10 BEST MOTHERBOARDS FOR VR – Reviews & Buying Guide

Best Motherboards for VR – We discussed some of the best motherboards for VR in this article. Both AMD and Intel motherboards were discussed.

Gaming used to be limited to console systems. Today, they can play VR games on their PCs. For this purpose, they will need an appropriate motherboard, which isn’t easy to find. In 2024, the best motherboards for VR gaming will be designed specifically for those uses, and they will boast amazing features to make the experience more immersive than ever before.

We also discussed how to make sure your headset is future-proof with high res VR headsets and what it means to be a good motherboard for VR.

It is important to remember that to support high end VR gaming, a powerful PC is needed. In this sense, a good motherboard for VR will usually be a good one for gaming.

You now know what the best motherboards are for gaming. What are you going to choose? It is very difficult to find a better motherboard for the respective AMD and Intel chipsets than the X570 and Z490 Godlike. The top four boards on this list would take any build to the next level and allow you to overclock them to the limit. You can also read Best Motherboards for Video Editing

Our Recommendations For Best Motherboards for VR

• MSI PROSERIES AMD RYZEN
• MSI B450M Pro M2 Motherboard
• ASUS PRIME B550M-A Motherboard
• ASUS AM4 TUF Motherboard
• MSI Z490-A Motherboard
• GIGABYTE X570 AORUS Motherboard
• GIGABYTE AORUS XTREME AM4 Motherboard
• ASROCK X570 TAICHI Motherboard
• ASRock B550 Taichi Motherboard
• ASUS ROG STRIX Z490-G Motherboard

1. MSI PROSERIES AMD RYZEN

Its features are:

• Compatible with AMD Ryzen/ Ryzen with Radeon Vega graphics and AMD Athlon with Radeon Vega graphics for Socket AM4 of generations 1, 2, and 3.
• Up to 3466+ (oc) MHz ddr4 memory support

WHAT WE THINK

MSI’s top-of-the-line Motherboard measures 12.00 x 9.60 x 2.00 inches and weighs 2.65 pounds. With the latest AMD Ryzen processors, it provides efficient, high performance, and compatibility. These processors are designed for long-term durability, stability, and high performance. Compatible with any PC, they are specifically designed for professional and media use.

It provides scalable graphic performance and a core boost across multiple Ryzen 3000 series processors. AMD Ryzen processors of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generations are fully compatible with this board. Furthermore, the flash BIOS button makes it so much easier to flash any bios without having to install a graphics card, CPU, or memory.

2. MSI B450M Pro M2 Motherboard

Its features are:

• Supports DDR4-SDRAM up to 32GB
• A Micro ATX motherboard

WHAT WE THINK

Having tested the MSI B450M MORTAR motherboard based on AMD’s new B450 chipset today, we are looking at an ideal AMD gaming solution motherboard for a value mATX gaming PC build from MSI. Since AMD B350 motherboards can run the new 2nd Generation Ryzen Processors with a simple BIOS update, many people wonder what AMD B450 Chipset has to offer.

These are the new chipsets that come bundled with AMD 400-series processors. This newest MSI B450 motherboard offers a variety of very attractive features along with MSI’s own improvements.

Also read: Best Motherboards With WiFi and Bluetooth

3. ASUS PRIME B550M-A Motherboard

Its features are:

• PCIe 4 and AMD AM4 sockets 0. This pair of Ryzen 5000 & AMD Ryzen 3rd Gen CPUs is perfect for the Zen 3 Ryzen 5000
• Connectivity: 4x PCIe Ultrafast. SafeSlot 0 (16 slots), WiFi 802.11ax, 1Gb LAN,  and a PCIe x4 slot (NVMe SSD). Supports USB 3.0 and 0 x4. Type A, Gen 2 HDMI. Type 1 (4K at 60Hz), D Sub and DVI.

WHAT WE THINK

We found the B550M-A Wi-Fi to be exceptionally good in our tests, with results that were similar to those of all the other B550 motherboards we’ve tested. Video testing and application startup were the only benchmarks where this board seemed off. Besides that, gaming results and power usage were comparable across all B550 motherboards.

As we tested the Ryzen 9 3900X on this model, the VRMs got very hot. At stock, they ran at almost 30 degrees warmer than the other boards even though they were within the board’s operating parameters.

4. ASUS AM4 TUF Motherboard

Its features are:

• Am4 AMD Socket: Fully compatible with AMD Ryzen 2nd and 3rd Generation processors, USB 3.2 Gen2, and AMD Store for maximum connectivity and speed
• An enhanced power solution that combines TUF components, ProCool sockets, and Digi+ VRMs for maximum durability

WHAT WE THINK

After these changes, the Asus TUF Gaming X570-Plus Wi-Fi is now our second-least expensive motherboard in the Asus X570 product stack, just missing the mark to be our top pick in the budget X570 category.

With a $200 price tag, the TUF Gaming X570-Plus Wi-Fi will cater to buyers who want a flagship chipset and all that it offers, without sacrificing spending on other parts. By not using ‘value adds’ like an integrated rear IO plate or loads of RGB lighting, Asus accomplishes this.

It overclocked our Ryzen 7 3700X without complaint and performed well in our benchmarks at stock speeds, making it a strong foundation for building a new AMD Ryzen 3000 series system.

Also read: Best Motherboard For NAS

5. MSI Z490-A Motherboard

Its features are:

• LGA 1200 socket supports Intel Core, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors of the 10th generation
• Up to 128GB of dual-channel DDR4 memory (4800MHz) is supported

WHAT WE THINK

Based on the 10th generation Intel Core processors, this motherboard provides superior performance and features, as well as advanced circuit design and extensive heatsinks.

It features a plethora of ports for your current build and future upgrades, as well as an ultra-fast transmission speed. With Mystic Light Sync, you can create a machine that looks as good as it performs by customizing and syncing gorgeous lighting across your rig.

6. GIGABYTE X570 AORUS Motherboard

Its features are:

• Processors compatible with AMD 3rd Gen Ryzen/ AMD 2nd Gen Ryzen/ AMD Ryzen with Radeon Vega Graphics
• ECC/NON-ECC Non-Buffered Dual Channel DDR4 with 4 DIMMs

WHAT WE THINK

The Aorus lineup of Gigabyte’s motherboards includes features such as RGB LEDs, metal “armor” on the DIMM and/or PCIe slots, and electrostatic discharge (ESD) guards, along with a more stylized design.

With a wide array of features at an affordable price, the Aorus Ultra fits that bill. There’s something for everyone in Gigabyte’s X570 lineup, from the entry-level UD to the flagship Aorus Xtreme offering, including a Mini-ITX board in the X570-I Aorus Pro Wi-Fi. You may also love to read our another guide of Best Motherboard for Ryzen 7 1700x

7. GIGABYTE AORUS XTREME AM4 Motherboard

Its features are:

• DDR4 Dual-Sdram 128GB
• This form factor is ATX

WHAT WE THINK

GiGABYTE’s exclusive 2X Copper PCB design provides sufficient power traces between components for handling higher power loads and removing heat from the CPU power delivery area. To ensure the motherboard can handle the increased power demands when overclocking, this is essential.

8. ASROCK X570 TAICHI Motherboard

Its features are:

• Processors of AMD’s Ryzen 2000 and 3000 series are supported by the AMD AM4 socket
• BT 5.0 + Intel Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax (2.4Gbps)

WHAT WE THINK

There are eight USB ports on the I/O panel, but only two of them (a Type A and a Type-C) can handle 10Gbps transfers; the rest can only handle 5Gbps. Since both the CPU and PCH support both standards, it is not a matter of platform capability but rather of cost.

Gigabit Ethernet, S/PDIF, HDMI, PS/2, and the i211AT controller provide the Ethernet and audio connections, which means that the Wi-Fi and buttons are the only changes to the I/O. Also read our another guide of Best Motherboard For Music Production

9. ASRock B550 Taichi Motherboard

Its features are:

• The AMD AM4 Ryzen 3rd generation processor, as well as future AMD Ryzen processors is supported
• Dr. MOS, Digi Power, Power Phase Design, 16

WHAT WE THINK

The new B550 Taichi from Asrock is no exception. Based on AMD’s second-best Ryzen processor (a step down from the top-shelf X570), this Taichi’s build quality is on par with higher-end motherboards we’ve reviewed, and its price is fair for the feature set it offers.

However, some significant problems with the RAM support on this board keep it from scoring as highly as other Taichi-branded motherboards.

10. ASUS ROG STRIX Z490-G Motherboard

Its features are:

• To power Intel’s 10th generation Core processors at maximum performance, the LGA 1200 socket was designed
• A robust power solution: 12+2 power stages with ProCool II power connector, high-quality alloy chokes and durable capacitors for reliable power, even at the maximum performance of the CPU

WHAT WE THINK

The rear panel of the board has yet to be revealed, but we do know the board supports a maximum of 15 USB ports when combined with the front panel headers and what the rear panel supports. With the Wi-Fi and BT 5.1 versions, both boards are equipped with an Intel I225-V 2.5 G Ethernet port as well as an AX201 Wi-Fi 6 wireless interface.

It appears that there are at least four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A ports, a single USB 3.2 G2 Type-C port, as well as two DisplayPort 1.4 video outputs. SupremeFX S1220A HD audio codec controls the five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output.

As of yet, ASUS hasn’t announced when the ASUS ROG Strix Z490-G Gaming or the Wi-Fi model will be available, nor has the company set the price.

Also read: Best Motherboards for Ryzen 7 3700X

BEST MOTHERBOARDS FOR VR – BUYER’S GUIDE

FORM FACTOR

When selecting a motherboard, you may need to consider the physical footprint. Choosing a smaller-sized computer case might be a good idea if you are short on space. Going for a larger form factor is a good option if you have plenty of room and want to build an impressive system.

SOCKET

There is a specific type of socket on every motherboard. Your CPU is installed in this particular slot. You will need to make sure your motherboard and CPU are compatible by comparing the socket types.

You don’t want your components to be damaged by trying to insert the wrong processor into the wrong socket.

CHIPSETS

The chipset plays an important role in choosing the right motherboard for you. What features your motherboard comes with are determined by the chipset. PCIe lanes and SATA ports are included, as well as overclocking support. If your motherboard’s chipset does not support overclocking, you will not be able to do it.

It’s always a good idea to ensure that you have the latest hardware components that are compatible with AMD and Intel. Especially when there are regular updates to RAM, motherboards, and CPUs.

Memory

In order to check memory compatibility, it is important to consider four factors: the maximum amount of memory, the memory speed, multi-channel support, and how many slots are on the board.

If you check the specs against the motherboard you will know precisely what speed and number of cores the motherboard can support

PCI SLOTS

A PCI slot, or Peripheral Component Interconnect, is a physical component of your system that allows you to expand its capabilities.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Wireless network card
• Video card
• Additional USB ports
• Card expansions for NVMe

PCI slots can be divided into two types: PCI and PCI Express (PCIe). In comparison to the PCI slot, PCIe is larger and faster.

The much smaller PCI expansion slot is required for simple expansion cards such as a wifi adapter, while for larger, more powerful expansion cards such as your graphics card, you will need the PCIe slot.

PCI slots are crucial for all your components, so make sure you have enough of them. You might want to check whether your motherboard features enough slots if you intend to add an NVMe expansion card, say, if you are running multiple GPUs.

The spacing should also be ample. You may require PCIe slots that are further apart if you plan on running multiple GPUs of different sizes.

FAN HEADERS

As a final step, you will need to ensure that you have enough fan headers to run everything you have planned. You should make sure you have enough headers on your motherboard if you’re running a lot of fans, or maybe RGB controllers.

Read about how motherboards are made and what the main components do if you want to learn more about them.

There are memory slots available.

MEMORY LOCATION

On some motherboards, the memory slots will be a little closer to the CPU than on others. The CPU heatsink can sometimes be affected by this. It might be a good idea to make sure your CPU heatsink won’t block your memory slot, if you have a large heatsink for your CPU.

You may also love to read: Best RGB Motherboards

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS A VR-READY MOTHERBOARD?

A few years back, the term “VR Ready” was used as a buzzword and marketing term for motherboards with enough USB ports and HDMI ports to support VR headsets.

Many VR headsets, such as those made by Oculus, require a USB port to function. In the case of an Oculus Rift, for example, it requires three USB 3.0 ports for its three sensors and one USB 2.0 port for the headset itself.

It is possible to connect the sensors to USB 2.0 ports, but they would not perform optimally since USB 2.0 has a slower transfer speed than USB 3.0.

Fundamentally, the sensors are critical for tracking your movement and adjusting the display. It can be less satisfying to use these sensors if there is not enough transfer speed.

Consequently, the motherboards that had listed themselves as “VR-ready” only addressed the fact that they have enough USB ports and one HDMI port to support Virtual Reality headsets.

A MOTHERBOARD IS ESSENTIAL TO VR?

With the high resolution of newer VR headsets, a powerful overall system is required. Source: HP Reverb G2

Despite the fact that any motherboard with the aforementioned ports can support most VR headsets, it is the overall system you want to build that makes a motherboard relevant.

You need a very high resolution GPU to play games on a Virtual Reality headset. An example is the Oculus Rift. A total of 2560*1440 on both eyes is achieved by the resolution of 1280*1440 per eye.

Thus, if you wish to maintain a very high frame rate while gaming on this large display, you will need a fairly powerful gaming PC.

It would require a PC with a CPU socket compatible with the required CPU as well as running cool even during heavy load, thanks to better VRMs.

Therefore, a good motherboard is extremely important.

IN A VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE, WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART?

When it comes to VR based gaming PCs, a powerful graphics card is paramount.

That depends on your goals with a VR headset. You can use an integrated graphics card on a PC to watch movies if you want.

It is obvious, however, that most people do not choose a VR headset for this reason. Virtual reality headsets are primarily used by gamers.

Therefore, the graphics card is the most crucial component here. A graphics card like the NVIDIA GTX 1060 is recommended for a VR headset like the OCULUS Rift. Nonetheless, please note that this recommendation is based on the fact that the Oculus Rift has a total resolution of 2560×1440 or 1280×1440 per eye.

Several new headsets have a resolution of 4K or even 8K, like the HP Reverb G2 and Pimax 8K. Multiply this by ten to get a resolution several times higher than that of an Oculus Rift.

An NVIDIA 1060 is not enough to support this resolution and maintain a high frame rate.

To maintain the frame rates at ultra high resolution and ultra high graphics, you would need a more powerful graphics card and perhaps better ports like USB 3.2, HDMI 2.0. In fact, you might consider building a dual graphics card rig to maintain the frame rates.

It becomes increasingly important to have a motherboard that is future-proof, with operating system overclocking capabilities, and has a good phase power design that achieves cooler temperatures.

An efficient gaming PC is built around a good motherboard. The motherboard for VR should be of a good quality as well if you want to build an ultimate gaming PC that supports high-end VR headsets.

WRAP UP

Best Motherboards for VR –  A good gaming PC is more than just a CPU and a video card. A rig is not complete without a motherboard, and they are the unsung heroes of PC gaming. Of course, their primary importance lies in the fact that they house your components.

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