Best Motherboards with WiFi Reviews in 2023
Motherboards with WiFi : While most gamers pay more attention to the graphics cards and CPUs, motherboards are the unsung heroes of gaming PCs. If you’re all set to build the best gaming rig that suits your gaming style, investing in a high-quality gaming motherboard will have a huge impact. Motherboard plays an extremely important role in the performance of a gaming PC as it makes sure that the hardware reaches its full potential.
We will help you choose the best gaming motherboard with WiFi that will not only enhance your gaming performance but also improve the overall functionality of your PC. The first section of this post will help you choose the best gaming motherboards, and the second section will present our top picks for the products.
Listed below are Best Motherboards with WiFi which satisfy both affordability and quality:
1. Asus ROG Maximus XII Extreme
- Intel LGA 1200 socket: Designed to unleash the maximum performance of 10th Gen Intel Core processors
- Robust Power Solution: 14+2 power stages with ProCool II power connector, high-quality alloy chokes and durable capacitors to provide reliable power even when push the CPU performance to the limit
- Optimized Thermal Design: Except comprehensive heatsink, heatpipe and fan headers, features low-noise AI cooling to balance thermals and acoustics by reducing fan speeds and maintaining a 5 Celsius delta
- Fastest Gaming Connectivity: Dual Ethernet with 5Gb and gigabit Ethernet , LANGaurd, dual M. 2, USB 3. 2 Gen 2, and Intel WiFi 6 AX201 (802. 11 ax)
- Industry-leading Gaming Audio: High fidelity audio with the SupremeFX S1220A codec, DTS Sound Unbound and Sonic Studio III draws you deeper into the game action
If you want the best, most fully-featured Intel Comet Lake motherboard, then I’m afraid you’re going to have to pay for it. And pay through the nose if Asus’ Z490 Maximus XII Extreme is anything to go by. It is, as the name suggests, extreme, packing in a variety of luxurious and convenient extras (a frickin’ screwdriver with interchangeable heads for one), and it’s also one of the highest performing Z490 boards we’ve tested.
But it only really makes sense if you’re buying a K-series Core i9 and genuinely intend to overclock the nuts off it. The Maximus XII will allow you to get the highest clock speed out of your 10900K and won’t turn it into a pile of molten slag while you’re at it. The MSI Z490 Godlike is actually the fastest Z490 outright at stock speeds, but I’d rather have the ROG board in my camp if I’m going down the OC route.
Obviously, it’s only for the very highest of high-end PC builds; however, the $750 price tag means you could actually build a respectable full gaming PC for the price of this single motherboard. It’s an aspirational Z490 motherboard and arguably the best gaming motherboard for Comet Lake overclocking, but I’ll concede it’s not a particularly realistic purchase for most of us.
2. MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WiFi
- Supports 10th Generation Intel Core / Pentium Gold / Celeron Processors for LGA 1200 socket
- Supports dual channel DDR4 memory up to 128GB (4800MHz)
- Lightning USB 20G is powered by the ASmedia 3241 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 controller, offering never before seen USB speeds up to 20Gb/s from the Rear USB Type-C port
- Twin Turbo M.2 with M.2 Shield Frozr delivers transfer speeds of up to 32 GB/s for ultra-fast SSDs
- On-board 2.5G LAN plus Gigabit LAN with with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax).Pre-installed I/O Shielding for convenience and protection from electrostatic discharge
The sparse back panel and missing OLED displays will tell you we’re back into normal motherboard territory again. The rarified air of the ultra-enthusiast ROG board up top might make one giddy, but the Z490 Gaming Carbon will bring us back down to earth without a bump. Sure, you’re never going to get the same level of luxury feature list as you’ll find with either the Maximus XII or MSI’s own Godlike boards, but when it comes to the nuts and bolts of pure performance, it’s right up there.
Where it matters, in the gaming performance stakes, there’s practically nothing between any of the Z490 boards we’ve tested, and it’s only ever a little behind when it comes to the actual CPU performance in productivity apps. When it comes to overclocking, however, the MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WiFi inevitably can’t compare to the big boys with our 10900K running at its peak.
The power componentry and cooling aren’t enough to stop the thirsty CPU from throttling when it’s pushed to its 5.3GHz all-core maximum. But, while that might mean it’s not the board you’d choose for an overclocked i9 machine, that’s a tiny niche of gamers, and for either i5 or i7 CPUs, the MSI Gaming Carbon is still a quality home for your Comet Lake CPU.
3. MSI MAG B460M Mortar WiFi
- Supports 10th Gen Intel Core / Pentium Celeron processors for LGA 1200 socket
- Supports DDR4 Memory, up to 2933MHz
- Premium Thermal Solution: Extended Heatsink Design and M. 2 Shield Frozr are built for high performance system and non-stop works
- Lightning USB 20G: Powered by ASmedia 3241 USB 3. 2 Gen2x2 controller, offering never before seen USB speeds up to 20Gb/s with USB Type-C
- Latest Network Solution: Onboard 2. 5G LAN plus Gigabit LAN and latest Wi-Fi 6 solution deliver the best online experience without lag
Grabbing one of the best Z490 motherboards might be appealing to your inner elitist, but the sticker price shock is definitely a problem for many people. Sure, it would be nice to have 10Gb LAN, seven M.2 slots, or quad GPU support, but who really needs all that stuff? Most of us will be perfectly happy with a quality B460 motherboard, such as the MSI MAG B460M Mortar WiFi.
If you can put up with the memory speed limitation and have no intention of overclocking (well, with a K-series CPU anyway), then this is the kind of board that should be on your PC building wishlist. It ticks most of the important boxes, and at $125, it’s well priced, though the competition is tough with many premium B460 motherboards priced in this range.
It’s got a strong VRM, 2.5Gb LAN, Wi-Fi 6, and adequate, if not particularly outstanding, I/O. Pairing it with a 65W non-K processor and having a crack at pseudo overclocking is definitely worth the minimal efforts too. If you can live with the maximum DDR4-2666 speed, something like an Intel Core i5-10600 and B460M Mortar, paired with a decent mid-range GPU, would deliver a quality, affordable gaming combo.
4. ASRock B460 Steel Legend
- Supports 10th Gen Intel Core Processors(Socket 1200)
- 9 Phase Dr. MOS Power Design
- Supports DDR4 2933MHz
- 2 PCIe 3. 0 x16, 1 PCIe 3. 0 x1, 1 M. 2(Key E) For WiFi
- AMD CrossFireX
The ASRock B460 Steel Legend is an awesomely named mid-range B460 entry. At USD 120, it’s what we’d call a mid-range B460 board. A look over the specs indicates that your $120 is well spent on some important areas. You get a pair of heatsink covered M.2 slots, an e-key M.2 slot for an optional Wi-Fi card, a front USB Type-C header, and a good helping of RGB onboard.
The increased power demands of 10th generation CPUs mean motherboards generally have to include improved VRM designs, and on that front, the B460 Steel Legend is very well equipped. It includes a 9+1 phase VRM powered by a single 8-Pin EPS connector. Each stage can deliver up to 60A. Bear in mind that overclocking is not allowed on B460 motherboards, so the VRM will not see extreme loads like you might get with an all-core overclocked Intel Core i9 10900K.
The ASRock B460 Steel legend will appeal to buyers who aren’t so interested in bells and whistles but want a solid ATX board capable of powering any 10th Gen CPU without bursting into flames. Integrated Wi-Fi would have been a nice cherry on top for the price, and that’s arguably one of the reasons we prefer the MSI B460M Mortar. But the ASRock B460 Steel legend is still a highly competitive offering and comes highly recommended by us. It shows its steel, one might say. If it had Wi-Fi, we might even have said it was legendary.
5. Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
- Supports 9th and 8th Intel Core processors
- Dual channel non-ECC unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs
- Intel optane memory ready
- 12+1 phases digital VRM solution with DrMOS
- Advanced thermal design with multi cuts heatsinks and heat pipe. Bluetooth 5
The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra competes with the MSI Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon AC and the Asus ROG Maximus XI Hero (Wi-Fi) with a lower price tag and more features. It has triple M.2 slots for your super-speedy NVMe SSD needs, Intel Wi-Fi Wave2 and ethernet, a full RGB treatment with multiple headers, and ALC1220 audio. You’d have to climb right to the top of the product stack to get the same from MSI and ASUS, both of whom offer a little more polish but also charge plenty for the privilege. Though there’s a lot to be said for extreme motherboards, this is a great value Intel board.
The only real downside for us is that this mobo is perhaps a little too flashy and may not suit more restrained gaming builds. Thankfully, you can disable all the RGB bling within the BIOS if you want, though other elements may still clash. But that’s a small criticism of an otherwise top board.
6. Asus ROG Strix Z390-I Gaming
- Intel LGA 1200 socket: Designed to unleash the maximum performance of 10th Gen Intel Core processors
- Robust Power Solution: 8+2 Dr. MOS power stages with ProCool II power connector, high-quality alloy chokes and durable capacitors to provide reliable power when pushing CPU performance
- Optimized Thermal Design: Embed custom Delta Superflo VRM fan, Mos heatsink, L-shaped heat pipe and fan headers, features low-noise AI cooling to balance thermals and acoustics by reducing fan speeds and maintaining a 5 Celsius delta
- High-performance Gaming Networking: On-board Intel WiFi 6 AX201 (802. 11 ax), Intel 2. 5 Gb Ethernet with ASUS LANGuard
- Best Gaming Connectivity: Supports HDMI 2. 0a and DisplayPort 1. 4 output, and featuring dual M. 2 , front panel USB 3. 2 Gen 2 Type-C connector
With the price dropping and the previous Z370-based model disappearing from vendors, ASUS’s Strix Z390-I Gaming moves into the boutique ITX segment’s top spot. Despite its diminutive size and paucity of upgrade options, the ROG Strix Z390-I Gaming provides excellent performance and value. Boasting stable 5GHz overclocks using several memory speeds, including 3,600MHz with tweaking, its single PCIe x16 slot pushed top-shelf graphics cards to speeds that matched or exceeded most Z390 ATX boards during testing.
The smallest Strix has a lengthy features list, with no shortcomings despite the tiny form factor, including dual PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2 slots, Intel v219 ethernet, upgraded Intel 9560 2×2 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and an ALC1220A audio codec supported by isolated circuitry and headphone amps. Despite the dense set of features, the Strix Z390-I’s clean design makes for quick system assembly and configuration, an important consideration for ITX rig building.
It’s worth noting that this board can be hard to find, but the previous generation ROG Strix Z370-I model, with its slimmer design, remains an excellent alternative, especially at clearance prices.
7. MSI MPG X570 Gaming Pro Carbon WiFi
- Supports 2nd and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen / Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics Desktop Processors for AM4 socket
- On-board Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with mu-mimo support. supports Bluetooth 5.1
- Mystic light rgb lets you customize the lighting with 16.8 million colors and 29 effects with support for additional rgb and rainbow led strips
- Audio boost 4 technology with nahimic 3 software enhancement for immersive experiences
- Frozr heatsink with patented fan design – propeller blade technology and double ball bearings. Operating system: Support for windows 10 64-bit
The MSI MPG X570 represents an amalgamation of bleeding-edge motherboard tech, built to get the most out of AMD’s 3rd gen Ryzen CPUs. It has four DIMM slots that can handle speeds up to 4,400Mhz and two M.2 slots sporting support for PCIe 4.0.
The rear I/O panel features seven USB-A ports for peripherals and a single USB-C port for connectivity and high-speed data transfer. There are headers for the included Wi-Fi antenna to help with wireless connectivity, as well as a gigabit ethernet port. The MPG X570 supports Wi-Fi 6, and while that does necessitate a Wi-Fi 6 compatible router, it’s backward compatible with other Wi-Fi standards and gives the potential for a speed boost down the line. Also of note is the HDMI port, which many X570 boards omit (not that we’d really recommend using an AMD APU with integrated graphics in a high-end board like this).
The MPG X570 features enough compatibility to get the most out of your hardware now and in the future, provided you’re willing to pay a premium for it. While it’s certainly an excellent mobo, if you aren’t already committed to a shopping list of top-of-the-line components now or shortly, you may want to consider a slightly less expensive board for your needs.
8. Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master
- Supports AMD 3rd Gen Ryzen/ 2nd Gen Ryzen/ 2nd Gen Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics/ Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics processors
- Dual channel ECC/ non-ECC unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs
- Direct 14 phases Infineon digital VRM solution with 50A power stage
- Advanced thermal design - Fins-array heatsink & direct touch heat pipe
- Triple ultra-fast NVMe PCIe 4.0/3.0 x4 M.2 with triple thermal guards
This X570 motherboard remains one of the best options for any high-end AMD Zen 2 or Zen 3 build. There are a few reasons for this, but the three M.2 slots, great wired and wireless networking, and expansion possibilities top the list. Yes, it’s one of the more expensive options, but you really do get a lot of motherboard for your money, and it’s utterly reliable too.
The 14-phase VRM design ensures your CPU is getting lots of clean power, which in turn makes this one of the best options for overclocking your Ryzen 3000 or Ryzen 5000 processor of choice. All that metal atop of the VRMs helps keep things cool, as does the massive plate covering the rear of the board. The M.2 slots all have heat spreaders, and the expansion and memory slots are reinforced.
The only real mark against it, other than the price, is that you only get four SATA ports to play with if you do use all three M.2 slots. Still, this is a sturdy and well-thought outboard that will serve you well.
9. Asus ROG Strix B550-E Gaming
- AMD AM4 Socket and PCIe 4. 0: The perfect pairing for Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 & 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen CPUs
- Robust Power Design: 14+2 DrMOS power stages with high-quality alloy chokes and durable capacitors provide reliable power for the latest high-core-count AMD CPUs
- Optimized Thermal Solution: Fanless VRM and chipset heatsinks with ASUS Stack Cool 3+ design keep your system running reliably under heavy load by enhancing passive cooling capacity for critical onboard components.
- High-performance Gaming Networking: On-board WiFi 6 (802. 11ax), Bluetooth V5. 1 and 2. 5 Gb LAN with ASUS LANGuard
- Best Gaming Connectivity: Supports HDMI 2. 1 (4K@60HZ) and DisplayPort 1. 2 output, featuring dual M. 2 slots (NVMe SSD)—one with PCIe 4. 0 x4 connectivity, USB 3. 2 Gen 2 front panel Type-C connector, USB 3. 2 Gen 2 Type-C port, USB Audio Type-C bundled with 3. 5mm adapter cable and Thunderbolt 3 header
Sure, the Asus ROG Strix B550-E is the same price as other X570 motherboards; in fact, it pretty much matches our favorite of AMD’s top-end boards, the MSI MPG X570 Gaming Pro Carbon. But it’s a premium motherboard, with all the trappings you’d expect from Asus’ Republic of Gamers stables, such as 14+2 power stage, M.2 heatsinks, and pre-installed backplates. You get Wi-Fi 6 wireless networking as well as Intel 2.5Gb ethernet too. And RGB LEDs, of course. If you’re looking at building a Zen 3 system, then the necessary BIOS updates should drop in January for this motherboard.
Performance too is typically good for a high-end Asus board, matching X570 motherboards for gaming performance without issue. That said, of the B550 boards we’ve tested, it’s the far more affordable MSI board that actually comes out top in our straight performance testing. But the Asus can overclock far better, even if it does chew up more raw power from the plug on the whole.
The Asus ROG Strix B550-E Gaming is the whole package then, and right now is our all-around pick for the best B550 motherboard. Though that still feels like a tough recommendation when X570 boards are the same price…
10. ASRock A520M ITX/ac
- Supports 3rd Gen AMD AM4 Ryzen / Future AMD Ryzen Processors (3000 and 4000 Series Processors)
- Supports DDR4 4733+ (OC)
- 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16
- Graphics Output: DisplayPort, HDMI
- 7.1 CH HD Audio (Realtek ALC887 Audio Codec)
AMD’s budget Ryzen motherboard chipset, the A520, has largely slipped under the radar. While B350 and B450 motherboards were mostly regarded as entry-level, A320 was strictly seen as the resolutely low end.
The introduction of B550 motherboards, and their associated move upward in price, left a big hole in the sub-$100 market. Enter A520. If you’re on a tighter budget and don’t care about PCIe 4.0 or the overclocking support offered by B550, then the A520 motherboards might be exactly what you need. There’s cheap, and there’s really cheap, but a decent A520 board can more or less do everything aboard at double the price can.
Then there’s the cherry on top, which is support for AMD Ryzen 5000 series CPUs and, almost as importantly, Ryzen 4000 series APUs. Combine a Zen 3 CPU with a motherboard such as this ASRock A520M ITX/ac, and you’ll be able to build an affordable and compact system that can beat any Intel chip in any workload.
The ASRock A520M’s audio is a bit of a letdown, but that’s something that budget boards often compromise on. A gamer listening to compressed audio assets in-game probably won’t be any less immersed. The little ASRock A520M ITX/ac has it where it counts and will serve you well at the heart of a budget gaming system. It benefits from the strengths of the Ryzen platform and adds some future-proofing into the mix. ITX fans looking for a capable budget AMD Ryzen option should definitely have this one on their shortlist.
Things you MUST KNOW before choosing your Best Gaming Motherboard with WiFi
A gaming motherboard is the backbone of your gaming PC as it is going to impact the performance of other PC components such as memory, graphics cards, and processors. Picking the right motherboard according to your requirements will ensure every function in your PC goes smoothly. To make an informed decision of choosing a motherboard, consider the following factors:
Platform
The first decision to make is to choose between the two giants; Intel and AMD. Which one is good to go for will depend on your requirements, such as whether you play games that need the fastest single-core performance (Intel is best for that), or you are more concerned about the games that can use multiprocessor cores (AMD is perfect for that).
After you’ve decided on the CPU, you have to choose a gaming motherboard with the right socket and chipset. It is important to choose a motherboard with the right socket and chipset because different chipsets are equipped with different support for various PC components such as GPUs, RAM, and others.
Form Factor
To choose a motherboard you’ll have to decide on a form factor too. Common form factors include ATX and micro ATX. So, when you’re buying a motherboard, make sure that its size will fit into your PC. The ATX board is equipped with more expansion slots that are quite beneficial while the micro ATX boards are compact and have a reduced number of expansion slots.
Socket and Expansion slots
There are many types of sockets which include LGA, PGA, and BGA. LGA sockets are used by Intel while the PGA sockets are used by AMD. When we talk about the expansion slots, the PCle is the most important one which is used to connect most of the components. There are various sizes of this slot and the commonly used one is PCle 3.0. The more slots you have in your motherboard, the more space you have to fit your required components.
GPU Support
Make sure that your motherboard can support the type of GPU that could meet your requirements. A good GPU support is imperative as it provides a way to present information in a visual form that can be perceived by us. For gaming, you’ll need a powerful GPU but if you want something that could support less graphically demanding games such as the e-sport titles, you can go for the ones that come integrated with CPUs.
RAM
Before deciding on the motherboard, don’t forget to consider the RAM. For a gaming motherboard, we recommend going for one that could accommodate at least 16 GB of RAM. Also, go for a motherboard that features 4 or more memory slots because it is beneficial for RAM. If you have more slots, you can install 2 RAMs that will give you more space for games and you’ll be able to upgrade too in the future.
FAQs
What is the difference between gaming and regular motherboards?
This depends on the type of game you’re going to play. For simple games, any regular motherboard would do. If you play heavy games, then you’ll need motherboards with high-end specs such as RAM support for at least 64 GB or more, support for the latest generation CPU, dual M.2 and 6 SATA connectors, RAID support, PCle 16×1, PCle 8×1, and PCle 4×2 slots.
What are the main components of a motherboard?
The main components of a motherboard include a microprocessor socket, a chipset, a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), and a real-time clock. A motherboard is also equipped with slots or ports for the attachment of various support systems/hardware or peripherals.
Why are gaming motherboards so expensive?
Gaming motherboards are expensive because they need to support a lot of things and should have multiple features that are needed to run the games. These motherboards should support the latest processor, provide RAID support, support for external GPU, and should have plenty of fan headers and RGB headers for gaming. Also, since the AAA titles require a lot of power, the motherboards should be able to support the latest and high power PSU too.
Conclusion
Motherboards are one of the most crucial parts of a gaming rig, and when they are equipped with WiFi, they become handier than ever. These motherboards are very functional if you want to enhance your overall gaming performance on your PC.
If budget is not an issue, we recommend going for the Gigabyte Z390 Auorus Pro, which is equipped with WiFi and all the features that you need in a gaming motherboard. If you want a small and compact motherboard for running specific tasks and games only on your PC, then you must go for the B450 Aorus Pro WiFi. All the motherboards reviewed in this post are some of the best gaming motherboards with WiFi.
Last update on 2023-11-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
