Pairing the right motherboard with your Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 is crucial for unleashing its full potential, whether you’re gaming or tackling demanding productivity tasks. In this guide, we delve into the top motherboards that strike the perfect balance between cost, performance, and features.

You’ll discover options that cater to both budget-conscious and performance-hungry users, all compatible with the RTX 3060. From robust power delivery systems to versatile connectivity options, each board is scrutinized to help you make an informed decision.

We’re breaking down the technical jargon, focusing on what really matters – stability, durability, and future-proofing your investment.

We will start first with the top 3 AMD motherboards and then the top 3 intel motherboards.

So, let’s dive in and explore these top picks, ensuring your next build is a seamless and powerful experience.

Why Should You Trust Us?

At BestMotherboardZone.com, we understand the importance of reliable and insightful guidance when it comes to building your PC. That’s where our expert, Talha Zuberi, comes in.

With over a decade of hands-on experience in PC building and a deep understanding of the tech industry, Talha isn’t just another writer – he’s a seasoned software engineer and a passionate PC enthusiast.

His journey, which started back in 2009, has been filled with assembling high-performance custom PCs, not just for himself, but for a wide array of clients and friends.

This breadth of experience ensures that his recommendations are based on real-world testing and a thorough understanding of each component’s capabilities, especially motherboards.

How We Choose the Best Motherboards to Pair with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060

The GeForce RTX 3060 is Nvidia’s previous generation budget GPU. It offers very good 1080p gaming performance even in 2023 and thanks to the 12 GB VRAM, it is a popular video and photo editing GPU.

I wanted to choose some of the best motherboards to pair with the RTX 3060 at different budgets.

I used these factors when choosing the best motherboards for this GPU:

1. Price Segment and Value: The cost of the graphics card is the most important factor in choosing the best motherboard to pair from both Intel and AMD. This is quite subjective but still an effective method to make a smart choice.
   
   It’s important to be very smart when looking for a budget board. Instead of trying to save as much money as possible, it is important to make the smartest choice. I recommend motherboards at or around $100 as they would offer more features and higher quality than a $70 board.
   
   For premium motherboards, I recommend spending at least $200 but nothing more than $280. The best overall motherboard for the RTX 3060 should be around $180 or under.
   
2. CPU choices: Based on the performance of the RTX 3060, almost all modern CPUs would allow it to perform at its maximum potential. This gave me a good idea of choosing the best motherboards that would provide a family of CPUs from AMD and Intel to go with the motherboard.
   
   I recommend at least pairing the RTX 3060 with a Ryzen 5 5500 or Intel Core i3 12100F at the low end. The best CPUs to pair with the RTX 3060 purely for gaming are the Ryzen 5 5700X and the Core i5 12400F. For the premium section, I recommend at least a Ryzen 5 7600 or Core i5 14600K.
   
   All of these are fantastic CPUs in their respective price brackets.
   
3. Power delivery and Overclocking Capabilities: A good board lets any CPU run at the best possible performance. The higher the clocks we want to push, the higher the power requirements. This is not a necessity, but a good indicator of the board’s quality.
   
   For a decent motherboard, you need to have a bare minimum of 4 phases on the VRM. Based on the price points chosen, I recommend that the budget board should have at least 4 phases. For the premium boards, I recommend at least 12 phases, but these days it’s easy to get even 16 phases. For the best overall boards, I recommend at least 8 phases.
   
4. RAM Support: Intel’s 12th, 13th, and 14th-gen CPUs support both DDR4 and DDR5. AMD’s AM4 CPUs only support DDR4 and AM5 CPUs only support DDR5. For the Intel-based motherboard, it came down to budget. I opted for DDR5 as much as possible, but DDR4 is still a great option for those on a tight budget.
   
5. Storage and I/O Features: It is important that each motherboard offers a good set of I/O and built-in features that will ensure future compatibility. For example, even though the market for PCIe 5.0 SSDs hasn’t matured yet, having a PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot on your motherboard means that you can easily upgrade to one when PCIe 5.0 SSDs become widely available. I chose the best motherboard based on how well its I/O and storage options are.
   
6. User Feedback and Brand Reputation: When we pick our motherboards, we consider real-world user experiences and manufacturers’ reputations. If the reviews are glowing and the after-sale support is top-notch, you can bet the product quality is on point and customers are happy.

3 Best AMD Motherboards to pair with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Reviews

Comparison Table

Motherboard	MSI PRO B550M-VC WIFI	ASRock X670E Steel Legend	MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI
Award	Best Budget AMD Motherboard	Best Premium AMD Motherboard	Our Top Choice
Form Factor	Micro ATX	ATX	ATX
Chipset	B550	X670E	AMD B550
VRM	4+3 Phase	16+2+1 Phase	10+2+1 Phase
Memory	4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4400	4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6600+	4 x DDR4 memory slots, 128GB
Video Outputs	1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 1x VGA	1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort	1x HDMI™ 2.1 port, 1x DisplayPort
USB Ports	6x rear IO, 7x internal	12x rear IO, 5x internal	3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps ports, 6x USB 2.0 ports
Network	1x 1GbE LAN	1x 2.5 GbE LAN, 1x 1GbE LAN, 1x WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2	1x Realtek® RTL8125B 2.5Gbps LAN, AMD Wi-Fi 6E
Storage	1x M.2, 8x SATA	4x M.2, 4x SATA	6x SATA 6Gb/s ports, 2x M.2 slots
Pros	Full-sized PCIe slots, Excellent I/O and storage connectivity, WiFi and Bluetooth support out-of-the-box	Top-of-the-line VRM power delivery, Dual Ethernet ports, Included GPU holder, Abundant USB ports	Budget-Friendly Price, Top-notch VRM Design, Substantial VRM Heatsinks, Understated Aesthetics, Includes Wifi and Bluetooth
Cons	VRM configuration is rather weak	The design is not very attractive, Odd PCIe layout choice	Limited Rear USB Ports, Minimalistic RGB Lighting
VRM Design Rating	5/10	8.5/10	9/10
Features Rating	9.5/10	9/10	8.5/10
Aesthetics Rating	7/10	8/10	8/10
Value for Money Rating	9.5/10	9.5/10	9/10
Overall Rating	8/10	9/10	9/10

3. MSI PRO B550M-VC WIFI – Best Budget AMD Motherboard to pair with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060

Form Factor: Micro ATX | Chipset: B550 | VRM: 4+3 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-4400 | Video Outputs: 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 1x VGA | USB Ports: 6x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 1GbE LAN | Storage: 1x M.2, 8x SATA

PROS

• Full-sized PCIe slots
• Excellent I/O and storage connectivity
• WiFi and Bluetooth support out-of-the-box

CONS

• VRM configuration is rather weak

For a budget pc build with the Nvidia Geforce RTX 3060 I would recommend to pair it with the Ryzen 5 5500 or 5600 cpu that punch a lot above their weight and are excellent for gaming and productivity for those who don’t have a lot of cash to spare.

The MSI PRO B550M-VC WIFI is a powerhouse of a motherboard that is perfect for any low-cost AM4 setup and that’s why I recommend it on many videos recently. This motherboard will surprise you the more you look at its features because its unassuming design makes it seem like a bottom-of-the-barrel choice for penny pinchers.

The only thing that could potentially hold this motherboard back is its extremely modest VRM configuration which is just a 4+2-phase setup. Even then, I wouldn’t worry about it since it can easily handle even the Ryzen 5 5800X3D which is the best gaming CPU on the AM4 socket. I just wouldn’t put anything more demanding, like the 12-core Ryzen 9 5900X. Beyond that, it has a decent heatsink that ensures that the CPU never throttles because the VRMs are always under 70 degrees Celcius.

The reason why MSI configured the PRO B550M-VC WIFI like that is because it is actually a business-grade motherboard! Thanks to being a business-grade motherboard the focus is solely on having as many features as possible while toning down the VRM setup because no one expects to overclock on a standard office motherboard.

That also explains the muted black aesthetics of the motherboard that help it blend in any PC.

It has 4 DDR4 RAM slots instead of the usual 2 slots on other budget boards and it can handle a total of 128 GB RAM with MSI claiming that the PRO B550M-VC WIFI can overclock the RAM to 4400 MHz.

On top of that, there is 1 M.2 slot for a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD and for more storage, there are 8 SATA III ports!

The I/O is excellent considering the price of this board. It features 6 USB type-A ports (2 USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1, and 2 USB 2.0 for peripherals), gigabit ethernet, basic 3 audio jacks, HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort 1.4.

I like this trend with budget boards that offer ports for much older devices.

The board also offers a VGA and a PS/2 port, yet at the same time, it is one of the most affordable motherboards to offer WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 support out-of-the-box. It even has a BIOS flashback button which makes life so much easier when updating the BIOS without having to plug everything including a known compatible CPU.

The I/O alone makes it incredibly versatile, but the real versatility of this board is thanks to having 4 full-sized PCIe connectors. This means that after the GPU like the RTX 3060 takes the top PCIe 4.0 slot, the rest of the PCIe 3.0 x16 slots can be used for other high-speed devices. This is strange to me as most manufacturers usually only include a couple of full-sized PCIe slots, while the rest are x1 or x4 slots, yet, here we see MSI letting all the PCIe slots be full-sized x16 slots.

When it comes to the competition, one of the few booards that comes close to offering the same level of features as the MSI PRO B550M-VC WIFI is the GIGABYTE B550 UD AC. This is an excellent alternative for those looking for an ATX board with similar features as the MSI PRO B550M-VC WIFI. But it costs significantly more and being larger means that it is not versatile enough to be used in smaller Micro ATX cases.

In conclusion, the MSI PRO B550M-VC WIFI is a professional-grade motherboard that delivers versatility without compromise, making it an optimal choice for budget-conscious enthusiasts and business users alike. Despite a basic VRM setup, it does not lack anything else and can rival boards twice its price in terms of features and that’s makes it an ideal budget board for the RTX 3060.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 5/10
• Features: 9.5/10
• Aesthetics: 7/10
• Value for Money: 9.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

2. ASRock X670E Steel Legend – Best Premium AMD Motherboard to pair with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060

Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: X670E | VRM: 16+2+1 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6600+ | Video Outputs: 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort | USB Ports: 12x rear IO, 5x internal | Network: 1x 2.5 GbE LAN, 1x 1GbE LAN, 1x WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 | Storage: 4x M.2, 4x SATA

Pros:

• Top-of-the-line VRM power delivery
• Dual Ethernet ports
• Included GPU holder
• Abundant USB ports

Cons:

• The design is not very attractive
• Odd PCIe layout choice

Having a budget GPU like the RTX 3060 means that you probably don’t want to overspend on a motherboard and that’s why I picked the ASRock X670E Steel Legend which eventhough it offers premium features is still an affordable board compared to other x670e motherboards.

What makes this one of the best affordable motherboards available in the market is that this board is complete with all the necessities and it has an excellent VRM design (16+2+1 Phase at 60A) so running even the 7950X at high clocks won’t be an issue.

A rather rare feature of the Steel Legend is its 2 ethernet ports, one being 1Gb and the other 2Gb. This board also comes with an insane number of USB ports – I counted a total of 12 in the back with support for 5 more in the front. Perhaps my favorite feature of this motherboard is the inclusion of a graphics card holder. This included holder is perfect even for giant GPUs like the RX 7900 XTX or the RTX 4090 so that they don’t sag. I wish more vendors included this nowadays.

For around the price of the ASRock X670E Steel Legend, the other boards I considered that offer a similar experience are the Gigabyte X670 Gaming X AX and the MSI Pro X670-P WiFi. I also saw a handful of boards from Asus and ASRock themselves.

In the end, I went with the ASRock X670E Steel Legend over the other affordable X670 boards. All of these boards can comfortably supply power even to the most demanding Ryzen processor and the RTX 3060, but it came down to features. Unlike the Steel Legend, most boards in this price range don’t offer Gen 5 support on the x16 slot. All in all, this is a premium motherboard that yields the most value pairing it with the Geforce RTX 3060.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 8.5/10
• Features: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 8/10
• Value for Money: 9.5/10
• Overall Rating: 9/10

1. MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI – Our Top Choice

Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: AMD B550 | Memory: 4 x DDR4 memory slots, 128GB  | Video Outputs: 1x HDMI™ 2.1 port, 1x DisplayPort | USB Ports: 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps ports, 6x USB 2.0 ports | Network: 1x Realtek^® RTL8125B 2.5Gbps LAN, AMD Wi-Fi 6E | Storage: 6x SATA 6Gb/s ports, 2x M.2 slots

PROS

• Budget-Friendly Price
• Top-notch VRM Design
• Substantial VRM Heatsinks
• Understated Aesthetics
• Includes Wifi and Bluetooth

CONS

• Limited Rear USB Ports
• Minimalistic RGB Lighting

The MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk Max Wifi is another board I recommend frequently lately. It’s an affordable motherboard that delivers outstanding value at its price point. With a solid feature set and robust build quality, it’s an ideal pick for those looking to put together a budget friendly gaming rig with the Nvidia Geforce RTX 3060 and mid-range Ryzen 5000 processors.

The board features an impressive 10+2+1 phase VRM, perfect for enthusiasts looking to push their CPU to the limits. Thanks to MSI’s use of premium-grade chokes and capacitors, this board boasts strong power delivery and exceptional overclocking potential.

To ensure temperature control, MSI has equipped the board with substantial VRM heatsinks, featuring adequate finning. Despite its budget-friendly nature, the B550 Tomahawk Max can unleash your CPU’s true power through its VRM.

As for the features, this board sits comfortably within the average motherboard category. It offers 2.5 GbE LAN, WiFi, bluetooth and provides two M.2 slots for lightning-fast storage. Additionally, it includes a reasonable number of USB ports, covering both USB 3.0 and 2.0 standards.

While the feature set is suitable for its price, it does miss out on some advanced features found in higher-end motherboards but when you build a PC with a GPU like the RTX 3060 you don’t need over the top features.

Visually, the MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk adopts a subdued gray color scheme, creating a minimalist yet effective aesthetic. A touch of RGB lighting, customizable to any desired color, adds a subtle accent to the design. However, the lighting is somewhat limited and positioned in less conspicuous areas.

With its clean and uncluttered design, the B550 Tomahawk is an excellent choice for those seeking a straightforward, efficient, and affordable motherboard.

MSI also offers the B550 Gaming Pro Carbon at a similar price point, but I give the edge to the B550 Tomahawk due to its superior price-to-performance ratio and more effective VRM heatsinks. The Tomahawk’s thermal management stands out within its class.

In conclusion, the MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk’s primary appeal lies in its remarkable price-to-performance ratio and top-tier VRM design. This board delivers excellent performance at an attractive price, making it an ideal choice for gamers and regular users seeking to pair it with the Geforce RTX 3060.

3 Best Intel Motherboards to pair with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Reviews

Comparison Table

Motherboard	Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX (DDR4)	ASRock Z790 Lightning WiFi	MSI B760 Gaming Plus Wifi
Award	Best Budget INTEL Motherboard	Best Premium INTEL Motherboard	Our Top Choice
Form Factor	Micro ATX	ATX	ATX
Chipset	B760	B760	B760
VRM	6+2+1 Phase	16+1+1 Phase	12+2+1 Phase
Memory	4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5333+	4x DIMM, 192GB, DDR5-7600	4x DIMM, 192GB, DDR5-6800
Video Outputs	1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort	1x HDMI	1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort
USB Ports	6x rear IO, 7x internal	8x rear IO, 7x internal	7x rear IO, 7x internal
Network	1x 2.5 GbE LAN	1x 2.5 GbE LAN	1x 2.5 GbE LAN, WiFi
Storage	2x M.2, 4x SATA	3x M.2, 6x SATA	2x M.2, 4x SATA
Pros	Cheap, Essential features	Great VRM design, Excellent I/O and storage connectivity	Powerful VRMs, Excellent I/O, WiFi and Bluetooth support out-of-the-box
Cons	VRM heatsink could be bigger	No CMOS Clear or BIOS Flash button	Only 2 M.2 slots, BIOS Flash and CMOS clear buttons are missing
VRM Design Rating	7.5/10	8.5/10	8.5/10
Features Rating	9/10	7/10	7.5/10
Aesthetics Rating	8/10	7.5/10	7/10
Value for Money Rating	9.5/10	8/10	9/10
Overall Rating	8.5/10	8/10	8.5/10

3. Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX (DDR4) – Best Budget INTEL Motherboard to pair with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060

Form Factor: Micro ATX | Chipset: B760 | VRM: 6+2+1 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 128GB, DDR4-5333+ | Video Outputs: 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort | USB Ports: 6x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 2.5 GbE LAN | Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA

PROS

• It’s cheap
• It has all the essential features

CONS

• VRM heatsink could be bigger

When building a PC on a tight budget, picking the right motherboard can be tough. You are most likely trying your best to save up as much as possible and start scraping the bottom of the barrel to just get your PC up and running.

For this reason, most people choose H610 motherboards for a budget intel pc build. However, in my experience building Intel-based PCs, I have noticed that H610 motherboards are a complete waste of money.

They are extremely starved of features just to cut the costs down. And even then, they are asking a lot more than what they are worth.

Almost every H610 motherboard is available between $80 and $100 and that to me is the equivalent of burning your money because you can spend a little more than that and get an excellent B660 or B760 motherboard.

There are several note-worthy B-series motherboards but to me, the Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX DDR4 stood out above the rest and is my favorite pairing for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 if are on a budget.

Let’s first take a look at what Gigabyte has to offer and then move to the alternatives to see what makes this motherboard so special.

Starting off with the rear I/O, Gigabyte did an outstanding job considering the low price. It comes with 5 USB type-A ports (2 USB 2.0 and 3 USB 3.2 gen 1), 1 USB 3.2 gen 2 type-C port, a PS/2 port, 1 HDMI 2.0 port, 2 DisplayPort 1.2 ports, WiFi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. The board features the three standard audio jacks that come with every other board, but it does support 7.1 surround sound.

The B760M DS3H AX DDR4 comes with a 2.5 Gb ethernet port which is rare since budget boards usually never come with more than a 1Gb port. Another feature on this board that almost every other manufacturer skips on their budget boards is that both of its M.2 slots are PCIe 4.0

A delightful surprise is the inclusion of Q-Flash and CMOS clear buttons on the motherboard. I would’ve liked these to be included with the rear I/O instead of the bottom of the board itself however.

Moving to the VRM, we have a 6+2+1 phase design. This certainly is not impressive but anything from a Core i7 13700 and under will have no issues running at its maximum potential if you choose to upgrade the CPU later.

The situation around the $100 to $150 is rather weird because there are a lot of motherboards to choose from. For only around $110, the Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX DDR4 offers everything that a decently priced motherboard should provide.

For around $100, you could also go with the MSI PRO B760M-P DDR4 which is the cheapest option available that has a high-quality PCB. But compared to the Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX DDR4, it is a barren. The rear I/O on this board is poor, it does not offer WiFi and Bluetooth, and the VRMs do not come with any shielding.

For a bit more at around $130, ASRock B760M Pro RS stands out as a solid option, but it is a DDR5 motherboard which will bring the cost up overall compared to the Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX DDR4.

The ASRock B760M Pro RS/D4 supports DDR4 memory but costs around $150 making it more expensive than its DDR5 counterpart so when it comes to value for money the B760M DS3H AX DDR4 is still a winner.

At the end of the day, the Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX DDR4 taunts its competition and manages to strike a perfect balance by giving us everything that we need for a bargain price.

The back of the board is a connectivity party with plenty of USB ports (even a speedy USB-C), HDMI, DisplayPort, WiFi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. It even breaks the norm with a speedy 2.5 Gb Ethernet port, both M.2 slots being PCIe 4.0, CMOS clear and Q-Flash buttons.

The board’s power delivery system is beefed up for the price, meaning smooth sailing for most CPUs, making the B760M DS3H AX DDR4 an obvious wallet-friendly winner for budget PC builders looking for the perfect budget motherboard to pair their RTX 3060 with.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 7.5/10
• Features: 9/10
• Aesthetics: 8/10
• Value for Money: 9.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

2. ASRock Z790 Lightning WiFi – Best Premium INTEL Motherboard

Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: B760 | VRM: 16+1+1 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 192GB, DDR5-7600 | Video Outputs: 1x HDMI | USB Ports: 8x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 2.5 GbE LAN | Storage: 3x M.2, 6x SATA

Pros:

• Great VRM design
• Excellent I/O and storage connectivity

Cons:

• No CMOS Clear or BIOS Flash button

The ASRock Z790 Lightning WiFi is a simple board that ticks almost every box. It’s a no-frills motherboard focused purely on stability and performance without breaking the bank.

This motherboard is a proper upgrade over the ASRock Phantom Gaming Z790 Lightning. The newer Z790 Lightning WiFi has a 16-phase VRM design instead of 14 phases on the older version. Also it has built-in WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support which the name obviously implies.

With a 16-phase VRM, even under a full-load all-core stress test at 5.5 GHz with a Core i9 14900K, the VRMs barely even hit 60 degrees Celcius.

For the I/O, there is a USB 3.2 gen2x2 type-C port, 2 3.2 gen2 type-A ports, 4 USB 3.2 gen1 type-A, and one USB 2.0 type-A port. There are 3 audio jacks with 7.1 surround sound. We also have a 2.5 gigabit ethernet port, WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support, and an HDMI 2.1 port. Sadly, there is no CMOS clear button or BIOS flash button which is a shame as this board’s I/O is otherwise excellent.

The best way to describe the design is that it’s neat and tidy. ASRock has done a great job at laying out the board nicely with ample room between PCIe slots. On the top, there is a single PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot, and right underneath it is a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for the graphics card. The rest of the PCIe slots are perfectly spaced apart from one another.

When it comes to the competition, the slightly older ASUS TUF Z790 Gaming Plus and the MSI Z790 Gaming Pro WiFi are neck-and-neck with the ASRock Z790 Lightning WiFi. However the VRM heatsinks of the ASRock Z790 Lightning WiFi are some of the best I have ever seen on any motherboard.

The ASUS TUF is still an excellent board with its 16-phase VRM, but it is getting more expensive day by day over both the MSI and ASRock. Meanwhile, the MSI Z790 Pro Gaming WiFi is a stellar alternative, but with a 14-phase VRM configuration.

To summarize everything, if you need an intel motherboard that fits the criteria for offering the most stability and features to pair with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, then the ASRock Z790 Lightning WiFi covers a lot of grounds and on top of that its strong 16-phase VRM lets it handle any CPU even if it’s overclocked to the absolute limit without breaking a sweat.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 8.5/10
• Features: 7/10
• Aesthetics: 7.5/10
• Value for Money: 8/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

1. MSI B760 Gaming Plus Wifi – Our Top Choice

Form Factor: ATX | Chipset: B760 | VRM: 12+2+1 Phase | Memory: 4x DIMM, 192GB, DDR5-6800 | Video Outputs: 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort | USB Ports: 7x rear IO, 7x internal | Network: 1x 2.5 GbE LAN, WiFi | Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA

Pros:

• Powerful VRMs
• Excellent I/O
• WiFi and Bluetooth support out-of-the-box

Cons:

• Only 2 M.2 slots
• BIOS Flash and CMOS clear buttons are missing

MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi is something like a Swiss army knife in the world of motherboards since while MSI targets this board towards gamers, its nature is more like a budget workstation motherboard.

Starting with the VRMs, MSI has done an excellent job. The motherboard has strong VRMs capable of powering Intel 12th to 14th-gen CPUs effortlessly. With a 12-phase setup at 60 A, it can handle even an intel Core i9 14900K at stock settings. If it weren’t a B760 motherboard, I would’ve comfortably overclocked an i5 14600K beyond 5.3 GHz thanks to the beefy VRM.

The strong VRM is coupled with an excellent heatsink that keeps temperatures below 70 degrees Celsius even under heavy all-core loads.

The rear I/O is excellent but I feel there could be some improvements.
There are a total of 7 USB ports at the back with 4 of them being USB 2.0 type-A ports which means you won’t have to sacrifice faster ports to run peripherals, but then there are just 3 USB 3.2 gen2 ports of which 2 are type-A and one is a type-C port.

MSI should’ve added more USB 3.2 ports, but even with that out of the way, the rest of the I/O is near-perfect; you get HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 2.5 GbE LAN, and even a PS/2 port for legacy devices.

The rear I/O also has a full set of 5 audio jacks with an optical S/PDIF connected to a mid-ranged Realtek ALC897 codec for good sound quality.

When it comes to the design the board has a premium look and feel but the design itself is quite simple. Personally, I like the design because the simple look helps the motherboard fit in any PC without bringing any attention to itself. If you are a fan of RGB, you can always use the RGB headers to connect to as many lights as you’d like.

When it comes to the competition, there are plenty of great options to choose from when looking for an affordable Motherboard to pair with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060. The best alternative is probably the GIGABYTE B760 Aorus Elite AX as it offers very similar features to the MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi.

The Aorus Elite AX also has a 12-phase VRM and a couple more USB 3 type-A ports, but the B760 Gaming Plus WiFi has 5 audio jacks with S/PDIF instead of the Aorus Elite that has 2 jacks with S/PDIF. Except of that while the Aorus Elite has 2 more M.2 slots, it costs much more than the MSI Gaming Plus WiFi. At that point, it makes more sense to invest in a budget Z790 board instead of a “high-end” B760 board.

In conclusion, the MSI B760 Gaming Plus WiFi wins over all B760 boards in terms of value. You get a powerful VRM, plenty of PCIe expansion, and a great I/O to cover all your needs. It is reliable and a very easy motherboard to recommend to anyone who wants to build a powerful Intel Alder Lake or Raptor Lake PC with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 on a budget.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 8.5/10
• Features: 7.5/10
• Aesthetics: 7/10
• Value for Money: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What makes a motherboard compatible with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060? Compatibility largely depends on a PCIe x16 slot, which is standard on most motherboards. However, compatibility also involves ensuring the motherboard’s BIOS supports the latest GPUs, which is particularly important for older models.
2. Do I need a motherboard with PCIe 4.0 for the RTX 3060? While PCIe 4.0 offers faster data transfer rates, the RTX 3060 will work fine on PCIe 3.0 with minimal performance impact. If you’re planning for future upgrades or want to maximize potential, PCIe 4.0 is a good choice.
3. How important is the form factor of the motherboard for the RTX 3060? Form factor determines the size and layout of the motherboard. Ensure it fits your case and has enough space and airflow to accommodate the RTX 3060, which can be large.
4. Can I use an Intel motherboard with the RTX 3060? Yes, the RTX 3060 is compatible with both AMD and Intel motherboards. The key is to ensure the motherboard has the necessary PCIe x16 slot and sufficient power delivery.
5. Is it necessary to update the BIOS for the RTX 3060? For optimal compatibility, especially with older motherboards, a BIOS update might be necessary. It’s a simple process that ensures the motherboard fully recognizes and supports the GPU.
6. What should I look for in terms of power delivery in a motherboard for the RTX 3060? Look for a motherboard with a solid VRM design, which ensures stable and efficient power delivery to the GPU and CPU. This is particularly important for overclocking and high-performance tasks.
7. Are there specific brands of motherboards that work best with the RTX 3060? While no brand is exclusively best for the RTX 3060, brands like ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, and ASRock are reputable and offer a range of options with varying features to suit different needs and budgets.
8. Do I need additional cooling solutions for a motherboard with an RTX 3060? Good case airflow is generally sufficient. However, if you’re overclocking or have multiple high-performance components, additional cooling solutions like better case fans or a dedicated VRM cooler can be beneficial.
9. How future-proof are motherboards for the RTX 3060? Choosing a motherboard with features like PCIe 4.0, high-speed USB ports, and M.2 NVMe support can offer a degree of future-proofing. However, technology evolves, so consider your immediate needs and potential upgrades in the next few years.