Best Motherboards October 2026
Choosing the right motherboard ensures all your computer components work together reliably and at peak performance. This independent comparison outlines the top ATX options for both AMD and Intel platforms by connectivity, memory speed, and expansion slots. Compare the key pros and cons below to find the ideal board for your next PC build.
Last updated: 1 October 2026
The list is unchanged since the last update.
Motherboards: Top 5
1
Asus TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi
from £174.9913 stores
from £174.99
13 stores
2
Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi
from £130.607 stores
from £130.60
7 stores
3
Asus B650E Max Gaming Wifi
from £127.616 stores
from £127.61
6 stores
4
MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi
from £72.1611 stores
from £72.16
11 stores
5
MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WIFI
from £250.106 stores
from £250.10
6 stores
The Asus TUF Gaming B850-Plus WiFi brings modern AMD AM5 connectivity with fast Wi-Fi 7 and a 5 Gbps Ethernet port. It offers three M.2 storage slots with PCIe Gen5 support and abundant cooling headers for custom builds. Its balanced feature set suits gamers and builders looking for current-generation networking and expansion.
Pros
Wi-Fi 7 and 5 Gbps Ethernet support
PCIe Gen5 M.2 SSD support
High-grade Realtek ALC1220 audio
Seven chassis fan connectors
Cons
No optical S/PDIF audio out
Base RAM rated at 5,200 MHz
The Asus TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi is an established ATX board built for AMD AM5 systems. It includes PCIe 5.0 storage compatibility, DDR5 memory support up to 6,400 MHz, and reliable 2.5 Gbps wired networking. It remains a dependable choice for mid-range gaming builds needing proven hardware.
Pros
PCIe Gen5 M.2 drive support
DDR5 speeds up to 6,400 MHz
Integrated optical S/PDIF output
2.5 Gbps Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6
Cons
Armoury Crate fan controls can glitch
Lacks Wi-Fi 7 connectivity
The Asus B650E Max Gaming Wifi stands out with support for up to 256 GB of DDR5 RAM running up to 8,000 MHz. It features four PCIe x16 slots and three M.2 storage slots with PCIe Gen5 support for expansive expansion options. With Wi-Fi 6E and ECC memory support, it caters to performance gamers and power users alike.
Pros
Huge memory capacity up to 256 GB
DDR5 memory speeds up to 8,000 MHz
Four PCIe x16 expansion slots
Includes optical S/PDIF audio out
Cons
Only four chassis fan headers
Limited to 2.5 Gbps Ethernet
The MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi is an ATX board designed for Intel LGA 1700 desktop processors. It delivers modern DDR5 compatibility, Wi-Fi 6E, and 2.5 Gbps LAN for fast connectivity. With dual PCIe Gen4 M.2 slots, it offers a solid foundation for mainstream Intel gaming setups.
Pros
Intel LGA 1700 socket support
Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5 Gbps Ethernet
Supports DDR5 memory up to 6,400 MHz
Optical S/PDIF audio output
Cons
Only two SATA ports for storage
No PCIe Gen5 M.2 SSD support
The MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WIFI is a feature-rich AMD AM5 motherboard offering four M.2 slots and robust cooling headers. It delivers top-tier networking with Wi-Fi 7 and 5 Gbps LAN alongside high-definition Realtek ALC4080 audio. Built for performance and expandability, it handles demanding gaming and workstation builds effortlessly.
Pros
Four M.2 slots with PCIe Gen5 support
Wi-Fi 7 and 5 Gbps Ethernet
Premium Realtek ALC4080 audio
Eight chassis fan connectors
Cons
Base RAM rated at 5,200 MHz
Wi-Fi 7 drivers need Windows 11
Compare specifications
| Form factor | ATX | ATX | ATX | ATX | ATX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | AMD [800 Series] B850 | AMD [600 Series] B650 | AMD [600 Series] B650 | Intel [700 Series] B760 | AMD [800 Series] B850 |
| Type of memory | DDR5 | DDR5 | DDR5 | DDR5 | DDR5 |
| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | AMD Socket AM5 | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 | AMD Socket AM5 |
How we create the list
The ranking is updated monthly and is based on data we collect from our own platform. Products that rank highly are popular among our users while also maintaining high quality according to editorial expert assessments. Specifically, we weigh how many users follow the product via price alerts or lists, how it is rated by experts and users, as well as how much traffic it generates to stores and how well it is represented in retail. The texts on this page are AI-generated and created to give you a quick and clear overview. No products are paid placements – the ranking is driven solely by data.
