Building a desktop PC, or upgrading an aging one? Here’s all you need to know about choosing the right motherboard—plus, our top tested picks in boards for the latest AMD and Intel CPU platforms.
In a very real way, a motherboard is the foundation on which the rest of your desktop PC is built, shaping the performance and experience you have with your PC. Our PCMag analysts and contributors have been reviewing motherboards for collective decades. As with complete systems, we evaluate each motherboard’s performance potential, design, and feature set against its listed price; we also perform a test build with each one. We’ve narrowed our picks down to two favorite high-end options for latest-gen AMD and Intel platforms: the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master (AMD AM5), and the ASRock Z890 Taichi (Intel LGA 1851). Of course, not everyone needs a deluxe, full-size ATX board like these for their next PC build, so we’ve also identified more affordable (and smaller) options. Continue reading to discover the various aspects of selecting a motherboard and gain a deeper understanding of our choices in each category. No one has reviewed every board on the market, but our sampling of the latest will give you a good footing from which to start your climb to the right board for you.Why We Picked It
ASRock’s Z890 Taichi is our current best high-end Z890/LGA 1151 motherboard we’ve tested—it piles on genuinely useful flagship features. Its robust 20-phase CPU power design and excellent cooling hardware provide builders with more-than-ample headroom for overclocking, while its smooth, well-organized BIOS makes pushing your hardware to the limit much less intimidating. Add in top-tier connectivity—dual high-speed NICs, Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4/USB4 ports—and you get a board that covers every major requirement for a premium Intel build.
Sheer expandability is another strength. With six M.2 slots (one PCIe 5.0), the Z890 Taichi caters to enthusiasts who want both performance and long-term flexibility. Its feature loadout competes head-on with pricier boards, yet everything feels thoughtfully implemented. Who It’s For
Enthusiast overclockers: This board features a rock-solid VRM set and plenty of thermal overhead to push an LGA 1851 CPU to its limits.
Heavy storage users and workstation builders: Need up to six NVMe drives, and versatile high-speed I/O for pro workflows? This Taichi board will please you, as well as those who crave high-end audio, fast networking, and modern connectivity, such as Wi-Fi 7 and USB4. It’s about practical value—not just flashy extras.Why We Picked It
Gigabyte spared no expense when designing the X870E Aorus Master, and it shows. The board looks and feels highly premium, with a rich feature set that includes support for USB4, Wi-Fi 7, and PCIe 5.0 for both the main PCIe x16 slot and an M.2 SSD slot. With a robust 8+8+2+2 phase power system, support for blazing-fast DDR5 speeds (up to 8,600MHz), and a wealth of quality-of-life features—including spring-loaded M.2 heatsinks, an intuitive BIOS, and a clever plug-in Wi-Fi antenna mount—it impressively balances performance and usability.
To be sure, $499 isn’t cheap, but the board delivers premium performance, exceptional build flexibility, and enthusiast-ready features that justify the investment for those who will leverage it.Who It’s For
Enthusiast overclockers: This board is ideal for enthusiasts who want a VRM designed for serious voltage headroom and stable high clocks. It also suits users who appreciate extra cooling touches, such as the dedicated VRM fan and well-thought-out heatsink layout.
High-end Ryzen gamers: This motherboard is a great fit for gamers who need full support for Ryzen 7000 or 9000 CPUs and ultra-fast storage. It also appeals to builders who value a clean, accessible layout with quick-release PCIe slots and easy M.2 access.
Premium-PC builders seeking modern connectivity: This board is perfect for users looking for fast wired networking alongside cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 support. It also suits anyone who wants abundant USB ports, USB4 Type-C, and an overall building experience that feels polished and high-end.Why We Picked It
Midrange motherboards are murky to define these days. (Prices have risen across the market, across all categories of board.) But nothing’s murky about why this MSI ATX effort gets a nod. Top-shelf features abound, like five M.2 slots (one PCIe 5.0), dual high-speed LAN ports, twin Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 7, and robust power delivery, all wrapped in a stylish, matte-black design.
MSI’s redesigned Click BIOS X and DIY-friendly touches—like EZ M.2 latches and a simple PCIe slot release—elevate usability. This board nails the fundamentals and the extras alike, making it a standout pick for Intel «Arrow Lake» builders not ready to splash out for a true flagship board, but still wanting a luxe ride.Who It’s For
Enthusiast tweakers and overclockers: This board is ideal for users who want extensive CPU, memory, and BCLK tuning options, plus MSI’s new Click BIOS X for easier fine-grained control. It suits buyers who want ready-made performance presets but also the freedom to push Arrow Lake CPUs manually.
High-end builders who want lots of storage and fast connectivity: This is a strong fit for users who need multiple M.2 slots (including one PCIe 5.0), ample USB ports, and both 5GbE and Wi-Fi 7 networking. It also appeals to anyone building a premium system who wants a clean layout and helpful conveniences like EZ PCIe Release (a push-button popout mechanism for the top PCI Express slot) and robust fan/pump support.
Style-focused PC enthusiasts: This motherboard works well for builders who want a clean, sharp, all-black design with tasteful RGB accents. It’s a good match for anyone looking to make the motherboard a visual centerpiece of their desktop without crossing into flashy or gaudy territory.Why We Picked It
Rev up that Ryzen 9000 CPU! Asus aimed to strike a balance between rich features and cost with this AMD-based AM5 motherboard based on AMD’s X870 chipset. The board may not look the most premium, but its features include practical stuff like support for USB4, PCIe 5.0, and Wi-Fi 7, and it provides these future-looking features at a highly competitive price.
Indeed, you get a wealth of forward-looking design here, alongside robust build quality, including reinforced slots, and a meaty power-delivery system. DIY conveniences abound, too: Thoughtful extras like Asus’ Q-Release, Q-Antenna, and memory auto-tuning simplify setup.Who It’s For
PC builders seeking strong value from the X870 platform: This board is ideal for buyers who want the latest AMD features—USB4, PCIe 5.0, and Wi-Fi 7—without paying flagship X870E prices. It suits users who want a well-rounded board with four M.2 slots and ample modern connectivity, priced around $300.
DIY-minded builders who appreciate ease-of-use features: This is a great match for people who want conveniences like PCIe Q-Release, the new tool-free M.2 latch, Q-LED diagnostics, and a clean, intuitive BIOS. It’s also suited to builders who want fan and cooling automation handled with minimal fuss.
Upgraders moving to Zen 5 or coming from older chipsets: This board is a strong choice for users transitioning from B650 or pre-AM5 platforms who want native Ryzen 9000 support with no BIOS flashing required. It suits buyers who want a modern foundation but don’t require the extra PCIe lanes or higher prices of X870E boards.Why We Picked It
Looking last-generation? No shame in that. Gigabyte’s premium Z790 Aorus Elite AX was designed for gamers who want a top-tier motherboard in their next PC without busting their budget. Its robust power design should easily handle the most power-hungry processors available for the LGA 1700 socket, and it should also have no issues overclocking them. It offers four M.2 sockets (all PCIe 4.0), six SATA ports, DDR5 support up to 7,600MHz, robust 19-phase power delivery, and a premium-feeling design with subtle RGB. It supports Intel’s 12th and 13th Gen CPUs effortlessly, while extras like reinforced PCIe slots, Wi-Fi 6E, and a clean UEFI BIOS elevate the user experience.Who It’s For
Value seekers: Intel’s LGA 1700 platform might be headed off the market, but it still provides excellent performance and is worth considering. Gigabyte’s Z790 Aorus Elite AX is well-priced and has a premium feature set, making it one of the best options for a gaming PC that doesn’t need to have up-to-the-second parts. It supports Intel 12th and 13th Gen CPUs, four M.2 slots, six SATA ports, and DDR5 memory, all at around $250. It’s a strong choice for mainstream gaming, productivity, or general-purpose builds on a budget.
Moderate overclockers: The Aorus Elite AX suits those who want stable VRMs, plenty of fan and RGB headers, and straightforward BIOS/software tools for memory and CPU tuning.Why We Picked It
If you want to build an AM4-based PC today, you have many options, with nearly a decade of motherboard models, new and used, on the market. No single AM4 motherboard in that vast mass will be the best fit for everyone, but the ASRock X570 Extreme4 should be a decent fit for many. With this board, you get a premium feature set at a budget-friendly price.
ASRock didn’t go over-«board» with this one in playing for decorative elements, instead making the board look somewhat plain compared with many higher-end motherboards. However, the company makes up for that with a rich feature set and a highly compelling price. Expect no excesses here, but do plan on basic overclocking support, a solid VRM setup, and stylish RGB lighting.
While it lacks high-end overclocking tools, the board focuses on value where it matters most—performance, expandability, and connectivity. That makes it a smart buy for mainstream Ryzen system builders looking to get more life out of the venerable AM4 platform, whether they are getting an AM4-socket chip at a discount or already own one.Who It’s For
Its features remain relatively modern, and except for its lack of support for DDR5 and current-gen processors, you won’t find much else missing for a solid mainstream build that still stands up in 2025.
Value-minded AMD AM4 builders: This board is perfect for users who want full X570 features without paying for a flagship motherboard. It balances price and functionality, offering plenty of USB ports, M.2 slots, and SATA connections, along with good support for AMD AM4 chips, old and new.
Casual overclockers and gamers: The X570 Extreme4 suits builders who want decent power delivery and BIOS-based overclocking options. It handles moderate CPU and RAM overclocking safely for everyday gaming or productivity builds.
DIY-ers who value expandability and aesthetics: With four DDR4 slots, two M.2 slots, PCIe x16/x1 expansion, and RGB customization via Polychrome, the board is a good light mix for users who want flexible storage, good connectivity, and a visually appealing build on a midrange budget. (It also helps you avoid the currently sky-high prices for DDR5 memory, if you can use DDR4 you already have.) Why We Picked It
A budget Mini-ITX board? Yes indeed. The ASRock LGA 1700 motherboard offers a lot in a compact package. (Note that LGA 1700 is for 13th and 14th Gen Core CPUs, not the newer Intel «Arrow Lake.») The Mini-ITX form factor, helpful for building compact PCs for everyday use or gaming, is seldom associated with value boards, but ASRock pulls off a coup with this one.
The B760 chipset that powers this motherboard doesn’t support overclocking (which is dicey to engage in if you’re limited to a small Mini-ITX case, anyway), but it does have extensive connectivity options, including two M.2 slots and several fast USB 3.x ports. This model also has a built-in Wi-Fi 6E module for snappy wireless internet access.Who Its For
Mini-ITX DIY builders on a budget: This motherboard will appeal to you most if you want to build a compact gaming PC with a recent, but not bleeding-edge, Intel processor (12th to 14th Gen Intel CPUs). Integrated Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5GbE networking, dual M.2 storage, and strong power delivery and VRM cooling all complement the feature set.
Memory overclocking enthusiasts: This board is a good fit for PC builders who want to take advantage of ultra-fast RAM speeds, up to DDR5-8600+.Why We Picked it
ASRock did an excellent job with its PG Z790 motherboard by providing a robust feature set at a highly competitive price. It’s among the most affordable LGA 1700 motherboards to feature a Z790 chipset, which gives you the controls to overclock unlocked Intel processors. It also serves up the best connectivity support of any Intel LGA 1700-series chipset, including a 20Gbps USB-C port on its rear I/O panel and three M.2 slots for fast SSDs.Who Its For
If you are looking for a budget-friendly motherboard for an Intel LGA 1700 system, the ASRock PG Z790 is a safe option and well worth considering. The board’s budget price comes with minor trade-offs, such as an older audio codec, but it isn’t lacking in any way you are likely to notice. At the same time, this board can support powerful processors like the Intel Core i9-14900K and make for a highly capable gaming PC.Why We Picked It
MicroATX is a great «compromise size» of motherboard. MSI’s B760M Edge Ti Wi-Fi is a MicroATX model that offers more robust connectivity options than a typical Mini-ITX board, while maintaining a relatively small physical footprint. This motherboard boasts a sleek design that we typically expect from a higher-end board. While this premium design doesn’t extend to the board’s features, it still has a midrange chipset. If you are building a gaming PC and want a touch of flair to complement it, the B760M Edge is a good choice.
This board supports DDR5 memory and Intel’s «Alder Lake» and «Raptor Lake» processors, up to the fire-breathing Core i9-14900KS, which are a generation or three old now but remain very competent gaming chips. The Edge also has Wi-Fi 6 support for fast wireless internet access, up to DDR5-7800 speeds, three M.2 slots, and even 2.5Gbps Ethernet. All that may make for a middling-size board, not a middling feature set.Who It’s For
Enthusiasts who value aesthetics and expandability: MSI’s B760M Edge Ti Wi-Fi suits builders who want a visually striking board with integrated RGB lighting, strong power delivery, ample fan and USB headers, and the ability to overclock memory for extra performance.
Storage-heavy PC builders:
This motherboard is perfect for users who need extensive storage options in the MicroATX form factor, offering three M.2 slots (including SATA support) and six SATA ports for flexible SSD and HDD setups.Why We Picked It
AMD has the cutting-edge gaming CPUs of the moment, so AM5 is the performance hound’s choice for PC gaming. And the ASRock B650E PG-ITX Wi-Fi is near-ideal for building a compact gaming desktop without spending a bundle. The board is based on AMD’s B650E chipset, which supports PCIe 5.0 for the PCIe x16 slot used for graphics cards and gains you a single PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot for ultra-fast SSDs.
You can overclock with this motherboard, too, if you can swing a liquid cooler and good ventilation into your tight Mini-ITX case, and it works with AMD’s newest Ryzen 9000 series processors. Killer-branded networking and robust VRM heat dissipation top off a lot of hardware in a 6.7-inch square.Who It’s For
Value-minded gamers on Mini-ITX: This motherboard would serve gamers who value both space and peak frame rates, particularly those with a chip like one of AMD’s Ryzen X3D models. With PCIe 5.0, a compact form factor, and integrated 802.11ax Wi-Fi, it has all the features you need in a performance-minded gaming motherboard.just smaller. You won’t need to spend the higher amount required for a X670E Mini-ITX board.
PC enthusiasts who like tweaking and aesthetics:
The ASRock B650E PG-ITX is ideal for users who enjoy overclocking RAM, utilizing CPU boost settings, controlling fans and RGB lighting, and creating a visually appealing Mini-ITX system with robust power delivery.
We pondered several possible approaches to choosing a motherboard. Do you start with the CPU you want to install and launch your search from there? Do you start with the usage case, then drill down? (Say, gaming versus productivity work versus performance tweaking for fun.) Do you start with the core chipset and filter your picks from that element first? Or something else?
We’d argue that every PC you’re building or upgrading starts with a vision, and that vision includes the size of that PC, or what it should be. So, let’s start our primer with the practical: How big a PC are you trying to build?ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX: Which Size of Motherboard Should I Get?
Over the years, a few motherboard sizes, typically called “form factors,” have dominated the PC market. Three are today by far the most common: ATX, MicroATX, and Mini-ITX.
Think of these sizes as large (ATX), medium (MicroATX), and small (Mini-ITX). The first thing you should do when picking a motherboard is decide which of these form factors is best for you. All three have advantages and disadvantages.
For some people, the Mini-ITX option will be the most attractive. The smallest of standard motherboards, Mini-ITX boards fit into compact PC cases. They are the best choice if you’re in a cramped office or building a gaming system or home theater PC (HTPC) that will be situated in your living room.
The downside is that Mini-ITX systems and boards have fewer connectors for peripherals and fewer expansion slots for installing components, as they are smaller than standard systems. These boards will have only a single PCI Express x16 slot (typically reserved for a graphics card) and limited storage connections, such as Serial ATA ports and M.2 slots (more about those later). Another downside is that these boards cost a premium versus equivalent MicroATX and ATX boards. In the case of Mini-ITX, «less» actually costs more.
At the other end of the size spectrum, ATX motherboards (and a few larger, less common variants) take up the most space, but they also gain you the most expansion options. ATX motherboards can have up to seven PCI Express expansion slots to install several cards alongside your graphics card. Multiple-GPU desktops were once a significant feature in high-end gaming PCs. However, with the last few generations of GPUs from AMD and Nvidia, support for multi-card CrossFireX and SLI/NVLink configurations has fallen by the wayside. So the need for three or four PCI Express x16 slots has fallen off most users’ wish lists.
Still, some folks will want access to multiple full-size PCI Express slots for a graphics card, plus a wireless networking or video capture solution, a pro-level audio card, or other specialized needs. Plus, ATX boards frequently have more robust integrated hardware. This can mean better onboard audio circuitry, more connections for storage devices (a larger circuit board, or PCB, should have more room for M.2 slots, for one thing), and in some cases, better overclocking performance, thanks to a more robust power delivery system.
As you shop, you’ll also encounter a few other form factors that are larger variants of full-size ATX, notably the oversized Extended ATX (EATX) and XL-ATX formats. Remember that your PC case needs to support that larger board size specifically. Plain ATX support is insufficient for those large boards.
If the size of your PC case is not a factor in what hardware you buy, an ATX board is the default choice. Even if you don’t expect to use all the extra features and ports, having them gives you more options for expanding the system with new hardware down the road. Furthermore, ATX motherboards tend to be among the most affordable due to economies of scale. Conversely, though, the most expensive, tricked-out boards on the market are also usually ATX. That said, you can find ATX boards with better features priced lower than equivalent Mini-ITX solutions.
The third common motherboard form factor is MicroATX, the middle option between ATX and Mini-ITX. Some shoppers see this size as a “Goldilocks” just-right compromise. It provides a balanced solution that’s more space-efficient than ATX, but also offers significantly more onboard components and connections than a Mini-ITX board. Most MicroATX boards have up to four expansion slots and can comfortably accommodate two graphics cards or a GPU plus an expansion card or two.
On MicroATX boards, other onboard elements, including the circuitry for handling power and audio, are typically on par with what you get on ATX motherboards. In terms of size, MicroATX is closer in size to ATX than it is to Mini-ITX. This is MicroATX’s main drawback, as a MicroATX system won’t sit as neatly in a compact office PC chassis or in your entertainment center’s niches as a Mini-ITX system might.
