Best 12 Motherboards with Thunderbolt 4

Motherboards with Thunderbolt 4
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The latest Intel Z690 and existing Z590 motherboards bring excellent features, one of them being Thunderbolt 4 support. Thunderbolt 4 guarantees 40Gbps of peripheral bandwidth for the latest high-speed devices and drives. Thunderbolt 4 also brings native USB4 compatibility and support for up to two 4K external displays.

However, not all Intel and AMD motherboards come with Thunderbolt 4 ports. This buying guide includes Thunderbolt 4 motherboards from Intel and AMD, including those with a Thunderbolt 4 header. A Thunderbolt 4 header lets you add Thunderbolt 4 to your PC using a PCIe adapter.

Here are the best motherboards with Thunderbolt 4.

Best Motherboards with Thunderbolt 4 Compared

ImageProductDetailsCheck Price
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS XTREME on Amazon
GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS XTREMETB4 Ports: 2
Form Factor: E-ATX
Socket, Chipset: LGA 1700, Intel Z690
CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core
Storage: 4x SATA 6Gb/s, 4x M.2 Gen4
Memory: 4x DDR5 DIMM (128GB Max)
Expansion Slots: 2x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x16
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
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ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z690 HERO on Amazon
ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z690 HEROTB4 Ports: 2
Form Factor: ATX
Socket, Chipset: LGA 1700, Intel Z690
CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core
Storage: 6x SATA 6Gb/s, 1x M.2 Gen5, 3x M.2 Gen4, 1x M.2 Gen3
Memory: 4x DDR5 DIMM (128GB Max)
Expansion Slots: 2x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x16
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
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MSI MEG Z690 ACE
MSI MEG Z690 ACETB4 Ports: 2
Form Factor: E-ATX
Socket, Chipset: LGA 1700, Intel Z690
CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core
Storage: 6x SATA 6Gb/s, 4x M.2 Gen4, 1x M.2 Gen3
Memory: 4x DDR5 DIMM (128GB Max)
Expansion Slots: 2x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x16
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
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ASUS ROG STRIX Z690-I GAMING WIFI on Amazon
ASUS ROG STRIX Z690-I GAMING WIFITB4 Ports: 2
Form Factor: Mini ITX
Socket, Chipset: LGA 1700, Intel Z690
CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core
Storage: 4x SATA 6Gb/s, 2x M.2 Gen4
Memory: 2x DDR5 DIMM (64GB Max)
Expansion Slots: 1x PCIe 5.0 x16
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
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ASUS PRIME Z690-A on Amazon
ASUS PRIME Z690-ATB4 Ports: 0
Form Factor: ATX
Socket, Chipset: LGA 1700, Intel Z690
CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core
Storage: 4x SATA 6Gb/s, 4x M.2 Gen4
Memory: 4x DDR5 DIMM (128GB Max)
Expansion Slots: 1x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x4, 2x PCIe 3.0 x1
Wireless: No
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ASUS PRIME Z690-P D4 on Amazon
ASUS PRIME Z690-P D4TB4 Ports: 0
Form Factor: ATX
Socket, Chipset: LGA 1700, Intel Z590
CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core
Storage: 4x SATA 6Gb/s, 3x M.2 Gen4
Memory: 4x DDR4 DIMM (128GB Max)
Expansion Slots: 1x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 2x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x1
Wireless: No
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ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Extreme on Amazon
ASUS ROG Maximus XIII ExtremeTB4 Ports: 2
Form Factor: E-ATX
Socket, Chipset: LGA 1200, Intel Z590
CPU: 10th and 11th Gen Intel Core
Storage: 6x SATA 6Gb/s, 3x M.2 Gen4, 2x M.2 Gen3
Memory: 4x DDR4 DIMM (128GB Max)
Expansion Slots: 2x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x4
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
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ASUS ProArt B550-Creator on Amazon
ASUS ProArt B550-CreatorTB4 Ports: 2
Form Factor: ATX
Socket, Chipset: AMD AM4, AMD B550
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5000/ 4000 G/ 3000 Series
Storage: 4x SATA 6Gb/s, 1x M.2 Gen4, 1x M.2 Gen3
Memory: 4x DDR4 DIMM (128GB Max)
Expansion Slots: 2x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x16, 2x PCIe 3.0 x1
Wireless: No
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ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero on Amazon
ASUS ROG Maximus XIII HeroTB4 Ports: 2
Form Factor: ATX
Socket, Chipset: LGA 1200, Intel Z590
CPU: 10th and 11th Gen Intel Core
Storage: 6x SATA 6Gb/s, 2x M.2 Gen4, 2x M.2 Gen3
Memory: 4x DDR4 DIMM (128GB Max)
Expansion Slots: 2x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x1
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
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ASUS ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming WiFi on Amazon
ASUS ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming WiFiTB4 Ports: 1
Form Factor: Mini ITX
Socket, Chipset: LGA 1200, Intel Z590
CPU: 10th and 11th Gen Intel Core
Storage: 4x SATA 6Gb/s, 1x M.2 Gen4, 1x M.2 Gen3
Memory: 2x DDR4 DIMM (64GB Max)
Expansion Slots: 1x PCIe 4.0 x16
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
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MSI MEG Z590 ACE on Amazon
MSI MEG Z590 ACETB4 Ports: 2
Form Factor: ATX
Socket, Chipset: LGA 1200, Intel Z590
CPU: 10th and 11th Gen Intel Core
Storage: 6x SATA 6Gb/s, 1x M.2 Gen4, 3x M.2 Gen3
Memory: 4x DDR4 DIMM (128GB Max)
Expansion Slots: 2x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x16, 2x PCIe 3.0 x1
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
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ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus on Amazon
ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-PlusTB4 Ports: 0
Form Factor: ATX
Socket, Chipset: LGA 1200, Intel Z590
CPU: 10th and 11th Gen Intel Core
Storage: 6x SATA 6Gb/s, 1x M.2 Gen4, 2x M.2 Gen3
Memory: 4x DDR4 DIMM (128GB Max)
Expansion Slots: 1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x16, 2x PCIe 3.0 x1
Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
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1. GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS XTREME – Enthusiast Pick

The GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS XTREME is a top-end Z690 motherboard built ready for everything the latest 12th generation of Intel processors can throw at it. It’s the best Z690 motherboard for overclocking and comes packed with all the latest features, including DDR5 memory support, PCIe 5, and Thunderbolt 4.

It’s an expensive motherboard, but you’re paying for extreme overclocking potential, cutting-edge power delivery, robust cooling, and a good range of high-end features not available in other Z690 motherboards.

The Z690 AORUS XTREME features the new LGA 1700 socket, compatible with 12th Gen Intel processors. It has two Thunderbolt 4 ports onboard, which offer up to 40Gbps of peripheral bandwidth on Thunderbolt 3 and 4 devices and up to 20Gbps on USB-C enabled devices.

Design

Not much has changed with the design compared to the previous Z590 AORUS XTREME model. GIGABYTE maintained the same simple yet bold look with a black finish and gunmetal gray accents. It has plenty of RGB and branding, typical of most gaming peripherals.

The overall build quality is excellent. The Z690 AORUS XTREME is built with high-quality and durable materials. Onboard you’ll get reinforced PCIe slots for increased durability and a pre-mounted IO shield.

There is a BIOS flashback button and a Multikey button, which you can customize to perform different functions such as boot to BIOS or disable RGB lighting. These are handy add-ons for competitive gamers and extreme overclockers.

The stand-out feature of the Z690 AORUS XTREME is the over-the-top VRM. This motherboard has a whopping 23 phases of power delivery, 20 of which supply 105A of power to the CPU each. That’s capable of overclocking the monster 12900K while maintaining very low temps.

Talking of thermals, the motherboard comes with solid and robust VRM and M.2 heatsinks to prevent throttling. The aluminum cover helps conduct heat away from the VRM, and you also get additional headers for fans and water pumps. It is a well-thought-out motherboard built for the best 12th Gen CPUs.

Features

The Z690 platform brings new features such as DDR5 memory support and PCIe 5, which has twice the bandwidth of PCIe 4.0. This motherboard is fully compatible with DDR5 memory kits, supporting up to 128GB of system memory and incredible 6600MHz speeds. There are two PCIe 5.0 enabled PCIe x16 slots and an additional PCIe 4.0 x16 slot with support for up to Quad-GPU AMD CrossFire.

In addition, there are four NVMe PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots for faster storage speeds and quick load times. You also get four SATA connectors for increased storage capacity.

Connectivity

Designed for the pros in the field, the GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS XTREME offers advanced connectivity options such as 10Gbps Ethernet and Wi-Fi 6E. If you’re working with large files such as 4K or 8K videos, having faster connectivity can significantly reduce the time to transfer and render content.

Ten USB Type-A ports allow you to connect just about anything on your gaming station or office. You can use the Thunderbolt 4 ports for video output if you’re yet to secure a graphics card.

Our Take

The GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS XTREME is a high-end Thunderbolt 4 motherboard for pro users, including gamers and content creators. It has everything you need to build a capable system to take advantage of the best 12th Gen Intel processors.

PROS
  • Overkill power delivery
  • Faster 10GbE and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity
  • Outstanding build quality
  • DDR5 memory support
  • BIOS flashback button
CONS
  • Not compatible with DDR4 RAM sticks

2. ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z690 HERO – Best for Most People

The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z690 HERO offers the perfect mix of top-tier features that every gamer or content creator with an Alder Lake CPU needs to build their dream PC. It supports dual PCIe Gen 4 drives out of the box, up to 128GB of DDR5 6400MHz memory, and of course, the latest 12th Gen Alder Lake processors.

Design

The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z690 HERO looks and feels like a premium piece of hardware. It’s still the same dark-themed look as most motherboards, but it sports a unique RGB-lit ROG logo with plenty of addressable RGB headers for epic personalization.

The motherboard ships with an impressive 20+1 power stage, each rated for 90A. It is not as extreme as the Z690 AORUS XTREME’s 22 phases VRM, but it’s capable of handling any 12th Gen Intel CPU with respectable temps.

There is also a robust cooling system to match any top-level PC performance. Onboard, you’ll find large and expansive VRM and chipset heatsinks along with three M.2 heatsinks and backplates to ensure your Gen 4 NVMe drives deliver peak performance without any throttling. There are plenty of headers for AIO and custom liquid cooling systems to ensure the lowest temps when overclocking.

Like most high-end boards, the ROG MAXIMUS Z690 HERO comes with a clear CMOS button and BIOS flashback button so you can update the BIOS without needing to install a processor. You can also customize the FlexKey to reset the system, disable RGB lighting, or boot straight into BIOS.

Features

The ROG MAXIMUS Z690 HERO brings all the latest features, including DDR5 memory support, PCIe 5, and Thunderbolt 4. ASUS also bundles its ROG Hyper M.2 card, which supports high-performance M.2 PCIe Gen5 SSDs for even faster transfer and boot speeds twice those of current PCIe Gen4 SSDs.

This motherboard also features ASUS intelligent features such as AI Overclocking, AI Cooling, AI Networking, and Two-Way Noise Cancelation to do the dirty work for you if you’re a beginner or afraid of bricking your system.

Connectivity

Whether building a PC for gaming or productivity, the ROG MAXIMUS Z690 HERO provides every port you need to connect your desk peripherals. There are two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one 10Gbps USB-C port, six 10Gbps USB Type-A ports, two standard USB-A 2.0 ports, five audio jacks, and a 2.5G LAN.

You can use the Thunderbolt 4 ports on the onboard HDMI port to troubleshoot your GPU or connect an external monitor if you’re yet to buy a graphics card. For wireless connectivity, you get the latest Wi-Fi 6E support and Bluetooth 5.2. Combine the 20Gbps front-panel USB-C connector, and you get a motherboard with all the modern and fastest connectivity options.

Our Take

The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z690 HERO is fully-specced to provide the discerning user with all the tools to get the best out of the 12th Gen Intel CPUs. It’s still a pricey board, but the performance you get out of it is totally worth it.

PROS
  • Robust power delivery
  • DDR5 and PCIe 5 support
  • Latest and fast connectivity
  • Plenty of overclocking tools
  • Easy DIY design
CONS
  • Not compatible with DDR4 RAM sticks

3. MSI MEG Z690 ACE – Budget Thunderbolt 4 Motherboard for Enthusiasts

The MSI MEG Z690 ACE is the best Thunderbolt 4 motherboard for enthusiasts looking for a top-tier Z690 motherboard but don’t want to pay the premium price of the GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS XTREME. This motherboard has almost the same features as the Gigabyte, including an equally capable 22-phase VRM, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, DDR5-6666+MHz memory support, PCIe 5 slots, and PCIe Gen4 M.2 slots.

A significant difference, however, is the price. The MEG Z690 ACE costs almost half the price of the Z690 AORUS XTREME. Why the price difference? The ACE comes with 2.5GbE LAN compared to 10GbE on the XTREME, and it also has a slightly less powerful VRM and fewer USB ports. However, if those things don’t matter, you’ll get almost the same performance for less money.

Design

The MEG Z690 ACE is one of the best-looking Thunderbolt 4 motherboards available. It combines a dark black finish with a genuine 24K-gold foil heatsink and gold accents around the board that immediately draws attention. It is also well built with durable materials typical of other MSI motherboards.

This motherboard has a whopping 19 105A direct power stages dedicated to the CPU. That’s an insane amount of power that even none of the current 12th Gen CPUs can fully take advantage of. This means you can overclock any 12th Gen processor without worrying about generating excess heat.

The cooling system in this board is awe-inspiring. There is a heavy plated VRM heatsink, enlarged chipset heatsink, and one-of-a-kind double-sided M.2 heatsinks. Combined with the beastly VRM, you get a solid foundation for any extreme overclocking PC.

Features

The MEG Z690 ACE is fully compatible with the new DDR5 memory kits, supporting 4800MHz speeds and more than 6666MHz with overclocking. It has three PCIe x16 slots, with two that conform to the PCIe 5.0 standard for peak GPU performance.

MSI didn’t skimp either when it comes to storage. There are five M.2 Gen4 slots and six SATA ports. You can install anything from M.2 drives to SATA SSDs, HDDs, or Intel Optane Memory.

Connectivity

We’re very much impressed with the I/O on this motherboard. While it can’t match the Z690 AORUS XTREME, it bests the other Thunderbolt 4 motherboards in the market.

At the rear, you’ll find two Thunderbolt 4 ports, seven 10Gbps USB Type-A ports, one 10Gbps USB Type-C port, and five audio ports. The Mini DisplayPort inputs allow users to connect external Thunderbolt 4 monitors from the GPU instead of the processor’s integrated graphics as most Thunderbolt 4 motherboards.

The MEG Z690 ACE is also one of the few Z690 motherboards with dual front panel 20Gbps USB Type-C connectors—an easily accessible way to connect Type-C desk accessories. Additionally, there are dual 2.5Gb Ethernet ports and Wi-Fi 6E for butter-smooth gaming and streaming.

Our Take

If you don’t need 10G LAN, the MSI MEG Z690 ACE is an equally capable Thunderbolt 4 motherboard for enthusiasts and avid gamers that costs less than GIGABYTE Z690 AORUS XTREME. It has a robust VRM design, extreme cooling solution, and all the latest features to take advantage of the latest 12th Gen Intel chips.

PROS
  • Beastly VRM design
  • Reliable cooling system
  • DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support
  • Reasonable priced
  • Solid build quality and clean aesthetics
CONS
  • Not compatible with DDR4 RAM sticks

4. ASUS ROG STRIX Z690-I GAMING WIFI – Thunderbolt 4 ITX Motherboard Z690

If you want to build a compact Thunderbolt 4 system with the latest 12th Gen Intel processors, the ASUS ROG STRIX Z690-I GAMING WIFI is an excellent choice. It’s the best Thunderbolt 4 ITX motherboard with the new Z690 chipset and LGA 1700 socket.

This motherboard comes with two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a slew of modern features, including DDR5 and PCIe 5.0. You can build a capable system that pushes high framerates on modern AAA titles without taking so much space on your desk.

Design

The ROG STRIX Z690-I GAMING WIFI uses 11 105A power stages, with ten dedicated to the CPU. That’s enough power to handle the 12700K and overclock the mid-range 12600K. The motherboard also has decent cooling with two VRM heatsinks, M.2 heatsinks with a backplate, and plenty of headers for fans and AIO coolers.

The compact mini ITX means less space for expansion slots, but you get a full-size, reinforced slot for a graphics card and two M.2 slots for high-performance PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs. This motherboard also features ASUS’s new Q-Latch design, making it easy to install or replace M.2 drives.

Features

The ROG STRIX Z690-I GAMING WIFI can push high framerates than ever, thanks to the new DDR5 memory support and PCIe 5.0. In addition, the PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives limit boot and load times so that you can spend more time gaming or editing.

Like most top-tier ASUS motherboards geared toward gamers, this motherboard has plenty of intelligent features that make it easy to overclock your PC. It supports AI Overclocking, AI Cooling, AI Networking, and Two-Way AI Noise-Cancelation. There are clear CMOS and BIOS flashback buttons for you to update the BIOS or revert to old BIOS settings when things don’t go as planned.

Connectivity

In addition to two Thunderbolt 4 ports, the motherboard provides a 4K 60Hz HDMI port for connecting an external monitor and seven USB Type-A ports for other desk accessories. Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5Gb Ethernet deliver the speed needed for smooth and responsive gaming.

Our Take

The ASUS ROG STRIX Z690-I GAMING WIFI is an excellent Thunderbolt 4 motherboard for the new generation of Intel processors. It packs some of the impressive and latest features you can find today in a compact mini ITX form factor.

PROS
  • Decent VRM
  • DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0 support
  • Easy to use BIOS
  • Good range of ports
CONS
  • Not compatible with DDR4 RAM sticks

5. ASUS PRIME Z690-A – Cheap DDR5 Motherboard with Thunderbolt 4

The ASUS PRIME Z690-A is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a cheap Thunderbolt 4 motherboard with DDR5 memory support. The PRIME range has always provided the most affordable motherboards in the market, and the tradition continues with the newest PRIME Z690-A model.

This motherboard comes with a Thunderbolt 4 header, allowing users to add Thunderbolt 4 ports through a Thunderbolt 4 PCIe card. It’s light on features compared to the HERO and ROG STRIX, but you still get massive storage and overclocking capabilities along with support for the new DDR5 memory kits and PCIe 5.0.

Design

The ASUS PRIME Z690-A flaunts sleek and clean aesthetics with a black and white finish and minimal RGB. There are two RGB headers, one addressable, so you tune the lighting to meet your gaming setup.

The motherboard utilizes 16 power stages for the CPU, enough to push the 12700K to the limit if paired with a solid cooling system. Speaking of cooling, the onboard VRM and M.2 heatsinks can keep your system running at low temps. There are multiple headers for water cooling if you’d like to cool your PC even further.

Features

The main standing-out feature of this motherboard is DDR5-6000MHz memory support up to 128GB. You’re also going to get a single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot to squeeze all the juice from your GPU. Additional PCIe 3.0 x16, PCIe 3.0 x4, and two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots let you connect other add-in cards to expand the functionality of your PC.

The ASUS PRIME Z690-A provides a whopping four M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots and four SATA ports, so there’s no shortage of storage. Onboard you also get advanced ASUS software tools such as AI Overclocking and AI Cooling.

Connectivity

Out of the box, you get 4K 60Hz HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, a 20Gbps USB Type-C port, a 10Gbps USB Type-C port, two 10Gbps USB Type-A ports, four 5Gbps USB Type-A ports, 2.5Gb Ethernet, and five analog audio jacks.

This motherboard does not come with onboard Thunderbolt 4 ports. You’ll have to install a separate Thunderbolt 4 PCIe card to add Thunderbolt 4 ports to your PC. Also, there is no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Our Take

The ASUS PRIME Z690-A is a good budget alternative for those looking for a Thunderbolt 4 motherboard with DDR5 and the new Z690 chipset. It supports DDR5, PCIe 5.0, PCIe 4.0 SSDs, and comes packed with decent power delivery and cooling system.

PROS
  • Excellent aesthetics
  • DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0 support
  • Decent VRM for a budget board
  • Excellent audio
CONS
  • Not compatible with DDR4 RAM sticks
  • No Wi-Fi

6. ASUS PRIME Z690-P D4 – Cheapest Z690 Motherboard with Thunderbolt 4

What if you don’t care about DDR5 memory and just want a cheap Thunderbolt 4 motherboard for your Alder Lake build? Then the ASUS PRIME Z690-P D4 is the best option for you. This is the most affordable Thunderbolt 4 motherboard with a Z690 chipset, and it’s also compatible with the existing DDR4 memory kits.

While DDR5 is undoubtedly a massive upgrade over DDR4 memory, these new memory kits are expensive, not to mention getting one right now is an uphill task. With the PRIME Z690-P, you can build your PC right away using your existing DDR4 RAM or grab one at a bargain.

Design

The ASUS PRIME Z690-P D4 follows the same design language as the other PRIME motherboards. It comes with a black and white theme with some branding on the IO cover and chipset.

There is no RGB lighting onboard, perfect for those looking to build a clean and minimalistic PC. However, three addressable RGB headers give gamers the option to light up their gaming station, so you get the best of both worlds.

The motherboard uses 15 power stages, with 14 dedicated to the CPU. It might not be enough to overclock the 12900K, but it can push the 12700K and 12600K to greater heights. The cooling system is decent for a motherboard at this price. There are two VRM heatsinks, one M.2 heatsink, and a couple of hybrid fan headers to keep your PC safe.

Features

The PRIME Z690-P D4 misses out on DDR5 memory, but it is fully compliant with the new PCIe 5.0 standard. There is one full-size PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and an additional PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, and a smaller PCIe 3.0 x1 slot.

In terms of storage, the motherboard has three M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots and four SATA ports. You also miss out on ASUS intelligent features here, but you can’t really complain, given the price.

Connectivity

The ASUS PRIME Z690-P D4 supports Thunderbolt 4 through a Thunderbolt 4 header, so you’ll need a separate PCIe card to add some Thunderbolt 4 ports to your PC.

Elsewhere, you’re getting a 20Gbps USB Type-C port onboard, one 10Gbps USB Type-A port, two 5Gbps USB Type-A ports, two standard USB 2.0 ports, a 2.5Gb Ethernet port, and Optical and several analog audio outputs. The HDMI and DisplayPort ports make it easy to troubleshoot your GPU or connect an external monitor without needing a GPU.

Our Take

The new Z690 motherboards are more expensive than ever, especially if you factor in the latest DDR5 memory. If you want to save some money on your new 12th Gen Intel build, the PRIME Z690-P D4 is a great choice. It supports the latest PCIe 5.0 standard, existing and affordable DDR4 memory, and other impressive features to get the best of your Alder Lake build.

PROS
  • Reasonable priced
  • PCIe 5.0 and M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD support
  • Doesn’t require expensive RAM upgrades
  • Clean aesthetics
CONS
  • Not compatible with DDR5 RAM sticks
  • No Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

7. ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Extreme – Top of the line

After much consideration, we settled on the ROG Maximus XIII Extreme for the top spot for 11th Gen Intel builds, simply because of the range of connectivity and power it offers.

Asus currently leads in Thunderbolt 4 products among motherboard manufacturers, evidenced by its recent ThunderboltEX 4 expansion cards. Asus motherboards also make up the bulk of our list simply because of the sheer variety available. It was also among the first to release Thunderbolt 4 on its motherboards.

The Intel Socket LGA 1200 is easily compatible with all the latest 11th Generation and 10th Generation Premium Gold and Celeron Processors. The board has two Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C ports that support DisplayPort 1.4 and Thunderbolt video outputs. In addition, the board is one of the most aesthetically pleasing and robust products you can lay your hands on!

Design

The Republic of Gaming is well known for its futuristic design and ambiance, and the Maximums XIII Extreme lives up to that standard. Apart from the fine build, the card has preset RGB lighting across its edges which can be synchronized with other PC components to give a more unified look.

You can adjust between multiple lighting profiles through the drivers. The card also has an OLED display that switches between displaying temperature, CPU speed, overclocking, etc. The presentation is live and receives a small input from the motherboard’s drivers. You can display an image or animation of your choosing here.

The graphics card holder features a magnetic base, adjustable slider, and hinges to avoid sag. The card’s power handling capabilities are pretty impressive, as they have to handle such broad connectivity and powerful PU/GPU.

Features

The motherboard is the only Thunderbolt 4 product to hold ASUS’s proprietary 18 + 2 stage power delivery. From what Intel can tell us, the additional stages enhance the number of voltage regulation components that are continuously live, reducing ripples and Total Harmonic Distortion. This will obviously help with heating losses too.

The card features the trademark ROG Water-Cooling Zone, along with enlarged VRM and m2 heatsinks and aluminum I/O covers (aluminum is a better dissipator of heat and reduces micro-sparks as well).

The power connectors, chokes, and capacitors that make up the cooling and voltage regulation mechanism are high-end and use rare materials such as MicroFine Alloy.

The quality of these components, paired with multiple heat sinks, makes for a top-of-the-line cooling profile. If power and cooling are a significant concern for you, the ASUS Maximum XIII is probably the safest bet out there!

Connectivity

Plenty of ports on this motherboard too! The board supports five M.2 and six SATA(6Gbps) ports. In addition, the board has two PCIe 4.0/3.0(depending on CPU) slots and 4 DIMM slots for up to 128GB of RAM.

There is also a Marvel 10G Ethernet port, which provides a lot more bandwidth than the I225-V (2.5G) (also present) port which is more common. In addition to the eight USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, the board has three USB 3.2 and two USB 2.0 headers which can up to eight Type-A and two Type-C USB ports.

Our Take

ASUS’s ROG Maximus XIII Extreme is the best Thunderbolt 4 product out there in terms of build quality, power supply capability, and cooling. The board’s broad connectivity spectrum makes it an attractive prospect to both gamers and content creators.

PROS
  • Excellent build quality and high-end power electronics components.
  • Detailed cooling profile
  • Extended connectivity
  • Excellent Ethernet bandwidth
CONS
  • Extended ATX form factor requires a different casing

8. ASUS ProArt B550-Creator – The first AMD motherboard with Thunderbolt 4

It’s about time AMD and Thunderbolt came together! AMD has been Intel’s direct competitor for a decade, and they’ve bridged the gulf between the two with their recent processors, so it was only natural that AMD wouldn’t want to cozy up to Intel’s Thunderbolt technology. In fact, AMD’s long-standing position has been that the demand for Thunderbolt technology isn’t necessarily high among its user base, but the launch of ASUS ProArt B550 might change that in the future.

ASUS introduced AMD and Thunderbolt together in their content creator line, which has previously seen popular products such as ASUS Pro-Art Z490. As is evident by the name, this card is aimed at content creators and focuses primarily on connectivity and Graphics Integration.

The card can house 5000 Series, 5000 G-Series, 4000 G-Series, and 3000 Series Desktop Processors. Some connectivity (such as m2 slots and PCIe) will change depending on what sort of processor you use, but you generally get a broad peripheral and expansion spectrum with this motherboard.

The card boasts two Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB-C) which support display Port 1.2/1.4 and Thunderbolt 4 video outputs, making use of the entire 40Gbps transfer capability of the technology.

Design

ASUS ensures that the card has 24/7 stability and is equipped with Safe Slots for extended durability. Safeslot is an ASUS proprietary technology, which ASUS claims improves its slots’ retention and shearing resistance capabilities. The technology was first used for ASUS ROG motherboards and has slowly crept into all ASUS motherboard series.

The ProArt logo is clearly visible on the motherboard. The board has six PCB layers, which is the market standard for better cooling and heat dissipation. ASUS is also known for better Voltage Regulator modules. You can read up more about the m2 and StackCoo3 heat dissipation here.

Considering ASUS’s entire cooling specification, we believe the board will have a better heat dissipation profile than the previous products in this series; maybe that is because AMD chips are generally more powerful (at lower prices).

Connectivity

The card has two m2 slots, along with 4 SATA (6Gbps) slots. Depending on the processor you mount, the card offers up to five PCIe 4.0 on x8, x16, x4, and x1 slots for multi-GPU CFX support.

You get 2.5G Ethernet ports (I225-V). At the back, the card has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, four USB 3.2Type A ports, and two USB 2.0 port (Type A) ports. In the front, the board has five USB 3.2 and two USB 2.0 ports. As you can comprehend, ASUS attached plenty of connectivity with this board to attract high-end content creators.

Our Take

If you’re an AMD user, the Thunderbolt market has offered slim picking up till now, but the ASUS ProArt B550 board might just be the card that kicks the door in for AMD-Thunderbolt compatibility. The board offers a wide range of connectivity options and supports all the latest AMD processors, making it a good choice for content creators.

PROS
  • Extended connectivity with 12 USB ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports
  • Good cooling profile and power regulation
  • Supports the latest AMD processors
CONS
  • Only two m2 ports, so you might end up overclocking them if you want a lot of expansion cards

9. ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero – Overall Choice for 10th and 11th Gen Intel CPUs

ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero is the best all-around motherboard with Thunderbolt 4 you can buy today for Comet Lake and Rocket Lake builds. It is compatible with both 10th and 11th gen Intel processors, but only the latter unlocks PCIe 4.0 speeds. There are two onboard Thunderbolt 4 ports and WiFi 6E support, which brings extra bandwidth and improved signal stability through the 6GHz spectrum.

According to Wccftech, Z590 motherboards offer PCIe 4.0 compatibility only with 11th gen Intel processors. If you want to take full advantage of what the latest PCIe 4.0 SSDs have to offer, make sure to pair this motherboard with an 11th gen Intel processor.

The ROG Maximus XIII Hero is built for hardcore gamers and extreme overclockers. It combines cutting-edge hardware with a full suite of AI features to deliver the best gaming performance with no compromises.

Design

The ROG Maximus XIII Hero retains the same dark theme as the Z490 version. However, Asus went for a more subtle approach in the RGB lighting to deliver more gaming immersion. It has three addressable RGB headers that let you customize the PC to match your taste. Onboard you get a pre-mounted I/O shield and graphics cardholder for ease of installation.

The motherboard uses 14+2 teamed power stages rated at 90A to deliver power to the CPU and other critical components. That’s enough power to overclock the demanding 11th gen processors. It has excellent cooling, with four M.2 heatsinks and backplates, a large surface area VRM heatsink, and a chipset heatsink. You also get water cooling capabilities and AI cooling to deliver the best balance of performance and thermals with just a single click.

Features

The Z590 ROG Maximus XIII Hero comes with industry-leading AI features, including AI Overclocking, AI Cooling, AI Networking, and Two-Way AI Noise-Cancelation. AI Overclocking gives you the ideal overclocking settings without having to tweak the CPU clock speeds and voltages manually. There is also 5-Way Optimization, which optimizes all the system settings, including power delivery, cooling, and overclocking, with a click of a button.

The motherboard has two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, a PCIe 3.0 x16, and an additional PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. The Gen4 slots run at X16 speeds when only one is populated and at X8 when both are active. You can connect more than one graphics card to the motherboard using NVIDIA SLI.

In terms of storage, there are four M.2 slots with two supporting PCIe Gen4 speeds. There are six additional SATA slots for more storage capacity. The Z590 ROG Maximus XIII Hero can support up to 128GB of system memory through its four DIMM slots with incredible speeds of up to 5333MHz.

Connectivity

One of the best features of the Z590 ROG Maximus XIII Hero is the dual Thunderbolt 4 ports that support blistering transfer speeds and two 4K displays. You also get WiFi 6E support, dual 2.5 Gb Ethernet ports, and six 20Gbps USB-A ports.

Our Take

ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero is an excellent Thunderbolt 4 motherboard with all the features you need to build a high-end gaming rig. It has robust power delivery and cooling design, great AI features, and fast connectivity powered by Thunderbolt 4, PCIe Gen4, and WiFi 6E. It is one of the best future-proof motherboards you can buy right now.

PROS
  • Two Thunderbolt 4 ports and PCIe Gen4 support
  • Robust power delivery and cooling
  • Customizable RGB lighting
  • Four M.2 slots (two with PCIe 4.0 support)
  • Six 20Gbps USB-A ports
CONS
  • M.2_1 is disabled for 10th Gen Intel

10. ASUS ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming WiFi – Mini ITX Pick Z590

The ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming WiFi is the best choice for Mini-ITX builders. It comes with a single onboard Thunderbolt 4 port, WiFi 6E, and full PCIe 4.0 speeds through an 11th gen Intel processor. The motherboard is backward compatible with 10th gen Intel processors since it uses the same LGA 1200 socket.

With the ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming WiFi, you don’t have to compromise on any part of your PC. It comes with cutting-edge hardware and features to build a powerful yet small PC that can fit just about anywhere. It is excellent if you have limited desk space or want a full-blown desktop that’s great for portability.

Design

The ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming WiFi comes with an 8+2 power delivery configuration, which is impressive for a motherboard of this size. The thermal design is also excellent. There is a large VRM heatsink with a built-in fan, a heatsink for the two M.2 slots and chipset, and M.2 backplates to improve heat dissipation on sustained loads. Overall, it is an impressive design that allows high performance at low temperatures.

In terms of design, you get the same all-black design as most ASUS motherboards. There is an RGB-lit ROG logo on the M.2/chipset heatsink and an addressable header for more customizations. The pre-mounted I/O shield, BIOS FlashBack, and FlexKey add more value to justify the premium price tag.

Features

While this motherboard belongs to the slightly affordable ROG Strix family, it supports all the artificial intelligence features, including AI Overclocking, AI Cooling, AI Networking, and Two-Way AI Noise-Cancelation. It also supports 5-Way Optimization to tune your entire system performance with just a single click.

Onboard there is only one PCIe 4.0 x16 slot to connect graphics cards or other add-in cards. While small and compact, this motherboard supports up to 64GB of memory with incredible speeds up to DDR4-5133MHz. Not bad for a motherboard so small that it can fit in an eGPU enclosure.

There is an M.2 PCIe 4.0 slot for high-speed storage and another one supporting PCIe 3.0 speeds. You also get four SATA ports for additional storage. With four SATA ports, the motherboard is capable of RAID 0, 1, and 10 configurations.

Connectivity

In addition to the one Thunderbolt 4 port, the ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming has a 20Gbps USB-C port, six additional USB-A ports, 2.5G Ethernet jack, and an HDMI 2.0 output. You also have high-speed storage and wireless speeds with PCIe 4.0 and WiFi 6E support.

Our Take

If you want to build the most powerful small form factor PC today, the ASUS ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming WiFi is the best motherboard for that. It’s specifically designed to deliver exceptional performance in a compact, smaller footprint. Add the Thunderbolt 4 support, WiFi 6E, and PCIe 4.0, and you get yourself that will last for years.

PROS
  • Small yet powerful than ever
  • Next-gen connectivity with WiFi 6E and PCIe 4.0
  • Reliable cooling
  • Full suite of AI features
CONS
  • No 20Gbpps USB-A ports

11. MSI MEG Z590 ACE – Thunderbolt 4 on an average budget

Although their marketing department might disagree, most people regard MSI as a more gaming-focused manufacturer. While ASUS focuses on a broader range of products, MSI competes by providing high-quality gaming products at lower prices. Its MEG Z590 ACE might not fit that mold, being a bit pricier than many other motherboards, but it’s still a budget product if Thunderbolt 4 is a priority!

Z590 ACE has the standard LGA 1200 socket, which can house the latest 11th and 10th Generation Intel processors. The board has two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports.

Design

The board is built on an 8-layered PCB with steel armor over its PCIe slots to protect the VGA cards. RGB lighting and the trademark dragon are present on a black PCB board with an aluminum backplate.

While the board’s built quality is impressive, we weren’t too happy with its onboard space management. For example, the rear I/O shroud extends and covers the adjacent PCIe card bracket. No PCIe slots are lining up with the top rack, but it’s still a problem while mounting the board.

In addition, the I/0 array appears to be a bit more crammed than usual, especially with the two mini-Display Ports.

The cooling profile is good enough. The VRMs are cooled by heat sinks linked through cooling pipes. The heatsink is large enough, and there are cooling spreaders over the m2 slots.

Features

MSI boasts that its 16-phase ISL Digital Pulse Width Modulation provides voltage and current signals with lower distortions. This might be true compared to ASUS 12 + 2 OR 14+2 stage mechanisms, but we can’t say about the high-end power supplies that other manufacturers use. Nevertheless, the technology is solid enough to be presented as a feature by MSI.

Additionally, despite the unimpressive Ethernet bandwidth, MSI decided against downgrading the WiFi 6-E solution, which provides speeds of up to 2400 Mbps.

Connectivity

While all the extra ports make the rear and front I/o panels look a tad untidy, they also make MSI’s motherboard an attractive investment for gamers and content creators looking for more peripherals.

The board has four m2, DIMM slots, and six SATA III slots. You can hook up to 128 GB of RAM. In addition to the two Thunderbolt 4 ports, the motherboard boasts three USB 3.2 and six USB 2.0 ports.

The card has three PCIex16 and two PCIe x1 slots. In addition, an HDMI and two mini-Display Ports are also present along with five audio jacks.

Our Take

MSI’s Z590 ACE provides excellent connectivity and above-average cooling and power regulation profiles. Some users might find the average build quality and port placement off-putting, but MSI offsets that in the price tags. The board is a good option for buyers who want a future-proof Thunderbolt 4 board but are not ready to break the bank.

PROS
  • Comprehensive connectivity options (more m2 and PCIe ports)
  • Above-average cooling profile
  • The aluminum back sheet is thicker than most boards.
CONS
  • 2.5G Ethernet is not impressive for a gaming motherboard
  • Build quality and space management could be better.

12. ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus – Best Budget Thunderbolt 4 Motherboard Z590

If you’re looking for a budget motherboard with Thunderbolt 4 for 11th and 10th Gen Intel builds, ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus is an excellent choice. This motherboard doesn’t have Thunderbolt 4 ports, but it has a Thunderbolt 4 header that lets you add Thunderbolt 4 ports through an add-in card. ASUS has already announced its Thunderbolt 4 PCIe card, which will be available soon.

In the meantime, the motherboard provides a 20Gbps USB-C port for your Type-C peripherals, HDMI and DisplayPort output to connect external monitors, and six additional USB-A ports. All these are at an affordable price tag.

The ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus LGA 1200 has an LGA 1200 socket, so it is compatible with both 10th and 11th gen processors. As with other Z590 motherboards, PCIe 4.0 speed will only be available with an 11th gen processor.

Design

The TUF Gaming Z590-Plus is a very tough motherboard built with military-grade components to ensure durability. It has a dark theme with white branding and the new TUF logo on the chipset and I/O cover, which adds some great aesthetics. Onboard you get RGB lighting, although minimal, and addressable RGB headers to personalize it to your liking. Overall it is a well-built motherboard despite its low price tag.

TUF Gaming Z590-Plus uses 16 DrMOS power stages in a 14+2 configuration to deliver enough power to run the 11th gen processors. It is very much optimized for cooling with a large VRM heatsink, three heatsinked M.2 slots, and multiple fan headers and water pumps.

Features

TUF motherboards are designed for budget builders and thus don’t include many features. The TUF Gaming Z590-Plus only supports 2-Way AI Noise Cancelation and misses out on the other AI features. However, you get the Fan Xpert 4 utility which gives you total control over the cooling performance.

There are two PCIe x16 slots on board, but only one supports PCIe Gen4 speeds. There are two additional PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. There is one M.2 PCIe 4.0 slot, two M.2 PCIe 3.0 slots, and six SATA ports for storage. It has four DIMM slots, supporting up to 128GB.

Connectivity

To add Thunderbolt 4 ports on this motherboard, you’ll need a Thunderbolt 4 to PCIe adapter, which is sold separately. The motherboard comes with a 20Gbps USB-C port, dual 10Gbps USB-A ports, and four additional onboard USB-A ports. For wireless connectivity, there is WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

Our Take

ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus is the best budget motherboard with Thunderbolt 4 you can buy. It does not come with onboard Thunderbolt 4 ports, but you can add some via a Thunderbolt 4 PCIe card. Elsewhere, you’re getting all the essential features needed to build a high-end gaming rig. If you can manually tune the system and find the best overclocking and thermal settings, save your money and get this motherboard.

PROS
  • Best value
  • Faster connectivity with Thunderbolt 4, WiFi 6, and PCIe Gen4
  • Robust build quality
  • Solid power delivery
CONS
  • Thunderbolt 4 ports require an external adapter, which raises the cost

Choosing the Best Motherboards with Thunderbolt 4 – The best Buying Guide

Here is what to consider when buying a Thunderbolt 4 motherboard.

Platform: AMD or Intel

Most motherboards that support Thunderbolt are Intel-based. Well, it’s not a surprise since Thunderbolt was co-developed by Intel and Apple. However, you still have a few options if you’re looking for an AMD motherboard with Thunderbolt connectivity.

ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming was the only AMD motherboard that supported Thunderbolt 3. Recently, ASUS announced the first AMD B550 motherboard with Thunderbolt 4 ports, the ProArt B550-Creator.

For Intel, many motherboards support Thunderbolt 4. And since Thunderbolt 4 is integrated into the newly-released 11th gen Intel processors, building an Intel-based Thunderbolt 4 PC is now easier than ever. Choosing the best platform depends on your needs and preference. Both Intel and AMD have excellent entry-level, mid-range, and powerful processors.

According to PassMark’s single-thread performance, Intel Core i9-11900K graces the top, followed by Apple M1 8, Intel Core i7-11700K, AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, and AMD Ryzen 9 5950X for the top five. These are all powerful processors that can build high-end gaming, VR, and content creation rigs. So, it’s a matter of preference really and availability. Have you tried buying a PS5 or an RTX 3080 lately?

Form Factor

Most Thunderbolt 4 motherboards come with an ATX form factor. It is the de facto standard, offering more space, expansion slots, and ports. Most PC cases available on the market are compatible with ATX motherboards.

ATX motherboards have up to seven expansion slots, eight RAM slots, and 12 SATA ports for storage drives. That’s enough plugs for your components and future expansion plans. ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z690 HERO (Amazon Link) is the best ATX motherboard with Thunderbolt 4.

Micro-ATX motherboards are a few inches smaller than ATX motherboards. They have fewer plugs and expansion slots but more than Mini-ITX boards. If you want to build a small Thunderbolt 4 PC with more room for devices and expansion, a micro ATX motherboard is the best choice.

Mini ITX motherboards are the smallest. They are usually used to build tiny PCs. These motherboards are small and compact but provide room for a full-size graphics card, two RAM sticks, and up to six storage drives. If you want to build a full-blown Thunderbolt 4 PC for a space-constrained desk or portability, mini ITX motherboards are the best.

ASUS ROG STRIX Z690-I GAMING WIFI (Amazon Link) is the best mini ITX motherboard with Thunderbolt 4 ports you can buy today.

Socket

Processor compatibility depends on the type of socket in the motherboards. A socket is where you install the processor in the motherboard. Different generations of processors use different types of sockets.

The latest Intel motherboards come with an LGA 1200 socket, which is compatible with 10th gen and the latest 11th gen processors. Yes, Intel retained the same processor socket in the new Z590 motherboards. However, you can only unlock Thunderbolt 4 and PCIe 4.0 capabilities on the new Z590 motherboards using an 11th gen processor.

On the other hand, the latest AMD motherboards use the AM4 socket, which is compatible with the new 5000 series processors and last-gen 4000 and 3000 series desktop processors.

Thunderbolt 4 Ports

If everything remains the same, select the motherboard with the most Thunderbolt 4 ports. Having many Thunderbolt 4 ports allows you to connect many devices and peripherals, such as Thunderbolt 4 monitors, docking stations, external drives, NAS devices, 10G Ethernet adapters, and more, to expand the functionality of your system.

You can leverage Thunderbolt 4 daisy-chaining features to create independent daisy-chains on each port, which allows you to connect even more Thunderbolt devices than you could ever imagine. The ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero (Amazon Link) with two onboard Thunderbolt 4 ports is the best you can get in the market for Rocket Lake builds.

If the motherboard comes with a Thunderbolt 4 header instead of onboard Thunderbolt 4 ports, such as the ASUS TUF Gaming Z590-Plus (Amazon Link), you can choose the Thunderbolt 4 add-on card with the most Thunderbolt 4 ports. ASUS announced a Thunderbolt 4 PCIe card with two Thunderbolt 4 ports. We will update you with a link if more adapters are available for purchase.

Expansion Slots

Expansion slots are one of the reasons people prefer desktops to laptops. You can easily expand your PC’s functionality using an adapter card, such as a WiFi card, sound card, storage devices, and a host of others. These adapters (also known as add-on or add-in cards) install on the desktop via an expansion slot. The PCI Express (PCIe) is the standard expansion slot available in most motherboards today.

A motherboard can have one or more PCIe expansion slots depending on the form factor. PCIe slots come in different sizes, from a smaller PCIe x1 to PCIe x4, PCIe x8, and PCIe x16. The speed of a PCIe slot depends on the lanes a CPU allocates to devices and the speed at which those lanes operate.

A PCIe 3.0 x16 slot running at full 16 lanes (X16) has a bandwidth of 32GB/s, while the same PCIe slot at PCIe Gen4 speeds has a bandwidth of 64GB/s.

All motherboards in this roundup support PCIe 4.0. However, you’ll need to use an 11th gen Intel processor to unlock PCIe Gen4. For AMD, you can use both 5000 and 4000 series processors.

Graphics cards require a full-length PCIe x16 slot running at 16 lanes to deliver the best performance. However, you can use a PCIe x8 slot with a PCIe Gen4 motherboard and still get similar performance. M.2 drives only require four PCIe lanes to work at their full potential. All add-in cards indicate the required PCIe lanes to work at full speeds. It is good to check you have the available lanes to get the best of a PCIe adapter card.

The number of PCIe lanes a CPU can allocate to devices is limited. As a result, some motherboards may disable some PCIe slots when the lanes are saturated. For instance, using all the M.2 PCIe slots in a motherboard may disable a few SATA slots. Or a PCIe x16 slot may run at X8 speed when another PCIe x16 slot is being used. How this is implemented depends on the type of motherboard.

The latest Z690 motherboards now support the new PCIe 5.0 standard. PCIe 5.0 is twice the speed of PCIe 4.0, meaning higher frame rates and less time taken to render complex 3D models and 4K videos.

All Z690 motherboards featured in this roundup provide at least one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot.

GPU Support

Both Intel and AMD processors have integrated graphics that can drive an external monitor and handle lightweight tasks such as light photo editing. However, if you’re building a PC for professional video and photo editing, AAA gaming, or 3D workflows, you’ll need a dedicated graphics card.

Graphics are installed to the motherboard through a PCIe expansion slot, preferably a full-length PCIe x16 slot. Even the smaller mini ITX boards include one PCIe x16 expansion slot.

If you plan to use multiple graphics cards, select a motherboard with more than one PCIe x16 slot and make sure it supports multi-GPU configurations such as SLI for NVIDIA and CrossFire for AMD GPUs. The ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero (Amazon Link) supports two graphics cards through NVIDIA SLI.

Storage

Motherboards come with M.2 slots and SATA ports for connecting storage drives. For the best performance, ensure the motherboard has at least one M.2 PCIe 4.0 slot and more than four SATA ports. The latest M.2 PCIe 4.0 delivers insanely fast speeds, breaking the 7000MBps barrier. This results in faster OS and application boot times, zero game loading screens, and quick rendering time in content creation.

More reading: Best PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs

If you need more storage capacity for media and other files, a SATA SSD or the older HDD can come in handy. They may not be as fast as M.2 drives, but they are very affordable and great for storing large files.

The ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z690 HERO (Amazon Link) with five M.2 slots (three support PCIe 4.0 and one supports PCIe 5.0) and six SATA is the best most pro users and hardcore gamers.

RAM

How much memory you need in your PC depends on your needs. 8GB is great for entry-level and budget PCs, but we consider 16GB to be the sweet spot for most people.

RAM plugs into a motherboard using dual in-line memory modules (DIMM). The number of DIMM slots determines how much RAM you can install to your PC, but not to a great extent since you can add 64GB with just two DIMM slots. You’ll get the best experience when you install RAM in matched pairs to take advantage of dual-channel mode.

New Z690 motherboards support the new DDR5 memory. DDR5 memory is much faster than DDR4, but the two aren’t compatible. You can’t use DDR5 memory kits in a DDR4 motherboard and vice versa.

If you’re shopping for a new Thunderbolt 4 motherboard with a Z690 platform, ensure to check the supported type of memory. You can either buy a Z690 motherboard with DDR5 support or Z690 motherboard with DDR4 memory support. It’s also worth mentioning that the new DDR5 memory kits don’t come cheap, and they aren’t readily available.

Best Motherboards with Thunderbolt 4 – Frequently Asked Questions

Do AMD motherboards support Thunderbolt 4?

AMD motherboards support Thunderbolt 4. ASUS recently announced the ProArt B550-Creator, an AMD motherboard with two Thunderbolt 4 ports.

Does my motherboard support Thunderbolt 4?

You can confirm if your motherboard supports Thunderbolt 4 by checking if it has Thunderbolt 4 ports in the back panel or a Thunderbolt 4 header. You can check if it appears in our Thunderbolt 4 motherboards list or the manufacturer’s product page.

Can I add Thunderbolt 4 to my PC?

You can add Thunderbolt 4 to your PC if the motherboard has a Thunderbolt 4 header using a Thunderbolt 4 to PCIe adapter.

Is Thunderbolt exclusive to Intel?

Thunderbolt is not exclusive to Intel anymore. Some AMD motherboards support Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4.

1 comment
  1. Hi Ed,

    I don’t see an obvious date of creation for this posting. For me, this negates any value the posting may have otherwise had as a “…best…” recommendation.

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