The Best Motherboards You Can Buy in 2024

Both Intel and AMD are pushing new tech upgrades along with their CPUs in 2024, including extended PCI-E 5.0 compatibility and better DDR5 support. Both of these require significant chipset upgrades that also double as a requirement for Intel’s 12th and 13th generation and the now-released 14th-generation Intel CPUs. AMD’s latest Ryzen 7000 series and its subsequent X3D refresh take a different approach (unlike Intel’s DDR4 and DDR5 memory motherboard split) to concentrate on only DDR5 for its memory needs.

This has ushered in a new generation of Intel and AMD motherboards to support said tech upgrades and their newest processors. Intel offers the H610, B660, H670, and Z690 chipsets for the 12th generation and H710, B760, H770, and Z790 chipsets for the 13th generation, which saw refreshes around the same chipsets for the 14th generation. For AMD, the charge is led by the B650, B650E, X670, and X670E with the entry-level A620 series catering to budget builds.

What Should Users Look For When Picking A Motherboard?

CPU Support: With AMD and Intel’s motherboard chipsets getting regular refreshes and the latter’s socket regularly changing, it is important to know if the motherboard a user plans to get is compatible with the CPU they want to pair it with.

Some motherboards might require a BIOS update to work with CPUs released after they are shipped. This is something users would want to know since it would limit their need to diagnose issues stemming from a lack of compatibility with a newer processor on a motherboard with an older BIOS version that does not recognize the CPU paired to it. Some motherboards may not get BIOS updates to support the latest generation, making it a good idea to check for compatibility fairly early in build considerations.

An example would be Intel’s 12th and 13th gen CPUs. While the 12th gen works with Intel’s 12th and 13th generation motherboards, the 13th gen requires a mandatory BIOS update on most 12th gen motherboards to be detected and run smoothly. The same is true for Intel’s 14th-generation CPUs.

Memory Support: The first important distinction to make when looking for a new motherboard is whether it is DDR4 or DDR5 compatible. While AMD’s AM5 socket-based motherboards are only DDR5 and AM4 are only DDR4-based, making this an easier affair, Intel’s motherboards for the 12th,13th, and 14th gen offer both DDR4 and DDR5 variants with most higher-end models catering to DDR5 exclusively.

While this is a welcome addition for most system builders and enthusiasts, many of whom would like to use cheaper DDR4 memory or repurposed modules from older builds, it does require users to know if they have compatible last-generation memory on hand. Thankfully DDR5 memory is considerably cheaper now, making a transition to the newer memory modules an easier task than it was previously.

Storage And Expansion Options: Modern games require increasingly larger amounts of storage to retain larger game engines and larger game assets as time goes on. This results in significantly larger storage requirements for modern gamers.

On the productivity front, the same is true with modern applications often taking up large chunks of space. Given that some users also want a backup drive or secondary storage, it is worth checking out what storage slots a motherboard has and if they are enough for current and future storage needs.

Ideally, power users or users in need of storage for gaming or productivity reasons should want multiple storage options ranging from M2 NVMe and SATA drives as well as SATA-based SSDs and HDDs alike.

Form Factor: A motherboard’s form factor is an important thing to consider since it directly influences the choice of case, expansion options, and area on a work desk or legroom, depending on where users place their PC. This directly affects aesthetics and the cooling options one might have in some cases.

Some smaller motherboards have reduced memory slots too, opting for 2 versus the standard 4 DIMMs, which could hamper upgrade potential. While most users will opt for an ATX motherboard for most PC cases, others can also invest in an mATX/ITX case if they want a smaller PC or a larger EATX case if they want to maximize their options in terms of expansion slots and features.

PCI Express Compatibility: It is important to check what PCI-E slots the motherboard has. While PCI-E slots are backward and forward compatible, they can restrict one’s ability in some cases to get the most out of their newer SSD drive or graphics cards, especially when upgrading down the line.

While the highest-end GPUs currently cap out at PCI-E 4.0 x 16 speeds, it can also help to be ready for PCI-E 5.0 speeds at the GPU level to ensure a GPU upgrade next generation is only a graphics card swap away.

Price: As motherboards push past a certain configuration, moving from essential requirements to recommended requirements, they start moving into enthusiast territory where they get expensive extremely fast for features that one could consider niche in certain cases.

This results in users looking for budget options in both Intel’s 12th and 13th-generation motherboards as well as some of the 14th-generation refresh models and AMD’s new socket AM5-based motherboards for their Ryzen 7000 (and X3D) series processors. Many of these options are competitive and offer excellent features and value-added solutions that rival those of their higher-end peers in many cases.

Overclocking Support: Most modern motherboards allow for the ability to push accompanying Intel and AMD CPUs and support RAM modules to higher clock speeds, but not all of these are created equal. The process of achieving a stable overclock includes a variety of factors, including the hardware being overclocked itself, power delivery mechanisms, and the underlying chipset and BIOS optimizations available at a motherboard level.

A general rule of thumb is that higher-end motherboards tend to have better overclocking features, but this can be proven wrong when it comes to certain motherboards that are custom-designed to overclock as well as possible, making it a key factor for power users looking to eke out as much performance as possible from their gaming PCs.

Game Rant’s Picks for the Best Motherboards to Buy in 2024

Here are some of the best Intel and AMD motherboards handpicked by the team at Game Rant to help users make an educated purchase this year:

The ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Formula is one of the newest Z790 motherboards as multiple generational refreshes continue to show up. It has the added benefit of supporting all desktop CPUs from the 12th, 13th, and 14th generation out of the box, making it an easy choice for PC builders looking to go for a high-end motherboard that works from the get-go.

It offers Wi-Fi 7 compatibility and a 5 gigabit Ethernet port in addition to as many as five M2 slots under the hood, allowing users to add as much storage as needed. With a pure white aesthetic in play in addition to an excellent OLED LiveDash display, the Z790 Formula is dressed to impress even as it offers plenty of functionality.

With a small price cut for the ROG Maximus Z790 Formula making it marginally cheaper than its list price, ASUS’s offering continues to offer some of the latest networking under the hood, compatibility with all LGA 1700-based CPUs released to date, and plenty of expansion under the hood. It’s a great solution for gamers looking for an option that offers plenty of I/O options and aesthetics to boot.

Bottom Line: The ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Formula emerges as one of the most capable yet most expensive candidates for a new Intel motherboard but backs it with looks, powerful overclocking potential, and plenty of connectivity under the hood to make it an excellent candidate for most premium PC builds.

The GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master Motherboard is an excellent X670E chipset-based motherboard that delivers the tall ask of acceptable AM5 performance with plentiful I/O options and a premium design. It does so at a relatively large discount over some of its most immediate competitors that have offerings that are $100 or more expensive.

With an excellent power delivery system that is adequately cooled with SSD slots that also maintain low temperatures, the Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master has users covered on the networking and I/O fronts thanks to plenty of USB ports, M2 slots, and PCI-E 5.0 support.

To its detriment, the GIGABYTE X670E AORUS Master did have some software issues at launch, but that is somewhat of a standard when one is an early adopter of a new platform like AM5. Multiple BIOS updates later, the X670E Aorus Master has excellent memory compatibility, runs the new X3D processors with ease and offers a set of features that few if any motherboards can beat, and even less so at the price points it competes at.

Bottom Line: This is a solid, premium motherboard with plenty of I/O options and networking features, and excellent cooling at a price that seems more affordable than other competitors’ offerings as it continues to trade at a small discount.

The MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX Wi-Fi is a powerful mid-range motherboard option for gamers, power users, and enthusiasts alike. It offers cutting-edge networking options such as Wi-Fi 7, decent power delivery that translates to better overclocking potential, and PCI-E Gen 5 support. With plenty of I/O options under the hood and support for Intel’s newer 14th-generation CPUs, the Z790 Tomahawk MAX offers excellent value and reliability in a neat package for users looking to get more for less in an increasingly competitive Intel motherboard market.

At the same time, it does compare slightly unfavorably as a budget option compared to its 2023 model, the non-MAX SKU of the Z790 Tomahawk that packs in similar hardware but slightly lower-end Wi-Fi and the need for a BIOS upgrade to support 14th-generation CPUs. The latter does trade at a steep discount currently, making it a great alternative for users looking for a budget Intel motherboard model that can still do everything the Z790 Tomahawk MAX can for the most part, while pushing closer to a sub-$200 price tag.

Bottom Line: A well-rounded feature set, decent overclocking support and plenty of I/O make the Z790 Tomahawk an excellent, if slightly higher-end budget motherboard contender for all LGA 1700-based Intel CPUs currently.

The GIGABYTE B650 AORUS Elite AX is a capable B650 chipset-based motherboard with an excellent networking stack coupled with decent DDR5 memory on a spacious ATX motherboard. With decent power delivery, four RAM slots, and a comprehensive five-year warranty, it doesn’t leave much to ask for, especially from a budget-level gaming motherboard.

The B650 Aorus Elite is a complete package. While some might feel that a PCI-E Gen 4.0 X16 slot is dated, it still runs every current-generation graphics card at the maximum bandwidth it currently supports, making it a purely upgrade-centric argument at best. It is important to note that the motherboard does come with some issues that require a BIOS update to get sorted, something that some end users might not like, in addition to somewhat questionable heatsink placement that can be a bit annoying to handle while fitting the motherboard in a case.

Bottom Line: Solid specs, excellent networking, and a decent price all have users going for the Aorus Elite B650 Motherboard. While it’s not perfect, it comes close to taking on most X670 motherboards.

The ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero is one of ASUS’s latest and greatest Z790-based motherboards as Intel’s intentions of keeping the Z790 chipset around for another year become increasingly apparent. It bakes in the M2 slots that the Hero previously used an M2 card for onto the motherboard, throws in better RAM overclockability, and adds Wi-Fi 7 to the mix. ASUS also improves the power delivery to 20+1+2 from the 20+1 offered in the Hero as it brands the motherboard ready for “Intel Core Next-Gen” CPUs ahead of the 14th-generation CPU’s release.

It does cut corners in other areas though, despite clocking in an impressive $100 increase in price. The Dark Hero keeps an identical set of ports on offer to the Hero itself but removes two SATA ports and keeps the Ethernet port on offer limited to 2.5GB/s. While it is noticeably more aesthetically appealing than its predecessor, it does also offer subtle changes under the hood, even as it is limited by the Z790’s PCI-E 5.0 lanes. The 16 lanes in play are shared between the dual 5.0 GPU slots, as well as the first M2 socket, meaning that users looking for a next-generation upgrade may have to decide between next-gen storage or GPU if planning to run either at maximum bandwidth at PCI-E 5.0.

With a $50 discount on MSRP across multiple retailers, the Dark Hero is pushing downwards on price versus its launch price, and meaningfully so. This is possibly due to a mix of the competition significantly undercutting ASUS’s offerings at various price points, but also perhaps due to the very small price gap between this and the ultimate Z790 Formula, which is ASUS’s current white-themed flagship offering when it comes to 14th generation motherboards.

Bottom Line: All in all, the Z790 Dark Hero is an excellent, albeit even more pricey offering than the older Hero it replaces and is, in return, 14th-generation ready out of the box, which does limit its upgrades to a mix of subtle under-the-hood tweaks, aesthetic gains and Wi-Fi 7 versus its predecessor.

The MSI MEG X670E GODLIKE Motherboard is one of the most expensive MSI motherboards to date and doubles as one of the most expensive AMD-centric motherboards users can purchase in 2024. It sports the high-end X670E chipset, an excellent power delivery mechanism for users looking to push their AMD CPU to higher clocks. The Godlike motherboard offers Wi-Fi 6E and dual Ethernet, with up to 10 gigabit speeds. Plus, it throws an excellent touchscreen M-Vision external dashboard into the mix that can be used to control certain motherboard functions or display information.

The Godlike does fall short in some areas, however. It does not have USB 4 or Thunderbolt 4 support, unlike some of its high-end competition, and it remains at what can only be considered a prohibitively high price tag for even a premium gaming motherboard with extras.

Bottom Line: All in all, the MSI MEG X670E GODLIKE Motherboard is one of the finest in the business even if its price tag pushes it well out of range of most of its competition when it comes to AMD motherboards. It takes its place as similar high-end motherboards, such as the ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme, have become notoriously hard to find in the current market. Despite its shortcomings, it is the best gaming-centric motherboard users can currently buy.

Why Is Picking A Good Motherboard Important?

A motherboard is, at the core of it, an interface between all the components that one might add/plug in/upgrade throughout the life of their PC. It is important to make a decision that is not overkill in terms of spending and likewise, underwhelming in terms of upgrade potential or expansion choices. This means that users need to consider the following:

• Software Support: Regular driver/BIOS updates, including those for Windows 11, are an important consideration to ensure that issues are capped and resolved over time with bug fixes in play.
• Upgrade Potential: With newer tech being pushed out such as PCI-E 5.0, USB 4, and DDR5 memory, it might be a good time to consider if one’s motherboard upgrade can also allow for upgrading peripherals down the road, especially if a user is not planning to upgrade motherboards on every release cycle. Having support for better current-gen I/O can make a world of a difference when it comes to considering the cost of future upgrades and enabling them to work to the best of their capacity.
• Power Delivery: Not all motherboards are created equal and the onboard VRMs in play often determine how well motherboards can sustain higher boost clocks, especially for some modern CPUs that can consume as much as 400W under load, making it important to know if said motherboard option can handle the processor it is being paired with adequately in terms of power draw and potential overclocking support/boost clock needs.
• Expansion Slots On Offer: Having the ability to plug in more hardware such as a sound card, a secondary GPU, or even something as trivial as a USB flash drive is an exercise enabled by the motherboard and its I/O support and picking a motherboard with plenty of expansion slots is often key for power users, enthusiasts and some productivity workload requirements.
• Networking Support: Having support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet is something that is taken for granted by some users moving from laptops. However, not all motherboards have Wi-Fi and BT support, and some have limited ethernet port capacities. Others might have outdated Wi-Fi adapters in play which could impede performance and the maximum bandwidth available to end users. Getting a motherboard with up-to-date networking is even more important in 2024, given how widely all of the above protocols are used to communicate with a variety of devices and connect to the internet.

FAQ

Q: What are AM5-compatible processors?

AMD’s latest Ryzen 7000 and 7000X3D series CPUs and APUs are all compatible with the AM5 socket. Users might need a BIOS update in some cases for their motherboards to recognize new AMD Ryzen 7000X3D CPUs and/or newer APUs when released.

Q: Is PCI-E 5.0 compatibility necessary for motherboards in 2024?

PCI-E 5.0 is a relatively newer standard that is backward compatible with PCI-E 4.0. It offers double the bandwidth of its predecessor but has yet to see widespread adoption in 2024 with plenty of PCI-E 5.0 motherboards available but peripherals being much harder to find currently.

If users must have the fastest SSD storage possible, it might be a necessary consideration for them. Fast PCI-E 5.0 SSDs that exceed PCI-E 4.0 speeds already exist and are sold commercially.

There are currently no mainstream GPUs that use PCI-E 5.0-tier bandwidth effectively, making it more of a future-proofing mechanism than an actual requirement for users.

Q: What is the most common motherboard size or form factor?

The most common motherboard size and/or form factor is the ATX spec, which is 305 x 244 mm (12 x 9.6 inches). Other popular form factors include:

EATX (Extended ATX)

mATX/μATX/uATX (microATX)

mITX (Mini-ITX)