Best Mini ITX Motherboards: Which One to Buy

For an AMD build the ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi is the board PC Gamer picks as its favorite Mini-ITX option, for Intel the MSI MPG Z890I Edge TI WiFi gets the most recommendations because it fits four M.2 slots on a small board, and the ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning WiFi and Gigabyte A620I AX serve mid-range and budget AM5 builds.

Choosing a Mini-ITX Board: What Matters

Mini-ITX boards measure 170 x 170 mm, so every feature competes for space. Choose by the parts you need to fit rather than by the chipset name alone.

• Socket: AM5 boards take Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 desktop chips. LGA 1851 boards take Intel Core Ultra 200S processors. The socket must match the CPU.
• Memory: these boards use DDR5 and only two slots, so capacity is limited by module size. Choose a kit that matches the maker’s qualified list.
• M.2 slots: two is common, three or four is rare and notable.
• Networking: Wi-Fi 7 is common on mid- and high-end boards. Wired speed ranges from 2.5 GbE to 5 GbE.
• Cooling and power: the CPU power section is compact. High-end processors can draw heavily, so board VRM quality matters more here than on larger boards.
• Case fit: some boards have vertical daughtercards or heatsink shrouds that need case clearance. Confirm case compatibility with the maker’s listed dimensions.

At a Glance

ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi

PC Gamer says this board replaces the ROG Strix X670E-I as its favorite. The maker lists an M.2 2280 slot at PCIe 5.0 x4 plus another at PCIe 4.0 x4, two SATA ports, two USB4 40 Gbps Type-C ports on the rear panel, Wi-Fi 7 and Intel 2.5 GbE, and a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot. Retail listings show USB4 rather than certified Thunderbolt. That makes it a strong fit for a high-end Ryzen build that needs fast storage and a modern graphics card.

Its limits are modest storage expansion and 2.5 GbE rather than 5 GbE. Thorium Game Lab ranks the ROG Strix B850-I first for compact AM5 builds, a reminder that the less expensive B850 board can be sufficient if you do not need the extra USB4 ports.

MSI MPG Z890I Edge TI WiFi

PCBuildHelper picks this board as best overall for compact Intel builds because it fits four M.2 slots, one PCIe 5.0 and three PCIe 4.0, on a Mini-ITX footprint. Of Zen and Computing also names it best Mini-ITX. MSI also lists Wi-Fi 7, 5G LAN, Thunderbolt 4 and PCIe 5.0. If you plan to use several drives or work with large video files, this is the most flexible small board in the roundups.

TweakTown reviewed the ASUS ROG Strix Z890-I Gaming WiFi and gave it 89, calling it innovative but expensive, with only two M.2 slots, 2.5 GbE and M.2 lane sharing. That makes the MSI the more flexible option for storage.

Mid-Range and Budget AM5 Options

PC Gamer names the ASRock Phantom Gaming B850I Lightning WiFi its best mid-range AM5 Mini-ITX board and the Gigabyte A620I AX its best budget AM5 pick. The B850 chipset suits mainstream Ryzen processors and typical gaming builds. The A620 chipset is the entry platform. It suits non-overclocked Ryzen chips and budget builds.

Another roundup calls the Gigabyte X870I Aorus Pro Ice the best-value AM5 choice, a lighter-colored board that suits white builds.

Intel Value and Premium

For a cheaper route into LGA 1851 builds, PCBuildHelper picks the ASRock Phantom Gaming Z890I Nova WiFi as its best-value pick with three M.2 slots. At the premium end, the Gigabyte Z890I Aorus Ultra appears in roundups as a high-end Intel option.

Compatibility and Build Notes

• CPU cooler height: small cases limit cooler height. Low-profile air coolers or compact liquid coolers are common.
• Power supply: Mini-ITX cases often use SFX or SFX-L power supplies. Confirm the case’s supported form factor.
• Graphics card length: some cases limit card length. Choose a card that fits the case’s maker-listed clearance.
• BIOS updates: new CPUs may require a BIOS update that needs a compatible processor or a board with a flashback button.
• Heat: M.2 heatsinks and good case airflow matter more in small cases.

Budget Tiers Without Prices

Pick X If…

Understanding Mini-ITX Trade-offs in More Detail

Mini-ITX packs a full platform into a 170 mm square, and the compromises show up in specific places. Memory is limited to two DIMM slots, so a 64 GB build needs two 32 GB modules. Expansion is limited to one graphics slot, and any extra M.2 drives must sit on the board or on the back. The MSI MPG Z890I Edge TI WiFi is notable because it fits four M.2 slots, which reduces the need for add-in cards that Mini-ITX cannot hold.

Power delivery and cooling

Voltage regulator modules on Mini-ITX boards are smaller than on full-size boards. Mainstream processors are comfortable on them, while the highest-power processors benefit from boards with robust power stages and good case airflow. ASUS lists a 10+2+1 power stage layout for the ROG Strix X870-I, and reviewers such as Overclockers.com have reported on its behavior, so read reviews if you plan to run a high-end processor at its limits.

Lane sharing

TweakTown notes M.2 lane sharing on the ROG Strix Z890-I Gaming WiFi. Lane sharing means that using one M.2 slot or port can reduce the bandwidth of another. Read the manual’s lane diagram before populating every slot, especially if you plan to use fast Gen 5 drives.

Wireless and wired networking

Mini-ITX builds often sit in living rooms or small desks where Wi-Fi is the main connection. Wi-Fi 7 appears on most boards listed above. If you rely on a wired network or a network storage device, the 5G LAN on the MSI board is a rare feature at this size, while the ASUS X870-I offers 2.5 GbE.

BIOS and CPU support

Newer processors sometimes need a BIOS update. Look for BIOS flashback support in the maker’s manual, which lets you update without a working CPU. Also read the maker’s CPU support list for the exact processor you plan to buy.

Alternatives

• Micro-ATX boards: a slightly larger board gives more slots and easier cooling if your case allows it.
• ASUS ROG Strix B850-I: Thorium Game Lab names this board first for compact AM5, a step below X870 in features.
• Previous-generation Mini-ITX boards: these can still make sense for previous-generation CPUs, but look for current BIOS support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mini-ITX good for gaming?

Yes, a Mini-ITX board can support the same CPUs and graphics cards as a larger board. The limits are slot count, cooling space and case size.

How many M.2 slots do I need?

Two are enough for most players: one for the operating system and one for games. Creators and heavy users may prefer boards with three or four slots.

Do Mini-ITX boards have worse performance?

Performance depends on the CPU and graphics card, not board size. The power delivery on compact boards is tighter, so choose the board’s CPU class carefully.

Do I need Thunderbolt?

Only if you use Thunderbolt docks or devices. USB4 covers many uses on AM5 boards, and Thunderbolt 4 appears on some Intel boards such as the MSI MPG Z890I Edge TI.

Can I use any RAM?

The boards use DDR5. Choose a kit with the capacity and speed on the maker’s memory support list.

Which socket should I choose?

AM5 and LGA 1851 are both current platforms. Choose based on the CPU you want and the board’s feature set.