Motherboards can get very expensive, especially the higher-end models that come with all the bells and whistles. But that does not have to be the case.
The trick here is to know which features you are going to use and find the best value for the money that you are spending. That is what we have looked into here today.
Our list of best motherboards under 100 dollars covers relatively inexpensive motherboards that come with all the essential features whether you are interested in going with Intel or AMD.
The budget is under $100 so we are not going to include motherboards that support overclocking, at least not on the Intel side. However, you can do a bit of overclocking on the AMD CPUs.
Our Intel Motherboard Pick
- Great Value
- ATX Form
- 8th & 9th Gen Intel
Our AMD Motherboard Pick
- Easy Overclocking
- ATX Form
- 1st & 2nd Gen AMD Ryzen
Micro ATX Pick for Intel
- Budget Motherboard
- Micro ATX Form
- 8th Gen Intel
Top Rated Budget Motherboards under $100
The following are all the motherboards that we are going to look into here and some of their features that you might be interested in knowing about at a glance:
Now that we have gone over the basic features of all these motherboards, we can take an in-depth look into all of them. Here is what you need to know about these motherboards.
If you do want to get an Intel CPU, like the 8400 or the 9400F, then the following are the motherboards that we recommend.
AMD offers impressive value for money and was the one that brought more cores and threads into the mainstream. If you are interested in building an AMD powered PC then the following are the motherboards that we can recommend.
The Best Motherboards under $100 in 2020
1. MSI B360 Gaming Plus – Best Motherboard under $100
The MSI B360 Gaming Plus is another great option to consider if you are interested in building an Intel build but you are not willing to spend too much money on a motherboard. It comes in Red and Black, which should blend in well with the rest of your build.
While this is a relatively inexpensive motherboard, you still get plenty of armor and the upper PCIe slot is reinforced to support your graphics card better and ensure durability. MSI has made a name for itself in the motherboard market over the years and this motherboard is a great example of why that is the case.
Our Intel Motherboard Pick
The MSI B360 Gaming Plus is a great looking motherboard but it is functional as well. You get all the features that you expect from a modern motherboard without a high price tag. It is compatible with 8th and 9th generation Intel CPUs.
This is an ATX motherboard and will fit right into any ATX case. If you are interested in building a tower PC for gaming or content creation then this is going to be a great pick for you. You have 4 RAM slots that support up to 64 GB of memory. Other than that you have an M.2 slot for fast NVMe storage and 5 SATA 3 ports for SSDs and HDDs. So, you have plenty of options when it comes to storage.
The motherboard is ideal for the Intel 8400 CPU but it can be used with other 8th generation and 9th generation CPUs as well. Other than that you get features like Mystic Light and Audio Boost. The motherboard comes with all the ports that you will need including HDMI, DVI, USB 3.1 Gen 2 and even USB Type-C.
Out of the box, the motherboard is VR-ready and supports AMD Crossfire if you are interested in using multiple AMD graphics cards. We recommend using a single more powerful graphics card for gaming but the option is there if you need it.
Read also: Best Intel i7 9700K Motherboard
Pros
- Clean design
- RGB lighting is not over the top
- Reinforced PCIe slot
- Plenty of USB headers
Cons
- An additional fan header would be better
2. MSI B450-A PRO – Budget Motherboards under 100 dollar
The MSI B450-A Pro is a very sleek and clean looking motherboard. This is an ATX board, so it will fit into any ATX case and is ideal if you are interested in building a tower PC. It comes in Black and should blend in with the rest of your build pretty well. The motherboard does not come with plenty of armor but the PCIe slot is reinforced to support the graphics card and ensure durability.
You have 4 RAM slots that support up to 64 GB of memory. Other than that you have an M.2 slot for fast NVMe storage and 6 SATA 3 ports for SSDs and HDDs. So, you have plenty of options when it comes to storage. It comes with all the ports that you expect to see on a modern motherboard including HDMI, DVI, VGA, USB 3.1 Gen 2 but unfortunately, there is no USB Type-C port.
Our AMD Motherboard Pick
The MSI B450-A Pro is a motherboard that not only looks good but is functional as well. It is reasonably priced and is ideal for mid-range AMD Ryzen CPUs but you could use it with high-end processors as well.
The motherboard is VR-ready and supports AMD Crossfire if you are interested in using multiple AMD graphics cards. We recommend using a single more powerful graphics card for gaming but the option is there if you need it.
This is a relatively inexpensive motherboard that comes with all the features that you are going to need for gaming or content creation.
Pros
- BIOS is easy to use
- Easy overclocking
- Mystic Lighting customization options are impressive
- Sleek design
- Not too flamboyant
- Great VRM temps
Cons
- RGB header placement could be better
3. ASUS PRIME B360M-A – Good Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Asus is known for making some of the most reliable motherboards on the market in 2020 so there is no surprise that we are starting off our recommendations with an Asus motherboard. The Prime B360M-A is a micro ATX motherboard which is great if you are interested in building a relatively smaller gaming PC rather than a tower build.
Even though this is a smaller motherboard, you still get all the essentials for gaming. You have 4 RAM slots that support up to 64 GB of memory. Other than that you have dual M.2 slots for fast NVMe storage and 6 SATA 3 ports for SSDs and HDDs. So, you have plenty of options when it comes to storage.
Our Runner Up Intel Motherboard
The Asus Prime B360M-A is a smaller motherboard which is ideal for people that are not interested in building a tower PC. It comes with all the features that you expect to see in a motherboard in 2020 but costs under $100 which makes it great value for money for an Asus motherboard.
This is an Asus motherboard so you know that it is going to be reliable and will stand the test of time. The motherboard is ideal for the Intel 8400 CPU but it can be used with other 8th generation and 9th generation CPUs as well.
The motherboard comes with all the ports that you will need including HDMI, DVI, VGA, USB 3.1 Gen 2 and even USB Type-C. If you are in the market for an Asus motherboard to go with your Intel CPU but you are on a budget then this is a very nice option to consider.
Pros
- Amazingly fast NVMe speeds for the price
- 6 SATA 3 ports
- BIOS is relatively easy to use
- Solid build quality
- Reliable and durable
Cons
- Manual could be better
4. MSI B450M Gaming Plus
The MSI B450M Gaming Plus comes in Black and Red. The motherboard looks great and should blend in well with the rest of your build. This is a micro ATX motherboard and is ideal for building small form factor builds for gaming or content creation. This is a smaller motherboard and you only get 2 RAM slots but you can still have a total of 64 GB memory. On the brighter side, the memory can be overclocked to 3466 MHz. Ryzen does like faster memory and that is something that you can take advantage of in this case.
Our Runner Up AMD Ryzen Motherboard
The MSI B450M Gaming Plus is a great option to consider if you are interested in building an AMD Ryzen PC but do not want to spend a lot of money. You do only get a single M.2 slot and 2 RAM slots but other than that the motherboard is a great option to consider.
The motherboard only has a single M.2 slot but you get 4 SATA 3 ports for SSDs and HDDs. You can use a single NVMe SSD for quick storage and SATA SSDs and HDDs for mass storage. It comes with all the ports that you expect to see on a modern motherboard including HDMI, DVI, USB 3.1 Gen 2 and even a USB Type-C port.
The motherboard comes with the EZ Debug LED which is great for troubleshooting in case something is not working properly. You can use this feature to easily find out what the problem is. All things considered, the motherboard is reasonably priced, looks good and is great for smaller builds.
Pros
- Impressive build quality
- Affordable
- BIOS is easy to use
- Overclocking is easy
Cons
- Only 2 RAM slots
5. GIGABYTE B360M DS3H
Gigabyte is known for making some pretty great motherboards that are cost-effective. The B360M DS3H is another example of just that. This is a Micro ATX board, so it is ideal for people that want to build a PC that is relatively smaller.
Even though this is a smaller motherboard, you still get all the essentials for gaming. You have 4 RAM slots that support up to 64 GB of memory. Other than that you get an M.2 slot for fast NVMe storage and 6 SATA 3 ports for SSDs and HDDs. So you are not compromising on too much when it comes to expandability and functionality
Intel Motherboard
The B360M DS3H does not have an aggressive gamer design but it makes up for it with the lower price and the fact that it comes with all the essential features that you are going to need for gaming and content creation. If you are on a budget then this is a great option to consider.
The motherboard looks clean and comes with all the ports that you expect to see on a modern motherboard including HDMI, DVI, VGA, USB 3.1 Gen 2 but unfortunately, there is no USB Type-C port. The motherboard does not compromise o RGB lighting either. You can use RGB fusion to connect to LED strips and other compatible products.
Read also: Best Motherboard for i7 7700k
Pros
- Great value for money
- Plenty of RGB support
- Great for first time builds
- Durable
Cons
- No USB Type-C port
6. ASUS TUF B450M-Plus Gaming
The Asus TUF series is budget-friendly but does not compromise on the quality of the parts. It is made of military-grade parts like the UF LANGuard, TUF Chokes, TUF Capacitors, and TUF MOSFETs. This is an Asus motherboard so you can rest assured that you are getting a quality product that is going to last a very long time.
This is a micro ATX board which is ideal for people looking to build a relatively smaller PC rather than a tower build. Even though this is a smaller motherboard, you still get plenty of armor and the PCIe slot is reinforced. You have 4 RAM slots that support up to 64 GB of memory.
AMD Motherboard
The Asus TUF B450M-Plus Gaming is a small motherboard but it comes with plenty of armor and features that you are going to use on a daily basis including a USB Type-C port. This is an ideal motherboard for smaller form factor builds.
Other than that you have an M.2 slot for fast NVMe storage and 6 SATA 3 ports for SSDs and HDDs. So, you have plenty of options when it comes to storage. It comes with all the ports that you expect to see on a modern motherboard including HDMI, DVI, USB 3.1 Gen 2 and even a USB Type-C port.
Related: Best Motherboard for Ryzen 7 2700x
This is an Asus motherboard, so you get plenty of support for RGB lighting and the motherboard comes with a 3-year warranty. You can get other TUF parts and peripherals to match the looks of your build to make things even better.
Pros
- Nice RGB lighting
- Easy RAM Overclocking
- A lot of USB ports
- Supports HDMI
- USB Type-C port
Cons
- Only 2 case fan headers
What is a Good Cheap Gaming Motherboard?
You might have learned by now that getting an inexpensive motherboard is possible if you are not into all the bells and whistles that you are not actually going to use. If you are still stuck on which motherboard you should get then it all comes down to what you need and your requirements.
It does not have an over the top design, which is something that most people like to see in a motherboard. It should go well with the rest of your build.
What to Look for in a Budget Motherboard
Buying the cheapest motherboard on the market might seem like the right thing to do if you are on a budget but that is not something that we recommend. Here are some factors that you should keep in mind when buying a motherboard in 2020.
CPU Support
The motherboard that you are buying needs to support the CPU that you have in mind. For this guide, our Intel motherboards support the 8th and 9th generation Intel CPUs.
Related: Best Motherboard for i7 8700k
On the AMD side, all the motherboards support 1st and 2nd generation AMD Ryzen CPUs while some of them support the 3rd gen Ryzen processors as well. On the AMD side, while the chipset is the same support for older or newer CPUs depends on the motherboard manufacturer.
Form Factor (Smaller Motherboards Have Fewer Options)
Standard ATX motherboards have the most options. Moving down to Micro ATX gets you fewer ports and features and moving a step down to Mini ITX gets you the bare essentials in most cases. You will give up on M.2 slots, PCIe slots, and even RAM slots as you shift to a smaller motherboard. So do keep that in mind when deciding which motherboard to buy.
Future-proofing
You should not pay for features that you are not going to use. If you use ethernet for gaming, which we recommend, then you should not be paying extra for Wi-Fi on the motherboard. But you should pay for features that you might need in the future like USB 3.1 Gen 2 or Thunderbolt 3 support. These can come in handy and in this case planning ahead might be a good idea in the long-run.
Memory Support
ATX motherboards come with 4 RAM slots but that can change if you get a smaller motherboard. You can get a pair of 16GB RAM sticks for a total of 32 GB but that can cost a lot of money. If you have 4 RAM slots then you can buy a pair of 8 GB sticks and get another pair later on. This way, the will still be running in dual-channel. All this depends on your budget and personal preference. You might be fine using a single stick of RAM even though we do not recommend it.
Expansions Slots and Connectors
You are going to need PCIe slots for your graphics cards and high-speed storage solutions. You will need connectors for display. If you have a CPU that does not come with integrated graphics, like the 9400F then you will have to rely on the ports on your graphics card for display output.
USB 3.1 ports are going to be useful for data transfers and you are going to need SATA 3 ports for SSDs and HDDs. So keep that in mind as well.
Aesthetics
Even on a budget aesthetics of the motherboard can have a major role to play. If you have a specific theme in mind then you should pick a motherboard accordingly. You can also look into features such as RGB lighting if that is something that you are into. You can sync the lighting of different PC parts and even peripherals such as keyboards, mice and headphones.
Headers
Headers are used to install case fans. You can connect them to the motherboard so that you can sync them with the CPU fan and take better control of the thermals. You can tune them for better airflow or for silent operation. Headers can also be used to sync RGB lighting or add RGB LED lights in your case.
Pricing
A motherboard can cost anything between $70-1000. The trick is to figure out the features that you are going to use and not pay for the ones that are not important to you.
Once you have that figures out you need to get the motherboard that offers those features for the least price. But you should not take quality lightly. This guide is proof that you can get a decent motherboard for Intel and AMD CPUs for around $100.
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