15 Best Motherboards with WiFi and Bluetooth

Best Motherboards with WiFi and Bluetooth
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The market is flooded with motherboards that offer a wide range of customizability, making it confusing to choose the right one for you. While there are several criteria for selecting a motherboard, motherboards with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth features will appeal to anyone for whom network connectivity is of paramount importance.

But there is a problem, even after narrowing down the criteria to motherboards with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the list remains long, and choosing one is tricky.

There are several parameters to consider. For instance, the processor you intend to use, what generation the processor belongs to, the size of the motherboard, and much more. Even for seasoned users, selecting the right motherboard can seem maddening, if not intimidating.

To bring some method to this madness, we have carefully curated the list of the best motherboards with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The selection will ensure that you quickly match your requirements to the motherboard’s specifications and help you choose the best motherboard to suit your need.

We will review each motherboard and highlight its pros and cons so you can gauge it better. Our comparison table will act as a ready reckoner and present a summarized list of the motherboard’s specifications. Next, we’ll present our buying guide to help you identify the right motherboard, and we’ll close by answering some frequently asked questions.

 

Table of Contents

Comparison of the Best Motherboards with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

ImageProductDetailsCheck Price
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E on Amazon
ASUS ROG Strix Z690-ESocket: LGA1700
Form Factor: ATX
CPU: Intel Core 12th Gen
RAM: Max. 128GB DDR5
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth: 5.2
Expansion Slot:1 x PCIe 5.0 x16
1 x PCIe 4.0 x16
1 x PCIe 3.0 x16
1 x PCIe 3.0 x1
5 x M.2 slots
Storage: 6 X SATA 6GB/s
Chipset: Intel Z690
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GIGABYTE X570S AORUS Master on Amazon
GIGABYTE X570S AORUS MasterSocket: AM4
Form Factor: ATX
CPU: AMD Ryzen 2
RAM: Max. 128GB DDR4
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth: 5.2
Expansion Slot: 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16
1 x PCIe 4.0 x8
1 x PCIe 4.0 x4
4 x M.2 slots
Storage: 6 X SATA 6GB/s
Chipset: AMD X570
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MSI MEG Z690 ACE on Amazon
MSI MEG Z690 ACESocket: LGA1700
Form Factor: E-ATX
CPU: Intel Core 12th Gen
RAM: Max. 128GB DDR5
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth: 5.2
Expansion Slot: 2 x PCIe 5.0 x16
1 x PCIe 4.0 x4
5 x M.2 slots
Storage: 6 X SATA 6GB/s
Chipset: Intel Z690
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MSI MAG B550M Mortar on Amazon
MSI MAG B550M MortarSocket: AM4
Form Factor: Micro-ATX
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5000 Series
RAM: Max. 128GB DDR4
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth: 5.2
Expansion Slot: 1x PCIe 4.0 x16
1 x PCIe 3.0 x16
2 x PCIe 3.0 x1
2 x M.2 slots
Storage: 6 X SATA 6GB/s
Chipset: B550
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ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero on Amazon
ASUS ROG Maximus XIII HeroSocket: LGA1200
Form Factor: ATX
CPU: Intel Core 10
RAM: Max. 128GB DDR4
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth: 5.2
Expansion Slot: 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16
1 x PCIe 3.0 x1
4 X M.2 slots
Storage: 6 X SATA 6GB/s
Chipset: Intel Z590
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Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming on Amazon
Asus ROG Strix X570-E GamingSocket: AM4
Form Factor: ATX
CPU: AMD Ryzen 3
RAM: Max. 128GB DDR4
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth: 5.0
Expansion Slot: 3 x PCIe 4.0 x16
4 x M.2 slots
Storage: 8 X SATA 6GB/s
Chipset: AMD X570
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ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula on Amazon
ASUS ROG Maximus XII FormulaSocket: LGA1200
Form Factor: ATX
CPU: Intel Core 10th Gen
RAM: Max. 128GB DDR4
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth: 5.1
Expansion Slot: 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16
1 x PCIe 3.0 x4
3 x M.2 slots
Storage: 6 X SATA 6GB/s
Chipset: Intel Z490
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MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge Wi-Fi on Amazon
MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge Wi-FiSocket: LGA1200
Form Factor: Micro-ATX
CPU: Intel Core 10
RAM: Max. 128GB DDR4
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth: 5.2
Expansion Slot: 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16
2 x PCIe 3.0 x1
2 x M.2 slots
Storage: 4 X SATA 6GB/s
Chipset: Intel Z490
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ASUS Prime B550M-A WiFi on Amazon
ASUS Prime B550M-A WiFiSocket: AM4
Form Factor: Micro-ATX
CPU: AMD Ryzen 3
RAM: Max. 128GB DDR4
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth: 5.1
Expansion Slot: 1x PCIe 4.0 x16
2 x PCIe 3.0 x1
2 x M.2 slots
Storage: 4 X SATA 6GB/s
Chipset: AMD B550
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ASUS ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming on Amazon
ASUS ROG Strix Z590-I GamingSocket: LGA1200
Form Factor: mini-ITX
CPU: Intel Core 10
RAM: Max. 64GB DDR4
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth: 5.2
Expansion Slot: 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16
2 x M.2 slots
Storage: 4 X SATA 6GB/s
Chipset: Intel Z590
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GIGABYTE B550I AORUS PRO AX on Amazon
GIGABYTE B550I AORUS PRO AXSocket: AM4
Form Factor: mini-ITX
CPU: AMD Ryzen 3
RAM: Max. 64 DDR4
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth: 5.0
Expansion Slot: 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16
2 x M.2 slots
Storage: 4 X SATA 6GB/s
Chipset: AMD B550
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GIGABYTE B450 AORUS PRO WIFI on Amazon
GIGABYTE B450 AORUS PRO WIFISocket: AM4
Form Factor: ATX
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5th, 3
RAM: Max. 128 DDR4
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth: 4.2
Expansion Slot: 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16
1 x PCIe 3.0 x4
1 x PCIe 2.0 x16
1 x PCIe 2.0 x1
2 x M.2 slots
Storage: 6 X SATA 6GB/s
Chipset: AMD B450
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Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro on Amazon
Gigabyte Z390 Aorus ProSocket: LGA1151
Form Factor: Micro-ATX
CPU: Intel Core 8
RAM: Max. 128GB DDR4
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth: 5.0
Expansion Slot: 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16
2 x PCIe 3.0 x1
2 x M.2 slots
Storage: 4 X SATA 6GB/s
Chipset: Intel Z390
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MSI MPG Z390M Gaming Edge on Amazon
MSI MPG Z390M Gaming EdgeSocket: LGA1151
Form Factor: Micro-ATX
CPU: Intel Core 8
RAM: Max. 128GB DDR4
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth: 5.0
Expansion Slot: 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16
2 x PCIe 3.0 x1
2 x M.2 slots
Storage: 4 X SATA 6GB/s
Chipset: Intel Z390
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ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I on Amazon
ASUS ROG Strix Z390-ISocket: LGA1151
Form Factor: mini-ITX
CPU: Intel Core 8
RAM: Max. 64GB DDR4
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth: 5.0
Expansion Slot: 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16
2 x M.2 slots
Storage: 4 X SATA 6GB/s
Chipset: Intel Z390
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The Best Motherboards with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth – Our Pick

1. ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E – Best ATX Motherboard for 12th-Gen Intel Core

The Asus ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming is streamlined for high-performance gaming in all aspects, from design to features.

The thermal design of this motherboard incorporates integrated I/O and VRM heatsinks. You also get multiple heatsinks for the M.2 components and a dedicated heatsink for the chipset. Additionally, Asus includes a header for water pumps and cooling fans to ensure that your rig doesn’t overheat while you overclock the CPU.

The ATX form factor targets the most popular category of motherboard size and offers enough room for easy expansion. It provides minimal RGB lighting or graphics, and the all-black design will merge into your PC cabinet. But if you want gaming vibes, the motherboard offers three addressable headers and one 4-pin Aura RGB header to connect the lighting of your choice.

The ROG Strix Z690-E focuses on gaming performance. So, it supports Intel’s 12th-gen processors and features PCIe 5.0, which allows it to deliver the fastest gaming experience money can buy. Further, the four DIMM slots support up to 128GB DDR5 RAM, which you can pair with the latest GPU using the PCIe 5.0 x16 slot to enjoy resource-hungry games. You also get an assortment of PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 3.0 slots and five M.2 slots for storage.

Asus offers AI Overclocking, AI Cooling, AI Networking, and AI Noise Cancellation, so you can let the PC do the technical tweaking while you enjoy your gaming session. The VRM offers plenty of power with the 18+1 90A power stages that offer power on demand and easily support overclocking and multi-core operations.

The motherboard offers as many as twelve USB ports for expansion. You also get DisplayPort and HDMI ports for video outputs and an adequate number of audio ports to connect external speakers of your choice. Unfortunately, there are no Thunderbolt ports on offer, but you get a Thunderbolt header to retrofit a Thunderbolt card.

Lastly, it supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 to offer high-speed and low-latency network connections that are ideal for network gaming.

Our Take

The Asus ROG Strix Z690-E is an excellent motherboard for your 12th-gen Intel Core processor. It features PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 RAM to offer top-notch specifications for high-performance rigs.

PROS
  • Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and a 2.5GbE port offer high-speed network connectivity.
  • An excellent thermal design ensures that your rig stays cool at peak performance.
  • The 18+1 power stages at 90A current provide adequate power for overclocking and multi-core operations.
  • USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports facilitate high-speed data transfers.
  • The PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot provides the best storage expansion.
CONS
  • No onboard Thunderbolt ports.
  • Expensive.

2. GIGABYTE X570S AORUS Master – Best ATX Motherboard for AMD Ryzen 5000 Series Processor

The GIGABYTE X570S AORUS Master is excellent if you intend to use an AMD Ryzen 5000 series processor and want Wi-Fi 6E or Bluetooth 5.2. It is easy on the pocket yet ensures that you get a motherboard that delivers excellent performance.

It offers the AM4 socket that supports all AMD Ryzen processors, including older generations. You don’t get the PCIe 5.0 slots on the AMD platform yet, but the motherboard offers three PCIe 4.0 slots, each with x16, x8, and x4 lanes. The four M.2 and six SATA 6Gb/s slots provide plenty of expansion options for storage. And the four DIMM slots support 128GB DDR4 RAM.

The motherboard has a 14+2 phase design and 70A power stages, plenty for a multi-core AMD platform. It also features Active OC Tuner, which works with AMD P.B.O, to automatically overclock the CPU in times of high demand and scale it down when the workload is low. Alternatively, you can run the Manual OC mode to tweak CPU overclocking to suit your need.

The Z570S pays special attention to thermal design and offers heatsinks with fin array, heat pipes, and Thermal Guard III, a layered heatsink that prevents M.2 components from thermal damage. Besides, the motherboard offers ten headers for fans and water pumps so that you can customize the thermal architecture of your rig.

Except for the RGB list badge on the I/O module, the motherboard has no other RGB lighting onboard. But it supports GIGABYTES RGB Fusion 2.0 and provides digitally addressable headers to connect RGB lighting configurable in a range of effects.

Like the Asus ROG Z690-E, GIGABYTE also offers twelve USB ports for I/O expansion, including one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2 port with 20Gbps data transfer speeds. Surprisingly, it doesn’t provide a single video output port which means you’ll have to rely on a GPU to provide you with one.

Our Take

Choose the GIGABYTE Z570S Aorus Master if you prefer the AMD platform over it’s Intel counterpart. It supports the AMD Ryzen 5000 series processor and offers high-speed wireless connectivity Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.

PROS
  • Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and 2.5GbE support high-speed connectivity.
  • Twelve USB ports offer plenty of I/O expansion.
  • USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports facilitate high-speed data transfers.
  • Ten headers for fans and water pumps allow you to customize thermal design.
CONS
  • No Video output ports.

3. MSI MEG Z690 ACE – Best E-ATX Motherboard for 12th-Gen Intel Core

If you are an avid gamer, you would have felt the need for a motherboard that can accommodate large, state-of-the-art GPUs. The MSI MEG Z690 ACE supports Intel’s 12th-gen processor on this E-ATX board and gives you ample space for expansion.

The Z690 chipset offers the LGA1700 socket and features PCIe 5.0 with high data transfer rates. As opposed to just one PCIe 5.0 slot on most ATX motherboards, this E-ATX motherboard from MSI offers two PCIe 5.0 (x16 and x8). You also get five M.2 and six SATA 6Gb/s slots for storage expansion. Further, using the PCIe 5.0 standard ensures you get up to 128GB DDR5 RAM using four dual-channel DIMM slots.

The power distribution profile plays a vital role with such high-end specifications. So, MSI ensures you get a 19+1+2 phase power with a colossal 105A power stage to handle even the most demanding processors. The VRM design supports Core Boost and Game Boost modes to cater to the CPU’s power needs while overclocking or using multiple cores.

The MSI MEG Z690 ACE features an elaborate thermal design that includes heatsinks over the I/O panel, VRM, and the chipset. It also uses L-shaped heat pipes for the I/O panel and VRM to carry heat away from vital components. Besides that, the double-sided M.2 shield Frozr and aluminum backplate ensure efficient heat dissipation, respectively, for the M.2 components and the motherboard as a whole. And you also get seven headers to connect fans and two headers to connect water-based cooling solutions.

The motherboard offers eight USB ports for I/O connectivity and two 2.5GbE ports for wired LAN. But the two Thunderbolt 4 ports are the most significant offerings that deliver 40Gbps data transfer speed and support 8K video output.

Our Take

The MSI MEG Z690 ACE is suitable for building a high-performance gaming rig. It is compatible with Intel Core 12th generation processors and DDR5 RAM modules; it also features PCIe 5.0, which delivers top-of-the-line data transfer rates. The motherboard supports overclocking, and the generous power distribution helps deliver superior performance.

PROS
  • The Thunderbolt 4 ports support 8K video.
  • PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 RAM deliver high-end performance.
  • The elaborate thermal design ensures efficient cooling.
  • Five M.2 slots provide plenty of storage expansion options.
CONS
  • No onboard RGB lighting.
  • No 10GbE port despite high-end specifications overall.

4. MSI MAG B550M Mortar – Best Micro-ATX Motherboard for AMD Platform with Wi-Fi 6E

The MSI MAG B550M Mortar is the AMD platform’s best Wi-Fi 6E-enabled Micro-ATX motherboard. It is compatible with the AMD Rzyen 5000 series processor and offers Bluetooth 5.2 for low-latency multi-device connectivity.

The B550M Mortar offers AMD’s AM4 socket and comes with a PCIe 4.0 x16 expansion slot. You also get a PCIe 3.0 x16 slot and two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots due to the Micro-ATX frame. MSI doesn’t compromise on system memory and offers four dual-channel DIMM slots for up to 128GB DDR4 RAM. And the two M.2 slots and the six SATA 6Gb/s slots provide you with adequate expansion slots to augment your storage capacity.

The motherboard’s VRM design provides 8+2+1 phases with 60A power stages. It supports MSI’s Core Boost and Game Boost modes for overclocking and extracting high frame rates to provide you with an immersive gaming experience without CPU lag.

The thermal design of this motherboard includes extended heatsinks over the I/O panel and VRM. The M.2 shield Frozr protects your M.2 SSD storage and prevents damage by efficiently dissipating heat. It lets you control the fans via the BIOS or MSI’s own control panel software. And if the fans feel inadequate, the motherboard offers a 4-pin header to connect a water-based cooling solution.

Despite it’s small chassis, the B550M Mortar offers an impressive selection of ports that include six USB ports, DisplayPort, and an HDMI port.

Our Take

The Micro-ATX chassis of the MSI MAG B550M Mortar is perfect for AMD loyalists who need a PC with a small footprint and high-speed network connectivity. The compatibility with the AMD Ryzen 5000 series processor and the use of PCIe 4.0 ensure you get a high-performance AMD PC.

PROS
  • The DisplayPort and HDMI ports provide onboard video outputs and support [email protected]
  • The Micro-ATX design allows you to save space at your workstation.
  • Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and 2.5GbE support high-speed connectivity.
  • Support for 128GB RAM via four DIMM slots.
  • Pocket-friendly price.
CONS
  • The overclocking performance is found to be lacking.

5. ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero – Intel 11th-Gen Motherboard with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

The ROG Maximus XIII Hero is the best motherboard with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for 11th-generation Intel processors. It supports Wi-Fi 6E, which unlocks the less-crowded 6GHz band for faster and stable wireless Wi-Fi performance.

In addition, this motherboard supports PCIe Gen4 and comes with two onboard Thunderbolt 4 ports. While it is also compatible with 10th-gen Intel processors, we recommend using an 11th-gen processor to take advantage of the fast connectivity.

As with the Hero line-up, this motherboard is designed for extreme overclocking, and high-end PC builds. It has an assortment of AI features to deliver the best performance for gaming, content creation, VR, and more without getting your hands dirty.

The Z590 Maximus XIII Hero retains the same black and dark-themed design as the previous Z490 model. However, it has a different aesthetic design, with the RGB now built into the rear panel, extending to the power delivery heatsink. There is also an RGB-lit ROG logo on the chipset and three addressable RGB headers, which are great if building an RGB-themed PC.

The motherboard uses 14+2 teamed power stages rated at 90A, which is more than enough for CPU overclocking. It is also excellently cooled with a large VRM heatsink, four heatsinked M.2 slots, and an aluminum I/O cover for improved heat dissipation. You also get one of the best motherboards for water cooling and impressive smart cooling capabilities with AI capabilities.

The Z590 Maximus XIII Hero offers two PCIe 4.0 x16 expansion slots and two M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots for the latest graphics cards and NVMe drives. It can support two NVIDIA GPUs via SLI if you need extra juice for graphical-intensive tasks. There are additional PCIe and M.2 slots, but they are limited to PCIe Gen3 speeds. For memory, you get four DIMM slots like most ATX motherboards with speeds up to 5333MHz.

In addition to Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, this motherboard supports advanced connectivity for incredibly faster connectivity and future-proofing. There are two Thunderbolt 4 ports, six USB 3.2 Gen2 ports, and dual 2.5G Ethernet. You can connect an external monitor through the Thunderbolt 4 or the additional HDMI 2.0 port.

Our Take

If you’re looking for the best Wi-Fi motherboard for the 11th gen Intel processors, look no further than the ROG Maximus XIII Hero. With the latest features, robust power, and impressive cooling, this motherboard has all you need to build a powerful rig for just about anything.

PROS
  • The Wi-Fi 6E support provides fast tri-band connectivity.
  • Future-proof connectivity with Thunderbolt 4 and PCIe Gen4
  • Excellent build quality
  • Three addressable RGB headers allow you to customize lighting.
  • Six USB 3.2 Gen2 ports will enable you to connect multiple peripheral devices.
CONS
  • PCIe 4.0 is available on 11th-gen processors only

6. Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming – AMD Motherboard with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for 2nd and 3rd Gen processors

Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming is another outstanding motherboard from Asus meant for power users. It brings many premium specs and new connectivity options for a lower price. And the motherboard features the AMD X570 chipset with an AM4 socket for the 2nd and 3rd AMD Ryzen processors or 1st Gen Ryzen processors with Radeon Vega graphics. It is an affordable board that can build a high-end gaming rig with extreme overclocking limits.

The motherboard comes with a black finish, RGB lighting powered by Aura Sync on the VRM, and chipset heatsinks. It includes multiple RGB headers and addressable headers for more flexibility and aesthetics. The motherboard uses 16 power stages to deliver stable current at pin-point precision to the CPU and other critical components. Overclock like a pro to get more performance to hit higher frame rates for smooth gameplay.

The Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming implements a robust cooling solution to ensure optimal temperatures across the motherboard. It has a large L-shaped heatsink with a heat pipe that extends to the I/O cover to transfer heat from the VRM and ensure low temperatures for the MOSFET. ASUS uses an active heatsink for the chipset due to the increased bandwidth of PCIe 4.0 standard and dual M.2 heatsinks to ensure optimum temperatures for the M.2 solid-state drives. Strix X570-E Gaming has multiple headers for fans and water cooling to improve the cooling efficiency for extreme gaming rigs and overclocking.

The motherboard provides dual PCIe 4.0 x16 running at x16 or x8/8, PCIe 4.0 x16 running at x4, and two PCIe 4.0 x1 for small expansion cards. Connect two GPUs with NVIDIA SLI or up to three AMD graphics cards, depending on how much power you need for your setup. If you’re using only one GPU, make sure to install it on the PCIe X16 slot.

Asus ROG Strix X570-E provides four DIMM slots for memory, allowing you up to 128GB DDR4 RAM. The motherboard uses ASUS OptiMem exclusive technology to improve memory stability and compatibility for faster performance and low latency. Incredibly, there are eight SATA ports to sort out any storage issues, whether you want more capacity or implement RAID arrays. Save your games to the SATA SSDs and install your OS to an NVMe drive with dual M.2 slots for fast boot times.

Equipped with Wi-Fi 6, the motherboard delivers a fast and stable wireless connection allowing you to play and stream online games with no latency, even on crowded networks. It also supports Bluetooth 5.0 and 2.5Gb LAN for wired networking. The motherboard also features 10Gbps USB-C connectivity for connecting accessories such as drives, mice, and docking stations.

Our Take

Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming meets the needs of power users with eight SATA slots, eight back panel USB ports, and M.2 slots for speed. It is a futuristic motherboard with support for PCI Express 4.0, Wi-Fi 6, liquid cooling, and USB-C. The fact that you’re getting all that for a low price makes it the best AMD motherboard with Wi-Fi you can buy.

PROS
  • Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 provide fast network connectivity.
  • Premium specs for a lower price make the motherboard affordable.
  • Great for overclocking with stable power delivery, ideal for high-performance usage.
  • Seven USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports offer plenty of I/O connectivity.
  • Optimized for water cooling
  • Addressable RGB headers provide customizable gaming aesthetics.
CONS
  • Fewer M.2 slots limit the storage expansion.
  • You need to remove the GPU to access the other M.2 slot

7. ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula – Best Motherboard with Wi-Fi for 10th Gen Intel Processors

ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula is the perfect motherboard for users who like to overclock CPUs. It features modern specs, including Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, 10Gb Ethernet, and three M.2 slots for fast read/write speeds. With a 16-phase power delivery and hybrid heatsinks, the motherboard can cope with the demanding Intel Comet Lake CPUs.

The motherboard is compatible with the 10th-Gen Core, Pentium, and Celeron processors using the LGA 1200 socket. It is high in the mid-range category, but everything in it screams “premium.” While ASUS markets it as a gaming motherboard, it also has a lot to offer to creatives and enthusiasts.

The motherboard features a black-themed design with silver accents and plenty of RGB lighting on the I/O shield and chipset heatsink, powered by Aura Sync. It brings excellent aesthetics to your gaming rig and customizability with an additional addressable RGB header. Sync the lighting with compatible Aura Sync peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and gaming headsets.

ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula has an innovative 2-inch OLED screen that displays critical information during boot and regular operation, such as CPU frequency, temperatures, and fan speeds.

The motherboard uses 16-phase teamed power delivery, with each stage rated to handle 70 amps to cope with the demanding 10th generation Comet Lake processors and reach high overclocking limits. Hence, you get high frame rates and higher resolution without stability issues.

Cooling is essential with a gaming motherboard, so ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula features three heatsinks on the VRM, chipset, and M.2 slots that ensure efficient heat dissipation and reliability. It has a larger heat pipe that improves contact with the VRM, allowing it to transfer heat to the extended VRM heatsink. The motherboard is ready for liquid cooling with multiple headers for the water pump and monitoring. Maximus XII Formula has a robust cooling design and flexibility to justify its price tag.

The premium specs of the Maximus XII Formula extend to its expansion slots and upgradeability. It has three PCIe x16 expansion slots running at x16, x8/x8, and x8/x8/+4 and an additional PCIe x1 slot. All slots conform to the PCI 3.0 standard that supports NVIDIA SLI and AMD CFX, and you can plug in multiple GPUs for more graphical juice for your games and editing tasks.

ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula supports up to 128GB DDR4 RAM with four DIMM slots. For storage, the board has three heatsinked M.2 slots ensuring the best read/writes speeds for faster loading speeds and file transfer. You can leverage the six SATA 6Gbps ports to increase storage or implement different RAID arrays.

The Maximus XII Formula features Wi-Fi 6, which delivers faster speeds, increased capacity, and improved performance in dense wireless environments. Thus, it is the winning ticket to online gaming with zero buffering and reduced latency.

The motherboard also supports 10GbE wired networking for faster and more stable networking. There is an additional 2.5G port that offers dual LAN ports. ASUS wraps the outstanding connectivity options with a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port and Thunderbolt 3 header for adding the blazingly-fast 40Gbps protocol to your setup with a Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Card.

Our Take

The ASUS ROG Maximus XII Formula is a feature-rich, premium motherboard worth every penny. It has a robust digital power delivery system backed by reliable cooling to ensure the best performance from the Comet Lake processors. And it brings features like Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1, water cooling, and Thunderbolt 3 for fast performance. Maximus XII Formula is an outstanding solution for gamers and overclocking enthusiasts.

PROS
  • Robust design with exceptional aesthetics gives it an excellent aesthetic appeal.
  • The 16-phase power stages provide loads of power, which is useful when overclocking the CPU.
  • Reliable cooling and provision for water cooling avoid overheating issues.
  • Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 provide fast wireless connectivity,
  • USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 header ensure high data transfer rates.
  • Customizable RGB lighting ensures pleasing gaming aesthetics.
  • 10GbE port provides fast and stable network connectivity.
CONS
  • No front panel Type-C port for easy accessibility.

8. MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge Wi-Fi – Best Micro-ATX Intel Motherboard with Wi-Fi

MSI is back again with an outstanding Micro-ATX motherboard with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You already know the MSI MPG Gaming Edge Wi-Fi motherboard; we reviewed it earlier in this roundup. MSI refreshed it with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, 2.5G LAN, and Z490 Chipset to support the 10th generation Intel Core processors. The MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge Wi-Fi makes it the best Micro-ATX motherboard with Wi-Fi.

MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge Wi-Fi brings more advanced and modern specs than its Z390 predecessor. You can use older Comet Lake processors and access high-speed wireless and wired networks for high-end performance for everyday use, gaming, and editing.

There aren’t many changes in the design of the MPG Gaming Edge Wi-Fi. It has the RGB lighting near the Chipset heatsink and an additional addressable RGB header with a switch to turn the LEDs on/off. It still uses the same black theme with silver accents on the PCIe slots and logos. The motherboard comes with a pre-installed I/O shield to offer a safer installation process and prevent electrostatic discharge.

The MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge Wi-Fi features a 12-phase VRM design to deliver steady and precise power to the processor. The digital power design ensures the CPU gets enough power during overclocking for high-performance and enhanced FPS when gaming. It has a reliable VRM design despite its lower price.

Onboard is a robust cooling solution that ensures high performance at low temperatures. The motherboard has an extended PWM heatsink to transfer heat from the MOSFET, additional heatsinks on the chipset, and one of the M.2 slots to prevent throttling and bottleneck. With a water pump PIN header and marked keep-out zones, the motherboard is customized for water cooling out-of-the-box. It automatically manages the fan speeds and temperatures via the BIOS or the MSI Dragon Centre software for improved cooling efficiency.

MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge Wi-Fi features two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots running at x16 and x8/x8 and dual PCIe 3.0 x1 expansion slots. It supports a multi-GPU setup with NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFire technologies. MSI has it’s PCIe slots reinforced with steel to prevent bending and sustain large graphics cards.

The motherboard has four DIMM slots capable of up to 128GB DDR4 RAM. Two M.2 slots offer fast transfer speeds with PCIe NVMe drives or M.2 SATA 6Gbps up to 22110 in length. There are four additional SATA ports for more storage and RAID arrays. You can implement up to RAID 10 with four SATA drives for fast speeds and redundancy to secure your data.

Onboard, you get updated Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 for improved wireless connectivity. The motherboard has a 2.5GbE port, which provides an x2.5 performance boost over the Gigabit Ethernet on its predecessor. With a USB-C port on the back panel and another via the Type-C internal connector, you can plug in enabled devices, including external drives and displays.

Our Take

MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge Wi-Fi is an affordable micro-ATX motherboard with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. It supports 10th-Gen CPUs and offers impressive specs for the money because it delivers high-speed connectivity, robust cooling, customizable RGB, and plenty of slots for storage. Thus, it is a significant upgrade to the already impressive Z390 predecessor.

PROS
  • Supports 10th Gen Intel processors
  • Fast connectivity with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, and 2.5G Ethernet
  • Front panel USB-C ports are easy to access.
  • 12-phase power delivery provides plenty of power to vital components.
  • Customized water cooling provides additional cooling solutions.
CONS
  • Only one heatsinked M.2 slot may be too little for some users.
  • The 4 SATA ports limit storage capabilities.

9. ASUS Prime B550M-A Wi-Fi – Best AMD Micro ATX Motherboard with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

The ASUS Prime B550M-A Wi-Fi is an excellent pick if you’re into compact and small form factor PCs. It is an AMD motherboard with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support. The Micro ATX form factor is ideal for building smaller, more portable PCs that occupy less desk space. And unlike mini ITX boards, you get a couple of PCIe slots for added functionality.

This motherboard supports Wi-Fi 6 and PCIe 4.0, which is impressive considering its price. It is one of the most affordable AMD motherboards you can buy today. It is compatible with 3rd, 4th, and the latest 5th generation AMD desktop processors.

The ASUS Prime B550M-A Wi-Fi comes with a black and white design. It doesn’t have RGB lighting, but you get an addressable RGB header for RGB fans, light strips, and more. However, the IO shield is not pre-installed, so you’ll have to get your hands dirty with this one.

The thermal design isn’t the best, but it should be fine as long you don’t do any extreme overclocking. We also suggest buying NVMe drives with heatsinks, as all the M.2 slots in this motherboard don’t come with built-in heatsinks. Overall, it is a thoughtful design, especially if you want to save money and spend it elsewhere, such as a high-end graphics card.

The Prime B550M-A Wi-Fi comes with a single PCIe 4.0 x16 expansion slot and two additional PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. It has two M.2 slots, one supporting PCIe Gen4 speeds, and four SATA ports for extra storage. For RAM, you get four DIMM slots that support up to 128GB DDR4 memory and 4600MHz speeds, which is not the fastest, but it provides utility for everyday computing needs.

Elsewhere, the motherboard supports Wi-Fi 6 and the latest Bluetooth 5.1. There are a bunch of USB ports at the back panel, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and an HDMI 2.1 port to connect an external monitor without needing a GPU. However, the HDMI port only supports 4K resolution at 60Hz.

Our Take

If you’re looking for a cheap AMD motherboard with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for your next SFF build, the ASUS Prime B550M-A Wi-Fi is an excellent pick. It has the latest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards, PCIe Gen4, and a great selection of ports. It is a good AMD micro ATX motherboard you can buy at a pocket-friendly price.

PROS
  • Affordable
  • Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 provide high-speed wireless connectivity.
  • The PCIe 4.0 slots support high bit rates.
  • Six USB-A ports provide plenty of I/O connectivity.
CONS
  • Below-par thermal design means it tends to heat during peak performance.

10. ASUS ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming Wi-Fi – Best Mini-ITX Motherboard with Wi-Fi for Intel

The best motherboard with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for mini-ITX builds got even better. The ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming Wi-Fi supports the 11th-gen Intel processors, PCIe 4.0, Thunderbolt 4, and Wi-Fi 6E. You can also use it with the 10th-gen processors, but you won’t get PCIe Gen4 capabilities.

The ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming Wi-Fi is designed for powerful yet compact SFF systems. It has the complete set of ASUS intelligent features, including AI Overclocking, AI cooling, AI Noise Cancellation, and AI Networking, to enable system-wide optimization with just a single click. You also get excellent software features that come with ASUS premium motherboards.

The ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming Wi-Fi is one of the best-designed mini-ITX motherboards you can buy today for 11th-gen Intel Core processors. It is dark like most motherboards, with an RGB-lit ROG Strix logo on the chipset, and you also get one addressable RGB header for added customizations.

The motherboard has a large VRM heatsink with an active fan for efficient heat dissipation. There is another heatsink for the M.2 slots and the chipset. With this, you can safely push your system to the core without worries of overheating or thermal throttling. The motherboard supports water cooling if you want to cool your PC further.

Mini ITX motherboards are great until it comes to expansion options. This motherboard only has one PCIe x16 slot and dual M.2 slots. On the upside, you can install a full-length graphics card and take advantage of PCIe Gen4 speeds for faster graphics performance and storage speeds. You also get four SATA ports and dual DIMM slots that support up to 64GB DDR4 RAM.

One of the best-selling features of this motherboard is the Thunderbolt 4 port, which guarantees 40Gbps of peripheral bandwidth and support for up to dual 4K monitors. You also get Wi-Fi 6E for better speeds and wireless performance than Wi-Fi 6.

Onboard, you also get a 20Gbps USB-C port, six USB-A ports, a 2.5G Ethernet jack, and an HDMI port. You can use HDMI or the Thunderbolt 4 port to connect an external monitor as you wait to secure a new graphics card.

Our Take

The ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming Wi-Fi is the best Mini ITX motherboard with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth you can buy for 10th and 11th gen Intel processors. It supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 standards, and you also have a Thunderbolt 4 port for the latest peripherals. Using an 11th-gen processor makes your PC PCIe 4.0 ready, one of the best things to look out for when buying a motherboard for your 11th-gen Intel Core processor.

PROS
  • Wi-Fi 6E, PCIe 4.0, and Thunderbolt 4 ensure high-speed connectivity and data transfer rates.
  • Solid build quality makes it durable and ensures that the motherboard lasts long.
  • It is optimized for reliable cooling to deliver peak performance without overheating.
  • Great software and AI features ensure that you get the maximum performance.
CONS
  • Fewer expansion options due to the mini-ITX form factor.

11. GIGABYTE B550I AORUS PRO AX – Best AMD Mini ITX Motherboard with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

GIGABYTE B550I AORUS PRO AX is an AMD-based motherboard with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for SFF computer builds. It is a mini ITX motherboard that offers Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. It also supports PCIe 4.0, so you can easily connect the graphics cards and NVMe drives.

The B550I AORUS PRO AX provides the backbone for building a powerful yet compact and portable desktop PC. It is compatible with 3000 and 5000 series AMD processors and is cheaper than the ASUS flagship’s mini ITX motherboard for Intel processors.

The B550I AORUS PRO AX comes with solid build quality and great aesthetics. It has an overall dark theme with customizable RGB lighting on the side. It has an RGB addressable header to personalize the theme and style via the RGB Fusion 2.0 application, and you also get a pre-installed IO shield for easy installation.

The motherboard uses an 8-stage power delivery system rated at 90A each for each phase. It can sustain gaming and most productivity tasks, but it may generate a lot of heat on demanding and extreme overclocking operations. However, with the extended VRM heatsink and an aluminum baseplate, you get decent cooling here to help heat dissipation. The chipset heatsink also covers the dual M.2 slots to prevent thermal throttling on sustained performance.

The motherboard has one PCIe 4.0 x16 expansion slot and two M.2 slots for SSDs, with one supporting PCIe Gen4 speed. You also get four SATA ports and two DIMM slots for up to 64GB DDR4 RAM.

The B550I AORUS PRO AX supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. You also get a decent selection of IO, including one USB-C port, five USB-A ports, 2.5G Ethernet, DisplayPort, and two HDMI ports. You can connect up to three monitors without a dedicated graphics card using the Ryzen processors with Radeon Graphics.

Our Take

With next-gen connectivity and a great selection of features, the GIGABYTE B550I AORUS PRO AX makes the perfect motherboard for building a powerful AMD SFF PC. Despite its small size, GIGABYTE implemented reliable cooling in this board with some great aesthetics.

PROS
  • It supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 for high-speed wireless connectivity.
  • PCIe 4.0 support allows your choice of GPU.
  • Solid build quality makes it durable.
  • Customizable RGB lighting provides pleasing gaming aesthetics.
  • Plenty of I/O ports to connect all your peripheral devices.
CONS
  • Only one PCIe slot limits future expansions.

12. GIGABYTE B450 AORUS PRO Wi-Fi – Cheapest ATX Motherboard with Wi-Fi

We had to dig a lot to find the most appropriate motherboard in this category. The fruit of our turmoil led us to the GIGABYTE B450 AORUS PRO motherboard. GIGABYTE B450 – Wi-Fi is a motherboard supporting ATX form factor, being offered for sale by AMD. It is the most affordable motherboard currently that supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules out of the box. The specifications and features of the motherboard may not be mouth-watering, but the price tag will make your wallets squeal with delight.

The design of the motherboard is not something to write home about. It comes in pure black color, with components and other peripherals studded on it in white and orange zest. The black and white do make a beautiful combination. The heat sinks are shielded by metal with a fancy logo carved in them. The LEDs do show themselves to be sparsely populated across the board as they fail to illuminate the board entirely.

The most critical element of the AMD B450 is its price and capability to handle Bluetooth and wireless gadgets. The motherboard is capable of supporting DDR4 RAM, which is extendable to 64 GB. There are 6 USB ports on offer, with a maximum speed of up to 10Gbps. Two of the ports are USB 3.1 ports, and one of them is a Type-C. Surprisingly this motherboard also includes a digital PWM.

The M.2 slots are beneath the graphics card, making them hot and harrowing to remove/replace a component in the slot.

Our Take

We found that although the motherboard lies in a very affordable price range, it isn’t for those of our readers who prefer flashy boards. The motherboard makes up nicely for its cons by providing wireless capability at a minimal price tag.

PROS
  • An affordable motherboard that offers Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2
  • An elegant design with minimal embellishments makes the board look neat.
  • A USB Type-C port to connect newer peripherals.
CONS
  • The M.2 slots are difficult to access.
  • The budget specifications only give you PCIe 3.0 expansion slots.

13. Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro – Best Intel ATX Motherboard with Wi-Fi for 8th and 9th Gen Processors

Intel has been a leading manufacturer of ATX motherboards. We had to go through many motherboards, but after considerable thought and effort, we found Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro to be the perfect choice in this category. The Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro follows the ATX form factor. Among the motherboards in the Z390 family, Aorus Pro is the priciest of the three others.

The design of the Z390 Aorus Pro is bound to leave you completely stunned. When you look at only its aesthetic quality, you are bound to feel that the price tag that comes with the motherboard is justified.

The lighting system designed to illuminate the entire ecosystem of the Aorus motherboard is one of a kind. The way the whole motherboard lights up is beautiful. It also ensures that all the cool hardware components on the motherboard are discernible.

RGB LEDs play an essential role in making the board more loveable. Most of its rivals don’t contain such LEDs. They are present beside the heat sinks and near the memory slots on the board. Fortunately, for those of you who aren’t a fan of the RGB bling, they can disable the lights.

The main selling pitch by the manufacturers when it comes to the Z390 Aorus Pro has been the 12 + 1 phase digital power design.

This CPU’s power design contains DrMOS and a digital Pulse Width Modulation controller. The digital PWM and the connectors ensure that when the motherboards require power from power-intensive components, it is delivered hassle-free. It also ensures that the users can make the most out of the 9th generation processor they are using with this motherboard.

The copper wiring that joins different components is two times thicker than before and is responsible for delivering power to those components. More thickness than before means that the now 0.70mm wire is more than enough to cater to heavier power loads and dissipates heat from the CPU chip. This wiring also comes in handy when the CPU tries to overclock.

The motherboard also includes dual PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2 slots. It offers support for DDR4 RAM, and manufacturers ensure that the DDR4 slots are enough to go up to 4133MHz and beyond. That is very fast; take our word.

Our Take

Although the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro does seem a little expensive, looking at its price tag, the features it brings with it make up for that. It feels great to have a board that is not only catchy but also offers performance that is better than most of its rivals. It runs games and programs faster than ever. Additionally, the heat sinks do an excellent job dissipating most of the heat, making the system quieter and fresher than ever.

PROS
  • Thicker wiring leads to better performance and heat management
  • The intel-compatible motherboard supports older, 8th, and 9th Generation, processors.
  • Catchy Design adds to the overall aesthetics of the computer.
CONS
  • Too much LED lighting can be a distraction.
  • Only two M.2 slots limit the storage expansion capacity.

14. MSI MPG Z390M Gaming Edge – Micro ATX Motherboard with Wi-Fi for 8th and 9th Gen Intel Processors

The year 2019 saw several of the manufacturers releasing mATX boards. The main difference between mATX and standard ATX boards is the size. The size of the Micro-ATX is 9.6 x 9.6 compared to the 12 x 9.6 size of the standard ATX motherboards.

Having a Micro-ATX means, you won’t have access to features and substantial performance specifications offered by the standard ATX boards. The advantage of the micro ATX over the everyday ATX Boards is its size if you are not very fond of bigger rigs. The mATX is suited for smaller computer systems. It does save space but does so at the expense of higher performance characteristics.

We had to consider several boards by different manufacturers to conclude at one motherboard. The result of our efforts turns out to be a pretty lovely mATX board. The MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Edge motherboard is one of the best motherboards among all the mATX boards available to buy.

The design of this mATX has been marketed as an intelligent DIY design. It makes it easier for the ‘Do It Yourself users to tune and troubleshoot the system with all the DIY tools available at their disposal. It makes it a perfect choice even for the most demanding user looking to tweak their rig.

The motherboard comes with an industrial design making fine lines cut into the model of the motherboard reflect with different lights and colors at different angles.

It provides a lovely look to the motherboard. The 29 LED effects that the manufacturers offer seem like something from the future. MSI Mystic light makes the board more attractive than what its competitors are offering right now.

The features offered by the motherboard are suitable for gamers. Two slots each of M.2, PCIe 3.0 x16, and PCIe 3.0 x1 connections are available with the motherboard. Also, the motherboard does not stop someone from adding the best PC gaming processor made possible by Intel, the Core i9 9900K. You can also extend the system’s memory to 128GB DDR4 RAM. But, the best feature is Wi-Fi built-in with the motherboard.

Our Take

The one thing that strikes right away, looking at the detailed spec sheet of the motherboard, is that it offers the capability of strapping a high-end CPU and a rather wholesome feature set at a relatively affordable price. It was one of the main things that made us choose it. Another thing to remember is that the motherboard is unsuitable for extreme overclocking speeds. If you plan to overclock, then a standard-sized motherboard would be better.

PROS
  • VRM Heatsinks keep the motherboard running cool.
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth give you the convenience of wireless connectivity.
  • The motherboard is designed to accommodate older, 8th, and 9th generation, processors so you won’t have to upgrade all the components.
CONS
  • Expensive considering the older specifications.

15. ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I – Mini-ITX Motherboard with Wi-Fi for 8th and 9th Gen Intel Processors

The mini-ITX form factor has a different fan base among users who want to build systems with a smaller footprint and do not want to sacrifice much when it comes to the system’s performance. The earlier school of thought regarding these systems was skeptical of the performance characteristics offered by the mini-ITX boards. That notion has completely disappeared with the advent of motherboards like the ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I.

The mini-ITX form factor means that the motherboard is small. As small as 6.7 x 6.7 inches. Manufacturers ensure that size doesn’t have any impact on the performance or the design of the motherboard. The motherboard model is exciting, with LED lights that you can program to flash in different styles.

It includes a full rear panel cover with a sticker on the underside, the brand logo at the top, and the Strix logo at the bottom. The color of the board itself is black, and it is studded with slots and other features in white that appeals to the user’s eye. The power-amped heat sink design ensures that it can handle the latest generation processors by Intel.

ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I comes with an impressive set of features. The motherboard is compatible with 8th and 9th-generation processors and supports overclocking to extract the most performance. The cooling options are also top class, with the CPU getting a dedicated pair of cooling fans with support for water cooling setups. The VRM heatsink it employs takes up almost 1/3 of the entire board to dissipate the heat generated in the tiny motherboard.

The memory slots of the system are state-of-the-art, and you get two DIMM slots that provide up to 64GB DDR4 RAM. A customized layout of the slots has helped increase speeds by enabling clock-aligned signaling and has enhanced the overclocking ability of the memory modules. Two M.2 slots provide an excellent opportunity to boost performance, but you only get one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot where most users will attach a GPU.

The board also has integrated support for Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0. The Wi-Fi adapter used by the board transfer data at speeds up to two times quicker than any other Wi-Fi solution.

Our Take

ASUS ROG Strix Z390-I offers overclocking capability at a smaller price as compared to its competitors. It does give this motherboard an edge over them, but the competition adds more features to their motherboards and sells at a much higher price. The advantage of having an ASUS ROG is the software package that comes along with the motherboard. The software is more polished and better performing than those of its rivals. Also, this motherboard has improved RGB.

PROS
  • Great overclocking ability lets you extract peak performance
  • VRM Heatsinks keeps the essential components cool.
  • The USB-C port allows you to connect newer peripheral devices.
  • Plenty of I/O ports to connect legacy devices with ease.
CONS
  • Limited PCIe slots for expansion
  • M.2 cooling is a concern as overheating can affect the storage’s performance

Choosing the Best Motherboards with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth – The Ultimate Wi-Fi Motherboard Buying Guide

What do you look for when buying a motherboard with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth? Here are seven things to consider.

Platform: AMD or Intel

Before choosing any motherboard, the first thing to consider is to decide between AMD or Intel. Both platforms offer excellent processors ranging from budget to powerful gaming and workstation processors. Most AMD and Intel motherboards come with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so it’s a matter of preference.

Of course, choosing Intel gives you native support for Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6E on the latest Z690 motherboards. The platforms now support PCIe 5.0 speeds, but Intel requires 12th gen processors. For AMD, you get full PCIe 4.0 support on 3000 and 5000 series desktop processors.

Read more: Best X570 Motherboards for Ryzen

Processor Compatibility

Motherboards are designed for different processor generations. The most crucial part to consider is the socket, where you attach the processor to the motherboard. The socket configuration (number of pins and size) changes to match the new processors in the market.

The mainstream AMD processors, including the new 5000 series, use the AM4 socket.

On the Intel side of things, the 11th-generation processors use the LGA1700 socket. Whereas 10th and 11th gen Intel Core processors use the LGA 1200 socket. If you have an 8th or 9th Intel Core processor, you’ll need a motherboard with an LGA 1151 socket.

Motherboard Form Factor

Motherboards come in different sizes, also known as the form factor. The most common motherboard form factor is ATX. It has the most features and expansion options. Also, most PC cases in the market are designed for ATX motherboards.

If you want to build a compact PC and still have multiple slots for PCIe devices, storage, and RAM, a micro-ATX motherboard is the best for you. Micro ATX motherboards come with up to four RAM slots, three PCIe expansion slots, and eight SATA ports. It’s the best for building a compact PC if you want room for future expansion.

If you don’t need many extras and expansion slots, a mini ITX motherboard is excellent for building compact, portable PCs. These motherboards are smaller than Micro ATX boards yet provide room for a full graphics card and multiple slots for RAM and storage. However, you won’t be able to add extra PCIe devices in the future.

Finally, the E-ATX form factor is the largest and most spacious of the lot. They offer adequate room to accommodate full-size GPUs and still have leftover space. Ideal for gaming, these motherboards offer more expansion slots and often come with plenty of heard for cooling fans, water pumps, addressable RGB headers, and whatnot. Thus, ensuring a great degree of customization.

Wi-Fi Standard and Speeds

We recommend buying a motherboard that supports Wi-Fi 6 standard or higher if you want Wi-Fi performance and speed. Wi-Fi 6 brings faster wireless speeds and improved performance in busy networks. If you’re building a PC for high-end gaming or content creation, Wi-Fi 6 ensures faster transfer speeds for smooth gaming, faster rendering, and file sharing even when many devices connect to the same network. Most of the motherboards in this guide support Wi-Fi 6.

Read more: Best Motherboards with Wi-Fi 6

Some newly released Z590 and Z690 motherboards support the Wi-Fi 6E specification, unlocking the less crowded 6GHz Wi-Fi band. If you want smooth, high-refresh-rate gaming at higher resolutions or less time to copy 4K and 8K video footage, this is the motherboard you need.

The ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero (ATX) and ASUS ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming Wi-Fi (mini ITX) are the best motherboards for Wi-Fi 6E. Both are Intel-based motherboards.

Bluetooth Version

As with Wi-Fi, the latest Bluetooth specification offers the best performance in terms of range and latency. Bluetooth 5.2 ensures stable connection at longer distances, less time in switching between devices, and faster speeds and bandwidth.

Most motherboards with Wi-Fi 6E also support at least Bluetooth 5.2. The recommended ATX motherboard for Intel, ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero (Amazon Link), supports Bluetooth 5.2, providing the best Bluetooth performance you can get today.

PCIe 5.0 Compatibility

PCIe 5.0 ensures the best performance on the latest graphics cards and NVMe storage drives. If you’re building a new PC, this is one of the essential features to consider. Many devices can now use the PCIe 5.0 bandwidth, including Intel’s 12th-generation processors and DDR5 RAM modules.

Thunderbolt Support

The best motherboards with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth also support Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. The latest motherboards come with Thunderbolt 4 ports. Thunderbolt 3/4 are universal connections that support power, video, and data on the same cable.

You can use a Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 port on a desktop to connect up to two 4K monitors and other computer peripherals such as external drivesNAS storage devices, and Ethernet adapters. If you have invested in Thunderbolt 3 accessories, ensure the motherboard has an onboard Thunderbolt 3/4 port or a Thunderbolt header. You can buy a motherboard with a Thunderbolt header and add Thunderbolt 3 ports to your PC using a PCIe Thunderbolt 3 card.

The ASUS ROG Maximus XIII Hero with two onboard Thunderbolt 4 ports is the best you can buy if you want a Wi-Fi motherboard with Thunderbolt connectivity. If you’re building an SFF system, the ASUS ROG Strix Z590-I with one Thunderbolt 4 onboard port is the best pick.

Read more: Best Thunderbolt 3 Motherboards

Best Motherboards with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth – Frequently Asked Questions

Do motherboards come with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth?

Most motherboards come with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, but if yours doesn’t, don’t despair. You can get Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to your motherboard with a PCIe adapter.

How do I know if my motherboard has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth?

The easiest way to know if your motherboard has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is to check the rear IO panel for antenna connectors. These two smaller connectors (mainly gold or copper in color) allow you to attach Wi-Fi antennas. They are labeled Wi-Fi on some motherboards.

How can I get Wi-Fi on my old motherboard that doesn’t have Wi-Fi?

You can get Wi-Fi on your motherboard by installing a PCIe Wi-Fi adapter or an M.2 Wi-Fi card. Alternatively, you can use a USB Wi-Fi dongle on your PC.

What is the difference between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E?

In its simplest form, Wi-Fi 6E offers uninterrupted high-speed internet compared to Wi-Fi 6.

Wi-Fi 6 uses the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands commonly used in devices like cordless phones, causing interference with Wi-Fi signals. Wi-Fi 6E circumvents this problem by including the 6GHz spectrum, which allows it to have more and broader channels. Thus, you can send and receive more data, and the added frequency band ensures that there isn’t any signal interference.

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