A lot of factors affect overclocking a system, including motherboards. These are the best motherboards for overclocking in 2023.
Whether you’re shopping around for an AMD or Intel PC builds, there are countless choices available for the best motherboard. It’s possible to spend as little as $100 or as much as $1,000 on a new board, depending on what features are needed and whether overclocking will be carried out. Generally, the more spent on a motherboard, the better the feature set, power delivery, and connectivity will be. The same goes for portable PCs, most notably with the best RTX 4090 laptops We’ve put together a list of our favorite motherboards for overclocking AMD and Intel processors right here.
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- EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N Best Intel motherboard $490 at Amazon
- ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero Best AMD motherboard $637 at Amazon
- ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Formula Best value Intel motherboard $781 at Amazon
- ASRock X670E Taichi Best value AMD motherboard $470 at Micro Center
- MSI MEG Z590 Godlike Best last-gen Intel motherboard $530 at Amazon
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- ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero Best last-gen AMD motherboard $350 at Newegg
- Asus Pro WS Best AMD Threadripper motherboard $1050 at Amazon
Top motherboard picks for CPU overclocking in 2023
EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N Best Intel motherboard
The best motherboard for overclocking Intel CPUs
$490 $700 Save $210
The EVGA Z790 Dark K|NGP|N is a monster of a motherboard for Intel processors. Utilizing the Z790 chipset, you’ll be able to install a 12th or 13th Gen processor on this board and overclock it considerably.
Brand EVGA Memory Slots 2 Memory Type DDR5-8000 Form Factor ATX Chipset Intel Z790 Socket LGA 1700 Power Phases 21 PCI Slots 3 Storage 3x PCIe 4.0 M.2, 6x SATA Audio Realtek ALC1220 Networking 10GbE, 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi 6 Internal I/O 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 2x USB 2.0 Rear I/O 5x USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen2x2 Pros
- Excellent overclocking support
- Designed for LN2 cooling
- High-end features
Cons
- Expensive
- Not the best for “normal” use
$490 at Amazon $490 at Newegg
If there was a dream team duo for the best overclocking motherboard, it would be Vince “K|NGP|N” Lucido and EVGA. If you’re unfamiliar with the name and brand, K|NGP|N is responsible for some of the world records in system overclocking and is usually ranked among the best in leaderboards. EVGA is renowned for producing some of the best-performing PC components, be it graphics cards or motherboards. The EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N is an E-ATX motherboard with a clear focus on overclocking through the use of liquid nitrogen (LN2). It’s rocking the Intel Z790 chipset and LGA 1700 socket, and as such supports the latest 13th Gen chips.
To make this motherboard better suited to extreme overclocking, EVGA and K|NGP|N rotated the LGA 1700 socket 90 degrees to make it easier to attach LN2 hardware. The power delivery is extreme too, clocking in at 21 phases. The board is designed in such a way that the VRMs actually have active cooling in the form of two fans to ensure stability under heavier loads. Then there’s the PCB, which is made using 10 layers, providing EVGA with plenty of space to route signals between components. Two of the four DIMM slots have been removed, but this is handy for extreme overclocking in that can really make use of the single dual-channel configuration.
As would be expected on such a motherboard, EVGA added power and reset buttons, alongside LED debuggers on the motherboard for quick troubleshooting and configuration alterations. Real-time voltage monitoring can be carried out, too. Almost everything on this board is designed with enthusiast use in mind. It’s not completely useless for everything else, however, thanks to the three M.2 SSD slots, two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, eight SATA ports, dual 2.5Gb networking, and decent audio. It’s expensive, but this is top-of-the-line when it comes to Intel overclocking.
ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero Best AMD motherboard
The best motherboard for overclocking AMD CPUs
$637 $700 Save $63
The Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero is a powerful motherboard with full support for AM5 processors. It’s an expensive foundation for an AMD-powered PC, but is well worth the asking price if you intend to fully utilize all the available features, including excellent overclocking support.
Brand Asus Memory Slots 4 Memory Type DDR5-6400 Form Factor ATX Chipset AMD X670 Socket AM5 Power Phases 18+2 PCI Slots 3 Storage 2x PCIe 5.0 M.2, 2x PCIe 4.0 M.2, 6x SATA Audio ALC4082 Networking 2.5GbE, WiFi 6E Internal I/O 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 3x USB-A 2.0 Rear I/O 2x USB-C 4.0, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 8x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 Pros
- Great overclocking support
- Good array of features
- Lots of M.2 storage slots
Cons
- Expensive
- Overkill for most PC builds
$637 at Amazon $648 at Newegg $700 at Best Buy
AMD rolled out the new AM5 socket for its Ryzen 7000 series processors and this is the motherboard we’d recommend for pushing the latest AMD chips to their limits. Asus has made a few mishaps lately, but the brand is still responsible for some more premium motherboards with excellent BIOS support (when everything goes according to plan). The Asus ROG Crosshair X670E Hero is such a platform that you’ll be able to push even the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X beyond its limits with reliable results. There’s an impressive 18+2 teamed power stage setup for delivering power and each stage is rated for 110A. You can push a lot of power through this motherboard.
Overclocking-friendly features are also included, such as the dynamic OC switcher and core flex, which will assist in squeezing the most performance from the CPU. The dynamic OC switcher allows you to use AMD PBO in conjunction with your manual overclock, depending on CPU current or temperature. The latter introduces an easy way to tweak power, temperature, and current limits to draw what you desire from the CPU. The ASUS UEFI BIOS is easy to understand and use, making it possible for even beginners to achieve stable overclock results without diving into a manual. Whilst more enthusiast-grade motherboards typically drop the “gamer” aesthetic, being part of the ROG brand ensures there’s plenty of RGB lighting present.
While the focus here may be overclocking, it’s hard to ignore just how adaptable this motherboard is for a gaming PC or even a workstation. The PCIe x16 slots are PCIe 5.0 ready, as are the M.2 SSD slots, and it supports DDR5 memory up to 6400MT/s. Unfortunately, there’s no Thunderbolt, but there are two USB 4.0 Type-C ports on the back, and an additional PCIe card to add yet more fast storage. Even the audio hardware is excellent. It’s hard to find something this motherboard doesn’t have, but it does come at a price. Still, it’s the pick of the early crop of X670 motherboards for overclocking the latest generation of Ryzen CPUs.
ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Formula Best value Intel motherboard
Get more overclocking support for your money
The ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Formula is among the best high-end Z690 motherboards you can buy from ASUS. There’s support for overclocking even the most powerful Intel CPUs and even water cooling the VRMs for stable tweaking.
Brand Asus Memory Slots 4 Memory Type DDR5-6400+ Form Factor ATX Chipset Intel Z690 Socket LGA 1700 Power Phases 20+1 PCI Slots 3 Storage 1x PCIe 5.0 M.2, 3x PCIe 4.0 M.2, 1x PCIe 3.0 M.2, 6x SATA Audio Realtek ALC4082 Networking 10GbE Wi-Fi 6 Internal I/O 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB-A 2.0 Rear I/O 2x Thunderbolt/USB-C 4.0, 6x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 3x USB-A 2.0 Pros
- Ability to liquid-cool VRMs
- DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0
- Great overclocking support
Cons
- Pricey
$781 at Amazon $800 at B&H
We’re back with yet another Asus motherboard. The Asus ROG Maximus Z690 Formula is easily one of the best value ASUS motherboards you can buy right now for overclocking a 12th or 13th Gen Intel CPU. It carries an expensive price tag, but it’s a fully kitted board that comes with all the features you’d expect from a premium motherboard. It also offers a reliable, consistent performance even under heavy loads. The ROG Maximus Z690 Formula comes with a water block for the VRM module from EK. The CrossChill EK III water block includes a nickel water channel hidden within the block, cooling the MOSFETs under load. This makes it possible to incorporate VRM cooling into an open loop, alongside the CPU and GPU. It’s features such as this that make the ROG Maximus Z690 Formula a great value Intel overclocking motherboard.
The ROG Maximus Z690 Formula sports 105 amp power stages to deliver CPU power. There’s support for DDR5 memory modules, making it a future-proofed machine that can extract the most performance from current hardware. ASUS says the motherboard is capable of handling memory speeds of up to DDR5-6400(OC), which is about as good as it gets. This board also comes with support for PCIe 5.0, with two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots that support both x16 and x8/x8 modes. Additionally, there’s also a PCIe 4.0 x16 for other expansion cards. For storage, the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Formula comes with up to five M.2 slots with dedicated heat spreaders. You’ll have to use the ROG Hyper M.2 card to use them all, though. Notably, you can also add up to six SATA drives. As a premium motherboard, you also get a ton of ports at the back, and additional headers to add more peripherals.
ASRock X670E Taichi Best value AMD motherboard
A more reasonably priced board for AMD processors
$470 $500 Save $30
The ASRock X670E Taichi is a high-end EATX motherboard with excellent build quality and a massive 24-stage VRM. It has support for high-speed DDR5 memory, PCIe 5.0 graphics, and multiple NVME SSDs.
Brand ASRock Memory Slots 4 Memory Type DDR5-6600 Form Factor E-ATX Chipset AMD X670E Socket AM5 Power Phases 24+2+1 PCI Slots 2 Storage 1x PCIe 5.0 M.2, 3x PCIe 4.0 M.2, 8x SATA Audio Realtek ALC4082 Networking 2.5 GbE, Wi-Fi 6 Internal I/O 2x USB-A 2.0, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen1, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen2x2 Rear I/O 2x USB-C 4.0, 5x USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen1 Pros
- Great overclocking support
- DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0
Cons
- Limited expansion
- Larger E-ATX size
$500 at Newegg $557 at Amazon $470 at Micro Center
ASRock has come a long way with its motherboards and BIOS support. The company is now powering excellent branded boards, as well as high-end offerings from NZXT. The ASRock X670E Taichi is a monster of a motherboard, especially if you plan on overclocking your AMD Ryzen processor. First, there’s the impressive 24+2+1 VRM configuration for power delivery. You won’t have any problems supplying stable power to even an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X with an overclock profile applied. RAM support is right up there with other flagship AM5 motherboards with speeds of up to 6600MT/s. It’s easy to build a potent AMD-powered machine with this motherboard, making it one of the best motherboards for gaming.
Two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots are available with countless M.2 slots for speedy drives. We’re talking a mix of PCIe 5.0 and PCIe 4.0 so you likely won’t have to go anywhere near the available four SATA ports. Connectivity on the rear is also excellent with 2.5GbE networking, plenty of USB-A ports, and USB-C 4.0 ports to name but a few. It’s worth noting that the Taichi is an E-ATX motherboard, so you’ll need to make sure it can fit inside your PC case. The BIOS of ASRock motherboards is user-friendly and is more than capable to quickly make changes to the processor, memory and other parts of the system.
MSI MEG Z590 Godlike Best last-gen Intel motherboard
For those overclocking older Intel CPUs
The MSI MEG Z590 Godlike is one of the most premium motherboards on the market. It also supports overclocking with reliable performance.
Brand MSI Memory Slots 4 Memory Type DDR4-5600 Form Factor E-ATX Chipset Intel Z590 Socket LGA 1200 PCI Slots 3 Storage 1x PCIe 4.0 M.2, 3x PCIe 3.0 M.2, 6x SATA Audio Realtek ALC4082 Codec, ESS ES9218PQ Networking 10 GbE, 2.5 GbE, Wi-Fi 6 Internal I/O 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB-A 2.0 Rear I/O 2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 6x USB-A 3.2 Gen1 Pros
- Supports 10th and 11th-gen Intel CPUs
- Good storage options
- Great connectivity
Cons
- No DDR5 RAM or PCIe 5.0
- Difficult to locate stock
$530 at Amazon
The Z590 chipset was released with support for older Intel 10th and 11th Gen processors, running on the LGA 1200 socket. The MSI MEG Z590 Godlike is one of the most premium Z590 chipset motherboards, in my opinion. This is a beast of a motherboard that comes with all the bells and whistles that you’d expect from a high-quality board. The mainboard is almost fully covered with a heatsink. Unlike the Carbon EK X we saw earlier, this one doesn’t have a water block, but it’s still very much capable of handling the demanding needs for a high-performance CPU. The VRM heatsink consists of a cooling fan, a stack of fins, and a heat pipe to carry the heat away from the modules. The chipset heatsink at the bottom further extends to cover the M.2 slots too. The entire bottom portion of the board is exposed with only the PCIe slots being the exposed part.
There’s also very little in the name of RGB lights, which makes it very easy for this motherboard to blend in with most builds. Like other motherboards in this collection, the MSI MEG Z590 motherboard fully supports overclocking. There are four DIMM slots next to the CPU socket, supporting up to 128GB DDR4 memory. According to MSI, this particular motherboard can support memory speeds of up to 5600MT/s. The MSI MEG Z590 Godlike also comes with three PCIe 4.0 x16 reinforced slots. For storage, you can add up to four M.2 modules to the board. They’re hidden under the chipset heatsink, so you’ll have to remove that before installing the module. MSI launched a MEG Godlike motherboard with the Z790 chipset for Intel 12th and 13th Gen CPUs, so we’d recommend that version if you want to use newer chips.
ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero Best last-gen AMD motherboard
Get more from your older AMD processors
The ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero is one of the best X570 motherboards you can buy right now. It also supports overclocking for a high-end build.
Brand Asus Memory Slots 4 Memory Type DDR4-5100 Form Factor ATX Chipset AMD X570 Socket AM4 Power Phases 14+2 PCI Slots 4 Storage 2x PCIe 4.0 M.2, 1x PCIe 3.0 M.2, 8x SATA Audio ROG SupremeFX Networking 2.5 GbE, 1 GbE, Wi-Fi 6 Internal I/O 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB-A 2.0 Rear I/O 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 8x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 Pros
- Supports AM4 AMD CPUs
- Good connectivity
Cons
- No DDR5 or PCie 5.0
- Fewer power stages
$350 at Newegg $382 at Amazon
The ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero comes with a robust power delivery system to supply consistent power even under heavy loads. The VRM heatsink ensures that everything stays cool at all times and there’s a heatsink that covers both the chipset and M.2 slots. The AM4 socket means this is an AMD motherboard that supports both 3000 and the 5000 series chipset for overclocking those unlocked Ryzen CPUs. For Ryzen 7000, you have to step up to AM5 and either X670 or B650. You also get four DIMM slots to the right of the CPU socket for a maximum of 128GB DDR4 memory. When it comes to the expansion slots, the Dark Hero motherboard offers a total of four PCIe slots. You get a single PCIe 4.0 x16 slot along with two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots.
Notably, you also get a single PCIe 3.0 x1 slot towards the bottom. You can install up to three M.2 modules and these are hidden under the chipset heatsink and have their own heat-spreader. Additionally, you can also install SATA drives to add more storage to your build. The ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero motherboard comes with a pre-installed IO shield that covers as many as twelve USB ports including a single USB Type-C port. You don’t get an HDMI or a DisplayPort, but ASUS has added two LAN ports and a full stack of audio ports. The motherboard also has plenty of headers for USB, fans, pumps, RGB lights, and more too. ASUS’ BIOS is also pretty easy to use for beginners and seasoned overclockers alike.
Asus Pro WS Best AMD Threadripper motherboard
Get more from your super-powerful AMD Threadripper
The ASUS Pro WS WRX80E-SAGE is a monstrous motherboard with impressive specifications in order to handle the seriously expensive (and powerful!) AMD Ryzen Threadripper processors.
Brand Asus Memory Slots 8 Memory Type DDR4-3200 Form Factor E-ATX Chipset AMD WRX80 Socket sWRX8 Power Phases 16 PCI Slots 7 Storage 3x PCIe 4.0 M.2, 4x SATA Audio Realtek ALC4080 Networking 2x 10 GbE, Wi-Fi 6 Internal I/O 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB-A 2.0 Rear I/O 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2, 8x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 Pros
- Incredible specifications
- Excellent expansion support
- Great connectivity
Cons
- Extremely expensive
- Overkill for most PC builds
$1050 at Amazon $1050 at Newegg
There’s not much room for overclocking AMD Ryzen Threadripper processors simply due to how many cores are packed onto the chip, but you can get more performance out of the CPUs and we feel the Asus Pro WS WRX80E-SAGE to be one of the best options for doing so. It has the usual array of eight DIMM slots with support for up to DDR4-3200 RAM. Then there’s the 16-phase power delivery design, which is great for even the most potent AMD Threadripper CPU. Seven PCI slots ensure you have enough capacity for plenty of expansion cards and the three M.2 slots are excellent for installing lightning-fast SSDs.
USB connectivity is solid both internally and on the rear panel. For good measure, Asus threw in not one but two 10GbE ports for hooking the board up to the network. Workstation motherboards such as this are great for 24/7 reliability and being able to really make the most of the available Threadripper performance will ensure you’re (almost) never in a position wanting more.
Choosing the best motherboard for overclocking
Many of the high-performance motherboards on the market from various manufacturers now support overclocking. But you can’t beat an EVGA Kingpin if you want the absolute finest motherboard for overclocking. It has just about everything you’ll need from a motherboard to overclock 12th or 13th-gen Intel processors. There’s even support for LN2 cooling for record-breaking attempts. It’s expensive but is the very best of the best. For better value, we’d recommend the ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Formula for Intel or ASRock X670E Taichi for AMD.
EVGA Z790 DARK K|NGP|N Best Intel motherboard$490 $700 Save $210
The EVGA Z790 Dark K|NGP|N is a monster of a motherboard for Intel processors. Utilizing the Z790 chipset, you’ll be able to install a 12th or 13th Gen processor on this board and overclock it considerably.
$490 at Amazon $490 at Newegg
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