The Best Motherboards We've Tested for 2025

When it comes to building or upgrading a PC in 2025, the motherboard remains the foundation of your system. Whether you’re assembling a compact gaming rig, a workstation for video editing, or a budget-friendly home office setup, choosing the right motherboard makes all the difference. Over the past year, we’ve tested a wide range of options, with a particular focus on Micro ATX motherboards—the sweet spot for many US PC builders looking for balance between performance, features, and price.

At Server Tech Central, we constantly review and compare the latest motherboards to help enthusiasts, gamers, and professionals make the right choice. Below, we’ll dive into the best Micro ATX motherboards of 2025, covering everything from specs and features to use cases, brand comparisons, and future-proof options.

Why Choose a Micro ATX Motherboard?

Before we jump into our top picks, let’s talk about why Micro ATX boards dominate the 2025 market.

Size Versatility: A Micro ATX desktop motherboard offers more expansion slots than a Mini ITX, while staying more compact than a full ATX. It’s the best of both worlds.
Budget-Friendly: You’ll find the best Micro ATX under $100 and plenty of options under $150, making it easy to balance affordability and performance.
Performance: The latest high-performance Micro ATX boards support DDR5, PCIe 4.0 (and even PCIe 5.0 in some cases), and advanced cooling designs.
Flexibility: Whether you need a Micro ATX motherboard for gaming PCs, home office builds, or streaming setups, the format is incredibly versatile.

When comparing Micro ATX vs ATX motherboards, the only real trade-off is fewer PCIe slots, but for most US gamers and tech professionals, that’s not a dealbreaker. Compared to Mini ITX boards, Micro ATX motherboards deliver better cooling, expandability, and overall value.

Specifications Features to Look For

When selecting the best Micro ATX motherboards, we focused on these modern features:

WiFi Bluetooth: Many models now come as a Micro ATX motherboard with WiFi and Bluetooth support, perfect for wireless setups.
PCIe 4.0 5.0: A Micro ATX board with PCIe 4.0 ensures blazing-fast GPU and storage performance, while PCIe Gen 5 models are future-proof.
M.2 Slots: Look for a Micro ATX motherboard with M.2 slots for SSDs that hit speeds up to 7,000 MB/s.
RGB Lighting: Many gamers want a Micro ATX motherboard with RGB lighting for custom PC aesthetics.
RAM Support: A dual channel RAM Micro ATX motherboard with DDR5 support is a must for high-speed multitasking.
CPU Compatibility: Whether you need a Micro ATX motherboard for Intel CPUs or an AMD Ryzen Micro ATX board, options are abundant.

Best Micro ATX Motherboards of 2025

Here are the top Micro ATX boards for PCs we’ve tested this year:

1. ASUS TUF Gaming B760M-PLUS WiFi D5

Best ASUS TUF Micro ATX motherboard for gamers.
Features DDR5 support, PCIe 5.0 slots, integrated WiFi 6, and durable power delivery.
Ideal for compact PC builds with Micro ATX cases.

2. MSI B550M Mortar WiFi

The classic MSI B550 Micro ATX motherboard is still a favorite for AMD Ryzen.
Includes dual M.2 slots, WiFi, and premium VRM cooling for overclockable Micro ATX builds.

3. Gigabyte B450M DS3H V2

One of the best Gigabyte B450M Micro ATX boards for budget builds.
Perfect for student PCs, home offices, and affordable gaming rigs.
Available as a Micro ATX motherboard under $150.

4. ASRock B550M Steel Legend

A solid ASRock Steel Legend Micro ATX motherboard with strong build quality.
Offers PCIe 4.0, dual channel DDR4, and multiple USB ports.
Great for video editing and workstation motherboards.

5. Biostar B660MX-E Pro

A Biostar Micro ATX board that delivers surprising value.
Compact yet equipped with DDR5 support and integrated graphics compatibility.

Best Use-Case Picks

Gaming PC: The Micro ATX gaming motherboards from ASUS and MSI dominate for high FPS setups.
Budget Builds: A cheap Micro ATX board like the Gigabyte B450M is perfect for entry-level gamers.
Workstations: For content creators, an ASRock Micro ATX workstation motherboard with multiple M.2 slots is ideal.
Streaming Setups: Look for a Micro ATX with multiple USB ports and stable WiFi.
HTPCs (Home Theater PCs): A Micro ATX motherboard for HTPCs ensures integrated graphics and compact design.
Student Office PCs: Affordable and cost-effective Micro ATX motherboards make sense for everyday computing.

Micro ATX vs Alternatives

Still deciding? Let’s compare:

Micro ATX vs Mini ITX: Micro ATX is slightly larger but offers better cooling, more RAM slots, and more M.2 options.
Micro ATX vs ATX: ATX gives more PCIe slots, but unless you’re running multiple GPUs or add-in cards, Micro ATX wins for value.
Micro ATX vs E-ATX: Unless you’re building a top-tier workstation, Micro ATX is more practical for most users.

Pricing Best Deals

Affordable Micro ATX motherboards can be found for under $100.
The best Micro ATX under $150 usually includes WiFi, M.2 slots, and strong VRMs.
For enthusiasts, premium Micro ATX boards with DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5 are now available.
Always check Micro ATX deals online at trusted sites like Server Tech Central to get the most value.

The Future of Micro ATX Motherboards

Looking ahead, we’re seeing exciting innovations in the next-gen Micro ATX motherboards:

AI-ready Micro ATX boards for intelligent performance tuning.
PCIe Gen 5 Micro ATX motherboards becoming more mainstream.
DDR5 Micro ATX gaming motherboards offering faster memory performance.
Advanced cooling Micro ATX designs for overclockers.
High-speed networking Micro ATX boards with 10GbE and WiFi 7.

These innovations make future-proof Micro ATX motherboards the go-to choice for 2025 and beyond.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a gamer, professional, or student, the best Micro ATX motherboards of 2025 provide a balance of performance, features, and affordability. From budget Micro ATX motherboards under $100 to premium high-performance Micro ATX boards, there’s a perfect match for every build.

At Server Tech Central, we recommend sticking to trusted brands like ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, ASRock, Biostar, and EVGA when choosing your next Micro ATX desktop motherboard. With their mix of compact size, cutting-edge specs, and reliable performance, Micro ATX boards continue to be the backbone of compact PC builds in the US.

If you’re ready to upgrade, explore the latest Micro ATX deals online and make your next build powerful, cost-effective, and future-ready.