The Best Motherboards for Overclocking

It needs a case that lists E-ATX support. Like the Strix X670E-E and Strix Z790-E, it has a wi-Fi 6E, while the Strix Z890-E uses a wi-Fi 7. Like the Strix X670E-E, it has an AM5 socket, while the Strix Z890-E uses an LGA1851 socket.

It also comes with Bluetooth 5.3 alongside Wi-Fi 6E and PCIe 5.0 lanes from the X670E chipset. 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. Confirm your case offers E-ATX support; many mid-towers stop at ATX. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Strix X670E-E the nearest cheaper option.

It is the stronger-powered of the Strix X670E boards here. On M.2 slot count it trails the group at 4, while the Strix Z890-E offers 7. It shares a wi-Fi 6E with the X670E ACE and Strix Z790-E; the Maximus Z890 Hero goes with a wi-Fi 7.

You get 18+2 power stages here, which sets it apart from the Strix Z790-E and its 18+1 power stages. It shares an AM5 socket with the X670E ACE; the Strix Z790-E goes with an LGA1700 socket. It also comes with a rear USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port and AI Cooling II fan tuning.

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. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper Strix Z890-E and the pricier X670E ACE, at the time of writing.

It is the most expandable board here. Its 7 M.2 slot count is the most here; the Strix Z790-E comes next at 5. Like the Maximus Z890 Hero, it has a wi-Fi 7, while the X670E ACE uses a wi-Fi 6E.

It is the only pick here with 18+2+1+2 power stages; the Strix Z790-E has 18+1 power stages instead. Like the Maximus Z890 Hero, it has an LGA1851 socket, while the Strix Z790-E uses an LGA1700 socket. 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. 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 Maximus Z890 Hero and cheaper picks cost less, and the Strix X670E-E cost more.

It is for Core Ultra 9 builds that push power limits. It shares a wi-Fi 7 with the Strix Z890-E; the Strix Z790-E goes with a wi-Fi 6E. You get 22+2+1+2 power stages here, which sets it apart from the Strix X670E-E and its 18+2 power stages.

It shares an LGA1851 socket with the Strix Z890-E; the Strix Z790-E goes with an LGA1700 socket. You also get Thunderbolt 4 ports. It uses Intel's LGA1851 socket for Core Ultra 200S processors, not older 12th to 14th Gen chips.

On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper Strix Z790-E and the pricier Strix Z890-E, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its M.2 slot count; if that figure matters, the Strix Z890-E offers 7.

It is the premium LGA1700 board here. Its 5 M.2 slot count ranks second of 3 here, behind the Strix Z890-E (7) and ahead of the Strix X670E-E (4). It is the only pick here with 18+1 power stages; the Strix Z890-E has 18+2+1+2 power stages instead.

It is the only pick here with an LGA1700 socket; the X670E ACE has an AM5 socket instead. 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.

Check the manual for which M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports or the second PCIe slot before filling them all. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Maximus Z890 Hero was closest.