Best Motherboard For Gaming Under $200 [AMD and Intel] 2023
We all love gaming, and this is no hidden secret. We enjoy the thrill and other things that come with it. However, games are more advanced than ever; graphics are intense, and animations, as well as characters, are life-like.
From playing the all-time popular Far Cry, and GTA Series to the latest releases such as The Witcher and Final Fantasy, games have evolved over the years. And to be able to play these games to the best of your ability, you need a good motherboard.
Let’s be honest… experiencing fantastic gameplay today is not possible unless you have a good gaming motherboard, one that is also priced under $200.
Since there are many options for a gaming motherboard and each brand has multiple models to select from, It is confusing to identify a good one.
When it comes to selecting a motherboard for a gaming PC, there are a few things that you should always keep in mind, such as compatibility, performance, durability, and budget.
In this article, we’ve listed some of the best motherboards you can buy under $200. These are based on quality and durability.
In a hurry? Here are two best options!
1. ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming – Best AMD Motherboard for Gaming Under 200
2. MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Plus – Best Intel Motherboard for Gaming Under 200
To know why we have selected these two options? continue reading more!
| Image | Product | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming | Great overclocking capabilities Comes with an integrated IO panel Debug Panel LEDs SupremeFX Audio | Check Price |
 | MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Plus | Good amount of VRM phases Best value for money Support for RGB LED CrossFire and RAID Support | Check Price |
 | ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus (Wi-Fi) | Built-in Bluetooth and WiFi PCI Express base is beefed up Easy to use LED indicator Enhanced power solution | Check Price |
 | MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK | Great gaming experience Variety of USB connections Extended Heatsink Design Mystic Light | Check Price |
 | MSI Z490-A PRO ProSeries | Highly Budget Friendly Impressive RAM Memory Support Heatsink Extension AMD Crossfire Support | Check Price |
 | ASRock B450 Steel Legend | Sleek Design Supports AMD StoreMI technology Decent overclocking capabilities Lots of connectivity | Check Price |
 | MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Plus | Intel CNVi wireless support. RGB LED support Lots of fan headers Heatsinks with Turbo M.2 slots. | Check Price |
Best Motherboard For Gaming Under $200
1. ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming – Editor’s Choice for AMD
- Great overclocking capabilities
- Comes with an integrated IO panel
- Debug Panel LEDs
- SupremeFX Audio
Specifications:
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Supported Generation | 1st, 2nd & 3rd Ryzen Processors |
| RAM Technology | DDR4 |
| Graphics | HDMI 2.0 and Display Port |
| Audio | SupremeFX S1220A |
| Memory Speed | 3200 MHz |
| Support more than one GPU | Yes |
Review:
ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming is one of the best motherboards under $200. It is an ATX form factor and supports an AM4 socket and AMD Ryzen processors.
Which are based on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generations. ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming comes with many advanced technologies such as Aura Sync RGB Lighting, SupremeFX Audio Codec, and Gigabit LAN.
The motherboard has four DDR4 DIMM slots that support a maximum RAM speed of up to 3200 MHz and supports 64GB of memory capacity at most.
This motherboard comes with two M.2 ports for ultra-fast data transfer speeds and multiple PCIe slots including 1 x PCIe 2.0 x 16 (max. @ x4), 3 x PCIe 2.0 x 1 and 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (@ x16 or x8/x4).
Asus Rog Strix B450-F Gaming supports dual channel memory mode and features AMD StoreMI technology that combines the speed of an SSD with the capacity of a mechanical hard drive into a single drive.
On top of this, the motherboard is designed with Aura Sync RGB lighting for changing colors and effects according to your moods, like breathing light or adventuring with different color schemes.
This is the best AMD motherboard for gaming under 200 dollars and is packed with an integrated SupremeFX S1220A 8-channel high definition audio codec that delivers an exceptional sound quality with the help of Audio Shielding, De-Pop Protection, and ELNA capacitors.
It also supports advanced gaming technologies such as Sonic Studio III for increased performance while playing games.
Though the motherboard does not come with a WiFi connectivity option yet, you can still get it by adding an aftermarket wireless network adapter to your gaming rig.
Overall
ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming is a great choice for AMD Ryzen processor-based gaming PC build and offers a rich set of technologies to enhance your gaming experience and performance.
Pros
- Excellent gaming networking
- Fast memory and data transfers
- Various cooling options
Cons
- Higher idle power consumption
- No M.2 heatsinks
2. MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Plus – Editor’s Choice for Intel
- Good amount of VRM phases
- Best value for money
- Support for RGB LED
- CrossFire and RAID Support
Specifications:
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Supported Generation | Intel 10th Gen Processors |
| RAM Technology | DDR4 |
| Graphics | HDMI 2.0 and Display Port |
| Audio | Realtek 1200 codec |
| Memory Speed | 4800 MHz |
| Support more than one GPU | Yes |
Review:
As the name suggests, Z490 Gaming Plus is a motherboard that comes with an Intel Z490 chipset, supporting all LGA 1200 socket processors.
It has two M.2 slots, four DDR4 RAM, and multiple PCIe slots.
MSI Z490 Gaming Plus supports up to 128 GB of DDR4 memory modules with a maximum speed of up to 4800 MHz, multiple SATA III, and connectivity ports.
There is also a pre-installed I/O Shielding over the motherboard to protect it from dust and electrical discharge.
This motherboard has 2x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots; which allows you to get maximum graphics performance with the fastest data transfer speed.
MSI Z490 Gaming Plus is the best motherboard under 200 dollars and is a choice if you are looking for performance with overclocking.
With this motherboard, you get a built-in audio booster to enhance the output quality of your headphone, external DAC, or recording devices.
Z490 Gaming Plus is equipped with a 2.5G LAN that offers reduced load times and provides a flawless streaming experience without any stuttering issues.
Overall
This mobo is an excellent choice if you are planning to build your own Intel-based gaming system with a budget price tag.
Pros
- Stable performance
- High-end audio
Cons
- RAM slots come without any protection
- Doesn’t support SLI
3. ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus (WiFi) – Best Option Under $200
- Built-in Bluetooth and WiFi
- PCI Express base is beefed up
- Easy to use LED indicator
- Enhanced power solution
Specifications:
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Supported Generation | 2nd and 3rd AMD Processor |
| RAM Technology | DDR4 |
| Graphics | HDMI 2.0 and Display Port |
| Audio | Realtek ALC S1200A |
| Memory Speed | 4400 MHz |
| Support more than one GPU | Yes |
Review:
The ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus is the perfect gaming motherboard for gamers who are looking for a highly customizable and reliable board that they can use to build their dream PC.
The ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus has an AMD X570x chipset, an ATX form factor, and supports all models of Ryzen 2nd and 3rd processors.
ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus has two M.2 slots, eight SATA III ports, and multiple USB 3.2 Gen 1.0 and 2.0 ports.
ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus supports DDR4 memory modules with a maximum RAM speed of up to 3866 MHz and a maximum capacity of up to 128GB.
The motherboard comes with three PCI-Express 4.0 x16 slots that are backward compatible.
This motherboard has been specifically designed for gaming and includes a wide range of technologies that gamers would love to have in their rigs.
It effectively reduces heat during long game-playing sessions through an extended heatsink, an enhanced airflow path design, a transparent PCB design, and so much more.
For enhanced audio quality ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus comes with Realtek® ALC S1200A 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC, which is great for audio cover and audio shielding.
On the top, the motherboard is also equipped with Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity ports for wireless connection and data transfer and is the best motherboard for gaming under $200.
ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus is an excellent choice for those looking to build a reliable gaming PC that can handle almost any modern game currently on the market.
Overall
ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus is a great choice with the sheer value for money, amazing features, and performance at an affordable price tag.
Pros
- USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port
- UEFI BIOS design and usability
- Chipset active cooling
Cons
- No front panel USB 3.1 Gen2 port
4. MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK – Best Runner Up for AMD
- Great gaming experience
- Variety of USB connections
- Extended Heatsink Design
- Mystic Light
Specifications:
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Supported Generation | Supports 3rd Gen Ryzen Processors |
| RAM Technology | DDR4 |
| Graphics | HDMI 2.0 and Display Port |
| Audio | Realtek ALC1200 |
| Memory Speed | 4800 MHz |
| Support more than one GPU | Yes |
Review:
The MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK gaming motherboard is a great choice for users who are looking to build a high-quality gaming PC and want to experience top-notch performance coupled with better stability.
This motherboard from MSI has an ATX form factor and supports all the AMD 3rd generation processors.
It offers superior multi-tasking capabilities and features four DDR4 DIMM slots that support up to 128GB of DDR 4 with a total of 4866 RAM memory modules.
MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK is the best value gaming motherboard you can buy under 200 and offers dual-channel memory architecture, which allows seamless and smooth data transfer.
The board supports M.2 SSD drives, SATAIII ports, and USB 3.1 Gen1/Gen2 ports that allow transfer rates of up to 10Gb/s.
However, when overclocking, you won’t be able to push it as high as the X570 chipset boards, but if that’s not a concern for you, then I recommend going with this board.
Overall
MSI MAG B550 is an impressive gaming motherboard that can be used to build a high-performance and highly stable system. This makes it great for hardcore gamers who want to game without any disturbances and lags.
Pros
- Support for future Ryzen processors
- Studio-grade sound quality
Cons
- Lacks support for SLI
- Requires UEFI compatible graphics card
5. MSI Z490-A PRO ProSeries – Best Runner Up for Intel
- Highly Budget Friendly
- Impressive RAM Memory Support
- Heatsink Extension
- AMD Crossfire Support
Specifications:
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Supported Generation | 10th Gen Intel Processors |
| RAM Technology | DDR4 |
| Graphics | HDMI 2.0 and Display Port |
| Audio | Realtek ALC1220 |
| Memory Speed | 4800 MHz |
| Support more than one GPU | Yes |
Review:
The MSI Z490-A PRO ProSeries is a great motherboard with an affordable price tag. It has the perfect balance of performance, features, and design.
Which makes it a great choice for anyone looking to build a decent gaming PC. This board from MSI comes with an ATX form factor and supports the 10th gen Intel processors.
The board has 4x DDR4 DIMM slots that support up to 128GB of memory with a speed memory of maximum RAM speed of 4800 MHz.
The Z490-A PRO has three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 Slots, one PCI-Express 2.0 x1 Slot, and 4x PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots.
MSI has made this motherboard a capable performer by implementing technologies such as Turbo M.2, Lightning USB, and Audio Boost.
Plus, there is also an on-board 2.5G LAN plus Gigabit LAN with WiFi 6, and its core boost technology combines optimized power circuit layouts, double CPU power connectors, and a digital design that allows for precise delivery to the CPU.
MSI Z490-A PRO ProSeries is the best intel motherboard for gaming under 200 and comes with a backplate that is rare at its price range and also supports multi-GPU configuration.
Overall
The MSI Z490-A PRO ProSeries motherboard is an excellent choice for those looking to build a budget gaming PC and offers features that can satisfy their in-game performance requirements.
Pros
- USB 3.2 Gen2 port and header.
- Ultra-fast SSD transfer
- Comes with Core Boost Technology
Cons
- No IO cover
- Single USB 3.2 Gen2 port
6. ASRock B450 Steel Legend – Gaming Motherboard for AMD
- Sleek Design
- Supports AMD StoreMI technology
- Decent overclocking capabilities
- Lots of connectivity options
Specifications:
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Supported Generation | 1st, 2nd and 3rd Ryzen Processors |
| RAM Technology | DDR4 |
| Graphics | HDMI 2.0 and Display Port |
| Audio | Realtek ALC892 |
| Memory Speed | 3200 MHz |
| Support more than one GPU | Yes |
Review:
The ASRock B450 Steel Legend is a great choice for people who are looking to build an affordable gaming PC that performs surprisingly well in-game.
This motherboard has an ATX form factor and offers support for AM4 socket processors.
It comes with M.2, SATA III ports as well as 6x PCI-Express 3.0 x16 Slots (one run at x8, three runs at x4, one run at x2), and 4x PCI Express 2.0 x1 Slots.
ASRock B450 Steel Legend has four DIMM slots and supports up to 64GB of DDR 4 memory modules at 3200 MHz.
The motherboard has one USB 3.1 Gen1 header that allows up to 2 USB 3.0/3.1 Ports. Other notable features that come with ASRock B450 Steel Legend include Dual M.2 slots, Intel Gigabit LAN as well as 7.1 Channel Audio Jacks.
ASRock B450 Steel Legend is the best white AMD motherboard for gaming under 200 and offers great features that any gamer would love to have in their gaming rigs at an affordable price.
The board offers great capabilities even though it doesn’t have a lot of features.
Overall
You’re not going to get the best overclocking performance with this board. But then again, it costs less than $150 and that’s more than affordable in my opinion.
Pros
- M.2 and VRM heatsinks
- Great water cooling capabilities
Cons
- BIOS doesn’t have an easy mode
- Not stable during OC
7. MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Plus – Gaming Motherboard for Intel
- Intel CNVi wireless support.
- RGB LED support
- Lots of fan headers
- Heatsinks with Turbo M.2 slots
Specifications:
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Supported Generation | Supports 8th and 9th Gen Intel Processors |
| RAM Technology | DDR4 |
| Graphics | HDMI 2.0 and DVI |
| Audio | Realtek ALC892 |
| Memory Speed | 4400 MHz |
| Support more than one GPU | Yes |
Review:
This motherboard from MSI is specifically designed for gamers who are looking for enhanced stability and overclocking capabilities.
It features dual USB 3.1 Gen2 ports and two Ultra M.2 slots that are protected by armor with heatsinks. It serves both the Intel 8th and 9th generation Core processor family, which is on the list of best CPUs of 2018.
The MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Plus comes with four DIMM slots and supports up to 64GB of DDR4-4133 memory module, which guarantees flawless performance while running heavy applications and games.
This motherboard has six SATA III ports and two M.2 slots with 32Gb/s of PCIe bandwidth which allow users to connect super-fast SSDs and provide blazing fast read and write speeds.
The motherboard has a USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port for connecting a keyboard, mouse, and other peripheral devices through the system panel easily.
MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Plus is the best mother for gaming under $200 and supports two GPUs in the SLI or crossfire configuration.
This motherboard has got two usb2 headers (4 connectors) and 2 USB 3.1 (4 connectors) headers, and one digital LED strip header which also supports RGB lighting.
Overall
MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Plus has a lot to offer and is an option if you are looking forward to buying a gaming motherboard.
Pros
- Good overclocking capabilities
- Best for the money
- Sturdy built and quality
- Highly detailed BIOS
Cons
- No standoff included
- No support for SLI
Frequently Asked Questions About Gaming Motherboards
Is Gaming Motherboard Worth it?
The answer to this question is: it depends. A good gaming motherboard can boost your gaming performance a lot, that’s for sure. On the other hand, there are also cases when you don’t need a special motherboard in order to play games at 60+ fps with max settings enabled on 1080p resolution and enjoy extra frames per second while running the latest titles (e.g., GTA V).
Do motherboards make a difference in gaming?
Yes, it is a fact that motherboards influence gaming performance in many ways. From the first stage of searching for your new gaming PC and choosing the right motherboard to add more powerful graphics cards or getting a processor upgrade – every step influences how well you can perform in all modern games.
Do Gaming Motherboards have wifi?
Yes, all modern gaming motherboards support wireless network connections. While some of them come with built-in wireless cards (you install the card, and it’s ready to go), others require you to purchase a separate PCI-Express wifi adapter. That way, if you want to use your existing wifi card, you can do that without any problems. For those who own wired networks or don’t need wireless internet at all, there are also mobos that don’t feature any wifi adapters in their specs.
Can motherboard increase FPS?
In general, no. A motherboard can’t automatically get you any more FPS, so don’t expect to see differences from one board to another in your FPS count. Further, the manufacturer has only a minuscule amount of influence on the performance of their boards. The most important components that affect overall performance are the CPU and GPU. If you choose the right CPU and GPU for your needs, then all other components will look like they’re standing still after comparison. However, a motherboard does indirectly affect your FPS and gameplay.
Which Motherboard Should You Choose?
Choosing a motherboard can be difficult; you want something that is not only compatible with your CPU but one that offers excellent performance and stability.
The market contains numerous motherboards for different price ranges, and while some are made with the intention of making them look flashy to attract customers, others are made to be functional and meet the needs of users looking for a high-quality PC.
If you are working with a tight budget, then it might be worth considering choosing an inexpensive motherboard.
However, this could limit your in-game experience and upgrade options for future considerations.
It is important that when choosing a motherboard, you take into account the number of features available as well as the chances to upgrade it later down the line.
Conclusion
We have talked about different best motherboards under $200. Each one has its unique features and offers great performance for a relatively cheap price.
Above, we mentioned some boards that come with features such as RGB lighting and premium layout, which may seem unnecessary features at first glance but can prove to be useful.
However, when you consider the fact that they offer superior cooling capabilities, aesthetics, and performance coupled with an affordable price tag, then it makes sense to pick a motherboard from our list.
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