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Best motherboards for RTX 4090 – our top picks

Explore the right mobos for Nvidia's powerhouse.
Last Updated on August 28, 2024
Best motherboards for RTX 4090
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The RTX 4090 is the most powerful GPU available in the market for gaming. To get the most out of it, you need to pair it with one of the best motherboards.

The motherboard you’re getting should support the latest PCIes standard to maximize the GPU’s bandwidth. On top of that, it should also come with a solid VRM system for stable performance.

Here at PCGuide, we’ve reviewed several motherboards and have put each one through rigorous testing. Based on the results, we’ve selected a few options that we think are the right fit for the GPU. So, without wasting another second, let’s dive in!

How we picked

For our guides, we don’t solely rely on online ratings and reviews of the products. Instead, we take a hands-on approach and test the motherboards ourselves before recommending them to our readers. We carefully examine the specs, compatibility, build quality, price, and performance of the motherboards. After all, we don’t want you to end up wasting money on the wrong product. You can learn more about how we test components to get a better idea of our methods.

Our top picks

Best motherboard for RTX 4090 overall
01
  • Crosshair X670E Hero showing AMD CPU and RAM slots
  • Crosshair X670E Hero in the test bench ready to be tested
  • Crosshair X670E Hero bottom left corner where power connectors are
  • Crosshair X670E Hero in box on the table
  • Crosshair X670E Hero showing top half of motherboard
Highly Recommended
Specifications
  • 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)
Reasons to Buy
  • Ryzen 7000 series and 9000 series compatible
  • High memory speed and capacity
  • Extensive overclocking support
  • Robust power stages
  • Great customizability
  • Sleek aesthetics
Reasons to Avoid
  • Very expensive
  • Reserved for enthusiasts
  • If you don’t have high-end hardware, this may be a waste
  • Armory crate – everyone who uses it, dislikes it
  • Very gamer focused – If you don’t like that kind of thing

If budget is not an issue and you want a premium motherboard for the RTX 4090, then we’d recommend the ASUS X670E Hero. This is one of the best motherboards available in the market. In our ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero review, we found it to be a great motherboard for high-end components.

To begin with, just as you’d expect from a ROG motherboard, the X670E Crosshair Hero has a stunning design. After a single look, you can tell that it’s designed with gamers in mind. It also offers RGB, which can help improve the overall aesthetics of your build.

The X670E Crosshair Hero has an AM5 socket, so you can use it with the latest Ryzen 9000 series processors. On top of that, it can support four DDR5 6400 MHz RAMs, with a maximum capacity of 128 GB. It also has two PCIe 5.0 slots and one PCIe 4.0 slot. 

This motherboard is perfect for those who do not want to be held back when it comes to features or technology.

PC Guide

As far as connectivity is concerned, the X670E Crosshair Hero offers nine USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports and one USB 3.2 Gen 2X2 port. So, you can connect multiple devices to the motherboard without worrying about running out of ports.

For our review, we tested the X670E Crosshair Hero with the 7900X, and it didn’t let us down in terms of performance. During the Blender Monster test, the maximum recorded PPT was 167.40W, while the power lost was 4.26W. On the other hand, in the Geekbench 6 multi-core test, the max PPT was 146.73, while the power lost was 3.42W. During both tests, the max mobo temp was 40°C and 42°C, respectively. 

Overall, the ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero is a solid choice for those who want a top-tier motherboard for their RTX 4090.

Best mid-range motherboard for RTX 4090
02
  • MSI Project Zero B650 I/O
  • MSI Project Zero B650 PCie Slot
  • MSI Project Zero B650 logo in corner
  • MSI Project Zero B650 on the test bench with ASUS cooler
  • MSI Project Zero B650 with Ryzen 9 7900X
  • MSI Project Zero B650 VRM heatsink
  • MSI Project Zero B650 on a table
Highly Recommended
Specifications
  • Socket: AM5 (LGA1718)
  • Chipset: B650
  • Form Factor : Micro-ATX
  • PCIe Version : PCIe Gen 4
  • Memory speed : 6400MHz + OC
  • Memory capacity : 128GB (4 x 32GB)
Reasons to Buy
  • Good value for money
  • Looks good, really like the white
  • Thermal armour keeps VRMs cool
Reasons to Avoid
  • Slight performance loss vs X670E
  • Difficult to install if your case doesn’t accommodate for the rear connections
  • Micro-ATX, so only 1 PCIe slot

If you’re looking for a motherboard that offers a great blend of performance and affordability, then you may want to check out the MSI B650M Project Zero, which comes with an AM5 socket. This is a great choice for those who want a micro-ATX motherboard in their system. And in our MSI B650M Project Zero review, we were satisfied with its performance and build quality.

For starters, Project Zero is easily one of the cleanest and most elegant motherboards we’ve reviewed so far. It offers a black-and-white theme, and MSI has done a great job of making sure the motherboard is safe against shorts and accidental damage when installed. The best part about Project Zero is that all its connections are on the rear, which helps with giving your rig an overall clean and simple look. 

This motherboard is quirky, but perfect if your a user that just needs an AM5 motherboard to get things done.

PC Guide

There’s only one PCIe 5.0 slot, but this is what you’d expect from a micro-ATX board. It can, however, support four DDR5 RAMs with 6400 MHz, with a max capacity of 128 GB. There are also two USB 2.0, two USB 3.2 Gen 1, three USB 3.2 Gen 2, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, one USB Gen 2X2 type-C, and a 2.5 Gigabit LAN port on the motherboard.

We tested the B650M Project Zero with the same CPU we used for X670E, and the max PPT during the Blender Monster test was 172.17W. As for the power lost and max temperature, it was 4.22W and 53.5°C. We then launched the Geekbench multi-core test, where the max PPT was 158.42W with a power loss of 4.37W and a max temperature of 50°C.

Overall, the MSI B650M Project Zero is a great mid-range option for the RTX 4090. It can help with giving your PC a cleaner look by hiding most of the cables.

Best budget motherboard for RTX 4090
03
  • MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi vrm heatsink
  • MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi ontop of box
  • MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi next to box
  • MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi m.2 heatink
  • MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi IO cover
  • MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi infront of box
  • MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi front in box
Excellent
4.5 /5
Editor’s Rating
How We Review
Specifications
  • 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
Reasons to Buy
  • Inexpensive
  • Very good performance
  • lightweight, small
  • Aesthetically pleasing
Reasons to Avoid
  • Not as many features as other motherboards in price range
  • No protective backplate
  • Gets hotter than some motherboards
  • Only 2 M.2 slots

We understand that not everyone has a high-budget to invest in a premium motherboard. If you belong to the same group, then you can check out the MSI B760M Gaming Plus WiFi. This is a great choice for those who are looking for performance on a budge. And in our MSI B760M Gaming Plus WiFi review, it managed to deliver exceptional performance for the price it comes at.

The MSI B760M Gaming Plus WiFi is an LGA 1700 motherboard, so you can only use it with Intel CPUs that are compatible with this socket. On top of that, just like the second option on our list, this one is also micro-ATX, so it won’t take up much space in your case. 

The B760M has a relatively robust power delivery system and a surprising amount of connectivity for a micro ATX motherboard.

PC Guide

The B760M supports four DDR5 RAMs with a maximum capacity of 256 GB. It has two PCIe x16 slots and one PCIe x1 slot. Other than that, there are a total of 12 USB ports on the rear and 9 USB ports on the front. 

For our review, we tested the B760M with the 14600K. First, we launched Blender Monster, where the max power from the wall was 314.2W, and the max package power was 180.03W. As for the max temperature, it was 39.5°C. We then started the Geekbench 6 multi-core test, where the max power from the wall was 216.8W, with the max package power being 148.18W and the motherboard reaching a max temperature of 39.5°C. 

Overall, the MSI B760M Gaming Plus WiFi is a great, affordable option for the RTX 4090.

How to pick the best motherboard for this GPU

Selecting the right motherboard isn’t just about going to the market and picking up the most expensive option. Instead, there are some factors that you should consider, which you can find below.

Price

You budget, of course, will play the most important role in the selection process. If budget is not an issue for you, then you can go ahead and explore the premium options that come with multiple PCIe slots, support fast RAM, and offer a premium-looking design.

But if you’re tight on a budget, then you will need to stick with the budget options, which are most micro-ATX or don’t come with the latest features. Even the ones that only have a few of them.

Compatibility

You need to ensure that the motherboard you’re getting supports your GPU and CPU. For instance, the RTX 4090 requires a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot for the best performance. On the other hand, for the CPU, the motherboard should offer the right socket. For instance, for Ryzen 9000 series processors, you need the AM5 socket, while the latest Intel processors use LGA 1700 sockets.

Camilo is a contributor for PC Guide. He's been into tech since he was a teen, surfing through the web and local stores trying to find the cheapest way to play the latest Half-Life on his old Windows