15 best motherboards

Many users of stationary computers (and laptops too) have a not entirely objective opinion about the importance of the motherboard as part of the PC hardware system. Some underestimate it, allocating minimum amounts for its purchase, while others overestimate it, chasing the most expensive models. To appreciate the personal need or lack of need for a powerful motherboard, you need to understand what you expect from it. You should not expect a noticeable impact on performance; with such requirements, it is better to allocate more funds for a powerful processor and high-speed SSD-drive. But if the potential for overclocking the processor and RAM is important, as well as the presence of a large list of modern interfaces (inputs / outputs), then it makes sense to buy a more expensive "motherboard". Below we take a look at the best computer motherboards of 2020 according to reviews.

What to look for when choosing a motherboard?

Before jumping directly into the ranking of the best motherboards, let's take a look at what specs to look at in the store.

1. Socket. We consider this parameter to be the most important. Have you chosen a "motherboard" with a socket (socket for the processor on the board) that does not match the processor socket? We'll have to return it back. Accordingly, CPU manufacturers AMD and Intel also use completely different connectors, so the boards for them are not interchangeable. Always check that the socket of the selected processor and mat is matched. boards. Modern sockets for Intel - LGA 1150/1151, LGA 2011/2066, for AMD - AM3 / AM3 + / AM4.
2. Chipset. This is the northbridge, which is a chipset. This is the link between all devices connected to the PC. Different chipset models are suitable for different types of computers. For example, such modern Intel chipsets as X99 and X299 are the ultimate ones for the most powerful PCs, but B250 and H270 are suitable for office and simple home systems. Accordingly, AMD X450 / 470 chipsets are suitable for enthusiasts, and A320 for office or multimedia use.
3. Form Factor A parameter that determines the dimensions of the board. Standard - ATX, with dimensions of 305x244 mm, is considered a large form factor. Smaller alternatives are miniATX, microATX, miniITX, etc. The more mate. board, the more useful things can be placed on it and the better the heat dissipation conditions will be due to the larger space between the components. For low-performance systems, compact form factors are useful, which will also make the process of transporting / carrying the system unit much more convenient.
4. RAM (random access memory) slots. Motherboards can differ in the number of slots for RAM strips (from 1 to 32), the type of connector for them (the most popular and modern - DDR4) and the maximum amount of memory (in GB, up to 256).
5. Support for various interfaces for external connections. These primarily include USB, PCI, PCI-E, SATA, Ethernet (RJ-45), Audio and others. Pay attention to the port versions. USB 3.0 / 3.1 is much faster than USB 2.0, and SATA III is a must for fast SSD storage. It is also bad if the built-in network card has a speed limit, for example, up to 100 Mb / s, although this is rare. You may need two Ethernet ports or a built-in Wi-Fi wireless module, which not every model will offer.
6. Manufacturer. These primarily include USB, PCI, PCI-E, SATA, Ethernet (RJ-45), Audio and others. Pay attention to the port versions. USB 3.0 / 3.1 is much faster than USB 2.0, and SATA III is a must for fast SSD storage. It is also bad if the built-in network card has a speed limit, for example, up to 100 Mb / s, although this is rare. You may need two Ethernet ports or a built-in Wi-Fi wireless module, which not every model will offer.

We finish with the important parameters, and go directly to the 2020 rating based on user reviews.

The best motherboards for socket AM4

The AM4 socket, which appeared in 2017, is the most relevant socket for AMD processors today. Supports various processor tiers such as A6 / A8 / A10 / A12, Athlon 200GE / 220GE, 240GE, X4 ***, Ryzen 3/5/7/9, as well as AMD PRO line.

5 GIGABYTE GA-AB350M-DS3H V2

Opens our ranking of the "best motherboards for AMD Ryzen" - GIGABYTE GA-AB350M-DS3H V2. A budget option with excellent features. Here you can install four strips of RAM with a maximum volume of up to 64 GB, the maximum memory frequency is 3200 MHz. Supports 8-channel audio, M.2 drives, SATA III, there is even USB 3.1. High quality audio capacitors are provided. A special utility on the motherboard cFosSpeed ​​Internet Accelerator will improve the parameters of the Internet connection. And the board also has the SmartFan 5 function - these are special thermal sensors and a hybrid FAN connector, which allows you to achieve favorable temperatures with stable performance.

Overall, this is one of the best budget mothers for AMD small form factor microATX processors.

Pros:

• Low price
• 4 slots for memory
• Support for high frequency ram
• Potential for overclocking
• M.2 slot support
• Adequate BIOS without the need for an update

Minuses:

• Few video interfaces
• Southbridge loves to bask
• Not very good location of SATA connectors

4 ASRock B450 Pro4

Recommended option for budget or relatively budget computers. An important advantage of the model is the current B450 chipset supporting the Zen + architecture and efficient (to the best of its capabilities) cooling. You just need to understand that there are restrictions on the maximum physical length of the drive, and all because of the unfortunate location of the M.2 slot (there are 2 such interfaces). Quite good VRM heatsinks were used.

The ATX form factor board provides four DDR4 memory slots and 6 SATA III slots. An 8-channel audio system is supported, Realtek ALC892 acts as an audio controller.

Pros:

• Full payment for little money
• Quite massive radiators
• 9 declared power phases
• Native mount for AM3 + coolers
• Lots of 4pin fan ports
• Manufacturer releases new BIOS versions

Minuses:

• Inconvenient latch for RAM and tight removal of the strips
• DDR4 reaches 3200 MHz for only one bar
• Comes across a marriage

3 GIGABYTE B450 AORUS M (rev. 1.0)

This motherboard includes RGB Fusion with a proprietary app and easy controls. This program adjusts the brightness of the backlight and the adapted glow when the temperature changes or the increasing load on the processor. Ideal for Ryzen 5 2600 and similar CPUs. The Smart Fan 5 option will provide control over the operation of each temperature sensor and fan.

There is also a hybrid connector capable of detecting and switching between modes of the cooling system. It is also important that GIGABYTE is working tirelessly to optimize the BIOS, and this can also be traced in this model.

Pros:

• Variety of ports
• Excellent backlight control
• Good processor power subsystem (4 + 2 phases)
• Memory can be overclocked up to 3400 MHz
• Auto protection against overclocking
• Dual BIOS

Minuses:

• The location of the M.2 slot directly under the graphics card
• Meager BIOS settings for overclocking

2 MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX

A trendy model that has been greatly loved by customers and has received extremely positive reviews. This is an excellent solution for AMD "stones" from the middle segment, in such cases, the heating of the VRM (voltage regulator module) without purchasing external coolers will always be within acceptable limits. The board has thermal sensors on PCH and VRM, which favorably distinguishes TOMAHAWK from analogs.

This model differs from the previous model, which does not have a MAX prefix, with improved support for RAM - now it can be "driven" up to a frequency of 3400 by elementary activation of XMP, or even up to 3600 MHz if you have certain skills.

As a result of the purchase, you get excellent overclocking options, a large selection of ports, possibly the best VRM on the market, and even RGB lighting 🙂

Pros:

• USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C + Type-A
• Both NVMe and SATA storage interfaces are supported
• Convenient RAM latches
• Advanced and flexible BIOS
• BIOS can be updated without CPU, video adapter and RAM
• Good VRM cooling
• Dedicated diagnostic LED indicators

Minuses:

• Sound from Realtek (always problematic drivers and narrow functionality)
• Only one M.2 slot

1 MSI X470 GAMING PRO MAX

The best motherboard for Ryzen is the MSI X470 GAMING PRO MAX. Fans of the above-described Tomahawk can shower this board with hats, but it wins at least thanks to the progressive X470 chipset. The declared maximum memory frequency (DDR4) is 4133 MHz. This "mother" shows the highest data transfer rate to date - TURBO M.2 slot + USB 3.2 GEN2 connector + Store MI technology.

MSI announces improved power formula (Core Boost) for new multi-core CPUs. There are two M.2 ports, NVMe support, Audio Boost with amplifier.

The 7-color motherboard backlight syncs with other RGB devices on your PC. In general, the appearance of the board is made with style and rigor, so you should think about buying a transparent PC case.

Pros:

• Good build quality
• Effective built-in cooling
• Decent sound for built-in sound
• Convenient location of slots
• Lots of USB 3.2 interfaces
• Advanced chipset
• Support 3-way Cross-fire (3 graphics cards can work together)
• Dual-channel operating memory mode

Minuses:

• No Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules
• BIOS is only partially Russified

The best motherboards for the Intel LGA 1150 socket

Socket Intel LGA 1150 (or Socket H3) was released in 2013 and is intended to replace LGA 1155. Supports processors based on Haswell and Broadwell architectures, that is, Intel Celeron (G18 **), Pentium (G32 ** / G34 * *), Core i3 (41 ** / 43 **), Core i5 (44 ** / 45 ** / 46 **, 5675C), Core i7 (47 **, 5 *** K, 5775C) and Core i7 Extreme.

5 MSI H81M-E33

A budget motherboard for a computer, which did not remain without due interest from buyers. The convenient microATX form factor allows this board to be installed in almost any system case. Buyers note that the motherboard has the ability to overclock (albeit purely conditional) through the BIOS. There is an HDMI port, you can connect an HDTV. The rear panel contains 4 USB 2.0 slots, which allows you to simultaneously connect 4 external devices. There are also 2 x USB 3.0, paired with a power adapter. Only two DDR3 RAM sticks are supported.

The Russian-language BIOS is not found in every motherboard, especially on the old LGA 1150 socket, but here it is available and you can control it with the mouse.

Pros:

• 4 SATA (2 x 6Gb / s + 2 x 3Gb / s)
• Passive cooling
• Solid Capacitors
• Low price
• Presentable packaging
• USB 3.0

Minuses:

• There is an incompatibility with some Radeon graphics cards
• Not suitable for serious overclocking
• Chipset technical limitations

4 ASUS Q87T

A relatively expensive motherboard on the Q87 chipset (as for its time, it showed high stability, productivity and good bandwidth) and with a thin thin mini-ITX form factor. Supports the installation of two DDR3 memory sticks with frequencies from 1066 to 1600 MHz. The maximum amount of RAM is 16 GB. The built-in sound card works with 8-channel audio systems. There are 6 USB 3.0 ports, two high-speed (1000 Mbps) Ethernet ports, HDMI, DisplayPort. The motherboard has PCI Express 3.0, 4 SATA connectors, the total number of USB connectors is 11, there is no S / PDIF output.

The model supports simultaneous operation with multiple video cards and with Ultra HD 4K resolution.

Pros:

• Functional software interface ASUS AI Suite 3
• WiFi Intel Centrino + Bluetooth
• USB 3.0 Boost with up to 170% acceleration
• Simplified UEFI BIOS, Easy BIOS Recovery
• Slim form factor
• Flexible fan configuration

Minuses:

• Overpriced in 2020
• Small chipset heatsink

3 Biostar H81MHV3 Ver. 7.x

The most successful low-cost option for processors with an LGA 1150 socket, a microATX form factor. Allows you to install up to 2 DDR3 memory modules with a frequency of 1600/1333 MHz and a total amount of memory up to 16 GB.

The built-in sound card supports 6-channel acoustics, does not have wireless modules. But the "mother" got at her disposal 2 ports USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, PCI Express 2.0, 4 SATA slots (versions 2.0 and 3.0). Buyers note the absence of any confusion in the assembly and connection process, a well-thought-out arrangement of elements and the presence of good cables for SATA III in the kit.

Pros:

• Low price
• Convenient location of the socket on the board
• Excellent compatibility with Windows 10 and Debian 10, no drivers needed
• Intuitive BIOS, no unnecessary graphics
• USB version 3.2

Minuses:

• No PCI Express 3.0
• No support for 8-channel audio

2 ASRock H81 Pro BTC R2.0

The best motherboard for mining (cryptocurrency mining). Tested in harsh operating conditions, the board has proven its reliability and efficiency, so it is still actively distributed. It has 4 phases of processor power supply, there is no heatsink on the power circuits, so it is not recommended to install expensive and high-power CPUs here. The placement of components is well thought out; there are additional connectors for PCI-E power supply. Reliable textolite, durable electronic elements are used in the production.

In its years, the H81 Pro BTC R2.0 became so popular that competitors began to produce what is called “carbon copy” products. A striking example is the Esonic H81 BTC King, which is also capable of working with 6 video cards at once.

Pros:

• 4 SATA (2 x 6Gb / s + 2 x 3Gb / s)
• Complete work "out of the box" without hassle
• No heating of bridges
• Narrow dimensions, compact
• Many PCI-E slots
• Stable work in conditions of constant mining

Minuses:

• No second network interface
• The price has risen slightly over time

1 ASUS Z97-AR

Expensive, but the most powerful of the interesting models in 2020 on the LGA 1150 socket. The high price tag is due to the integrated optimization mechanism, top-end components at the time of release, but most importantly - rare availability. The board has 4 slots for DDR3 RAM, the maximum capacity is limited to 32 gigabytes. Supports integrated and discrete graphics along with NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX technologies. There is a port for M.2 drives, SATA Express and 4 SATA III (6 Gb / s).

An interesting detail is the option to instantly optimize PC performance. With just one click, you can adjust the fan speed, power consumption, CPU and graphics frequency. The built-in sound card supports Asus Crystal Sound 2 technology.

Pros:

• Good bundled software
• Convenient port locations
• Reliability in work
• Strict black appearance
• 4 x SATA III
• High-speed SATA Express and PCI m.2 buses

Minuses:

• High price in 2020
• No enhanced cooling of the chipset

The best gaming motherboards for Socket Intel 1151

The LGA 1151 socket (aka Socket H4) is a more modern analogue of the LGA 1150 socket, released in 2015. Supports the following Intel processors: Celeron (G3 *** / G4 ***), Pentium (G4 *** / G5 ***), Core i3 / i5 / i7 / i9 (-9900 **).

5 GIGABYTE GA-B250-FinTech (rev. 1.0)

The 2018 model received 12 PCI-Express 3.0 slots at once, additional 4-pin Molex power connectors, as well as some important features for mining, for example, a special 3-in-1 cable for synchronized operation in a circuit with multiple power supplies.

The form factor of the board is somewhat non-standard, dimensions are 305x200 mm, compatibility with the Skylake-S and Kaby Lake-S processor families is declared. There are 4 slots for DDR4 RAM (2400 MHz), six SATA III ports. The audio card runs on the Realtek ALC887 codec, and a standard gigabit interface is provided for connecting a network cable.

Pros:

• Minimum price
• Convenient location of PCI in relation to each other
• Convenient BIOS with online update
• 4 slots for RAM
• Ability to connect 12 cards at once for mining

Minuses:

• No HDMI

4 ASUS MAXIMUS VIII HERO

Already at the stage of unboxing VIII HERO will make a good impression - the package contains everything you need, including 6 SATA cables and mounts for M.2 drives.

The dimensions of the board correspond to the ATX form factor. Competent arrangement of elements allows even inexperienced users not to have any special problems when assembling a computer. There are 4 DDR4 slots for installing RAM, the maximum volume is 64 GB. ASUS announced the use of the updated T-Topology technology in the design of the model, which allows overclocking the RAM frequency to 3733 MHz!

Overheating of this "mother" is not terrible - two heatsinks with an increased area take care of cooling the processor VRM. The main visual feature of the motherboard is the heatsink cutout in the form of the ROG logo. It is pleasantly pleasing that after a time after the release of the model on the market, its price has dropped significantly.

Pros:

• Impressive overclocking potential
• Powerful power supply and efficient cooling
• Stable firmware with all the necessary overclocking tools
• SSD support with both types of interfaces
• USB Type-C with ThunderBolt support
• Absolutely reasonable price
• Appearance, RGB lighting, branded elements

Minuses:

• Mediocre audio performance
• Incompatibility with certain RAM sticks

3 GIGABYTE Z390 UD (rev. 1.0)

One of the most affordable ATX motherboards based on the Z390 chipset. The onboard elements are thoughtfully arranged, so the assembly will not cause problems. For drives, there is an M.2 and 6 SATA III interface.

Z390 UD received 4 slots for RAM. Type - DDR4, dual-channel mode is supported and RAM frequency up to 4266 MHz, memory capacity is limited to 128 gigabytes.

The cooling system is represented by three aluminum radiators. The test results show excellent efficiency of its work, and all thanks to the correct selection of materials and their design features. The interface panel is represented by an HDMI video output, six USB 3.1 Gen 1 jacks, the ability to take out COM and Thunderbolt ports.

Pros:

• High-speed RAM support
• Effective cooling
• Reinforced PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot
• Backlight strip
• Good potential for manual and automatic overclocking
• Modern chipset
• Affordable price

Minuses:

• 3 audio connectors (problematic connection of multichannel speakers)
• The simultaneous use of a number of interfaces is limited

2 GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS ELITE (rev. 1.0)

The motherboard with the "Elite" index supports the XMP RAM profile, so its frequency easily exceeds 4000 MHz. M.2 NVMe data drives deliver excellent performance thanks to proprietary Thermal Guard heatsinks. The chipset supports Optane technology, which gives an increase in the speed of the disk subsystem. With the original controller, the built-in USB 3.1 ports can reach speeds up to 10Gbps.

The manufacturer did a great job on the cooling. Thermal sensors on the board allow SmartFan 5 to control the operation of each fan, and if the temperature falls below the value you set, the fan will receive a Fan Stop command.

Pros:

• Wide range of backlight settings
• Quality cooling
• 4 slots for RAM with dual channel operation
• 12 + 1 phases VRM
• Proprietary Smart Fan 5 function
• Front USB Type-C ports
• Easy CPU overclocking

Minuses:

• Inconvenient location of cooler power connectors

1 MSI MEG Z390 ACE

The best motherboard for gaming in 2020. The product belongs to the MEG gaming series (formerly known as Extreme Gaming). The motherboard has a multi-position mechanical activator for easy overclocking of the CPU. The audio card got its own digital-to-analog converter, and the game Killer E2500 acted as a network controller. There is also a Wi-Fi wireless adapter.

There are three "slots" for M.2 drives, and if the lower one limits the dimensions of the device to 8 cm in length, then the upper one has no restrictions. 4 RAM slots support RAM frequency up to 4500 MHz.

In addition to the "hardware", the developers paid due attention to the proprietary software. The board's capabilities control center includes a huge number of functions and utilities, which allows you to keep your finger on the pulse of the PC.

Pros:

• Wi-Fi module
• Low temperatures during intensive acceleration
• Lots of ready-made CPU overclocking profiles
• The ability to fine-tune power subsystems
• Convenient and multifunctional proprietary software
• Customizable lighting with proprietary Mystic Light software
• Audio Boost HD audio system

Minuses:

• The absence of the MOS sensor in the system of deceleration of revolutions of coolers
• Flimsy SATA cables included
• Lack of video output

Which motherboard is the best to buy in 2020?

Choosing a motherboard should be done in 2 steps.

The first is by specifications. Already decided on the processor, video card, storage and RAM? Choose the "mother" taking into account the socket, the required PCI-E version, the presence of M.2 and / or several SATA III, the frequency of the RAM strips.Choosing a board first? Then start right away from the second stage.

The second stage is based on personal "wishes". Interested in overclocking your CPU and RAM? Then you should take a closer look at boards adapted for overclocking. Wi-Fi, RGB lighting, cool proprietary software, the latest USB versions, a large number of slots for RAM, drives and other interfaces - all this is sometimes necessary, and sometimes not. Is a fee required to mine cryptocurrencies? Then pay attention to the number of slots for simultaneous connection of several video cards.

Don't overpay for what you don't need. Remember that even the most budget-friendly motherboards are capable of providing adequate performance for a modern PC.