Best Gaming Motherboard for Multitasking: SA Test Results

You're coordinating a raid on Discord, streaming your gameplay, and have a dozen browser tabs open for research... suddenly, your PC stutters. Sound familiar? It’s often not your CPU or GPU, but the unsung hero of your rig: the motherboard. Finding the best gaming motherboard for multitasking is the secret to a flawlessly smooth experience in South Africa. Let's dive into what really matters for a rig that can truly do it all.

MSI PRO Z890-A Wi-Fi Intel Motherboard / ATX Motherboard / Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) / LGA 1851 Socket / 4x DDR5 UDIMM Up to 256GB / Intel® Wi-Fi 7 / 911-7E32-004

R7899.00In Stock

ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi Intel Motherboard / Micro-ATX Form Factor / Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) / LGA 1851 CPU Socket / PCIe Gen5 (Graphics, M.2) / Dual Channel DDR5 / 2.5G LAN & Wi-Fi 6E / 90-MXBRQ0-A0UAYZ

R3599.00In Stock

ASRock Z890 Taichi Aqua Intel Motherboard / E-ATX Form Factor / Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) / LGA 1851 CPU Socket / Dual Channel DDR5 / Thunderbolt™ 4 & USB4 Type-C (40 Gb/s) / Marvell 10G LAN & Realtek 5G LAN / 802.11be Wi-Fi 7 / 90-MXBPL0-A0CAYZ

R18499.00In Stock

MAG B860M Mortar WiFi Motherboard, mATX - Supports Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2), LGA 1851 - DDR5 Memory Boost 9200+ MT/s OC, 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16, 1 x M.2 Gen5, 5G LAN, Wi-Fi 7 / 911-7E40-002

R5599.00In Stock

MSI PRO B850M-A WIFI PZ AMD Motherboard / Supports AMD Ryzen™ 9000 / 8000 / 7000 Series / Dual Channel DDR5-8200+ (OC) / Direct 8+2+1 Power System (60A SPS) / Lightning Gen 5 x4 M.2 / 5G LAN & Wi-Fi 7 / 911-7E78-001

R4999.00In Stock

ASRock B850M Pro RS WiFi AMD Motherboard - White / Supports AMD Socket AM5 Ryzen™ 9000, 8000 and 7000 Series Processors / AMD B850 Chipset / PCIe Gen5 (Graphics, M.2) / Dual Channel DDR5 / 8+2+1 Power Phase Dr.MOS for VCore+SOC+MISC / 2.5G LAN & Wi-Fi 6E / 90-MXBT30-A0UAYZ

R3499.00In Stock

Why Your Motherboard is the Multitasking MVP

Think of your motherboard as the central nervous system of your PC. It’s the high-speed highway that connects your powerful CPU, lightning-fast GPU, and responsive RAM. When you're just gaming, the traffic on this highway is predictable. But when you start multitasking—streaming, encoding video, or running virtual machines—that traffic becomes a complex web of data.

A cheap or poorly designed board will cause bottlenecks, leaving your expensive components starved for data and waiting in line. A great multitasking gaming motherboard, however, has the robust power delivery (VRMs) and wide data pathways (PCIe lanes) to handle everything you throw at it without breaking a sweat.

Key Features for the Ultimate Multitasking Motherboard

When you're hunting for the best gaming motherboard for multitasking, a few key specs are non-negotiable. Forget the flashy RGB for a moment; this is about raw capability. 🔧

Chipset and CPU Synergy

Your motherboard's chipset dictates which CPU family you can use. For modern multitasking rigs, you're typically choosing between Intel's 700-series (like B760 and Z790) or AMD's 600-series (like B650 and X670). High-end chipsets generally offer more PCIe lanes and better connectivity options, which are crucial for running multiple high-speed devices simultaneously. When starting a build, it's wise to explore the features available on the latest Intel motherboards to see if they align with your performance goals.

RAM Support and Capacity

For a true multitasking machine, 16GB of RAM is the absolute minimum... and 32GB of fast DDR5 memory is the new sweet spot. Your motherboard needs to not only support these capacities but also handle high-speed RAM kits reliably. Look for motherboards with four DIMM slots and official support for high-frequency EXPO (for AMD) or XMP (for Intel) profiles.

Connectivity and I/O

A good motherboard for multitasking needs a generous rear I/O panel. Look for:

• Multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports: For fast external drives and peripherals.
• 2.5Gbps LAN or higher: Essential for fast downloads and lag-free streaming.
• Wi-Fi 6E or 7: Provides low-latency wireless connectivity, keeping you competitive even without a cable.
• At least two M.2 slots: For ultra-fast NVMe SSDs to run your OS and games from.

MSI B840 GAMING PLUS WIFI AMD Motherboard / AM5 Socket / ATX For Factor / 4x DDR5 DIMM Slots / Supports AMD Ryzen™ 9000/ 8000/ 7000 Series Desktop Processors / 911-7E57-002

R4899.00In Stock

ASRock X870 LiveMixer WiFi AMD Motherboard / Supports AMD Socket AM5 Ryzen™ 9000, 8000 and 7000 Series Processors / AMD X870 Chipset / PCIe Gen5 (Graphics, M.2) / Dual Channel DDR5 / 5G LAN & Wi-Fi 7 / 90-MXBTA0-A0UAYZ

R5599.00In Stock

ASRock Z890 Taichi Aqua Intel Motherboard / E-ATX Form Factor / Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) / LGA 1851 CPU Socket / Dual Channel DDR5 / Thunderbolt™ 4 & USB4 Type-C (40 Gb/s) / Marvell 10G LAN & Realtek 5G LAN / 802.11be Wi-Fi 7 / 90-MXBPL0-A0CAYZ

R18499.00In Stock

MSI PRO Z890-A Wi-Fi Intel Motherboard / ATX Motherboard / Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) / LGA 1851 Socket / 4x DDR5 UDIMM Up to 256GB / Intel® Wi-Fi 7 / 911-7E32-004

R7899.00In Stock

MSI B860 GAMING PLUS WIFI Motherboard, ATX - Supports Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2), LGA 1851 - DDR5 Memory Boost 8600+ MT/s (OC), PCIe 5.0 x16 x16, M.2 Gen5, Intel Killer 5G LAN, Wi-Fi 7 / 911-7E41-003

R5299.00In Stock

ASRock B860M Pro RS WiFi Intel Motherboard / Micro-ATX Form Factor / Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) / LGA 1851 CPU Socket / PCIe Gen5 (Graphics, M.2) / Dual Channel DDR5 / 2.5G LAN & Wi-Fi 6E / 90-MXBRQ0-A0UAYZ

R3599.00In Stock

Our SA Test Results: Top Motherboard Tiers

Based on our in-house builds and local market value, we've identified what to look for across different budgets. The "best" board is the one that meets your specific needs without wasting ZAR on features you'll never use.

The All-Out Powerhouse

If you're a content creator who games and streams at the highest quality, you need a top-tier motherboard. These boards (typically Z790 for Intel and X670E for AMD) boast overkill VRMs for stable overclocking, the maximum number of PCIe 5.0 lanes, and extensive connectivity like Thunderbolt 4. They are built to handle a flagship CPU and GPU running at full tilt while juggling other demanding tasks. Exploring the range of high-end AMD motherboards is a great starting point for this tier.

The Value Sweet Spot ✨

This is where most South African gamers should be looking. Mid-range B760 (Intel) and B650 (AMD) boards offer the best bang for your buck. You get most of the critical features of their high-end siblings, like DDR5 support and PCIe 4.0/5.0 for your primary GPU and SSD, but at a much more accessible price. For a gamer who streams on the side, this is the perfect balance of performance and price.

MSI B850 Gaming Plus WIFI AMD Motherboard - AM5 Socket - Supports AMD Ryzen™ 9000/ 8000/ 7000 Series Desktop Processors - 4x DDR5 UDIMM - ATX Form Factor / 911-7E56-001

R4999.00In Stock

MSI B860 GAMING PLUS WIFI Motherboard, ATX - Supports Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2), LGA 1851 - DDR5 Memory Boost 8600+ MT/s (OC), PCIe 5.0 x16 x16, M.2 Gen5, Intel Killer 5G LAN, Wi-Fi 7 / 911-7E41-003

R5299.00In Stock

MSI PRO Z890-A Wi-Fi Intel Motherboard / ATX Motherboard / Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) / LGA 1851 Socket / 4x DDR5 UDIMM Up to 256GB / Intel® Wi-Fi 7 / 911-7E32-004

R7899.00In Stock

ASRock Phantom Gaming B860 Lightning WiFi Intel Motherboard / ATX Form Factor / Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) / LGA 1851 CPU Socket / 4x DDR5 DIMM Supporting up to 256GB / 90-MXBR20-A0UAYZ

R5699.00In Stock

MSI PRO B850M-A WIFI PZ AMD Motherboard / Supports AMD Ryzen™ 9000 / 8000 / 7000 Series / Dual Channel DDR5-8200+ (OC) / Direct 8+2+1 Power System (60A SPS) / Lightning Gen 5 x4 M.2 / 5G LAN & Wi-Fi 7 / 911-7E78-001

R4999.00In Stock

ASRock Z890 Pro RS WiFi Intel Motherboard / ATX Form Factor / Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) / LGA 1851 CPU Socket / 4x DDR5 DIMM Supporting up to 256GB / 90-MXBQC0-A0UAYZ

R5999.00In Stock

The Budget-Conscious Builder

Building a multitasking rig on a tight budget is possible. You'll need to be smart about your choices, prioritising a board with solid VRMs and at least two M.2 slots over aesthetic extras. While you might sacrifice the latest connectivity standards, you can still build a capable machine. It's always worth checking for great deals on budget motherboards, as previous-generation chipsets can offer incredible value.