Best Gaming Motherboards South Africa: Ultimate Guide 2024

Choosing the right motherboard can feel like navigating a minefield... especially here in South Africa, where price and availability are key. It's the unsung hero of your rig, the central nervous system connecting every high-performance part. Getting it right is crucial. This guide cuts through the noise to help you find the best gaming motherboards in South Africa for your 2024 build, whether you're a pro-level enthusiast or a budget-savvy gamer.

ASRock X870E Taichi WIFI AMD Ryzen Motherboard / Supports AMD Socket AM5 Ryzen™ 9000, 8000 and 7000 Series Processors / AMD X870 Chipset / USB4 Type-C (40Gbps) Connectivity / 90-MXBP90-A0UAYZ

R10999.00In 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

ASRock B860 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-MXBRK0-A0UAYZ

R3899.00In Stock

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 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

MSI PRO B650M-P PRO Series Motherboard (AMD AM5, mATX, DDR5, PCIe 4.0, M.2, SATA 6Gb/s, USB 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI/DP, AMD Ryzen 7000 Series Desktop Processors) - 911-7E27-001

R2499.00In Stock

What Makes a Great Gaming Motherboard in 2024?

Before we dive into specific models, let's get the basics right. The best motherboard isn't just about flashy RGB lighting. It’s the foundation that determines your PC's potential, from CPU compatibility and memory speeds to future upgrade paths.

Here’s what you need to watch for:

• CPU Socket & Chipset: This is non-negotiable. Your motherboard's socket must match your CPU (e.g., LGA 1700 for Intel 12th-14th Gen, AM5 for AMD Ryzen 7000 series and beyond). The chipset (like Intel's Z790 or AMD's B650) is the board's brain, dictating features like overclocking support, PCIe lanes, and connectivity.
• Form Factor: Size matters! ATX is the standard full-size board with maximum slots. Micro-ATX is a shorter, more budget-friendly option, while Mini-ITX is for compact, small-form-factor builds.
• Memory Support: DDR5 is the new standard, offering much higher speeds than DDR4. While some budget Intel boards still offer DDR4 for a cheaper entry point, choosing a DDR5 board is the smarter move for a new build in 2024.
• Connectivity (I/O): Think about your needs. Do you need Wi-Fi 6E? Multiple M.2 slots for fast NVMe SSDs? A 2.5Gbps LAN port? Check the rear I/O panel to ensure it has all the USB ports you'll ever need.

Choosing Your Side: Best Intel Gaming Motherboards 🚀

Intel's platform offers a ton of flexibility. If you're building a new PC around a Core i5, i7, or i9 processor, you've got excellent choices. The key is matching the board's capabilities to your CPU's potential.

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

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 B850M Gaming Plus WiFi AMD Motherboard / mATX / Supports AMD Ryzen™ 9000/ 8000/ 7000 Series Processors / Dual Channel DDR5 Memory Boost 8200+ MT/s OC / 1 x PCIe 5.0 x16 / 5G LAN / Wi-Fi 7 / 911-7E66-001

R4599.00In Stock

ASRock B860M Steel Legend WiFi Intel Motherboard / Micro-ATX Form Factor / Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) / LGA 1851 CPU Socke / Dual Channel DDR5 / Thunderbolt™ 4/USB4 Type-C (40 Gb/s) / 2.5G LAN & Wi-Fi 6E / 90-MXBQF0-A0UAYZ

R4299.00In 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 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

For the Overclocker & Enthusiast: Z790 Chipset

If you've got an unlocked "K-series" Intel CPU (like the Core i7-14700K) and want to squeeze every drop of performance out of it, a Z790 motherboard is your go-to. These boards offer robust power delivery (VRMs) for stable overclocking, full memory tuning capabilities, and the maximum number of PCIe lanes for graphics cards and SSDs. They represent the peak of what the platform can offer.

The People's Champion: B760 Chipset

For the vast majority of gamers, a B760 motherboard is the perfect sweet spot. You can't overclock your CPU, but you still get full DDR5 memory speed support, PCIe 5.0 for your graphics card, and plenty of M.2 slots. Pairing a B760 board with a Core i5-14600 or i7-14700 creates a powerhouse PC without the premium price tag of a Z-series board. You can find options across all price points in Evetech's range of Intel motherboards.

Powering Up with Red: Best AMD Gaming Motherboards ✨

AMD's AM5 platform is all about the future. Every AM5 motherboard supports DDR5 and PCIe 5.0, and AMD has a great track record of supporting sockets for multiple CPU generations. This makes choosing one of the best gaming motherboards for an AMD build a solid long-term investment.

The Apex Predator: X670E & X670 Chipsets

For those building a rig with a top-tier Ryzen 9 or Ryzen 7 CPU, the X670E chipset is the ultimate choice. The "E" stands for Extreme, guaranteeing you PCIe 5.0 slots for both your GPU and at least one M.2 SSD. The standard X670 is slightly more reserved but still packs a massive feature set for serious creators and gamers who demand the best.

The Unbeatable Value King: B650E & B650 Chipsets

This is where the magic happens for most AMD gamers in South Africa. The B650 chipset delivers almost everything you need for a phenomenal gaming experience, including CPU overclocking and memory tuning with PBO and EXPO. A quality B650 board is the perfect partner for a Ryzen 5 7600X or Ryzen 7 7800X3D, creating arguably the best value gaming PC in 2024. Explore the latest AMD motherboards to see just how much performance you can get for your money.

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 B760M-E DDR4 mATX Motherboard (Supports 12th/13th Gen Intel Processors, LGA 1700, DDR4, 4.0, M.2, Gigabit LAN, USB 3.2 Gen1, mATX) - 911-7D48-013

R2199.00In Stock

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 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

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

Smart Buys: Finding the Best Value Gaming Motherboards in SA

Let's be real... PC components in South Africa can be expensive. You don't always need the R10,000+ motherboard to have an incredible gaming experience. The secret is identifying the point of diminishing returns. A well-made B-series board from either camp often provides 95% of the practical performance for a fraction of the cost.

Look for boards with good VRM heatsinks, at least two M.2 slots, and the I/O you actually need. Spending less on the motherboard can free up cash for a better GPU or a larger SSD, which will give you a much bigger boost in gaming performance. It's always worth checking for great deals on both Intel and AMD based motherboards to find that perfect balance of features and price.

Ultimately, the best gaming motherboard in South Africa is the one that fits your budget, supports your chosen CPU, and provides the features you'll use today and tomorrow.