Top 5 best Motherboard in 2023

Your PC’s heart is the motherboard. It controls everything, including your wifi connectivity, overclocking capabilities, and the amount of storage and USB devices you may use. The best motherboard is an essential component of any gaming PC since it controls everything else that goes into it. You want to get the best one so you don’t have to take everything apart afterward.

When it comes to performance, there may not be much of a difference between mother boards with the same chipset, but there are a few aspects that are just as important. Do you wish you could overclock your CPU? Do you require high-performance RAM? Is a complete wall of USB ports really necessary? These are just a few of the things you should think about when buying a motherboard.

The best gaming motherboards also provide some future-proofing, to the extent that this ever-changing environment allows. Whether it’s in the form of a socket or chipset that can handle high-end processors, such as Intel’s Z690 chipset and Alder Lake processors, or one that can support a wide range of CPUs, such as AMD’s X570 chipset and the lasting AM4 socket.

Over the last year, we’ve examined a variety of AMD and Intel motherboards, ranging from Mini-ITX to ATX, so you can make an informed decision about which one would work best for you. Note that we’re now looking at B660 motherboards, and we’ll be updating this list soon to include Intel’s more cheap Alder Lake CPUs.

Top 5 best Motherboard in 2023

Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro

The best Z690 board for DDR5 at a price that won’t kill your bank balance

SPECIFICATIONS

• Intel 12th Generation processors are supported.
• LGA 1700 is the socket type.
• ATX Dimensions
• Memory support: DDR5-6400, 4x DIMM, up to 128GB (OC)
• 1x PCIe 5.0 x16, 2x PCIe 4.0 x16 expansion slots (running at x4)
• 1x DisplayPort 1.4 video port
• USB: Up to two USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, six USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, and eight USB 2.0 ports
• 4x M.2, 6x SATA 6Gbps storage
• Intel Wi-Fi 6 network; Intel i225V 2.5G LAN

REASONS TO BUY 

Four M.2 slots +13 rear USB ports +Strong VRM

REASONS TO STAY AWAY 

WiFi 6 only -A lot of grey metal could not mix in with your setup.

It was practically unavoidable that Intel’s next-generation Alder Lake CPUs’ top-end chipset would be extremely pricey. That’s made worse by the premium linked to anything that mentions DDR5, but Gigabyte’s Z690 Aorus Pro virtually defies the trend by providing a well-rounded feature set in addition to DDR5 capability. Sure, $300+ was considered high-end in the previous CPU generation, but on the 12th Gen platform, that’s downright mid-range.

There are cheaper DDR4 boards out there—Gigabyte even offers a DDR4 Aorus Pro, but it’s not marketed in the US or EU—but DDR5 is the way to go if you want to get the most out of the new Intel architecture. When you can buy some, at the very least…

Gigabyte has done a good job of speccing out the Aorus Pro. It has managed to keep the pricing at least somewhat reasonable by restricting it to ‘only’ Wi-Fi 6 wireless and 2.5G Intel wired networking connections, and foregoing such superfluous luxuries as Thunderbolt 4 or another M.2 slot.

It’s also a superb performer, easily matching the system and gaming performance of considerably more costly boards we’ve already evaluated. The BIOS is also improving on a regular basis, therefore we’re confident in recommending the Gigabyte board as the best of the Z690 lot.

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ASRock Z690 Taichi

SPECIFICATIONS

• Supported CPUs: Intel 12th GenerationSocket: LGA 1700
• ATX Dimensions
• Memory support: DDR5-6400, 4x DIMM, up to 128GB (OC)
• 2x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PICe 3.0 x1 expansion slots
• 1 HDMI 2.0 port, 2 Thunderbolt Type-C ports
• 2 Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports; up to 1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2, 9 USB 3.1 Gen 1, 3 USB 2.0 ports
• 3x M.2, 6x SATA 6Gbps storage
• Killer Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5G Killer E3100G, and 1G Intel I219V LAN

REASONS TO BUY

Dual Thunderbolt 4 Type-C +Mega VRM +Good networking

REASONS TO AVOID

Only three M.2 slots -Expensive, as are other high-end Z690 boards

We were delighted by ASRock’s Taichi brand’s minimalist design approach when it initially debuted. It provided an excellent feature set and value for money without the excessive RGB overload that was typical on gaming boards a few years back. The brand has now turned into a truly high-end one. The yet-to-be-seen Aqua is the company’s top model, but with its projected limited-edition nature and probable sky-high price, the Taichi will effectively be ASRock’s premium Z690 motherboard. And that’s not an awful place to be.

The board’s appearance is clearly one-of-a-kind, and while beauty is in the opinion of the beholder, I think Taichi’s cyberpunk concept, with its copper coloring, looks terrific. You get a decent splash of RGB, and there are moving cogs above the I/O. It appears to be costly. If you utilize Razer goods, a Razer-themed Z690 Taichi is also available for seamless integration into the Chroma environment.

Notably, the Taichi performed admirably in gaming testing, frequently leading the pack. Though 1 fps here and there isn’t much of a difference, it’s better to lead than a trail. The board was content to run DDR5-6400 memory, something, not all Z690s could during our pre-release testing. This implies a decent level of maturity, however as is frequently the case with a brand-new platform and standard, additional refining is undoubtedly required.

The Taichi’s good appearance, respectable performance, and extensive feature set make it a formidable contender in its price category.

Asus ROG Maximus XII Extreme

The best board for a Comet Lake Core i9

SPECIFICATIONS

• Intel 10th Generation CPU support
• LGA 1200 Socket
• Size: Extended ATX
• Memory support: 4x DIMM, up to 128GB, DDR4-4700
• Expansion slots: 2x PCIe 3.0 x16 (or x8/x8), 1x PCIe 3.0 x4
• Video ports: 2x Thunderbolt 3 ports on an extension card (DP1.4)
• Rear USB: 10x USB 3.2, 2x USB 2.0
• Storage: 2x M.2, 2x M.2 (DIMM.2 board), 8x SATA 6Gbps
• Network: 1x 10Gb Marvell ethernet, 1x Intel ethernet, Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless

REASONS TO BUY

Excellent performance +Stunning bundle +Excellent build quality

REASONS TO AVOID

No-strings-attached pricing

If you want the greatest, most feature-rich Intel Comet Lake motherboard, I’m afraid you’ll have to pay for it. And expect to pay through the nose if Asus’ Z490 Maximus XII Extreme is any indication. It is, as the name implies, extreme, with a slew of luxury and useful accessories (a freakin’ screwdriver with interchangeable heads, for example), and it is also one of the fastest Z490 boards we’ve tested.

However, it only makes sense if you’re purchasing a K-series Core i9 with the intention of overclocking the hell out of it. The Maximus XII will help you to get the most out of your 10900K without turning it into a pile of molten slag in the process. The MSI Z490 Godlike is the fastest Z490 at stock speeds, but if I’m taking the OC path, I’d rather have the ROG board in my camp.

Obviously, it’s reserved for the most high-end PC configurations; nevertheless, at $750, you could potentially create a decent complete gaming PC for the price of this one motherboard. It’s an ambitious Z490 motherboard and possibly the greatest gaming motherboard for Comet Lake overclocking, but I’ll admit it’s not a very affordable choice for the majority of us.

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MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WiFi

A vaguely affordable high-end Z490 motherboard

SPECIFICATIONS

• Intel 10th Generation CPU socket
• LGA 1200 Socket
• ATX Dimensions
• Supported memory: 4x DIMM, up to 128GB, DDR4-4800 (OC)
• 3 PCIe 3.0 (x16/x0/x4 or x8/x8/x4) expansion slots, 2 PCIe 3.0 x1 expansion slots
• There are two video ports: one DisplayPort and one HDMI.
• 5x USB 3.2, 2x USB 2.0 on the back
• 2x M.2, 6x SATA 6Gbps storage
• 1x 2.5Gb LAN, Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless network

REASONS TO BUY 

More affordable Z490 + Competitive performance

REASONS TO AVOID

It is really hot.

The minimal back panel and lack of OLED panels indicate that we’ve returned to conventional motherboard land with this MSI product. The ultra-enthusiast ROG board at the top may make one dizzy, but the Z490 Gaming Carbon will bring us back down to earth without a hitch. Sure, you won’t get the same degree of luxury features as you would with the Maximus XII or MSI’s own Godlike boards, but it’s right up there in terms of sheer performance.

When it comes to gaming performance, there’s almost nothing between any of the Z490 boards we’ve tested, and it’s only just a bit behind when it comes to real CPU performance in productivity programs. However, when it comes to overclocking, the MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WiFi can’t compete with the big guys, even with our 10900K at its pinnacle.

When pushed to its 5.3GHz all-core limit, the power components and cooling aren’t enough to keep the thirsty CPU from throttling. But, while this isn’t the board for an overclocked Core i9 computer, that’s a small subset of gamers, and for i5 or i7 CPUs, the MSI Gaming Carbon is still a good home for your Comet Lake CPU.

MSI MAG B460M Mortar WiFi

A premium and well-priced mATX B460

SPECIFICATIONS

• Intel 10th Generation processors are supported.
• LGA 1200 is the socket type.
• Micro ATX (Small ATX)
• 4x DIMM, up to DDR4-2933 (i7,i9) or DDR4-2666 (i7,i9) memory support (i5)
• 2x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x1 expansion slots
• 1x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI video ports
• 4x USB 3.2 Gen (1x Type-C), 2x USB 2.0 Rear USB
• 2x M.2, 6x SATA 6Gbps storage
• Realtek 2.5Gb LAN, Intel Wi-Fi 6 wireless network

REASONS TO PURCHASE

Excellent value +Powerful VRM +High-quality I/O and connection

AVOID FOR THESE REASONS

Only 4 fan headers -B460 memory limitations

Grabbing one of the best Z490 motherboards might be appealing to your inner elitist, but the sticker price shock is definitely a problem. Sure, 10Gb LAN, seven M.2 slots, and quad GPU support would be wonderful, but who really needs all that? A good B460 motherboard, like the MSI MAG B460M Mortar WiFi, will be enough for the vast majority of us.

If you don’t mind the RAM speed limitation and don’t plan on overclocking (at least with a K-series CPU), this is the sort of board you should consider for your next PC build. It checks most of the major boxes, and for $150, it’s a good deal, albeit there are plenty of other excellent B460 motherboards in this price range.

It has a powerful VRM setup, 2.5Gb LAN, Wi-Fi 6, and acceptable, if not exceptional, I/O. It’s also worth the minor effort to pair it with a 65W non-K CPU and try your hand at faux overclocking. Something like an Intel Core i5 10600 and B460M Mortar, along with a reasonable mid-range GPU, might give an excellent, economical gaming combination if you can live with the maximum DDR4-2666 speed.