TOP 10 best motherboards on socket AM4 in 2021

The motherboard is the main part of any personal computer, which controls the operation of all other components. A good motherboard is very important for a gaming computer because it determines how powerful a machine you can build. So choosing the right model is very important, and this matter must be approached with all responsibility. To make it easier for users to choose a suitable base for assembling a computer, we have created a rating of motherboards based on the AMD socket, which includes only the best representatives from different segments.

ASRock B450M Pro4-F motherboard

Despite its compact size, the ASRock B450M Pro4-F motherboard is suitable for building a gaming computer. You can use two video adapters that support CrossFire X technology. The maximum possible memory capacity is 64 GB. The board is based on the AMD B450 chipset. Compatible processors – AMD AM4.

The ASRock B450M Pro4-F board conforms to the Micro-ATX form factor. The device has the shape of a 244 mm square. At your service are a large number of USB ports and 3 video outputs (which can be used simultaneously by connecting 3 monitors). There are two PS/2 connectors. The advantage of the model is the presence of 2 M.2 connectors. NVMe support makes it possible to use high-speed solid-state devices. Drive form factors are 2230, 2242, 2260 and 2280.

The design of the board provides 7.1 audio. ELNA audio capacitors help ensure a high level of sound quality. The network adapter provides speeds of up to 1000 Mbit/s. The design of the board is decorated with lighting.

Types of motherboards on socket AM4

Today you can find eight chipsets for the AM4 platform :

1. X570 - requires active cooling, but provides high throughput.
2. B550 is low-cost and offers many new interfaces.
3. B520 supports a huge number of ports, but you won’t be able to install more than one video card.
4. X470 is a powerful device with an improved power subsystem that supports modern technologies.
5. The B450 is an affordable option that will be a good alternative to the X470.
6. X370 is an innovative chipset for new generation processors with advanced capabilities.
7. B350 has excellent overclocking capabilities and allows you to connect two video cards at once.
8. A320rong> is a chipset for a budget build, which has meager capabilities, but supports many processors.

An important feature of classification is size:

• microATX - a smaller device with a minimum number of slots, installed in compact and full-size models;
• ATX is a standard format that is suitable for desktop computers;
• mini-ITX is a compact board for the smallest computers.

MSI MPG B550 GAMING PLUS motherboard

The warranty period of the MSI MPG B550 GAMING PLUS motherboard is as much as 36 months. For this model, the manufacturer offers the standard delivery type Ret. Power supply directly to the board and processor 24+8 pin. This product is made in the ATX form factor. A Realtek ALC892 audio controller is installed here, and the sound is implemented in eight-channel mode. The network controller is Realtek 8111H.

The manufacturer also implemented a Gigabit Ethernet network interface in the MSI MPG B550 GAMING PLUS motherboard. The rear panel contains a large number of connectors for connecting external equipment. These are 8 USB ports of various modifications, one HDMI connector, and also one PS/2, which is useful if the user wants to connect a mouse or keyboard to the computer. RAM here can operate in dual-channel mode.

How to choose a motherboard?

Note! Choosing a successful motherboard for the AM4 socket should begin with familiarization with the technical parameters of the models in question.

It is necessary to pay attention to the following indicators:

• number and type of interface connectors. The optimal solution would be to have four corresponding connectors on the rear side. At least two ports must be of the 3.0 standard, but USB 3.1 connectors will also come in handy;
• presence of a built-in Wi-Fi adapter. The requirement is not mandatory, because if necessary, the user can always use an external adapter. However, models with such an adapter are considered universal and more advanced;
• Possibility of connecting case fans. Here you need to estimate the number of special connectors. If connectivity is available, the user will be able to control the fan speed without rheobass and additional adapters;
• equipped with sound chips. Cutting-edge models allow you to connect new surround sound systems. Thanks to this, the user will be able to watch movies and play video games with noticeably improved sound.

GIGABYTE B450M S2H motherboard (rev. 1.0)

With Smart Fan 5, users can rest assured that their gaming PC will operate at the most favorable temperatures without sacrificing performance. Thanks to thermal sensors located on the motherboard, Smart Fan 5 allows you to control the operation of each fan. In addition, Smart Fan 5 also features a larger number of hybrid fan connectors that support PWM and Voltage operating modes, providing maximum ease of maintenance of the installed liquid cooling system.

Dual-use hybrid connectors. The hybrid connector is able to detect whether the cooling system is using PWM or Voltage control modes and will automatically switch to the appropriate state. Supports up to two amplifiers with built-in overcurrent protection - a must for high-end power fans.

BIOS functionality is of paramount importance for the user at the stage of searching and selecting optimal parameters. The new graphical interface proposed by Gigabyte provides convenient access to the functionality of the significantly redesigned BIOS and allows the user to gain a unique experience in fine-tuning the new system.

The Gigabyte App Center provides instant access to proprietary Gigabyte applications that will help you get the most out of your motherboard. The intuitive user interface of the Gigabyte App Center allows you to launch all Gigabyte applications installed on the system, check and notify online about updates available for download, download the latest applications, drivers and BIOS.

Exclusive design of built-in audio subsystem. Provides high-quality audio detail and expansion to create the most realistic sound effects for professional gamers. Solid metal power pins. Increased contact area. Better withstands increased voltage and heat generation. Incredibly durable.

conclusions

In a fairly diverse set of miniature motherboards, there are many gaming designs. They are distinguished by their reliability, elegant design, colorful lighting effects, low energy consumption and enviable performance. What do you think is the best AM4 Mini ITX motherboard? Write in the comments!

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ASRock A320M-HDV R4.0 motherboard

One of the most affordable microATX motherboards of 2021 with an AMD AM4 processor socket and a budget A320 system logic set. An important advantage of this model is the unconditional support for processors with Zen/Zen2 microarchitecture without the additional operation of updating the BIOS microcode.

Works fully with any 2-, 4-, 6-, 8- and 12-core AMD Ryzen 3/5/7/9 CPUs of three generations (Summit Ridge/Pinnacle Ridge/Matisse), hybrid processors with integrated Radeon Vega graphics (Raven Ridge/Picasso) and budget CPU Athlon Zen (Raven Ridge). ASRock A320M-HDV R4.0 motherboard can be a good choice for creating a reliable multi-purpose office or all-purpose home PC. It can also become the basis of a budget gaming system.

For stable operation with high-performance multi-core processors, it is equipped with a 6-phase CPU power subsystem. Two slots for installing DDR4 RAM modules are capable of working with double-sided modules up to 16 GB each. Thus, the maximum memory capacity can reach 32 GB, which is sufficient for a home/work/gaming PC.

When using hybrid processors with an integrated graphics core, you can do without a discrete video card.

High-quality video signal output is provided by D-Sub, DVI-D and HDMI ports (works with 4K resolution monitors/TVs). There is one M2 connector for connecting a high-speed SSD drive.

Rating of the best LGA 1151 v2 motherboards

The best motherboards with the LGA 1151 v2 socket work with the latest generations of processors and support overclocking of the CPU and RAM. They are suitable for building high-performance computers.

MSI B360 GAMING PLUS

If there is no desire to build a top-end computer designed for extreme overclocking, the product from MSI will be a profitable purchase. The model is built on a B-series chipset without overclocking support with a small number of VRM phases. This is also indicated by the maximum RAM frequency of 2666 MHz. In its price range, this is the fastest board that is suitable for low-cost and mid-range computers.

pros

• normal VRM cooling;
• good sound quality for its class;
• many different ports;
• there is a backlight;
• convenient and easy to understand BIOS interface.

Minuses

• There are only 4 communication lines in the second x16 slot, so installing an additional video card is pointless;
• For this money there are motherboards with faster chipsets.

MSI B360 GAMING PLUS

GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS PRO

The motherboard is based on a powerful chipset with 13 power phases, so it supports all LGA 1151-v2 processors. The listed characteristics are sufficient even to ensure overclocking of modern Intel i7 and i9 processors. However, for such actions you will have to install additional coolers, for which there are 8 4-pin ports. In addition, 2 CBO connectors are implemented.

pros

• 4 reinforced slots for RAM with a maximum capacity of up to 64 GB;
• maximum RAM frequency 4133 MHz;
• powerful power subsystem;
• many slots for installing cooling;
• functional BIOS.

Minuses

• insufficient efficiency of standard radiators to maintain a stable temperature;
• better suited for water cooling installation.

GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS PRO

ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO

One of the most functional and expensive devices. When choosing which motherboard is best for a gaming computer, you should choose a model from Asus. The Z390 system logic is used as a basis. It is intended for installation in overclocking-oriented devices. Pro Clock II with TPU chip provides better results when operating frequency increases. The maximum value for RAM is 4133 MHz.

pros

• fast computer boot;
• high-quality synchronization in difficult conditions;
• stable operation even at maximum overclocking;
• high-quality built-in sound (SupremeFX audio system);
• Software for automatically optimizing computer settings.

Minuses

• high price, but the top-end equipment is worth it;
• requires high-quality design of the cooling system.

ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO

GIGABYTE B450M DS3H V2 motherboard (rev. 1.0)

GIGABYTE 400 series motherboards are equipped with ATX board and processor power connectors with solid metal contacts, in order to ensure uninterrupted operation of key components, including under heavy load conditions.

The Realtek RTL8118 GbE LAN chip is a high-performance network controller for gaming PCs that is equipped with the ability to automatically allocate network interface bandwidth resources to ensure the highest priority for the designated application, including gaming. The controller has all the required functions, thanks to which work on the Internet becomes productive and safe.

Sulfur compounds in the air can attack planar components (particularly resistors), creating chemical compounds that can cause a short circuit. If this happens, the motherboard will not be able to function. By installing SOx resistant resistors, GIGABYTE brings a whole new level of Ultra Durable protection to its products.

GIGABYTE motherboards feature Low RDS(on) power transistors, which provide increased energy efficiency and reduced heat dissipation. Thus, without compromising system performance, it is possible to save energy, end-user resources and protect the environment.

GIGABYTE X470 AORUS GAMING 5 WIFI

An alternative motherboard with Wi-Fi from another manufacturer.

Specifications GIGABYTE X470 AORUS GAMING 5 WIFI

However, this is a motherboard with a more advanced overclocking X470 chipset and a more powerful power system (8 phases and a heat pipe in cooling), which allows overclocking top processors without any problems.

The wireless module here supports not only Wi-Fi, but also Bluetooth, and is also implemented on the motherboard itself, and not on a separate remote module. True, this also has its drawbacks, since the antennas are located behind the housing, which interferes with the passage of the signal. GIGABYTE X470 AORUS GAMING 5 WIFI motherboard

ASUS TUF GAMING B550-PLUS motherboard

Full-length ATX gaming motherboard for AMD Ryzen processors based on the mid-range AMD B550 chipset. Refers to 2021 products from the Asus The Ultimate Force gaming series. All models of the Asus TUF family of boards are distinguished by the use of elements with increased reliability (capacitors with polymer electrolyte, silent case ferrite chokes, low-resistance DrMOS assemblies) and undergo mandatory long-term factory testing, guaranteeing reinforced concrete stability during many hours of gaming sessions.

Asus TUF GAMING B550-PLUS motherboard supports 4/6/8/12/16-core Ryzen 3/5/7/9 3000 processors (Matisse and Matisse Refresh cores, 7 nm) and Ryzen 4000 APUs (Renoir with integrated video core Vega, 7 nm).

It is positioned as a product in the mid-price category, intended for creating overclocker and gaming configurations. For impeccable reliability, it is equipped with a reinforced 10-phase (10+2) processor power subsystem, the power elements of which are cooled by radiators.

Minimum delays in online games will be ensured by the high-speed Realtek RTL8125B (2.5 Gbps) LAN adapter. Can simultaneously work with two NVMe SSD drives with an M.2 connector.

Best Gaming Motherboards

A separate category includes gaming motherboards based on the Z390 and X299, which are best suited for building machines with high graphics computing capabilities.

GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS MASTER

The Intel Z390 chipset allows you to install 8-core Intel Core processors of the 8th and 9th generations, including the most top-end solutions. Even a BIOS update is not required, everything works out of the box. It is even enough to work with the Core i9-9900K in turbo mode at 5 GHz. The new flagship received support for USB 3.1 and CNVi interfaces. A significant advantage for players will be the presence of 6 SATA600 ports and 3 M.2 slots. The motherboard allows you to combine internal drives into RAID arrays and allows you to install Intel Optane Memory.

pros

• powerful power subsystem;
• radiators of impressive size;
• you can install up to 8 coolers;
• quality treatment;
• expanded set of peripheral controllers.

Minuses

• high price;
• minor bugs, like resetting overclocking settings, random POST errors and the like.

GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS MASTER

MSI X299 RAIDER

Professional-grade motherboard with an efficient cooling system that allows you to control each fan separately. Also supports the installation of a water pump. The model works with two M.2 and one U.2 drives, and can also interact with Intel Optane Memory modules. A significant advantage of the device is support for 8 DDR4 sticks with a total capacity of up to 128 GB. Dual-channel and quad-channel modes are included, and the maximum frequency can reach 4500 MHz.

pros

• supports all Intel Core X series processors;
• Hybrid SLI mode when installing two video cards;
• multi-channel audio subsystem based on Realtek ALC1220;
• 16 different USB ports;
• the best ratio of price, quality and functionality.

Minuses

• incorrect operation with sleep mode;
• There are a lot of defects.

MSI X299 RAIDER

GIGABYTE B550M DS3H motherboard (rev. 1.0)

GIGABYTE B550M DS3H is an “honest” mATX form factor board, and in general there is only one complaint about the component layout - a very serious one, really. If you install a video card with a dual-slot cooler into the system, it will block only one SATA port. However, if you decide to use a 3D accelerator with a large three-slot cooling system, you will have to say goodbye to two SATA connectors at once. As a result, there will only be a couple of ports left to connect such storage devices.

Both PCI Express x16 have reinforced mounting with double locking - it is much more difficult to damage such slots.

A Realtek RTL8118AS gigabit controller is responsible for the wired network in the device, and a Realtek ALC887 is responsible for the sound.

The boards support the Q-Flash Plus function, which allows you to update the BIOS microcode without installing a CPU, RAM and graphics card. There is a special button on the PCB of the device for this. Q-Flash Plus may not be useful for the rest of your life, but now the presence of this function is more important than ever.

ASRock B450 Pro4

An analogue of the previous board, but in full-size ATX format, for those who like to play it safe in case of system expansion.

Specifications of ASRock B450 Pro4

Everything is the same with the power supply system, so the recommendations for processors and their overclocking are similar, and the situation with memory is also the same.

The sound codec is the same, but there are no longer 2, but 4 capacitors in the harness, and this is good, although it is unlikely that anyone will notice any difference in the sound.

Note that there is no DVI connector, but there is a DisplayPort. If you will be using a processor with integrated graphics, a 4K monitor, or a higher refresh rate (120 Hz or more), then connecting via DP is preferable. But there is no DVI connector like previous motherboards, this is worth considering if you already have a monitor that you planned to connect through this connector.

But the most important difference here is the larger number of PCI-E slots. They may be needed if you suddenly want to install several expansion cards (professional sound card, video capture card, additional video cards, etc.). This may be required mainly for those who are professionally involved in music, specific video editing, streaming, or want to create a multi-display system (for trading or video surveillance). But ordinary users in most cases do not need this, and for music and video capture they often use external devices. ASRock B450 Pro4 motherboard

GIGABYTE B450 AORUS ELITE motherboard (rev. 1.0)

To increase reliability and ensure trouble-free operation of components throughout their entire service life, GIGABYTE engineers implemented the option of forced cooling of M.2 drives using proprietary Thermal Guard radiators. A comprehensive Thermal Guard solution effectively dissipates heat, helping to eliminate the cause of throttling for M.2 devices and preventing disk subsystem performance degradation.

On AORUS motherboards, the proprietary RGB Fusion function works perfectly with digital LEDs.* With RGB Fusion, the user can control the operation of the built-in RGB and external RGBW / Digital LED strips installed on the PC. Along with the ability to control color and apply patterns, AORUS motherboards feature RGB Fusion to interact with digital LEDs.

By connecting external digital LED strips with individual LED addressing, users can create their own templates, branding and illumination shows. AORUS Gaming motherboards provide the ability to connect LED strips with a supply voltage of 5 V and 12 V (up to 300 LEDs per strip). Using RGB Fusion and digital LED strips, users can choose from 9 new stylish templates that can be applied literally on the fly. The ability to connect digital LEDs is only available on some motherboards. (*Connectable LED strips (including digital ones) are not included in the motherboard delivery package.)

Thanks to a wide range of LED strip settings, the PC acquires an individual look in the style chosen by the user. Full support for the RGB color gamut, the RGB Fusion application and absolute control over the lighting environment of the motherboard.

The new RGB Fusion app offers users access to a variety of preset LED lighting profiles with selectable colors. In particular, there is a mode for synchronizing the glow of LEDs to the beat of your favorite music, as well as a mode for changing the color of the glow as an indicator of the current processor temperature. True experts in organizing lighting will appreciate the expanded range of settings, which allows you to organize the lighting environment according to an individual plan with your own effects and color transitions, setting a certain duration and transition time for the LED strips to glow.

What is the best motherboard to buy for Ryzen in 2021?

Thus, for up to $100 you can get a board with support for light overlocking capabilities (maximum for overclocking on the X370 chipset). A budget of around $150 allows you to get more advanced RGB lighting, more radiators, stabilizers and ports. Premium motherboards that match the latest innovations start from $200. With their help, it will not be difficult to cope with the performance of AMD Threadripper. If you don’t know which motherboard to buy for Ryzen, we suggest summarizing:

1. The best inexpensive motherboard for Ryzen is PRIME X470-PRO;
2. Budget compact model (micro-ATX) – PRIME B450M-A
3. A good AM4 model for price and quality is Phantom Gaming 4;
4. The best premium motherboard is ROG Strix X570-F Gaming.

In the latter case, as you understand, we are talking about the X570 chipset.

MSI B450 GAMING PLUS MAX motherboard

Reasonable price is not the only positive quality that the MSI B450 GAMING PLUS MAX motherboard has - there are other excellent characteristics. For example, it should be noted that this product has an optimal power level and will be able to work at a decent level with both a quad-core processor and those devices that have a higher level of performance.

In addition, the MSI B450 GAMING PLUS MAX motherboard boasts a high level of reliability, which is important. The AMD B450 chipset is presented here, which is responsible for the stable operation of the device. In addition, support for CrossFire and SATA RAID should be mentioned. The device's natural frequency is 2667 MHz. Memory is represented by 4 slots.

Pros:

• excellent purchase for the price
• 4 slots for RAM
• the ability to overclock both the processor and memory
• beautiful and neat lighting
• doesn't heat up
• possibility of connecting a large number of fans for blowing

Top LGA 1151 motherboards

The LGA 1151 socket is not used by the newest Intel processors, mainly i3, i5, i7 up to the 8th generation inclusive. They best combine reasonable price and decent performance.

ASRock B250M Pro4

A modern low-cost motherboard is suitable for installation in small microATX system units. It easily copes with the installation and processing of processors of average performance. All due to 4+2 power phases and 4 aluminum radiators. The model supports RAM expansion via 4 DDR4 slots, but their operating frequency is modest – up to 2400 MHz. ASRock traditionally offers software for overclocking components, and here it is also well implemented.

pros

• good sound equipment with ELNA capacitors;
• convenient control of the cooling system;
• proprietary software for overclocking in the BIOS;
• good combination of price and quality;
• many ports for connecting RAM.

Minuses

• microATX format reduces the number of USB connectors;
• the slot for a second memory card is rather a formality: there is no SLI support and an inconvenient location.

ASRock B250M Pro4

MSI B250M MORTAR

Cooling of transistors is implemented not only attractively, but also efficiently. Even in the testing state, the temperature is in the operating range, there is no need for additional cooling. The model is aimed at installation in mid-range computers that will not be overclocked. There is an option to increase the operating frequency, but the BIOS does not offer the necessary capabilities, and the limit is quite low.

pros

• 4 slots for RAM;
• there is an M.2 slot;
• supports Crossfire technology;
• high-quality PCI-Ex16 port fastening;
• advanced level of cooling.

Minuses

• tendency to increase PLL in automatic mode, but manual settings can be set;
• maximum RAM speed 2400 MHz;
• not the best implementation of the audio path.

MSI B250M MORTAR

Asus Prime B250M-Plus

A full-featured mid-level micro-ATX board developed based on B250 logic. It is based on a good Intel B250 Express chipset, which is optimized for interaction with the 7th generation Intel Core i7 / i5 / i3 / Pentium / Celeron. The board's excellent stability, high performance and bandwidth allow it to be used for stock computers and devices oriented towards slight overclocking.

pros

• 2 ports with M.2 interface;
• Controlled LED backlight is implemented;
• reliable hardware protection 5X Protection III;
• advanced Intel Optane system for working with high-speed drives;
• premium capacitors.

Minuses

• does not work with RAM above 2400 MHz;
• a small number of ports.

Asus Prime B250M-Plus

ASUS ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING motherboard

You can build a gaming PC based on the ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming motherboard. It has great potential, you will create the ideal configuration. Evaluate the set of its interfaces and select the appropriate components.

ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming board was released in the Standard-ATX form factor. It received an AM4 socket for connecting a processor. You can install various chips from AMD on it, you just need to check the compatibility.

Expansion slots – three PCI-E x16 and three PCI-E x1. The proposed board supports CrossFire X technology. You can install up to three video cards on it to get a performance boost in games.

Type of supported RAM is DDR4. The board has four slots for modules, and the total amount of RAM is up to 128 GB. This is enough for gaming builds, you will have a supply of RAM for the future.

LEDs are built into the board. They act as a backlight and will be useful if there is a transparent side wall in the case. The board also comes with the necessary components to assemble a PC.

TOP 3 best motherboards for socket 2066

Socket 2066 is required to install flagship-level Intel processors from the 7th generation and above. They are intended for working with graphics and assembling professional gaming computers.

Gigabyte X299 AORUS Gaming

This is the most budget motherboard on socket 2066, which can already be called gaming equipment. It is based on the Intel X299 chipset, compatible exclusively with 4-core processors such as Intel Core i7-7740X and Intel Core i7-7640X. Even with this limitation, the performance of the system built on the motherboard is sufficient to run VR applications. The positive side of the model is the equipment: 4 slots for DDR4 64 GB, 3 connectors for installing video cards in SLI/CrossFireX mode.

pros

• Intel Optane Memory support;
• the sound system on Realtek ALC1220 works with a minimum of noise and allows you to install 7.1 acoustics;
• plenty of connectors for connecting cooling coolers;
• Software for controlling the operation of fans;
• two M.2 slots.

Minuses

• unusual BIOS firmware;
• limited choice of processors.

Gigabyte X299 AORUS Gaming

ASRock X299 Extreme4

The 11-phase power subsystem and dual-chip transistors allow for significant overclocking. Even with an increase in frequency by 50%, the processor has enough power. High-quality connectors and effective heat dissipation have a positive effect on operation under load. Minor shortcomings of the device relate to the packaging, such as the fact that the model does not have a U.2 connector and few USB connectors. The disadvantages are compensated by the ability to overclock RAM to 4200 MHz, as well as support for RAM up to 128 GB.

pros

• 3 PCI-E X16 slots;
• LED lighting with support for remote control from a smartphone;
• equipped with an SLI bridge;
• XXL-size aluminum radiators;
• HD sound, allowing you to work with 7.1 speaker systems.

Minuses

• there is no Wi-Fi module, you need to buy it separately;
• There could be more connectors.

ASRock X299 Extreme4

TUF X299 Mark 2

The reliable ATX motherboard is based on X299 logic, optimized to work with Intel Core X-Series processors. The model is characterized by increased stability and performance. It has Q-LED indicators for quickly diagnosing the system, as well as Thermal Radar for adjusting cooler speed. An advanced cooling system allows you to overclock the processor and RAM by approximately 30%.

pros

• Turbo LAN technology allows you to set priorities for traffic consumption;
• expandable Aura Sync lighting with remote control;
• 8 slots for installing coolers;
• suitable for creating computers capable of running any modern games;
• 4 ports for memory.

Minuses

• no heatsinks for SSD drives;
• inconvenient placement of SATA connectors.

TUF X299 Mark 2