The Best Motherboards for the RTX 3090
Updated: Nov 29, 2022 3:14 pm
While the RTX 4090 has pretty much replaced the need to buy a new 3090, the latter is still an impressive graphics card for gaming and productivity. The 3090 offers excellent 4K gaming performance and works well when used with professional applications. If you have this GPU in your hands, you must be wondering: What is the best motherboard for RTX 3090?
Now read: The best gaming CPU of 2022
So maybe you managed to find a good deal on a used or even new RTX 3090. Well, in that case, chances are all your gear is in need of an upgrade. For example, you will probably need a new power supply as this thing can draw about 300-350W from the wall.
Likewise, you’ll need a strong combination of motherboard and CPU to get the most out of the 3090. So, we’ve rounded up some of the best motherboards for RTX 3090. Let’s take a look at what you’re looking for.
What is the best motherboard for RTX 3090?
Here are our top three picks for the best motherboard for the RTX 3090.
01
Best Intel motherboard for RTX 3090
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-F Gaming
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-F gaming Wi-Fi
02
Best AMD motherboard for RTX 3090
Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite
Gigabyte X570 AORUS Elite WiFi
03
Best mid-range motherboard for RTX 3090
MSI MAG B660M
WiFi MSI MAG B660 Tomahawk
Which motherboard is compatible with the RTX 3090?
Technically, most of the newer motherboards on the market will be compatible with the RTX 3090. However, just because it’s compatible doesn’t mean it will translate into a good experience. If you are looking for a good motherboard for the RTX 3090, then you should look for something relatively high-end.
For example, if you want to use the latest Intel processors, choose a B660 or Z690/Z790 motherboard. As for AMD, you’ll want to go with B650 or X670/X670E motherboards for the newer processors.
Processors like the i5 11400F, Ryzen 5 5600X or preferably the Ryzen 5 5600X3D will also do well with the 3090. So the X570, B560 and B550 motherboards are also great options for the RTX 3090.
Which processor is better for RTX 3090?
The Intel Core i9 13900K is by far the best processor for the RTX 3090. It offers the best overall performance for gaming and productivity-related workloads. You get a high core count, great clock speeds, and excellent overclocking support. The 3090 paired with a 12900K is an excellent combination.
You can also use AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series processors like the 7950X or 7900X. Unfortunately, Intel has beaten AMD for now in terms of price and performance. They are likely to appear from Intel soon with 3D V-cache versions of the 7000 series.
We can’t forget about the Ryzen 5 5800X3D either. It is one of the best processors when it comes to price for performance.
Motherboard and CPU combination
Keep in mind that you must get a CPU compatible with the motherboard you choose. Selecting a CPU is an entirely different matter, but all you need to know is that ONLY Intel 12th and 13th Gen CPUs are compatible with 600 and 700 series motherboards. CPU compatible with socket AM5 motherboards.
Make sure you select the right CPU for your motherboard and one that won’t break the RTX 4090. If you need help, we have a “Best CPU for RTX 4090” article for you to browse.
Best motherboard for RTX 3090 – overview
Now, let’s take a look at our top three picks for the best motherboards for the RTX 3090. We’ve decided to stick with just three picks to give you a general idea of what to expect. Of course, there are more options to choose from, but these are the best of the best.
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-F Gaming
ASUS ROG Strix Z790-F gaming Wi-Fi
16+1 phase power supply system
2.5GbE LAN, Audio, DisplayPort, WiFi 6E, USB 3.2, Thunderbolt 4 and more.
GPU X16 slot and M.2 slot
pros
- 16+1 phase power supply system
- Great overclocking support
- WiFi 6E
Form Factor: ATX | Power stages: 18+1 | Connectivity: 2 USB 3.2 connectors, 11 USB 3.2 ports (Gen 1 + Gen 2), 3 PCIe x16 slots and 5 M.2 slots | PCIe Gen 5: Yes | DDR5 Support: Yes
There are many options to choose from in the Z790 series of motherboards. However, it’s hard to argue that it gets better than the ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming. Due to the number of features and overall performance here, this is by far the best motherboard for the RTX 3090.
As it uses the Z790 chipset, this motherboard has many PCIe 5.0 lanes, making it incredibly future-proof. Plus, you get a highly robust 18+1 phase design for VRM setup.
You get USB 3.2 Gen 2 headers and a total of eleven USB ports on the back. In addition, you are getting support for Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 and DDR5 up to 7800MT/s (OC). So you won’t complain in terms of features or overall performance. You even get five M.2 slots for lots of expandable storage.
Last but not least, this is an ASUS Rog Strix card, which means you’re getting the very best in terms of design and aesthetics. Flashy RGB, aggressive looks and a sleek black look. This fits perfectly into any high-end build.
It’s the ultimate motherboard for the RTX 3090 and one that really makes sense when paired with a Core i7 13700K or Core i9 13900K.
Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite
Gigabyte X570 AORUS Elite WiFi
Form Factor: ATX | Power stages: 12+2 | Connectivity: 3 USB 3.2 connectors, 6 USB 3.2 ports (Gen 1 + Gen 2), 2 PCIe x16 slots and 2 M.2 slots | PCIe Gen 5: No | DDR5 Support: No
You might be wondering why we don’t recommend X670 motherboards for Ryzen 7000 series processors. Well, it all comes down to price, if you need a newer Ryzem processor you are more than welcome to explore generations later. But for now, we extend the 5000 series on the X570 chipset.
As such, we recommend the Gigabyte X570 Aorus Elite, one of the best AMD motherboards for the RTX 3080. The Aorus exclusion is very value-focused rather than feature-rich. however, it brings good value for money.
For example, it has a robust 12+2 phase power supply configuration. This works well with high end processors like the 5800X3D or even the mighty 5950X. Also, it has plenty of USB 3.2 Gen 1 and Gen 2 headers, with a good number of ports on the back.
Plus, you get excellent memory overclocking for just about every DDR4 RAM kit out there. While there is no support for PCIe Gen 5 or DDR5, this card will appeal to the 90% of buyers looking for something fancy.
Finally, you also get wireless networking and support for a good number of Ryzen processors.
MSI MAG B660M Wi-Fi Mortar
MSI MAG B660 Tomahawk WiFi
3 USB 3.2 connectors, 6 USB 3.2 ports (Gen 1 + Gen 2), 2 PCIe x16 slots and 2 M.2 slots
pros
- excellent value
- wireless connectivity
- Three M.2 slots
cons
- No support for DDR5
- BIOS could be better
Form factor: micro-ATX | Power stages: 12+4 | Connectivity: 4x USB 3.2 connectors (Gen 1 + Gen 2) 4x USB 3.2 ports (Gen 1 + Gen 2), 2x PCIe x16 slots and 2x M.2 slots | PCIe Gen 5: No | DDR5 Support: No
The MSI MAG B660M Mortar Wi-Fi is the best budget motherboard for the RTX 3090. While it’s not exactly the “cheapest” motherboard on the market, the features and overall performance make it an excellent choice for budget builds and of medium size.
This board features a 12+2 phase VRM configuration, which means it can easily handle high-end processors. However, considering this is a DDR4 motherboard rather than DDR5, it’s best when paired with something like a Core i5 13600K or even the budget champ, the Core i5 12400F.
You’re getting a good amount of USB 3.2 headers and lots of USB ports. It’s nice to see wireless connectivity here, a feature often lacking on midrange cards. Other than that, you’re getting decent overclocking support and two M.2 slots.
If you only care about gaming performance, then this is the card to save some money.
final word
Any motherboard on this list will suit the RTX 3090 extremely well. Whether you’re overflowing with spare cash or you need it. You’ll find all the features you need to support the RTZ 3090 on each of these motherboards. The only real factor to consider is what CPU you want to have, as this has a direct effect on what motherboard you can use. So choose a motherboard that suits your CPU and a CPU that suits your use case.