Choosing a motherboard can be daunting. There’s a huge range of options to choose from, each with its own combination of features and technologies. And you don’t want to make the wrong choice, as it’s not something you can easily change. Once you’ve fitted the motherboard into your case, connected all the cables and installed the CPU, memory, drives and expansion cards, it’s generally there for good.
Happily, choosing a motherboard doesn’t have to be difficult. You just need to know what you’re looking for, in terms of budget and expansion options. Here’s our pick of the best motherboards on the market, supporting both AMD and Intel processors, and designed to suit every role from casual web browsing to extreme overclocking.
How to buy the best motherboard for you
What type of motherboard do I need?
That depends on what sort of processor you want, or already have. If you’re planning to use an AMD Ryzen processor, you’ll need a motherboard with an AM4 socket. For Intel, things are slightly more complicated: if you’re buying a Core i3, i5 or i7 processor then you need a board with an LGA 1151 socket. But just having the right socket isn’t enough: the onboard chipset must support the specific generation of chip you’re using. If you’re buying right now, that will probably be one of Intel’s latest seventh-generation “Kaby Lake” chips, so check for compatibility. If you’re planning to buy in the near future, it might make sense to hold out for a CPU and chipset from the eighth-generation “Coffee Lake” range.
What chipset should I choose?
There are lots of different chipsets to choose from, but as long as the one you’ve chosen supports your chosen processor, you don’t need to worry about the technical details. The chipset provides various features such as PCI-E slots, USB ports and so forth; just look for a board that provides all the connectivity options you require and you’ll be fine.
What features should I look for?
We like to see at least four high-speed USB 3 ports, so you can easily connect external drives and other peripherals such as printers, scanners, card readers and so on. A reversible USB Type-C port might also be handy if you have a phone or tablet that uses this connector. On-board USB headers let you hook up additional ports at the front of your chosen case.
Every modern motherboard will also have at least one PCI-E x16 slot, so you can install a graphics card should you need one. Additional slots mean you can add extra controllers, such as a Wi-Fi card if your motherboard doesn’t have built-in wireless. The “x”-rating tells you how fast each slot is; you can plug an x1 card into an x4 or x16 slot, but not the other way round. Some high-end boards offer two x16 slots, so you can combine the power of several graphics cards, but that’s overkill for all but the most extreme enthusiasts.
Look for an M.2 slot too, as this allows you to use a super-fast NVMe SSD, rather than relying on a slower SATA connection. And check the number of memory sockets: some smaller boards have only two DIMM slots. A board with four gives you scope to add extra modules in the future should you want to upgrade.
What’s UEFI?
UEFI is the motherboard’s own graphical interface, which lets you access low-level settings such as which drive to boot from. If you’re interested in overclocking your CPU, and adjusting the core voltages and fan speeds, you want a versatile, user-friendly UEFI. If you just want to run Word and browse the web, any UEFI will be fine. Indeed, with the rise of software overclocking tools, you can often tweak your core settings from within Windows, so you don’t need to explore the UEFI at all.
Is the form factor important?
Motherboards come in three common formats: ATX is the largest, measuring 305 × 244mm. Then there’s micro-ATX, at 244mm square, and the smallest is mini-ITX at just 170mm square. They all do the same job, but bigger boards tend to have more slots and built-in features, whereas smaller ones fit in neat, compact cases. Make sure you have a case that’s designed for the form factor of your motherboard. It’s possible to install a micro-ATX board in a regular ATX chassis, but you’ll be left with empty space inside the case, so it’s not an elegant solution.
READ NEXT: The best Intel and AMD CPUs to buy from £99
The best motherboards to buy in 2017
1. Gigabyte AB350-Gaming G3: The best budget motherboard for AMD Ryzen processors
Price when reviewed:£100 inc VAT
The Gigabyte AB350-Gaming G3 is very affordable, yet it looks good and sports some high-end modern features. You get a full-speed M.2 slot (which also supports SATA M.2 SSDs) and, amazingly, Gigabyte has shoehorned in Realtek’s excellent ALC1220 audio codec too. It has a reasonable number of USB ports, with two USB 3.1 Type-A ports and four USB 3 ports, though no reversible Type-C connector. You even get a USB port dedicated to DACs with adjustable voltage, plus RGB lighting to make the inside of your case look pretty.
There are some limitations: the board comes with six rather than eight SATA ports – though that’s more than enough for most people. It also has only two PCI-E x1 slots, and only five fan headers, which is low by AM4 standards.
Still, the AB350-Gaming G3 is perfectly capable of getting the best out of a Ryzen CPU. Our test system was perfectly stable out of the box, and we were able to push our Ryzen 7 1700 CPU right up to 4.025GHz (using a 1.425V vcore). The interface looks a little bland compared to Asus’ efforts, but its new fan control section is excellent, as is the Windows-based version.
There are certainly Ryzen motherboards that offer more in the way of features, but if you’re building a system on a tight budget the AB350-Gaming G3 is a great starting point.
Key specs – Gigabyte AB350-Gaming G3 | |||
| Chipset | AMD B350 | Overclocking | No base clock adjustment, no custom CPU core ratio, maximum CPU multiplier 63x, CPU +0.3V, DRAM 2V |
| CPU socket | AMD AM4 | ||
| Memory support | 4 RAM slots, max 64GB DDR4 (up to 3,200MHz) | Ports | 6 x SATA 6Gbps (X370), 1 x M.2, 2 x USB 3 Gen 2 Type-A, 4 x USB 3, 1 x USB 2, 1 x LAN, 3 x surround audio out, line in, mic |
| Expansion slots | 2 x PCI-E 3 x16, 2 x PCI-E 2 x1 | ||
| Sound | Realtek ALC1220 audio | ||
| Networking | Gigabit Ethernet | Dimensions | 305 x 244mm |
2. Asus Prime Z270-P: The best budget motherboard for Intel processors
Price when reviewed:£114 inc VAT
The Asus Prime Z270-P is a comparatively basic design. There are only three fan headers, just four SATA ports (you usually get six with Intel) and no USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports either. Asus has also opted for the older Realtek ALC887 audio codec, which isn’t as good as the newer ALC1220 used in more expensive motherboards.
Even so, all the most important features are here. You get a pair of M.2 sockets, six USB ports on the back (four being of the USB 3 flavour), plus two on-board USB 3 headers and two USB 2 headers.
It also uses the same excellent UEFI systems as Asus’ more expensive boards. This makes overclocking and tuning very easy, and you can even tap into the Asus AI Suite for Windows-based overclocking and fan control. That’s great, because the Prime Z270-P is an exceptional overclocker, getting our Core i7-7700K to 5GHz with a core voltage of just 1.32V.
If you need USB 3.1 Gen 2 support then look at Asus’ Prime Z270-K, which costs £10 more. However, most PC users won’t miss most of this board’s omissions, and you probably won’t be able to tell the difference in audio quality either. In short, the Asus Prime Z270-P is the ideal for building a cheap overclocked system.
Key specs – Asus Prime Z270-P | |||
| Chipset | Intel Z270 | Overclocking | Base clock 40-600MHz, CPU, Multiplier 8-83x; max voltages, CPU 2V, RAM 2V |
| CPU socket | Intel LGA1151 | ||
| Memory support | 4 RAM slots, max 64GB DDR3 (up to 3,600MHz) | Ports | 4 x SATA 6Gbps (Z270), 2 x M.2, 8 x USB 3, 6 x USB 2, 1 x LAN, 3 x surround audio out, line in, mic, DVI-D, HDMI |
| Expansion slots | 2 x PCI-E 3 x16, 4 x PCI-E 2 x1 | ||
| Sound | Realtek ALC887 | ||
| Networking | Gigabit Ethernet | Dimensions | 305 x 221 |
3. Asus Prime X370-Pro: An affordable but powerful AM4 motherboard
Price when reviewed:£137 inc VAT
The Asus Prime X370-Pro uses the X370 chipset – a step up from B350 boards like the Gigabyte AB350-Gaming G3. That means you get an Intel LAN port, as opposed to a Realtek one, and two extra SATA ports, plus Type-A and Type-C USB ports, although they’re USB 3 rather than USB 3.1.
Internally, the layout is good, with all the SATA ports at right angles to the PCB, and the M.2 slot positioned conveniently above the primary graphics card slot. RGB lighting is a big feature too, with a set of individual LEDs sitting under the audio circuitry. The lighting is subtle, providing more of an ambient effect than an in-your-face light show.
You don’t get much in the way of overclocking and testing utilities, but the BIOS is easy to use. The key Windows tools for tuning your PC’s cooling and perforamance – FanXpert and AISuite – are also included, and these allowed us to get all eight of our Ryzen 7 1700’s CPU cores to 4.025GHz. With a competitive price tag, plenty of features, a slick UEFI and excellent fan control, the Prime X370-Pro is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a well-featured but reasonably priced AM4 board.
Key specs – Asus Prime X370-Pro | |||
| Chipset | AMD X370 | Overclocking | Custom CPU core ratio, no base clock adjustment, maximum CPU multiplier 63x, CPU 2V, DRAM 1.8V |
| CPU socket | AMD AM4 | ||
| Memory support | 4 RAM slots, max 64GB DDR3 (up to 2,666MHz) | Ports | 8 x SATA 6Gbps (X370), 1 x M.2, 1 x USB 3 Gen 2 Type-C, 7 x USB 3, 1 x LAN, 3 x surround audio out, line in, mic |
| Expansion slots | 2 x PCI-E 3 x16, 3 x PCI-E 2 x1 | ||
| Sound | Realtek SLC1220 | ||
| Networking | Intel Gigabit LAN | Dimensions | 305 x 244 |
4. MSI Z270 Tomahawk Arctic: A visually striking and user-friendly Intel motherboard
Price when reviewed:£140 inc VAT
If your PC case has a transparent side, it makes sense to choose a visually interesting motherboard. the Z270 Tomahawk Arctic certainly fits the bill; there’s a black version too, if white isn’t to your tastes, but the icy design of the Arctic model, with its pure white LEDs, looks fantastic to our eyes.
The board offers the full complement of six SATA ports, two M.2 ports, and both Type-A and Type-C USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports as well, plus a generous helping of fan headers. And if the on-board lighting isn’t enough for you, then there’s a 4-pin RGB LED header as well. Just be aware that the on-board audio comes from an ALC892 codec, as opposed to the superior ALC1220.
MSI’s UEFI interface is excellent, although fan control is more limited than some rivals, as you can’t elect to turn off fans completely below certain temperatures. Still, this board is impressively easy to overclock in either the UEFI or the Windows software, and the former is supremely clean and responsive compared to Gigabyte’s front-end.
Overclocking proved fairly fruitful too, with just a 1.35V vcore needed to get our CPU to 5GHz. In all, the Z270 Tomahawk Arctic is a brilliant motherboard; audio performance isn’t quite state of the art, but if you’ll be spending time in the UEFI it’s a very pleasant experience, and its looks are hard to beat.
Key specs – MSI Z270 Tomahawk Arctic | |||
| Chipset | Intel Z270 | Overclocking | Base clock 98-538MHz, CPU multiplier 8-81x; max voltages, CPU 1.52V, RAM 2.2V |
| CPU socket | Intel LGA1151 | ||
| Memory support | 4 RAM slots, max 64GB DDR3 (up to 3,800MHz) | Ports | 6 x SATA 6Gbps (Z270), 2 x M.2, 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, 8 x USB 3, 6 x USB 2, 1 x LAN, 3 x surround audio out, line in, mic, DVI-D, HDMI |
| Expansion slots | 3 x PCI-E 3 x16, 3 x PCI-E 2 x1 | ||
| Sound | Realtek SLC1220 | ||
| Networking | Realtek Killer Gigabit LAN | Dimensions | 305 x 244 |
5. MSI Z270 Xpower Gaming Titanium: An excellent high-end Intel board for those willing to pay the price
Price when reviewed:£320 inc VAT
No two ways about it, this is an expensive motherboard – but to computing enthusiasts it may well be worth every penny of its asking price. One distinctive feature MSI’s M.2 shield, which helps to keep PCI-E M.2 SSDs cool. Our testing showed a 10°C difference, which may well help performance as well as longevity.
And don’t think you’re limited to one super-fast SSD; you get three M.2 sockets, plus a very generous eight SATA ports. There’s also a very unusual four PCI-E 3 x16 slots, dual Intel Gigabit Ethernet ports and a full complement of overclocking and testing tools. An RGB LED header lets you add your own pretty lights should you so wish.
MSI’s UEFI system is slick and clean, though the Windows-based Command Centre is more user-friendly and allows for basic overclocking and fan control. We managed to hit 5GHz with a vcore of just 1.35V – an impressively low voltage.
If you want to build a PC with support for easy overclocking, multiple graphics cards and multiple M.2 SSDs, this is your board. The price is high, but the Z270 Xpower Gaming Titanium looks fantastic and sports a seemingly endless list of features.
Key specs – MSI Z270 Xpower Gaming Titanium | |||
| Chipset | Intel Z270 | Overclocking | Base clock 70-655MHz, CPU Multiplier 8-81x; max voltages, CPU 2.155V, RAM 2.2V |
| CPU socket | Intel LGA1151 | ||
| Memory support | 4 RAM slots, max 64GB DDR3 (up to 4,000MHz) | Ports | 6x SATA 6Gbps (Z270), 2 x SATA 6Gbps (ASMedia), 3 x M.2, 1 x U.2, 8 x USB 3, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C, 7 x USB 2, 2 x LAN, 3 x surround audio out, line in, mic, DisplayPort, HDMI |
| Expansion slots | 4 x PCI-E 3 x16, 2 x PCI-E 2 x1 | ||
| Sound | Realtek ALC1150 | ||
| Networking | 2x Intel Gigabit LAN | Dimensions | 305 x 244 |
6. MSI X370 XPower Gaming Titanium: The ultimate AMD board for a no-holds barred experience
Price when reviewed:£298 inc VAT
The MSI X270 XPower Gaming Titanium is the most expensive AM4 motherboard we’ve seen, but its quality is evident. Overclocking takes just a few seconds, thanks to MSI’s snappy UEFI; at AMD’s maximum recommended benchmarking voltage of 1.45V, our Ryzen 7 1700 CPU happily got to 4GHz. When we pushed the system too far, the X370 XPower Gaming Titanium always recovered superbly. Should you need them, there are onboard power and reset buttons, an LED POST-code display and a Game Boost knob that applies a quick overclock.
This is also the first AM4 board we’ve seen with two M.2 ports. The main one runs at full speed, but the lower slot is only PCI-E 2, so you get half the bandwidth. That still represents nearly 2GB/sec, so it should be ample for secondary storage.
The rear panel offers seven Type-A USB ports in total, one of which has USB 3.1 bandwidth, while three of them are USB 2 and four of them are USB 3. One of the USB 2 ports also moonlights as MSI’s USB BIOS Flashback+ port. Finally, the on-board audio is Realtek ALC1220-based and there are five analogue ports plus an optical output on the I/O panel.
Undoubtedly, most people will be better off saving some money and buying a cheaper board, but if you have the cash, the X370 XPower Gaming Titanium is the best Ryzen board we’ve tested.
Key specs – MSI X370 XPower Gaming Titanium | |||
| Chipset | AMD X370 | Overclocking | Max CPU multiplier 63x; no base clock overclocking; max voltages CPU 1.7V, RAM 2V |
| CPU socket | AMD AM4 | ||
| Memory support | 4 RAM slots, max 64GB DDR4 (up to 2,667MHz) | Ports | 6 x SATA 6Gbps (X370), 2 x M.2, 8 x USB 3, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 2 x USB 3.1 Type-C, 7 x USB 2, 1 x LAN, 6 x surround audio out, line in, mic, DisplayPort, HDMI |
| Expansion slots | 3 x PCI-E 3 x16, 3 x PCI-E 2 x1 | ||
| Sound | Realtek ALC1220 | ||
| Networking | Intel Gigabit LAN | Dimensions | 305 x 244 |
7. Asus ROG Strix Z270i Gaming: A mini-ITX Intel board that's crammed with features
Price when reviewed:£175 inc VAT
By mini-ITX standards the Asus ROG Strix Z270i Gaming is expensive, but it’s packed with features. Two M.2 ports combine with four SATA ports to offer plenty of storage options, and the rear panel sports an 802.11ac Wi-Fi module with a magnetic desktop antenna included in the box. Type-A and Type-C USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports are present and correct. There’s also four USB 2 ports and two USB 3 ports, along with DisplayPort and HDMI. The only notable omission is a USB 2 header, which rules out some all-in-one liquid coolers.
There’s even a miniature light show, courtesy of a row of 16 RGB LEDs, which can be configured for rainbow effects, or a host of other displays courtesy of Asus’ Aura software. A 4-pin RGB LED header and extension cable in the box lets you add extra illumination.
Asus’ AI Suite software makes it easy to overclock the Asus ROG Strix Z270i Gaming in Windows: we overclocked our CPU to 5GHz with a 1.34V vcore. As usual, Asus’ UEFI is also excellent, as is the extensive set of useful software. In short, the Asus ROG Strix Z270i Gaming is the mini-ITX top dog, bringing a great set of premium features in a convenient miniature format.
Key specs – Asus ROG Strix Z270i Gaming | |||
| Chipset | Intel Z270 | Overclocking | Base clock 40-650MHz, CPU multiplier 8-83x; max voltages, CPU 1.7V, RAM 2V |
| CPU socket | Intel LGA1151 | ||
| Memory support | 2 RAM slots, max 32GB DDR3 (up to 4,266MHz) | Ports | 4 x SATA 6Gbps (Z270), 2 x M.2, 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A, USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, 2 x USB 3, 4 x USB 2, 1 x LAN, 3 x audio out, line-in, mic, HDMI, DisplayPort |
| Expansion slots | 1 x PCI-E 3 x16 | ||
| Sound | Realtek ALC1220 | ||
| Networking | Intel Gigabit LAN, 802.11ac Wi-Fi | Dimensions | 170 x 170 |
8. Gigabyte AB350M-Gaming 3: A great-value compact motherboard for AMD Ryzen processors
Price when reviewed:£78 inc VAT
The micro-ATX Gigabyte AB350M-Gaming 3 isn’t quite as small as a mini-ITX board, but it offers everything you need to build a compact overclockable system, and the price is hard to beat.
There are a few design compromises, but they’re not too bothersome. You get Realtek’s ALC887 codec instead of the newer, better-performing ALC1220 codec, and just three audio jacks on the rear I/O panel. There’s also only two 16x PCI-E slots and a single 1x PCI-E slot – and the latter could be blocked by your graphics card, depending on the size of the cooler.
Overall, though, connectivity is pretty decent. You do get two USB 3.1 Type-A ports, four USB 3 ports and two USB 2 ports, along with several video outputs to support future AMD processors with integrated graphics. Inside there’s an M.2 slot for fast SSDs, and six SATA ports too, which should be more than enough for a budget system.
One good point for enthusiasts is the fact that you get the same software and UEFI system as on Gigabyte’s more expensive boards. We found it easy to hit 3.9GHz across all our Ryzen 7 1700’s cores, increasing overall performance by 15 per cent.
In all, the AB350M-Gaming 3 is a great choice for a compact AMD system. It won’t fit inside a tiny ITX case, and it lacks a few bells and whistles – but for £80 it’ll serve as the foundation of a very capable modern PC, and that’s not to be sniffed at.
Key specs – Gigabyte AB350M-Gaming 3 | |||
| Chipset | AMD B350 | Overclocking | Max CPU multiplier 63x; no base clock overclocking; max voltages: CPU +0.3V, RAM 1.5V |
| CPU socket | AMD AM4 | ||
| Memory support | 4 slots: max 64GB DDR4 (up to 2667MHz) | Ports | 6x SATA 6Gbps (B350), 1 x M.2, 4 x USB 3, 2 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 2 x USB 2, 1 x LAN, 3 x surround audio out, HDMI, VGA, HDMI |
| Expansion slots | 2 x PCI-E 3 x16, 1 x PCI-E 2 x 1 | ||
| Sound | Realtek ALC887 | ||
| Networking | Realtek Gigabit LAN | Dimensions | 244 x 244 |