How We Test Motherboards for Gaming

Ever wondered if a pricey motherboard really makes your games run faster? You’re not alone. At the Evetech labs, we’re obsessed with answering the big questions for South African gamers. A motherboard is the foundation of your PC, but its impact on performance can seem murky. We’re pulling back the curtain to show you exactly how we test motherboards, what we look for, and where your hard-earned Rands are best spent. Let's dive in. 🔧

Our Standardised Test Rig

To get fair and repeatable results, every motherboard is dropped into the same high-performance test rig. This ensures that the only major variable we're testing is the motherboard itself. Using a consistent hardware environment means we can isolate the board's impact on things like gaming frame rates, power delivery, and thermal performance.

The motherboards we feature in our tests are always representative of the huge variety of motherboards available right here at Evetech.

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

MSI MEG Z890 UNIFY-X Intel Motherboard / LGA 1851 Socket / Supports Intel® Core™ Ultra Processors (Series 2) / 2x DDR5 UDIMM Slots / ATX Form Factor / 911-7E20-001

R16999.00In Stock

ASUS Prime B650M-K AMD Motherboard(DDR5,PCIe 5.0 M.2,2.5Gb Ethernet,DisplayPort,HDMI®, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C®, Front USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C®, BIOS Flashback™, USB4® Support) / 90MB1F60-M0EAY0

R2499.00In 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 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

ASRock Z890 LiveMixer 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-MXBPE0-A0UAYZ

R5999.00In Stock

Gaming & Thermal Benchmarks

For gamers, two things are critical: smooth frame rates and stable temperatures. A motherboard's VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) quality directly affects how consistently it can power the CPU under heavy load, which in turn impacts stability. Here’s how our test boards stacked up. 🚀

Gaming Performance: Does Price Equal Frames?

We tested three Z790 motherboards at different price points in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p with Ultra settings to see if cost translates to more FPS. The table below shows the average frames per second, and the results speak for themselves.

The results are fascinating. While there is a measurable difference, it's tiny. The premium board is technically faster, but only by 3 FPS—a difference you likely wouldn't notice during gameplay. For pure gaming, this shows that even boards from the more affordable sub-R13,000 motherboard segment deliver nearly identical frame rates to their pricier siblings. The value is undeniable.

MSI X870 Gaming Plus WIFI AMD Motherboard - AM5 Socket - Supports AMD Ryzen™ 9000/ 8000/ 7000 Series Desktop Processors - 4x DDR5 UDIMM - ATX Form Factor / 911-7E47-005

R6999.00In Stock

ASRock B860 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-MXBR30-A0UAYZ

R5599.00In 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 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

MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk WiFi Motherboard, ATX - Supports AMD Ryzen 9000/ 8000/ 7000 Processors / 4x DDR5 UDIMM / 8400+MT/s (OC) / PCIe 5.0 x16 / M.2 Gen5 / Wi-Fi 7 / 5G LAN / 911-7E59-006

R7999.00In 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

VRM Thermal Performance

So where does the extra money go? A big part of it is the cooling and power delivery. We ran a 30-minute Cinebench R23 stress test and measured the hottest point on the motherboard's VRMs. This table clearly shows the benefit of premium components.

Here, the difference is stark. The premium board's beefier heatsinks and superior power stages keep it significantly cooler. This is where the real benefit lies for enthusiasts. Better thermals mean more headroom for overclocking and greater long-term stability under heavy, sustained workloads. If you plan on pushing your CPU to its absolute limits, investing in one of the top-tier motherboards over R14,000 provides peace of mind and a more stable platform. ✨

The Final Verdict

So, what have we learned?

• For the vast majority of gamers, a budget or mid-range motherboard provides the best value. You get 99% of the gaming performance for a fraction of the cost.
• Premium motherboards justify their price with superior power delivery and cooling. This is crucial for serious overclockers and content creators who run sustained, all-core workloads.
• Don't just look at frame rates. A board's thermal performance is a key indicator of its build quality and longevity.