We rated, reviewed, & compared 12 of the best gaming motherboards across various budgets, including the best Intel motherboards and the best AMD motherboards.
The motherboard is the central communication center for your computer. It’s where all of your components plug into and are able to communicate with each other. The motherboard you choose for your gaming computer will have a huge impact on the quality of your build. If you choose a low-end cheap motherboard, you will be limited to what kind of hardware you can get.
However, if you choose a feature-rich and powerful motherboard, you will not only experience the benefits now, but you will also set yourself up with plenty of room to upgrade in the future.
While a motherboard isn’t going to have a direct impact on your gaming experience, it does play a huge role in your computer. Therefore, you need to consider allotting a decent portion of your budget towards your motherboard.
In this post, I will take a look at the best motherboards for gaming in 2020. I’ve broken down the categories into four different motherboard socket/chipset categories: the best AM4 motherboards (AMD), the best LGA 1151 motherboards (Intel), and the best LGA 2066 motherboards (Intel Extreme).
I’ve taken a look at multiple motherboards within each socket and looked at the best options in different price ranges as well. So, whether you’re looking for an affordable gaming motherboard or a high-end overclocking motherboard, there will be a motherboard option for you on this list.
*NOTE: If you’re looking to build a smaller form-factor gaming PC check out our guide on the Best Mini-ITX Motherboards to find options that will work for your mini system.
Our Picks for the Best Gaming Motherboards
The table below showcases our top picks for the best Z390 motherboard, the best X570 motherboard, the best X299 motherboard, the best H370 motherboard, and the best B450 motherboard. These aren’t all of the motherboards on this list, though, and so if you want to check out more options that will meet your budget and needs, keep scrolling down to see more choices.
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NAME | SPECS | RATING | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Z390
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ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E |
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/10 | |
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X570
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MSI MEG X570 ACE |
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/10 | |
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X299
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GIGABYTE X299 |
|
/10 | |
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H370
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GIGABYTE H370 HD3 |
|
/10 | |
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B450
|
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MSI B450 Tomahawk |
|
/10 |
*For more information on the motherboards listed above, just click the “Read Review »” link to jump down to read our overview on that motherboard. You can also keep scrolling to see more case options based on your budget.
Best LGA 1151 Motherboards
Intel finally stepped up and delivered more cores to its fanbase. Where quad-core processors were the norm for their mainstream CPUs before, Intel’s new Coffee Lake chips (other than their Core i3 CPUs) are all six-core processors.
Even their Core i3 processors got a boost, going from dual-core CPUs to quad-core CPUs, making them more viable than they have ever been before for building a budget gaming PC with.
And, with Intel’s affordable 300-series chipset boards, their Coffee Lake chips are solid options for gamers who are working with a tight budget (although, going with a Ryzen 5 2600 CPU and a budget-friendly B450 motherboard might be the better option depending on how much you have to spend).
Below, we have listed a couple of the best Z390 motherboards currently available, as well as provided a solid H370 motherboard, and a H310 motherboard, too.
LGA 1151 Motherboard Comparison Chart
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ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
If you’re looking to for a Z390 motherboard to put inside of a high-end gaming PC build, then the ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E is worth considering. It is one of the more expensive Z390 chipset boards on the market, but it comes packed with a ton of extra features and RGB lighting options that will make it a worthy option for anyone with and extreme budget.
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TECH SPECS
| CHIPSET | Z390 |
| SOCKET | LGA 1151 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| FORM | Standard ATX |
| OC? | Yes |
ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E Overview
The ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E is packed full of features that you won’t find on your standard motherboard. The Z390-E can support 8th or 9th generation Intel Core processors and it comes with dual M.2 slots, USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, two RGB 4-pin headers and one addressable RGB header, and onboard 802.11AC Wi-Fi (although, if you’re planning on dropping a bunch of money on a top-of-the-line gaming computer, you’d probably be better off going with a hardwired connection.)
The Z390-E also comes with three PCIE 3.0 lanes and can support 2-way SLI and up to 3-way CrossfireX configurations. So, if you’re looking to build a multi-GPU system, this board will definitely allow you to run atleast dual graphics cards.
You can also run up to 64GB of DDR4 memory in dual-channel mode on this motherboard (which is standard for LGA 1151 motherboards) and overclock the memory up to a maximum of 4266MHz. Speaking of overclocking, some of ASUS’ built-in features (AI Overclocking, FanXpert 4, OptiMem II, etc.) making overclocking on this board incredibly simple.
The bottom line is that this board has everything an enthusiast coule want and, so, if you’re looking for one of the best Z390 motherboards on the market, you should at least consider the ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E.
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MSI MPG Z390 |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
The MSI MPG Gaming Pro Carbon AC is a high-end Z390 motherboard that will work well for overclocking and/or for running a dual graphics card setup. If you’re looking to build a high-end system with an unlocked 9th generation Intel processor, this board should be at the top of your list of options to consider.
Learn More
TECH SPECS
| CHIPSET | Z390 |
| SOCKET | LGA 1151 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| FORM | Standard ATX |
| OC? | Yes |
MSI MPG Z390 Overview
If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line Z390 motherboard, look no further than MSI’s Z390 Gaming PRO Carbon AC. The Gaming PRO Carbon AC is a Z390 motherboard that excels at overclocking, looks really sharp, and has all of the other features you could ever want out of a motherboard.
It can support 2-way SLI and 3-way Crossfire, up to 64GB of DDR4 memory (with support for speeds up to 4000+MHz through overclocking), and 9th generation Intel processors. You also get dual M.2 slots that are Intel Optane ready and one of which has an M.2 shield heatsink.
From an aesthetics standpoint, the board stands out with its black PCB, its steel armor PCI-E slots, and RGB lighting. And, it comes with plenty of MSI-specific features like Game Boost, GAMING Hotkey, X-Boost, and WTFast.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for a high-end overclocking-friendly motherboard for your unlocked 9th generation Intel Core processor, then the MSI Gaming PRO Carbon AC is worth considering.
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MSI Z390-A Pro |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly Coffee Lake motherboard for overclocking, the MSI Z390-A Pro is one of the more affordable options you have. It’s not the most feature-rich motherboard out there, but if you’re looking to build a mid-range system with an unlocked 9th gen. Intel processor, it will allow you to achieve mild overclocks.
Learn More
TECH SPECS
| CHIPSET | Z390 |
| SOCKET | LGA 1151 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| FORM | Standard ATX |
| OC? | Yes |
MSI Z390-A Pro Overview
At the moment, MSI’s Z390-A Pro is one of the least expensive Z390 chipset motherboards currently available. And, it’s not hard to see why this motherboard is one of the cheaper Z390 motherboards out there. It’s stripped down quite a bit, it doesn’t support RGB lighting, and it doesn’t look quite as flashy as the other options out there.
It does support up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM with the potential to hit memory clock rates as high 4000+MHz through overclocking. It also comes with an M.2 port as well, so you can pair an NVME SSD with this motherboard.
Ultimately, if you are looking to build a budget-friendly overclocking-friendly Coffee Lake build and you don’t care about RGB lighting or the aesthetics of your motherboard, the Z390-A Pro should get the job done for you.
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GIGABYTE H370 HD3 |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
Gigabyte’s H370 HD3 is the perfect budget-friendly motherboard to pair with a locked version Coffee Lake processor. It’s got a lot of features for the price it comes in at and, as such, makes it one of the best LGA 1151 motherboards under $100.
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TECH SPECS
| CHIPSET | H370 |
| SOCKET | LGA 1151 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| FORM | Extended ATX |
| OC? | Yes |
GIGABYTE H370 HD3 Overview
Gigabyte’s H370 HD3 features the non-overclockable H370 chipset. So, if you are looking to get an Intel processor that you can overclock with, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
However, if you don’t need to overclock and you’re looking at a locked Intel Core processor, the Gigabyte H370 HD3 would be an option worth considering. It has the ability to support up to 64GB of RAM, can hold dual graphics card setups, and features both USB 3.1 and USB 3.1 Gen 2.
It also has two M.2 connectors, so if you want to use an NVME M.2 SSD with this motherboard you can do so.
Overall, for just under $100, the Gigabyte H370 HD3 is an excellent option for anyone who isn’t planning on overclocking their processor.
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GIGABYTE H310M A |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
The Gigabyte H310M-A isn’t a high-end option by any means, but it is very affordable and will pair well with a locked 9th generation Intel processor (like an i3-9100f or i5-9400f). So, if you’re looking to build a budget gaming PC and you don’t need an expensive motherboard, the Gigabyte H310M-A will work well for you without costing you a ton of money.
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TECH SPECS
| CHIPSET | H310 |
| SOCKET | LGA 1151 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| FORM | Micro-ATX |
| OC? | No |
GIGABYTE H310M A Overview
If you’re planning on building a cheap gaming PC and you want to use a locked 9th generation Intel processor, the Gigabyte H310M-A will be worth considering.
At just a bit over $50, the Gigabyte H310M-A is a solid budget motherboard to pair with an Intel Core i5-9400f or Intel Core i3-9100f. While it only comes with two DIMM slots, the fact that you can get single 16GB sticks of DDR4 RAM now, you can still add up to 32GB of RAM total on this motherboard, which should be more than enough for the vast majority of users.
The Gigabyte H310M-A also comes with an M.2 port, so it can accommodate an NVME SSD.
In the end, the Gigabyte H310M-A isn’t the best motherboard available. However, if you don’t have a huge budget and are looking to build a budget-friendly gaming computer with a locked Intel Core i3 or i5 9th Generation processor, then this motherboard will be an option that won’t kill your performance and will save you some money, too.
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Best AMD AM4 Ryzen Motherboards
AMD released their new X570 chipset AM4 motherboards to go along with their 3rd Generation Ryzen CPUs a few months back. However, AMD still hasn’t released their budget-friendly B-series chipset motherboards for their newer 3rd-Gen CPUs.
There are some B450 motherboards out there that are compatible with 3rd-Gen Ryzen processors out-of-the-box and if you have an older Ryzen CPU, you can also use that to flash a B450 board’s BIOS to accommodate the newer CPUs.
And, of course, with the release of the newer Ryzen CPUs, older 2nd generation Ryzen CPU prices have dropped substantially, which has made options like the Ryzen 5 2600 a very viable option for budget-oriented builders.
Ultimately, though, if you’re looking to build a new AMD-based gaming PC and you’re looking for a solid X570 or B450 chipset board to go with it, one of the four options listed below should work for you.
AM4 Motherboard Comparison Chart
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MSI MEG X570 ACE |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
At just over $300, the MSI MEG X570 ACE is one of the more feature-oriented X570 motherboards on the market. It can accommodate dual graphics card setups, can hold up to 128GB of RAM, has two NVME M.2 ports, and has a ton of RGB functionality. Overall, it’s a great option to pair with a high-end 3rd Generation Ryzen CPU.
Learn More
TECH SPECS
| CHIPSET | X570 |
| SOCKET | AM4 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| FORM | Standard ATX |
| OC? | Yes |
MSI MEG X570 ACE Overview
The MSI MEG X570 ACE is one of the best X570 motherboards available. First off, it’s a great option for any gamer who is looking to overclock their new Ryzen CPU.
It also comes with the option to run dual video cards, two NVME M.2 ports (so, you can use an NVME SSD on it), a USB 3.2 Gen 2 header, and is compatible with MSI’s Mystic Light Infinity RGB lighting control software.
The X570-F also has MSI’s Audio Boost HD technology and Core Boost technology, as well as a server-grade PCB, PCIe steel armor, and MSI’s Zero Frozr technology, which provides advanced temperature sensing and control.
Perhaps one of the coolest features of the MSI MEG X570 ACE is the fact that the IO shield comes pre-installed on the motherboard. If you’ve built a computer before, you know how much of a pain it can be to get the motherboard correctly lined-up to the shield. It’s a small feature, but it is a nice addition from MSI—and one that hopefully all motherboard manufacturers adopt in the future.
Ultimately, the MSI MEG X570 ACE is geared towards AMD enthusiasts who are looking to build a high-end overclocking-friendly gaming computer with a new 3rd Generation Ryzen CPU.
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GIGABYTE X570 Gaming X |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
At a little under $150, the GIGABYTE X570 Gaming X motherboard is the perfect option for gamers who want to be able to overclock their new Ryzen processor, but don’t want to pay a premium to get one of the more expensive X570 motherboards.
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TECH SPECS
| CHIPSET | X570 |
| SOCKET | AM4 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| FORM | Standard ATX |
| OC? | Yes |
GIGABYTE X570 Gaming X Overview
If you’re looking for a bit more of a budget-friendly X570 motherboard, the GIGABYTE X570 Gaming X is a solid option. Like the MSI MEG board listed above, the X570 Gaming X motherboard can accommodate dual GPU configurations, as well as up to 128GB of RAM.
It also has four M.2 slots (so you can use an NVME SSD on this motherboard) and plenty of RGB options/ports to help you light up your build.
The Gaming X’s 10+2 phase PWM design will also help you hit higher overclocks with your 3rd Generation Ryzen CPU.
Overall, the Gaming X is a great option if you want to be able to overclock your new Ryzen-based system, but you don’t want to spend a ton to get one of the more expensive X570 motherboards.
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MSI B450 Tomahawk |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
If you’re looking to build a mid-range or higher AM4 gaming PC and you’re not trying to achieve extreme overclocks, the MSI B450 Tomahawk Max will be an option you’ll want to consider. It comes in under $100 and will allow for mild overclocking, as well as giving you support for 2-way AMD Crossfire configurations and everything else you’ll need to build a solid system.
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TECH SPECS
| CHIPSET | B450 |
| SOCKET | AM4 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| FORM | Standard ATX |
| OC? | Yes |
MSI B450 Tomahawk Max Overview
If you don’t want to hit serious overclocks with your processor, but you do want some higher-end features on your motherboard, the MSI B450 Tomahawk Max might be the option for you. Still, though, the B450 chipset will allow you to achieve mild overclocks and so even if you’re not interested in overclocking right now, going with a B450 board will at least give you the option to overclock later down the road.
The MSI B450 Tomahawk Max can support up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM with memory clock speeds of up to 4133MHz possible through overclocking and it will work for 2-way Crossfire for running dual AMD graphics cards. For aesthetics, the board comes with one steel PCI-e lane, a black PCB, and some RGB lighting.
And, while this is the older B450 chipset that was built for 2nd generation Ryzen processors, it also comes ready out-of-the-box for the newer 3rd generation Ryzen processors as well (although, there are some reports that the B450 chipset has some minor issues running 3rd generation Ryzen CPUs).
In the end, if you don’t want to pay a ton for an AM4 motherboard and you’re not looking to do any kind of serious overclocking (but you’d like to hit mild overclocks), the MSI B450 Tomahawk Max will be a viable option for you.
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ASUS B450M-A |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
The ASUS Prime B450M-A/CSM is a budget-friendly AM4 motherboard that will allow you to build a powerful single-GPU gaming PC without costing you a ton of money. So, if you’re in the market for a cheap AM4 motherboard to pair with your Ryzen CPU, this would be one option you’ll want to consider.
Learn More
TECH SPECS
| CHIPSET | B450 |
| SOCKET | AM4 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| FORM | micro-ATX |
| OC? | Yes |
ASUS B450M-A Overview
I’ve got some pretty good news for those of you who want to build a PC with a Ryzen CPU in it, but don’t want to break the bank getting one. You can pair your Ryzen processor with a sub-$70 motherboard and be completely fine.
That is, of course, if you don’t want to run dual video card setups now or in the future. For users who just want to build a single-GPU Ryzen gaming PC, though, the budget-friendly ASUS B450M-A should bring enough to the table to be worth considering.
Just note, though, that the ASUS Prime B450M-A/CSM is a micro-ATX motherboard. So, if you’re looking for a standard ATX motherboard option check out the MSI B450 Tomahawk Max listed above.
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Best Intel LGA 2066 Motherboards
If you’re looking for a cheap LGA 2066 motherboard, you can forget about it.
The LGA 2066 socket is not for the casual PC builders who are just looking to build a typical gaming computer.
Rather, LGA 2066 is designed to handle Intel’s extreme edition processors and therefore is only recommended if you want to go all out on your next PC build.
Prices for LGA 2066 motherboards start in the mid $200s and go well into the $300s and $400s and beyond.
And, as such, I really wouldn’t recommend going with the LGA 2066 socket unless you’re planning on spending at least $2,000 total on your system.
With that being said, if you still want to build an Intel-Extreme-based PC, here is a list of the best Intel motherboards for the LGA 2066 socket…
LGA 2066 Motherboard Comparison Chart
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GIGABYTE X299 Master |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
The X299 Master from Gigabyte is a motherboard that supports Skylake-X and Kaby Lake X CPU’s. If you’re looking to build an LGA 2066 PC with an Intel Extreme processor, this is one of the better motherboard options for your needs
Learn More
TECH SPECS
| CHIPSET | X299 |
| SOCKET | LGA 2066 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| FORM | Standard ATX |
| OC? | Yes |
GIGABYTE X299 AORUS Master Overview
The X299 series AORUS Master motherboard from Gigabyte is a serious option for anyone looking to build a PC with an extreme Intel processor in it. It supports Skylake-X, and Kaby Lake-X CPU’s and has an 8x DIMM XMP-ready memory support and with 12-phase power design.
The motherboard has a maximum memory capacity of 128GB of DDR4 RAM, which can speeds up to 4000MHz. It comes with three different M.2 ports, seven USB 3.1 ports, a USB Type-C port, and plenty of fan connection options.
Ultimately, if you’re planning on going all out on an Intel Extreme-based system and you’re looking for a heavy-duty X299 motherboard that will server you well in overclocking, allow you to run multiple graphics cards, and give you a bunch of connection options, the GIGABYTE X299 AORUS Master is worth checking out.
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ASUS Prime X299-A |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
Another high-end X299 chipset option is ASUS’ Prime X299-A motherboard. At a bit under $350, the X299-A II delivers outstanding overclocking ability and all of the features necessary to build an extreme gaming/workstation PC.
TECH SPECS
| CHIPSET | X299 |
| SOCKET | LGA 2066 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| FORM | Standard ATX |
| OC? | Yes |
ASUS Prime X299-A Overview
The ASUS Prime X299-A is yet another option for anyone looking for a high-end X299 chipset motherboard. It can support up to a whopping 256GB of memory at speeds as high as 4266MHz.
Its 12 IR3555 power stages and ProCool II connectors help the X299-A II deliver stable power for extreme overclocks and performance. This motherboard also has support for Intel Optane memory, dual M.2 drives, multiple graphics cards, and USB 3.2 Type-C.
And, if RGB-lighting is your thing, the X299-A II comes stocked with RGB headers and works with ASUS’ AURA Sync RGB lighting software.
Ultimately, both the ASUS Prime X299-A and GIGABYTE X299 Master are excellent options for anyone looking for a motherboard to pair with their new Intel Extreme CPU.
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MSI PRO Carbon |
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/10 |
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Recommendation
MSI’s X299 PRO Carbon is another worthy X299 chipset motherboard for those of you that are looking to build with an Intel Extreme CPU. It comes in at just under $300 (making it one of the more affordable X299 motherboards currently available) and will provide you with plenty of features and overclocking potential.
Learn More
TECH SPECS
| CHIPSET | X299 |
| SOCKET | LGA 2066 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| FORM | Standard ATX |
| OC? | Yes |
MSI PRO Carbon Overview
If you’re looking for a more affordable X299 chipset motherboard, the MSI PRO Carbon is worth considering. At just under $300 it is easily one of the cheapest X299 motherboards currently available.
And, despite its lower pricetag, it should still meet the needs of even the most demanding user.
It can support multiple GPUs and up to 128GB of DDR4 memory at speeds up to 4133MHz in quad-channel configuration and speeds up to 4500MHz in dual-channel configuration. It also comes with dual M.2 ports, four PCIe lanes, and five USB 3.1 ports.
The bottom line, though, is that if you don’t want to spend over $300 on a motherboard, but you want to go with an extreme Intel CPU, you don’t have a ton of options. But, of those options, the MSI PRO Carbon is one of the better choices available.
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Which Motherboard is Right for You?
While your motherboard isn’t going to have any kind of direct impact on your in-game experience, it will play a large role in determining what components you can put into your build. The cheaper the motherboard you choose, the more limited you will be.
However, if you are working with a tight budget, you can definitely choose a less-expensive motherboard. And, if all you are planning on doing is building a single video card setup then you don’t necessarily have to spend hundreds of dollars on an extreme motherboard.
Ultimately, though, your motherboard is an important part of your computer and you should definitely take the time to choose one that will serve your needs and even will give you upgrade options in the future.
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Aaron says
Hi, building a new rig for 4k gaming and 4k playback.
I’ll be using the new 10gen i9 as my CPU.
What boards can you recommend, ie HDCP, hdmi2.a compliant.
Thom says
Hello Brent.
I have bought Intel 9700FK CPU. And the question is which mother board have the new Bios update?
Because If I good know i need to this CPU so Motherboard which have the newest Bios version.
PC is for the Office works and Photoshop but i want very fast PC 🙂
Only I need mother boards for more than 3 monitors.
And I have VGA: MSI SUPER Gaming Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 S (6 GB, Gaming) if i good know this have 4 monitor support.
Please can you help which is the right choice?
Martin says
the X299 & 399 is it if its power your looking for all other is child play
Jimmy says
Hey Brent
I was wondering how exactly you do reviews as you have a lot of different type of motherboards. Does the manufacturer lend them to you? Do you actually buy them?
These combinations can add up to a few $’s.
Thanks.
Jimmy.
Pirate says
Asus Maximus xi Extreme is best Ever ✌
Cameron Nelson says
Im looking into gaming and want to build a pc. what is the best starter but will preform at competitive levels and be able to build with add ons to make faster and better.
KRISHNESH ROY says
I want to watch 4k uhd movies on YouTube.
What is my budget processor, motherboard and ram
Brent Hale says
Hi Krishnesh ROY. You could go with an i3-8100, an H310 motherboard, and 8GB of RAM. Or, if you want to spend even less, a Ryzen 3 2200G, an A320 motherboard (needs to have the BIOS update, though), and 8GB of RAM.
daniel says
Need help! Which one from these gaming motherboards should I choose?