Tom’s updated Best motherboards 2026 list is a big signal for anyone planning a fresh gaming PC this year. The guide now leans hard into AMD AM5 and Intel’s latest desktop platforms, with B850, X870, Z890 and a few strong Z790 options carrying most of the recommendations. That shift means DDR5, PCIe 5.0 storage and Wi‑Fi 7 are no longer luxuries saved for only the most expensive rigs. In this post, we break down what those picks mean for real‑world 1080p, 1440p and 4K gaming builds across PC.
| Build Goal | Recommended Board | Platform | Why It’s a Top Pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget AM5 | MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX | AMD AM5 | Wi-Fi 7 + Dual PCIe 5.0 M.2 |
| Mid-Range 1440p | ASRock X870E Taichi | AMD AM5 | Dual USB4 + 5 GbE LAN |
| Value / Reuse | ASRock Z790 Steel Legend | Intel LGA1700 | Cheap PCIe 5.0 GPU & M.2 support |
| Halo / Creator | Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme | AMD AM5 | 10 GbE + Three PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots |
| Intel Flagship | MSI Z890 Godlike | Intel LGA1851 | Thunderbolt 5 + Seven M.2 slots |
How the Best motherboards 2026 list changes budget gaming builds
Tom’s value spotlight on the MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX Wifi quietly replaces older B650 and entry X670 options as the default AM5 choice for budget and lower mid‑range rigs. The board supports Ryzen 9000, 8000 and 7000 CPUs, offers DDR5 support, two PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots, 5 GbE LAN and Wi‑Fi 7, which is a big step up from typical “cheap” boards that used to ship with only PCIe 4.0 and slower networking.
For a 1080p‑focused gaming PC in 2026, a sensible budget parts list now looks like: Ryzen 5‑class AM5 processor, MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX Wifi, 32 GB DDR5, a PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 NVMe SSD and a mid‑range GPU. That build gives you bandwidth and storage headroom similar to last year’s pricier mid‑tier systems, and it slots in cleanly alongside a broader AM5 settings and builds hub you might already be running on your site.
Are older B650 boards still worth it?
Yes, but mostly as clearance deals. If you find a solid B650 at a big discount, it can still anchor a budget AM5 build, though you will usually miss Wi‑Fi 7, 5 GbE and one of the PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots that the B850 Tomahawk MAX brings.
Is AM4 still OK for budget gaming?
Tom’s list keeps one AM4 DDR4 board as a reuse‑your‑RAM option, but treats it as a legacy path rather than the main recommendation for new PCs. If you are starting from scratch, AM5 now makes more sense for long‑term upgrades.
Mid‑range builds and the Best motherboards 2026 AM5 picks
In the mid‑range, Tom’s highlights the ASRock X870E Taichi and Gigabyte B650E Aorus Master as the spine for serious 1440p rigs. X870E Taichi brings 20+2+2 power stages, hyper‑speed DDR5, PCIe 5.0 slots and dual USB4, making it a strong fit for Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 gaming plus streaming builds.
Gigabyte’s B650E Aorus Master stays on the list as a slightly cheaper way to get PCIe 5.0 GPU and M.2 support on AM5 with a feature set that still suits high‑end GPUs and multiple NVMe drives. For most 1440p‑first PCs, pairing a Ryzen 7 with one of these boards, 32–64 GB DDR5 and at least one fast NVMe SSD will line up well with your wider AM5 motherboard and settings hub content.
Expert Insight
For 1440p, aim for a build that can push 120–165 fps in shooters on high settings; boards like X870E Taichi and B650E Aorus Master keep VRM temps under control when paired with Ryzen 7 and 9 chips at those loads.
Do you need X870E over B650E for 1440p?
Not always. If you only plan one GPU and a couple of SSDs, B650E Aorus Master usually covers everything with PCIe 5.0 support while costing less than X870E options.
How many M.2 slots are ideal now?
For most mid‑range gaming PCs, three to four M.2 slots are enough, leaving space for a fast boot drive, a large game drive and one or two future upgrades.
High‑end Best motherboards 2026 picks for 4K and creator rigs
At the top of the Best motherboards 2026 list on AMD, Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme takes the halo spot. It targets Ryzen 9 gaming and workstation builds with 20+2+2 power stages, three PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots, DDR5 support, 10 GbE, Wi‑Fi 7 and a large on‑board display.
On Intel, MSI’s Z890 Godlike plays a similar role for Arrow Lake, with heavy‑duty VRMs, multiple Thunderbolt ports, 10 GbE, Wi‑Fi 7 and an add‑in card that adds more PCIe 5.0 M.2 storage. In practice, these boards shape parts lists that feature core i9 or Ryzen 9 CPUs, 64–128 GB DDR5, three or more fast NVMe drives and top‑tier GPUs aimed at 4K gaming and heavy video work.
Who actually needs boards like Crosshair X870E Extreme?
These flagships make sense if you run high‑core CPUs, multiple PCIe 5.0 SSDs and high‑end GPUs while also streaming or editing on the same machine. Otherwise, you can usually step down to X870E Taichi or a good Z890 board.
Is 10 GbE worth paying for?
If you move large project files or backups across a local network, 10 GbE can save minutes per transfer, but many home users are still fine with 2.5 or 5 GbE.
Intel Z790 and Z890 in the Best motherboards 2026 mix
Tom’s still gives Z790 some love through boards like the ASRock Z790 Steel Legend, which offers PCIe 5.0 GPU and M.2 support plus strong connectivity for discounted 13th and 14th gen chips. That keeps older LGA1700 builds viable for budget‑conscious players, especially if you already own compatible DDR5.
Z890 boards, led by Z890 Godlike, are the new high‑end landing zone for Arrow Lake, with better I/O and next‑gen networking, and they feature prominently across the Best motherboards 2026 list. If your site runs a broader Intel gaming builds hub, these boards should anchor the latest “new build” recommendations while Z790 slides into value and upgrade guides.
Should you still build a new Z790 PC in 2026?
If you find a strong Z790 board and CPU bundle at a steep discount, it can still be a smart play, but fresh high‑end builds are better off on Z890 for longer support and newer features.
