Top 5 Gaming Motherboards in 2025

The motherboard is the skeleton—and the connective tissue—of your computer, if the CPU, graphics card, and memory are its vibrant limbs, the components that labor to finish tasks and run your favorite games. Yes, the circulatory system is also involved. And what if you take it a step further into metaphysics? It might even be the soul.

Undoubtedly, the other elements have a greater influence on the overall functionality and performance of your PC. However, they are merely loose parts in the absence of the proper motherboard. In fact, it undersells a PC motherboard to compare it to any one system in an organismic manner. It helps the components you choose to use reach their full potential and connects nearly everything in the PC. If you want to build a PC or upgrade an aging model, start with the motherboard. This guide will help you pick the right one for your needs. Read on for our favorite top-tested picks for our best motherboards in 2025, followed by a deep-dive guide to buying the right board for you.

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Last update on 2025-02-16 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Top 5 Gaming Motherboards in 2025

1.Asus ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming Wi-Fi II

For Z790 refresh customers, Asus claims that its ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming Wi-Fi II motherboard offers a harmony of “style, performance, cooling, and connectivity.” With native 14th Gen Intel and Wi-Fi 7 support, five M.2 sockets, faster memory, a strong power supply, a DIY-friendly design, and Asus’ AI Overclocking and AI Cooling II features, the board’s black and silver design is a slight departure from the original Z790-A Gaming Wi-Fi. The tag makes it a tempting midrange platform, but it’s not cheap.

The black multilayer PCB of the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming Wi-Fi II has silver heatsinks and shrouds covering the hot spots. A frosted ROG symbol illuminated by RGB LEDs below is used to decorate the left VRM heatsink. Large and heavy, the VRM heatsink maintains the power delivery components operating within specifications. All things considered, it’s a pretty board that isn’t any less eye-catching than its direct rivals. The RGB implementation brightens things up to highlight the contrasting board style inside, but it might not make your chassis the focal point.

The motherboard is compatible with the flagship Core i9-14900K and KS as well as Intel’s 12th, 13th, and 14th Generation LGA1700 processors. During testing, our CPU was handled flawlessly by the 16 70A MOSFETs and other processor support equipment. Even when overclocking, the heatsinks maintained the power solution operating well within specifications, though they do have a tendency to warm up after extended periods of high CPU usage.

According to Asus, the board can support up to DDR5-8000+ (OC) memory, which is 200MHz faster than the original. Even the most ardent users will be happy if they adhere to the QVL list for guaranteed compatibility, but this is far beyond what most users purchase because it is past the sweet spot for performance versus cost. This Strix, like the majority of Z790 boards, accepts non-binary memory (24/48GB modules) with a ceiling of 192GB—plenty even for power users.

By merely turning on the XMP profiles, our DDR5-6000 and DDR5-7200 kits, which we used to test the motherboard, operated flawlessly. Additionally, we attempted a newly purchased DDR5-8000 kit that was not on the QVL list, but it was unsuccessful. Actually, only two brands—a total of ten kits—function, and only when a 14th generation processor and its improved memory support are used.

The two ProCool II 8-pin EPS power connectors (one is needed) for powering the CPU are among the first things you notice when you start in the upper corner. The big VRM heatsinks that surround these power leads serve to cool the power components underneath. As previously stated, the ROG symbol, the sole integrated RGB element, is located above the left VRM heatsink.

2.Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX

Based on Intel’s Z790 chipset, the Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX is a midrange motherboard. The ATX-sized board, which retails for on Gigabyte’s online store, has a lot of features, such as four M.2 sockets (though they only support PCIe 4.0 speeds instead of 5.0), six SATA ports, 2.5Gbps Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E networking, a low-cost audio solution, and power delivery that can handle the newest and greatest 12th and 13th Gen Intel CPUs. Although Z790 motherboards are available for slightly less, the Aorus Elite AX is competitively priced compared to all of them.

The Aorus Elite AX is constructed on a matte black, six-layer PCB. The M.2 sockets and chipset have their own heatsinks, but the VRMs are covered by large heatpipe-connected heatsinks. The heatsinks feature Aorus branding and stenciled patterns on a brushed aluminum finish. Your chassis has a bright, saturated glow thanks to some RGB lighting concealed beneath the chipset heatsink. I like Gigabyte’s style overall.A 19-phase power configuration using 70A SPS MOSFETs supports Intel’s most power-hungry processors (16 phases for Vcore). Even if you wish to overclock, the flagship Core i9-13900K chip we used can be easily handled by the 1,120A of processor power available.

Regarding memory, you can choose to save a few bucks by using the new Z790 and B760 platforms from Intel, which support both DDR4 and DDR5. The Aorus Elite AX supports DDR5 at speeds up to 7,600MHz, which is average for this class, assuming you want nothing less than the best. The quality of the memory controller and memory kit used by the CPU determines the maximum speed, so your experience may differ. You should be fine if you follow the QVL list.

Our DDR5-5600 and DDR5-6000 kits were completely stable after configuring the XMP profile, just like in previous motherboard tests. We also tested our DDR5-7200 kit, which only required turning on XMP to function. There are many options available if you wish to overclock your memory.

The two 8-pin EPS connectors (one needed) that supply power to the CPU are located at the upper left of the motherboard. The large heatsinks that are responsible for cooling the VRMs below are located nearby. They are topped with Aorus branding and have some cutouts to increase surface area. We discovered that the heatsinks performed a fantastic job of maintaining the MOSFETs and other power components within the specified range.

Four unreinforced DRAM slots that latch the memory down on both sides are located to the right of the socket area. The first two of six 4-pin fan/pump headers are located above that. Each has a 2A/24W output and supports DC and PWM-controlled devices. Users shouldn’t experience any issues running their system cooling, including custom water loops or pumps, because there are plenty of headers generating plenty of power.

Two of the board’s four RGB headers are located to the right; the other two are located along the bottom edge. There are two headers of each type in each location: two 4-pin RGB and two 3-pin ARGB. The Gigabyte Control Center software’s RGB Fusion section manages control over the connected lighting.

We spy a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) header, a front-panel USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Type-C header, and the 24-pin ATX connector that powers the board as we move down the board’s edge. It’s also important to note that there are four debug LEDs here to assist with POST troubleshooting.

3.ASRock X670E Taichi

Similar to most new hardware generations, the high-end, ostentatious products are released first, followed by the mainstream and less expensive versions of their avant-garde designs. ASRock literally went big with AMD’s new AM5 socket, which debuted with its Ryzen 7000 desktop processors. The X670E Taichi is an Extended ATX (E-ATX) motherboard that is expensive to match. Although the Carrara version of the Taichi, with its unique white marble design, may be the current flagship ASRock AM5 board, the two boards have identical hardware.

With the aid of the X670 and B650 chipsets, AMD’s new AM5 socket offers a number of improvements and new features over AM4. Read our coverage article here for a more thorough analysis. Here is the condensed version.
The most noticeable changes are the physical ones. AM5 switches to a land grid array (LGA) from pin grid array (PGA) chips. By doing this, the CPU connection pins are moved from the CPU area to the motherboard socket, where they are more secure against damage or bendage. By formally supporting a 170-watt thermal design power (TDP), AMD has also significantly expanded the amount of power that can be supplied to the CPU. AMD has updated its CPU power delivery system in addition to the increased TDP.

Additionally, AMD mandates that firmware updates be supported by all AM5 motherboards without the need for a CPU. Commonly referred to as USB Flashback, this feature has long been present on motherboards across all platforms, but it is rarely found on less expensive boards. By making this a required feature, you can update the BIOS/UEFI on older-generation boards to support new CPUs as soon as new AM5 processors are released, without first requiring an old CPU.

AM5 is DDR5 only, in contrast to Intel’s LGA 1700 platform, which supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Although it necessitates the use of (currently) more costly RAM modules, this simplifies the memory controller. This won’t be an issue as DDR5 prices decline. Additionally, AMD has introduced a new standard known as Extended Profiles for r Overclocking (EXPO), similar to Intel’s Extreme Memory Profile (XMP). Like many AMD technologies, EXPO is an open standard and doesn’t require any royalties, whereas Intel doesn’t publish XMP specifications. As AMD’s Zen architecture differs considerably from Intel’s, memory with EXPO can have AMD-specific timings to improve performance and compatibility with Ryzen 7000 CPUs. Memory modules can have support for both XMP and EXPO, so there’s no worry about needing a specific version of a given RAM kit.

Officially, there are four chipsets on the AM5 platform: the B650, B650E, X670, and X670E. The simplest way to conceptualize them is as four distinct implementations of the same chipset. An X670 motherboard doubles the number of connectivity options by using two of these controllers, whereas a B650 motherboard only uses one. Non-E chipsets are the same as the E chipsets (the “E” stands for “Extreme”). The motherboard itself differs because all E models are required to have a minimum of one PCI Express (PCIe) 5.0 card slot for the CPU. For NVMe drives, all AM5 boards—E or not—must have a minimum of one M.2 PCIe 5.0 x4 connector.

Eight PCIe 4.0 lanes on AMD’s B650 chipset are used to separate expansion card slots and other integrated peripherals, like Ethernet and Wi-Fi. The peak supported USB count increases from 10 to 12 (six 3.x ports, six 2.0 ports), but all 3.x connections are now 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) capable and two can be combined for a 20Gbps port. B650 no longer has dedicated SATA connections, instead having four PCIe 3.0 lanes to use for either SATA or other devices. That means a B650 board can have just four SATA ports, but this shouldn’t be an issue for most PC users these days. X670, being two B650 chips, has double the above, except four PCIe 4.0 lanes are used for the interconnection between the two chips, leaving 12 available for the rest of the board.

4.Asus ROG Strix B760-F Gaming Wi-Fi

When it comes to motherboards, “budget” is relative. The truly inexpensive options are boards that cost less Today, however, the best value options for people on a tight budget are typically motherboards based on the B-series chipsets found on both the AMD and Nvidia sides of the motherboard aisle. These mainstream-priced boards are typically the best option when weighing features against cost.

However, the B series offers a range of capabilities, from entry-level boards to those that are getting close to the luxurious configuration of the more expensive Z (Intel) or X (AMD) series of high-end chipsets. If you want to use the newest and best Intel processors, the Asus ROG Strix B760-F Gaming Wi-Fi, which is made for gamers and general PC enthusiasts, might be perfect.

The ROG Strix B760-F Gaming Wi-Fi begins with a six-layer, matte-black PCB that has primarily black heatsinks covering the chipset, power supply, and M.2 ports. The voltage modules (VRMs) use deep miter cuts to boost surface area and efficiency, while the heatsinks have a brushed-aluminum finish. The Asus ROG branding is also present on the same heatsinks; it is most noticeable on the left VRM bank, where an RGB-backlit ROG symbol is displayed. All things considered, it’s a pretty board that would look great in most themed builds.

The flagship Intel Core i9-13900K and its KS variant are among the 12th and 13th Generation LGA 1700 processors that this B760-F board supports. During testing, my CPU was handled flawlessly by the 16 60-amp MOSFETs that were specifically designed for it. The power bits were retained by the heatsinks underneath running well within specification. While you can’t overclock the processor with this chipset, the available power is plenty for stock operation.

Up to DDR5-7800(OC) memory is supported by Asus, which is one of the highest RAM capacities I’ve seen on boards in this class. I tested using DDR5-5600 and DDR5-6000 kits, and I had no problems. For Intel-based systems, DDR5-6000 to DDR5-6400 is the sweet spot. Any faster than that and you begin to stray from economical options. Reaching a little further on the memory might be worth the few extra percentage points in performance differences it can achieve, though, because you can’t overclock the CPU on this platform.I tested a Teamgroup DDR5-7200 (FF3D516G7200HC34ABK) kit, which is the fastest equipment I have on hand, in addition to the “sweet spot”-oriented RAM kits that were used for testing. With the most recent BIOS (0812), I lost my fastest kit in, enabled XMP, and tested the system without issue.

5.ASRock B650E Taichi Lite

Typically, a product’s “lite” version forfeits features (or calories), but the ASRock B650E Taichi Lite only loses its appearance. With its flagship-class features like robust power delivery, a premium audio solution, and a dozen USB ports on the rear I/O panel, this AMD AM5 motherboard forgoes the typical Taichi premium appearance, which includes 3D sculpted heatsinks and shrouds and fancy RGB lighting, while still offering the same hardware configuration as its big sibling. One of those ports is even a 40Gbps USB4 Type-C port that can output video (but only from the built-in graphics of a Ryzen 7000 CPU). Why give up the distinctive style? Because the stripped-down, full-fat B650E Taichi costs more at Newegg at this writing than the Lite does at MSRP, which is less.

ASRock’s design decisions are the source of the savings. With a few shrouds and a more exposed PCB, the regular Taichi’s opulent brushed-aluminum semi-gloss finish and 3D cogs and gears give way to a more midrange look. (The remaining heatsinks have the cog insignia stenciled in gray.) Although the active cooling surrounding the VRMs is no longer present, the Taichi Lite still uses an eight-layer PCB.

Your PCI Express 5.0 M.2 socket is located in a special spot, directly to the right of the CPU socket. The configuration is standard fare otherwise. As for RGB lighting, you’ll find a small strip on the back of this board on the bottom right corner, plus headers to add your own. All in all, the B650E Lite looks the part of a midrange rather than premium product, with a black-on-gray hue that blends easily with most build themes.

The Taichi Lite has one of the strongest 27-phase VRMs available and supports AMD Ryzen AM5 processors. With 24 processor-specific phases and 105A SPS MOSFETs, the 2,520A available was sufficient to power our flagship Ryzen 9 7950X both when it was in stock and when it was overclocked. The power delivery is kept cool and operating within specifications by the VRM heatsinks, despite the fact that they are not actively cooled. As usual, the cooling mechanism of the CPU—rather than the power supply—is your only constraint if you’re interested in overclocking it.

Support for DDR5-6600+ (OC) memory is slightly above the platform’s typical level. In any case, you’re spending more green for insignificant performance gains if you go much past the sweet spot, which is roughly between DDR5 and 6000. Up to 128GB can be stored on the motherboard.

Everything is fine with these speeds because our DDR5-5600 and DDR5-6000 kits were completely stable after the internal profiles (XMP on one kit, EXPO on the other) were set. You can easily extract the final percentage point or two of performance if overclocking RAM is on your wish list because the BIOS gives you access to a variety of memory timings that you can adjust. Although training took longer than anticipated after setting our EXPO profile, new BIOS releases with the most recent AEGESA updates (1.0.0.7b) enable even faster speeds.

Starting at top left, among the first things you’ll see are the two 8-pin EPS connectors to power the processor (one required). Surrounding these are two VRM heatsinks for cooling the power delivery below. As mentioned, the full-bore Taichi’s tiny fan is gone, but this won’t be a drawback. Stenciled atop the heatsinks are several gears or cogs to remind you this is a Taichi board, after all.

Moving past the socket, we see the four unreinforced DRAM slots with locking mechanisms on both sides. The first two (of eight) 4-pin fan and pump headers are just above them. Each of these supports PWM and DC controller devices. Power output ranges widely from 1A/12W on CPU_FAN1 up to 3A/36W on CPU+FFAN2/WP_3A. Control over these devices is handled through the BIOS or ASRock’s A-Tune software.

Buying Guide: The Best Motherboards

We pondered a whole bunch of possible approaches to buying 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?

ATX, MicroATX, Mini-ITX: Which Size of Motherboard Should I Get?

Various motherboard sizes, commonly known as “form factors,” have fluctuated in the PC market over time. Three of these—ATX, MicroATX, and Mini-ITX—have emerged as the most popular and are currently the most widely used.

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.

The Board Controller: Which Motherboard Chipset Should I Get?

The chipset is the most important single component on a motherboard. A bit of a nutshell history: Originally, motherboards comprised a wide range of microchips that supported a variety of system functions and trafficking of data to and from motherboard-mounted components. (These chips were especially concerned with the operation of the memory, storage, expansion slots, and CPU.) To some extent, this is still true. These chips would often be developed and incorporated together as a set of chips, hence the name “chipset.” Over time, however, many of these chips have been integrated together to form single chips that handle the bulk of the motherboard’s functions, or have been incorporated into CPUs themselves, though these entities are still colloquially called “the chipset.”

Though you will still find several chips that are attached to the motherboard, many of these are optional inclusions on the board maker’s part; board manufacturers have a great deal of flexibility in choosing which chips to use along with the chipset, whereas the chipset itself is essential and has few possible alternatives.