Best Gaming Motherboard: SA Graphics Speed Test Results

Just spent a fortune on a new graphics card? That's brilliant! But if you've paired it with a basic motherboard, you might be throttling your performance before you even launch a game. A great GPU needs a solid foundation. We've analysed the specs and crunched the numbers to reveal how to choose the best gaming motherboard in South Africa, ensuring every bit of your graphics power is unleashed. Let's dive in. 🚀

MSI A520M-A PRO AMD Ryzen M-ATX Motherboard / 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen Desktop Processors / Supports AMD Ryzen 5000 Series, 5000 G-Series, 4000 G-Series, 3000 Series, 3000 G-Series, / Supports DDR4 Memory, up to 4600(OC) MHz / AMD Socket AM4 / AMD A520 Chipset / Studio Grade Sound Quality / A520M-A-PRO

R1399.00In Stock

MSI MEG Z890 ACE Intel Motherboard / LGA 1851 Socket / Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) / 4x DDR5 UDIMM Slots / ATX Form Factor / 911-7E22-001

R14199.00In Stock

MSI MPG B850 Edge TI WiFi Motherboard, ATX - Supports AMD Ryzen 9000/8000 / 7000 Processors, AM5-80A SPS VRM, DDR5 Memory Boost (8400+MT/s OC), PCIe 5.0 x16, M.2 Gen5, Wi-Fi 7, 5G LAN / 911-7E62-001

R6999.00In Stock

ASRock Z890 Steel Legend 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-MXBPF0-A0UAYZ

R6699.00In 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 B850-P WIFI Motherboard, ATX - Supports AMD Ryzen 9000/8000 / 7000 Processors, AM5 - DDR5 Memory Boost (8200+ MT/s OC), PCIe 5.0 x16 & 4.0 x16, M.2 Gen5, Wi-Fi 7, 5G LAN / 911-7E56-002

R4599.00In Stock

Why Your Motherboard is the Unsung Hero

Think of your PC as a high-performance sports team. The GPU is the star striker, and the CPU is the strategic midfielder. But the motherboard? That’s the entire pitch, the stadium, and the transport network all in one. It dictates how fast your components can communicate. A slow, congested network means your star players can't perform at their peak.

When it comes to graphics speed, the motherboard's role is critical. It provides the PCIe slot that your graphics card plugs into, and the quality of this connection determines the data bandwidth available. Skimping here can create a bottleneck, leaving precious frames on the table... even with a top-tier GPU. While there are many excellent affordable Intel and AMD motherboards, understanding the performance tiers is key to making a smart investment.

Decoding the Specs for Peak Graphics Speed

Finding the best gaming motherboard isn't about buying the most expensive one. It's about matching features to your GPU and CPU to create a balanced, powerful system. Here’s what our analysis shows are the most important factors for South African gamers right now.

PCIe Gen 5 vs. Gen 4: Future-Proofing Your Rig

The biggest talking point is the PCIe generation. PCIe 5.0 offers double the bandwidth of PCIe 4.0. While current graphics cards like the RTX 40-series don't fully saturate a Gen 4 slot yet, opting for a Gen 5 motherboard is a smart move for future-proofing. As games become more demanding and next-gen GPUs arrive, that extra bandwidth will become essential. For now, a solid Gen 4 board is more than enough for almost any build.

ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WIFI AMD Ryzen Motherboard / Supports AMD Socket AM5 Ryzen™ 9000, 8000 and 7000 Series Processors / AMD X870 Chipset / USB4 Type-C (40Gbps) Connectivity / 90-MXBPX0-A0UAYZ

R8599.00In Stock

MSI MPG X870E Edge TI WiFi Motherboard, ATX - Supports AMD Ryzen 9000/8000 / 7000 Processors, AM5-80A SPS VRM, DDR5 Memory Boost 8400+MT/s (OC), PCIe 5.0 x16, M.2 Gen5, Wi-Fi 7, 5G LAN / 911-7E59-001

R8999.00In 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

ASRock Phantom Gaming Z890 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-MXBPG0-A0UAYZ

R6999.00In Stock

MAG B850M Mortar WiFi Motherboard, mATX / Supports AMD Ryzen™ 9000/ 8000/ 7000 Series Processors / DDR5 Memory Boost 8200+ MT/s OC / 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 / 1 x M.2 Gen5 / 5G LAN / Wi-Fi 7 / 911-7E61-001

R5299.00In Stock

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

Chipset Showdown: B-series vs. X/Z-series

The chipset is the motherboard's traffic controller.

• For AMD: B-series (like B650) offer a fantastic balance of features and price, perfect for most gamers. X-series (like X670E) are for enthusiasts who want maximum overclocking potential and more connectivity. Explore the latest high-performance AMD motherboards to see the difference in features.
• For Intel: B-series (like B760) are the value kings, while Z-series (like Z790) unlock CPU overclocking for squeezing out every last drop of performance.

Our Top Picks for SA Gamers ✨

While the "one true best" is a myth, we can identify the top contenders for different needs and budgets.

The Value Champion: The Mid-Range Sweet Spot

For the vast majority of gamers, a solid B650 (AMD) or B760 (Intel) motherboard is the perfect choice. These boards provide PCIe 4.0 support for your GPU and NVMe SSD, robust power delivery for modern CPUs, and all the I/O you need without the "enthusiast tax". They represent the smartest ZAR-for-performance investment in 2024.

MSI Z890 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi Intel Motherboard / ATX Form Factor / Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) / LGA 1851 CPU Socket / 4x DDR5 UDIMM Supporting up to 256GB / 911-7E34-002

R6699.00In Stock

MSI MPG Z890 Carbon Wi-Fi Intel Motherboard / ATX Form Factor / Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) / LGA 1851 CPU Socket / 4x DDR5 UDIMM Supporting up to 256GB / 911-7E17-001

R11999.00In 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 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

ASRock B850M Steel Legend WiFi AMD Motherboard / Supports AMD Socket AM5 Ryzen™ 9000, 8000 and 7000 Series Processors / AMD B850 Chipset / PCIe Gen5 (Graphics, M.2) / Dual Channel DDR5 / 2.5G LAN & Wi-Fi 7 / BIOS Flashback Button / 90-MXBS20-A0UAYZ

R3899.00In Stock

MSI MPG Z890 EDGE TI WI-FI Intel Motherboard / LGA 1851 / Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) / 4x DDR5 UDIMM Slots / ATX Form Factor / 911-7E19-002

R9999.00In Stock

The Performance Powerhouse: For Uncompromised Speed

If you're running a top-tier CPU like an Intel Core i9 or AMD Ryzen 9 and a flagship GPU, you need a board that can keep up. A Z790 or X670E motherboard is the answer. These platforms offer superior VRMs for stable overclocking, PCIe 5.0 support for future GPUs, and extensive connectivity options. Browsing the range of powerful Intel motherboards shows just how many features are packed into these high-end platforms. Choosing the right one is crucial for building a truly elite gaming rig.