Want to get the right motherboard for your rig? We take a look at motherboards under $50, $100, $150, $200, and $500 and give you our recommendation for each price point. It’s easy to get carried away with aesthetics when it comes to motherboards. For me, my computer is similar to what a car used to be for my Dad. I work on it all the time and try to make sure the colors match and it looks great.
That being said I’d gladly give up some looks for performance.
In this post, I’ll go over everything you need to know to ensure that your motherboard is both compatible and a good value for what you spend.
Understanding Chipset Compatibility for Relevant Intel Motherboards
Socket 1151 Motherboards
The LGA 1151 socket is a new platform that’s compatible with Skylake processors. Skylake motherboards have 6 chipsets; H110, B150, Q150m H170, A170, and Z170. Kaby Lake motherboards have 5 main chipsets right now including B250, Q250, H270, Q270, and Z270. These motherboards support Intel Rapid Support technology, Clear Video Technology as well as Intel Wireless Display Technology. The Skylake boards are mostly DDR4 compatible with the occasional board having compatibility with DDR3 instead.
Socket 1150 Motherboards
While 2nd (Sandy Bridge) and third generation (Ivy Bridge) Intel processors are compatible with socket 1155 motherboards; Haswell, Haswell-refresh, and Broadwell processors use motherboards compatible with 1150 pin processors. That being said, not all of them are compatible with just any chipset released in the platform.
8 Series 1150 Motherboards
The 8 series chipsets of 1150 motherboards were the first to be released. It includes the H81, B85, Q85, Q87, Z87, and Z97 chipsets with the Z series generally being reserved for overclocking. These processors are compatible with Haswell refresh CPUs; however, they may require a BIOS update.
If you don’t already have a Haswell (not refresh) CPU, then upgrading these is difficult unless they come with a way to upgrade the BIOS through USB. Some boards allow you to do this while other boards that come out after an update may already include the BIOS. However, if the motherboard does not, the only other way to update the BIOS would be by installing a compatible Haswell (not refresh) processor and updating it that way. 8 Series 1150 motherboards are NOT compatible with Broadwell processors.
9 Series 1150 Motherboards
The second generation of 1150 motherboards includes two chipsets; H97 and Z97. Both of these chipsets offer compatibility for first generation Haswell processors as well as Haswell refresh CPUs and Broadwell CPUs. In addition, they have support for SATA Express M.2 and Thunderbolt but only if implemented by the manufacturer. More information can be found about these two chipsets here.
Socket 2011 Motherboards
The 2011 socket is used by Sandy Bridge-E, Ivy Bridge-E, and Haswell-E CPUs. Like the 1150 socket, not all of these processors are compatible with boards that use this many pins. To simplify all of this, I’ll be skipping over server processor compatibility and chipsets as well as various versions of the LGA 2011 socket.
Within the Socket 2011 platform, there are two main chipsets; X79 and X99. The X79 chipset is used with Sandy Bridge-E and Ivy Bridge-E processors and uses Quad-Channel DDR3 with up to two DIMMS per channel. The X99 chipset is compatible with Haswell-E processors and uses Quad-channel DDR4 with up to two DIMMs per channel. The X99 chipset is not compatible with previous generation Socket 2011 processors and vice versa.
Best Intel Motherboards for Gaming
A Cheap and durable Micro ATX board with a decent ability to overclock, the MSI H81M-33 still holds it’s ability at just around $50.Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way let’s go right into my motherboard picks for the last half of the year.
Good Budget Motherboards Under $50
My Favorite Cheap and Good Skylake Motherboard
If you’re looking for a Skylake option to go with a cheap i3 combo, you’ll find it in the Gigabyte GA-H110M-A. It allows for up to 32GB of DDR4 (although only at 2133MHz), and has plenty of connectivity options for most builds.
For earlier options in the under $50, we’re looking at mini and micro ATX motherboards with quality names, durability, and features. The MSI H81M-E33 is a solid board which has been used frequently to overclock the G3258. Both are featured in our $300 PC build and provide for a high-value CPU motherboard combo for around $125 and especially if you’re willing to overclock it. Keep in mind that these are Haswell-compatible motherboards.
The other options I’ve listed here are similar with the MSI board in value with the ASRock H81M-ITX being a solid mini-ITX board that can still give you a reasonable overclock. Keep in mind that the H81 chipset isn’t natively compatible with the Haswell refresh processors and if you get an older board, it might require a BIOS update. If you’re concerned about that, one of the first generation Haswell i3’s would work well as an alternative.
| Model(Hover) for Price | Picture | Form / Memory | Expansion / Storage | Rear Ports | Internal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigabyte GA-H110M-A Skylake Micro ATX Motherboard |  | Up to 32GB DDR4 @ 2133MHz | 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 / 2 x PCI Express x1 slots | 1 x PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse Ports / 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ45, 2 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, 3 x Audio Jacks | 1 x USB 3.0/2.0 header, 1 x USB 2.0/1.1 header, 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector, 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V, 4 x SATAS 6Gb/s, 2 x CPU fan header, 1 x System fan header, 1 x front panel header, 1 x front panel audio header, 1 x S/PDIF Out Header, 1 x TPM, 1 x Clear CMOS |
| MSI H81M-E33 Micro ATX |  | Up to 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory | 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16, 1 x PCI Express x1, 2 x SATA 3Gb/s, 2 x SATA 6Gb/s | 1 x PS/2 keyboard port, 1 x PS/2 mouse port, 1 x D-Sub, 1 x HDMI, 2 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, 3 Audio Ports | 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x ATX 24-Pin power connector, 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector, CPU x 1 / System x 2 FAN connectors, 1 x Clear CMOS jumper, 1 x Serial port connector, 1 x Trusted Platform Module (TPM) header, 1 x Front Panel Audio connector, 1 x Chassis Intrusion connector |
| Gigabyte Micro ATX GA-H81M-DS2V |  | Up to 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory | 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16, 2 x PCI Express x1 slots, 2 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors (SATA2 2/3), 2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors (SATA3 0/1) | 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, 1 x D-Sub, 1 x DVI-D, 1 x RJ45, 2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports, 2 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports, 3 x audio jacks (Line In, Line Out, Mic In) | 2 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers, 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector, 1 x 8-pin ATX, 12V power connector, 1 x CPU fan header, 2 x system fan headers, 1 x front panel header, 1 x front panel audio header, 1 x Clear CMOS jumper |
| ASUS H81M-E MicroATX[/easyazon_link] |  | Up to 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory | 1 x PCI Express x16, 2(PCIe 2.0), 2 x SATA 3Gb/s, 2 x SATA 6Gb/s | 1 x PS/2 keyboard, 1 x PS/2 mouse, 1 x DVI, 1 x D-Sub, 2 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, 3 Ports | 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin), 1 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin), 1 x S/PDIF out header(s), 1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s), 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s), 1 x Front panel connector(s) , 1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP), 1 x Internal speaker connector(s), 1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s) |
| ASRock Mini ITX H81M-ITX |  | Up to 16GB DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory | 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16, 2 x SATA 6Gb/s | 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, 1 x D-Sub Port, 1 x DVI-D Port, 1 x HDMI, 2 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x eSATA, 1 x Optical, 6 Audio Ports | 2 x USB 2.01 x Chassis Intrusion Header, 1 x TPM Header. 1 x CPU Fan Connector (4-pin), 1 x Chassis Fan Connector (4-pin), 1 x 24 pin ATX Power Connector, 1 x 4 pin 12V Power Connector, 1 x Front Panel Audio Connector |
Top Rated Motherboards Under $100
H170 vs Z170
If you’re willing to go with an H170 motherboard rather than a Z170 one, you’ll probably be able to save a few bucks here. The main difference is that you can’t overclock your CPU.
That being said my recommendation at this price point would be the Asus H170 PRO Gaming. It gives you a ton of flexibility through its options while not costing you a fortune.
Haswell Motherboards Under $100
In the under $100 space, I really like the Asus Z87 boards if you can still get them for cheaper. Most of them have rebates that make them an exceptional value and especially as many of them come with a USB BIOS update option. The Z87 Pro is a great example of this. At this price, it’s less than half of what it cost just a couple of years ago and still offers the same great overclocking and features as then.
If you’d prefer a budget Z97 board, I recommend MSI’s PC Mate. It’s a good overclocker and a solid ATX and Z97 alternative to the MSI H81M-E33 listed in the Under $50 category.
| Model(Hover) for Price | Picture | Form / Memory | Expansion/ Storage | Rear Ports / Onboard LAN | Internal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asus H170 PRO Gaming |  | ATX / Up to 64GB DDR4 2133 | 1 x PCIe x16 @ x16 (PCIEX16), 1 x PCIe x16 @t x4 (PCIEX4), 4 x PCIe 3.0 x1/ 4 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports (gray), 1 x SATA Express port (gray, compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports), 1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M key, type 2242/ 260/ 2280/ 22110 storage devices support (both SATA & PCIe3.0 x4 modes) | 1 PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, D-Sub + DVI, 1 HDMI, 1 RJ45, 1 DisplayPort, 2 USB 3.1 ports (1 Type-A, red; 1 Type-C, black), 2 USB 3.0/2.0 ports, 2 USB 2.0, 1 Optical, 8-channel audio / SupremeFX 8-Channel/ Gigabit LAN, LANGuard, GameFirst | 2 USB 3.0, 3 USB 2.0, 1 System panel header, 1 Front panel audio, 1 CPU fan (4-pin), 1 CPU optional fan (4-pin), 3 Chassis fan connectors, 1 Thermal sensor connector, 1 EXT_FAN header, 1 COM connector, 1 TPM header, 1 24-pin EATX Power connector, 1 8-pin EATX 12V Power connector, 1 ROG extension, 1 CPU_OV, 1 Stdby Power LED (red), 1 Clear CMOS jumper |
| Asus Z87 PRO |  | ATX / Up to 32GB Dual Channel 3000 (OC) | PCI Express 3.0 x16 2(x16 or dual x8), PCI Express 2.0 x16 1(x4 mode), PCI Express x1, 4 x PCI Express x1, 6 x SATA 6Gb/s by Intel Z87, 2 x SATA 6Gb/s by ASMedia ASM1061 | 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, D-Sub + DVI, 1 x HDMI, 1 x DisplayPort, 6 x USB 3.0, 1 x Optical, 6 audio ports / Intel I217-V, 10/100/1000Mbps, WiFi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n supports dual frequency band 2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth v4.0, Bluetooth v3.0 + HS | 1 x USB 3.0/2.0 connector supports additional 2 USB ports (19-pin), 4 x USB 2.0/1/1 connectors support additional 8 USB ports, 1 x TPM header, 1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin), 1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin), 4 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (4 x 4 -pin), 1 x S/PDIF out header(s), 1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s), 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s), 1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP), 1 x System panel(s) (Q-Connector), 1 x DirectKey Button(s), 1 x DRCT header(s), 1 x MemOK! button(s), 1 x TPU switch(es), 1 x EPU switch(es), 1 x Power-on button(s), 1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s), 1 x USB BIOS Flashback button(s) |
| MSI Z97 PC MATE |  | ATX / Up to 32GB Dual Channel 3000 (OC) | 1 x PCIe x16 slots PCI_E2 supports PCIe 3.0 Support x16, x4/x4 modes, 1 x PCIe x16 slots PCI_E4 supports PCIe 2.0 Support x16, x4/x4 modes | 1 x PS/2 keyboard port, 1 x PS/2 mouse port, 1 x VGA port, 1 x DVI-D port, 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ45, 2 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x 3 in 1 audio jacks / Realtek 8111G, 10/100/1000Mbps | 2 x USB 2.0 connectors (supports additional 4 USB 2.0 ports), 1 x USB 3.0 connector (supports additional 2 USB 3.0 ports), 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector, 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector, 2 x 4-pin CPU fan connectors, 1 x 4-pin system fan connector, 2 x 3-pin system fan connectors, 1 x Clear CMOS jumper, 1 x Front panel audio connector, 2 x System panel connectors, 1 x Chassis Intrusion connector, 1 x TPM module connector, 1 x Serial port connector, 1 x Parallel Port connector |
| ASUS Micro B85M-G R2.0 |  | Micro ATX / Up to 32GB Dual Channel 1600 | 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x16, 2 x PCI Express x1/ 2 x SATA 3Gb/s, 4 x SATA 6Gb/s | 1 x PS/2 keyboard , 1 x PS/2 mouse, 1 x DVI-D, 1 x D-Sub, 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ45, 2 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, 3 Ports/ Realtek 8111G, 10/100/1000Mbps | 2 x USB 3.0 + 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x TPM header, 1 x LPT header1 x COM port(s) connector(s), 1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin)2 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (2 x 4 -pin), 1 x S/PDIF out header(s)1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s), 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s), 1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP), 1 x Internal speaker connector(s), 1 x System panel(s) 1 x Chassis Intrusion connector(s), 1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s) |
| ASUS H97I-PLUS Mini ITX |  | Mini ITX/ Up to 16GB Dual Channel 1600MHz | 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x16, 4 x SATA 6Gb/s, 1 x M.2, SATA RAID; 0/1/5/10 | 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, 1 x DVI-D, 1 x VGA, 1 x HDMI, 1 x DisplayPort, 4 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x Optical/ Intel I218-V, 10/100/1000Mbps | 2 x USB 3.0 + 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x 4-pin CPU Fan connector, 2 x 4-pin Chassis Fan connectors for 3-pin (DC mode) and 4-pin (PWM mode) coolers control, 1 x Front panel audio connector (AAFP), 1 x S/PDIF out header, 1 x TPM connector, 1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector, 1 x 8-pin EATX 12V Power connector, 1 x Clear CMOS header(s), 1 x System panel connector, 1 x MemOK! button |
Best Intel Motherboards Under $150
Skylake Under $150:
If I’m looking at a Skylake motherboard under $150 I’d check out the Z170 PRO Gaming which occasionally comes on rebate for super cheap. After that, a motherboard like MSI’s Z170A Gaming M5 would be at the top of my priority list. The Z170-A from Asus is a third good option.
Haswell Motherboards Under $150
You can still go with the value pick here in the Asus Z87 Sabertooth. For around $128 after rebate this month, it’s still an amazing pick. Other than that I’d recommend you go with either the Gigabyte Z97X Gaming 3, MSI Z97-G45 Gaming, or the Asus Z97-A. The Gaming 3 should be the least expensive of the 3 at around $120 and is perfect for those looking to do light overclocking.
The other two boards will cost you as little as $130 if you get them on rebate or all the way up to $200 from more expensive retailers. Be sure to shop around to look for a good deal. If I had my pick of the 3, it would be the MSI Z97-G45 Gaming. The sound quality is excellent, it has plenty of space, looks great, and is full of great features like Killer Networking and OC Genie 4.
| Model(Hover) for Price | Picture | Form / Memory | Expansion/ Storage | Rear Ports | Internal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z170 PRO Gaming |  | Up to 64GB DDR4 3400 | 2 x PCIe 3.0 x 16 @ x 16, 1 x PCIe 3.0 x 16 @ x 4, 3 x PCIe 3.0 x 1, 4 x SATA 6Gb/s, 1 x SATA Express, 1 x M.2 Socket 3 | 1 x PS/2, 1 x DVI, 1 x D-sub, 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ45, 1 x DisplayPort, 2 x USB 3.1, 4 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x Optical, 8-channel Audio Ports, Intel Gigabit LAN | 1 x 19-pin USB 3.0, 3 x USB 2.0, 1 x System panel header, 1 x Front panel audio, 1 x CPU 4-pin, 1 x CPU OPT fan (4-pin), 3 x Chassis Fan (4-pin), 1 x Thermal Sensor, 1 x Com Connector, 1 x TPM, 1 x CPU_OV, 1 x EXT_Fan, 1 x 24-pin, 1 x 8-pin EATX, 1 x ROG, 1 x Clear CMOS |
| Gigabyte GA-Z97X Gaming 3 |  | ATX / Up to 32GB DDR3 3200 (OC) | PCI Express 3.0 x16: 1 (x16), 1 (x8), PCI Express x16: 1 (x4), PC Express x1 3 x PCI Express x1 / 6 x SATA 6Gb/s, 1 x SATA Express, 1 x m.2, 0/1/5/10 | 5 Audio pots, 1 x Optical, 4 x USB 2.0, 4 x USB 3.0, 1 x RJ45, 1 x HDMI, 1 x VGA, 1 x DVI-D, 1 x PS/2 mouse, 1 x PS/2 keyboard / Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2201, 10/100/1000Mbps, Realtek ALC1150, 7.1 Channels | 2 x USB 3.0 + 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector, 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector, 1 x CPU fan header, 1 x water cooling fan header (CPU_OPT), 3 x system fan headers, 1 x front panel header, 1 x front panel audio header, 1 x S/PDIF Out header, 1 x serial port header, 1 x Clear CMOS jumper, 1 x Trusted Platform Module (TPM) header |
| MSI ATX DDR3 2600 LGA 1150 Motherboards Z97-G45 GAMING |  | ATX / Up to 32GB DDR3 3000 (OC) | 3 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, 4 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots / 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports (SATA1~6)*, 1 x mSATA 6Gb/s port*, * The SATA6 port will be unavailable when install a SSD in the mSATA port., Raid 0/1/5/10 | 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, 1 x VGA port, 1 x DVI-D port, 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ45, 4 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x Optical, 1 x Coaxial, 6 Audio Ports, Killer E2205, Killer E2205, Realtek ALC1150, 7.1 Channels | 3 x USB 2.0 connectors (supports additional 6 USB 2.0 ports), 1 x USB 3.0 connector (supports additional 2 USB 3.0 ports), 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector, 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector, 2 x 4-pin CPU fan connectors 3 x 4-pin system fan connectors, 1 x Clear CMOS jumper, 1 x Front panel audio connector, 2 x System panel connectors, 1 x TPM module connector, 1 x Serial port connector, 1 x Chassis Intrusion connector, 7 x V-Check points (7x V-Check spots) |
| Asus Z97-A |  | ATX / Up to 32GB DDR3 3200 (OC) | 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8) / 4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray, 1 x SATA Express port, compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports, 1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2260/2280 storage devices support (PCIE mode, Raid 0/1/5/10 | 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, 1 x DVI-D. 1 x D-Sub, 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s), 2 x USB 3.1 (teal blue), 4 x USB 3.0 (blue), 1 x Optical, 5 Audio Ports | 1 x USB 3.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 2 USB 3.0 port(s) (19-pin), . 3 x USB 2.0 connector(s) support(s) additional 6 USB 2.0 port(s), 1 x TPM header, 1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin), 1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin), 4 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (4 x 4 -pin), 1 x S/PDIF out header(s), 1 x Thunderbolt header(s), 1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s), 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s), 1 x EZ XMP switch, 1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP), 1 x System panel(s) (Q-Connector), 1 x DRCT header(s), 1 x MemOK! button(s), 1 x TPU switch(es), 1 x EPU switch(es), 1 x Power-on button(s), 1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s) |
| Asus Sabertooth Z87 |  | ATX / Up to 32GB DDR3 1866 | PCI Express 3.0 x16 2(x16 or dual x8), 6 x SATA 6Gb/s support by Intel Z87, 2 x SATA 6Gb/s support by ASMedia ASM1061, 6 x SATA 6Gb/s by Intel Z87 Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10 | 1 x HDMI, 1 x DisplayPort, 4 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, 2 x eSATA 6Gb/s, 1 x Optical, 6 Audio Ports / Intel I217-V | 2 x USB 3.0 + 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x TPM header, 1 x CPU Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin), 1 x CPU OPT Fan connector(s) (1 x 4 -pin), 4 x Chassis Fan connector(s) (4 x 4 -pin), 2 x Assistant Fan connector(s) (2 x 3 -pin), 1 x S/PDIF out header(s), 1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector(s), 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s), 1 x Front panel connector(s), 1 x Front panel audio connector(s) (AAFP), 1 x DirectKey Button(s), 1 x DRCT header(s), 1 x MemOK! button(s), 3 x Thermal sensor connector(s), 1 x Clear CMOS jumper(s) |
From $150 to $200 I like the ASRock Z97 Extreme 6 and Gigabyte UD5H boards.Value Motherboards Under $200
Skylake Motherboards Under $200
Now that Skylake has been out a while my ideas about what boards are my favorite in this space have been narrowed down quite a bit. I’d reach for the Gigabyte GA-Z170X Gaming 7 or the MSI Z170A Gaming M7 if it happens to be on rebate.
Haswell Z97 Options Under $200
If you’re looking for value here, I like the ASRock Z97 Extreme 6. It was a 2014 Tom’s Hardware smart buy and has been shown to give you some of the most performance per dollar. In terms of value, the UD5H can’t be ignored either and may be the best choice if found on rebate for less than the Extreme 6.
While writing this post the UD5H is currently on rebate for about the same price and at that level, they’re about even with the UD5H having the added ability to support three-way CrossFire with PCIe 3.0 transfers.
| Model(Hover) for Price | Picture | Form / Memory | Expansion/ Storage | Rear Ports / Onboard LAN | Internal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSI Z97A Gaming |  | ATX / Up to 32GB DDR3 3300 (OC) Dual Channel Memory | 3 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, (support x16, x8/x8, x8/x4/x4 modes), 4 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots, 6 x SATA 6Gb/s ports (SATA1~6), by Intel Z97 Express Chipset, 2 x SATA 6Gb/s ports (SATA7~8), by ASMedia ASM1061 Chipset, 1x M.2 port, Raid: 0/1/5/10 | 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, 1 x DisplayPort, 2 x HDMI, 1 x RJ45, 2 x USB 3.1, 6 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x Optical, 6 x OFC audio jacks / Realtek ALC1150 7.1 Channels, Killer E2205 10/100/1000Mbps | 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector, 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector, 2 x 4-pin CPU fan connectors, 3 x 4-pin system fan connectors, 1 x TPM module connector, 1 x Serial port connector, 1 x Front panel audio connector, 1 x Direct audio power connector, 2 x System panel connectors, 1 x Chassis Intrusion connector, 1 x Clear CMOS jumper, 9 x V-Check connectors, 1 x Power button, 1 x Reset button, 1 x OC Genie button, 1 x Multi-BIOS switch, 1 x Audio power switch, 1 x 2-Digit Debug Code LED |
| Asus Maximus VII HERO | | ATX / Up to 32GB DDR3 3200 OC Dual Channel | 2 (single at x16 or dual at x8/x8 mode), 1 (x4 mode) / 8 x SATA 6Gb/s, 1 x M.2 Socket 3 with M Key, Raid 0/1/5/10 | 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, 1 x VGA, 1 x DVI-D, 1 x HDMI, 4 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x Optical / Intel I218-V 10/100/1000Mbps | 2 x USB 3.0 + 5 x USB 2.0, 1 x ROG extension (ROG_EXT) header, 1 x 4-pin CPU fan connector, 1 x 4-pin CPU optional fan connector, 4 x 4-pin Chassis fan connectors, 1 x Thermal sensor connectors (T_SENSOR1), 1 x 24-pin EATX power connector, 1 x 8-pin EATX 12V power connector, 1 x TPM connector, 1 x Front panel audio connector (AAFP), 1 x System panel connector, 1 x Power-on button, 1 x Reset button, 1 x MemOK! Button, 1 x Sonic SoundStage button, 1 x KeyBot button, 1 x Clear CMOS button |
| Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H-BK |  | ATX / Up to 32GB DDR3 3200 OC Dual Channel | PCI Express 3.0 x16; 1 x 16, 1 x 8, 1 x 4, 2 x PCI Express x1, 2 x PCI Slots, 8 x SATA 6Gb/s, 1 x SATA Express, 1 x M.2, 0/1/5/10 SATA Raid | 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, 1 x DVI-D, 1 x VGA, 1 x HDMI, 2 x RJ45, 6 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, , 1 x Optical, 5 Audio Ports / Intel i217V, Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2201, Dual 10/100/1000Mbps | 2 x USB 3.0 + 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector, 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector, 1 x PCIe power connector, 1 x CPU fan header, 1 x water cooling fan header (CPU_OPT), 4 x system fan headers, 1 x front panel header, 1 x front panel audio header, 1 x S/PDIF Out header, 1 x serial port header, 1 x Clear CMOS jumper, 1 x Trusted Platform Module (TPM) header, 1 x power button, 1 x reset button, 1 x Clear CMOS button, 2 x BIOS switches, Voltage Measurement Points |
| ASRock Z97 Extreme6 |  | ATX / Up to 32GB DDR3 3200 OC Dual Channel | PCIe 3.0 x 16; 2 (single at x16 ; dual at x8/x8 ), 10 x SATA 6Gb/s, 1 x SATA Express, 1 x M.2, 1 x Ultra m.2 Gen3 x 4, SATA RAID 0/1/5/10 | 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, 1 x DVI-I, 1 x HDMI, 1 x DisplayPort, 6 x USB 3.0, 1 x eSATA 6Gb/s, 1 x Optical, 6 Ports / Intel I218V, Realtek RTL8111GR, Dual 10/100/1000Mbps | 4 x USB 3.0 + 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x COM Port Header, 1 x TPM Header, 1 x Power LED Header, 2 x CPU Fan Connectors (1 x 4-pin, 1 x 3-pin), 3 x Chassis Fan Connectors (1 x 4-pin, 2 x 3-pin), 1 x Power Fan Connector (3-pin), 1 x 24 pin ATX Power Connector, 1 x 8 pin 12V Power Connector (Hi-Density Power Connector), 1 x HDD Saver Connector, 1 x PCIe Power Connector, 1 x Front Panel Audio Connector, 1 x Thunderbolt AIC Connector, 1 x Vertical Type A USB 2.0, 1 x Dr. Debug with LED, 1 x Power Switch with LED, 1 x Reset Switch with LED, 1 x BIOS Selection Switch |
High-End Motherboards Under or Around $500
Z170 Motherboards for Power Users
For Skylake I like Gigabyte’s G1 Gaming this time around. Its Bios is a bit more clunky than the Asus ROG VIII Extreme, but all around, I still prefer it.For most this will be complete overkill, but if you’re in this price range it really comes down to the Gigabyte G1 Gaming and the Asus ROG Maximus VIII Extreme. While in the past I would have recommended the Asus board, this time around I’d point you in the direction of the Gigabyte board. It also comes recommended by Tom’s Hardware as well as AnandTech.
Despite my recommendation I still like the BIOS of the Asus board better. So, keep that in mind.
X99 Platform
If you’re looking for a good X99 motherboard with a lot of features that doesn’t cost a lot, I like the MSI SLI Krait Edition X99S. It’s been recommended by multiple websites, including Techpowerup and Tom’s Hardware, as it provides some of the best bang for the buck that you’ll find.
If you’re not looking for a value purchase and just want the best of the best, I once again have to point you in the direction of the Asus Rampage. The look of it is great with the red and black design and subtleness of the LED lighting.
In terms of performance, it’s the best overall motherboard for overclocking and known for this, but other features Asus has added are worth mentioning as well. One small one that I really enjoyed is the Socket 2011 to 2011v3 conversion backplate that allows you to use your old water blocks and coolers.
Other features include Wifi 802.11ac, 4-way GPU support, Amazing sound with Sonic Studio, and more USB ports and storage options than I can even use. Overall, I’d recommend it for experienced power users only.
| Model(Hover) for Price | Picture | Memory | Expansion/ Storage | Rear Ports / Onboard LAN | Internal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asus X99-A |  | Up to 64GB DDR4 3200 Quad Channel Memory | 40-Lane CPU- 3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16, x16/x16, x16/x16/x8) 28-Lane CPU- 3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 ( x16, x16/x8, x16/x8/x4) | 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, 1 x RJ45, 6 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x Optical, 5 Audio Ports/ Intel I218V, 10/100/1000 Mbps, Realtek ALC1150 8 Channels | 4 USB 3.0, 4 USB 2.0, 1 x AAFP connector, 1 TPM connector, 1 x COM port connector, 1 CPU Fan connector (1 4 -pin), 1 CPU OPT Fan connector (1 4 -pin), 4 Chassis Fan connector (4 4 -pin), 1 S/PDIF out header, 1 Thunderbolt header, 1 24-pin EATX Power connector, 1 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector, 1 EZ XMP switch, 1 System panel, 1 Chassis Intrusion connector, 1 DRCT header, 1 MemOK! button, 1 Thermal sensor connector, 1 TPU switch, 1 EPU switch, 1 CPU/DRAM overvoltage jumper, 1 Power-on button, 1 Reset button, 1 Clear CMOS jumper, 1 5-pin EXT_FAN connector |
| MSI SLI Krait Edition X99S |  | Up to 128GB Quad Channel DDR4 3110 OC | 4 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots (PCI_E1,3,5,6), support up to 3-way mode, - 1-way mode: x16/ x0/ x0/ x0, - 2-way mode: x16/ x16/ x0/ x0, 16/ x8/ x0/ x0. - 3-way mode: x16/ x16/ x0/ x8, x8/ x8/ x8/ x0, 10 x SATA 6Gb/s ports (2x ports reserved for SATA Express port), - SATA1~6 support RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10, SATA7~10 ports only support IDE mode and AHCI mode. Supports Intel Smart Response Technology (Windows 7/ 8/ 8.1) | 1 PS/2, 1 x RJ45, 8 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x Optical, 5 x OFC audio jacks / Intel I210-AT, 10/100/1000Mbps, 7.1 Channels Realtek ALC1150 | 2x USB 2.0 connectors, 2x USB 3.0 connectors, 1x 24-pin ATX main power connector, 1x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector. 1x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector, 2x 4-pin CPU fan connectors, 3x 4-pin system fan connectors, 1x Clear CMOS jumper, 1x Front panel audio connector, 2x System panel connectors, 1x TPM module connector, 1x Chassis Intrusion connector, 1x GO2BIOS button, 1x Power button, 1x Reset button, 1x OC Genie button, 1x Multi-BIOS switch, 1x OC Genie mode switch, 1x Slow mode booting switch, 1x Slow mode booting jumper |
| Gigabyte GA-X99-UD3 | | Up to 32GB DDR4 3000 Quad Channel Memory | 2 x PCI Express x16 slots, running at x16 (PCIE_1, PCIE_2), 10 x SATA 6Gb/s, 1 x SATA Express connector, 1 x M.2 Socket 1 connector for the wireless communication module (M2_WIFI), SATA RAID 0/1/5/10, Realtek ALC1150 7.1 Channels | 1 x PS/2 keyboard port, 1 x PS/2 mouse port, 1 x RJ45, 6 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x Optical / Onboard LAN 10/100/1000Mbps | 2 x USB 3.0 + 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector, 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector, 1 x PCIe power connector, 1 x CPU fan header, 1 x water cooling fan header (CPU_OPT) 3 x system fan headers, 1 x front panel header, 1 x front panel audio header, 1 x Trusted Platform Module (TPM) header, 1 x Thunderbolt add-in card connector, 1 x Clear CMOS jumper |
| Asus Rampage V Extreme X99 U3.1 |  | Up to 64GB Quad Channel DDR4 3300 OC | 4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16, x16/x16, x16/x8/x8 or x16/x8/x8/x8 mode with 40-LANE CPU; x16, x16/x8, x8/x8/x8 mode with 28-LANE CPU), 8 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), red, 1 x SATA Express port, red, compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports, by Intel X99 chipset, 1 x SATA Express port, red, compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports, by ASMedia SATA Express controller, 1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key | 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, 1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s), 10 x USB 3.0 (blue), 2 x USB 2.0 (one port can be switched to ROG Connect), 1 x Optical, 5 Ports, Intel I218V, 10/100/1000Mbps, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Supports dual band frequency 2.4/5 GHz, Up to 1300Mbps transfer speed | 2 x USB 3.0 , 2 USB 2.0 connector, 1 TPM header, 1 CPU Fan connector, 1 CPU OPT Fan connector (1 x 4 -pin), 6 Chassis Fan connector (6 x 4 -pin), 1 Thunderbolt header, 1 24-pin EATX Power connector(s), 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector, 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V Power connector(s), 1 Front panel audio connector, 1 System panel, 1 MemOK! button, 1 x Slow Mode switch, 9 ProbeIt Measurement Points, 3 Thermal sensor connector, 1 EZ Plug connector, 1 Power-on button, 1 Reset button, 1 BIOS Switch button(s), 1 LN2 Mode jumper, 1 ROG extension, 1 KeyBot Button, 1 Sonic SoundStage Button, 1 Safe Boot button, 1 ReTry button |
| ASRock X99E-ITX |  | Up to 32GB DDR4 3200 Dual Channel Memory | 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 Slot (PCIE1: x16 mode), 1 x Vertical Half-size Mini-PCI Express Slot: For WiFi + BT Module 15µ Gold Contact in VGA PCIe Slot (PCIE1), 6 x SATA 6Gb/s, 1 x SATA Express 10 Gb/s Connector (shared with SATA3_4, SATA3_5), 1 x Ultra M.2 Socket, SATA RAID | 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, 2 x RJ-45 LAN Ports with LED , 2 x USB 3.1 Type-A Ports, 4 x USB 3.0 Ports, 2 x USB 2.0 Ports, 1 x Optical, HD Audio Jacks, Onboard LAN Intel I218V, Intel I211-AT, Dual 10/100/1000Mbps, WiFi IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth 4.0, Realtek ALC1150 7.1 Channels | 1 x USB 2.0 Header, 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x Chassis Intrusion Header, 1 x TPM Header, 1 x Power LED Header, 1 x CPU Fan Connector (4-pin) (Supports 3-pin/4-pin Smart Fan Speed Control), 2 x Chassis Fan Connectors (2 x 4-pin) (Support 3-pin/4-pin Smart Fan Speed Control), 1 x 24 pin ATX Power Connector, 1 x 8 pin 12V Power Connector (Hi-Density Power Connector), 1 x Front Panel Audio Connector, 1 x eSATA Connector, supports NCQ, AHCI and Hot Plug |
Final Thoughts:
Admittedly, most spend more than they need to on their motherboard. Most Haswell users should go for a board around $100 and it should be all they need. Even if you’re a performance enthusiast, there’s a multitude of boards below $200 that really do a fine job. Leave your comments and suggestions in the open area below.