
A boon to experts and beginners alike, performance standardization allows most of us to choose a motherboard based solely upon its CPU interface, on-board features, and price tag. On the other hand, continuous additions to our motherboard collection leave many readers without the time to read everything. We understand, and are here to help with a shorter list of award-winning products that you'll probably want to investigate further. First, pick a CPU (we can help there, too). And now for the part that lets your host processor shine:
October 2014 Updates
The past month saw Intel replace LGA 2011 with LGA 2011-v3, upgrading eight of the platform's USB 2.0 ports to USB 3.0, upgrading four of its SATA 3Gb/s ports to SATA 6Gb/s, enabling the previously disabled SAS controller as additional SATA 6Gb/s, and replacing the processor's integrated DDR3 memory controller with DDR4. That last change also required a new pin-out, which explains why Intel changed the corresponding interface.
AMD continues to gradually de-emphasize its Socket AM3+-based processors, but the motherboards have become extremely cost-effective since our most recent review. These could still be a great choice for someone whose need for lots of PCI Express connectivity might otherwise exceed their budget.
Top AMD Motherboards: Updated October 2014
| AMD 990FX | AMD 990FX | AMD A88X | AMD A88X | AMD A88X | AMD AM1 | AMD AM1 | |
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| Analysis | 2013 Smart Buy | 2013 Approved | 2014 Smart Buy | 2014 Approved | 2014 Approved | 2014 Smart Buy | 2014 Smart Buy |
| Chipset | AMD 990FX / SB950 | AMD 990FX / SB950 | AMD A88X | AMD A88X | AMD A88X | K16 IMC | K16 IMC |
| Voltage Regulator | 8 Phases | 10 Phases | 8 Phases | 8 Phases | 6 Phases | 2 Phases | 3 Phases |
| P/S 2 Ports | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| USB Ports | 2x 3.0, 8x 2.0 | 2x 3.0, 8x 2.0 | 4x 3.0, 2x 2.0 | 4x 3.0, 2x 2.0 | 6x 3.0, 2x 2.0 | 2x 3.0, 2x 2.0 | 2x 3.0, 2x 2.0 |
| Network Jacks | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| eSATA Ports | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | None | None | None |
| Digital Audio Out | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | HDMI-only | HDMI-only |
| Digital Audio In | None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Analog Audio | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| Video | None | None | DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA, DVI-D | DisplayPort, DVD-D, HDMI, VGA | DisplayPort, DVD-D, HDMI, VGA | HDMI, VGA | DVi-D, HDMI, VGA |
| Other I/O Panel | None | IEEE 1394 x1 | USB BIOS Flashback | None | None | None | None |
| PCIe 3.0 x16 | None | None | 2 (x16/x0 or x8/x8) | 2 (x16/x0 or x8/x8) | 2 (x16/x0 or x8/x8) | None | None |
| PCIe 2.0 x16 | 4 (x16/x4/x16/x4) | 4 (x16/x4/x16/x4) | 1 (x4 link) | 1 (x4 link) | 1 (x4 link) | 1 (4-Lanes) | 1 (4-Lanes) |
| PCIe 2.0 x1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 (1 shared w/slot above) | 3 (1 share 1-lane) | 2 | 1 x Mini-PCIe |
| USB 3.0 Headers | 1 (2-ports) | 1 (2-ports) | 1 (2-ports) | 2 (4-ports) | 1 (2-ports) | None | None |
| USB 2.0 Headers | 3 (6-ports) | 2 (6-ports) | 4 (8-ports) | 4 (8-ports) | 3 (6-ports) | 3 (6-ports) | 2 (4-ports) |
| SATA | 7x 6Gb/s | 6x 6Gb/s | 6x 6Gb/s | 7x 6Gb/s | 8x 6Gb/s | 2x 6Gb/s | 2x 6Gb/s |
| SATA Express | None | None | N/A | N/A | None | None | None |
| Fans | 5x 4-Pin | 2x 4-Pin, 2x 3-Pin | 5x 4-Pin | 3x 4-Pin, 1x 3-Pin | 3x 4-Pin, 2x 3-Pin | 2x 4-Pin | 1x 4-Pin, 1x 3-Pin |
| S/PDIF I/O | Output Only | Output Only | Output Only | Output Only | None | Output Only | None |
| Internal Buttons | DirectKey, MemOK, BIOS Flashback | None | MemOK, BIOS_FLBK, DirectKey | Power, Reset, CMOS selector | OC Genie, Power, Reset, CLR_CMOS | None | None |
| Internal Switch | None | None | EPU, TPU | None | OC Mode, Slow Mode | None | None |
| Diagnostics Panel | None | None | Numeric | Numeric | Numeric | None | None |
| Legacy | Serial | IEEE-1394, Serial | Serial | Serial | Serial | Serial Com, LPT Printer | Serial Com |
| Chipset SATA | 5x SATA 6Gb/s, 1x eSATA 6Gb/s | 6x SATA 6Gb/s | 6x SATA 6Gb/s, 2x eSATA 6Gb/s | 7x SATA 6Gb/s, 1x eSATA 6Gb/s | 8x SATA 6Gb/s | 2x SATA 6Gb/s | 2x SATA 6Gb/s |
| Chipset RAID Modes | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | None | None |
| Add-In SATA | ASM1061 PCIe, 2x SATA 6Gb/s | 88SE9172 PCIe, 2x SATA 6Gb/s | None | None | None | None | None |
| USB 3.0 Controller | 2x ASM1042 PCIe (4-ports) | 2x EJ168A PCIe (4-ports) | ASM1042 PCIe (2-ports) | VLI VL805 PCIe (4-ports) | VLI VL805 PCIe (4-ports) | Integrated-only | Integrated-only |
| Primary LAN | RTL8111E PCIe | RTL8111F PCIe | RTL8111GR PCIe | RTL8111F PCIe | Killer E2205 PCIe | RTL8111F PCIe | RTL8111G PCIe |
| Secondary LAN | None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Wi-Fi | None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Bluetooth | None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| HD Audio Codec | ALC892 | ALC889 | ALC1150 | ALC892 | ALC1150 | ALC887 | ALC887 |
| DDL/DTS Connect | DTS Connect | DDL | None | None | None | None | None |
| Warranty | Three Years | Three Years | Three Years | Three Years | Three Years | Three Years | Three Years |
AMD 990FX
Supporting up to four single-slot or three double-slot graphics cards and two-way SLI, Asus used proprietary features like USB BIOS Flashback, along with a superb software suite, to justify a slightly higher price for its M5A99FX Pro R2.0 compared to the company's closest competitor. The M5A99FX Pro R2.0 broke that tie by enabling the highest stable overclock in a tightly-held competition. Asus M5A99FX Pro R2.0
2013 Smart Buy
Now that smart shoppers can (eventually) find both competing models for the same price, the value award given to this Socket AM3+-based board appears even more secure. Read the Full Review
The 990FXA-UD3 saw Gigabyte chasing Asus for overclocking supremacy, yet this same product added one more add-on controller to AMD's otherwise-legacy Socket AM3+ platform: FireWire. While anyone who doesn't need IEEE-1394 connectivity won't care, those who do will realize better value from Gigabyte's configuration. Supporting four single-slot graphics cards and two-way SLI at the same spacing as Asus, Gigabyte helps enthusiasts add one more PCIe x1 card by placing that slot above the top PCIe x16 interface. Gigabyte 990FXAUD3
2013 Approved
With just a little more configuration flexibility and added FireWire, the 990FXA-UD3 retains its recommendation as a great alternative to the aforementioned M5A99FX Pro R2.0. Read the Full Review
AMD A88X
Every added feature is worth something, and Asus topped its competitors for a value award by allowing most of the A88X-Pro's features to be used at the same time. These include up to three PCIe x16 graphics cards (the third in x4 mode), two PCIe x1 slots, two legacy PCI slots, and front/rear panel-accessible USB 3.0. Asus A88X-Pro
2014 Smart Buy
More than just a winning design, the A88X-Pro also provided us with a top memory overclock of DDR3-2542, which could be particularly important to anyone who wants to extract the highest possible performance from AMD's integrated Radeon R7 graphics engine. Read the Full Review
Gigabyte's F2A88X-UP4 was the least-expensive motherboard in its round-up, but had a PCIe pathway sharing issue that initially excluded it from top honors. Briefly, it dropped its third (four-lane) PCIe x16 slot to a single pathway whenever the middle PCIe x1 slot was filled. A USB 3.0 front-panel header that, when attached, prevented most graphics cards from fitting into its third PCIe x16 slot was also a concern. Gigabyte F2A88X-UP4
2014 Approved
On the other hand, most builders won't use the F2A88X-UP4's third PCIe x16 slot for a graphics card. And again, the P2A88X-UP4 is cheaper than competing products. Builders who treat that last slot as a single-link slot will enjoy improved value in the F2A88X-UP4's lower price. Read the Full Review
The most feature-packed motherboard in its comparison, MSI's A88X-G45 came up short of an initial award because populating its third graphics slot (limited to x4 mode) prevented builders from using its USB 3.0 front-panel header. After initially calling the A88X-G45 outn, we reconsidered our position after acknowledging AMD's APU platform isn't a natural choice for three-card graphics arrays anyway. MSI A88X-G45 Gaming
2014 Approved
Listening to your feedback and trusting enthusiasts to steer more mainstream PC builders away from three-way CrossFire on this platform compelled us to point out the narrow limits of this product's one fault. Not long after, it received our stamp of approval. Read the Full Review
AMD AM1
Gigabyte presents AM1 buyers with a better range of expansion options by increasing the size of its circuit board. Competing against mini-ITX-based parts, the AM1M-S2H carries the microATX banner, along with two additional PCIe x1 expansion slots. Those in the habit of counting slots will notice that this motherboard is one slot short of the full microATX specification. But those with even more historical knowledge know that the shortened PCB makes it a good upgrade choice for old FlexATX-based desktops. Don't even worry about wasting any of the AM1M-S2H's added features in a case that old; it doesn't have a front-panel USB 3.0 connector to leave unused. You do, however, get front-panel serial and parallel port headers, along with USB 2.0, to fill out those old-fashioned cases. Gigabyte AM1M-S2H
2014 Smart Buy
Available for less than £30, the AM1M-S2H is exceptionally well-priced. Read the Full Review
Also available for less than £30, MSI hammered its mini-ITX rivals on price alone. Though we haven't seen any price drops since its review, we still find the AM1I to be a great value all these months later. MSI AM1I
2014 Smart Buy
Focusing primarily on the mini-desktop market (to the exclusion of certain legacy features), the AM1I forgoes parallel ports for either its I/O panel or front panel, and instead adds a mini-PCIe interface. Though this slot could host an internal Wi-Fi card, you'd need a chassis with antenna leads and attachment points. Even then, MSI leaves enough space on its I/O shield to add antenna connector holes there. Read the Full Review
Top Intel Motherboards: Updated October 2014
| Intel X99 | Intel X99 | Intel Z97 Express | Intel Z97 Express | Intel Z97 Express | Intel Z97 Express | |
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| Chipset | Intel X99 | Intel X99 | Intel Z97 Express | Intel Z97 Express | Intel Z97 Express | Intel Z97 Express |
| Voltage Regulator | 12 Phases | 8 Phases | 8 Phases | 12 Phases | 12 Phases | 10 Phases |
| P/S 2 Ports | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| USB Ports | 4x 3.0, 4x 2.0 | 8x 3.0, 2x 2.0 | 4x 3.0, 4x 2.0 | 6x 3.0 | 6x 3.0, 2x 2.0 | 4x 3.0, 2x 2.0 |
| Network Jacks | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| eSATA Ports | 1 (6 Gb/s) | None | None | 1 | None | None |
| Digital Audio Out | Optical | Optical | None | Optical | Optical | Optical |
| Digital Audio In | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Analog Audio | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Video | None | None | DVI-D, HDMI, VGA | DisplayPort, DVI-D, HDMI | DVI-D, HDMI, VGA | DisplayPort, DVI-D, HDMI, VGA |
| Other I/O Panel | CLR_CMOS Button | CLR_CMOS Button | None | CLR_CMOS Button | None | Wi-Fi antenna connectors |
| PCIe 3.0 x16 | 3 (x16/x16/x8, x16/x16/M.2), SLI x3, CrossFireX x3 | 4 (x16/x16/x0/x8*, x8/x16/x8/x8*), SLI x4, CrossFireX x4, *Forces M.2 to PCIe 2.0 x2 | 3 (x16/x0/x0, x8/x8/x0, x8/x4/x4) | 3 (x16/x0, x8/x8, x8/x4/M.2) | 3 (x16/x0/x0, x8/x8/x0, x8/x4/x4) | 2 (x16/x0 or x8/x8) |
| PCIe 2.0 x16 | 1 (4-pathways) | None | None | 1 (2-pathways) | None | 1 (4-lanes shared below) |
| PCIe 2.0 x1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 (sharing 1x mini PCIe) | 2 | 4 (2 shared w/slot above) |
| USB 3.0 Headers | 1 (2-ports) | 2 (4-ports) | 1 (2-ports) | 2 (4-ports) | 1 (2-ports) | 2 (4-ports, shared PCIe) |
| USB 2.0 Headers | 2 (4-ports) | 2 (4-ports) | 2 (4-ports) | 2 (4-ports) | 2 (4-ports) | 2 (4-ports) |
| SATA | 10x 6Gb/s (Shares M.2, SATA-E) | 10x 6Gb/s (Shares: M.2, SATA-E) | 6x 6Gb/s (Shares M.2) | 10x 6Gb/s (Shares M.2, SATA-E) | 8x 6Gb/s (Shares M.2/SATA-E) | 8x 6Gb/s (Shares M.2/SATA-E) |
| SATA Express | None | 1 (Uses 2x SATA) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Fans | 2x 4-Pin, 4x 3-Pin | 5x 4-Pin | 5x 4-Pin | 2x 4-Pin, 4x 3-Pin | 5x 4-Pin, 1x 3-Pin | 6x 4-Pin |
| S/PDIF I/O | None | None | None | None | Output Only | Output Only |
| Internal Buttons | None | Power, Reset, OC-Genie | None | Power, Reset | Power, Reset, CLR_CMOS | MemOK, Power, BIOS_FLBK |
| Internal Switch | None | Audio Power Source | Audio Power Source | BIOS IC Selector | Dual BIOS Mode, BIOS IC selector | EPU, TPU, EZ XMP |
| Diagnostics Panel | Numeric | Numeric | Numeric | Numeric | Numeric | Numeric |
| Legacy | Ultra M.2 (SATA x1 or PCIe 3.0 x4), TB Header, Serial COM Port | Ultra M.2 (SATA x2 or PCIe 3.0 x4 or PCIe 2.0 x2), Sup. Audio Power), Serial COM port | Serial COM port | M.2 (Shares SATA-E), Ultra M.2 (Uses 4x PCIe 3.0), USB Port, Serial COM port | M.2 (Shares SATA-E), 2x PCI, Serial COM port | M.2 (Shares SATA-E), TB_Header |
| Chipset SATA | 10x SATA 6Gb/s (Includes M.2, SATA-E) | 10x SATA 6Gb/s (Includes M.2, SATA-E) | 6x SATA 6Gb/s (Includes M.2) | 6x SATA 6Gb/s (Includes M.2) | 6x SATA 6Gb/s (Includes M.2, SATA-E) | 6x SATA 6Gb/s (Includes M.2, SATA-E) |
| Chipset RAID Modes | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 |
| Add-In SATA | None | None | None | 2x ASM1061 PCIe, 4x SATA 6Gb/s, 1x eSATA (Shared) | 88SE9172 PCIe, 2x SATA 6Gb/s | ASM1061 PCIe, 2x SATA 6Gb/s |
| USB 3.0 Controller | Chipset-only | VL805 PCIe, ASM1042 PCIe | Z97 Integrated Only | ASM1042AE PCIe, ASM1074 hub | uPD720210 PCIe | ASM1042AE PCIe |
| Primary LAN | WGI218V PHY | Killer E2205 PCIe | Killer E2205 PCIe | WGI218V PHY | Killer E2201 PCIe | WGI218V PHY |
| Secondary LAN | None | None | None | RTL8111GR PCIe | WGI217V PHY | None |
| Wi-Fi | None | None | None | None | None | BCM4352 PCIe BT-combo 802.11ac 2-band 867 Mb/s |
| Bluetooth | None | None | None | None | None | BCM4352 combo, above |
| HD Audio Codec | ALC1150 | ALC1150 | ALC1150 | ALC1150 | ALC1150 | ALC1150 |
| DDL/DTS Connect | DTS Connect | None | None | DTS Connect | None | DTS Connect |
| Warranty | Three Years | Three Years | Three Years | Three Years | Three Years | Three Years |
Intel X99
Supporting either three-way SLI or two-way SLI plus an Ultra M.2 SSD, ASRock's X99 Extreme4 earned our stamp of approval as a value-minded compromise of high-end features. We don't often use the words compromise and high-end in the same sentence, but budget-oriented buyers who can afford to make those comprises will reap the financial rewards. As well, those who need the X99 Extreme4's exact feature set and would like to maximize performance can put money saved here towards upgrades in other parts. ASRock X99 Extreme4
2014 Approved
Overclockers who would like to put their savings towards additional cooling will find that the X99 Extreme4 finished in a tie for top CPU overclocking honors, a tie for top DRAM overclocking, and a tie for top DRAM bandwidth at the processor's top DDR3-2666 setting. Read the Full Review
Capable of being configured for four-way SLI, slot spacing issues and an Ultra M.2 sharing conflict also seen from its less expensive rival make MSI's X99S Gaming 7 a three-way SLI-rated product. That's still one more card in SLI than its competition offers in concert with Ultra M.2, and MSI also adds more USB 3.0 ports and a higher-priced Ethernet controller to compensate for the X99S Gaming 7's loftier price. MSI X99S Gaming 7
2014 Approved
MSI's X99S Gaming 7 is the other motherboard to finish our round-up in a tie for best CPU overclocking, DRAM overclocking, and DDR3-2666 bandwidth, so extra money here really does go towards extra features. Read the Full Review
Intel Z97
Now available for less than £115 (if you know where to look), ASRock leveraged a deal with a major distributor to offer extra-aggressive pricing to savvy Z97 Extreme4 shoppers. Don't expect a bunch of added features at this price, but do count on exceptional overclocking and broad availability of the platform's integrated features (such as three-way CrossFire and two-way SLI) in any low-cost product that receives our stamp of approval. ASRock Z97 Extreme4
2014 Approved
How good was the Z97 Extreme4's overclock? How does 4.6 GHz at 1.25 V on a Core i7-4770K sound? Or DDR3-2933 with two memory slots populated? Even a full load of four modules reached DDR3-2800 without crashing, so money saved on this product could potentially be put towards better RAM. Read the Full Review
MSI adds live game broadcasting services to justify the Z97 Gaming 5's price premium, yet still fills the board with nice freebies like a row of voltage detection points to augment the monitoring needs of hardcore overclockers. Gamers who use XSplit Gamecaster won't have any trouble understanding the Z97 Gaming 5's value; those who aren't familiar with the software won't put the same price on it. MSI Z97 Gaming 5
2014 Approved
The Z97 Gaming 5's overclocking ability is equally impressive, pushing our Core i7-4770K to 4.60 GHz at 1.25 V, simultaneously getting our memory kit to DDR3-2885 with two DIMMs installed and DDR3-2829 with four. Read the Full Review
Available for less than £170, ASRock's Z97-Extreme6 adds four SATA 6Gb/s ports, four USB 3.0 ports, dual GbE controllers, and selectable dual socketed firmware ROMs to justify entry into the enthusiast class. A low price and trouble-free operation were key factors in its selection for Tom's Hardware Smart Buy status. ASRock Z97-Extreme6
2014 Smart Buy
This is the only board in its class to offer PCIe 3.0-based Ultra M.2, though using that feature pits Nvidia's eight-lane minimum for SLI against the 16-pathway limit of Intel's LGA 1150-based processors. Then again, it's not like you're actually paying extra to get a faster SSD interface, and it may be more important than SLI to some enthusiasts. Read the Full Review
For just a few pounds more than the least-expensive board in its class, Gigabyte's Z97X-UD5H adds LAN teaming by using two similar GbE controllers from Intel. Slot options also improve, allowing anyone with Radeon cards in CrossFire to configure three PCIe 3.0 x16 slots in x8/x4/x4 mode, in addition to supporting two-way SLI and CrossFire at eight lanes per card.
The Z97-Pro(Wi-Fi ac) from Asus uses a superb 802.11ac/Bluetooth 4.0 combo card, in addition to gigabit Ethernet, to compete against ASRock and Gigabyte in the same £125-145 price segment. Users can link those controllers to use their system as an access point, or even to extend wireless networking connectivity to another group of computers. The board doesn't offer the x8/x4/x4 PCIe 3.0 option for triple-card CrossFire, and lane sharing between slots means that it's best for some builders to treat the bottom slot as a single-lane second-gen interface. Gigabyte Z97X-UD5H
2014 Approved
An extraordinary 30 GB/s DDR3-2800 bandwidth could similarly make the Z97X-UD5H a great choice for gamers, and that advantage combines with the above feature-to-cost offsets to earn the Z97X-UD5H our stamp of approval. Read the Full Review
Asus Z97-Pro(Wi-Fi ac)
2014 Approved
Superior results in our power and efficiency tests could tip the balance of value for users who prefer the Z97-Pro(Wi-Fi ac)'s feature set, particularly those who only need two graphics cards at most. Read the Full Review
Create a new thread in the UK Article comments forum about this subject
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4 Hidemi1ez , 14 October 2014 23:17Wow. Spectacular fail. There's nothing here except the intro!
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0 HideSgtBilko , 15 October 2014 06:26AHhhermmm!
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0 HideGhost24 , 15 October 2014 09:09What about the ASUS ROG mobo series? I'm just curious since it's not features anywhere on the site, not even in the z97 roundup. Is there something wrong with them? (for example hero VII)
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1 Hidehollett , 15 October 2014 11:30Is this something chucked together in a spare 5 minutes? I was expecting a motherboard from the AMD and Intel camp for each price point. so £40, £65, £90, £120, £160, £200 and over £200. This is just a list of the best buys and approved awards from the last two years.
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0 HideTheLoneWolf989 , 15 October 2014 20:15What about the non-overclocking boards?
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0 HideAlexander Holland , 17 October 2014 10:38Absolute trash article.