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Trusted Quality: The Best Intel Motherboards in 2022

  1. MSI Z490-A PRO Intel Motherboard
  2. ASUS PRIME Z590 Intel Motherboard
  3. MSI MPG Z490 Intel Motherboard
  4. ASUS ROG STRIX Z590-E Motherboard
  5. Buyer's Guide

Intel motherboards have been popular for many years and will likely remain favorable long into the future. Many of these models are made by other manufacturers, like ASUS, Gigabyte, and ASRock, but the chipsets used on them are made by Intel and designed to work with Intel CPUs. Your motherboard connects all other pieces of hardware within your computer and houses the BIOS firmware used to boot up your system. Since the board essentially acts as the central nervous system of your computer, it’s a vital component with a tremendous impact on overall performance.

As you look at different Intel motherboard models, you should consider older chipsets, such as the Z87, as well as newer ones like the Z97 and X99. There are a lot of technical specifications involved in evaluating and comparing motherboards, but we've broken down all of this in the buying guide below our product reviews. Read on through the entire article, and you'll have a comprehensive overview of how to pick the right motherboard for exactly your needs!

Our Top Four Intel Motherboards

MSI Z490-A PRO Intel Motherboard - Best Intel Motherboard Overall

The MSI Z490-A PRO Intel Motherboard has got the word, 'PRO' in its name for a very good reason. This bad boy is specifically made to satisfy the extraordinary needs of professionals. Its thermal solutions, in the form of a 7W/mK thermal pad, offer you the option to add a CPU with a greater number of cores. What this means is that this intel motherboard can work in tandem with 10th Gen Intel Processors. The processor will fit into this motherboard through Socket 1200. Each of the 1200 pins of this socket will ensure that the most fluid performance is harnessed from your CPU.

  • Backed by a 3-year labor and parts warranty
  • Extremely easy to use and play around with
  • Phenomenal price to performance ratio
  • USB slots could have been more

This motherboard from MSI also comes with 6 audio connectors that can transmit 7.1 HD audio to your computer. The Intel Z490 chipset also means lightning-fast connectivity at 4800MHz. As far as external storage goes, the MSI Z490-A PRO Intel Motherboard offers both Type A and Type C USB connectivity that has the potential to transfer data at up to 10 GB/s. 4 memory slots can support a cumulative 128 GBs of RAM! MSI also understands that a gamer needs their RGB lighting right. So, they have added pin headers to efficiently control your lighting and rainbow LEDs.

ASUS PRIME Z590 Intel Motherboard - Runner Up

Coming in at the second number on our best-of list is the ASUS PRIME Z590 Intel Motherboard. All set to conquer any task you throw at it, this Intel motherboard, like the MSI Z490-A PRO, also boasts a Socket 1200 that helps you unleash the power of both 10th and 11th gen CPUs from Intel. Loaded up with software from ASUS, this motherboard allows you to effectively control cooling, overclocking, and networking when connected. This software is extremely appreciated by customers as it monitors your CPU's temps in real-time and then allows you to overclock them accordingly.

  • A 3-year warranty helps ease your worries about the purchase
  • Amazing AI for cooling and overclocking
  • Supports 11th gen processors
  • Many customers have complained about the BIOS configuration taking too much time

You get 3 memory slots that help you expand your RAM to a whopping 128 GB. Let's just hope it is finally enough for Chrome! Sigh. Customers particularly love its design and how well it fits into most cases. What customers don't really like is the time that you need to spend configuring your bios with this motherboard. All in all, it is a wonderful piece of technology. It comes with all the usual motherboard stuff like an HDMI port, 2 USB-C ports, and support for Thunderbolt cables. On the audio end, this intel motherboard is equipped with Crystal Sound 3 for extremely good sound connectivity.

MSI MPG Z490 Intel Motherboard - Honorable Mention

MSI puts forth its second offering on this list with the MPG Z490 GAMING EDGE Gen1 Intel Motherboard. Boasting an LGA Socket 1200, this beast of a motherboard supports 10th Gen Intel processors and even Pentium Gold chipsets. Talking about chipsets, like the Z490-A PRO, the MPG Z490 also boasts the proprietary 4800 MHz Z490 chip from MSI for blazing-fast connectivity speeds. We can't talk about speeds without mentioning RAM, now, can we? So, on the memory front, this computing board has 4 memory slots.

  • Backed by the amazing customer support of MSI along with 1-year parts and labor warranty
  • Comes equipped with MSI Mystic Light that offers amazing RGB lighting controls
  • 4 memory slots that let you upgrade your memory to 128 GB
  • Is a bit tough to boot up but works great from then on

The MSI MPG Z490 Intel Motherboard also has 8 USB slots that get you 2.0, 3.0, and even a USB 3.1 connectivity slot. There is also a USB C port at the rear that offers a phenomenal transfer speed of 20 GB/s. Customers particularly love the amazing bang for the buck that this intel motherboard provides along with the Mystic Light software that it boasts. This allows you to play around with 16 million colors and 28 effects to get that perfect RGB setup that will help you ace that PC build game.

ASUS ROG STRIX Z590-E Motherboard - Consider

Do you know that the STRIX name that ASUS has for its lineup of gaming equipment comes from the Greek word for owls? The logic behind this is that just like an owl the STRIX equipment helps you feel and experience every little detail when computing or gaming. So, it comes as no wonder that the ASUS ROG STRIX Z590-E Motherboard is all set to help you make the most immersive PC build. Rocking an LGA 1200 Socket like our other top picks, this intel motherboard is compatible with both 10th and 11th Gen Intel CPUs. Like the PRIME Z590, this bad boy also boasts the AI software from Intel that allows you to overclock and control the temps of your CPU in the most efficient way possible.

  • Phenomenal at delivering the true power of 10th and 11th gen CPUs from Intel
  • A 3-year warranty of parts and labor backs this purchase
  • Amazing software for connectivity, cooling and overclocking
  • The top M2 slot is kinda useless if you're on a 10th gen CPU

Talking about software, you also get the GameFirst VI from ASUS that is all about a lag-free and jitter-free networking experience. With 5 PCI slots and 4 memory slots, the ROG STRIX Z590-E lets you upgrade your RAM to 128 GB. On the sound front, this intel motherboard boasts a SupremeFX 7.1 codec that lets you enjoy HD audio in its true glory.

Buyer's Guide

Because so many computer components rely on your motherboard to function properly, it’s very important to know as much as possible about a board before choosing it. If you already have some of the hardware for your computer, then you need to make sure you pick an Intel motherboard that is compatible Conversely, for a fresh computer build, your motherboard narrows down the components you can use, so look at what is compatible with the board before you purchase it. The options may seem overwhelming at first, but a little information can help you pick the perfect Intel motherboard for your system.

Socket Type and Chipset

The socket type of a motherboard refers to the physical types of CPUs or processors you can install onto the board. Since the processor impacts so much of your computer’s performance, it’s important to know which CPU you want and then choose an Intel motherboard that will work with it. For example, Intel Core i7 and i5 processors can fit in LGA 1150, while LGA 2011 sockets only work with Intel Core i7. For more information on different types of processors, check out the processors/CPUs buyer’s guide.

The socket also impacts what kind of chipset is placed on the motherboard by the manufacturer. While that’s not a major concern for a lot of computer users, if you’re an enthusiast looking for the best performance possible, then look for a motherboard with a Z97 or X99 chipset.

CPU Type

While the CPU type is related to the socket type, they’re not the same thing, although both are important elements of a motherboard. The CPU type refers to the model of the processor, such as an Intel core i7 or core i5 processor. Intel Core i5 and i7 processors can both be installed in LGA 1150 sockets, but are very different CPUs.

With Intel, you can tell the series of a processor based on the number after “i”. Later generations are typically faster, though other factors like cores and threads are also important. Take a look at the processors/CPUs buyer’s guide for even more information.

Manufacturer

While Intel provides the chipset on a motherboard, the manufacturer is the company assembling the board. Several different companies make Intel motherboards, including ASRock, ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte. Each manufacturer has names for its boards like the “ASRock Extreme4” or “ASUS Maximus VII” which usually refer to a series of boards, including new versions of an established series indicated by the number. Don’t worry too much about the name of the board; instead, focus on the other features and options. Manufacturers offer different types of warranties on their motherboards, so look for a manufacturer with a 2-3 year warranty to protect your investment.

Memory Type and Quantity

The maximum amount and type of memory come from the RAM that you can install into your motherboard. These are referred to as memory slots or DIMM slots. You can put one stick of RAM into each slot, so the number of slots indicates how many physical sticks of memory you can insert into the motherboard. There’s also a maximum amount of memory, usually measured in gigabytes or GB.

A motherboard with four slots and maximum memory of 64GB could handle four 16GB sticks of RAM, while a board with eight slots and 128GB maximum memory could support eight sticks of 16GB of RAM or less. There are also different speeds of RAM measured in megahertz or MHz, such as 2400MHz or 1600MHz.

Finally, look at the type of RAM such as DDR3 or DDR4 memory, higher numbers indicate significantly faster memory. For the best performance possible, you’ll want to find a motherboard with at least four slots that support very fast RAM.

Expansion Slots

The expansion slots on a motherboard are used to install additional components inside a computer system directly onto the board itself. These are commonly used for video cards, but other components like sound cards and internal modems can also connect through an expansion slot.

For a video card, look for a PCI Express or PCIe port, the speed of the port is described by generation and a number indicating bandwidth such as PCIe 3.0 x16 or PCIe 2.0 x8. If you’re interested in running multiple video cards together in CrossFire or SLI, then look for a motherboard with two or more PCIe 3.0 x16 slots for the fastest performance possible. For more information about picking the right video card for your motherboard, check out the graphics card buyer’s guide.

Storage Connections

Storage refers to the hard drives that are connected to a motherboard, typically installed within a system’s case. Older hard drives used parallel connections, PATA, and motherboards might only have one or two ports, each capable of connecting to two hard drives. Modern hard drives, however, use serial or SATA connections for faster performance. There are also different speeds for these ports, measured in gigabytes per second or Gb/s. Look for a motherboard with multiple, fast SATA ports; each one gives you more internal connections for hard drives.

Back Panel Ports

The back or rear panel on a motherboard is exposed out the back of a computer case. This panel is important because it offers ports and connections for other devices and hardware. Look at the different ports on the back panel, such as USB ports, mouse and keyboard connections, and speaker and microphone jacks.

Many motherboards also have back panel SATA ports for external hard drives. If a motherboard has an onboard video connector like HDMI, then the panel will also have a video output connection, but that’s not important if you plan on installing your video card. You’ll want to find a motherboard with as many fast USB ports as possible, with USB 3.0 and 2.0 being faster than the earlier USB standards.

Additional Onboard Features

There are also a lot of internal, onboard features that are important to consider before buying a motherboard. CPU fan ports let you connect the processor heatsink and fan to your motherboard, and additional case fan connections give you options to control the speed of your case fans through your motherboard settings. Internal USB connections on your motherboard connect to USB ports on your computer’s case, so choose a board that has enough connections for any case ports you have.

Physical Form Factor and Power Requirements

One important but easily looked over aspect of a motherboard is the physical size of the board. Different towers only have enough room for motherboards of certain sizes. The most common motherboard sizes are ATX and MiniATX. ATX is a bit larger but can fit in full and midsize towers, while MiniATX is more appropriate for a smaller computer case. If you have a very small case, consider a MicroATX or NanoATX board.

Once you make sure a motherboard can fit into your computer tower, then you should consider the power requirements for the board. The processor and other electronics on a motherboard require a certain amount of power, with about 400 watts being the bare minimum for a decent board. You want to consider the power connectors on your motherboard and pick a board that has the right connections for your power supply, or choose a PSU to match your board. For more information to help you pick the right PSU, check out the power supply buyer’s guide.

Overclocking Options

While other elements on a motherboard, such as RAM and expansion slots, can certainly impact the effectiveness of a board for overclocking, there are also some key features of the board itself to consider. Heat generation and dispersal is a major concern for overclocking, so look for motherboards designed to stay cool and protect components from heat damage.

A motherboard designed for liquid cooling, with heatsinks for the components on the board, can make it easier to keep your system cool once overclocked. There are also some boards with voltage controls and checkpoints built into them that help you monitor and control voltage, preventing damage from power spikes or tuning your system up to dangerous levels.

These features aren’t very common, but if you want to push your hardware to the very limits of its performance, then look for a board that can help you do it.

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