. We've been there; trust us, it's not a road you want to take. Do yourself a favor: avoid disaster by picking up the best motherboard you can on the market.

Keep in mind, however, that there are so many different options these days. Choosing the most ideal motherboard for you can be challenging. And, so we went ahead and put together a list of the best motherboards on the market, motherboards that we've tested and reviewed ourselves.

Rest assured that every single mobo on this list will do everything you expect from the best motherboards, and will last you for years.

Best Intel Motherboard: Z390 Aorus Pro Wifi

Form Factor: ATX | Socket: LGA-1151 (8th and 9th-gen only) | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Memory support: 4 x DIMM sockets (up to 64GB) | Multi-GPU support: Nvidia 2- and 4-way GPU SLI, AMD 2-, 3- and 4-way CrossFire | Features: 2 x PCIe M.2 (Key M), reinforced PCIe

When Coffee Lake Refresh CPUs hit the streets, Intel promised that they would be the best processors for gaming, and we knew that meant kitted out motherboards were on their way. Lo and behold comes the Z390 Aorus Gaming Pro Wifi – maybe one of the best motherboards from Intel right now. It's packed with gaming-centric features like reinforced PCIe slots and enough RGB lighting to blind you. It's hard to find a better motherboard, especially at this price point.

Best high-end Intel motherboard: Asus ROG Maximus XI Code Z390 Gaming

Form Factor: ATX | Socket: LGA-1151 (8th and 9th-gen only) | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Memory support: 4 x DIMM sockets (up to 64GB) | Multi-GPU support: Nvidia 2-way GPU SLI, AMD 2-, 3-way CrossFire | Features: 2 x PCIe M.2 (Key M), Improved power delivery, Dedicated water pump headers

When you're shopping for PC hardware, overwhelmed by all the different features, components and requirements, you might be tempted to throw your hands up and just get the best you can possibly afford. In times like these, you can bet on the Asus ROG Maximus XI Code Z390 Gaming. It's packed with every feature that Intel's new Coffee Lake Refresh processors support and then some, with an RGB-lit shroud covering every corner of circuitry on this motherboard, making it one of the best motherboards you don't have to think twice about choosing.

Best budget Intel motherboard: Gigabyte Z390 UD

Form Factor: ATX | Socket: LGA-1151 (8th and 9th-gen only) | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Memory support: 4 x DIMM sockets (up to 64GB) | Multi-GPU support: AMD 4-way CrossFire | Features: 1 x PCIe M.2 (Key M), software-controlled case fans, up to 4,000MHz memory

Now that Coffee Lake Refresh has been available for a while, you'll want to maximize all the power it has to offer. However, high-end motherboards can get really expensive real fast. If you're looking for a budget option without many compromises, the Gigabyte Z390 should be at the top of your list of best motherboards to consider. It skips many of the bells and whistles like RGB lighting and built-in Wi-Fi but it does make up for these compromises by providing excellent value. You get all the essential features that Z390 has to offer for a great price. If you want to build a budget gaming system, the Gigabyte Z390 UD is probably the best motherboard for you.

Best Intel Micro-ATX motherboard: MSI MPG Z390M Gaming Edge AC

Form Factor: Micro-ATX | Socket: LGA-1151 (8th and 9th-gen only) | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Memory support: 2 x DIMM sockets (up to 32GB) | Multi-GPU support: SLI/CrossFire | Features: 2 x PCIe M.2 (Key M), DDR4 boost, PCI-E Steel Armor, Audio Boost 4 with amplifier

If you're looking to get an edge on the competition, but you don't have a lot of extra space on your desk, you're going to need a Micro-ATX motherboard – more specifically, the MSI MPG Z390M Gaming Edge AC. What you're getting here is a Micro-ATX motherboard with all the features a full-sized ATX one offers, but at a fraction of the price. Despite its smaller size, you still get dual M.2 slots, SLI and Crossfire support, and all the fiery performance that Intel Coffee Lake Refresh has to offer. If you're looking for a smaller motherboard, you can't afford to pass on the MSI MPG Z390M Gaming Edge MC.

Best Intel Mini-ITX motherboard: Asus ROG Strix Z390-I Gaming

Form Factor: Mini-ITX | Socket: LGA-1151 (8th and 9th-gen only) | Chipset: Intel Z390 | Memory support: 2 x DIMM sockets (up to 64GB) | Multi-GPU support: N/A | Features: 2 x PCIe M.2 (Key M), Double capacity memory, USB 3.1 Gen 2 front connector, Asus Aura Sync

If you need the smallest possible motherboard available without compromising on key features of your CPU, you should look into the Asus ROG Strix Z390-I Gaming. With this motherboard, you don't need to compromise on features or power. You don't even need to settle for a measly 32GB of RAM. Thanks to Asus' double capacity memory compatibility – you can have up to 64GB of memory in the most miniscule motherboard you've ever seen. Unfortunately, like most Z390 boards, its price tag is not for the faint of heart, so prepare yourself to shell out some serious dough if you want the smallest of the best motherboards.

Best AMD motherboard: Gigabyte X470 Aorus Gaming 7 Wi-Fi

Form Factor: ATX | Socket: AM4 | Chipset: AMD X470 | Memory Support: Dual-Channel 4 x DDR4 3,600MHz (up to 64GB) | Multi-GPU support: Quad-GPU SLI, CrossFire | Features: 2 x M.2 (Key M), Q-Flash, Multi Zone RGB lighting

With the X470 Aorus Gaming 7 Wi-Fi, Gigabyte further illustrates its command of motherboard design. Rocking the new AMD X470 chipset, allowing full support of the new AMD Ryzen 2nd Generation processors, this may be the best motherboard if you're looking to side with Team Red. What's more, it supports Quad-GPU SLi and lightning fast RAM (up to 3,600 MHz) for peerless expandability, and thanks to its multi-zone RGB lighting, it looks good while kicking butt and taking names.

Best budget AMD motherboard: MSI X470 Gaming Plus

Form Factor: ATX | Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD X470 | Memory Support: Dual-Channel 4 x DDR4 3,466MHz (up to 64GB) | Multi-GPU support: Crossfire | Features: 2 x PCIe M.2 (Key M)

For the longest time, AMD has been the reigning champion of budget builds, and that isn't likely to change anytime soon. Marketed exclusively to gamers, the MSI X470 Gaming Plus is loaded front to back with features like two PCIe M.2 slots and quick performance tweaking buttons to make sure you're on the top of the leaderboard at all times. And, since it's a gamer-focused motherboard, it comes with flashy RGB lighting that you can even easily customize from your smartphone. Best of all, it's the best value of all the best motherboards.

Best AMD Micro ATX motherboard: ASRock B450M-HDV

Form Factor: Micro ITX | Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD Promontory B450 | Memory Support: Dual-Channel 2 x DDR4 3,200MHz (up to 32GB) | Multi-GPU support: No | Features: ASRock Super Alloy build, 1 x M.2, ASRock Live Update

These days, small form-factor PCs are all the rage and with one of the best motherboards like the ASRock B450M-HDV on offer, we think that it's going to stay that way. Now, while this one doesn't do SLI and only supports up to 32GB of RAM– it is a B450 unit, after all – it is still compelling due to its affordable price. Outside of these omissions, you still get a slot for a NVMe SSD and four USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports around back. If you're looking to build a solid budget gaming PC, the ASRock B450M-HDV is your best bet.

Best AMD Mini-ITX motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix X470-I

Form Factor: Mini-ITX | Socket: AMD AM4 | Chipset: AMD X470 | Memory Support: Dual-Channel 2 x DDR4 3,466MHz (up to 32GB) | Multi-GPU support: No | Features: 1 x PCIe M.2 (Key M)

Best Msi Motherboard For Amd

Asus is out to prove that big things can and do come in small packages with the ROG Strix X470-I. Featuring the latest and greatest AMD chipset, everything in this tiny board is designed with excellent performance in mind. That extends down to the BIOS where you can find a stress test for overclocks before you even boot into Windows. This board also elevates beyond the constraints of the Mini-ITX form factor by including an M.2 Audio Combo riser, so that you can install your M.2 NVMe SSD without crowding out other components.

Best Intel Core X-Series motherboard: ASRock X299 Taichi

This one goes up to 11, but more accurately, 4400MHz memory

Form Factor: ATX | Socket: LGA-2066 | Chipset: Intel X299 | Memory Support: Quad-Channel 8 x DDR4 4,400MHz (up to 128GB) | Multi-GPU support: Nvidia 3-Way SLI, AMD 3-Way CrossFireX | Features: 3 x PCIe M.2 (Key M)

Best Msi Motherboard For I9

The X-series processors are here, and they are spectacular. But if you want to take advantage of all they have to offer, you need an X-series motherboard. This ASRock X299 is an incredible choice with support for overclocked memory speeds up to 4400MHz(!!!) and 8 different slots for memory modules. It also supports up to 128GB of RAM. Add in an X-series processor and a good graphics card or 3, and this thing will absolutely tear apart anything you could possibly throw at it. If you're seeking one of the best motherboards money can buy, this is it.

Best AMD Ryzen Threadripper motherboard: ASRock X399 Professional Gaming sTR4

Form Factor: ATX | Socket: sTR4 | Chipset: AMD X399 | Memory Support: Dual -Channel 4 x DDR4 3,200MHz (up to 128GB) | Multi-GPU support: 4-Way SLI, AMD Quad CrossFireX | Features: 1 x U.2, 3 x PCIe M.2 (Key M)

https://fernblidutre1971.mystrikingly.com/blog/mp3-encoder-free. If you want absolutely every feature you can get and budget is not an issue, the AsRock X399 Professional Gaming sTR4 may be the most ideal motherboard for you. Not only does this monster of a board support 4-way SLI configurations, but you can also pack this thing with up to 128GB of DDR4 memory. It even features a ton of flashy RGB lighting, so that people will be mesmerized by your rig. And, keep in mind that this mobo is compatible with Ryzen Threadripper 2nd Generation chips, so you might need to update the BIOS first.

Coming to terms

If you're unfamiliar with the best motherboards out there, use this list as a primer for your next build. Motherboards are available in a broad range of different form factors, the most common of which are ATX and Micro ATX. However, there are plenty of less common form factors including mini ITX and E-ATX. Don't worry though, most of the best PC cases will support more than one form factor.

Moreover, in our rundown of the best motherboards, we detailed the socket type that each mobo adheres to. The socket, for those not in the know, is the part on the motherboard that the CPU locks into. Typically, newer Intel processors use either LGA 1151 or 2066 while the latest AMD Ryzen architecture is designed for the AM4 chipset.

Welcome to TechRadar's PC Gaming Week 2019. We're celebrating the most powerful gaming platform on Earth with in-depth articles, exclusive interviews and essential buying guides that showcase everything PC gaming has to offer. Visit our PC Gaming Week 2019 page to see all our coverage in one place.