Best Overall Value
Where the AORUS ELITE keeps both M.2 slots on Gen3, this one puts the primary M.2 on PCIe 4.0. That's the reason to pick it. If you've bought a fast Gen4 NVMe drive and want it running at full speed, the DS3H AC R2 does what the top pick can't. It also folds in Wi-Fi 5, so you save a PCIe slot and the cost of an adapter.
The score sits at 7 out of 10 in our review, and owner feedback runs high at 4.5 stars, though from a small sample of 51 ratings. Read that as promising rather than proven. Four DIMM slots give real upgrade room, and our review calls it a sensible feature set aimed squarely at the Ryzen 5 buyer.
Same VRM story as the rest of the 5+3 phase crowd. Our review says skip it if you're running a Ryzen 9 or planning serious overclocking. The 1GbE LAN is the compromise, since our review notes 2.5GbE is now common on rival boards. And Gigabyte's BIOS takes some getting used to, which our review flags for first-time builders. If you don't need the Gen4 M.2 and want the largest track record, the AORUS ELITE above is the safer buy. If Gen4 storage and built-in Wi-Fi are on your list, this is your board.
Pros
- PCIe 4.0 primary M.2 for full-speed Gen4 NVMe
- Wi-Fi 5 built in, no adapter needed
- Four DIMM slots for memory upgrades later
- BIOS Flashback on record
Cons
- Only 51 owner ratings so far
- 1GbE LAN where rivals now offer 2.5GbE
- 5+3 VRM unsuited to Ryzen 9 chips
Buy on Amazon£88.96Read full review
Best VRM
The VRM is why this is here. A 10+3 phase Twin Power design against the 5+3 phases on most boards in this list, and our review says it handles Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 5000 chips reliably at stock. That extra headroom is the practical difference if you're eyeing a 5700X rather than a 5600. It's also the only full ATX board in the group, so you get standard mounting and more room to work.
It holds 4.5 stars from 2,219 ratings and scores 7.5 out of 10. The primary M.2 slot runs PCIe 4.0, with the second on Gen3, matching the storage flexibility of the DS3H AC R2. Our review picks out the Gigabyte 8118 Gaming LAN with bandwidth management as a real differentiator, and rates Smart Fan 5 as one of the better fan control setups in the budget bracket. A front USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C header is included, which our review notes cheaper boards skip.
The gap versus the AORUS ELITE is Wi-Fi and audio. This board has neither wireless nor the ALC1200 upgrade. Our review is also clear the VRM still isn't for a 5900X or 5950X with power limits removed. If you want the strongest VRM and an ATX chassis, take this. If you want two heatsunk M.2 slots and better onboard sound in Micro-ATX, the AORUS ELITE wins.
Pros
- 10+3 phase VRM, the strongest power delivery here
- Full ATX layout with more working room
- 8118 Gaming LAN with bandwidth management
- PCIe 4.0 primary M.2 slot
Cons
- No Wi-Fi, wired ethernet only
- Gigabit LAN rather than 2.5GbE
- Second M.2 slot is Gen3, not Gen4
Buy on Amazon£89.99Read full review
Best Wireless Micro-ATX
Six SATA ports on a Micro-ATX board is the standout, and our review calls it generous for the form factor. If you're still running a stack of 2.5-inch SSDs or spinning drives, this holds them all without an add-in card. Wi-Fi is on board too. The listing claims Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, though its specification on record reads Wi-Fi 6, so treat 6E as the seller's wording rather than confirmed.
It carries 4.4 stars from 560 ratings and scores 7.5 out of 10. The PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot delivers full Gen4 speed, and DualBIOS protection is on record for long-term reliability. But there's only one M.2 slot, so this isn't the board for a multi-NVMe build. The AORUS ELITE at the top gives you two M.2 slots instead. Our review also flags the BIOS as functional but visually cluttered, plus 1Gbps ethernet that feels dated at this tier. Pick this if you want Wi-Fi and plenty of SATA in a compact case.
Pros
- Six SATA ports, generous for Micro-ATX
- Wi-Fi built in per the listing
- DualBIOS protection on record
- PCIe 4.0 M.2 for full Gen4 speed
Cons
- Single M.2 slot limits multi-NVMe builds
- 1Gbps ethernet only
- BIOS interface is cluttered per our review
Buy on Amazon£97.99Read full review
Best Budget
The only Intel board here, and the entry point to a Core build. It takes 12th, 13th and 14th gen Core CPUs on LGA1700 with DDR4, so you can reuse existing memory rather than buying DDR5. It holds 4.5 stars from 146 ratings and scores 7.5 out of 10. Our review singles out Smart Fan 6 with FAN STOP as unusually good for the price, and notes anti-sulfur resistors and quality audio caps showing real build care.
Understand the H610 chipset limits before buying. No overclocking at all, a single PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot, only two DIMM slots and a 64GB memory cap. There's no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth either. This is a locked-CPU board for an i3 or i5, not a platform to grow into. If you want an AMD equivalent with more expansion, the A520M DS3H AC further down keeps four DIMMs. But for a clean, cheap Intel Core machine on DDR4, this is the sensible choice.
Pros
- Supports 12th, 13th and 14th gen Core CPUs
- Reuses DDR4 memory rather than DDR5
- Smart Fan 6 with FAN STOP for quiet running
- Q-Flash BIOS updates supported
Cons
- No overclocking, H610 chipset limit
- Only two DIMM slots and 64GB cap
- No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth built in
Buy on Amazon£52.99Read full review
Best for Compact Builds
The only Mini-ITX board here, so it's the pick if you're building small. It packs Wi-Fi 5, ALC1200 audio and ECC memory support, scoring 7.5 out of 10 with 4.5 stars from 261 ratings. Q-Flash Plus lets you update the BIOS with no CPU installed. The catch our review makes plain: A520 means no overclocking, PCIe 3.0 throughout, and a 6-phase VRM best kept to 65W chips. You pay an ITX premium for budget-tier features, so only buy if the small form factor is the point. For more room and PCIe 4.0, the B550M boards above cost similar.
Pros
- True Mini-ITX for small-case builds
- Wi-Fi 5 and ECC support on record
- Q-Flash Plus for CPU-less BIOS updates
Cons
- PCIe 3.0 only, no Gen4
- A520 blocks CPU overclocking
- 6-phase VRM best for 65W chips
Buy on Amazon£92.99Read full review
Best Wireless
Wi-Fi 6 plus a PCIe 4.0 primary slot at this price is the draw, and our review calls the wireless a genuine differentiator. It scores 7.5 out of 10 with 4.5 stars from 179 ratings. Dual M.2 slots and a front USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C header round it out. The 5+3 phase VRM is the hard ceiling, so keep the CPU to 65W. Against the AORUS Elite AX, it adds a second M.2 slot. If newer wireless matters most, this is your board.
Pros
- Wi-Fi 6 at a budget price point
- PCIe 4.0 primary slot and M.2
- Dual M.2 slots for storage flexibility
Cons
- 5+3 VRM limits CPU to 65W comfortably
- 1GbE LAN, not 2.5GbE
- Gigabyte BIOS usability lags rivals per our review
Buy on Amazon£96.95Read full review
Best for Beginners
A friendly first build. Wi-Fi 5, Q-Flash Plus for CPU-less BIOS updates, ECC support and four DIMM slots, scoring 7 out of 10 with 4.5 stars from 26 ratings. Note the listing mentions DDR5, but its specification on record is DDR4, so plan on DDR4 memory. A520 means no overclocking, one M.2 slot and PCIe 3.0 only. For a beginner who wants Wi-Fi and forgiving BIOS recovery, it works. For PCIe 4.0 and dual M.2, the AORUS ELITE at the top is the better long-term buy.
Pros
- Q-Flash Plus for CPU-less BIOS updates
- Wi-Fi 5 built in, no adapter needed
- Four DIMM slots for memory headroom
Cons
- A520 blocks CPU overclocking
- Single PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot
- DDR4 despite DDR5 in the listing wording
Buy on Amazon£92.85Read full review
