Buying Guide
The Best Motherboards for Heavy Workloads
We weighed five motherboards on M.2 slot count and wired network speed; the Strix Z890-E has the most M.2 slot count, and the Z790 Tomahawk MAX costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Long full-load work needs a strong power delivery and room for storage. Every pick uses a high-end X870, X670E, Z890 or Z790 chipset, ordered by M.2 slot count.
The order reflects M.2 slots, wired LAN and wi-Fi from maker specifications; we did not test these motherboards ourselves, and a missing wired LAN is flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Most M.2 Slots
ASUS ROG Strix Z890-E Gaming WiFi
The most M.2 slot count here (7).
Best for: Buyers who put M.2 slot count first.
Our take Check price for ASUS ROG Strix Z890-E Gaming WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi
The cheapest way into this group, below the X870 AORUS Elite.
Best for: Getting Bluetooth 5.4 alongside Wi-Fi 7 for the least money.
Our take Check price for MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi
A PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Best for: Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Our take Check price for ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7
EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal.
Best for: Buyers who want EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal.
Our take Check price for GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
ASUS TUF Gaming X870-PLUS WiFi
80A SPS power stages.
Best for: Buyers who want 80A SPS power stages.
Our take Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming X870-PLUS WiFi (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The most M.2 slot count here (7). | Buyers who put M.2 slot count first. | Check price for ASUS ROG Strix Z890-E Gaming WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
| The cheapest way into this group, below the X870 AORUS Elite. | Getting Bluetooth 5.4 alongside Wi-Fi 7 for the least money. | Check price for MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
| A PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. | Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. | Check price for ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
| EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal. | Buyers who want EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal. | Check price for GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 (opens in a new tab) |
| 80A SPS power stages. | Buyers who want 80A SPS power stages. | Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming X870-PLUS WiFi (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Most M.2 Slots1 of 5
ASUS ROG Strix Z890-E Gaming WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Strix Z890-E lists seven M.2 slots, an 18+2+1+2 layout and Thunderbolt 4.
Best for
- Buyers who put M.2 slot count first.
Skip if
- Pass if a published wired network speed matters; this one has none.
Why we like it
It is the most expandable board here. On M.2 slot count it leads this guide at 7, ahead of the Z790 Tomahawk MAX (5). No other pick in this guide offers 18+2+1+2 power stages; compare the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, which has 16+1+1 power stages.
No other pick in this guide offers an LGA1851 socket; compare the X870 AORUS Elite, which has an AM5 socket. You get a Z890 chipset here, which sets it apart from the TUF X870-PLUS and its an X870 chipset. It also comes with AI overclocking, cooling and networking tools.
It uses Intel's LGA1851 socket for Core Ultra 200S processors, not older 12th to 14th Gen chips. Only the Strix Z790-E came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks. There is no published wired network speed figure, whereas the Z790 Tomahawk MAX offers 2.5Gbps.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 7
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7
- Power stages: 18+2+1+2
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: LGA1851
- Chipset: Z890
Pros
- 7 M.2 slots for SSD expansion
- Wi-Fi 7 built in
- 18+2+1+2 power stage layout
- Thunderbolt 4 ports
Cons
- No published wired network speed
- Costs more than the Z790 Tomahawk MAX at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here2 of 5
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Z790 Tomahawk MAX offers five M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 7 and a 16+1+1 layout.
Best for
- Getting Bluetooth 5.4 alongside Wi-Fi 7 for the least money.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: m.2 slot count of 5, behind the Strix Z890-E (7).
Why we like it
It is the most complete Z790 board for its price here. On M.2 slot count it ties with the Strix Z790-E at 5. 16+1+1 power stages is unique to it among these picks, while the TUF X870-PLUS uses 16+2+1 power stages.
It shares an LGA1700 socket with the Strix Z790-E; the Strix Z890-E goes with an LGA1851 socket. It also comes with Bluetooth 5.4 alongside Wi-Fi 7 and a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot. It uses Intel's LGA1700 socket for 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors; check the CPU support list for the BIOS version your chip needs, since early boards shipped before 14th Gen launched.
It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the X870 AORUS Elite was the next step up. The main gap: M.2 slot count of 5, behind the Strix Z890-E (7). If that matters, the Strix Z890-E offers 7.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 5
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7
- Power stages: 16+1+1
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR5
- Chipset: Z790
Pros
- 5 M.2 slots for SSD expansion
- Wi-Fi 7 built in
- 16+1+1 power stage layout
- Bluetooth 5.4 alongside Wi-Fi 7
Cons
- M.2 slot count of 5, behind the Strix Z890-E (7)
Also Consider3 of 5
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Strix Z790-E offers an 18+1 layout, five M.2 slots and Thunderbolt 4 support.
Best for
- Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7.
Why we like it
It is the premium LGA1700 board here. It matches the Z790 Tomahawk MAX on M.2 slot count (5). No other pick in this guide offers a wi-Fi 6E; compare the X870 AORUS Elite, which has a wi-Fi 7.
No other pick in this guide offers 18+1 power stages; compare the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, which has 16+1+1 power stages. Like the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, it has an LGA1700 socket, while the TUF X870-PLUS uses an AM5 socket. It also offers a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot and a front-panel USB 3.2 port.
It uses Intel's LGA1700 socket for 12th, 13th and 14th Gen Core processors; check the CPU support list for the BIOS version your chip needs, since early boards shipped before 14th Gen launched. It was priced above the TUF X870-PLUS and below the Strix Z890-E at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 5
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Power stages: 18+1
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory type: DDR5
- Chipset: Z790
Pros
- 5 M.2 slots for SSD expansion
- 18+1 power stage layout
- PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot
- Thunderbolt 4 support
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Costs more than the Z790 Tomahawk MAX at the time of writing
Strong Alternative4 of 5
GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The X870 AORUS Elite pairs four M.2 slots and USB4 with Gigabyte's five-year warranty.
Best for
- Buyers who want EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Z790 Tomahawk MAX was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It is the X870 board with the longest cover here. It matches the TUF X870-PLUS on M.2 slot count (4). Like the TUF X870-PLUS, it has an AM5 socket, while the Strix Z790-E uses an LGA1700 socket.
It also offers EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal and a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot. It uses AMD's AM5 socket, so it takes Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 chips; a board built before a CPU's launch may need a BIOS update first, so check whether it supports BIOS Flashback. Check the manual for which M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot before filling them all. When we checked, only the Z790 Tomahawk MAX cost less, and the TUF X870-PLUS cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 4
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7
- USB4: Yes
- Form factor: ATX
- Warranty: 5-year
- Socket: AM5
- Chipset: X870
Pros
- 4 M.2 slots for SSD expansion
- Wi-Fi 7 built in
- USB4 ports on the rear panel
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Costs more than the Z790 Tomahawk MAX at the time of writing
Worth a Look5 of 5
ASUS TUF Gaming X870-PLUS WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The TUF X870-PLUS offers four M.2 slots, USB4 and a 16+2+1 layout of 80A power stages.
Best for
- Buyers who want 80A SPS power stages.
Skip if
- Skip it if M.2 slot count matters most to you; the Strix Z890-E offers 7.
Why we like it
It is the sturdiest X870 board here below $230. On M.2 slot count it ties with the X870 AORUS Elite at 4. 16+2+1 power stages is unique to it among these picks, while the Z790 Tomahawk MAX uses 16+1+1 power stages.
It shares an AM5 socket with the X870 AORUS Elite; the Z790 Tomahawk MAX goes with an LGA1700 socket. It also comes with a rear USB 20Gbps Type-C port. It uses AMD's AM5 socket, so it takes Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 chips; a board built before a CPU's launch may need a BIOS update first, so check whether it supports BIOS Flashback.
Check the manual for which M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot before filling them all. Its price falls between the X870 AORUS Elite and the Strix Z790-E, based on our last check. If M.2 slot count is your priority, the Strix Z890-E (7) is the stronger choice.
Key dimensions & specs
- M.2 slots: 4
- Wired LAN: 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7
- Power stages: 16+2+1
- USB4: Yes
- Form factor: ATX
- Socket: AM5
- Chipset: X870
Pros
- 4 M.2 slots for SSD expansion
- Wi-Fi 7 built in
- 16+2+1 power stage layout
- USB4 ports on the rear panel
Cons
- M.2 slot count trails the Strix Z890-E (7)
- Costs more than the Z790 Tomahawk MAX at the time of writing
How We Chose These Motherboards for Heavy Workloads
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Platform
- We checked socket, chipset and form factor from each listing.
- Connectivity
- We compared Wi-Fi, wired LAN speed and USB4.
- Storage
- We counted listed M.2 slots and PCIe 5.0 support.
- Power delivery
- We noted power stage layouts where the maker lists them.
What to Look for in a Motherboard for Heavy Workloads
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Count M.2 slots
Most games now install to NVMe drives. Count how many M.2 slots you need now and later, and check which ones share lanes with other ports.
Networking matters for daily use
Wi-Fi 7 and 5Gbps Ethernet help only if your router supports them, but built-in Wi-Fi saves a PCIe card.
Check the rear and front I/O
Count USB ports you use every day and confirm a front USB-C header if your case has a USB-C port.
Power delivery for high-end CPUs
Boards with more and stronger power stages run hot 16-core chips more comfortably. For eight-core gaming CPUs, most current boards are enough.
Check BIOS support and Flashback
A board may need a BIOS update before it runs a newer CPU. BIOS Flashback lets you update without a working CPU installed.
Match the chipset to your plans
On AM5, B850 covers most gaming builds with PCIe 5.0 for at least one slot. X870E adds more PCIe 5.0 lanes and USB4 for heavy expansion.
Features, not frame rates, separate the chipsets.
How to Choose a Motherboard for Heavy Workloads
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put M.2 slot count first | Strix Z890-E | The most M.2 slot count here (7) |
| Getting Bluetooth 5.4 alongside Wi-Fi 7 for the least money | Z790 Tomahawk MAX | The cheapest way into this group, below the X870 AORUS Elite |
| Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot | Strix Z790-E | A PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot |
| Buyers who want EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal | X870 AORUS Elite | EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal |
| Buyers who want 80A SPS power stages | TUF X870-PLUS | 80A SPS power stages |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Board | M.2 slots | Wired LAN | Wi-Fi | Power stages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strix Z890-E | 7 | Not listed | Wi-Fi 7 | 18+2+1+2 |
| Z790 Tomahawk MAX | 5 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 7 | 16+1+1 |
| Strix Z790-E | 5 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 18+1 |
| X870 AORUS Elite | 4 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 7 | Not listed |
| TUF X870-PLUS | 4 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 7 | 16+2+1 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
Prices change often; these tiers reflect Amazon prices when this guide was updated.
| Price tier | Boards |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | Z790 Tomahawk MAX, X870 AORUS Elite, TUF X870-PLUS |
| About $250 to $500 | Strix Z790-E, Strix Z890-E |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which pick leads on M.2 slot count?
The Strix Z890-E, at 7. The Z790 Tomahawk MAX follows at 5, while the TUF X870-PLUS has 4.
Which pick costs the least here?
That was the Z790 Tomahawk MAX at our last check; if you can stretch, the X870 AORUS Elite is the next step up and the Strix Z890-E the priciest.
Do I need PCIe 5.0?
Current graphics cards barely benefit. PCIe 5.0 matters more for the fastest SSDs.
Do I need X870E for gaming?
No. A B850 board runs the same CPUs at the same speed; X870E adds more PCIe 5.0 lanes, USB4 and expansion.
Should I fill all four memory slots?
Two sticks usually run faster and more reliably on DDR5. Buy a two-stick kit with the capacity you need.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Strix Z890-E, chosen for the most M.2 slot count here (7). Look at the Z790 Tomahawk MAX for the cheapest way into this group, below the X870 AORUS Elite, the Strix Z790-E for a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot and the X870 AORUS Elite for EZ-Latch for tool-free card removal if those matter more to you.
Keep airflow over the VRM heatsinks, especially with a liquid cooler that moves less air around the socket.