If you’re planning on building a mini PC, the first thing you’ll need is a small motherboard. In this guide, we’ve rated and reviewed seven of the best mini-ITX motherboard options for Intel or AMD-based builds.
In the modern world of PC hardware and system-building, many tech enthusiasts are dropping the “bigger is better” adage for smaller systems and more compact hardware. Rather than trying to build the biggest and baddest system around, many have instead opted to see how powerful of a system they could put inside of a small form-factor case.
And, of course, with the rise in popularity of these smaller systems, more and more compact hardware options are arising.
However, the first two components you’ll need to choose (aside from your processor) if you are building a small form-factor PC, is your case, and your motherboard.
Also Read: How to Choose A Motherboard: 3 Important Things to Look For
You can check out our picks for the top mini-ITX cases here, but after you choose your case, you’ll want to start looking for a mini-ITX motherboard to go along with it.
So, in this guide, we’re going to list some of the best mini-ITX motherboards currently available for both Intel and AMD-based systems at various price points and chipsets.
Table of Contents
— Quick-Look: Top Mini-ITX Motherboards
1. Z690: ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I
2. X670: ASUS ROG STRIX X670E-I
3. X570: GIGABYTE X570 I AORUS Pro
A Quick Look at the Best Mini-ITX Motherboards
Below is a quick-look table that showcases our selections for the best mini-ITX motherboard for each of the major chipsets for both Intel and AMD.
|
NAME | SPECS | RATING | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Z690
|
ASUS ROG Z690-I |
|
/10 | ||
X670
|
ASUS ROG X670E-I |
|
/10 | ||
X570
|
GIGABYTE AORUS Pro |
|
/10 | ||
B660
|
ASUS ROG B660-I |
|
/10 | ||
H670
|
ASRock H670M-ITX/AX |
|
/10 | ||
B550
|
ASRock B550M-ITX/AC |
|
/10 | ||
H610
|
ASUS PRIME H610I-PLUS |
|
/10 |
*If you click on the “Read Review »” you’ll be take to our overview on each of the mini-ITX motherboards listed above.
1. ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming
The best Intel Z690 mini-ITX motherboard
If you’re planning on building a high-end gaming computer and you want to have the option to overclock your processor, then your best option right now is either this ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I or the X70E-I listed below (depending on whether or not you want an Intel- or AMD-based system). At just under $400, the Z690-I is currently one of the more expensive LGA 1700 mini-ITX motherboards available.
The Z690-I features dual M.2 ports (the slots have a heatsink), USB 3.2, ASUS’s Aura Sync RGB lighting (and RGB headers), and support for up to 64GB of DDR5 memory with a clock rate potential of as high as 6400MHz (with overclocking). It also comes with plenty of ASUS-specific features and settings as well, including GameFirst VI and FanXpert 4.
Ultimately, if you have a large budget and are looking for the best mini-ITX motherboard to build a small-form-factor Intel-based system with, then the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I is probably your best option right now. (Although, that will soon change when Intel releases their 13th gen CPUs).
2. ASUS ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming
The best AMD X670 mini-ITX motherboard
While there aren’t a ton of mini-ITX motherboard options currently available for AMD’s brand new AM5 socket, of the options that are out there, the ASUS ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming is probably the best.
Yes, there are a lot of ASUS’ ROG Strix mini-ITX motherboards on this list. But, it’s for good reason…
For mini-ITX motherboards, ASUS ROG Strix series generally has the most robust designs and feature-sets, offers the best overclocking potential, and, generally, comes in at very competitive pricepoints. And, the same is true for their new X670 chipset ITX motherboard.
This ASUS mini-ITX motherboard can hold up to 64GB of DDR5 memory, offers dual M.2 ports, features PCIe 5.0, and comes with a 10+2 power phase design to allow for decent overclocking potential.
Ultimately, ASUS’ ROG Strix X670E-I is the top AM5 mini-ITX motherboard currently available. So, if you’re looking to build a new high-end AMD Zen 4 based mini gaming PC, this is probably the motherboard for you.
3. GIGABYTE X570 I AORUS Pro
The best AMD X570 mini-ITX motherboard
AMD just released their new Zen 4 lineup of CPUs and, in doing so, introduced their new AM5 socket. That means that AMD’s Zen 3 CPUs are the last processors to work with the older AM4 socket. So, if you’re building a new gaming PC, it is understandable that you’d be discouraged on building on an older socket that has no generational upgrade opportunities.
However, if you don’t have an unlimited budget to work with, the AM4 socket is still a viable platform to work with. AMD’s AM5 socket is far more expensive to build on. The new CPUs are far more expensive, the motherboard’s are more expensive, and the DDR5 memory is more expensive.
Also Read: DDR4 vs DDR5: Which Should You Choose?
So, if you are working with a tighter budget and you want to moderate your spending to that you can allocate more money towards your GPU, then building a mini-ITX PC with a Zen 3 CPU and an X570 chipset motherboard is a solid alternative.
And, of the X570 mini-ITX motherboards out there, Gigabyte’s AORUS Pro is a solid feature-rich choice that will accommodate overclocking. Coming in at just under ~$230, it is nearly ~$150 cheaper than our pick for the best X670 chipset. (That, right there, is already enough to bump up one or two GPU tiers.)
In the end, AMD’s AM4 socket is still a solid option for gamers who are working with a more restricted budget. And, while there are a ton of mini-ITX motherboards available for Zen 3 CPUs, Gigabyte’s AORUS Pro is easily one of the better options.
4. ASUS ROG Strix B660-I Gaming
The best Intel B660 mini-ITX motherboard
If you want to build a mini PC with an Intel 12th generation processor, but you’re not looking to hit extreme overclocks, or you don’t want to spend the premium for a Z690 chipset board, then you have a few options: a B660, H670, or H610 chipset board.
For those of you with a moderate budget, either a B660 or H670 mini-ITX chipset board will work.
And, for the B660 chipset, again, we give the nod to ASUS’ ROG Strix edition board. This is a DDR5 motherboard that can hold up to 64GB of memory, features two M.2 ports (one with an onboard heatsink), and offers ASUS’ Aura Sync RGB lighting software.
On the other hand, if you want to save even more money, the H670 or H610 chipset motherboards below have lower pricetags and will allow you to pay less for memory (as they are DDR4 motherboards.)
5. ASRock H670M-ITX/AX
The best Intel H670 mini-ITX motherboard
With the successive launches of Intel’s 12th generation CPUs and AMD’s Zen 4 CPUs, DDR5 technology is now the defacto choice for anyone building a high-end gaming PC. However, DDR5 memory currently comes with a steep premium. And, if you don’t have a huge budget to accommodate it, it might not be the best option for you.
This is especially true if your main purpose is to play games. While DDR5 will provide a small performance boost over DDR4 in gaming, the money saved by opting for a DDR4-based system could give you enough to jump up in GPU tiers—and, that will provide a significant boost in in-game performance.
Also Read: The Best Graphics Cards Right Now
And, of the Intel 12th Gen DDR4 motherboards out there, ASRock’s H670M-ITX/AX or ASUS’ H610I-Plus are probably the best options. However, the ASRock H670M-ITX/ax is a better choice for those of you that have a more moderate budget.
There’s nothing too fancy about the ASRock’s H670M-ITX/AX. It supports up to 64GB of RAM, has two M.2 ports, comes with an M.2 heatsink, and features PCIe 5.0 technology. But, it will give you everything you need to build a mid-range (or slightly better) mini-ITX gaming PC without costing you a ton of money.
6. ASRock B550M-ITX/AC
The best AMD B550 mini-ITX motherboard
If you’ve decided to save some money and build your new PC on the older AM4 socket with a Zen 3 CPU, but you don’t want to spend the premium to get an X570 chipset motherboard (or you don’t have plans to overclock your system), you can save money by opting for a B550 chipset motherboard.
ASRock’s B550M-ITX/AC is a solid option that comes with a more affordable pricetag. At just under ~$175, the B550M-ITX/AC will give you everything you need to build a powerful AMD-based mini gaming PC.
Like all of the other motherboards on this list, the B550M-ITX/AC will allow you to install up to 64GB of RAM, and has multiple M.2 ports. Other than that, it is a pretty standard motherboard.
But, if you’re looking to save a little bit of money on an AMD mini-ITX build, it’s the perfect option.
7. ASUS PRIME H610I-PLUS
The best Intel H610 mini-ITX motherboard
Building a budget-friendly mini-ITX PC that has newer hardware in it is a tough task. That’s because mini-ITX components typically come with a premium. And, as a result, there really aren’t any truly budget-friendly mini-ITX motherboards. Or, at least not with the current generation of hardware.
You could opt to build with older generation components. But, if you want to stick to newer harwdware, the cheapest mini-ITX motherboard option right now is ASUS’ PRIME H610I-PLUS.
This is a barebones mini-ITX motherboard that is suited for a CPU like the Intel Core i5-12400 or i3-12100 (or their ‘F’ variants.) And, while it still costs over $100, you will not find a cheaper option currently available.
The bottom line is that, if you’re looking to build as cheap of a 12th gen Intel-based mini-ITX gaming PC as possible, then this is the motherboard for you.
Building A Mini PC? These Mini-ITX Motherboards Should Help
If you are planning on building a mini-ITX computer and you’re looking for a solid mini-ITX motherboard to pair it with, one of the options listed above should work for you. After that, you’ll just need a mini-ITX case, a low-profile cooler (or an AIO cooler), and a low-profile graphics card, and you should be set on the small-form-factor components you’ll need in order to build a mini PC.