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The Best Intel Gaming Motherboards: Z690, Z590, Z490 X299 But Thunderbolt is very rare on AMD motherboards.

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You can future-proof your PC by getting USB 3.2 Gen 2 and/or Thunderbolt support. Don't spend extra for wireless if you are using Ethernet. Pay for built-in Wi-Fi and high-end ports only if you need them.You can use a smaller chassis with the micro or mini boards, but you'll have to settle for fewer card expansion slots, sometimes fewer RAM slots, and other connectors.

From largest to smallest, there’s ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX. Motherboards come in three main sizes-for more info see our diagram and explanation of motherboard parts. Smaller boards = fewer slots and features.The latest mainstream AMD chips use AM4 CPU sockets while Intel's 10th Gen and 11th Gen Core CPUs require LGA 1200 sockets, while 12th Gen (Alder Lake) uses LGA 1700, as will upcoming 13th Gen (Raptor Lake) CPUs. But whatever processor you choose, make sure that your board has the correct socket to support it. You can find great CPUs from either Intel or AMD. When choosing a motherboard, consider the following:

Intel's Z690-chipset motherbaords, meanwhile, should work with Intel's upcoming 13th Gen Raptor Lake CPUs after a BIOS update. Most new AMD processors will be released on AM5, solely with DDR5 support. But just know that if you opt for an AM4 motherboard now you are buying into a dying last-gen platform. Last-gen Ryzen 5000 processors and AM4 motherboards are still capable performers, and enticingly affordable (and likely to only become more so in the near-term). The B650 and B650E boards are slated to arrive soon after, in October. These boards and chips aren't quite available yet, but the CPUs are scheduled to go on sale September 27th, alongside the higher-end boards. The latter will include PCIe 5.0 support. Boards featuring the new AM5 socket will come in four chipset varieties: A670E (extreme), X670, B650, and the recently announced B650E. For more on that front, you can also head to our dedicated pages for the best X570 motherboards and best B550 motherboards for more specific tested recommendations and picks.Īnd stay tuned for reviews of AMD Ryzen 7000 motherboards in the coming weeks. The best gaming motherboards for AMD CPUs (including Ryzen 5000 and Threadripper) follow our Intel picks below. You'll find our recommendations for the best motherboards for Z690, B660, H610 and Z590 here, as well as Intel's aging high-end desktop (HEDT) LGA-2066 socket and X299 chipset, supporting the X-Series and Extreme line of processors. The picks below start with recent Intel motherboards (with AMD motherboards further down), including the best gaming motherboards designed for Intel's latest 12th Gen 'Alder Lake' and upcoming Raptor Lake CPUs, as well as 11th Gen 'Rocket Lake' and older 'Comet Lake' processors. If you’re unsure which motherboard chipset you’re after when choosing the best gaming motherboard, or you have other questions that aren't addressed here, you can visit our motherboard basics page and our motherboard buying guide features to help narrow down your options.

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