The Best Budget Motherboards for Gaming in 2024

Modern gaming PCs of late are more than just capable computers built around a powerful GPU, with other factors including the CPU, memory, and storage playing increasingly important roles in enabling gaming experiences for end users. The most overlooked part that allows all of these to work together in cohesion without causing issues or bottlenecks is perhaps the motherboard with system builders often compromising when it comes to this to get higher-end components.

Motherboards are an important thing to get right as newer technologies such as PCI-E 5.0, higher-clocked DDR5 memory, and better networking standards kick in. As more demanding CPUs require higher-end VRMs, as well as capable I/O to maximize their capabilities, motherboards have morphed over time from a simple PC component that connects internals, to one that handles quite a few key tasks while ensuring compatibility with the latest and greatest in terms of hardware.

This is particularly true for AMD’s motherboards, which are often required to be a bit more future-proof to ensure they can upgrade with ease. Intel’s recent 12th and 13th-generation CPUs both work on the same socket and the newly released 14th-generation motherboards follow suit, ensuring gamers looking for Intel’s LGA 1700 socket platform offerings have plenty of hardware choices available to them in 2024.

Related

Best AMD Motherboards For Gaming In 2023

Here are our picks for the best AMD AM5-based motherboards for gaming you can buy right now!

How To: Picking A Budget Gaming Motherboard

Picking the right gaming motherboard on a budget is harder than simply rolling the dice with the cheapest option one can find online. This is because of how crucial a motherboard can be when it comes to the performance, stability, and longevity of any particular gaming PC. Some of the key things one should be looking out for are:

Memory Support: While users on a current-generation AMD platform have only DDR5 support in play for socket AM5, Intel offers both, DDR4 and DDR5 motherboards. While the latter is faster it also tends to cost slightly more than its DDR4 alternatives and also results in slightly higher RAM costs even if they have shrunk greatly in the last few months. An informed user therefore tends to benefit from a higher-end motherboard that has better memory compatibility and benefits from higher clocked memory by allowing for a stable overclock in multiple configurations.

Upgrade potential: Picking a motherboard with a budget chipset or a dated PCI-E slot can limit upgrade potential for some gamers down the line. Choosing a gaming motherboard that can essentially deliver the goods on both, current performance and potential upgrades down the line is important for gamers that look to build and upgrade their gaming PC over time. An example would be how AMD’s more budget A and B 300 series chipsets on AM4 were limited in terms of the total number of Ryzen-based processors they could support throughout the lifetime of the socket itself.

Connectivity Offerings: Most budget motherboards tend to use older, more limited ethernet connectors and skip Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity options altogether, something that can be a rude awakening for gamers switching from a prebuilt gaming PC or a laptop where these are often taken for granted. Doing one’s research allows gamers to pick an option that supports both, the connectivity options needed and the bandwidth class required for certain connectivity options.

I/O Offerings: Many gamers are also power users who require plenty of USB ports, dedicated audio ports, and more to truly unlock the potential of their gaming rigs. While higher-end motherboards generally have plenty of these, budget options tend to skimp or limit on USB ports, M2 slots, SATA ports and in some cases, even PCI-E slots which can be of an older specification irrespective of chipset and CPU-level support under the hood. It therefore pays off the investment of reading the fine print when picking a gaming-centric motherboard for your new PC.

Game Rant’s picks for the Best Budget Motherboards for Gamers in 2024

GIGABYTE B650 AORUS Elite AX

Best Overall Budget Gaming Motherboard

Well-Rounded Current Gen Choice

$210 $230 Save $20

The Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX is a high-end motherboard featuring the B650 chipset that allows it to command a much lower price point, closer to AMD’s more budget-oriented motherboard lineups. It is a capable entry that also offers a PCI-E Gen 5 M2 slot that should allow access to faster PCI-E 5.0 storage down the line.

Brand

Gigabyte

Memory Slots

4

Memory Type

DDR5, Up to 6666MHz

Form Factor

ATX

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 6E

USB Ports

Up to 19 USB ports

M.2 NVMe Connector

3 x M2 connectors

CPU Support

AMD Ryzen 7000 Series

Chipset

B650

Socket

AMD AM5

Power Phases

14+2+1

Networking

2.5G Ethernet + Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.3

Pros

• Works with all AMD AM5 socket-based CPUs
• Offers a capable Twin 14+2+1 Phase (70A) VRM design that allows it to handle high-end AMD CPUs with ease
• Comes with a capable networking stack (Ethernet 2.5G, Wifi 6E) for a budget gaming motherboard
• Offers PCI-E 5.0 speeds across 1 of its M2 slots
• Offers high DDR5 memory overclocking potential
• Has plenty of fan headers out of the box allowing for easy board-level control of fans

Cons

• Is limited to PCI-E 4.0 speeds on the GPU slot as a B650 motherboard
• Slightly pricey for a B650 chipset-based offering with B650E options easily available in this price range

The GIGABYTE B650 AORUS Elite AX offers the full ATX treatment to AMD’s entry-level B650 chipset while throwing in plenty of storage options, a capable power delivery mechanism, and high memory overclocking potential in a neat package that can be had for just under $200. It also offers a complete networking stack out of the box with 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3 out of the box, a combination that is normally found on pricier, higher-end motherboards. It uses its limited PCI-E 5.0 lanes on offer to power a single M2 PCI-E 5.0 slot for next-generation storage needs.

At the same time, it skips on a PCI-E 5.0 x16 slot, somewhat hurting its future-proofing prospects. While modern GPUs tend to be limited to PCI-E 4.0 speeds, it is expected that the coming generations will take advantage of the new PCI-E 5.0 spec and may require a motherboard upgrade to allow users to fully benefit from the added bandwidth.

That being said, the GIGABYTE B650 AORUS Elite AX has a lot going for it as an entry-level motherboard. It has a solid set of VRMs, excellent connectivity and I/O, and plenty of flexibility in terms of memory overclock potential. All of these factors combine to make it one of the best motherboards in the business in 2024. This, coupled with better pricing makes it an excellent gaming motherboard to recommend on a budget if one is building a gaming PC in the near future.

ASRock Z790 Pro RS/D4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard

Best Intel Budget Gaming Motherboard

High-End Chipset Sans The Price Tag

$203 $210 Save $7

The ASRock Z790 Pro supports Intel 12th-14th gen Intel Core Processors and has plenty of room for storage expansion with 4x M.2 NVME connectors. There is a 2.5G Ethernet port to ensure fast connectivity. This motherboard supports up to 128 GB of RAM across its 4 DDR4 slots. This is a perfect entry-level Z790 motherboard to build a gaming PC on a budget.

 

Brand

ASRock

Graphics Card Interface

PCI Express 5.0

Memory Slots

4

Memory Type

DDR4

Form Factor

ATX

Wi-Fi

None

M.2 NVMe Connector

4x M.2 NVME Connectors

Chipset

Intel Z790

Socket

LGA1700

PCI Slots

1 x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16, 2X PCIe 3.0

Networking

2.5G Ethernet

CPU Included

N/A

Power Phases

14+1+1 Power Phases

Pros

• Offers a Z790 chipset at a very low price tag.
• Works with DDR4 memory, allowing for a low-cost upgrade for some users
• Has plenty of M2 connectors out of the box
• Offers a PCI-E 5.0 x16 GPU slot
• Supports both 13th and 12th-generation CPUs out of the box

Cons

• Skipping DDR5 memory does have performance considerations versus other high-end PC builds
• Does not have a PCI-E 5.0 M2 slot on offer
• Has no built-in Wi-Fi support (has support for an M2 key)

The ASRock Z790 Pro RS/D4 ATX LGA1700 Motherboard is an excellent ATX-based, gaming-centric motherboard that promises a value approach to the high-end Intel Z790 chipset while offering features that are normally found in more premium motherboards. With 2.5G Ethernet on offer in addition to 4 M2 slots for users looking to add storage or a Wi-Fi key as part of their upgrades.

It happens to be one of the cheapest Z790-based motherboards currently available, supporting both Intel’s 12th and 13th-generation CPUs alongside PCI-E 5.0 GPUs as a future-proof measure. It does, however, skip on PCI-E 5.0 storage support currently, and does not come with an add-in card to enable it. The choice of DDR4 memory makes it a relatively cheap upgrade compared to some DDR5 motherboards for gamers looking for an update that allows them to use their existing last-generation memory.

Related

The Best Motherboards For The 14900K

These are some of the best motherboards to pair with Intel’s fastest consumer-grade CPU.

At the same time, not all gamers will be enthusiastic about going with a 13th-generation Intel motherboard in a DDR4 configuration. Those looking to build a new PC from scratch would be better off buying the DDR5 version that clocks in at the same price tag. As DDR5 memory continues to tumble in pricing, the costs are more frequently closing in on DDR4 offerings.

Note: With a BIOS update on offer that enables support for Intel’s 14th generation CPU lineup available for download, users might want to reconsider if they are not upgrading from an older LGA 1700-based CPU given that Asrock has chosen to eliminate the BIOS flashback button and utility that allows users to update the BIOS on its Z790 motherboard options.

This essentially means users looking to pair this with a 14th-generation CPU might need to find a compatible CPU (12th or 13th-generation) for older iterations of the same motherboard to avoid compatibility issues with detecting a newer processor than the BIOS version itself.

NZXT N7 B650E Gaming Wi-Fi 6 Motherboard

Best Premium Budget Gaming Motherboard

A Well-Designed Alternative

The NZXT N7 B650E Gaming Wi-Fi 6 Motherboard is an excellent AMD socket AM5-based motherboard based on the 650E chipset with decent overclocking, excellent power delivery, and above-average expansion slots in tow. It comes in a white or all-black design that is enthusiast-friendly in terms of its design and feature set.

Brand

NZXT

Graphics Card Interface

PCI-E 5.0

Memory Slots

4

Memory Type

DDR5 Upto 6000MHz+, 128GB

Wi-Fi

Yes, Wi-Fi 6

USB Ports

Upto 20 USB Ports

M.2 NVMe Connector

3 x M2 Sockets

CPU Support

AMD Ryzen 7000 Series

Chipset

B650E

Socket

AMD AM5

Power Phases

16+2+1 Power phase design, 90A Smart Power Phase

Networking

2.5G Ethernet, WI-FI 6/AX, Bluetooth 5.2

Pros

• Offers an excellent 16+2+1 Power phase design with 90A Smart Power Stage allowing it to handle the highest-end AMD 7000 series CPUs with ease
• Has a PCI-E 5.0 x16 GPU slot on offer
• Has a single PCI-E 5.0 M2 NVME slot
• Offers stellar networking (Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5G Ethernet, Bluetooth 5.2)
• One of the best-looking AMD motherboards in its price bracket

Cons

• Somewhat pricey for a B650E-based motherboard

The NZXT N7 B650E is one of the best-looking and feature-packed AM5-based motherboards a gamer can grab, even as it trades at a somewhat high price tag for a B650E-based motherboard. It comes with excellent power delivery allowing it to run AMD’s highest-end 7950X/7950X3D CPUs with ease. It couples this with PCI-E 5.0 readiness for both the GPU slot and a single M2 socket while offering support for a total of 3 NVME drives.

It delivers excellent networking, offering 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2 out of the box. While it does cost considerably more than most B650E motherboards, it offers tight integration with NZXT’s CAM software, plenty of RGB, and fan headers. This allows it to be a very versatile offering that can handle pretty much any gaming PC’s requirements with considerable future-proofing available under the hood. Its aesthetics do set it apart as a more premium, albeit budget-oriented option for an AMD gaming motherboard in 2023 with some of its (higher-end) competition edging past the $600 mark with ease.

The NZXT N7 B650E continues to deliver the goods as one of the most popular gaming motherboards on offer while also offering slightly better value with a sub-10% price cut over its previous market price, making for an excellent value-added option for gamers looking for a more premium option currently.

MSI MPG Z790 Edge WiFi Gaming Motherboard

Best Overclocking Budget Gaming Motherboard

Powerful, Versatile Offering

$300 $380 Save $80

The MSI MPG Z790 Edge Wi-Fi Gaming Motherboard is a capable entry from MSI that supports current-generation Intel Raptor Lake and previous-generation Alder Lake CPUs.

It comes packed with a PCI-E 5.0 x16 slot, a very capable networking stack, and as many as 5 M2 NVME connectors making it a compelling choice for gamers, creators, and people looking for a feature-packed motherboard for work or entertainment.

Brand

MSI

CPU Included

No

Graphics Card Interface

PCI-Express 5.0

Memory Slots

4

Memory Type

DDR5 (Up to 7200MHz)

Form Factor

ATX

Wi-Fi

Yes, Wi-Fi 6E (M2 Key)

USB Ports

Up to 17 USB Ports

M.2 NVMe Connector

5 x M2 slots

CPU Support

Intel 12th and 13th Gen

Chipset

Intel Z790

Socket

LGA1700

Power Phases

16+1+1 Phase Power Delivery

Networking

2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.3

Pros

• Offers a future-proof PCI-E 5.0 x16 GPU slot
• Looks considerably more aesthetically pleasing than the competition
• Supports up to 7200MHz (OC) DDR5 memory out of the box
• Has support for 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3 out of the box

Cons

• Has no PCI-E 5.0 M2 slots available and does not come with an adapter

The MSI MPG Z790 Edge WiFi Gaming Motherboard is a premium, but somewhat mid-range Z790 motherboard on offer that throws in better overclocking support than its peers thanks to its 16-1-1 phase VRMs. It doubles down with aggressive cooling to keep temperatures down on the main board while offering a PCI-E Gen 5 x16 GPU slot and support for up to 7200MHz memory out of the box.

Related

The Best Gaming Motherboards in 2023

Not all motherboards are created equal. The team at GameRant takes a closer look at some of the best gaming motherboards available right now.

It comes with a full networking stack on offer with 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, and BT 5.3 out of the box and offers looks that match with more premium-tier gaming motherboards with ease. Much like other Z790-based motherboards, however, it does not offer PCI-E 5.0 NVME slots or an adapter that makes use of the Gen 5 x16 slot to leverage faster storage, instead opting for a more future-proofed GPU slot.

For users intending to use Intel’s 14th generation CPUs, an updated model of the same, the MSI MPG Z790 Edge TI MAX WiFi is also available, shipping with a Rocket Lake Refresh-ready BIOS, Wi-Fi 7 support, and better-overclocked memory support in tow.

Asus PRIME B650-PLUS ATX AM5 Motherboard

Best Entry-level Budget Gaming Motherboard

A No-Nonsense AM5 Motherboard

While not the most flashy motherboard, the Prime B650-PLUS AM5 motherboard from Asus has an impressive feature set, making it a good home for budget-friendly and top-of-line components. This motherboard is ATX and has 4 DDR5 memory slots, 2 M.2 NVME connectors, and built-in 2.5 GB LAN.

Brand

Asus

Memory Slots

4

Memory Type

DDR5

Form Factor

ATX

Wi-Fi

No

RBG Support

Yes

M.2 NVMe Connector

2 x M.2 Slots

CPU Support

AM5

Chipset

AMD B650

PCI Slots

3 x PCIe slots (1 x16 primary slot)

Networking

1 x 2.5 Gb/s (Realtek) LAN

Pros

• Offers a single PCI-E 5.0 NVME slot
• Has 2.5G Ethernet on offer
• Supports up to 7600MHz+ DDR5 memory out of the box

Cons

• Has no Built-In Wi-Fi
• Has entry-level VRMs which could be a concern for high-end AMD CPUs
• Limited to PCI-E 4.0 speeds for the x16 slot

The Asus PRIME B650-PLUS ATX AM5 Motherboard is an entry-level AM5 motherboard that offers an acceptable, but utilitarian feature and upgrade set to gamers and end users looking to build a simple, gaming-centric PC without too many bells and whistles. It does offer 2.5G Ethernet and a PCI-E 5.0 NVME slot out of the box, as well as support for high-clocked DDR5 memory.

However, it compromises on its feature set considerably. Thanks to the B650 chipset, a somewhat underwhelming VRM set with limited cooling on offer, this motherboard limits itself to PCI-E 4.0 speeds for the GPU and sacrifices Wi-Fi to cut in terms of pricing. This also means that some of its competition brings better features at a similar price point for users looking for a better package and not being particular about the ASUS brand name in the sub-$ $200 price range.

For users who must have a budget AM5-based AMD motherboard with Wi-Fi, the ASUS TUF Gaming B650-Plus Wi-Fi is an excellent alternative that currently trades at a small discount bringing it to just $10 above the Prime B650-Plus motherboard.

MSI MAG B760 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4

Best Mid-Range Budget Gaming Motherboard

Value-Centric DDR4 Motherboard

$170 $190 Save $20

MSI’s MAG B760 Tomahawk Wi-Fi DDR4 motherboard is a capable entry from the well-known Taiwan-based tech manufacturer that offers a slew of I/O and onboard slots in a bid to capture the mainstream Intel CPU-based audience with a blend of value, functionality, and reliability.

Brand

MSI

Memory Slots

4

Memory Type

DDR4

Form Factor

ATX

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 6E

USB Ports

Upto 16

M.2 NVMe Connector

3 x M2 Slots

CPU Support

Intel 12th-14th gen

Chipset

B760

Socket

LGA 1700

Power Phases

12+1+1

Networking

Ethernet 2.5G + Wifi

Pros

• Works with all of Intel’s 12th, 13th and 14th generation CPUs
• Has plenty of USB ports on offer
• Can support high memory overclocks out of the box
• Offers Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5G Ethernet, and Bluetooth 5.3 out of the box

Cons

• Has no PCI-E 5.0 support for M2 storage
• Utilizes dated DDR4 memory which could impede performance slightly
• No BIOS flashback support

The MSI MAG B760 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 is an excellent motherboard that supports both Intel’s 12th and 13th-generation CPUs as well as support for the newer 14th-generation Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs (with a BIOS upgrade). With high memory overclocking potential and great networking on offer (Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.3, and 2.5G Ethernet), it offers exceptional value versus its competition.

While it does offer PCI-E 5.0 at x16 to the GPU slot, making for an easier upgrade down the line, it does not extend the same when it comes to its M2 SSD slots, all 3 of which sport PCI-E 4.0 instead with users potentially finding issues with its DDR4 RAM limitations.

The MAG B76t0 Tomahawk Wi-Fi assuages most of these concerns simply by the sheer amount of value it delivers under $200 while throwing in a significant amount of USB connectivity, making it a great upgrade-friendly motherboard for gamers despite its compromises in some areas.

Note: Early iterations of this motherboard do NOT support Intel’s 14th-generation CPUs out of the box and would require an older CPU equipped to update the BIOS before the motherboard detects the newer Intel processors which could become an issue for some DIY builders without access to an Intel 12th or 13th generation CPU.

Alternatively, users planning to use Intel’s higher-end Intel Core 14th-generation CPUs can also benefit from considering the ready-to-go MSI Z790 Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi instead which offers support for the newer CPUs, better power delivery, and Wi-Fi 7 support out of the box.

Any gamers not shopping on a budget should also check out Game Rant’s list of the best motherboards available now!

FAQ

Q: Will Intel’s 14th-generation CPUs work on older motherboards?

Intel’s 14th-generation CPUs use the same LGA 1700 bracket that the 12th and 13th-generation CPUs employ. As a result, most Intel-based 6XX and 7XX series motherboards should be able to support the newer upcoming CPUs provided they get a BIOS update to detect the new processors

Q: Does a budget gaming motherboard have Wi-Fi?

While budget gaming motherboards historically tend to cut down on costs, most budget options on offer currently do have Wi-Fi built in. This is due to cheaper modules and consumer demand leading to it become a lower-end staple requirement, even as motherboards have significantly increased in price (and therefore the definition of budget simultaneously).