So you’ve got the coveted NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics card, the 4k gaming beast that can allow you to play the latest AAA games in crystal clear 4k ultra-high resolution with incredible FPS. It’s significantly better than the 3090 despite consuming similar power. This impressive GPU will enable you to enjoy stunning images enhanced with ray tracing, DLSS, and other innovative technology.
Games are getting bigger and flashier, so you need a better graphic card to run them. However, once you’ve selected your desired GPU and CPU combo, you need to choose a motherboard to house them appropriately. There are many things to consider when choosing the best motherboard for your NVIDIA RTX 4090 build, like the form factor, GPU clearance, whether it supports multiple GPUs at a time, what GPU orientations it supports, additional structural GPU support features, and more. Additionally, you should also consider the PC case for your RTX 4090 build, and whether it is compatible with your chosen motherboard and GPU.
Since you are investing a great deal into purchasing the undisputed GPU champion, you want to ensure that every hardware component you get alongside it is compatible. Also, it’s preferable that it somehow optimizes the GPU’s performance and longevity. The search for the perfect motherboard has led you to the right place. Knowing that there are so many motherboards out there available may make you dread the process of choosing and purchasing the right one. You don’t need to look further than our curated list of recommendations.
Everyone has different priorities; some value their PC’s longevity, while others may value a motherboard’s aesthetic qualities, and some have a tiger budget. We’ve ensured our list has diverse options so you can choose the best one according to your needs. Without further ado, here are our recommendations for the best motherboard for 4090.
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Gigabyte X670E AORUS MASTER Read More | See On Amazon |
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ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming Read More | See On Amazon |
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ASUS ROG Strix B650E Read More | See On Amazon |
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ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero Read More | See On Amazon |
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Gigabyte Z690 AORUS MASTER Read More | See On Amazon |
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MSI MEG Z790 ACE Read More | See On Amazon |
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ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X670E HERO Read More | See On Amazon |
How to buy a motherboard for the RTX 4090
Compatibility
Compatibility of a motherboard with your components matters the most. A highly compatible motherboard will help you harvest the fruitful performance of each component without any shortcomings. It is necessary to understand the compatibility of your motherboard with other components because only then will you be able to buy the perfect one for yourself.
Form Factor
The first and foremost factor to consider before buying a motherboard is the form factor. Motherboards come in ascending order of Mini-ITX, mATX, ATX, and E-ATX sizes. The critical thing to remember here is that bigger is almost always better because a larger motherboard has more features than a smaller one.
The most prominent feature of the bigger motherboards is their power delivery system because they will include more phase and much more sophisticated capacitors with robust heatsinks, which in turn perform a lot more reliably. If you want the most efficient performance from the RTX 4090, you will need an ATX or E-ATX motherboard that can deliver sufficient power and run equally powerful components such as a High-end CPU, High-frequency RAM, faster storage medium support, etc.
Power Delivery
Motherboards deliver power to other components in discreet packets of voltages that are required differently by each component. A good motherboard will have a reliable power delivery system that doesn’t budge or fail to deliver sufficient power to each component that needs it. The ability of better power deliverance of a motherboard can be identified by the amount of Voltage Regulation Moderators or VRM phases it includes.
Motherboards of ATX and E-ATX form factors have many more VRM phases than smaller ones. More VRM phases equal better, smoother, and reliable power delivery. Also, the overclocking of components is entirely dependent on VRMs. Micro ATX and smaller motherboards aren’t considered suitable for overclocking because of their inherent low number of VRM phases. Whereas ATX and E-ATX motherboards usually have the required extra number of VRMs to handle the extra power load from overclocking. Moreover, they will also include additional heatsinks for the VRMs so that they can withstand higher temperatures without thermal throttling.
Connectivity
Connectivity options are another critical concern for motherboards because a large motherboard like the ATX or E-ATX size will have a more utilized space and would include much better connectivity options than a Micro-ATX motherboard. Different ports and slots are usually doubled as you go up in size from mATX to ATX.
With the ability to feature more connectivity options, ATX and E-ATX motherboards will include more ports and slots for the newer iteration of the technology, which can add exponentially to the overall performance and user experience. For example, PCIe Gen 5.0, USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, SATAIII ports, USB 4.0/Thunderbolt ports, numerous high-speed RAM slots, better audio codec, etc., are some of the features that you will find exclusively on ATX and E-ATX motherboards just because they are more expensive and a bit larger to accommodate new tech.
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Let’s start with a strong candidate for any AM5 build from the Taiwanese manufacturer, well known for their innovative solutions in computer technology and mostly their reliability, Gigabyte. The X670E is everything you could want from a mid-range motherboard and then some!
Of course, when you have a high-end graphics card, you’d want a high-end CPU to keep up with it without bottlenecking. That means you want more recently introduced hardware like Core i7, Core i9, Ryzen 7, and Ryzen 9 chips released within the last couple of years. To take full advantage of your TRX 4090, you’d hope to have a motherboard that’s capable of handling no less than a CPU like the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D without thermal throttling.
It has several features enhancing its thermal efficiency, making it one of the coolest motherboards available. This improves the longevity of the hardware you’ll invest in, like your GPU and CPU. The VRM is cooled with a fins-Array with a NanoCarbon coating and a 12 W/mk Thermal Conductivity Pad. The most thermally efficient materials were saught to perfect this board. It features an aluminum I/O cover and a NanoCarbon-coated aluminum backplate.
This motherboard is ready to facilitate your build, equipped with AMD’s latest socket after a long time. The AM5 platform enables faster memory and better power delivery and supports PCIe 5.0 slots. Not all motherboards give you the full features of the chipset. Gigabyte’s X670E Aorus Master is one of the few that will.
Not only does it support DDR5 RAM at speeds like 4400MHz to 6666MHz via overclocking, but it is fully ready to support PCIe 5.0 technology. It has one SMD PCIe 5.0 x16 with Ultra Durable Armor for your RTX 4090 GPU. There are also two more expansion slots, one PCIe 4.0 and one PCIe 3.0. Though it’s obvious this is not the choice for a dual 4090 PC build, it’s great for an exceptional gaming PC with one high-end GPU.
This is the ultimate future-proof motherboard with USB C I/O support and their latest-generation smart Wi-Fi 6E antenna. You can run the best hardware out there at a reasonable price, making this a great choice for enthusiasts and professionals who crave the best of the best.
Are you looking for a powerful foundation for your next 4090 gaming beast of a PC, then we have a treat for you. The ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming has all the latest technology and innovations, including AI Overclocking, WiFi 6E connectivity, and DDR5 support. Usually, motherboards aren’t that exciting, but ASUS knows how to shake things up and make them interesting.
As a high-performance gaming motherboard, this board had been made with a unique outlook. However, it may be overspecialized for gaming, lacking things that would make it more suitable as a workstation, such as more than four SATA ports or USB 4. So we can establish that so far, performance is king when it comes to the Strix Z790-E Gaming’s design.
This board is so far future-proof as it’s PCIe 5.0 ready. You don’t want anything less than the best for your 4090 GPU, so you’ll be glad to know the first PCIe slot has a Q-release button. This is a physical button that allows for easier removal of your GPU when it’s time to change it.
The Z790 chipset can process visual information going out to up to four displays. ASUS has prepared the perfect vessel for any 13th-generation CPUs. However, there is the concern of 13 being the last generation before a socket change. If you’re already lined up to get the newest-gen Intel processor, whether it has a different socket or not, then you must carefully weigh your decision. Overclocking is like a dream with this board, and it has the latest technology in its firmware.
With all these amazing features and being compatible with both 12th and 13th-generation Intel chips, we are certain that this is one of the best motherboards for your 4090. However, As this ATX board has premium features, there is a premium price tag to match them. For those who can afford it, this is the best motherboard for 4090 paired with a 13th-generation Intel chip.
For the mini ITX crowd looking for something that can handle their RTX 4090 card, we’ve got the best of ITX on offer for you. While other companies are making ITX boards, only Asus truly understands the demands of compact gaming PC builders.
The ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I Gaming is a phenomenal motherboard, putting ITX back on the map. However, it is more expensive than other ITX boards available. Though we are sure its long list of impressive features more than makes up for the price difference. We understand no one wants to make such an investment lightly, so you’ll be happy to know this purchase will remain future-proof for many years. Since you are pairing a motherboard with PCIe Gen 5 support and M.2 compatibility with the current undefeated champion of graphics cards, you should have no trouble keeping up with emerging games.
Straight off the bat, we’re already impressed with it having three fan headers and RGB headers of lighting customization with RGB-ready firmware. This future-ready beast has 16 + 2 power stages, making for a powerful VRM that still has reasonable temperatures.
The B-series beast has several heatsinks and thermal solutions, making it ready to bear the thermal stresses of a powerful GPU and CPU combo. It boasts a VRM heatsink array, chipset heatsink, and four M.2 heatsinks. Additionally, there’s an AIO pump header and 5 built-in 4-pin fan headers to cool your compact PC.
Just because it’s a mini ITX board doesn’t mean they skimped out on any full-board features. First of all, the board is immaculately arranged for convenience when arranging cables. Secondly, like the ROG Strix z790-E, it has a PCIe slot Q release button and M.2 Q-latch buttons for easier attachment or removal of your graphics card or storage devices.
While it has a premium price tag, this is one of the only ITX boards on the market that will give you an authentic gaming experience and superior performance with your coveted RTX 4090 Graphics card. With Wifi-6 E connectivity, several graphics outlets including an 8k display port, and a well-rounded I/O, you can expect no connectivity issues. Thus, such a feature-packed mini-ITX board is the best motherboard for 4090.
For the Gamer-cum-content creator who wants to get the most work out of their RTX 4090 while remaining on the AM4 platform, we have another great option from ASUS for you. The ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero X570 was built from the ground up, keeping specifically gaming in mind. As it’s part of the ROG series, it’s got everything geared towards the best performance possible.
While everyone may be rushing to buy faster DDR5 RAM and Gen 5 PCIe slots, we all know that it’s not a necessity to build PCs on the newest available platform. As AM5 becomes more in demand and popular, AM4 hardware will become the more economical option for most gamers. The platform still has a lot to offer. Since AM4 technology has been around longer, there are fewer problems to troubleshoot, and there is better support for users.
The Crosshair VIII Dark Hero X570 has a brushed aluminum finish with a touch of RGB lighting to give off a luxury look. Not only does it have a dependable VRM, but it also has quality thermal solutions including a passive chipset heatsink, aluminum heatsinks for both M.2 slots, and ROG water cooling support. With the Crosshair VIII Hero X570, you get complete control and automated system-wide tuning for overclocking profiles.
Nothing is a miss when it comes to connectivity options. This X570 board is equipped with 2.5 Gb ethernet connectivity and is WiFi 6E supported, primed, and ready for competitive online gaming. While multi-GPU support isn’t necessary when you have such an overpowered graphics card as Nvidia’s RTX 4090, it doesn’t hurt to know you can support several GPUs with this ATX motherboard.
We can confidently say this is the best motherboard for 4090 for users loyal to the AM4 platform. It’s sleek, nice to look at, and efficient, all with the ROG logo to remind us it was built for gamers, while also being easier on your pocket.
Future-proofing your system is a legitimate concern. However, some of us just want to play the same games we’re playing now but with a better setup. Whichever end of the spectrum you are, for users who are purchasing a new motherboard for their RTX 4090, we have a great option for you. The Gigabyte Z690 is a great board to invest in if you have a 12th-generation Intel processor to pair with your RTX 4090. A formidable combination like the GeForce RTX 4090 and the Intel i9 12900K enables you to play all your favorite games like Horizon Zero Dawn or Red Dead Redemption with immersive 4k resolution.
Let’s take a closer look at the best motherboard for 4090 with DDR4 RAM. You can enjoy the full Alder Lake experience with this beast of a board at the heart of your PC. It has a direct 19+1+2 phases VRM design with advanced thermal solutions to keep your computer running cool under high load. This VRM was built to overclock Intel’s twelfth-generation CPUs to the max. It has a fins-array heatsink, a direct-touch heatpipe, and a NanoCarbon baseplate to ensure temperatures remain cool.
This E-ATX Form Factor is for serious gaming enthusiasts who aren’t afraid to let their machines dominate the space. When building a full-set gaming PC with an E-ATX full tower case, you want something solid. When investing so heavily into your computer hardware, you undoubtedly wish to ensure its longevity, especially your NVIDIA RTX 4090. Gigabyte’s reliability is their most well-known factor. Only the best materials have been used to make this board and all its components from the heatsinks, to the M.2 slots and VRM. Everything is reinforced even the PCIe slot for your GPU.
You can customize this motherboard’s RGB lighting to suit your aesthetic. That makes this an ideal choice for any tempered glass PC case to show off next to your RTX 4090. Gigabyte gives you control over fans you connect to this motherboard out of the box due to its smart fan features. Overall, we can’t complain, it’s a superb choice for larger builds.
MSI has mastered the art of premium quality computer components, a favorite of many regular and enthusiast PC builders worldwide. Don’t be surprised if you see more than one product in this list from MSI because their offerings are just too formidable and cost-effective to be left out of discussion for any high-end build.
The MEG Z790 is a fantastically overpowered board with a 24+1+2 phase VRM design. With this design, you are ensured to get the requisite power for each component, and the use of premium capacitors incorporated into this design adds substantial stability and smoothness in power delivery. It can house the most powerful Intel processor and graphics cards in tandem with 4x DDR5 slots that can lodge high-frequency RAM and enable their clocking at unfathomable speeds of more than 7800 MHz.
Moreover, it features an ALC4082 Realtek Audio Codec to deliver an auditory experience at the finest levels. Similarly, it doesn’t hold any bars for connectivity options. A single PCIe Gen 5 M.2 Slot with 4x Gen 4 Slots, Multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 Ports for both Type A/C, 2x Thunderbolt 4.0, 2.5 Gbps LAN, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.0, etc. In short, we are trying to say, you name it, this board has it.
The Z790 is one of the strongest chipsets for Intel processors that allows you to tap into the realm of Ultimate computer performance with its premium and enticing features. The only negatives about this board are that it is too expensive and has an Extended ATX form factor, which is a troublesome fit for casual or normally-sized PC cases.
Apart from that, this motherboard is brimmed with market-leading and exciting features that make it overtly powerful. Outstanding specifications, Creative space utilization, an eye-pleasing Golden/Black design, hefty heatsinks for VRM, and industry-leading thermal solutions across the board pretty much cement it as one of the best high-end motherboards.
Like the Z790 chipset, the X670 Chipset is the best and most high-end option for mainstream AMD processors. The ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X670E HERO is an outstanding motherboard with almost every necessary and top-notch feature defining a high-end, high-performance AMD-compatible motherboard. Asus has an excellent catalog of premium quality and priced computer products, and it would not be wrong to say that manufacturing market-competitive high-end motherboards is their specialty.
The X670E is an E-ATX form factor motherboard with an exceedingly lovely aesthetic design to fit well in a high-end build, and Asus’s ROG design philosophy is very apparent here. This sturdy motherboard includes a multi-layered PCB design to protect against short-circuiting and an 18+2 VRM power design. This power design and complementary heatsinks for the VRM add significantly to its overclocking performance without the annoyance of BSODs or stability issues.
The connectivity options on this board are also what you would want from a high-end motherboard. With its plethora of USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Gen 1 Type A/C ports and USB 4.0, you can get near to thunderbolt-like speeds. Moreover, PCIe Gen 5 slots offer excellent, faster, and more responsive connectivity for graphics cards and M.2 drives that are well-needed for a top-end computing or gaming experience. Along with these and many other high-end physical connectivity options, it also boasts the new standard of WiFi 6E with Bluetooth v5.3 and an Asus LANGuard 2.5Gb Ethernet port.
Although it is a very tempting and exceptionally proficient motherboard, it is expensive and would cost around the 700$ mark. But if you are willing to acquire it, this motherboard will not disappoint. It is fully compatible with the Ryzen AM5 socket CPUs and would flawlessly run any high-end AMD processor based on that socket. With the PCIe Gen 6 slots, the RTX 4090 will be wholly and rightfully utilized with no chance of performance issues.
How to choose motherboard for RTX 4090
The motherboard is the base of any PC. It is the foundation upon which you attach the rest of your hardware. While they are often the last things to be updated, they are the first to deteriorate due to the constant replacement or movement of other pieces of hardware. We understand that the search for the perfect motherboard is difficult for beginners as well as veteran PC builders since there are just so many options.
The motherboard you choose must be tailored to the type of build you have planned. If you know what size you want your gaming PC to be, which CPU you’re planning to use, and if you want your motherboard to light up or not matters a great deal. That should narrow your list down to a single form factor and chipset. After that, choosing the best motherboard comes down to how it looks, how much you can afford, and the unique features that attract different users. Some value the audio set up while others want to ensure they can overclock the VRM.
At the end of the day, you’ll be happy with your purchase if you can play your favorite games within the budget you assigned. A robust motherboard improves the lifespan of your other hardware so you should invest generously despite motherboards being severely underrated compared to other hardware components.
Our list has several options, but it is not exhaustive. Since there are many different situations, needs, and desires different gamers could have, there are several best motherboards for 4090. You will find our list has varied options appealing to users with different needs. We hope it was helpful in your search for the best motherboard for 4090.
For larger builds, the Gigabyte Z690 AORUS MASTER would fill an E-ATX case well, Mini ITX enthusiasts will find the ASUS ROG Strix B650E to have more features than expected, and the ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming may be the best choice for Intel’s 13th generation CPUs paired with your RTX 4090 GPU.
