When it comes to building the best PC based on your preference, then choosing the best motherboard is where the hassle usually lies.
The kind of motherboard to decide to go for will determine the processor, storage, graphics card, and the type of RAM to install in your PC.
With hundreds of options to pick from, this decision process can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have enough idea about motherboards. In this post, we’ve expertly handpicked the best Thunderbolt 3 motherboard to ensure your PC operates at its peak.
Best Thunderbolt 3 Motherboard – Top 4 Products of the Year
1. MSI Arsenal Gaming AMD Ryzen 2ND and 3rd Gen AM4 M.2 USB 3 DDR4 DVI HDMI Crossfire ATX Motherboard
Taking the first spot on our list is the MSI Arsenal Gaming Motherboard with lots of incredible features to love. It comes with cross-gen Ryzen support and enhanced Bios compatibility. This Max motherboard supports Ryzen 3000 series processors and other Ryzen processor generation.
This unit features an easy-to-use layout and improved system tuning capabilities. It also comes with a larger heatsink above the VRM for the excellent dissipation of heat. With an extended heatsink, you get more surface area to improve thermal dissipation.
Even more, it offers an in-game advantage to help outperform and outsmart your opponents using a plethora of unique MSI gaming tools. Brilliant software and hardware tools to boost your skills and keep you a step ahead.
Pros:
Equipped with an audio boost to amplify your game
Easy BIOS recovery
Large heatsink
Higher overclock ability, more speed, and increased stability.
Cons:
Mounting screws not included
2. MSI MPG X570 GAMING EDGE WIFI Motherboard
The MSI MPG X570 GAMING EDGE WIFI Motherboard is another top choice for gamers. This gaming motherboard is a go-to for professional gamers. It connects to a high-speed wireless network with the onboard Bluetooth and WiFi providing you with speed up to 433Mbps.
Most importantly, it comes with a frozen heatsink design to make this product a high-performance motherboard. Also, this MSI MPG X570 board has PCIe Gen4 capabilities, which is cooled for sustaining massive data bandwidth.
Pros:
Ample cooling solution
Quick boot up
Unparalleled memory performance
Impressive audio quality
Cons:
Reliability is an issue.
3. ASUS Prime X299-Deluxe II X299 Motherboard LGA2066
Next on our list is ASUS Prime X299-Deluxe II X299 Motherboard LGA2066 features brilliant specs and optimization options to make a beast. This thunderbolt 3 motherboard is equipped with LGA 2066 CPU socket to support Intel Core X series processor.
This model is an ideal choice for gamers, power users, and professional content creators with its 5-way optimization. With a click, this system optimized and overclock to offer the highest performance.
ASUS Prime X299-Deluxe II X299 Motherboard LGA2066 has a SafeSlot to protect your graphics card for unbeatable retention and shearing resistance. It’s built with a single step using the patented insert-molding process. This slot is integrated with fortifying metals to ensure a stronger slot and then anchored firmly to the PCB via extra solder points.
This unit provides you with excellent video editing and gaming sessions. Also, when it comes to storage, this board features 8 DIMM to allow 256GB storage. The Thunderbolt 3 board is equipped with Gigabit LAN WiFi, Bluetooth 5, RGB lighting, and Asus SafeSlot.
Pros:
Supports both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity
8 DIMMs for PCIe slots for easy upgrade
VRM heatsinks
Brilliants optimization and overclocking feature
Cons:
WiFi 6 not supported
4. ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming-ITX/TB3 Mini ITX Thunderbolt 3 AMD Motherboard
This list won’t be complete without ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming-ITX/TB3 Mini ITX Thunderbolt 3 AMD Motherboard, which is an ideal choice for people looking for a budget m4 board.
This model is suitable for Ryzen 5 3600 CPU and even Ryzen M9 3900X. So, you don’t need to be bothered about the motherboard if you are building a Ryzen 3000 series. The ASRock X570 supports as high as 128GB of RAM, compatible with ECC RAM.
This motherboard features PCI Gen 4 and allows users to install an ethernet card, sound card, or WiFi adapter. It comes with WiFi 6 slots and 2 M.2’s SD slot ensuring more stable WiFi speed.
More importantly, it includes HDMI output ports, two USB 3.0 Gen 1 type A, and USB 3.2 Gen 2.
Pros:
WiFi and Bluetooth
Solid and robust design
Utilizes Thunderbolt 3 with AMD processors
VR ready
Cons:
The fan is a bit loud
Why Thunderbolt 3 Motherboard?
One of many types of motherboards that offers significant relief to power-demanding users is Thunderbolt 3 motherboard.
While the motherboard does not have much effect on your video editing application or fps game’s performance, it brings a plethora of flexibility and advantages that will benefit your productivity needs, including gameplay in the long run.
Now, let’s consider some of the prime benefits of using the Thunderbolt 3 motherboard and its edge over others:
- The transfer speed can get high as 40Gps, which makes it the fastest to send and receive files.
- Support for USB 3.1 Type C and DisplayPort 1.2
- A single display in 5K resolution or Dual 4K monitor support with a refresh rate of 60Hz
- Support for docking stations, Thunderbolt 3 eGPUs, and monitors
- Daisy chain up to 6 devices
Things to Consider When Purchasing a Thunderbolt 3 Motherboard
There are an array of factors to put in mind when trying to pin down the right motherboard. It’s essential to know what you need the PC to offer or what you’ll be using the machine for. For office tasks like web browsing and other productivity tasks, then the regular motherboard will do just fine. If you play high-demanding games, you need a different spec which a gaming motherboard will likely offer.
The message here is to know what you want and what the motherboard is designed to offer to avoid paying for specs that won’t be needed.
So, let’s dive into the key factors to put into consideration:
Form factor
Before heading to the market to purchase any thunderbolt 3 motherboard shuffles its way into your hands, you need to consider the form factor, i.e., the motherboard size.
Motherboards are available in different sizes. They come with their own unique supported component sets. In our opinion, procuring the ATX motherboard is smart, considering the wide space they offer and enough expansion slots for connecting varying components.
Nevertheless, if you’re in the market to purchase a motherboard for your medium PC under construction, then MicroATX and Mini-ITX motherboard should suffice.
Processor Socket
Another factor to bear in mind is the processor socket, which depends on the kind processor you want to use with the motherboard. So, if you’ve already figured out, then this will come easier.
Say, for example, while both 7th Gen and 8th Gen processors utilized the LGA 1151 socket, other high-end Intel processors work with LGA 2066 socket. However, for most AMD mainstream current-Gen chips uses AM4.
Dual In-Line Memory Module Slots
The Dual In-Line Memory Module, DIMM, slots are meant for plugging in the RAMs. The number of DIMM slots a motherboard feature determines the amount of RAM to expect.
Generally, there is a wide range of DIMM slots varying from 2 – 8 slots. Therefore, it’s crucial to pick a motherboard with enough slots to allow your PC to handle the right amount of RAM you prefer.
Expansion Slots (PCIe Slots)
The expansion slots are a standard connection for add-in cards like sound cards, GPUs, and SATA/M.2 drives. The PCIe slots also come in different sizes option x1, x4, x8, and x16.
Keep in mind that the ATX boards offer enough PCIe expansion slots compared to those smaller boards. So, if you’re a professional designer or a power gamer, then your PC should feature more than one top-speed PCIe x16. With more PCIe x16 slot options, you can easily connect several GPUs via Crossfire by AMD or SLI by Nvidia.
Features
To ease the stress of purchasing PCIe cards, some boards are equipped with in-built features, including immersive audio, Bluetooth, and WiFi. Nonetheless, the board needs to feature an advanced cooling system to allow you to use the PC for an extended duration.
Conclusion
We’ve compared the top 4 best thunderbolt 3 motherboards and how to make the right choice. Now, it’s your turn to make the smart decision. Which of the four thunderbolt 3 motherboards suits your needs?
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