ByteZest

• 9.00/101.Premium pick: MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4
• 9.40/102.Editors choice: Asus AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus
• 9.20/103.Best value: MSI H510I PRO WIFI
• 9.20/104. ASUS Prime Z590-P
• 9.20/105. Gigabyte B550M AORUS PRO-P
• 9.20/106. ASUS Prime B560M-A
• 9.20/107. Asus ROG Strix B550-I Gaming
• 9.20/108. ASUS Prime Z690M-Plus D4

Introduced in 2019 by AMD, PCIe 4.0 doubled the bandwidth of PCIe 3.0 to 64GB/s in a duplex x16 link, unlocking better GPU performance and storage performance on NVMe SSDs.

Whether you're looking for a motherboard for an Intel or AMD PC build, you don't have to spend more on the latest PCIe 4.0 standard.

Here are the best budget PCIe 4.0 motherboards available today.

1. MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4

The MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 is a great all-around motherboard for those looking to build a capable Intel-powered PC. Rocking the Z690 chipset, it's compatible with the latest 12th Gen processors from Intel. The motherboard packs premium features, including Wi-Fi 6, 2.5Gb Ethernet, four memory slots with support for up to DDR4-5200 memory, an effective cooling solution, and 18 power stages, which should be enough to overclock most processors while maintaining great thermals.

Onboard, you get three PCIe slots for your GPU, with one supporting PCIe 5.0 speed. It's also loaded with two M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots and two standard PCIe 3.0 slots for NVMe SSDs. It's a good board for gaming and editing rigs, and a BIOS flashback button at the back lets you update the BIOS without installing a processor, ideal for overclockers.

A lot is going for the motherboard on the rear too, including eight USB ports with one 20Gbps USB-C port, DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1, and a 2.5Gb Ethernet jack. With most Intel processors featuring integrated graphics, you can use DisplayPort or HDMI to troubleshoot your GPU or connect an external monitor to run lightweight graphics tasks and games without a dedicated graphics card.

• Supports PCIe 5.0 and 4.0
• 18-Phase VRM (16 for Vcore)
• 20Gbps USB-C port
• 2.5G LAN and Intel Wi-Fi 6
• Pre-installed I/O shield

• Brand: MSI
• CPU Included: No
• Graphics Card Interface: 1x PCIe 5.0 x16, 2x PCIe 3.0 x16
• Integrated Graphics: No
• Memory Slots: 4
• Memory Type: DDR4
• Form Factor: ATX
• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
• USB Ports: 1x USB3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 2.0
• RBG Support: Yes
• M.2 NVMe Connector: 3x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x PCIe 3.0 x4
• CPU Support: Intel 12th/23th Gen
• Chipset: Intel Z690
• Socket: LGA1700

• Great overclocking headroom
• Clean, black aesthetic
• Supports multi-GPU configurations
• Easy to update BIOS

• No built-in RGB

2. Asus AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus

Rocking AMD's flagship X570 chipset, the Asus AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus has everything you need to build a capable AMD-based PC without blowing a hole in your wallet. It's an ATX motherboard with full PCIe 4.0 support, including two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots for your graphics cards, two PCIe 4.0 x1 slots for smaller add-in cards, and two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots for high-performance NVMe SSDs.

The TUF Gaming X570-Plus is an excellent mid-range board for gamers and content creators. It has a capable 14-Phase Power Delivery system that maintains good temperatures under load and a robust cooling solution, including an M.2 heatsink and an active chipset heatsink. Four DIMM slots support up to 128GB of total memory capacity, and six SATA ports let you add more storage to your rig.

However, ASUS did cut corners to keep the price down. The board has Wi-Fi 5, Gigabit Ethernet, and seven USB (three at 10Gbps) ports. There's no WI-Fi 6, 2.5G Ethernet, 20Gbps USB ports, BIOS flash functions, and the I/O shield isn't pre-installed. If those things don't matter, then you're going to get excellent PCIe 4.0 performance for a lot less.

• Supports PCIe 4.0 on AMD Ryzen 3000 and 5000 series processors
• 12+2 Dr. MOS power stages
• Active chipset heatsink, VRM heatsink and M.2 heatsink for cooling
• Realtek S1200A Codec
• Supports multiple AMD GPUs

• Brand: Asus
• CPU Included: No
• Graphics Card Interface: 2x PCIe 4.0 x16
• Integrated Graphics: No
• Memory Slots: 4
• Memory Type: DDR4
• Form Factor: ATX
• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0
• USB Ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1
• RBG Support: Yes
• M.2 NVMe Connector: 2x PCIe 4.0 x4
• CPU Support: AMD Ryzen 5000 and 3rd Gen

• Durable
• Capable 14-Phase Power Delivery
• Multi-GPU support
• Excellent VRM temperatures
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

• No USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (20 Gbps) ports
• No BIOS flash functions

3. MSI H510I PRO WIFI

If you're looking to build a PC for business and everyday use, the MSI H510I PRO WIFI is the kind of budget PCIe motherboard you need. Based on Intel's entry-level H510 chipset, the board is designed to optimize your professional workflow with features such as PCIe 4.0 support, Wi-Fi 6, 2.5Gb LAN, and DisplayPort and HDMI video outputs for processors with integrated graphics (APUs).

The board comes in a Mini-ITX form factor, ideal for compact builds. There is one full-length expansion slot that supports PCIe Gen 4 speeds on 11th Gen Intel processors. However, this motherboard does not have M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots. You only get one M.2 PCIe 3.0 slot and four SATA ports for additional storage capacity.

The rear I/O is well thought out, with six USB ports (two supporting 5Gbps), audio connectors, 2.5GbE port, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antenna ports, and two video outputs that let you use the PC without a dedicated graphics card. Overall, this is a good inexpensive motherboard for a basic office or casual PC.

• Supports PCIe 4.0 on 11th Gen Intel CPU
• Extended VRM heatsink design and M.2 heatsink
• Fast 2.5G LAN
• DDR4 Memory, up to 3200 MHz and 64GB total capacity

• Brand: MSI
• CPU Included: No
• Graphics Card Interface: 1x PCIe 4.0 x16
• Integrated Graphics: No
• Memory Slots: 2
• Memory Type: DDR4
• Form Factor: Mini-ITX
• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 & Bluetooth 5.1
• USB Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen1, 4x USB 2.0
• RBG Support: No
• M.2 NVMe Connector: 1x PCIe 3.0 x4
• CPU Support: Intel 11th and 10th Gen

• Six USB ports
• Reliable and durable design
• Robust cooling
• 2.5G LAN and Wi-Fi 6

• No M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots
• No USB-C

4. ASUS Prime Z590-P

The Asus Prime Z590-P is an inexpensive motherboard with PCIe 4.0 and Thunderbolt 4 support. It comes with a Thunderbolt 4 header that allows you to add Thunderbolt 4 ports to your PC through a Thunderbolt 4 add-on card, making it an ideal option for creators. The Prime Z590-P boasts an 11-phase VRM that allows for decent overclocking on the demanding 11th Gen Intel processors.

It has a mixture of PCIe 3.0 and 4.0 slots, including one M.2 Gen 4 slot for faster boot times and storage speeds. Like most ATX boards, you get four DDR4 RAM slots with 128GB maximum capacity and four additional SATA ports. Asus went for a more refined and professional look with silver heatsinks and black accents.

There is no RGB lighting, but it has multiple RGB headers for your RGB components. The only downside is you’ll have to live without Wi-Fi, but you get a great selection of I/O at the back, including 2.5Gb Ethernet, six USB ports with one supporting 20Gbps speeds, HDMI, DisplayPort, Optical Audio, and five HD Audio jacks.

• Supports PCIe 4.0 on 11th Gen Intel CPUs
• Thunderbolt 4 header
• 11 Dr. MOS power stages
• 20Gbps USB-C port and 2.5Gb Ethernet
• Front panel USB-C port

• Brand: Asus
• CPU Included: No
• Graphics Card Interface: 1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4 mode)
• Integrated Graphics: No
• Memory Slots: 4
• Memory Type: DDR4
• Form Factor: ATX
• Wi-Fi: No
• USB Ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB 2.0
• RBG Support: Yes
• M.2 NVMe Connector: 1x PCIe 4.0 x4, 2x PCIe 3.0 x4
• CPU Support: Intel 11th and 10th Gen

• Clean aesthetics
• Capable power delivery
• Intelligent tuning options
• Rich, faster connectivity

• Only one M.2 PCIe 4.0 slot
• Lacks Wi-Fi

5. Gigabyte B550M AORUS PRO-P

The Gigabyte B550M AORUS PRO-P is one of the best B550 motherboards on the market in terms of features and quality. It offers a lot of bang for your buck with features such as PCIe 4.0 support, 2.5GbE LAN, 10 USB ports, and a BIOS Flashback Button to easily update the BIOS without installing a processor.

The B550M AORUS PRO-P works with both Ryzen 5000 and 3000 series processors. Using a Ryzen CPU with integrated graphics (APU) unlocks the DisplayPort and HDMI ports at the back, allowing you to connect multiple monitors. The 12-phase VRM solution is good enough even for a stable Ryzen 9 experience, and there's a comprehensive cooling solution with an enlarged VRM heatsink and an M.2 heatsink.

This motherboard offers two PCIe x16 expansion slots, one supporting Gen 4 speeds, and an additional PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. There isn't much to complain about with the B550M AORUS PRO-P apart from the lack of Wi-Fi. It is a fantastic value among PCIe 4.0 motherboards, offering some of the best features for a powerful AMD build.

• Supports PCIe 4.0 on AMD Ryzen 3000 and 5000 series processors
• Digital 10+2-phase VRM
• BIOS Flashback button
• Pre-installed IO Shield

• Brand: Gigabyte
• CPU Included: No
• Graphics Card Interface: 1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x16
• Integrated Graphics: No
• Memory Slots: 4
• Memory Type: DDR4
• Form Factor: Micro ATX
• Wi-Fi: No
• USB Ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 4x USB 2.0
• RBG Support: Yes
• M.2 NVMe Connector: 1x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x PCIe 3.0 x4
• CPU Support: Ryzen 5000 and 3rd Gen

• Solid and durable
• Powerful VRM for all Ryzen CPUs
• Easy to upgrade BIOS for Ryzen 5000
• 10 USB ports and a faster 2.5GbE LAN

• Lacks Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

6. ASUS Prime B560M-A

The ASUS Prime B560M-A is excellent for cheap, compact Intel builds. It uses the B560 chipset, which doesn't support overclocking. This means you can skip the expensive unlocked processors and use a budget-friendly and power-efficient non-K CPU like the 11400 or 11700 for more savings. It delivers excellent stock performance, good enough for gaming and productivity.

The motherboard packs four DIMMs with support for up to 128GB of memory and a full-length PCIe 4.0 expansion slot for your GPU. It supports the latest and fastest PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives with an included heatsink to reduce throttling. The rear I/O isn't impressive, but it's good to see a 10Gbps USB-C port and a couple more USB-A ports.

The dual HDMI ports and DisplayPort are also welcome additions if you're yet to secure a GPU. However, there is no Wi-Fi, and you'll have to settle for Gigabit Ethernet speeds. If these are not deal breakers for your build, the Prime B560M-A is an excellent consideration for an affordable Intel-powered rig.

• Supports PCIe 4.0 on 11th Gen Intel CPUs
• 8 power stages
• Supports memory overclocking

• Brand: ASUS
• CPU Included: No
• Graphics Card Interface: 1x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x16
• Integrated Graphics: No
• Memory Slots: 4
• Memory Type: DDR4
• Form Factor: Micro ATX
• Wi-Fi: No
• USB Ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4x USB 2.0
• RBG Support: Yes
• M.2 NVMe Connector: 1x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x PCIe 3.0 x4
• CPU Support: Intel 11th and 10th Gen

• Great stock performance
• Clean aesthetics
• Supports PCIe 4.0 for GPUs and NVMe SSDs
• Dual HDMI and DisplayPort for multiple displays

• I/O shield not pre-installed

7. Asus ROG Strix B550-I Gaming

If you're looking for a full-blown Mini-ITX motherboard for your AMD build, you'll want to consider the Asus ROG Strix B550-I Gaming. It's slightly on the higher end of the pricing scale, but it delivers strong overclocking capability, good all-around performance, and an overall strong feature set than lower-priced options from ASRock and MSI.

When on an ITX build, every port is precious, and the ROG Strix B550-I Gaming nails it with four 10Gbps USB ports at the rear I/O and another 10Gbps USB-C port through the internal header for an easy-to-reach, high-speed port. But there is more. Asus overloaded this motherboard with premium features, including 2.5Gb Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, and dual M.2 ports. One of the M.2 slots supports Gen4 speeds, and there's a full-length PCIe 4.0 slot.

The only downside is the modest 8+2 VRM power stages. Still, it allows for good stock CPU performance and offers strong overclocking capacity. The active VRM heatsink and M.2 heatsink combine to keep your PC running reliably under full load and stress. Onboard you also get troubleshooting LEDs, and BIOS FlashBack functions for hard-core overclockers and enthusiasts.

• PCIe 4.0 support on AMD Ryzen 3000 and 5000 series processors
• 8+2 DrMOS power stages
• BIOS FlashBack Button
• Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5 Gb Ethernet
• 10Gbps front panel USB-C connector

• Brand: Asus
• CPU Included: No
• Graphics Card Interface: 1x PCIe 4.0 x16
• Integrated Graphics: No
• Memory Slots: 2
• Memory Type: DDR4
• Form Factor: Mini-ITX
• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
• USB Ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB 2.0
• RBG Support: Yes
• M.2 NVMe Connector: 1x PCIe 4.0 x4, 1x PCIe 3.0 x4
• CPU Support: AMD Ryzen 5000 and 3rd Gen

• Strong performance and stability
• Active VRM cooling
• Plenty of 10Gbps USB ports
• Faster networking
• Easy to update BIOS

• Modest VRM power stages

8. ASUS Prime Z690M-Plus D4

Those looking for a compact and affordable PCIe 4.0 motherboard for 12th Gen processors should consider the ASUS Prime Z690M-Plus D4. It's a micro-ATX motherboard with the latest Z690 chipset, making it ideal for the latest processors from Intel. It also uses DDR4 RAM, meaning you can build your PC right away using the more affordable and readily available DDR4 memory kits.

The motherboard has an 11-phase VRM design, which is good enough even for the 12600K. It's designed to run cool too, with a large VRM heatsink, a chipset heatsink, and several headers for fans and liquid cooling. However, it lacks an M.2 heatsink, so you'll need to use NVMe drives with built-in heatsinks.

In terms of connectivity, the Prime Z690M-Plus D4 offers eight USB ports, including one 20Gbps USB-C port, three M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots for faster NVMe drives, and DisplayPort and HDMI video outputs. You can add even faster Thunderbolt 4 ports by using a Thunderbolt 4 PCIe card.

Overall, the Prime Z690M-Plus D4 is a good value among Z690 motherboards, providing gamers with an excellent budget alternative as the prices of Z690 motherboards go through the roof.

• 11 DrMOS power stages
• Three M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots
• Thunderbolt 4 header

• Brand: ASUS
• CPU Included: No
• Graphics Card Interface: 1x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1x PCIe 4.0 x16 (x4 mode)
• Integrated Graphics: No
• Memory Slots: 4
• Memory Type: DDR4
• Form Factor: Micro ATX
• Wi-Fi: No
• USB Ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB 2.0
• RBG Support: Yes
• M.2 NVMe Connector: 3x PCIe 4.0
• CPU Support: Intel 12th Gen

• Capable VRM for flagship Intel processors
• Next-gen connectivity with 20Gbps USB-C, PCIe 5.0, and Thunderbolt 4 support
• Uses cheap and readily available DDR4 RAM
• Nice and sleek finish

• Gigabit Ethernet
• I/O shield not pre-installed

FAQ

Q: Should I Get a PCIe 4.0 Motherboard?

You should get a PCIe 4.0 motherboard if you want to upgrade to the new NVME SSDs and GPUs. PCIe 4.0 has double the bandwidth of PCIe 3.0, meaning faster speeds and more lanes. Compared to PCIe 3.0, PCIe 4.0 enables faster storage, gaming, and content creation.

Q: Are There Any PCIe 4.0 GPUs?

NVIDIA's GeForce 30 Series and AMD's Radeon RX 6000 and 5000 Series Graphics Cards are the only GPUs that support PCI Express 4.0.

Q: Can You Put a PCIe 3.0 Card in a 4.0 Slot?

PCIe 4.0 is backward compatible, meaning you can put a PCIe 3.0 card in a 4.0 slot, but it will perform at Gen3 speeds. The same applies to NVMe SSDs. You can put a PCIe 3.0 SSD in a 4.0 slot, but it will top at 3.0 speeds.

Q: What Motherboards Support PCIe 4.0?

AMD's X570, B550, and TRX40 motherboards were the first motherboards to support PCIe 4.0 natively. AMD X570 is the company's flagship platform offering the best PCIe 4.0 performance in the market while B550 is the entry-level route to PCIe 4.0 on the AMD platform.

On the other side, there is Intel Z590, B560, and H510, which cover the high-end, mid-range, and entry-level Intel motherboards with PCIe 4.0. While all three come with an LGA 1200 socket, compatible with both 11th and 10th Gen Intel processors, only 11th Gen chips support PCIe 4.0.

Q: What Processors Support PCIe 4.0?

Intel's 11th Gen Intel Core and AMD's Ryzen 5000 and 3000 Series are the processors that support PCIe 4.0.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7rq3KnqysnZ%2Bbe6S7zGiZnqukYq%2B2sMaeq2aok56yboCMpqatoJWnr7Ct0Z2qaA%3D%3D