Should you’ve ever pieced collectively your personal gaming PC, then you definitely’ll know the way necessary a top quality motherboard is. Whilst you can typically get by with a fundamental board, and actually for a finances gaming machine that is smart, on the subject of mid-range and high-end builds, spending a bit extra right here could make an enormous distinction. Whether or not which means higher connectivity, improved audio, or extra overclocking headroom, it is a textbook instance of you get what you paid for.
2021 has been an fascinating 12 months for gaming motherboards, though primarily for Intel’s platforms. AMD X570 and B550 motherboards noticed a couple of updates firstly of the 12 months, however usually, motherboards primarily based on these chipsets have been all launched final 12 months. Producers did introduce a ‘silent’ replace for the X570, cunningly referred to as the X570S, that has made its method onto loads of up to date motherboards—the brand new boards drop the tiny fan that may be discovered on first-generation choices and replace the function lists too, so are value monitoring down for those who’re trying to construct an AMD machine.
The large information was on the Intel entrance. Intel launched two new processor households this 12 months: First up was its Rocket Lake chips which meant loads of Z590 and B560 motherboards have been launched that assist its tenth/eleventh Gen processors. Older boards utilizing the Z490 on the high-end, and the B460 for the mainstream can assist its eleventh Gen chips, however you may have to examine to make sure.
The large CPU of the 12 months was clearly Alder Lake, and right here the choices are extra restricted, as solely the high-end motherboards primarily based across the Z690 chipset have seen the sunshine of day to this point. This, coupled with the scarcity of DDR5 make Alder Lake a considerably dear choice proper now. The inevitable launch of the B660 chipset subsequent 12 months might make for some fascinating motherboards, however we’ll have to attend and see for now.
There have been loads of nice motherboards launched within the final 12 months, principally, they usually proceed to enhance. These are the best motherboards we have seen this 12 months.
The perfect motherboard of 2021: the nominees
The winner of the PC Gamer {Hardware} Award for the very best motherboard will likely be introduced on New Yr’s Eve. All three of those motherboards are in with a shot of taking residence the large prize, so tune in to seek out out which one it will be.
