EXPERT INSIGHT & TRUSTED REVIEWS

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Review

The 5 Most Expensive Gaming PCs Worth Buying in 2021

Most Expensive Gaming PC

The Most Expensive Gaming PCs Worth Buying in 2021

With the latest RTX 3000 series GPUs hot on the market, now is a great time to buy a gaming desktop.

And with the premium RX 3090 being one of the most impressive powerhouse options in a long time, buying a high-end PC is even more of an attractive option.

But there are several listings out there overcharging for gaming PCs with lesser GPUs/CPUs and other hardware.

Which is why today’s feature is here to guide you through the most expensive gaming computers actually worth buying today for those after the most powerful setup possible.

Top Picks

Most Expensive Gaming PC Top Pick: ASUS TUF GT301

We’ll start by saying this is the most expensive pre-built gaming PC on the list, and arguably overkill for some needs (our next pick is for the best value premium gaming PC).

However, if you’re after the most powerful gaming computer today regardless of cost, then the ASUS TUF GT301 will not only meet your expectations but likely exceed them.

Boasting possibly the best specs you’ll find on the market today, the GT301 is led by the unmatched RTX 3090 GPU which, when tied with the right CPU/RAM/Motherboard, outputs incredible performance.

Not only do you have a gaming PC capable of unrivaled ray-tracing, high FPS, and maximum settings in practically every game today (and undoubtedly many well into the future), but the hardware on offer here is enough to support a very premium monitor setup for immersive titles or esports.

Options like 1440p 240hz, 4k 144hz, 1440p ultrawide 144hz & the highest Hz monitors available aren’t just possible with the GT301, but recommended to maximize your setup and show you just how amazing the 3090 can be.

But as good as this GPU is, this is the card shared by most of our top choices. What sets the GT301 apart are its other specs.

With an AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, you have the best premium CPU on the market today for gaming. This is the perfect processor to match up to the great power of the RTX 3090 and ensure you get the best performance across games (and pretty much any other type of task you can throw at it).

Elsewhere is an X570 motherboard, the high-end choice for AMD’s AM4 chipset (perfect to host such a powerful build) and 128GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM.

128GB is an insane amount and you’ll be hard-placed to find a gaming PC with more RAM than this.

With that said, this spec is where we see a bit of overkill with the GT301, you’re not going to see any real-world performance increase creative to the cost over the 64GB version for gaming. We’d go with the cheaper model (or our pick directly below) if your only concern is a future-proof gaming PC. The only exception to this rule is if you’re looking for a high-end production/video editing PC, then this extra RAM can help (but isn’t required, the cheaper models on this list are still very powerful).

Finally, the storage on the GT301 is what you would expect for a premium gaming computer; with 2TB NVMe + 4TB HDD installed in the 128GB RAM version, this is an insane offering and even with today’s enormous titles, it’s hard to imagine you’ll need more.

All tied together in an extremely durable ASUS case & appropriately powered by an 850W PSU, the GT301 really feels like the full package.

Note: It’s worth adding that while we like the power of the high-end AMD processor and think it provides the best capability for someone after the best gaming desktop possible, there is an Intel version of this desktop which is only slightly behind in power (we’re talking a few average FPS in games) and worth considering for slightly lower budgets.

Yes, you’ll find some even more expensive gaming desktop PCs on the market, but anything past this line is of no real-world benefit to you; the GT301 is today’s best pre-built gaming computer.

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Best Expensive Gaming PC Value Pick: HP OMEN 30L

As we alluded to in the GT301 review, we appreciate some readers may have a large budget, but still want some semblance of finding the best value gaming PC in the high-end price range (minimizing diminishing returns, etc.).

If that is you, then the HP OMEN 30L is the perfect pick.

Hitting the sweet spot between performance, build quality, and price, the 30L represents the best balance for a premium gaming desktop that doesn’t go heavily into the “overkill” territory.

Boasting an RTX 3090 graphics card, i9-10850K CPU & 32GB RAM @ 3200MHz, not only are these specs more than capable of high-end gaming and pretty much all of the high-end resolution/Hz setups we detail for our top pick, but you also have a powerhouse machine here for anything else you need to do (from general use to production work).

We have gone with the liquid-cooled i9-10850K version as we believe it’s the best value, but you can choose a version with the i9-10900K, which will perform nearly on par with our top choice’s processor. In gaming, this difference will likely only amount to 2-5 average FPS depending on the game; with the 10850K/RTX 3090, you already have enough power for any modern game at high specs (Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, and future titles for at least the next few years).

One of the more notable spec drops compared to our top pick is the 1TB SSD. Don’t get us wrong, this is still plenty of space and more than enough to get you started; but if you’re the kind of person who likes to keep all your games installed, we expect you’ll want a little more storage.

The good news is you can very easily upgrade the storage in the 30L and it’s a much cheaper option than buying more pre-built. Picking up say, a 2TB HDD would likely be the perfect secondary storage solution for most gamers.

Lastly, the build quality and design on the 30L work to its credit, with a minimalist aesthetic and good cooling for a pre-built machine, with all the usual ports you’d expect (including a USB type-C on the back) and Windows 10 pre-installed.

What else is there to say? With the best balance in the high-end market, the 30L is a beast of a computer.

If you’re looking at the most expensive choices but still want the most bang-for-your-buck, then this is, without doubt, our top pick for the best value premium gaming rig today.

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Most Unique Expensive Gaming PC: CUK Continuum

We know that an important part of buying one of the most expensive gaming PCs on the market for some readers will involve picking up an offering that is not just powerful, but visually striking.

No offering fits the bill better than the CUK Continuum Micro computer.

Yes, you’re seeing the picture right; this unit is built with a custom infinity mirror PC case.

Stock photos do not do it justice, this unit is simply stunning.

Not only is the chassis a Micro ATX form factor, meaning it’s smaller than the ATX units on the list (aside from the MSI Trident) but is also still built with a good amount of airflow and 6 RGB fans pre-installed. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more impressive gaming PC aesthetic than this that still balances good cooling.

But the reason we love the Continuum is that it’s not just a pretty face.

On top of its build quality/fan cooling, the specs in this machine are some of the best on the list and come close to rivaling our top pick, with:

  • The wonderful RTX 3090 capable of 4k, high refresh rates, and very high settings across all titles
  • Intel Core i9-10900KF, the most powerful gaming CPU on the list with the exception of the Ryzen 9 5950X (however, they are very close, and the Intel represents better value)
  • 128GB DDR4 RAM, an insane amount and suitable for much more than gaming (production/rendering usage, etc.)
  • 2TB NVMe SSD and a 4TBHDD, matching our top pick’s storage, it’s hard to imagine ever needing more (but upgrade space is there if so)
  • Z490 motherboard designed for high-end Intel desktops
  • A decent 850W PSU appropriate to power this top-end machine

For the price, this is a really impressive list of specs, and out of all the options on the list, this is the pick that comes closest to matching the hardware of the top ASUS pick at a lower price tag.

The only difference is the CPU choice, with our top ASUS pick going for the best gaming CPU on the market; the 5950X.

But (and it’s a big but), at the time of reviewing these options, the Continuum is a few hundred dollars cheaper. The difference in CPU performance isn’t worth that much unless you simply don’t care about the budget.

If you’re after a unique aesthetic that doesn’t compromise in any spec area, this CUK offering is easily one of the best premium gaming computers on the market and will be perfect for anything you can throw at it.

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Most Expensive Compact Gaming PC: MSI MEG Trident X

If you’re interested in a premium gaming rig that is a little smaller, either for aesthetics or portability, the Trident X is a great option.

Boasting an RTX 3090 GPU, an Intel Core i9-10900KF & 64GB of RAM, you have some very powerful specs to achieve max-setting gaming and high-resolution/FPS setups.

Tied with its thin form factor, the Trident X is one of the best-looking gaming PCs around; with a beautiful build quality and changeable RGB lighting through MSI’s custom software.

While it’s not tiny, it’s certainly small enough to act as a portable rig for VR demos, LAN parties, etc. Its thinness also makes it very flexible for limited-space setups.

We also appreciate how the unit includes a 2TB HDD on top of the 1TB NVMe SSD base-storage to ensure you have plenty of room for gaming.

This combination of specs at the price is a fantastic deal for a high-end gaming computer.

So with all that said, for its great price, why do we not rank this about the 30L for the best value premium gaming desktop?

The main reason is that although this unit is usually capable of coping with the demanding needs of high-end gaming, we worry that its modest cooling solution and tight internal space for airflow is a slightly risky setup when looking at the most expensive gaming PCs because these units demand a lot of power and output notable heat.

The concern here is that users may run into issues with uncomfortably high temperatures when running demanding games/software.

Usually, we wouldn’t highlight this as a factor, as we don’t believe this will be a common occurrence for the Trident X and is more of a minor risk.

But when we think of readers looking for the most expensive gaming computers on the market, we imagine part of that pursuit is finding a computer that ticks all the boxes, so even an increased minor risk over another choice is something noteworthy.

Additionally, although the Trident X has twice the RAM, its base clock speed is 2933MHz as opposed to the 30L’s 3200MHz – both setups are going to provide very similar results, but when we get into this RAM sizing, you can expect the RAM speed to matter more than the RAM size for gaming (and 3200MHz is a nice sweet-spot speed for larger RAM profiles).

The battle between this and the 30L was close, however, and we’ve included it in the feature for a reason.

The Trident X still represents a fantastic selection of top-end parts to create a build that is somehow compact and still one of the most powerful gaming PCs on the market.

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Most Expensive Quiet Gaming PC: VCI Vulcan 3090 

Last but not least, we’ve included an option that matches many of the similar specs as our other top offerings and combines them with a Fractal Define R-Series case, which is, by far, our favorite chassis for silent gaming PC builds.

The VCI Vulcan is lead by the RTX 3090 GPU, an Intel Core i9-10850K processor, and 64GB DDR4 RAM. If you’ve been reading through this list, you’ll know that this is a great combo for a high-end gaming machine and can easily handle all modern (and many future) gaming titles at very high settings, resolutions, and frame rates.

The unit also comes with all the usual extras you would hope for in a gaming PC; decent ports (including USB type-C on the back I/O panel), Windows 10, Bluetooth & a Wi-Fi adapter (Intel 6 AX201).

Despite being designed for noise-dampening, the beautiful minimalist case the VCI Vulcan runs in doesn’t just very impressively minimize decibel output but manages to still be well equipped for decent cooling and airflow, even for a build of RTX 3090 caliber.

The only reason we put this offering towards the bottom of the feature is because its price is not as fair for the provided specs as our other options.

Yes, these are all the most expensive gaming desktops around, but there is still a value consideration in this article – and the Vulcan seems a little more pricey for what you are getting.

But if your singular focus is on ensuring a silent gaming computer setup, then this is easily the best high-end option available to you.

If for whatever reason, the Vulcan is out of stock/not matching your requirements, it’s worth noting our top value pick, the HP OMEN 30L, is also hosted in a decently quiet chassis (and only really makes notable noise if you’re playing very demanding titles).

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Most Expensive Gaming PCs Final Word

And there you have it! After much deliberation, the above choices are our top picks for the most expensive gaming computers worth buying today.

We always emphasize “worth buying” because we’ve focussed on ensuring we’re not recommending an expensive pre-built gaming PC that bloats the price tag of its premium offerings (as many we came across did).

We chose based on finding high-end choices that hit the sweet spot between balancing top budgets with the best gaming CPU, GPU, RAM configurations & other secondary considerations (cooling, build quality, etc.).

If these are a little outside of your budget, then don’t fret! We have features around a larger budget range of gaming PCs, and also gaming desktop bundles for those also after a monitor/keyboard & mouse inclusion.

But if you can stretch to the above choices, then you’re in for a fun time! There isn’t a gaming title today that these choices can’t handle!

What's Next?

About the author

Picture of Kaelum Ross
Kaelum Ross
Kaelum Ross, BSc is the Lead Writer at What in Tech and a leading authority in PC hardware and software. With a career as a senior IT professional, Kaelum has led multi-million dollar projects covering everything from bespoke software development to complex Windows hardware upgrades. Today, Kaelum uses his expertise to serve What in Tech's readers and has been featured in numerous global publications including New York Magazine and Lifewire.

The 5 Best 144hz Laptops of 2021

144hz Laptop

The 5 Best 144hz Laptops for Gaming in 2021

If you’ve tried 144hz before, then you’ll know how exciting it is that the top manufacturers have moved towards creating more laptops with this high refresh rate.

Gaming feels like a whole new, buttery-smooth experience when you’re reaching such high frame rates, whether it’s for immersive titles or to give you the edge in competitive e-sports.

So, today’s feature is here to take you through the best 144hz laptops for gaming available today with a few different budgets in mind.

Top Picks

Overall Best 144hz Gaming Laptop: Acer Predator Helios 300

Sitting comfortably at the top of the list is this fantastic mid-range offering from Acer.

Lead by its RTX 2060 6GB GPU, you’ll not only be able to run newer/upcoming games at respectable settings, but you’ll have the capability to use this Acer 144hz laptop’s fantastic screen to its full potential with games like Fortnite, Overwatch and other competitive esports titles (playing these in 144FPS really makes all the difference).

Alongside the GPU is an Intel Core i7-10750H CPU & 16GB DDR4 RAM, which are both perfectly placed specs to not only work with the RTX 2060 but ensure your system has some longevity for business and personal use if required.

For storage, you have a 512GB NVMe SSD, which is perfect to maximize the speed of your OS & favorite software/games. If you play large titles and want them installed at once, you will likely need to upgrade the storage at a later date. The Helios 300 has a convenient second drive bay that could easily host a second SDD/HDD at a later date.

But let’s talk more about that screen! On top of its capability as a 144 FPS laptop, the panel is IPS, Full HD with 72% NTSC (good for gaming, effectively the same as 99% SRGB accuracy meaning great colors), 300-nits of brightness, and 3ms response time. We love these specs. Balancing a bright, colorful IPS panel with a high refresh rate and low latency is perfect for snappy gameplay and it’s an impressive set of features for the price.

Finally is the build quality, the Helios 300 not only looks and feels durable and made to last but has a good reputation from its userbase as a laptop with long-lasting, well-performing thermals/cooling (such an underrated feature when buying a laptop, not having good cooling leads to all sorts of doom and gloom down the road).

While you can take the capability of a high refresh rate laptop even further if you invest in one of our slightly more expensive picks below, we think the Helios 300 represents the best balance of build quality, specs, display, and price which is why we confidently rank it as the overall best 144hz laptop available today.

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Best 144hz Gaming Laptop Under $1500: MSI GL65 Leopard

Now, as much as we love our top Acer pick, this 144hz MSI laptop is one of the best for gaming in any category (previously featured on What in Tech) if you can stretch your budget a little further.

The difference? Well, the GL65 is an RTX 2070 laptop. While the RTX 2060 is a great GPU, you can expect to see an increased FPS of around 20% in a majority of titles with this upgraded card. Given we’re talking about very high refresh rate laptops here, this performance bonus really means a lot (e.g. being able to max out specs on older games at 144FPS and being able to play newer/upcoming games even more fluidly).

The fact that this bonus comes at around a 15% cost increase feels like a steal, as most laptops with more expensive GPUs tend to have diminishing returns. The GL65, on the other hand, feels like a value add.

Elsewhere on the system, like our top pick, you’re getting the great 10750H CPU, 16GB RAM, and a fast 512GB NVMe SSD (with a second drive bay for a later upgrade should you need it, but we love how these picks have a decently sized main-drive via NVMe as it’s ideal for your OS and favorite software).

You’re getting another fantastic Full HD IPS 72% NTSC 3ms latency display that is so perfectly suited for taking advantage of the powerful hardware on here, games will look fantastic.

And finally is the build quality. With great thermals (gets loud when running games, but keeps temps under control), a sturdy frame/material, a great tactile keyboard, and overall beautiful design (with all the extras you’d expect: USB type C port, decent Wi-Fi, etc.), we don’t really have any major complaints with the GL65 (the battery life isn’t amazing, but then that’s pretty much the case with any demanding gaming laptop at this price).

If you’re looking for a capable 144 fps laptop and can go a little bit beyond the budget of our top pick, this is an amazing offering.

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Best Cheap 144hz Gaming Laptop Under $1000: Acer Nitro 5 RTX 2060

Previously featured at the top of our overall best gaming laptops list, the Nitro 5 represents an incredible value offering and is the cheapest RTX 2060 laptop with a high refresh rate (that doesn’t feel like it’s taped together!).

With the fantastic RTX 2060 GPU, it packs a great punch for high FPS Minecraft, Fornite, and other less intensive titles (and can still play any new game at more traditional framerates).

You may be asking “why didn’t we rank this as #1 if it runs an RTX 2060 at the price”. Well, it’s a great laptop, but for people specifically focussed on very high FPS gaming, there’s a couple of slight downfalls:

  • The CPU is an i7-9750H – don’t get us wrong, this is still a great processor at the price range. But with our top two picks coming with the 10th gen version of this processor, you’re going to be slightly more bottlenecked with this previous-gen CPU.
  • The display (available in 15.6 or 17.3-inches), while still a great-looking 144hz IPS panel, lacks a couple of the extra-sharp specs our top picks possess, namely the color accuracy and response time which are not as good on this model. We think these improvements are worth the extra money for a competitive gaming laptop.
  • The included storage is a 256GB NVMe SSD – like our top picks, you have the option to add a second SSD/HDD, but we like the main NVMe storage to be a little larger to handle your favorite software.

Now with all that said, this is still a fantastic deal if your budget is around the $1000 mark.

There’s a reason we ranked this is as the top overall choice on our larger laptop feature, we just think that high refresh rate laptop-focussed users may appreciate the lower response times, better colors, and faster CPU of our top picks.

But if you want to stick to this price range, go for it. The Nitro 5 is easily the best budget 144hz laptop available today.

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Best 17.3″ 144hz Gaming Laptop: ASUS ROG Strix G17 2020 Edition

Also ranking as the most powerful 144hz laptop for those with an extended budget, the G17 2020 edition is a beast of a gaming laptop.

Leading this PC’s graphical capability is an RTX 2070 Super GPU. This is easily the best video card on the list, and you can expect around a 10% performance increase in games compared to the RTX 2070 MSI laptop listed above, perfect for 144fps gaming with esports titles (and you’ll still get great settings/frame rates from new & upcoming games too).

The other important specs are similar to the MSI Leopard. With an Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4 RAM (upgradable to 32GB+ in the future if needed, but 16 is more than enough) & a 512GB NVMe SSD (with a second slot for upgrades). All of these, especially the 10th gen Intel processor, compliment the RTX 2070 GPU beautifully. It feels like a well-balanced machine that isn’t getting bottlenecked in any area.

The display also looks phenomenal for gaming, with a Full HD IPS panel, 3ms response time, and its large 17.3″ screen size. Combined with the most powerful GPU we’ve seen for today’s 144hz picks, this laptop is a great sweet-spot for gaming.

Finally, with this being one of ASUS’s premium 144hz laptops, the build quality, design, and thermal functionality of the device are all fantastic.  The addressable RGB lighting on the keyboard and bottom strip is particularly stunning (if you don’t know, ARGB means that instead of being stuck with a static single color, you can change the lighting to however you please, as the stock photo suggests).

If you’re in the market for a large gaming laptop or are simply looking for the most powerful 144hz portable computer we recommend, this is it.

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Cheapest 144hz Gaming Laptop: ASUS TUF Gaming A15

What about those who want to game at 144hz as cheaply as possible? This ASUS laptop is your ideal choice.

The A15 is lead by a GTX 1650 GPU. Now, while we would recommend at least an RTX 2060 if possible, the GTX 1650 can still get a lot done for high refresh rate gaming if you’re playing older esports titles and don’t mind lower settings (laptop benchmarks have seen this machine play Overwatch, CS: GO Fornite and more at 144 fps with a balance of medium-low).

Elsewhere on the system is a Ryzen 5 4600H CPU, 8GB DDR4 RAM & a 512GB SSD. We like that at this budget range, the CPU is one of AMD’s new models (which have recorded some great performance in and out of games), and the A15 could’ve easily included a 256GB SSD at this price. It’s nice that budget gamers won’t feel the need to upgrade their storage early on.

Of course, 8GB RAM feels a little low, but thankfully ASUS has sensibly installed a single 8GB stick (as opposed to 2 x 4GB that some brands frustratingly go with). So upgrading with an additional 8GB RAM at a later date is entirely doable.

Note: As per the laptop Amazon listing, there are two versions of this model: the AMD 4600H version, and the Intel i7-9750H version. While the AMD CPU is the new generation, the Intel processors is a higher version of their previous 9000 series. Essentially, these two CPUs perform very similarly, so pick whichever model is in stock/lower-priced (we’ve only focussed on the AMD model here because it is currently the best price).

Finally, we’re happy to see that despite this being a very cheap 144hz laptop, ASUS has still retained great build quality (including the RGB keyboard/trackpad), decent thermals, and an IPS panel for a good display (albeit not as good as our top picks, but great for the cheapest option).

If possible, we recommend forking out the extra %10-20 cost for our Acer Nitro pick as an RTX 2060 and 16GB RAM makes all the difference.

That being said, we know some users just want a machine for 144 fps Fortnite, Minecraft, Overwatch, and other less-demanding esports titles. If that’s you, then the A15 is a great budget choice.

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What's Next?

About the author

Picture of Kaelum Ross
Kaelum Ross
Kaelum Ross, BSc is the Lead Writer at What in Tech and a leading authority in PC hardware and software. With a career as a senior IT professional, Kaelum has led multi-million dollar projects covering everything from bespoke software development to complex Windows hardware upgrades. Today, Kaelum uses his expertise to serve What in Tech's readers and has been featured in numerous global publications including New York Magazine and Lifewire.

The 12 Best Motherboard CPU Combos of 2020

Motherboard CPU Combo Cover

The 12 Best Motherboard CPU Combos of 2020

Deciding what order to buy your gaming PC parts in is hard.

One of the worst offenders is choosing which CPU & motherboard you should pair.

With countless variations, the whole process is unnecessarily confusing.

Which is why we’ve collated the best CPU motherboard combinations available for all different sizes, purposes & budgets.

This is a long feature – we recommend scrolling to the headings you’re actually interested in instead of reading it top-to-bottom.

 Table of Contents
 

AMD vs Intel CPUs/Motherboards

No feature on this topic would be complete without a say on the “is AMD better than Intel?” battle.

We’ll keep it short as there’s already a lot of good info on this topic.

For this generation of CPUs, both flagship models from each manufacturer give great performance for gaming and other build purposes.

But if looking at the numerous benchmarks available for games/production for both brands with price in mind: AMD tends to have an edge.

Many of the current-gen Intel CPUs are fantastic.

But on average, you’re usually paying a little more for the performance you can get from the AMD alternative.

A lot of credit is given to Intel for its integrated graphics processors on many of their CPUs.

But really, we find this a borderline moot point.

Anybody seriously building for gaming/production/streaming is going to want a standalone graphics card.

For motherboards, the AMD versions tend to be cheaper also (with the exception of Mini-ITX).

Short answer: We’d push you towards an AMD build to get the highest value CPU motherboard combos.

But we do understand some people are just more comfortable with Intel.

Don’t fret – know that the Intel motherboard combos we’ve recommended below are still great for their respective price-points.

With that said, let’s get into it:

Overall Best AMD Motherboard CPU Combo:

AMD Ryzen 7 3700X with ASUS ROG Strix B450-F

To start off our list, we’ve chosen what we think is the best gaming CPU motherboard combo available for an “all-round”/mid-range build.

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is a fantastic accomplishment in CPU engineering.

Offering 8 threads and 16 cores with a max frequency of 4.4GHZ, this AMD processor packs an incredible punch for its competitive price.

Its utility will hit the sweet spot for what most gamers need.

You have a great basis here for a powerful gaming build that will accompany some intensive GPUs (including multi-crossfire builds).

Tied with some decent VGA hardware, this CPU is more than capable of running a 1440p/4k gaming PC.

The included stock cooler also performs decently and looks great with its color-controllable LED lighting.

Outside of games, the 3700x is very capable of general multi-purpose PC tasks (benchmarking well in tasks across the board, not just gaming fps tests).

Meaning it’s a great CPU for streaming, video editing, production, and more.

If this is the budget you have for a processor, we really can’t recommend it more.

Purchase

The ASUS ROG Strix B450-F is a popular motherboard for a reason.

With its ATX form factor and B450 chipset, the ASUS mobo has pretty much everything we expect a majority of gamers to need.

You’ve got:

  • 3 PCI-e slots for a multi-GPU build (or integrated sound/network cards as required)
  • 4 x DDR4 RAM slots
  • Dual NVMe M.2 storage options
  • Great onboard sound
  • Gorgeous RGB lighting and 2 headers for a great RGB build.
  • Stylish and well-equipped I/O panel

It’s a great motherboard for overclocking, with lots of good onboard features as well as a great, user-friendly BIOs.

For the price, we really think the Strix B450-F hits the sweet spot between offering features without reaching “diminishing returns”.

If we had to choose one CPU/motherboard combo to recommend for the majority of gamer computers (and other production needs), this is it.

Purchase

Overall Best Intel Motherboard CPU Combo:

Intel Core i7-9700K with MSI Z390-A PRO

Our top Intel picks are also a great hardware pairing.

They perform a tad better but cost a fair chunk more as we discuss below.

The i7-9700K is, with performance-per-$ in mind, the best Intel CPU for gaming today.

The processor packs 8 cores/threads and the very impressive capability to overclock up to 4.9Ghz.

It performs excellently across gaming tests and tied with a good GPU (or 3), will grant you excellent performance for games and other tasks.

Certainly more than capable of being the basis of a powerful 1440p/4k gaming build.

i7-9700K vs Ryzen 7 3700X

These frontline CPUs have faced off in loads of benchmarking tests.

The short answer?

They come out very close.

The i7-9700K performs slightly better in most gaming FPS tests, but not enough to be decisive.

The Ryzen 3700X tends to perform marginally better at other computational tasks (anything from unzipping files, to compression, to multi-tasking).

Because of this, we would certainly recommend the R3700X if you’re interested in also building a PC for streaming, video editing, and/or production work.

Now, you may think that makes the Intel CPU the best choice for gaming.

We’d agree if you happen to see them at the same price.

But nearly always, the 3700X (and accompanying motherboard) work out significantly cheaper.

That saved budget would be much better spent on buying a more expensive GPU, the AMD CPU will still be able to work with a very intensive VGA demand.

Purchase

The MSI Z390-A PRO is one of the best value Intel motherboards on the market.

An ATX form factor mobo, it has excellent overclocking facilities (with some nice bells and whistles like an extended onboard heatsink).

The main features include:

  • 2 x PCI-e ports (1 with reinforcement to reduce GPU sag, though don’t read into this as a huge deal)
  • 4 x DDR4 / DIMM slots
  • NVMe support
  • Good onboard sound
  • I/O panel that includes USB 3.1 type C output

You’ll note it has 1 less PCI-e port than our top AMD offering.

While this would be a nice addition, we doubt many of you looking at a mid-range build will require more than 2 (if you do and want to stick to Intel, check out our high-end pick below).

It has everything you’d expect in a decent mid-range Z390 motherboard and works great alongside the 9700K.

Purchase

Best Budget AMD Motherboard CPU Combo:

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 With ASUS TUF B450M-Plus Gaming

As far as cheap AMD CPUs/motherboards go, the below pair is the best value combo for gaming.

You can go cheaper, but these next AMD/Intel combos are the lowest we’d recommend for most gamer needs.

If however you just want a PC for general use/light gaming, see our “cheapest” picks further below.

The Ryzen 5 3600, as far as cheap gaming processors go, is our favorite.

Providing great performance for a 1080p/1440p gaming build, you’re still able to run some decent graphics hardware alongside this CPU.

Offering an impressive 6 cores, 12 threads, and max 4.2 GHz, it’s got an impressive spec for a budget processor.

The included Wraith Stealth cooler is not the best on the market but will get the job done for a budget gaming build if you don’t want to buy standalone.

You still have enough power in this processor to stream and perform other intensive tasks (respecting that they, of course, won’t be quite as fast as the more expensive builds).

Overall what you get for the price in this CPU is fantastic.

If it’s as far as your budget can stretch, you’re still going to be able to create a great PC for gaming.

Purchase

The Asus TUF B450M-Plus Gaming is a great cheap AMD motherboard option that still offers everything you need for most games.

It’s a Micro ATX form factor, which is more cost-effective than their ATX counterparts (including cheaper cases).

The board includes:

On top of it still having reasonable overclocking capability, features like NVMe M.2 / RGB inclusions are really impressive for the low price point.

You’ll likely just be buying 1 GPU for a budget gaming build, but it’s nice to have the option to expand with the second PCI-e slot later on.

Overall, this cheap CPU motherboard combo still has everything you need to play the latest games at reasonable settings.

Purchase

Best Budget Intel Motherboard CPU Combo:

Intel Core i5-9400F With Asus Prime Z370-P II

Our budget Intel combo is also worth your consideration, especially if they happen to be cheaper/on a deal whenever you’re browsing.

Note: it seems that manufacturers are fading out the Z370 chipset motherboards. 

We’ve included the best value one below but if made unavailable, your best bet will be to tie the i5-9400F with our best overall motherboard: The MSI Z390-A PRO

If you’re looking for a cheap Intel gaming CPU, The Core i5-9400F is the best option.

We’re specifically recommending the non-graphics integrated version because even in a budget gaming build, you want a standalone card.

With a clock speed of up to 4.1GHZ and 6 cores/threads, this Intel offering still packs a punch and can be paired with a decent GPU.

i5-9400F vs Ryzen 5 3600

At the time of writing this, the two budget CPU options are around the same price.

Originally the Ryzen 5 3600 was a more “premium” option, and it shows in the benchmarks.

The card tends to perform 10-20% better across the board, from games to general PC tasks.

If the Intel option happens to be significantly lower price at the time you’re looking, then, by all means, go for it.

But if the prices are what we expect, then the 3600 is the best value CPU for gaming available.

But the 9400-F will still get a lot done in a production/gaming/streaming build should you want to stick to Intel.

Purchase

The Asus Prime Z370-P II is the best cheap gaming Intel motherboard available on the market today.

It may soon be discontinued as manufacturers move towards focussing on the Z390 chipset.

If you can’t get this motherboard, go for the MSI Z390-A PRO.

This ASUS offering is an ATX motherboard. It’s great that it retains the good value at this form factor, offering:

  • 2 x PCI-e slots
  • 4 x DIMM/DDR4 RAM slots
  • Dual NVMe M.2 Storage option

It won’t have as many bells and whistles as our mid-range picks (RGB headers, reduced overclocking facilities, no USB 3.1 type C, etc).

But as far as the utility you need from a budget gaming build?  This Asus motherboard has everything you need.

Purchase

Cheapest AMD Motherboard CPU Combo:

AMD Ryzen 3 3200G With Asus Prime B450M-A

Let’s be clear:

If you’re serious about building a gaming PC, or one capable of decent production/streaming output, then the budget picks above should be the minimum.

That being said…

What if you’re happy with a PC that’s just for lightweight gaming (e.g. Fortnite on fairly low settings/older games) and general web browsing/Netflix etc?

We’ve included the cheapest CPU motherboard combos we’d recommend if this fits what you’re after.

For its low price point, the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G manages to pack an impressive amount and is the cheapest AMD CPU for gaming we’d recommend.

Still packing 4 cores/threads, max frequency of 4.0GHZ, and an included wraith stealth cooler (enough for a cheap setup).

With your budget in mind, AMD has included integrated graphics into this CPU.

But know for games, the performance will be pretty poor, you’d be playing games on low at best.

Therefore even if your budget is tight, try to stretch to a standalone card.

That being said, don’t be put off if you can’t afford some of the better picks on this list.

You can still play plenty of great modern games with this AM4 CPU when combined with a fair GPU (just not at crazy settings/resolutions!).

Purchase

The Asus Prime B450M-A is definitely the cheapest AM4 motherboard we’d recommend.

At its Micro ATX form factor, you’re getting:

  • 1 x PCI-e slot
  • 4 x DDR4 compatible outputs
  • Surprisingly, an RGB header should you ever need
  • An NVMe M.2 storage option

As far as overclocking goes, you’ll be limited on this board.

But in a budget build, you’ll not want to spend lots on cooling anyway.

Put simply: this mobo and CPU combo is excellent for someone looking at the minimum for supporting a gaming PC.

Purchase

Cheapest Intel Motherboard CPU Combo:

Intel Core i3-9100F With MSI H310M PRO-M2 Plus

When considering i3-9100F vs Ryzen 3 3200G, the performance in this category is actually quite comparable.

So if you’re looking for the cheapest Intel CPU motherboard combo, rest assured that this option is as good as AMD’s offering.

With that said, if you don’t have a brand allegiance, we’d recommend you just pick whichever of the two pairs happens to be cheaper at the time you’re looking.

The Intel Core i3-9100F is as cheap as you can get for an Intel gaming CPU.

With similar specs to the AMD offering, you’re looking at 4 cores/threads and clocks up to 4.2GHZ.

A basic cooler is included (all you’d want for a very low budget PC).

Integrated graphics are not included, but as always, you want to fork out for a standalone card if you’re interested in gaming anyway.

One of the cheapest Coffee Lake CPUs available, this offering isn’t really designed for gaming as you can expect from the price.

But if you’re happy with lower settings on less demanding games (or just want a PC for general purposes) this can still manage your needs just fine.

Purchase

The MSI H310M PRO-M2 Plus, to put it simply, is the cheapest Coffee Lake motherboard that won’t bottleneck a basic gaming build.

Another mATX mobo (as expected for the budget), you have:

  • 1 x PCI-e slot
  • 2 x DDR4 compatible outputs
  • NVMe M.2 support
  • Acceptable onboard sound

Of course, at this very cheap price point, you’re not getting much more than the minimum.

But really in a budget build, you only need 1 PCI-e slot and 2 x RAM slots anyway.

Coming in at an exceptionally low price-point, this Intel CPU motherboard combo is perfect for anyone who really needs to make every $ count.

Purchase

Best High-End AMD Motherboard CPU combo:

AMD Ryzen 9 3900X With Asus Prime X570-Pro

If price is not a concern, the next pair is the best CPU motherboard combination on the list.

Of course, at these prices, this is for a very powerful gaming build or someone after a high-end production/video editing/streaming PC.

For the average gaming PC, you’ll do well with the top picks above.

But if you’re more interested in power than budget, keep reading!

The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is an incredible piece of hardware.

With a monstrous 12 cores, 24 threads, and overclockable up to 4.6GHZ, despite its high price-point, it still somehow manages to feel impressively valuable with all this included.

The processor will be more than capable of running a high-intensity multi-GPU build.

As far as gaming goes, provided you have the high-end VGAs to match, you can consider yourself future-proofed, 

This Ryzen 9 CPU will be capable of working alongside top-end graphics cards to act as a 4k gaming PC (with decent settings/fps to boot).

This AMD offering also performs excellently across benchmarks for pretty much all other major computational task tests.

Meaning its a perfect CPU for production, video editing, and the best streaming processors for absolute top quality/multi-tasking.

The processor also comes with a good quality LED cooler, good for the basis of an RGB build.

This cooler won’t compete with standalone heatsinks or CPU water coolers (that we expect most high-end builders to go for) but it’s a nice inclusion nonetheless.

It’s hard not to rave about the 3900X and its superb feature set, it’s one of the best CPUs for overclocking and if you’re looking for a top-quality gaming build, start here.

Ryzen 9 3900X vs 3950X

Some of you may be wondering why we chose the 3900x over its more powerful brother for our top-end pick.

With an additional 8 threads and higher overclocking potential, the 3950X is indisputably better.

But for around 50% extra cost, there are pretty huge diminishing returns.

If you also need your build to be state of the art for production purposes or want to ensure you can max out games like RDR 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 (when it comes out) at a very high resolution/FPS, then definitely go for the 3950X.

But otherwise, even for your high-demand gaming needs, we think the 3900X will match what you need (spend the delta on better GPUs).

Purchase

The Asus Prime X570-Pro Ryzen 3 is one of the best AM4 motherboards available today.

With the X570 chipset, you’ll have access to not only the best processor power draw around today (to max out that expensive CPU), but also PCI-e 4.0.

The main utility here is for GPUs and NVMe storage performing at faster speeds.

This is great for top-end builds, and while you may not see the full capability of PCI-e 4.0 for another few years, it means you’re investing in a future-proof motherboard.

In terms of other features, oh boy, the list is plentiful and we won’t cover it all in the summary, but for the highlights:

  • ATX form factor with 3 x PCI-e slots
  • 4 x DDR4 slots
  • Dual NVMe M.2 support
  • Fantastic onboard sound (Realtek 8.1 S1220A)
  • Beautiful onboard RGB lighting, 2 addressable headers, and 1 standard RGB header, perfect for an RGB build.
  • Numerous other onboard BIOs features for overclocking & optimization

Yes, the board is expensive.

But for enthusiasts, the quality of life features you get for overclocking amongst all the points mentioned above really make it a gem.

You can go a lot more expensive with motherboards, but we’d say this is the sweet spot even for the most avid of power builders.

If we had to pick just one: this is the best gaming motherboard CPU combo we’d recommend in the entire list.

Purchase

Best High-End Intel Motherboard CPU combo:

Intel Core i9-9900K With MSI MEG Z390 ACE

Our most expensive Intel CPU motherboard combo is a worthy competitor to AMD’s offering.

The Intel Core i9-9900K is one of the most popular CPUs of the current generation, and for good reasons!

With 8 cores, 16 threads, and up to 5.0GHZ clock speed, you can get amazing speeds out of this processor for a gaming computer.

As far as other tasks go, the CPU always perform excellently, benchmarking very well for the needs of a production or streaming PC

i9-9900K vs Ryzen 9 3900X

A battle of titans.

Both of these are amazing CPUs for gaming.

With that said, in all the benchmarking done for these 2, there is a slight edge to 3900X.

That is across lots of different factors, from gaming to various general PC task tests.

It isn’t completely unanimous, with the i9 recording some slightly better fps peaks in some 1080p tests.

But it’s clear that the Ryzen CPU tends to take the victory if we had to choose.

We also like that the AMD CPU comes with PCI-e express support, which future-proofs your next gaming setup when combined with our recommended motherboard.

If however, when you were browsing, the i9 CPU motherboard combo was >10% cheaper, it would likely be worth the savings as they are still close in performance.

One final thing to bear in mind: the 3900X includes a nice LED RGB cooler and the 9900K doesn’t include even a basic stock cooler.

Though we expect most of you will be going for a standalone option anyway.

Intel i9 9900K vs Intel 10900x
If you keep up with PC news, you’ll know the 10900x is the “new guy” in town.

The CPU is currently very hard to get hold of and quite pricey.

Although the architecture behind it is very impressive (as you’d expect from the next-gen comet lake CPUs), in real-world performance terms, it’s a tad underwhelming.

Benchmarks vs existing CPUs show only marginal improvements.

Even for enthusiast builds, we would stick with the 9900 or comparable AMD offerings for the time being.

Purchase

The MSI MEG Z390 ACE is one of the best Z390 motherboards around if your wallet is thick.

Let’s start with the design.

We don’t often focus on style for motherboards…

But tied with a nice visible PC case, the Z390 AC will look fantastic with its slick RGB lighting and steel fixtures (on PCI-e slots, etc).

It’s an ATX motherboard which like our top AM4 motherboard, has too many features to list.

Including:

  • 3 x PCI-e slots
  • 4 x DDR4 slots
  • 3 x M.2 support (with 1 x integrated M.2 heatsink)
  • Very good integrated sound (Realtek 8.1 S1220A)
  • Excellent rear I/O panel including a USB type C port.
  • Also (rather uncommonly) includes potential inputs for 2 x USB type C ports for the front I/ O panel
  • Beautiful onboard RGB lighting and addressable headers for an RGB build.
  • Locks of overclocking utility within the BIOs/onboard heatsinks

If you’re looking for an Intel gaming motherboard CPU combo in the era of Coffee Lake/Z390 and you have the money, this is the pair you want.

Purchase

Best Micro ATX AMD Motherboard CPU Combo:

AMD Ryzen 7 3700X With ASUS Prime B450M-A

For those of you looking for a Micro ATX AMD Gaming PC we’ve combined our best gaming CPU pick from the top of this list with a great, affordable mATX motherboard.

We’ve already been over the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X at the top of our list (where it belongs).

It has returned because it’s easily the best Ryzen CPU for gaming when considering a “mid-range” user.

The 3700X is a great choice for an mATX CPU Motherboard combo too because you’re still going to be looking for good processor power in a mini-tower gaming PC.

With its 8 cores / 16 threads, it will be very effective for single/dual GPU setup (2 is the most you’ll do with a Micro ATX mobo).

What else is there to say that we haven’t already?

This is the best value gaming CPU on the market today. If it fits into your budget, pick it up.

Purchase

The Asus Prime B450M-A has an impressively dense feature-set for its mATX form factor and low price.

You’ll be getting:

  • 1 x PCI-e slots
  • 4 x DDR4 RAM slots
  • NVMe support

And solid onboard features/BIOs to enable customization/good performance.

We’ve recommended a board with 1 x PCI-e slots as imagine many of you looking at building a Micro ATX gamer computer will be focussing on single-GPU builds.

If you want a crossfire gaming PC (or the potential for one later), you can fork out more on the Gigabyte B450M DS3H (still compatible with the Ryzen 3700X).

You’ll note that there are some cheaper 2 x PCI-e AMD mobos floating around.

But some other features you lose out on (limited SATA availability/other power draw concerns around the board) are not worth it unless you’re sticking to a very cheap build.

Overall, this motherboard, combined with the most popular AMD gaming CPU on the market will make your setup a powerhouse when combined with a good GFX card.

Purchase

Best Micro ATX Intel Motherboard CPU Combo:

Intel Core i7-9700K With ASRock Z390M PRO4

For the Micro ATX Intel CPU motherboard combo, we’ve also returned to our top CPU pick tied with an excellent value mobo.

The Intel Core i7-9700K is just as good a CPU for an mATX gaming PC as it is for our top (ATX) based combo.

The only extra thing to bear in mind for a smaller build is with the lack of stock cooler, you’ll be putting effort into buying a CPU cooler that’s compatible with a mini-tower case.

There’s usually enough room in this form factor for a majority of them though (just ensure you check dimensions).

The 9700K is more than capable of running greatly alongside a powerful GPU (or two), which is what you’d be looking at in an mATX PC.

What more is there to say?

This is the best Intel CPU for gaming today with the average budget in mind, and great for an mATX computer.

Purchase

The ASRock Z390M PRO4 is such an impressive value-offering, for most mATX CPU motherboard combos, this is more than good enough.

You may not have heard of ASRock to the same extent as say, ASUS or MSI.

But rest assured they are an excellent motherboard manufacturer, especially in the affordable price ranges.

With this board, you’re getting:

  • 2 x PCI-e slots
  • 4 x DIMM outputs
  • Decent onboard sound

It’s a motherboard for a dual-GPU build should you need it in the future (unlike the AMD mATX ASRock board on Amazon, it doesn’t sacrifice as much on SATA/power draw to have that extra slot).

If you have the budget for a mobo with some more bells and whistles (better M.2/RGB capacity, slightly improved audio & integrated wi-fi) then you could also go with the excellent MSI MPG Z390M.

But the ASRock will give you everything you need for a “no-frills” base and is a perfect pair with the Ryzen for an mATX CPU motherboard combo.

Purchase

Best Mini ITX AMD Motherboard CPU Combo:

AMD Ryzen 5 3600 With B450I GAMING PLUS AC

For the smallest form factor, we’ve chosen a pair of slightly more affordable options given you don’t need a CPU that powers a huge powerhouse in an mITX gaming PC.

We’ll discuss potential upgrades should you have the budget though.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is another offering we’ve already raved about in our budget pick.

Easily the best Ryzen 5 CPU for gaming, the cores/threads you’re getting for the price is fantastic.

Why are we going for a “budget CPU” for the top Mini-ITX combination?

Well, in mITX builds and PC case sizes for the form factor, you’re going to be sticking to single GPU builds.

With this in mind, the 3600 is a good enough CPU to not bottleneck one graphics card for your gaming.

Don’t get us wrong, you’re still going to get some decent extra juice out of our favorite pick, the Ryzen 7 3700X, if you have the budget.

Especially if you want a mini-ITX streaming PC or a CPU for video editing/production.

But overall, we think this Ryzen 5 processor will cover what most of you will need.

So don’t fret if it’s the furthest your budget can stretch for your mITX gaming computer.

Purchase

The MSI B450I GAMING PLUS AC is pricey, but also the best Mini ITX AM4 motherboard on the market.

Decent mITX AMD motherboards seem to be more expensive than the Intel category.

A tad unusual in this generation. We expect this is simply because of supply/demand.

That being said, if you’re looking at a mITX build, this is still a great option, with:

  • 1 x steel-plated PCI-e slot (standard for the form factor)
  • 2 x DDR4 RAM slots (also standard for mITX)
  • Decent onboard sound
  • Included wi-fi (recommended for mITX so you’re not relying on limited USB/PCI slots)
  • A well-featured I/O panel, considering the size

Combined with either the Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 CPUs above, you have a fantastic basis here for a gaming PC.

Remember with a ITX computer/ single GPU, you’re not going to get quite the same power as you would out of something larger.

But know that if that single GPU is a powerful one, you can still create a great portable gaming PC/something suitable for LAN parties or a VR demo build.

This small CPU motherboard combo will also still perform great with other general computational tasks too if you have video editing/streaming in mind.

Purchase

Best Mini ITX Intel Motherboard CPU Combo:

Intel Core i5-9600K With ASRock Z390M-ITX/ac

When it came to confirming the best CPU motherboard combos for mITX, we actually found that Intel came out looking better than AMD.

Not something we saw in many of the other categories, so take this pair seriously!

Last but certainly not least on our list is the fantastic Intel Core i5-9600K CPU.

The smaller brother of the i7-9700K, the CPU still manages a decent 6 cores/threads and up to 4.6GHZ clock speed.

The base clock speed is also 3.7GHZ, which is nice for those worried about overclocking in such a tight form factor where cooling is often minimal.

Combined with the below Mini-ITX Z390 motherboard, you have a great combo here to tie with a single GPU for a powerful gaming build.

i5-9600K vs i7-9700K

Some users may wonder if it’s worth forking out more for the i7 CPU, which we consider the best Coffee Lake CPU for gaming with price in mind.

Well, while it’s great for ATX/mATX builds, it’s probably a tad overkill for ITX PCs.

If you’re looking to build the best mITX gaming computer you can, by all means go for the 9700K.

It will also open up more capability in the way of multi-tasking/other task speeds – whether that’s for a streaming setup, video editing, or a production rig.

But we expect most people looking at mITX are more interested in achieving a decent, but not “ultra-powerful” portable PC.

For you guys, be comfortable knowing the 9600K is enough alongside a great GPU.

i5-9600K vs Ryzen 5 3600 combo

When putting our smallest CPU motherboard combos head-to-head, we think in this case, Intel comes out on top.

When it comes to the CPU specifically, the 9600K performs slightly better in gaming.

The Ryzen 5 3600, with its increased threads, will be marginally better at multi-tasking.

But really, they’re in the same ballpark. 

The Ryzen 5 3600 is usually more valuable as it’s typically around 10-15% cheaper.

The reason we choose Intel here?

Because the mITX Intel motherboard options are better than AMD’s.

The value you’re getting from the cheaper motherboard outweighs what you get from the cheaper processor.

By all means, if you check the prices of our top picks on Amazon via the links and see the AMD combo at a lower price, go for it.

But chances are, the Intel offering is cheaper, and we think, your best choice for this form factor.

Purchase

The ASRock Z390M-ITX/ac is what makes this pairing so valuable and in our view, the best Mini ITX CPU motherboard pairing for either Intel or AMD.

At a very impressive price-point, you’re getting.

  • 1 x PCI-e slot (the mITX standard)
  • 2 x DIMM slots (also the mITX standard and still gives you up to 32GB RAM)
  • Good quality onboard audio
  • Integrated Wi-FI
  • NVMe support

Again remembering that on a miTX motherboard you’re obviously limited compared to larger form factors, this is a fantastic value offering.

Having NVMe support is really nice for a tiny build where storage space matters.

Integrated Wi-Fi at the price point is very useful when you have limited USB/PCI slots too.

Simply put, if you add a decent graphics card, this Intel CPU motherboard combo will be fantastic for an mITX gaming computer.

Purchase

Final Word

We appreciate how long this feature is and how much information you have just digested!

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, know that we only provided so many options to ensure every size, budget & requirement.

If you want the short answer for what suits most PCs for gaming, streaming, production, and general usage: go with our top AMD choice.

We put this combination at the top for the reason and really stands out as being perfect for most users.

But rest assured, whatever category you’re most focussed on, know that these options are all fantastic for their respective price-points and great basis’ for your next exciting build!

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About the author

Picture of Kaelum Ross
Kaelum Ross
Kaelum Ross, BSc is the Lead Writer at What in Tech and a leading authority in PC hardware and software. With a career as a senior IT professional, Kaelum has led multi-million dollar projects covering everything from bespoke software development to complex Windows hardware upgrades. Today, Kaelum uses his expertise to serve What in Tech's readers and has been featured in numerous global publications including New York Magazine and Lifewire.