When you’re building your own PC or looking at a pre-made one, the motherboard is often overlooked as, realistically, any GPU could be paired with any motherboard; the problem arises for CPUs. However, the PCIe version plays a big factor in how your GPU will perform, and if you’ve invested in a gaming beast like the RTX 4080 Super, you’d want the 4K performance you paid for.
This is where you need to focus on the power phases and the PCIe version of the motherboard. We’ve got a handful of selections that’d be great for the RTX 4080 Super. We chose these boards based on their price, features, size, PCIe versions, power delivery systems, and performance after thoroughly testing them in-house. We’re always testing motherboards, CPUs, and GPUs to see which pairing works best so we can recommend only the best.
Products at a glance
- Best motherboard for RTX 4080 Super
ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero
- Socket: AM5 (LGA 1718)
- Chipset: X670E
- Form Factor : ATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 5 Storage – PCIe Gen 5 GPU
- Memory speed : 6400MHz + OC
- Memory capacity : 128GB (4 x 32GB)
- Best LGA 1700 motherboard for RTX 4080 Super
ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 DARK HERO
- Socket: LGA 1700
- Chipset: Z790
- Form Factor : ATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 5 storage, Gen 5 GPU
- Memory speed : 8000+(OC)
- Memory capacity : 192GB, DDR5
- Best budget motherboard for RTX 4080 Super
MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi
- Socket: LGA 1700
- Chipset: B760
- Form Factor : mATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 4 storage, Gen 4 GPU
- Memory speed : 6800+(OC)
- Memory capacity : 256GB, DDR5
How we picked
We researched the market and found various options from different manufacturers. We filtered those options based on price, compatibility, performance, and other features. We also have a PC Guide Testing Lab in which we’ve mentioned our testing process for various components. If you’re wondering how we select and review products, we’ve got your back there as well.
Our top picks
- Socket: AM5 (LGA 1718)
- Chipset: X670E
- Form Factor : ATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 5 Storage – PCIe Gen 5 GPU
- Memory speed : 6400MHz + OC
- Memory capacity : 128GB (4 x 32GB)
- It has extensive overclocking support
- It has excellent power stages
- It is compatible with the Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series CPUs
- It comes with a heavy price tag
- If you don’t have high-end hardware, this may be a waste
- Armory crate – everyone who uses it, dislikes it
The recent issues with Intel chips put Team Red in a very favorable position, but even before that, the Ryzen processors had excellent synthetic and real-world performance. So, we recommend the ASUS Crosshair X670E Hero, which is compatible with AM5 processors, meaning you can pair the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which we’ve reviewed with your RTX 4080 Super and blow through even the most demanding titles.
If that isn’t enough, in our ASUS Crosshair X670E Hero review, we tested its performance and efficiency, and it didn’t disappoint at all with its top-notch results. This motherboard features an AM5 socket, meaning it can support the Ryzen 7000 and 9000 series processors. It also has PCIe 5.0 for storage and graphics cards, which means that both devices won’t be held back due to bandwidth constraints.
This board has a maximum memory capacity of 128GB DDR5 RAM, which is honestly overkill, especially when you consider that maximum memory speed of 6,400 MHz. That said, it is nice to have a decent overhead as you can boost the performance by slapping on another memory stick, so if you’re interested in exploring some options, check out our best DDR5 RAM guide for the top picks.
This motherboard is perfect for those who do not want to be held back when it comes to features or technology.
PC Guide
The Crosshair X670E Hero has an 18 + 2 power delivery system, which means it has 18 power phases on the first layer filtering the power and then two more on the second layer. All this is done before the power reaches the CPU to ensure it is clean and stable, which is important if you’re overclocking your CPU, as unstable power delivery will only hinder the process.
We tested its performance by pairing it with the Ryzen 9 7900X and saw a maximum package power of 171.67W, which is in line with the 7900X’s specifications. That said, a power loss of 4.27W was also observed. While this isn’t a great deal of power, it can add up over time as you’re still paying for it but not using it. That said, no system is 100% energy efficient, and power loss is expected at some level.
Overall, this is an excellent motherboard for the RTX 4080 Super. It has great features and a robust design, making it a suitable option for a number of builds. Its performance and specifications should bring out the best in your CPU and graphics card.
What user say
According to Amazon reviews, this motherboard has excellent build quality and stable performance. One reviewer said: “It’s I/O and feature set and build quality are excellent. It is at the heart of my AMD Ryzen R9-7950x build and the board has been flawless for a year now and I couldn’t be happier.”
- Socket: LGA 1700
- Chipset: Z790
- Form Factor : ATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 5 storage, Gen 5 GPU
- Memory speed : 8000+(OC)
- Memory capacity : 192GB, DDR5
- It has excellent performance
- It has a great power delivery system
- It has top-notch build quality
- It is very expensive
- It will only support till Intel’s 14th-generation CPUs
- The ASUS Armory Crate is subpar
For those who lean toward Team Blue, we recommend the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero. This is an enthusiast-level motherboard and has great features that should complement your RTX 4080 Super build. We tested this motherboard in our Dark Hero Z790 review and it had exceptional performance.
For starters, this mainboard features the Z790 chipset and the LGA 1700 socket, meaning it can accommodate three generations of Intel processors: 12th, 13th, and 14th-generation. So, there are plenty of CPU options like the 13900K and 14900K to pair with this motherboard as their performance, coupled with the RTX 4080 Super, should result in seamless 4K gaming.
The Dark Hero Z790 also has PCIe 5.0 for storage devices and the GPU. What this means is that you shouldn’t worry about bottleneck or performance degradation issues due to bandwidth issues. PCIe 5.0 has a max speed of 32 GT/s (Gigatransfers per second), which is a huge amount of data, and even if you’re running several instances of games, the PCIe lane’s bandwidth shouldn’t come under pressure, the same however, can’t be said for the GPU.
Regarding the memory capacity, you can stack up to 192 GB of DDR5 RAM, which can run at a whopping 8,000 MHz. This memory frequency is very high and is the highest we’ve seen. Maybe the upcoming 800-series motherboards could take this to the next level. To put things into perspective, you can game comfortably with DDR4 RAM running at 2,133 MHz, as that is what I’m using, and I play games like Apex Legends, Insurgency: Sandstorm, and Battlefield 2024.
The motherboard’s robust power delivery system facilitates this beautifully, and it’s packed with all the lastest high-end features and connectivity.
PC Guide
So, you shouldn’t worry about subpar in-game performance with this motherboard at the center of your rig. To make matters even better, this motherboard has a massive 20 + 1 power delivery system, meaning the power has to go through multiple filters before reaching the components, resulting in optimal performance.
It also has two PCIe 5.0 slots, which can be used simultaneously with the x8/x8 configuration. However, we recommend mounting the RTX 4080 Super on the primary one and getting full access to all 16 lanes for the best gaming and professional performance.
To check its performance, we called in the Intel Core i5 14600K and ran a series of benchmarking software to simulate various workloads. We saw this motherboard drawing 311W from the wall, and the CPU was able to hit its ceiling of 181W, which means it wasn’t limited in any way.
So, overall, this motherboard is a great option if you already have an Intel processor and want to upgrade to get the most out of it. It has excellent features and build quality, making it a worthwhile investment, but you’ll only be able to upgrade to the 14th-generation processors as Intel is changing the socket to LGA 1851 starting with their 15th-generation CPUs.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, the ASUS ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero is a stable and reliable option for high-end processors; as one reviewer said: “I chose the ASUS Z790 Dark Horse primarily for it stable and reliable power handling and it’s onboard NVME M.2 capacity. Coupled with an Intel i9-14900K, cooled with a Corsair H150i Elite liquid cooler” followed by “I believe this Motherboard has checked all the marks for reliability, performance, and just plain awesomeness!”
- Socket: LGA 1700
- Chipset: B760
- Form Factor : mATX
- PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 4 storage, Gen 4 GPU
- Memory speed : 6800+(OC)
- Memory capacity : 256GB, DDR5
- It comes at an affordable price point
- It has exceptional performance
- It is small and lightweight, perfect for low-profile builds
- It doesn’t have a protective backplate
- It has only two M.2 slots
- It tends to run hot than other motherboards
We understand that not everyone has hundreds of dollars to spend on a high-end motherboard with the most powerful chipset. So, if you’re operating on a budget, we recommend the MSI B760 Gaming motherboard as we were surprised by its performance when we tested it for our MSI B760 Gaming review.
To begin with, this is a micro ATX motherboard, meaning it is smaller than an ATX motherboard. So, it can easily fit inside a standard PC case, but if you want, you can also install it in the best mini-ITX case.
That said, its size didn’t hold it back from having plenty of memory capacity, as you can install 256GB of DDR5 RAM on it, running at 6,800 MHz. While 6,800 MHz might seem slow compared to 8,000 MHz, it is still more than enough to handle gaming at any level, whether 1080p or 4K. On top of that, this motherboard has the highest memory capacity on this list despite its budget nature.
This motherboard is a fantastic pick for those looking for performance on a budget, it doesn’t offer a lot in terms of features but it makes up for that in terms of power. The cost is low and the potential is high, what’s not to love?
PC Guide
However, it only has the PCI Express 4.0 version for storage devices and GPU, which might put some people off, but remember its price tag and the level of performance it’s offering, which we’ll get to later. That said, you shouldn’t feel a big difference in performance as PCIe 4.0 still has a max speed of 16 GT/s.
This motherboard features a triple power delivery design of 12 + 1 + 1, meaning the power has to go through three layers and multiple filters, making it clean and stable. While, compared to other options with massive power phases, it might not seem like a lot, its performance proved otherwise.
Since this is also an LGA 1700 motherboard, we used the same test bench with the 14600K paired with an RTX 4070 Ti Super and 6,800 MHz RAM. The maximum power being pulled from the wall was recorded at 337.9W, with the CPU taking a maximum of 194.4W. That said, what was more surprising was that the 14600K had better performance with this motherboard compared to the ROG Z790 Dark Hero and ASUS Prime Z790.
This could be a triple power delivery system at work, but we were pleased and surprised to see its performance. Who doesn’t love a classic underdog winning at the end of the story? Overall, despite its budget nature, it brings plenty of features to the table and has excellent performance and efficiency.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this motherboard has everything you’ll need to handle high-end components without a hitch. One reviewer said: “Performance-wise, this motherboard truly shines. The support for the latest processors and high-speed RAM allows me to run my favorite games and applications smoothly at maximum settings. The VRM cooling solution ensures that the temperatures stay in check even during extended gaming sessions, providing reliability and stability.”
How to select the best motherboard for the RTX 4080 Super
Selecting a motherboard isn’t just about picking the option with the most bells and whistles, as those options can cost an arm and a leg. On top of that, depending on your processor, you might not even need all the features it is offering.
So, before investing in a motherboard for the 4080 Super, there are a couple of factors you need to keep in mind. They’ll help you make an informed decision and operate within your budget.
PCIe version
The RTX 4080 Super is a powerful graphics card, meaning to experience everything it has to offer, it needs to be connected to a PCIe slot that offers the maximum number of lanes. Besides that, the PCIe version also needs to be factored in, as PCIe 5.0 has a higher bandwidth than PCIe 4.0, so the data can more easily move to and from the GPU for processing. If you’re wondering about the difference between PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0, we’ve got you covered with our PCIe 5.0 vs PCIe 4.0 article.
Budget
Your budget is one of the most important factors to consider before purchasing a motherboard. Plenty of options are available in the market, with each offering something more than the previous one, and it’s easy to overspend when you see all those fancy features.
That said, it is always better to filter your options based on your budget from the get-go as it’ll keep your from overspending, potentially taking away the budget for other components, and give you a list of motherboards that offer good performance and value.
Power phases
The power phase is one of the most important aspects of any motherboard. These are generally referred to as Voltage Regulator Modules or VRMs, and they regulate the power or voltage supplied to the processor and other components. The more phases or high-quality VRMs there are, the more stable and clean the power will be, which is great as that means more power is being utilized instead of being wasted.
