Buying Guide
The Best Motherboards Under $200
From the PRO B850-P to the PRO Z790-A II: five motherboards ranked on M.2 slot count and wired network speed, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Under $200, boards cover mainstream CPUs with Wi-Fi and enough M.2 slots for most builds. Every pick cost $200 or less, ordered by M.2 slots.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: M.2 slots, wired LAN and wi-Fi come from each maker's published specs; nothing here was tested in-house, and a missing power stages is flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Most M.2 Slots
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFiThe most M.2 slot count here (5).
Best for: Buyers who put M.2 slot count first.
Check price for MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASRock B850 Pro RS WiFiA PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Best for: Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Check price for ASRock B850 Pro RS WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFiA PCIe 5.0 graphics slot.
Best for: Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 graphics slot.
Check price for MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
MSI PRO Z790-A WiFi IIThe highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with 80A SPS power stages.
Best for: Buyers who want 80A SPS power stages and can spend more than the Z890 Tomahawk costs.
Check price for MSI PRO Z790-A WiFi II on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
MSI PRO B850-P WiFiUndercutting the B850 Pro RS on price when we checked.
Best for: Getting PCIe 5.0 graphics slot for the least money.
Check price for MSI PRO B850-P WiFi on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Most M.2 Slots1 of 5
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk MAX WiFi
The Z790 Tomahawk MAX offers five M.2 slots, Wi-Fi 7 and a 16+1+1 layout.
Best for
- Buyers who put M.2 slot count first.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the PRO B850-P was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It is the most complete Z790 board for its price here. On M.2 slot count it leads this guide at 5, ahead of the B850 Pro RS (4). It matches the B850 Pro RS and the PRO Z790-A II on wired network speed (2.5Gbps).
Like the Z890 Tomahawk and PRO B850-P, it has a wi-Fi 7, while the B850 Pro RS uses a wi-Fi 6E. Like the PRO Z790-A II, it has an LGA1700 socket, while the Z890 Tomahawk uses 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 priced above the B850 Pro RS and below the Z890 Tomahawk at the time of writing.
Key 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
- Costs more than the PRO B850-P at the time of writing
Also Consider2 of 5
ASRock B850 Pro RS WiFi
The B850 Pro RS keeps four M.2 slots and a 14+2+1 layout on a budget board, with Wi-Fi 6E.
Best for
- Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7.
Why we like it
It leaves more money for the graphics card. It matches the Z890 Tomahawk and the PRO Z790-A II on M.2 slot count (4). It matches the Z790 Tomahawk MAX and the PRO Z790-A II on wired network speed (2.5Gbps).
Like the PRO Z790-A II, it has a wi-Fi 6E, while the Z890 Tomahawk uses a wi-Fi 7. Like the PRO B850-P, it has an AM5 socket, while the PRO Z790-A II uses an LGA1700 socket. You also get a PCIe 5.0 M.2 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 PRO B850-P cost less, and the Z790 Tomahawk MAX cost more.
Key specs
- M.2 slots
- 4
- Wired LAN
- 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Power stages
- 14+2+1
- Form factor
- ATX
- Socket
- AM5
Pros
- 4 M.2 slots for SSD expansion
- 14+2+1 power stage layout
- PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Costs more than the PRO B850-P at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi
The Z890 Tomahawk is the Intel pick, with four M.2 slots, 5Gbps LAN and Wi-Fi 7 for Core Ultra 200S chips.
Best for
- Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 graphics slot.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the PRO B850-P was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It runs only LGA1851 processors, not older 12th to 14th Gen chips. On M.2 slot count it ties with the B850 Pro RS and the PRO Z790-A II at 4. On wired network speed it ties with the PRO B850-P at 5Gbps.
It shares a wi-Fi 7 with the Z790 Tomahawk MAX and PRO B850-P; the PRO Z790-A II goes with a wi-Fi 6E. An LGA1851 socket is unique to it among these picks, while the B850 Pro RS uses an AM5 socket. It also offers a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot and M.2 heatsinks on every slot.
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 Z790 Tomahawk MAX and the pricier PRO Z790-A II, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- M.2 slots
- 4
- Wired LAN
- 5Gbps
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 7
- Form factor
- ATX
- Socket
- LGA1851
Pros
- 4 M.2 slots for SSD expansion
- 5Gbps wired Ethernet
- Wi-Fi 7 built in
- PCIe 5.0 graphics slot
Cons
- Costs more than the PRO B850-P at the time of writing
Premium Pick4 of 5
MSI PRO Z790-A WiFi II
The PRO Z790-A WiFi II offers four Gen4 M.2 slots and 80A power stages.
Best for
- Buyers who want 80A SPS power stages and can spend more than the Z890 Tomahawk costs.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7 is a problem.
Why we like it
Wi-Fi 6E is its only step back. It has four Gen4 M.2 slots with Shield Frozr, Wi-Fi 6E with BT 5.3 and a 20Gbps rear USB-C port. It matches the B850 Pro RS and the Z890 Tomahawk on M.2 slot count (4).
It matches the Z790 Tomahawk MAX and the B850 Pro RS on wired network speed (2.5Gbps). Like the B850 Pro RS, it has a wi-Fi 6E, while the PRO B850-P uses a wi-Fi 7. Like the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, it has an LGA1700 socket, while the B850 Pro RS uses an AM5 socket.
You also get memory support to DDR5-7800 (OC). 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. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Z890 Tomahawk the nearest cheaper option.
Key specs
- M.2 slots
- 4
- Wired LAN
- 2.5Gbps
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Form factor
- ATX
- Socket
- LGA1700
- Memory type
- DDR5
- Chipset
- Z790
Pros
- 4 M.2 slots for SSD expansion
- 80A SPS power stages
- Memory support to DDR5-7800 (OC)
- The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with 80A SPS power stages
Cons
- Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 7
- Wired network speed trails the Z890 Tomahawk (5Gbps)
- Costs more than the PRO B850-P at the time of writing
The catch
Wired network speed is its weakest area, and the Z890 Tomahawk covers it better at 5Gbps.
Lowest Price Here5 of 5
MSI PRO B850-P WiFi
The PRO B850-P keeps Wi-Fi 7 and 5Gbps LAN on a budget board, with tool-free M.2 clips.
Best for
- Getting PCIe 5.0 graphics slot for the least money.
Skip if
- Skip it if M.2 slot count matters most to you; the Z790 Tomahawk MAX offers 5.
Why we like it
Three M.2 slots are enough for most gaming builds. Its 3 M.2 slot count is the fewest in this group; the Z790 Tomahawk MAX leads at 5. It matches the Z890 Tomahawk on wired network speed (5Gbps).
Like the Z790 Tomahawk MAX and Z890 Tomahawk, it has a wi-Fi 7, while the B850 Pro RS uses a wi-Fi 6E. Like the B850 Pro RS, it has an AM5 socket, while the Z890 Tomahawk uses an LGA1851 socket. You also get 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. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the B850 Pro RS the next step up.
Key specs
- M.2 slots
- 3
- Wired LAN
- 5Gbps
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 7
- Form factor
- ATX
- Socket
- AM5
Pros
- 5Gbps wired Ethernet
- Wi-Fi 7 built in
- PCIe 5.0 graphics slot
- Tool-free EZ M.2 clips
Cons
- M.2 slot count trails the Z790 Tomahawk MAX (5)
The catch
It gives ground on M.2 slot count, where the Z790 Tomahawk MAX offers 5.
How We Chose These Motherboards Under $200
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- What we compared
- We lined up five boards on M.2 slot count, wired network speed, wi-Fi and power stages, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 3 of 5 picks leave out power stages.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the Z790 Tomahawk MAX to the PRO B850-P, state M.2 slot count, wired network speed and wi-Fi.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Z890 Tomahawk, the PRO Z790-A II and the PRO B850-P give no power stages; the B850 Pro RS, the Z890 Tomahawk and the PRO B850-P give no memory type.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the PRO B850-P ($100 to $150) to the PRO Z790-A II ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a Motherboard Under $200
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
M.2 slot count
Here M.2 slot count runs from 3 on the PRO B850-P to 5 on the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, a 67% spread. For less, the B850 Pro RS is the runner-up at 4 ($100 to $150 tier).
How much wired network speed you need
The Z890 Tomahawk tops wired network speed at 5Gbps and the PRO Z790-A II sits lowest at 2.5Gbps; 2 picks share the top figure. The PRO B850-P comes second at 5Gbps, in the $100 to $150 tier against $150 to $250 for the Z890 Tomahawk.
Power stages
The Z790 Tomahawk MAX lists 16+1+1; the B850 Pro RS lists 14+2+1. Settling power stages first narrows 2 picks to 1 or 1.
Socket
The Z790 Tomahawk MAX and the PRO Z790-A II list LGA1700; the B850 Pro RS and the PRO B850-P list AM5; the Z890 Tomahawk lists LGA1851. Sort out socket before price: it splits 5 stated picks into groups of 2, 2 and 1.
Features beyond the spec table
The Z890 Tomahawk: M.2 heatsinks on every slot. The PRO Z790-A II: memory support to DDR5-7800 (OC). The PRO B850-P: tool-free EZ M.2 clips.
How to Choose a Motherboard Under $200
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put M.2 slot count first | Z790 Tomahawk MAX | The most M.2 slot count here (5) |
| Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot | B850 Pro RS | A PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot |
| Buyers who want PCIe 5.0 graphics slot | Z890 Tomahawk | A PCIe 5.0 graphics slot |
| Buyers who want 80A SPS power stages and can spend more than the Z890 Tomahawk costs | PRO Z790-A II | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with 80A SPS power stages |
| Getting PCIe 5.0 graphics slot for the least money | PRO B850-P | Undercutting the B850 Pro RS on price when we checked |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Z790 Tomahawk MAX leads on M.2 slot count at 5, ahead of the B850 Pro RS at 4. "Not listed" marks power stages where the Z890 Tomahawk, the PRO Z790-A II and the PRO B850-P leave the figure out.
| Board | M.2 slots | Wired LAN | Wi-Fi | Power stages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z790 Tomahawk MAX | 5 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 7 | 16+1+1 |
| B850 Pro RS | 4 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | 14+2+1 |
| Z890 Tomahawk | 4 | 5Gbps | Wi-Fi 7 | Not listed |
| PRO Z790-A II | 4 | 2.5Gbps | Wi-Fi 6E | Not listed |
| PRO B850-P | 3 | 5Gbps | Wi-Fi 7 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the PRO B850-P, sat in the $100 to $150 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the PRO Z790-A II at $150 to $250; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Boards |
|---|---|
| About $100 to $150 | PRO B850-P, B850 Pro RS |
| About $150 to $250 | Z790 Tomahawk MAX, Z890 Tomahawk, PRO Z790-A II |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the most M.2 slot count: the Z790 Tomahawk MAX or the B850 Pro RS?
The Z790 Tomahawk MAX tops M.2 slot count at 5; the B850 Pro RS follows at 4, 25% apart. The spread runs down to the PRO B850-P at 3.
Is the PRO Z790-A II worth paying more than the PRO B850-P?
The spec sheets show M.2 slot count (4 against 3) in its favour. It does not win everywhere: the PRO B850-P still leads on wired network speed (5Gbps). The PRO B850-P sat in the $100 to $150 tier and the PRO Z790-A II in the $150 to $250 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if M.2 slot count decides your purchase.
What makes the Z790 Tomahawk MAX the Most M.2 Slots?
It earns the label for the most M.2 slot count here (5). The B850 Pro RS is next on M.2 slot count at 4, so this pick's 5 is 25% further out. It gives up wired network speed (2.5Gbps against 5Gbps) to the PRO B850-P, the cheapest pick. It suits anyone who puts M.2 slot count first.
Do the Z790 Tomahawk MAX and the B850 Pro RS differ on wi-Fi?
The Z790 Tomahawk MAX, the Z890 Tomahawk and the PRO B850-P use Wi-Fi 7; the B850 Pro RS and the PRO Z790-A II use Wi-Fi 6E.
Beyond the specs, what sets the Z790 Tomahawk MAX and the B850 Pro RS apart?
The Z790 Tomahawk MAX: Bluetooth 5.4 alongside Wi-Fi 7. The B850 Pro RS: a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot. The Z890 Tomahawk: a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Z790 Tomahawk MAX, chosen for the most M.2 slot count here (5). Look at the B850 Pro RS for a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, the Z890 Tomahawk for a PCIe 5.0 graphics slot and the PRO Z790-A II for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with 80A SPS power stages if those matter more to you.
A budget board is fine for a 65W CPU; high-end chips need stronger VRMs.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Motherboards for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and 7800X3D
- Related guideThe Best AM5 Motherboards for Ryzen Builds
- Related guideThe Best B850 Motherboards
- Lower budgetThe Best Motherboards Under $150
- Higher budgetThe Best Motherboards Under $250
- ExplainerATX vs Micro-ATX vs Mini-ITX
- ExplainerMotherboard Chipsets Explained
- Check compatibility: processorsWhat Is a CPU Bottleneck and How Can You Identify One?
- Similar guideThe Best Motherboards Under $120
- Topic hubAll motherboards guides
About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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