Most users have predefined beliefs and criteria when purchasing their gaming rig, they know what the best gaming motherboard is, what the ideal case for their machine is, which RAM memory will give the biggest performance boost, etc.
This principle applies to every gaming configuration, no matter its size and regardless of whether we are talking about the best mini ITX motherboard or the best full-size motherboard. Gamers usually know what they want.
However, what if you desperately need a solid PC with a mini ITX motherboard inside but have no predefined ideas and basically have no clue what to look for. You are only aware that your space is too small for a full-grown ATX case and that the micro ATX just isn’t your thing.
In other words, you need somebody else’s advice and this guide is made for that purpose in the first place. We’re here to help you find the best mini ITX motherboard and make you as satisfied with it as possible.
If you have decided that this is exactly what you need, pay closer attention to the following criteria, and find the best mini ITX motherboard fast.
Top Picks
Last update on 2023-11-22 // The links above are affiliate // Images from Amazon
How to choose the best mini ITX motherboard
AMD or Intel
The First thing you have to decide when buying a new motherboard is to which clan you will join. Both manufacturers have their advantages and disadvantage and there is no clear winner between them.
In other words, decide based on arguments and don’t let yourself be drawn by brands. Discover which of the two will give more to your cause and make your choice in accordance with that.
Networking
In modern days, the internet and networking are becoming essential more and more. Therefore, do yourself a favor and don’t accept mediocrity in this field.
Features
Plenty of features might not be essential top performance; however, they will certainly help you achieve it. For that reason, always go for as many options as possible, or at least as much as your wallet allows.
Best Mini ITX Motherboards
ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming
One of the Best AMD Mini ITX Motherboards
If you are looking for a high-quality, gaming, 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen mini-ITX motherboard, with a ton of features, ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming is the device for you. With this motherboard, you are getting great connectivity that involves Intel Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, fitted with MU-MIMO functionality, as well as multiple connectors, such as DisplayPort, HDMI2.0 port, and multiple USB ports that include three USB 3.1 G2, one USB 3.1 G2 Type-C, and four USB 3.1 G1 ports.
Moreover, this motherboard has eight SATA ports, as well as two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots that should satisfy even the more storage-demanding users. ASUS ROG Strix X570-I Gaming also comes equipped with the Aura Sync RGB lighting, as well as RGB LED lighting integrated into the heatsink. In the cooling department, there are actively-cooled VRM, multiple fan headers, as well as a chipset heatsink, and a heat pipe system, responsible for rapid heat dissipation.
In addition, there is also the Supreme S1220A audio, with the DTS Sound Unbound and Sonic Studio III, while the build and the parts used for it are of the highest quality, creating an excellent product worth every person’s attention.
- Great connectivity
- Feature-rich
- Good storage capacity
- Excellent performance
- Good build quality
- It gets a bit hot
- AI Suite 3 software is too robust
Gigabyte X570 I AORUS Pro WiFi
An Excellent Mid-Range Mini ITX Motherboard
A good balance of features, efficiency, and price are essential in order to establish a motherboard as the best mini ITX motherboard available on the market, and in the case of Gigabyte X570 I AORUS Pro WiFi, all these aspects are more than satisfied.
With this motherboard, you are getting excellent latency and consistency, and more importantly, one of the best power deliveries among the mid-range mini ITX motherboards. Along with that, there is a good USB connectivity with plenty of options, including Type C connection, a solid networking with BT5.0, Wi-Fi and Gigabit LAN, as well as respectable storage capacities that involve two M.2 PCIe 4.0 compatible slots and four SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, and 10.
Gigabyte X570 I AORUS Pro WiFi supports third- and second-generation Ryzen CPUs and is fitted with eight-phase VRM. Also, due to its excellent value for the money, this Gigabyte motherboard has positioned itself at the sheer top of offerings in its market segment and proved that, although it is a cut-down version of the full-size motherboard, its potential and qualities allow it to successfully compete even with its big brothers.
- Low power consumption
- Eight phase VRM
- Good USB connectivity
- Two M.2 slots with support for PCIe 4.0
- Excellent price
- Only two 4-pin fan headers
MSI MPG B550I Gaming Edge WiFi
A Decent AMD Gaming Motherboard
MSI MPG B550I Gaming Edge WiFi is a solid, decent-performing gaming motherboard that offers a good overall package. This motherboard supports 4600 MHz memory speed, it offers good overclocking characteristics, and has everything that a mainstream user may need.
There is an excellent 2.5 Gigabit LAN, Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6, with MU-MIMO, as well as the very good Realtek ALC1200 audio that guarantees a pleasant user experience. When it comes to performance, MSI MPG B550I Gaming Edge WiFi is somewhere at the top of the offerings, among the B550 motherboards, while the 10-phase VRM, with MP2855GUT power controller, offers very impressive power delivery, making this motherboard an excellent choice.
When talking about connectivity and storage capabilities, MSI MPG B550I Gaming Edge WiFi offers a pretty decent package and comes with 1x PCIe x16 port, four SATA ports, two M.2 slots, with RAID0 and RAID1 support, as well as HDMI 2.1 output and multiple USB connectors, six of which are located on the rear of the motherboard.
All in all, if you want a solid-performing gaming motherboard that will fulfill most of your needs, MSI MPG B550I Gaming Edge WiFi is more than a solid option.
- Intel AX200 Wi-Fi
- Active cooling
- Three-year warranty
- Compact
- Decent performance
- No integrated lighting
Gigabyte A520I AC
An Affordable, yet Fairly Good Mini ITX Gaming Motherboard
Gigabyte A520I AC is an entry-level gaming motherboard, with an AM4 socket and a solid A520 chipset, which all results in a very good overall product. To be exact, this motherboard offers just the right amount of features to deliver a very good user experience; however, there isn’t anything that will truly amaze you.
There is the six-phase VRM, ALC887 Audio Codec, Intel Wi-Fi AC3168 wireless card, with both 5GHz and 2.4GHz band, and Bluetooth 4.2 function, as well as the Gigabit LAN connection. The number of connectors is very good for the size and involves two HDMI and one DP port, six USB ports, as well as multiple 3.5mm jacks.
Gigabyte A520I AC is fitted with four SATA ports, four PCIe3.0 slots, and one PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slot, capable of ultra-high speeds. For cooling purposes, there is the Smart Fan 5 feature, with a variety of sensors and fan headers, as well as an optimized VRM Heatsink that provides more than enough cooling capabilities, even for the more demanding gamers.
All in all, if you are looking for a good-value-for-the-money mini ITX motherboard that provides solid and reliable performance, without any major flaws, Gigabyte A520I AC is more than a good choice and a great deal for most people.
- Affordable
- Good value for the money
- Very good connectivity
- Great looking
- No PCIe 4.0
- Wi-Fi 5
- Only Gigabit Ethernet
MSI MEG Z490I Unify Gaming Motherboard
A Perfect Base for a Powerful Gaming Machine
MSI MEG Z490I Unify Gaming Motherboard is a well-built, high-performing motherboard, with the LGA 1200 socket, and more importantly, a ton of features that make it one of the best mini ITX motherboards available on the market.
With this motherboard, you are getting nothing but the best. That includes Realtek RTL8125B Ethernet controller with the 2.5Gbps LAN, Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6 CNVi module, with MU-MIMO functionality, BT 5.1 functionality, and 2.4Gbps speeds, as well as the Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec and the Audio Boost 4 that provide an exceptional audio experience.
On top of that, there is also the 8-phase VRM, Intel JHL7540 Thunderbolt 3 controller, and the decent set of connectors that involve multiple versions of USB ports, as well as the already mentioned Thunderbolt 3 port, Display Port, and HDMI port. MSI MEG Z490I Unify Gaming Motherboard is fitted with one 1x PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, two PCIe 3.0 x4 M.2 slots, and four SATA ports, with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10.
In other words, everything needed for a positive user experience is there. Therefore, if the best mini ITX motherboard is what you are after, MSI MEG Z490I Unify Gaming Motherboard is more than a reasonable choice.
- Sleek looking
- 10-layer PCB
- Thunderbolt port
- Good connectivity
- Solid performance
- Excellent build quality
- No Mystic light
- Expansion limitations
- There is the only eight-pin power connector
ASUS ROG Strix B450-I
A Bit Older, but Still “Deadly” Mini ITX Motherboard
If you are not attracted by the latest gadgets and you respect genuine quality when you see it, ASUS ROG Strix B450-I is a motherboard for you.
When it showed up on the market, this board was high-end, and now, after a few years, it still has plenty to offer and is pretty much a winning deal if you are looking for a feature-rich AM4 motherboard.
The list of its great features includes two M.2 slots; Auto-Tuning and Fan Xpert 4 that will help you find your perfect overclocking and cooling configuration in no time, as well as Aura Sync RGB lighting that is well known for its great lighting performance.
Moreover, there is excellent HD audio, solid networking that includes both Gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity, and more than decent USB connectivity.
All in all, ASUS ROG Strix B450-I is a great machine and faithful companion, of course, if you don’t mind its age.
- Two M.2 slots
- Great audio quality
- Aura Sync RGB lighting
- Good overclocking capabilities
- A solid overall performance
- Not the best Wi-Fi connectivity
GIGABYTE Z490I AORUS Ultra
A Very Good, Feature-Rich Mini ITX Gaming Motherboard
GIGABYTE Z490I AORUS Ultra is another very good LGA 1200 mini ITX motherboard that brings great practicality, good overclocking characteristics, and an overall solid performance to the market.
This is a well-built, cool-looking motherboard, with good connectivity options and very good VRM hardware, as it should be the case with one of the best mini ITX motherboards out there. To be exact, there is one DP and one HDMI port, 2.5Gbps LAN, as well as a handful of USB ports on the rear end, including one USB 3.2 (Gen2) Type-C port, four USB 3.2 (Gen1) ports, one USB 3.2 (Gen2) Type-A port, as well as two USB 2.0 ports.
GIGABYTE Z490I AORUS Ultra also comes equipped with the Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 controller, with BT5.0, as well as good storage options that include four SATA ports and 2x M.2 Slots.
In addition, there is also the Direct 8 Phases Digital VRM, Realtek ALC1220 audio codec, and the Q Flash Plus that should make the whole user experience even better.
In other words, there is everything needed for a good gaming experience. Therefore, if a well-performing, feature-rich mini ITX motherboard is what you are looking for, you will be more than happy with this choice.
- Good overclocking capabilities
- Nice looking
- Very good VRM hardware
- Plenty of USB ports
- No Active VRM cooling
- High power draw
Summary
If you are ready to buy a new (or not really new) ITX motherboard, we hope this list was helpful. Now all you have to do is pick your companion and you are good to go! Good luck!
