Are you building a small form factor gaming PC? You will need the best mini ITX motherboard to go with it!

Compact gaming PCs have absolutely blown up as a trend in the past few years. More and more gamers, creators, and even professionals are shifting to small form factor PCs that don’t take up a lot of space.

The components in our PCs have gotten quite a lot more efficient, therefore it is possible to build a powerful PC in a small chassis. This is where mini-ITX motherboards come in.

Modern mini-ITX motherboards have a lot of high-end features such as robust VRM design, excellent connectivity, multiple M.2 storage drives, etc.

However, they require a lot of research and development, and their tooling cost is pretty high. Therefore, these are often expensive products.

We have curated the best mini-ITX motherboards for different popular Intel and AMD platforms. Let’s get started.

Top 3 Best Mini ITX Motherboards – Compared

How We Choose the Best Mini-ITX Motherboards

Mini-ITX motherboards are a niche product so one has to consider certain factors before buying a board of this form factor. Similarly, we made sure we selected motherboards that fulfilled certain criteria.

Firstly, we only selected motherboards that used relatively modern Intel and AMD chipsets. The oldest chipset we selected was the Z390 Intel chipset, due to the popularity of the Core i9 9900K.

The power delivery setup of the motherboard was our priority, especially in flagship chipsets such as X570 and Z690. Even mini-ITX motherboards should be able to overclock the high-end CPUs that they support.

We also laid focus on the feature-set of the particular motherboards relative to their chipsets. Connectivity and storage were the primary things we looked at, with additional features such as high-speed USB, Thunderbolt, additional PCBs, etc. being counted as bonuses.

The number of M.2 slots and expansion slots was given priority since that is the main area of concern with mini-ITX boards.

Things like Radeon Vega Graphics Processors, extra fan headers, AURA sync RGB lighting, and extra inclusions like Sonic Studio III options are also considered in the list.

Finally, the price point and value proposition of the board were also taken into question. Higher value products were given priority over premium products with low bang-for-the-buck value.

Keeping these factors in mind, the following motherboards were selected as the best mini-ITX motherboards out there. Let’s dive in.

5 Best Mini-ITX Motherboards

1. ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I – Editor’s Choice (Intel)

Form Factor: Mini-ITX | Chipset: Z690 | Memory: 2x DIMM, 128GB, DDR5-6400 | Video Outputs: HDMI | USB Ports: 9x rear IO, 5x internal | Network: 1x 2.5GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi 6E | Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA

Starting things off with the latest flagship Intel chipset, Z690, which supports the brand new Alder Lake 12th Generation Intel CPUs.

Z690 brings some generational improvements over the previous Z590 platform, as DDR5 memory is now supported across the board with the new 12th Gen processors.

We have selected the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I as the best Z690 mini-ITX motherboard currently available.

The strongest point of the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I, is its robust power delivery system which competes with full-sized ATX Z690 motherboards.

The 10+1 phase VRM has 105 amp power stages, making it a great choice for overclocking as well. The VRM cooling solution is adequate as well since ASUS has installed large finned heatsinks for this purpose.

The flagship Core i9 12900K can be paired with the Z690-I as well, and you can expect moderate overclocking results on that CPU with this VRM setup. The ideal pairing seems to be the Core i7 12700K, or the Core i5 12600K at fully overclocked settings.

Speaking of high-end Intel CPUs, you can also check out our selection of the best motherboards for i9 10900K.

The board also has unique features such as the BIOS Flashback option, Clear CMOS button, two additional PCBs for extensions, and RGB/aRGB headers.

When it comes to aesthetics, the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I is quite an attractive board. The classic ASUS ROG design language is easily identifiable, and there is a healthy sprinkling of brave decisions as well.

ASUS has extended the I/O cover downwards and laterally to fuse with the M.2 heatsink to make one giant L-shaped heatsink cover that gives this board a unique look. The corner of said heatsink contains the ROG Strix script and the iconic ROG eye. Overall, an excellent design for gaming PCs.

Conclusively, the ASUS ROG Strix Z690-I is one of the best mini ITX motherboards on the market when it comes to the latest Intel chipset. However, it is also a very expensive motherboard since it caters to a limited market. You should definitely consider this board, however, if you plan to build a compact, high-end, Intel gaming PC.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 9/10
• Features: 8.5/10
• Aesthetics: 9/10
• Value for Money: 6.5/10
• Overall Rating: 8.5/10

2. ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming ITX – Best Premium Mini-ITX Motherboard (AMD)

Form Factor: Mini-ITX | Chipset: X570 | Memory: 2x DIMM, 64GB, DDR4-4533+ | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort| USB Ports: 5x rear IO, 5x internal | Network: 1x 1GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi | Storage: 1x M.2, 4x SATA

If you are on the AMD AM4 platform and want to build a mini-ITX gaming computer, then the ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming motherboard might be the ideal pick for you.

Following on the path of our first pick above, the X570 Phantom Gaming’s VRM design is also quite extraordinary. This board should be able to handle a Ryzen 7 5800X CPU at moderate overclocks with ease.

On a related note, we have curated a list of the best motherboards for Ryzen 9 5950X as well.

ASRock has also provided a pretty decent feature-set with the X570 Phantom Gaming motherboard, although there are some negatives here as well.

The connectivity is handled by a single 1 GbE LAN port paired with 802.11ac WiFi. This setup might be fine in a budget motherboard but not in an X570 motherboard in the upper mid-range.

The X570 Phantom Gaming ITX looks quite decent as well, as it has some aggressive styling with red accents. This is in tune with the Phantom Gaming lineup of ASRock products. The chipset heatsink is mounted a little more centrally, and it almost fuses with the I/O cover to give a clean look to the board.

The RGB lights are mounted on the bottom of the board and look quite decent.

All in all, the X570 Phantom Gaming ITX should be your choice if you want to build a premium AMD gaming PC in a compact chassis. It does lack some features here and there, but the overall package certainly makes this board the best X570 mini-ITX motherboard on our list.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 8.5/10
• Features: 8/10
• Aesthetics: 9/10
• Value for Money: 7/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

3. Gigabyte Z390-I AORUS Pro WiFi – Best Budget Mini-ITX Motherboard (Intel) – BEST SELLER

Form Factor: Mini ITX | Chipset: Z390 | Memory: 2x DIMM, 64GB, DDR4-4400 | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB Ports: 6x rear IO, 5x internal | Network: 1x 1 Gigabit LAN, 1x Wi-Fi | Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA

If you are on the Z390 platform with the iconic Core i9 9900K CPU and want to build a compact gaming PC, then you should consider the Gigabyte Z390-I AORUS Pro WiFi.

This motherboard is from the fan-favorite AORUS lineup from Gigabyte, and pairs a high-end VRM design with excellent features to make a really attractive package.

Speaking of the VRM design, Gigabyte has done a commendable job with the power delivery of this board.

Mini-ITX motherboards are usually not as reliable as ATX motherboards within the same price category if we consider the VRM setups. However, the VRM heatsinks are small, and the upper row VRMs are completely exposed so you might want to keep the VRM temperatures in check.

The feature-set offered by the Z390-I AORUS Pro WiFi is quite decent, although it does have some shortcomings. Connectivity is handled by a single 1 GbE LAN port paired with 802.11ac WiFi, which is not a mediocre combination nowadays. A 2.5 GbE LAN port would have been nice to see.

You may also want to explore our choices for the best motherboard for i7 10700K.

When it comes to looks, it is a bit of a mixed bag with the Z390-I AORUS Pro WiFi. The angular AORUS design language is evident and looks quite good, but the PCB looks a bit cluttered especially due to the lack of a top VRM heatsink. Furthermore, RGB lighting is missing from the board which may be a big factor for some buyers.

The side-mounted RGB strip disperses light at an odd angle and doesn’t really contribute to lighting in a PC.

Conclusively, the Gigabyte Z390-I AORUS Pro WiFi is one of the finest mini-ITX motherboards on the market, and in our opinion the best Z390 mini-ITX motherboard out there.

The mix of reliable power delivery and a versatile feature-set coupled with a reasonable price point make it a default recommendation for this chipset.

RATINGS:

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

4. MSI MPG B560I Gaming Edge WiFi – Best B560 Mini-ITX Motherboard (Intel)

FF: Mini ITX | Chipset: B560 | Memory: 2x DIMM, 64GB, DDR4-5200 | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB Ports: 6x rear IO, 5x internal | Network: 1x 2.5GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi 6E | Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA

The MSI MPG B560I Gaming Edge WiFi should be on your priority list if you plan to build a smaller gaming PC with 11th Gen Intel processors. The B560 chipset is a mid-range chipset that does not support overclocking, so its offerings are budget-oriented as compared to the flagship Z590 chipset.

Since it is a budget-oriented motherboard that doesn’t support CPU overclocking, the VRM design is less important. However, it still should be able to handle power-hungry CPUs such as the Core i9 11900K.

Thanks to a satisfactory 6+2+1 phase VRM setup, it should be capable of handling the 11900K at stock settings.

However, due to differences in their price brackets, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to pair an overclocking flagship CPU with a budget motherboard with a locked multiplier. The Core i7 11700 or the Core i5 11600/11400 seem to be more appropriate pairings.

The feature-set of the B560I Gaming Edge WiFi is actually quite impressive relative to its price tag. You get the option of 2.5 GbE LAN and WiFi 6E which are both welcome features in terms of connectivity. For storage, there are two M.2 slots and 4 SATA ports, another great addition by MSI to this mid-range motherboard.

For more budget motherboards, you can also take a look at the best budget X570 motherboards if you are on an AMD system.

There are some complaints, however. The audio codec in the board is quite mediocre, and the number of USB ports on the back might not be enough for some users.

In terms of aesthetics, RGB lighting is missing from the board, which might be a bit of a letdown for some users. However, this board should be right at home in a workstation PC or a stealthy black gaming PC build.

Overall, the MSI MPG B560I Gaming Edge WiFi might just be the best B560 mini-ITX motherboard on the market. It is also quite affordable, so you should definitely consider it if you want to build a compact gaming PC featuring Intel 11th Gen processors.

RATINGS:

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

5. Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX – WiFi – Best B550 Mini ITX Motherboard (AMD)

FF: Mini ITX | Chipset: B550 | Memory: 2x DIMM, 64GB, DDR4-5300 | Video Outputs: HDMI, DisplayPort | USB Ports: 6x rear IO, 5x internal | Network: 1x 2.5GbE LAN, 1x Wi-Fi 6 | Storage: 2x M.2, 4x SATA

If you are rocking a 3000 series or 5000 series Ryzen CPU, then you might want to consider the Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro AX – WiFi. This is the best B550 mini-ITX motherboard on the market and should be ideal for a compact PC gaming build. The B550 platform also provides support for the PCIe Gen 4 protocol through one of the M.2 slots.

The B550I AORUS Pro WiFi is quite a premium motherboard and it has a premium VRM setup to back it up. Since B550 allows CPU overclocking, the robust VRM can come in quite handy if you want to overclock your Ryzen 7 5800X or even Ryzen 9 3900X CPU.

We would, however, advise against pairing Ryzen 9 parts with this motherboard as the VRM cooling is not excellent under extended loads.

For that purpose, you can use the best motherboards for Ryzen 9 3950X that we recommend.

Gigabyte has provided 2 M.2 slots under a massive M.2 heat spreader in this board, which is a welcome touch. Only one of these M.2 slots can provide PCIe 4.0 functionality, however, but that is a limitation of the chipset itself.

When it comes to looks, the B550I AORUS Pro is fairly mediocre in our subjective opinion. The VRM heatsinks are large and plain, which does not really fit in with the aggressive AORUS design language.

All things considered, the Gigabyte B550I AORUS Pro is a solid mini-ITX option if you want to go with the B550 platform.

It is quite expensive, however, and there are some ATX X570 options on the market that are better-equipped in a similar price category if mini ITX is not necessery. As with any tech product, you should do your due diligence before pulling the trigger on this one.

RATINGS:

• VRM Design: 8.5/10
• Features: 8.5/10
• Aesthetics: 7.5/10
• Value for Money: 5/10
• Overall Rating: 7/10

Worth Mentioning Mini ITX Motherboards

• Asus Rog Strix B550 Mini ITX
• Gigabyte x570 I AORUS Pro Wifi
• MSI MPG B550i Gaming Edge WIFI

Best Mini-ITX Motherboard – Buyer’s Guide

If you have a mini-ITX case and are ready to build a mini-ITX compact PC, then you need to consider some factors before buying the right mini itx motherboard for you. Mini-ITX motherboards are a bit more complex to shop for since they have a unique shape and size.

Dimensions

First of all, you need to consider the dimensions of your chassis. Many mini-ITX PC cases come with a standard motherboard tray that can hold any mini-ITX motherboard, but some cases are uniquely designed to only fit certain motherboards. Check the dimensions of all components before making the final decision.

GPU Compatibility

The problem is not with the size of the motherboard itself (which is standard), but with the components you’ll attach to it. Make sure your graphics card fits on the motherboard and does not touch any case components. Make sure the fan headers for the graphics card have access to cool, fresh air.

CPU Cooler Fitment

You should also consider the size and height of your CPU cooler. Many mini-ITX cases will not allow you to install any standard air cooler to cool your AMD or Intel CPU or whatever CPU socket brand you use. There are special SFF CPU coolers that are made for these cases.

Limited Amount of DIMM Slots

Mini-ITX motherboards have to make some sacrifices in order to attain that small form factor. Many of these sacrifices are achieved by reducing the number of storage features.

It is common for mini-ITX boards to have only two DIMM slots. That is understandable, but you must consider that you cannot upgrade your memory down the line if you buy a mini-ITX motherboard.

Connectivity

In terms of connectivity, you should consider the number of M.2 slots and display port options on the board. It is hard for manufacturers to include more than 2 slots on these boards , and some might only have 1 M.2 slot.

The compact boards might also have fewer connectivity features. Due to their pricing, they may have worse connectivity features than competitive ATX motherboards. So keep an eye out for these sorts of limitations when building your mini-ITX PC.

Cable management, Intel Gigabit ethernet, and things like having eight SATA ports, or even four SATA ports on such a small form factor can be difficult. Most m-ITX motherboards in 2023 include dual channel RAM options and things like Wi Fi.

Expansion Options

Another thing you should consider before buying a mini ITX motherboard is the number of PCIe 4.0 expansion slots. Most mini-ITX motherboards have only 1 full-size PCIe x16 slot which may have PCIe Gen 3 or PCIe 4.0 capability depending on the chipset.

Some motherboards might include one or two 1x PCIe 4.0 slots as well, but it is rare to see that feature. Therefore, if you want to install lots of expansion cards and graphics card options you might want to check the number of expansion slots on your PC hardware beforehand.

FAQs

Why are Mini-ITX Form Factor Motherboards Expensive?

Mini-ITX motherboards are expensive because there is a lot of research and development that goes into making a mini-ITX motherboard. These boards require special tooling and equipment, and they are generally made in smaller numbers, thus pushing the price up.

Can I Install a Mini-ITX Motherboard in a Micro-ATX Case?

A mini-ITX motherboard can be installed into a mATX case. Just make sure to install the appropriate motherboard standoffs that come with your case. The instruction manual of your case should help.

Can You Put a Micro-ATX Motherboard in an mITX case?

You cannot put an mATX motherboard into a mini ITX case. The board itself is physically larger than the motherboard tray of the mini-ITX case. You can put a smaller motherboard into a bigger case, but you can’t put a bigger motherboard into a smaller case.

Is a Mini-ITX Build Worth It?

A mini-ITX board build might not be worth the hassle for most users. Those who need to save on space and get maximum performance from smaller form factors will appreciate the end result.

Are Mini-ITX Motherboards Good for Gaming?

If the users get enough ports and more than M.2 slots for storage, then this form factor can be great for a gaming motherboard. Of course, active VRM fan cooling is quite important. So if you want a high-end gaming motherboard, you need a good cooling system, extended heatsink options, or an optimized VRM heatsink.