Finest Intel Motherboards: June 2022

Right here is the most recent replace to our listing of really helpful Intel motherboards in our collection of motherboards consumers guides. All numbers within the textual content are up to date to replicate pricing on the time of writing.

Finest Intel Motherboards: June 2022

Together with Intel’s complete number of twelfth Gen Core collection processors, there’s an equally complete number of motherboards to go along with them. For the entry-level, there’s the very reasonably priced and stable bang for buck Core i3-12100 ($130), with the mid-range being dominated by the Core i5 and i7 processors with as much as twelve cores (8P/4E). On the high of the stack is the flagship Core i9-12900K and Core i9-12900KS processors with sixteen cores for essentially the most demanding workflows, functions, and video games.

Each processor no matter use case and worth level wants an equally succesful motherboard to get essentially the most out of the efficiency. With all kinds of LGA 1700 motherboards together with the premium Z690, extra reasonably priced H660, and B660 chipsets, to the extra reasonably priced and entry-level H610 fashions, there’s a myriad of choices out there. We’re looking at what’s presently out there in the marketplace for Intel’s twelfth Gen Core collection processors starting from ‘cash no object’, all the way in which right down to what’s scorching by way of worth in our newest motherboard purchaser’s information for June 2022.

Listed below are our selections within the motherboard marketplace for Intel. For AMD suggestions, head on over to our AMD information. That is up to date month-to-month similar to our Intel motherboard consumers information.

Our suggestions for motherboards are based mostly fully on private {and professional} opinions. There are notably many various motherboards throughout the Intel chipsets together with the most recent Z690, B660, H660, and H610 chipsets for twelfth technology processors, with pre-existing 11/tenth gen choices together with Z590, B560, Z490, and the B460 chipsets. We have thought-about and factored all of those into our choice, and in the end, a few of our selections and choices listed here are additionally restricted by what inventory is on the market.

Over the subsequent couple of months, we’ll be reviewing and analyzing what the Z690 motherboards have to supply, together with each DDR5 and DDR4 variations. As we familiarize yourself with Alder Lake and Z690, we’ll be capable of make some extra knowledgeable selections compared to what we have chosen for now. Relaxation assured, all the picks chosen are my private {and professional} selections, choices I’d be keen to spend my hard-earned cash on.

Finest Intel Motherboard For Gaming/Efficiency

MSI Professional Z690-A WIFI (DDR5) ($230 at Amazon/$230 at Newegg)

Whereas efficiency is subjective to the general {hardware} configuration of a system, the motherboard is undoubtedly the gateway to unlocking all the new options. There are various Z690 fashions to think about, however for November, one board that piques my curiosity is from MSI, the Professional Z690-A WIFI (DDR5) to be precise. Now whereas the aesthetic won’t be the standard quintessential gaming-themed motherboard, it is acquired all the things wanted to get avid gamers off the bottom with a good characteristic set, and it has an equally enticing worth level.

A number of the MSI Professional Z690-A WIFI’s most notable options embody Intel’s newest Wi-Fi 6E CNVi with an Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE controller. Coupled with assist for as much as three PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2, one PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2, and 6 SATA ports, it has all the things a gamer may need starting from super-fast NVMe and even typical laborious drives for recreation storage. One of many greatest developments of choosing Alder Lake is that it has loads of diverse PCIe assist, together with one full-length PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots working at x4/x1, with a further and smaller PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. Maybe an important addition to Z690 is assist for the most recent DDR5 reminiscence, with the MSI Professional Z690-A WIFI supporting DDR5-6400 out of the field, with a mixed capability of as much as 128 GB throughout 4 reminiscence slots.

The MSI Professional Z690-A WIFI will be presently bought for $230 at Newegg, with Amazon coming in at an equal  $230 as nicely. A Z690 mannequin with DDR5 assist, PCIe 5.0 assist, three M.2 slots, and Wi-Fi 6E/2.5 GbE for $215, is a implausible worth. A lot of the Z690 boards are so over-engineered {that a} mannequin equivalent to it will nonetheless offer you all of the efficiency advantages of the twelfth technology Intel chips, however with extra finances to spend on DDR5 reminiscence, storage, and maybe in the event you’re fortunate a graphics card; inventory allowing after all.

Avid gamers on a finances will admire the characteristic set, whereas all of the efficiency advantages of Alder Lake will be unleashed with the MSI Professional Z690-A WIFI, and this makes it our choose for avid gamers. MSI additionally has a non-Wi-Fi enabled model of this mannequin that’s listed on Newegg for $220, if gaming over wi-fi simply is not appropriate for you, however at $215, we might wholly suggest getting the Wi-Fi 6E model.

Finest Intel Motherboard: The Worth Possibility

ASRock B660 Professional RS (DDR4) ($159 at Amazon/$140 at Newegg)

The time period worth is a subjective one, and may usually be seen in many various methods. In my opinion on the subject of deciding on a motherboard, it comes down to at least one major goal, the fee versus the options supplied. It is no secret that motherboards have risen considerably in worth over the past couple of years, with high fashions again within the days of Intel’s LGA1155 for Sandy Bridge costing $200, whereas as we speak’s premium tier Z690 LGA1700 fashions usually begin there. That is why we’re pivoting to considered one of Intel’s extra budget-friendly chipsets, B660, and the ASRock B660 Professional RS (DDR4) is our choice to get some worth out of the present Intel twelfth technology processors.

A number of the important options of the ASRock B660 Professional RS embody assist for the extra reasonably priced DDR4 reminiscence, with speeds of as much as DDR4-4800, in addition to assist for all of Intel’s Alder Lake-S desktop processors such because the Core i5-12600K and Core i3-12300. Regardless of Intel’s B660 chipset not coming with assist for overclocking, that is to not its detriment because it focuses extra on providing worth with a finances Intel I219-V Gigabit Ethernet controller, with an equally cost-effective Realtek ALC897 HD audio codec.

Different options embody one full-length PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, one full-length PCIe 4.0 x4 slot, and two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. For storage, ASRock contains two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots, with one PCIe 3.0 x2/SATA M.2 slot, in addition to 4 SATA ports. For a finances mannequin, there are 4 USB 3.2 G1 Kind-A and two USB 2.0 ports on the rear panel, however ASRock does embody one USB 3.2 G1 Kind-C entrance panel header (one port), two USB 3.2 G1 Kind-A headers (4 ports), and one USB 2.0 header (two ports) for customers requiring extra connectivity.

The ASRock B660 Professional RS is presently that can be purchased at Newegg for $140, which is an inexpensive worth for all the things that it presents. Amazon additionally now shares this mannequin for the primary time in months, but it surely’s costlier with a worth of $159, so we suggest customers purchase this at Newegg. For customers on the lookout for the same motherboard from the Z690 chipset, there’s the ASRock Z690 Phantom Gaming 4 (DDR4) which prices $180 at Newegg and retains a lot of the identical characteristic set, though the Z690 mannequin does profit from PCIe 5.0. In the finances area, DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 aren’t usually a priority or viable for customers to profit from, and the ASRock B660 Professional RS is what it’s, worth and wise possibility for customers on a finances.

Finest Intel Motherboard: The Finest Mini-ITX Motherboard

ASUS ROG Strix B660-I Gaming Wi-Fi (DDR5) ($220 at Amazon/$220 at Newegg)

On the launch of each chipset, whether or not it is Intel or AMD, there are numerous ATX-sized and micro-ATX sized, however there is not a lot alternative in relation to small type issue fashions equivalent to mini-ITX. Regardless of the extra premium Z690 fashions within the mini-ITX type issue coming with extremely excessive worth tags such because the MSI MEG Z690I Unify ($400) and the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WIFI ($440), we have opted for a extra reasonably priced resolution for small type issue customers with a B660 possibility, the ASUS ROG Strix B660-I Gaming Wi-Fi.

So why have I opted for the B660 model over the Z690 model? Nicely, the general variations between the 2 aren’t as big as the additional $220 price would possibly counsel. Firstly, the ASUS ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WIFI nonetheless advantages from one full-length PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, with assist for 2 PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 slots and 4 SATA ports. The principle distinction is available in networking, with the B660 mannequin choosing an Intel Wi-Fi 6 and Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE controller, whereas the Z690 mannequin makes use of a greater spec Intel Wi-Fi 6E CNVi. 

Trying on the finer specs, the ASUS ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WIFI is utilizing a premium SupremeFX S1220A HD audio codec that powers 5 3.5 mm audio jacks and single S/PDIF optical output, whereas rear panel connectivity for the worth and measurement is great. This contains one USB 3.2 G2x2 Kind-C, one USB 3.2 G1 Kind-C, three USB 3.2 G1 Kind-A, and three USB 2.0 ports on the rear panel. The board additionally advantages from assist for the most recent DDR5 reminiscence, with supported speeds of as much as DDR5-6200, and a most capability of as much as 64 GB throughout two slots.

The ASUS ROG Strix B660-I Gaming WIFI (DDR5) is presently that can be purchased for $220 at each Amazon and Newegg. It is price noting pricing has been constant over the past couple of months, and it stays a preferred mini-ITX motherboard for customers wanting to make use of Alder Lake in small type gaming techniques. Compared to its elder sibling, the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I Gaming WIFI which prices $240, the B660 model prices half the worth presently, and for the cash, it makes far more sense, not simply from a worth perspective, however the total variations between the 2 by way of options is not anyplace sufficient to justify the additional prices related.

The one profit the Z690 mannequin presents is overclocking assist, so if customers assume it is price it, regardless of Intel’s twelfth technology providing spectacular efficiency with its ‘turbo’ clock speeds, then have at it. Personally, the B660 mannequin makes extra sense as the additional $200 could possibly be spent on further areas equivalent to storage, quicker reminiscence, and even on higher graphics.

Finest Intel Motherboard: Cash Is No Object

GIGABYTE Z690 Aorus Xtreme ($900 at Amazon/$900 at Newegg)

When not having to fret about finances and choosing what is taken into account one of the best cash can purchase, there are loads of stable contenders. We have now seen some top-tier premium flagship fashions over the past couple of years on Z590, Z490, and even Z390, however the newest Z690 chipset has taken issues to the subsequent stage. Our choose for November could possibly be classed as ‘Xtreme”, with GIGABYTE’s Z690 Aorus Xtreme taking our high spot this month.

The GIGABYTE Z690 Aorus Xtreme is all the things a flagship could possibly be after which some, with a premium aesthetic, decked out head to toe in armor and coverings, even right down to the two-digit LED debugger receding into the armor within the high right-hand nook. All the things has been detailed to look as spectacular because the characteristic set it boasts. GIGABYTE even contains an OLED display screen into the reminiscence slot cowl, with an marketed 23-phase (20+1+2) direct energy supply with the most recent 105 An influence levels.

Trying on the major characteristic set of the GIGABYTE Z690 Aorus Xtreme, it has three full-length PCIe slots, two with assist for PCIe 5.0 working at both x16 or x8/x8, with the third slot electronically locked do PCIe 3.0 x4. There’s loads of storage assist with 4 PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots, however simply 4 SATA ports. It appears as if GIGABYTE has gone for a much less is extra strategy, though none of the present Z690 flagship fashions characteristic greater than six, regardless that the chipset truly helps as much as eight. When it comes to reminiscence, the Xtreme helps the most recent DDR5 reminiscence, with speeds of as much as DDR5-6400 out of the field, and a mixed capability of as much as 128 GB throughout 4 slots. 

With regards to networking, GIGABYTE has decked the Z690 Xtreme out with two Ethernet ports, considered one of which is fed by a Marvel AQtion AQC113C 10 GbE controller, with the opposite port operating from an Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE controller. GIGABYTE can be taking advantage of the inclusion of native Wi-Fi 6E assist via the chipset, with Intel’s AX210 Wi-Fi 6E CNVi including each wi-fi and BT 5.2 assist.

Relating connectivity, the Z690 Aorus Xtreme has twin Thunderbolt 4 Kind-C ports on the rear panel, with a formidable ten USB 3.2 G2 Kind-A ports on the rear panel; customers needn’t fear about operating out of ports to plug USB gadgets into with this board. Onboard audio assist is barely totally different from a standard mannequin, with the Z690 Aorus Xtreme opting to make use of an ESS Sabe ES9280AC DAC chip, with two supplementary ES9080 chips performing as the primary driving drive behind the 2 3.5 mm connectors.

The GIGABYTE Z690 Aorus Xtreme has an MSRP of $900, and as such is presently that can be purchased at each Amazon and Newegg for a similar worth. The time period worth is not one thing you may ever affiliate with a flagship mannequin, since you usually get one of the best of all the things. This contains networking, storage, and options, and the Z690 Aorus Xtreme delivers on just about all the things. Some customers might argue that 4 SATA is not acceptable for a board costing $900, however I consider it is a truthful trade-off to make contemplating all the things else is premium. 

Intel Alder Lake and Z690

For these on the lookout for all of the Z690 motherboards, we have compiled particulars on over 50 DDR5 supported fashions, and over 30 DDR4 supported fashions. All of our present and key Intel Alder Lake content material will be discovered under:

Intel Rocket Lake and Z590

For these on the lookout for Z590 fashions, we have compiled particulars on over 50 of them in our Z590 motherboard overview. We have additionally taken a have a look at over 30 budget-focused B560 fashions too:

Our evaluate of Intel’s eleventh Era Rocket Lake processors can be out there to learn:

For customers on the lookout for different choices, we have additionally gone over a number of chipset households as nicely within the hyperlinks under.

Z690: Extra Opinions Coming Quickly

We’re presently testing and dealing our manner via Z690 motherboard opinions. Count on to see loads of further Z690 content material over the subsequent couple of months.