Now that the end of the year is so close, it is time to see which have been the best motherboards of 2019. Because this year has been one with quite a few releases, both by Intel and, especially, by AMD Of course, this list will delight those of you who are thinking of buying a motherboard to assemble a new computer. Or that you want to update your old model, for one with more possibilities.
In this list we will include models for both the AMD platform (AM4, TR4 and TRX40 sockets), and for Intel (LGA 1151 and LGA2066 sockets). And, since it is going to be a fairly extensive list, we have thought about dividing it by motherboard formats : mini ITX, micro ATX and ATX. Although ATX probably also include boards in E-ATX format.
ITX mini
GIGABYTE B450I AORUS PRO WIFI
This small motherboard from GIGABYTE has everything you might need from a mini ITX motherboard for AMD. It is compatible with all AMD Ryzen 3000 series processors from its BIOS F40. It also has an integrated heatsink for our M.2 SSDs, in case we decide to install one of them on the motherboard. It has built-in dual waveband WiFi ac 2, thanks to an Intel wireless card. As for RAM, it has two slots for DIMMs up to DDR4-3600. It also allows us to use up to 4 SATA 3 connectors, with the possibility of configuring RAID 0, 1 or 10.
ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I Gaming
This ASUS model is intended to be compatible with Intel Coffee Lake-S and Coffee Lake-R processors. Use the manufacturer’s maximum chipset for the desktop range, the Intel Z390. With this chipset, we will have the possibility to overclock our «K» series processors . Like the previous GIGABYTE model, it also has 4 SATA 3 ports. However, this model has two M.2 connectors, which support both SATA and NVMe M.2 SSDs. The WiFi card used is an Intel 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac that supports MU-MIMO technology.
Micro ATX
ASRock X570M Pro4
This ASRock model is the first on the list that includes the X570 series chipset . As such, it is capable of mounting AMD processors of the 2nd and 3rd Generation Ryzen. The board has two M.2 connectors. One of them being under a heat sink. It also has two USB 3.2 Gen2 connectors on its rear I / O. Being one of them of type A, while the second one is of type C. The board has four slots for RAM DIMMs that can reach 4,400 MHz. It also has up to 8 SATA 3 ports.
ASUS TUF Z390M-Pro Gaming
This ASUS TUF series motherboard has four slots for mounting RAM up to 4,266 MHz. It also supports AMD CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI technologies. As for storage, it has two M.2 slots in which to connect SATA SSD or NVMe. Counting one of them with a heatsink. It also has 6 SATA 3 ports, which support RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10. RAID configurations. Includes a dual band 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac WiFi card.
ATX base bales
GIGABYTE X570 AORUS Xtreme
One of the most awarded models that GIGABYTE has produced for AMD AM4 socket . It has a 16-phase VRM to power Ryzen 3000 series processors. The four RAM slots support memory DIMMs operated up to 4400 MHz, and up to 128 GB (4 x 32 GB). They incorporate a Gigabit network card of up to 10 Gbit, as well as another Gigabit Ethernet type. But it also includes an 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac / acx dual band wireless card. It is a model that allows to connect up to 3 NVMe SSDs, all being cooled by heat sink. Although it also has 6 SATA 3 ports.
ASUS ROG ZENITH EXTREME Alpha
If you want to enter the HEDT segment of the market, few motherboards are better than the ASUS ROG ZENITH EXTREME ALPHA. Momta the TR4 socket, which allows the use of the 1st and 2nd Generation AMD Threadripper processors. It has 8 slots for DDR4 RAM up to 3600 MHz. And for a maximum of up to 256 GB (8 x 32 GB). It is compatible with AMD CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI technologies. Being able to connect up to 3 graphics cards to each other. It also incorporates a 10g Gigabit Ethernet card. And includes Bluetooth connectivity. As well as 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac dual band WiFi card. As part of the storage, it has 2 M.2 slots that support SATA SSD and NVMe. Plus a third slot that only supports NVMe SSD. All this, together with 8 SATA 3 ports.
GIGABYTE TRX40 AORUS XTREME
Now, if what you want is to mount one of the new AMD Threadripper 3 processors, you will have to go to one of the new motherboards with the AMD TRX40 chipset. And, among them, we have selected this model of GIGANYTE, for being the most complete compared to the rest of the market models. It has 8 slots to install RAM DIMMs up to 256 GB and up to 4400 MHz frequency. It has two RJ45 connectors for your 10GbE Gigabit Ethernet network card. As well as with a 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac / acx dual band WiFi card. And Bluetooth 5.0 network card. The distribution of the 4 PCIe x16 slots on the board makes it compatible with AMD CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI technologies for up to 4 graphics cards connected in parallel.
ASRock Z390 Taichi Ultimate
This ASRock model is one of the few on this list that has the connector integrated in the motherboard for the USB C connector on the front of the case. It also has a VRM formed by 12 MOSFET. It incorporates three network cards by cable. All of them of type 10GbE. It also uses a 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac d dual band WiFI card. As well as Bluetooth 5.0. It is compatible with AMD CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI technologies for two graphics cards (the third PCIe x16 slot is, electrically, an x4 actually). For storage, the motherboard has two M.2 slots that can use SATA SSD or NVMe interchangeably. As well as 8 SATA 3 ports.
ASUS ROG Strix X299-E Gaming II
The ROG Strix X299-E Gaming II of ASUS has 8 slots for DDR4 RAM up to 256 GB and up to 4266 MHz frequency. It also provides support for AMD CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI technologies for three graphics cards running in parallel. As a network card it has a 2.5 GbE model. As well as a WiFI 6 AX200 and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless connectivity. For storage, it has three M.2 slots. Of which, two of them support SATA SSD and NVMe interchangeably. While the third only supports NVMe SSD drives. It also has 8 SATA 3 ports , with the possibility of RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 configurations.
