Buying a motherboard can be a headache but we're making it simple. We've got suggestions for both AMD and Intel's latest processors and some great deals you won't want to miss out on.
The motherboard is the glue that holds the rest of your machine together so it’s important that you’re going to purchase the correct one for your needs. If you're going AMD or Intel, getting yourself a 1080ti or skipping the graphics card completely, you're going to want a great board at a good price.
We’re going to define ‘budget’ as under £100 here, recommending boards that can house the latest and greatest processors without compromising on build quality and reliability.
The MSI Arsenal Z270 PC MATE
- $121
If you’re planning to use a Skylake or Kaby Lake processor then the MSI Arsenal Z270 PC MATE is a fantastic choice.
Offering some fantastic value this board supports 2-way CrossFire and is made by one of the industry leaders in motherboard and gaming component production, MSI.
This is a full sized board, so it’s not a small component (make sure to check that its dimensions can fit your case before purchase!) but that does allow for future expansion. The size is due to its CrossFire feature, ensuring that you can fit two GPUs on the board should you wish.
While this board may not have the bells and whistles of some of its more expensive models, CrossFire support from MSI at this price point is a very positive sign.
The GIGABYTE Z370P D3
- $103
If you’re looking for an 8th generation Intel system to make use of the latest Coffee Lake CPUs, then up until recently you were forced to use the Z370 chipset.
This has changed with the introduction of the H370, B360 and H310 platforms that are certainly cheaper, but do gradually lose features as you move down through the chipsets.
To start with the Z370 is the only set that you can overclock your CPU/DDR4 memory on. As you progress from the Z370 down to the H370, B360 and H310 you’ll be losing all manner of features including PCI-E lanes, total USB ports, maximum high speed IO lanes etc.
However, if you’re not planning on overclocking and going ‘full enthusiast’ but still want the power that the 8th generation chips provide, one of these chipsets could be perfect for you.
The GIGABYTE Z370P D3 is currently fantastic value on Amazon. You’re getting all the features of the Z370 chipset for the price of a H370 board. This is currently a steal, and a great option for your 8th generation Intel system.
The MSI B350 PC MATE
- $80
If you’re looking for a solid board to house your AM4 processor then look no further than this fantastic option from MSI.
The MSI B350 PC MATE supports the latest Ryzen processors with its AM4 socket, which AMD have confirmed they’ll be supporting for generations to come, so in that case this board is a solid choice for future proofing.
AMD processors work well with RAM at higher clock speeds and this board supports 3200MHz RAM which is just at the price/performance sweet spot.
As with almost all AMD components, they’re designed to be overclocked which is one distinct advantage AMD has over Intel, who decide to put overclocking behind a pay wall.
The board is a fantastic deal if you’re putting together a Ryzen focused system but can live without some of the additional features.
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