The Best Motherboards for Photo Editing

The maker doesn't state its M.2 count, so check the manual. It is the only pick here with 14+2+1 power stages; the X870 Pro-A has 16+2+1 power stages instead. It also comes with memory support to DDR5-8000 (OC) and a white and silver finish.

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. If you want a confirmed M.2 slot count, look to the X870E AORUS Elite instead: it offers 4, while this one gives no figure.

It also offers a 2.5Gbps wired network speed. It has a 16+2+1 phase VRM, one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and a Gen5 M.2 slot. DDR5 is supported up to 8,000+ with overclocking.

On wired network speed it ties with the X870 MAX Gaming W and the X870E AORUS Elite at 2.5Gbps. You get 16+2+1 power stages here, which sets it apart from the X870E AORUS Elite and its 16+2+2 power stages. 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. The maker doesn't give its M.2 slot count; if that figure matters, the X870E AORUS Elite offers 4.

Three M.2 slots are one fewer than the pricier X870 boards. It matches the X870 MAX Gaming W on M.2 slot count (3). On wired network speed it leads this guide at 5Gbps, ahead of the X870 Pro-A (2.5Gbps).

It also comes with a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot and Bluetooth 5.4 alongside Wi-Fi 7. 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 X870 Pro-A and cheaper picks cost less, and the X870 MAX Gaming W cost more.

Three M.2 slots and a 12+2+1 layout keep it mid-range. On M.2 slot count it ties with the PRO X870-P at 3. On wired network speed it ties with the X870 Pro-A and the X870E AORUS Elite at 2.5Gbps.

You get 12+2+1 power stages here, which sets it apart from the X870 Pro-A and its 16+2+1 power stages. You also get Q-Release graphics card release. 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. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper PRO X870-P and the pricier X870E AORUS Elite, at the time of writing.

It has dual USB4, four M.2 slots and PCIe 5.0, with VRM and M.2 thermal guards. Its 4 M.2 slot count is the most here; the PRO X870-P comes next at 3. On wired network speed it ties with the X870 Pro-A and the X870 MAX Gaming W at 2.5Gbps.

16+2+2 power stages is unique to it among these picks, while the X870 Steel Legend uses 14+2+1 power stages. It also comes with AMD EXPO memory profile support. 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. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the X870 MAX Gaming W.