A motherboard with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth saves a PCIe slot and keeps a new desktop ready for wireless networking, headphones, controllers, keyboards, and mice. Choose the socket first. An Intel LGA1851 board fits Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors, and an AM5 board fits AMD Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 desktop processors.
For an AM5 build that also needs fast Type-C accessories, the ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi and GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 ICE add two rear USB4 ports. The other boards fit a smaller Mini-ITX case, four M.2 slots without USB4, or a B850 board with 5Gb Ethernet.
Choose the CPU socket before comparing wireless versions, then decide whether the build needs USB4 ports, a compact board, or extra storage sockets.Table of Contents
Best Motherboards With WiFi and Bluetooth Compared
| Image | Product | Details | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi | Best fit: AM5 build with two rear USB4 ports Socket: AMD AM5 for Ryzen 9000, 8000, and 7000 Wireless: Wi-Fi 7; Bluetooth 5.4 Storage: Five M.2 slots; four SATA ports USB4 or Thunderbolt: Two rear USB4 40Gbps Type-C ports | Check Price on Amazon |
 | GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 ICE | Best fit: AM5 build with two USB4 ports and four M.2 slots Socket: AMD AM5 for Ryzen 9000, 8000, and 7000 Wireless: Wi-Fi 7; Bluetooth 5.4 Storage: Four M.2 slots; four SATA ports USB4 or Thunderbolt: Two rear USB4 Type-C ports with DisplayPort output | Check Price on Amazon |
 | ASUS ROG Strix B850-F Gaming WiFi | Best fit: B850 build with four M.2 slots Socket: AMD AM5 for Ryzen 9000, 8000, and 7000 Wireless: Wi-Fi 7; Bluetooth 5.4 Storage: Four M.2 slots; two SATA ports USB4 or Thunderbolt: Thunderbolt (USB4) header; no rear USB4 port listed | Check Price on Amazon |
 | GIGABYTE B850 AORUS Elite WIFI7 | Best fit: ATX AM5 build with three M.2 slots and four SATA ports Socket: AMD AM5 for Ryzen 9000, 8000, and 7000 Wireless: Wi-Fi 7; Bluetooth 5.4 Storage: Three M.2 slots; four SATA ports USB4 or Thunderbolt: No USB4 or Thunderbolt port listed | Check Price on Amazon |
 | MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi | Best fit: B850 build with 5Gb Ethernet Socket: AMD AM5 for Ryzen 9000, 8000, and 7000 Wireless: Wi-Fi 7; Bluetooth 5.4 Storage: Three M.2 slots; four SATA ports USB4 or Thunderbolt: No USB4 or Thunderbolt port listed | Check Price on Amazon |
 | ASRock B860I WiFi | Best fit: Compact Intel Core Ultra build Socket: Intel LGA1851 for Core Ultra Series 2 Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E; Bluetooth 5.3 Storage: Two M.2 slots; four SATA ports USB4 or Thunderbolt: No USB4 or Thunderbolt port listed | Check Price on Amazon |
1. ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi — Best for AM5 Builds With Two Rear USB4 Ports
The ROG Strix X870E-E suits an AM5 desktop that needs two rear USB4 Type-C ports with display output. ASUS specifies Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, 5Gb Ethernet, five M.2 slots, and four SATA ports.
ASUS documents three PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots for Ryzen 9000 and 7000 processors, and says using M.2_2 or M.2_3 changes the PCIEX16(G5) slot to x8 mode. ASUS also says Ryzen 8000 processors disable M.2_2 and M.2_3. The two USB4 (40Gbps) ports support USB Type-C display outputs.
Our Take
Buy the ROG Strix X870E-E when the desktop needs USB4 devices and broad storage expansion. Choose the GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 ICE when four M.2 slots and 2.5GbE are enough.
- ASUS gives an AM5 desktop two 40Gbps rear USB4 Type-C ports with display output.
- ASUS provides five M.2 slots and four SATA ports for broad internal storage expansion.
- ASUS combines Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and 5Gb Ethernet on the same AM5 board.
- ASUS says using M.2_2 or M.2_3 on the X870E-E changes the PCIEX16(G5) slot to x8 mode.
- ASUS says Ryzen 8000 processors disable M.2_2 and M.2_3 on this board.
2. GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 ICE — Best AM5 Board With Two USB4 Ports and Four M.2 Slots
GIGABYTE gives the X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 ICE, an ATX AM5 board, two rear USB4 Type-C ports with DisplayPort video output. GIGABYTE lists Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 support, 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4.
GIGABYTE provides four M.2 sockets and four SATA connectors, and says three of the M.2 sockets support PCIe 5.0 x4 with Ryzen 9000 or 7000 processors. ASUS lists a fifth M.2 slot and 5Gb Ethernet on the X870E-E, which GIGABYTE does not list for this board. GIGABYTE lists a MediaTek MT7925 module on PCB revision 1.0 and a Realtek RTL8922AE module on revisions 1.1 and 1.2, and both support Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
None of the B850 boards below lists a rear USB4 port, and this board lists two with DisplayPort output.Our Take
Buy the X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 ICE for an AM5 build that needs USB4 and four M.2 slots. Pick the ASUS X870E-E when five M.2 slots and 5Gb Ethernet are a better match.
- GIGABYTE gives an ATX AM5 build two rear USB4 Type-C ports with DisplayPort output.
- GIGABYTE provides four M.2 sockets and four SATA connectors for internal storage.
- GIGABYTE specifies Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless and 2.5GbE for wired networking.
- GIGABYTE says three of its four M.2 sockets support PCIe 5.0 x4 with Ryzen 9000 or 7000 processors.
- GIGABYTE lists a MediaTek module on PCB revision 1.0 and a Realtek module on revisions 1.1 and 1.2.
- GIGABYTE provides 2.5GbE rather than the 5Gb Ethernet on the ASUS X870E-E and MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi.
- GIGABYTE provides four M.2 slots, one fewer than the ASUS X870E-E.
3. ASUS ROG Strix B850-F Gaming WiFi — Best B850 Board for Four M.2 Slots
The ROG Strix B850-F suits an AM5 system that wants Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and four M.2 slots without rear USB4 ports. ASUS states that AM5 supports Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 desktop processors.
ASUS lists a Thunderbolt (USB4) header among its internal connectors and no rear USB4 port. The rear panel has one USB 20Gbps Type-C port, while the X870 boards above place two USB4 Type-C ports there. ASUS lists two PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots with Ryzen 7000 and 9000 processors, says M.2_3 shares bandwidth with PCIEX16(G4), and says Wi-Fi 7 needs Windows 11 24H2 or later for full function.
ASUS also lists Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet and two SATA ports, so the board suits a build centered on M.2 SSDs.
ASUS lists a Thunderbolt (USB4) header on this board, not a rear USB4 Type-C port.Our Take
Buy the ROG Strix B850-F when four M.2 slots and Wi-Fi 7 are more useful than native rear USB4. Skip it for a SATA-heavy build, because ASUS specifies two SATA ports.
- ASUS provides four M.2 slots, one more than the GIGABYTE and MSI B850 boards.
- ASUS specifies Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for an AM5 system on this board.
- ASUS lists one Thunderbolt (USB4) header among its internal connectors.
- A Ryzen 7000 or 9000 processor gets two PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots on this board, according to ASUS.
- ASUS provides Intel 2.5Gb Ethernet for wired networking.
- ASUS lists a header rather than rear USB4 Type-C ports.
- A SATA-heavy build gets two SATA ports from ASUS here, against four on the GIGABYTE and MSI B850 boards.
- ASUS says M.2_3 shares bandwidth with PCIEX16(G4).
- ASUS says full Wi-Fi 7 function needs Windows 11 24H2 or later.
4. GIGABYTE B850 AORUS Elite WIFI7 — Best AM5 ATX Board for Three M.2 Slots and Four SATA Ports
The B850 AORUS Elite WIFI7 is an ATX AM5 choice with Wi-Fi 7, three M.2 slots, and four SATA connectors. GIGABYTE specifies Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 support, 2.5GbE, a Realtek RTL8922AE Wi-Fi 7 module, Bluetooth 5.4, and 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands.
The primary M.2 socket supports PCIe 5.0 x4 or x2 with Ryzen 9000 and 7000 processors, while the other two use PCIe 4.0 modes. Four SATA connectors suit a mixed drive build better than the two on the ASUS B850-F. GIGABYTE lists one rear USB Type-C port at USB 3.2 Gen 2 speed and no USB4 or Thunderbolt port, so choose an X870 board if USB4 is decisive.
Our Take
Buy the B850 AORUS Elite WIFI7 for an ATX AM5 build with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and mixed M.2 and SATA storage. Choose the MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi when 5Gb Ethernet is needed.
- GIGABYTE specifies Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and support for the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands.
- GIGABYTE provides three M.2 sockets and four SATA connectors, seven drive connections for a mixed drive build.
- GIGABYTE says the primary M.2 socket supports PCIe 5.0 with Ryzen 9000 and 7000 processors.
- GIGABYTE provides 2.5GbE networking.
- GIGABYTE supports Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 processors on AM5.
- GIGABYTE names a Realtek RTL8922AE Wi-Fi 7 module.
- GIGABYTE lists no USB4 or Thunderbolt port for direct accessory connections.
- GIGABYTE provides three M.2 sockets, fewer than the ASUS and X870 alternatives.
5. MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi — Best B850 Board With 5Gb Ethernet
The MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi fits a desktop that will use 5Gb Ethernet as well as wireless connections. MSI specifies a pre-installed Wi-Fi 7 module with Bluetooth 5.4, support for 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands, and a Realtek 5Gb LAN port.
Its AM5 socket supports Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 desktop processors, with three M.2 slots and four SATA connectors. The first M.2 slot supports PCIe 5.0 x4 with Ryzen 9000 or 7000 processors, though MSI says it drops to PCIe 4.0 x4 with Ryzen 8000. Rear USB includes two 10Gbps Type-C ports, but MSI does not identify them as USB4.
Our Take
Buy the MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi when the build needs 5Gb Ethernet on a B850 board. Pick the GIGABYTE B850 AORUS Elite WIFI7 above if 2.5GbE is enough, or an X870 board when USB4 is necessary.
- MSI specifies 5Gb Ethernet, where the GIGABYTE boards here specify 2.5GbE.
- MSI pre-installs Wi-Fi 7 with Bluetooth 5.4 and 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz support.
- MSI provides three M.2 slots and four SATA connectors for internal storage.
- MSI lists rear 10Gbps Type-C ports, not USB4 or Thunderbolt support.
- MSI limits M.2_1 to PCIe 4.0 x4 with Ryzen 8000 processors.
- MSI provides three M.2 slots, fewer than the ASUS B850-F and X870 boards.
6. ASRock B860I WiFi — Best Compact Intel Board
The ASRock B860I WiFi is a Mini-ITX board for Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors. ASRock specifies LGA1851, Wi-Fi 6E with extended 6GHz support, Bluetooth 5.3, 2.5GbE, and Gigabit Ethernet.
Space is the tradeoff. ASRock provides two DDR5 DIMM slots, one PCIe 5.0 x16 graphics slot, one PCIe Gen5 M.2 slot, one PCIe Gen4 M.2 slot, and four SATA connectors. The rear Type-C port is USB 3.2 Gen2x2 rather than USB4. For high-speed accessory connections, see our guide to USB4 hubs and docks.
Our Take
Buy the B860I WiFi for a compact Intel Core Ultra Series 2 system. Skip it for Wi-Fi 7, more than two M.2 slots, or rear USB4.
- ASRock provides a Mini-ITX board for LGA1851 Core Ultra Series 2 processors with a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot.
- ASRock specifies Wi-Fi 6E with extended 6GHz support and Bluetooth 5.3.
- ASRock specifies one 2.5GbE port and one Gigabit Ethernet port.
- ASRock provides one PCIe Gen5 M.2 slot and one PCIe Gen4 M.2 slot.
- ASRock uses Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 rather than the Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 listed for the five AM5 boards.
- ASRock provides two DDR5 DIMM slots and two M.2 slots in the Mini-ITX layout.
- ASRock provides USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C rather than USB4 ports.
- ASRock supports Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors, not AMD Ryzen CPUs.
Buying Guide
1. Choose Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 by the router and operating system
Wi-Fi 7 is the better match when the router and PC software also support it. The ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E, ASUS ROG Strix B850-F, GIGABYTE B850 AORUS Elite WIFI7, GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 ICE, and MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi all state Wi-Fi 7. ASUS says Wi-Fi 7 needs Windows 11 24H2 or later for full function, MSI says Wi-Fi 7 will be ready in Windows 11 version 24H2, and GIGABYTE says Wi-Fi 7 features require Windows 11 SV3. Check the operating system and router before expecting Wi-Fi 7 speeds.
Wi-Fi 6E suits a compact Intel system with a 6GHz-capable router. ASRock gives the B860I WiFi a Wi-Fi 6E module with extended 6GHz support, says Windows 11 is required for the 6GHz band, and says a 6GHz compatible router is required for 6E. Choose this board for its Mini-ITX layout and Intel socket, not for Wi-Fi 7.
2. Treat the Bluetooth version as a peripheral compatibility detail
Bluetooth belongs in the motherboard decision when the desktop will pair directly with headphones, controllers, speakers, keyboards, or mice. The five Wi-Fi 7 boards state Bluetooth 5.4, and ASRock states Bluetooth 5.3 for the B860I WiFi. ASUS, GIGABYTE, and MSI also say the Bluetooth version may change or vary with updates, and each points to the Wi-Fi chip vendor’s website for details.
Install the antenna before judging Wi-Fi or Bluetooth range. ASRock lists two Wi-Fi antennas with the B860I WiFi, ASUS lists a Wi-Fi moving antenna with the X870E-E, and MSI specifies that its Wi-Fi 7 module is pre-installed in an M.2 Key-E slot. GIGABYTE names the module on each AORUS board and lists two antenna connectors on the rear panel. Use a separate USB Bluetooth adapter only when a peripheral needs a Bluetooth version the board does not state.
3. Match the socket to the processor before every other feature
AMD AM5 and Intel LGA1851 are not interchangeable, even when the boards share Wi-Fi and Bluetooth features. The five AM5 boards here support Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 desktop processors. The ASRock B860I WiFi supports Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors on LGA1851, so it is the compact Intel choice, not an option for a Ryzen chip already owned.
The processor can change storage behavior on the same socket. ASUS, GIGABYTE, and MSI list different M.2 modes for Ryzen 8000 than for Ryzen 7000 and 9000, and the ASUS X870E-E and GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 ICE say two of their M.2 slots are unavailable with Ryzen 8000. Check the maker’s storage notes before planning a multi-drive layout.
4. Count M.2 and SATA connections around the drives you own
M.2 sockets are not the whole storage plan when older SATA drives stay in the desktop. The ASUS X870E-E offers five M.2 slots plus four SATA ports, the GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 ICE offers four plus four, and the GIGABYTE B850 AORUS Elite WIFI7 and MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi offer three plus four. The ASUS B850-F has four M.2 slots but two SATA ports, which fits an NVMe-led build better than a drive migration.
Shared lanes can limit the graphics card and drive plan. The ASUS X870E-E changes its PCIEX16(G5) slot to x8 mode when M.2_2 or M.2_3 is populated, the ASUS B850-F says M.2_3 shares bandwidth with PCIEX16(G4), and GIGABYTE says the PCIEX16 slot on the X870 ICE runs at up to x8 when M2B_CPU or M2C_CPU is populated. Plan the graphics card, NVMe drives, and add-in cards together before choosing a board.
5. Pick USB4 or Thunderbolt support only when accessories need it
Native USB4 gives a desktop Type-C connections for high-speed storage, compatible displays, or a dock. The ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E and GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 ICE both state two rear USB4 Type-C ports with display output. The ASUS B850-F instead lists a Thunderbolt (USB4) header and no rear USB4 port.
A 10Gbps or 20Gbps Type-C port is not USB4. MSI specifies rear 10Gbps Type-C ports, ASUS lists one 20Gbps Type-C port on the B850-F, and ASRock specifies a rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C port on the B860I WiFi. For an external dock or display setup, compare the device’s stated requirements with our Thunderbolt 4 docking-station guide and USB-C monitor guide before treating a Type-C shape as a compatibility answer.
FAQ
Do motherboards with WiFi also have Bluetooth?
The six boards in this guide state built-in Bluetooth alongside their wireless networking. The five Wi-Fi 7 models specify Bluetooth 5.4, and ASRock specifies Bluetooth 5.3 for the B860I WiFi. ASRock says built-in Bluetooth connects keyboards, mice, headsets, controllers, speakers, and smartphones.
Wireless hardware can vary by board revision or software support. Check the maker’s page and install the antenna before adding a separate adapter.
Is Wi-Fi 7 better than Wi-Fi 6E for a desktop motherboard?
Wi-Fi 7 is the newer standard, but the five boards that state it tie full function to a Windows 11 version. ASUS says full Wi-Fi 7 function requires Windows 11 24H2 or later, MSI says Wi-Fi 7 will be ready in Windows 11 version 24H2, and GIGABYTE says its Wi-Fi 7 features require Windows 11 SV3.
Wi-Fi 6E can be enough for a build centered on the ASRock B860I WiFi, which supports the 6GHz band under Windows 11 and needs a 6GHz compatible router. Choose the motherboard’s socket and size first, then use the wireless version to break a tie between compatible boards.
Can an AMD AM5 board use an Intel processor?
No, an AM5 board cannot use an Intel processor because AM5 is an AMD CPU socket. The ASUS, GIGABYTE, and MSI boards here support AMD Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 desktop processors. Their Wi-Fi and Bluetooth hardware does not change the socket.
The ASRock B860I WiFi is the Intel option on this page because it uses LGA1851 for Core Ultra Series 2 processors. Decide between the CPU brands before comparing M.2 counts, Wi-Fi generation, or USB4 ports.
Does a Thunderbolt USB4 header mean the board has USB4 ports?
No, a Thunderbolt (USB4) header is not a rear USB4 port. The ASUS ROG Strix B850-F lists one Thunderbolt (USB4) header among its internal connectors and no rear USB4 port, while the ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E and GIGABYTE X870 AORUS Elite WIFI7 ICE state two rear USB4 Type-C ports.
If the desktop needs a USB4 Type-C port at the back of the case, pick a board whose maker states rear USB4 ports. Our USB4 hubs and docks guide covers accessories for those ports.
How many M.2 slots should a Wi-Fi motherboard have?
The right M.2 count is the number of NVMe drives the build needs after accounting for CPU and lane limits. Two slots suit the compact B860I, three work for the GIGABYTE B850 and MSI B850 boards, four suit the ASUS B850-F and GIGABYTE X870, and five suit the ASUS X870E-E. SATA connections may be equally useful when moving older drives.
Read the maker’s storage notes before filling every socket. The ASUS X870E-E and B850-F show why, because particular M.2 choices can change PCIe behavior, while Ryzen 8000 processors affect the available M.2 configuration on some AM5 boards.
Bottom Line
The ASUS ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi is the broadest pick when an AM5 build needs Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, five M.2 slots, 5Gb Ethernet, and two rear USB4 ports. The GIGABYTE B850 AORUS Elite WIFI7 suits an AM5 build with three M.2 slots and four SATA connectors, and the ASRock B860I WiFi brings built-in Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 to a compact LGA1851 build.
