Looking for the best motherboard for RTX 3080 In 2022? We’ve got you covered

Despite the price, the Nvidia Geforce RTX 3080 is hands down the best graphics card for high-end gaming. For people looking to put together a build that will last, this GPU is a great choice.

With that said, a graphics card is only as good as the other components you pair it with.

Both the processor and motherboard choice heavily affect the performance of any gaming rig. So, if you’re looking for the best motherboards for your RTX 3080, you might be a bit confused. Don’t worry, we have done the hard work for you!

The RTX 3080 requires a good processor for high-resolution gaming, and the choice of the compatible motherboard and processor are interdependent on each other.

Deleted: So, let’s take a look at the comparison of our top three choices, and get to the full list later.

Before moving on make sure you check the following detailed tutorial on how to choose the best motherboard for you: How To Choose The Right Motherboard For Your Needs: A Comprehensive Guide

Best Motherboards For RTX 3080 Comparison Table

How We Choose the Best Motherboards for RTX 3080

Putting together the best motherboard for RTX 3080 options is a daunting task. Having a specific platform or processor in mind usually makes it a bit easier.

Of course, that’s not the case here. We have not narrowed down our choices to any specific chipset or generation of processors.

Instead, this is a list that should appeal to people who just got their hands on the RTX 3080, and don’t know what quality components to purchase next.

The good thing is that the RTX 3080 is already quite powerful, so any respectable processor you pair it with will be a good choice.

Some people may go with 9th/10th gen Intel, or 3rd Gen Ryzen to save some cash. Not a bad choice, as processors like the 10400F and Ryzen 5 3600 are ideal on a budget.

As such, AMD’s B550 and B460/B560 motherboards are a good choice for the RTX 3080 if putting together a budget build.

On the other hand, if you don’t want to settle for anything but the best, you’ll want an enthusiast motherboard with great price and reliable performance quality in a processor. Currently, that includes the latest 12th Gen Alder Lake processors, and AMD’s Ryzen 5000 series.

Therefore, you’ll want to go with the best X570 motherboard and best Z690 Intel motherboard for RTX 3080.

That means we’re left with is a diverse list of excellent AMD motherboard options and Intel motherboards with different chipsets. We choose the very best in every category and then rank them as follows:

The motherboards are first scored on four parameters, VRM design, Aesthetics, Connectivity and Value. Afterward, they are given a score based on the average ratings and ranked accordingly.

Let’s take a look at the best motherboards for RTX 3080 on the market right now!

The 7 Best Motherboard for RTX 3080 Selections

From the best flagship motherboard, to the best ATX motherboard, and best enthusiast motherboard, we have a LOT of options for you on this list. While some are extreme overclockable motherboard selections, others are at a very reasonable price. Let’s take a look at the seven best motherboards for RTX 3080 for you!

1. ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero – Editor’s Choice

Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 5333MHz (OC) | Chipset: Intel Z590 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 14+2 Phases | Storage: 4x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5 GbE LAN, Bluetooth 5.1

First up on our list, we have a fabulous motherboard from ASUS’s iconic Maximus series of motherboards. This one uses the Z590 chipset and is the best choice for 10th/11th gen processors.

Pairing the RTX 3080 with a 10th or 11th gen processor is a great choice. Especially if you go with an i5 or i7 processor from either generation. There’s a lot of value for money there.

All of that further makes the Maximus XIII Hero an even more appealing option. This is by far the best motherboard for RTX 3080.

It comes at an affordable price range for the quality features, performance is phenomenal, and connectivity options are extensive. Not much more you could ask for.

First off, the design immediately impresses, right out of the box. This motherboard builds upon the phenomenal design of the Maximus lineup.

The PCB is mostly black, but can barely be seen thanks to the gigantic heatsinks and armor shielding present on the exterior.

The rear-panel cover is rather large and features the angular ROG logo along with an RGB zone. As for the power delivery VRM heatsink, they are quite huge as well, and the same for the chipset heatsink.

The chipset heatsink uses a silver/metallic finish on it, to add some contrast to the design.

It features another RGB zone and almost blends with the heatsinks for the bottom M.2 slot. Speaking of which, this motherboard features 4 M.2 slots, which is quite impressive for any 10th/11th gen motherboard.

This design is not just for visual appeal, as it appeals to enthusiasts as well. You get a two-digit error code LED for debugging, hardware switches for power and reset, and excellent support for a water based comprehensive cooling system.

The support for memory up to 5333MHz speaks for itself in terms of quality performance.

Connectivity is spectacular. You get onboard Thunderbolt 4 support, as well as a good selection of USB ports. Type-C is present here as well.

The network features such as Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, and Dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet further solidify its status as the best motherboard for RTX 3080.

So, if you are thinking of going with an i5 or i7 processor from the 10th/11th generation lineup, then this is the best Z590 motherboard for RTX 3080 for you. The price is a bit high, but you get an extremely future proof high performance motherboard for the long term.

Lastly, at this price point, you might expect eight SATA3 6GB/s ports but you’ll only get six ports with this motherboard, take all these things into consideration before making your decision.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 9/10
• Connectivity: 9/10
• Value for money: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 9/10

2. Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Master– Best Premium Intel Motherboard for RTX 3080

Memory Support: 128GB DDR5 @ 4800MHz | Chipset: Intel Z690 | Form Factor: E-ATX | Voltage Regulator: 19+1+2 Phases | Storage: 5x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Wi-Fi 6E, Aquantia 10GbE LAN, Bluetooth 5

Next up, we have the most exciting motherboard on this list. Intel’s 12th gen processors are excellent, and the Z690 Aorus Master can bring out their full potential.

If you want the most premium, best enthusiast motherboard out right now, then this is the one. A combination of extreme performance, ultra-premium design, and high-performance networking make this the best premium motherboard for RTX 3080.

Of course, if you’re buying such a high-end motherboard, you will want to buy a flagship-level processor. There’s no point in pairing this board with an i5 12600K. Instead, you’ll need at least a 12700K, or preferably a 12900K. Keep those costs in mind.

Now, let’s talk about the design. This Z690 motherboard looks very crowded, but for a good reason. It has everything one could ask for. The power delivery heatsinks are gigantic, and the same is true for the motherboard chipset heatsink.

Unlike X570, the Z690 platform does not use an actively cooled chipset. This is good as those chipset fans tend to get quite noisy.

You get a respectable amount of spacing between the PCIe slots, which is great because GPU sizes are getting bigger every year.

Since this is an Alder Lake motherboard, it brings PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5 support. Only the top PCIe slot has access to the 16 lanes of PCIe Gen 5.

As of right now, it’s not very useful as graphics cards can barely take advantage of PCIe Gen 4.

Fortunately, that makes this motherboard more future proof than its competitors. The same is true for DDR5, as you get support for 128 gigs of up to 4800MHz.

While that may seem low, keep in mind that XMP 3.0 will allow you to reach much higher speeds, so that is excellent.

Circling back to the design, you get an abundance of fan headers, two addressable RGB headers, and a good selection of LEDs for debugging.

The two-digit error code LED is present, along with hardware buttons for Power and Reset. All of which cater greatly to enthusiasts and performance nerds.

We haven’t even touched on the network features. The 10GbE LAN port is powered by a high-end Aquantia controller, and you get support for Wi-Fi 6E plus Bluetooth 5. This ideal motherboard supports it all.

Performance is a non-issue, as this board features a 19+1+2 VRM design, overkill for any processor out there.

That’s the best part about this motherboard, it is completely over-the-top, and we adore it when manufacturers create a top-of-the-line product for enthusiasts.

Of course, all of that grandeur comes in at a sky-high price and an odd Extended ATX form factor which might cause fitting issues in a mid-tower case or other smaller cases.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 9/10
• Connectivity: 9/10
• Value for money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8.87/10

3. BEST SELLER: ASUS Prime X570 Pro – Best Budget AMD Motherboard for RTX 3080

Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4400MHz | Chipset: AMD X570 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 6 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Realtek GbE LAN

Next, we are getting away from Intel processors and heading over to AMD. This time, we have the Prime X570 Pro. For Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 processors, this is by far the best budget motherboard for RTX 3080.

While ASUS is known for its high-end motherboards, like ASUS TUF gaming and ASUS ROG Strix, that does not mean they restrict themselves to the more expensive segment of products. The Prime X570 Pro has excellent overall value.

This board brings X570 features down to an accessible price for a wider audience. While there are even cheaper options out there, this one does not skimp out on the most important features.

In terms of design, the X570 Pro is simple yet effective. While the appearance is minimalistic, it is also elegant. Most of ASUS’ Prime motherboards look quite basic, but that’s not the case here with this excellent motherboard.

The large rear panel cover is coated completely in a white finish, the same as the chipset heatsink.

The power delivery heatsinks take feature a silver accent to add some needed contrast. This board does feature an actively cooled chipset, common for X570 boards.

Like most ASUS motherboards, addressable RGB is ever-present. RGB zones can be seen both on the chipset heatsink and on an area over the rear panel cover.

Both of these zones are controllable via the Armory Crate software, thanks to Aura Sync.

It’s great that the software situation remains the same throughout ASUS motherboards. This way, budget users don’t feel like they missed the opportunity to make their builds look good.

Furthermore, as this is an X570 motherboard, you can access PCIe Gen 4 on both of the M.2 slots. The bottom slot does feature an aluminum heatsink, while the top slot does not. This design decision is a bit unusual, but not all that frustrating.

Fortunately, you get access to high-speed memory on this budget X570 motherboard. RAM speeds can go as high as 4400MHz, and you can further overclock beyond that.

Not bad at all for a budget board. The 6-phase VRM design is respectable as well, as it can handle processors such as the Ryzen 9 5900X

Of course, you’ll need to remember that overclocking might be a bit limited. You can still get away with light to medium overclocks, but nothing too crazy.

However, the white heatsinks might throw off some people who are looking to build dark or black-themed builds. Also the lack of WI-Fi, Bluetooth, and a few bells and whistles can be a deal-breaker for perfectionists.

Nevertheless this is the best budget AMD motherboard for RTX 3080.

Decide wisely.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 8/10
• Aesthetics: 8/10
• Connectivity: 8.5/10
• Value for money: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 8.375/10

4. ASRock B550M Steel Legend – A Fan Favorite Best Micro-ATX Motherboard for RTX 3080

Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4400MHz | Chipset: AMD B550 | Form Factor: mATX | Voltage Regulator: 8+2 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Intel GbE LAN

Just because you have a high-end graphics card such as the RTX 3080, it does not mean you automatically need the best processor or motherboard. You can still get away with a great processor such as the 5600X, or even the Ryzen 5 3600.

Both of these are great choices if gaming is your main focus. You get great performance, and neither of them will feel slow for 3-5 years down the line.

Since we’re talking about value, it doesn’t get much better than the B550M Steel Legend. This is why this is one of the best fan-favorite motherboards out there.

The Steel Legend series has been around for a while now. They have earned their popularity thanks to AMD fans. The popularity can only be contested by the MSI Tomahawk series.

This is a budget mATX motherboard, however, that does not mean it looks “cheap”. In fact, this board features a very unique design.

The board uses white and silver accents as the primary focus for the design. It provides the board with an industrial stainless steel look.

This finish is present on both the exterior and various heatsinks. Both the chipset and power delivery heatsink feature a similar design.

The M.2 shields combine with the chipset heatsink, providing a uniform look and adding to the visual appeal.

Furthermore, you get two M.2 slots, one of which features an aluminum shield as the heatsink. Both the rear panel cover and chipset heatsink feature the company’s branding. RGB zones are present on both as well.

As for power delivery, you get a 10 stage VRM configuration. The design in fact uses 8+2 phases for the VRMs. It works phenomenally with the RTX 3080 when paired with a Ryzen processor.

It can even handle a flagship tier processor such as the 5950X. Something most don’t expect from a cheap m ATX motherboard.

In terms of connectivity, you get a good selection of USB ports, along with Gen 2 and Type-C ports. You even get a clear CMOS button.

The memory support is on par with more expensive offerings, as this can support RAM speeds of up to 4400MHz.

All in all, the overall value here is very hard to ignore. While it lacks WI-Fi, Bluetooth, and and 2 SATA ports being disabled when the secondary M.2 slot is occupied, this motherboard is a great option for the price.

We highly recommend it if you are on a budget.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 8/10
• Aesthetics: 8/10
• Connectivity: 8.5/10
• Value for money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8.25/10

5. ASUS Prime B660-Plus – Best Motherboard for 12th Gen i5

Memory Support: 128GB DDR4 @ 4800MHz | Chipset: Intel B660 | Form Factor: ATX | Voltage Regulator: 8 Phases | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: No | Network: Intel Gigabit Ethernet LAN 2.5

The LGA1700 platform represents the latest and greatest chipsets from Intel to date. However, that does not mean you need to spend a ridiculous amount of money to enjoy the new platform.

If you want to buy a decent 12th Gen motherboard on a budget, then the Prime B660 Plus is by far your best bet.

It brings everything that is great about the 12th gen platform at a lower price. It’s the best motherboard for i5 processors within the 12th gen lineup.

In terms of design, this motherboard looks quite basic. ASUS has changed up the design a bit from previous Prime motherboards, and this one goes for a more simple look.

While the design is not going to blow anyone away, it gets the job done well.

The PCB is mostly black, but it has a lot of stenciling which interferes with what could have been a stealthy industrial design.

As for the heatsinks, both the power delivery and chipset heatsink use a silver finish to add some flair to appearance. This finish can be seen on the M.2 heatsink as well.

Speaking of which, this B660 motherboard has three M.2 slots, all of which can use PCIe Gen 4. It’s great to see a feature like this on an entry-level motherboard.

Of course, this depends on what generation of PCIe your graphics card runs at. Still, it’s not bad to see a feature like this on an entry-level motherboard.

Keep in mind that this B660 motherboard does not feature support for DDR5, as will be the case for the majority of B660 motherboards.

DDR5 support is reserved for the Z690 platform, and it would not make sense to buy a RAM kit that’s twice as expensive as the motherboard.

As for the connectivity, you get a good selection of USB ports, with both USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Type-C making an experience.

You also get 2.5 GbE LAN, Intel gigabit ethernet port, but no Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You also get a good number of fan headers.

While the board itself lacks any RGB lighting, you can still control the lighting of your other components through ASUS Armory Crate. Components with RGB can be synced via Aura Sync.

All in all, this is a decent motherboard for the price. Performance is quite acceptable as well. While overclockers and hardware enthusiasts might want to look elsewhere, the average gamer will learn to appreciate this motherboard.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 8/10
• Aesthetics: 8/10
• Connectivity: 8.5/10
• Value for money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8.25/10

6. ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming – Best ITX Motherboard for RTX 3080

Memory Support: 64GB DDR4 @ 4400MHz | Chipset: AMD X570 | Form Factor: Mini-ITX | Voltage Regulator: 8+2 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Intel GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth

As we’re nearing the last entry on this list, it is time to mix things up a bit.

X570 is a great platform for the RTX 3080, especially with Zen 3 processors. You don’t have to restrict yourself with just the usual ATX options either, as a premium ITX motherboard built will work great.

While ITX motherboards are usually known to be quite restrictive, that’s not the case here. ASUS has made something truly special with the ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming.

For several years now, ASUS has consistently proven to be the best manufacturer when it comes to ITX motherboards or the best mini-ITX motherboard. Other brands are yet to catch up, and the Strix X570-I is miles ahead of the competition.

ITX motherboards can sometimes end up looking a bit basic, due to size constraints. However, that’s not the case with this gaming motherboard.

This ITX board lives up to the Strix name with the design. It even looks better than some ATX options.

The iconic Strix design language makes a fitting return here. The ever-sleek all-black design is present, shared by both the exterior, heatsinks, and PCB. All of this provides this ITX board with a stylish and subtle look.

A good number of RGB zones and edge-lit lighting help the overall design a lot. This gives it a unique look rarely seen on many ITX boards. You also get eight SATA ports, which is another major win for this form factor.

For some people, two M.2 slots sound a bit limiting, however, the configuration is excellent for this form factor. The omission of hardware buttons is a bit disappointing, as they come in quite handy when building an ITX machine.

Furthermore, you get access to high-performance networking, the phenomenal SupremeFX audio codec, and a robust VRM design. The 8+2 stages are more than enough even for flagship processors such as the 5950X.

Considering all of that, this is by far the best ITX motherboard for RTX 3080. A high-end ITX board like this one does cost quite a lot, but a lot of builders will put up with that for the design and performance.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 8/10
• Connectivity: 8/10
• Value for money: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

7. ASROCK Z590M PRO4 – Cheap Micro-ATX Motherboard for RTX 3080

Memory Support: 64GB DDR4 @ 4800MHz | Chipset: Intel Z490 | Form Factor: mATX | Voltage Regulator: 10+2 Phases | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA | RGB: Yes | Network: Intel GbE LAN

Last, but not least, we have one of the cheaper choices for the best motherboards for RTX 3080. There might be a few options out there that are even cheaper, but we don’t recommend them for Z590.

If you want to have a decent experience, with a bit of overclocking support, then the Z490M Pro 4 might be the best choice for you on a budget.

Before we start, keep in mind that the Pro 4 is a micro-ATX motherboard. Some people tend to have a problem with that form factor because of the limitations. Fortunately, the Pro 4 has a lot of functionality.

Some might say that the design is a bit basic. While that may be true, it serves its purpose well for the price. The black and white PCB pairs decently with the mostly white aluminum heatsinks.

These can be found on the M.2 slots, VRM, and chipset heatsink. The chipset heatsink even features RGB, which is good for a budget motherboard.

In terms of connectivity, you have a good amount of ports for storage, USB devices, expansion cards, and more.

The memory overclocking is surprisingly good as well. This board can support RAM with speeds of up to 4800MHz, much higher than the basic chipsets out there. Keep in mind though, this one does lack wireless connectivity.

Sure, this motherboard is not going to be preferred by enthusiasts or even reviewers. Bland design, Lack of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB -C ports in a high-end chipset can be troublesome for some people.

However, if you are looking to get your foot in the door and just get to gaming, then this is a good motherboard for a dirt-cheap price.

RATING:

• VRM Design: 7/10
• Aesthetics: 7/10
• Connectivity: 8/10
• Value for money: 8.5/10
• Overall Rating: 7.6/10

Best Motherboard for RTX 3080 Buyer’s Guide

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Overclocking With Gaming Motherboards

While overclocking is not something everyone will do, it’s important to touch on with this kind of high-end hardware. Overclocking is basically pushing the CPU past its stock speeds.

This means that you are going higher than the factory core clocks and attaining higher frequencies. Usually, this means that you are also drawing more power. The same idea applies to RAM overclocking.

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Keep in mind that not every motherboard and processor will support overclocking. So if you’re buying an unlocked processor, then you’ll need a motherboard that fully supports overclocking to take advantage of it.

VRM configuration matters a lot here. VRMs supply clean and stable power to the CPU so it performs as intended.

A VRM design may have access to various numbers of power stages, depending on the board. The quality of the VRMs matters as much as the number of phases.

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Network Options and Connectivity

Both of these are things that the average audience cares quite a bit about. A certain motherboard will have all the components, while others feature faster or newer generations of the same ports.

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Important ports include USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB Type-C, Thunderbolt, Video output ports, Ethernet gigabyte LAN port, SATA ports, and more. Headers such as those for RGB, fan headers, and USB headers matter a lot as well.

Your smart fan needs to have an active fan cooling system so your motherboard stays cool! You want to make sure you have enough headers/ports for all your devices.

The number of DIMM slots is also important for the compatibility of RAM. Furthermore, pay close attention to the number of PCIe (Peripheral component interconnect express) and M.2 slots as well.

A lot of motherboards come with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as well. If you don’t need either, you can save some money by buying one without Wi-Fi.

RAM & Storage Options

A lot of gamers are using their PCs for more than simply playing games. In that case, you will likely need more storage than you think. So, you want to make sure you have access to enough SATA and M.2 ports. Not to mention leave room for SATA storage upgrades if needed.

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In terms of speed, SATA III is limited to 6Gbps, while PCIe 3.0 storage is more than twice as fast. Depending on the generation of the motherboard and processor, you may also have access to the newer PCIe Gen 4 lanes, which provides faster speeds.

Now, let’s talk about RAM modules briefly. Many processors benefit from faster memory, especially recent additions such as Ryzen 5 and Intel’s 10th gen, and later intel processors.

3000MHz – 3600MHz speed seems to be the sweet spot. You can look for four RAM slots, or less RAM slots, depending on your needs.

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Some of the best motherboards will be able to go beyond that as well thanks to memory overclocking. As for capacity, most modern motherboards support 64 or 128 gigs RAM modules. If you want to improve your drive performance, then look for storage supports RAID configuration.

FAQs

What is the Best CPU to Pair with the RTX 3080?

The best CPUs to pair with an RTX 3080 are 12900K, 5950X, and even the 12600K. A high-end CPU with high core counts and a decent boost clock is what you want to pair with the RTX 3080. Upcoming AMD Ryzen CPUs, or an affordable processor like the Ryzen 5 5600x will be fine asa well.

Is B450 Good For RTX 3080?

B450 motherboards are great for the RTX 3080. While you don’t have any support for PCIe Gen 4, the RTX 3080 performs just the same with PCIe 3.0.

Does 10700K Bottleneck RTX 3080?

Intel’s i7-10700K does not bottleneck Nvidia’s RTX 3080 whatsoever. The 10700K is a great processor with 8 cores and a boost clock of 5.10GHz. Even 1080p gaming at extremely high frame rates will be fine for gaming performance.