Building a PC is a bit like growing up – seemingly impossible, gratifying, and yet a bit overrated! (Why would someone sit through hours of planning and assembling a PC when he could have a thousand times more conveniently bought a pre-built PC?) Nevertheless, at the core of every well-built PC lies a well-balanced CPU Motherboard combo. These components affect a PC’s potential and determine things that a PC can or cannot do.

If you are building a computer, selecting the right CPU and Motherboard combo is crucial to make sure your system performence is optimal. In this guide, we will discuss about the best CPU motherboard combos for both Intel and AMD processors.

The conventional wisdom is to just buy a motherboard that complements the CPU. Z370 chipset, for instance, supports up to 8th generation processors. So you can’t couple it with i9 9900K or for that matter, any 9th generation CPU. Most people don’t look beyond compatibility Best CPU Motherboard Combos (Intel & AMD) motherboard.

A motherboard can affect a PC’s performance in terms of overclocking potential and RAM speed. Hasty decisions over CPU and motherboard pairing can have serious loss of money as well time and should be avoided at all costs.

We can imagine that the process of building a PC can be tiresome and irksome. We intend to ease it for you as much as we can. Hence, we have curated a list of the best CPU and MOBO combos in varying price ranges.

5 Best CPU Motherboard Combos

Here’s a list of the best motherboard and CPU pairings in increasing order of Price Range.

1. Best Budget CPU and Motherboard Combo: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 and ASRock Steel Legend mATX B450

quite powerful, especially Ryzen 5 2600.

Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600

Only a couple of years ago, Intel was reigning supreme over the Processor market. AMD was nowhere to be seen. That’s when Team Red fired back with the launch of their Ryzen 3000 series, exponentially decreasing the gap between the two renowned manufacturers. In the windfall of the Ryzen 3000 series launch, prices for AMD Ryzen 5 2600 have fallen drastically.

With 6 cores and 12 threads, Ryzen 5 2600 is still relevant today. It performs amicably in multi-tasking and is a gaming power-house. In pure gaming performance, this rivals Intel Core i9-7900X, which, for context, is significantly costlier.

Motherboard: ASRock Steel Legend mATX B450

ASRock Steel Legend mATX B450 is a simple, relatively in-expensive motherboard with limited overclocking potential. It supports 4 Ram slots, 2 M.2 slots, and multi-GPU technology. RGB Lighting, premium looks, and high-quality audio outputs act as icing on the cake.

Don’t let the price tag fool you on this one, because this packs a punch! This is a budget option in all senses, except that it doesn’t feel like one.

2. Best Mid-Range CPU and Motherboard Combo: Ryzen 5 3600 and MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk Gaming Motherboard

Processor: Ryzen 5 3600

While AMD Ryzen 5 2600 is no slouch, if you can spare a few extra bucks, you should go for Ryzen 5 3600. AMD’s proposition is really simple-spend less and get more, and Ryzen 5 3600 is no different. Packing 6 cores, 12 threads, and a 35MB game cache, it excels in gaming and multi-threaded operations. For context, you can expect 100+ frames per second on almost all AAA titles. That’s almost as good as Intel’s 10th generation processors (okay! I might have exaggerated a little, but the CPU is really good). If that wasn’t all, AMD’s cutting-edge 7nm manufacturing process alongside Zen 2 architecture ensures quiet, cool, and efficient operation. Without a shadow of a doubt, this is one of Team Red’s best ever processors and a solid mid-tier option.

Motherboard: MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk

Just like Ryzen 5 3600, you get more than you pay with MSI MAG 550 Tomahawk Gaming Motherboard. It is reasonably priced and supports 4 ram slots (combining for 128 GB of DDR4 Ram), PCIe 4.0, 2.5Gbps NIC, and two 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports. For instance, it is easy to mistake it for a premium motherboard. An efficient thermal solution, RGB illumination, and Studio-grade sound quality only make it more desirable.

Almost all aspects of this pair are desirable. What stands out for me, though, is the upgradeability. If you outgrow Ryzen 5 3600, you can just slap on any one of Ryzen 5000 processors, and you will be good for another couple of years. This is, by far, the best mid-tier motherboard and CPU pairing available in the market today.

3. Best Value CPU and Motherboard Combo: AMD Ryzen 3700X and Asus AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus (Wi-Fi)

Processor: AMD Ryzen 3700X

AMD Ryzen 3700X is the best processor option for most people. With 8 cores and 16 threads, it is the king of multi-threaded workloads. In multi-core performances, it beats Intel Core i7-9700K with relative ease. The same can’t be said about single-core performances though, as Intel reigns supreme over that territory. Nevertheless, Ryzen 3700X offers low power consumption and improved performance (15% increase to Instructions per Cycle as compared to Intel 2nd Zen Processors) owing to its 7nm manufacturing nodes. So whether you are building a workstation or a budgeted gaming rig, AMD Ryzen 3700X is the best processor option for you.

Motherboard: Asus AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus (WIFI)

What do you pair alongside one of the finest-one size fits all- processors in the market? An affordable, yet feature-rich motherboard! Asus AM4 Gaming can accommodate up to 128 GB of DDR4, owing to its 4 DIMM slots. It supports PCIe 4.0 and features a 12+2 VRM setup and a decent heat sink. The latter ensures uncanny cooling and overclocking potential! If that hasn’t got you drooling, the MOBO features a dual-band WIFI, RGB illumination (near the heat sink), and an unprecedented 108dB signal to noise ratio.

Together, AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570 make up one of the most affordable and balanced motherboards and CPU combos. If you intend to build a PC on a limited budget and wish to leave no corner uncut, you should look no further.

4. Best CPU and Motherboard Combo for most Gamers: Intel Core i7-9700K and GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS PRO

Processor: Intel Core i7-9700K

The list has been strangely lop-sided as of yet- so much so that it is easy to assume that AMD is crushing Intel in the CPU market. As much as Team Red and its supporters would fantasize about this, it is absurd! AMD CPUs are better priced and sweep low and mid-tier price ranges. Intel CPUs tend to be more powerful. And i7-9700K is no different. Owing to its ‘relatively lower price’, it compares favorably to i9-9900K. Don’t misunderstand me: i9-9900k is, hands-on, a better processor, and one of the most powerful CPUs in the market today, but comes at a hefty premium. Hence, i7-9700K is a smarter choice.

I7-9700K may not have hyper-threading technology but it still has 8 cores and a 12 MB smart cache, ensuring a power-packed performance. It crosses the 100 fps barrier on almost all AAA titles with relative ease. I7-9700K is a one size fits all solution to all your gaming woes!

Motherboard: GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS PRO

In order to fully utilize i7-9700K’s overclocking headroom, we need a Motherboard with a strong VRM. GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Pro offers just that! It boasts a 12+1 Phases Digital VRM solution including PWM Controllers and DrMOS. These deliver power to all power-hungry and energy-sensitive components, ensuring maximal performance. This way i7-9700K and GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Pro perfectly complement one another.

The motherboard can support up to 128 GB of RAM, owing to 4 memory slots. It supports both Nvidia SLI and AMD CrossFire, should you need Multiple GPUs. These features alongside a plethora of Input/ Output options, advanced thermal design (including multiple cut Heatsinks and Heatpipe), and a Realtek High-End HD Audio Codec make the MOBO highly desirable.

5. Best Premium: Intel Core i9-10900K and ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming Z490 (WiFi 6)

Processor: Intel Core i9-10900K

Power Efficient

Best Price to Performance Ratio

Best Productivity

Best CPU in the Market

Intel i9-10900K is expensive, power-hungry, and (yet!), hands down, the best CPU available in the market. 10 cores, 20 threads, and a 20 MB L3 cache ensure uncannily performance. With a base frequency of 3.7 GHz and a single-core turbo of 5.3 GHz, you are bound to get the highest frame rates for almost all AAA titles on the planet. I was especially surprised by the chip’s thermal management. For a 14nm form factor, the chip’s thermal management is prodigious. If you can afford it, go for it. I9-10900K is a cleverly engineered piece and probably the best overall CPU you can buy today.

Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming Z490 (WiFi 6)

So, what do you do with the best CPU available in the market today? Pair it with the best motherboard that you can buy? Yes! and that’s exactly what we have done. ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E comes with 14+2 power stages with a ProCool II power connector, ensuring reliable power supply to all components at all times. This way you can push your CPU to the limit, and while you are at it, the motherboard’s heatsink, Heatpipe, fan headers, and AI cooling would ensure a 5 Celsius Delta.

Cooling and Performance aside, ASUS ROG Strix supports 4 memory slots, 6 SATA slots, and 2 M.2 slots. If you need any further incentives to buy this motherboard, you can always look up to RGB Lighting, and Pristine audio quality.

Which of these CPU and Motherboard Combos should you buy?

So far, we have discussed a list of the best CPU and MOBO pairings in increasing order of price. So, you may choose a price range and purchase the corresponding pair. If you can afford it, there is no reason not to buy Intel Core i9-10900K and ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming Z490. Not only does the pair offer the best performance, but it will also save your future expenses.

But what if you are tied by financial constraints?

How much should you spend on a CPU and Motherboard Pair?

It is important to understand that a CPU cannot deliver exceptional performance on its own. It needs support from an able GPU. And, we all know how expensive the best GPUs can be. So, spend wisely and don’t go all out on the CPU and Motherboard. Mid-Tier CPU and Motherboard Combos are quite powerful too. For instance, there isn’t much that AMD Ryzen 3700X and Asus AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus can’t do.