Whether you are building a high-end gaming PC or want a computer for heavy graphic-intensive workloads, going with a multi-GPU setup with the help of SLI can be a great option. However, you will need a motherboard that supports SLI for the same. Thus, we are here with some of the best SLI motherboards out there which have been selected keeping these aspects in mind:
- Form Factor: Even though there are multiple motherboard form factors out there like ATX, micro ATX, mini ATX, and others, almost all SLI motherboards offer an ATX form factor. This is due to the reason that larger motherboards offer more connectivity and expansion options which is quite important for installing dual graphics cards for SLI.
- CPU Socket: Other than installing dual graphics cards, you would also want a powerful CPU in your SLI system. Hence, checking the CPU socket can be a great idea since the CPU socket of your motherboard should match the CPU socket of your processor which can include options like AMD AM4, Intel LGA 1151, Intel LGA 1200, and more.
- Chipset: The chipset used by your motherboard can also affect the CPU compatibility of your computer as well as the features supported by your motherboard. While entry-level boards may offer chipsets like the AMD B450 or AMD B550, newer and higher-end models come with chipsets like AMD X570, Intel Z490, Intel Z590, and others where a higher and more recent chipset is always better.
Since motherboards have a lot of features and options, these points alone are not enough. Instead, all of the best SLI motherboards present down below have all their important specifications and details given alongside a complete “Buying Guide” so that you can easily go with the best SLI motherboard for your next high-end PC build.
Outline
Toggle- Best SLI Motherboards
- Best SLI Motherboards Reviews
- 1. ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming Motherboard
- 2. MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK Gaming Motherboard
- 3. GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS PRO Wi-Fi
- 4. ASUS Prime X570-Pro AM4 Zen 3 Motherboard
- 5. MSI MAG Z590 Torpedo Gaming Motherboard
- 6. ASUS Prime Z390-P LGA1151 ATX Motherboard
- 7. MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon Motherboard
- 8. ASUS TUF Z390-Plus Gaming (Wi-Fi) LGA1151
- 9. MSI MEG Z490 ACE Gaming Motherboard
- 10. GIGABYTE Z490 Vision G
- Buying Guide for the Best SLI Motherboards
- FAQs about the Best SLI Motherboards
- Conclusion
Best SLI Motherboards
SLI Motherboards | Form Factor | CPU Socket | Chipset | Warranty | Buy Now |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming Motherboard | AT | AMD AM4 | AMD B450 | 3 year long | Check On Amazon |
MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK Gaming Motherboard | AT | AMD AM4 | AMD B550 | 3 year long | Check On Amazon |
GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS PRO Wi-Fi | AT | Intel LGA 1151 | Intel Z390 | 3 year long | Check On Amazon |
ASUS Prime X570-Pro AM4 Zen 3 Motherboard | AT | AMD AM4 | AMD X570 | 3 year long | Check On Amazon |
MSI MAG Z590 Torpedo Gaming Motherboard | AT | Intel LGA 1200 | Intel Z590 | 3 year long | Check On Amazon |
ASUS Prime Z390-P LGA1151 ATX Motherboard | AT | Intel LGA 1151 | Intel Z390 | 3 year long | Check On Amazon |
MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon Motherboard | AT | Intel LGA 1200 | Intel Z490 | 3 year long | Check On Amazon |
ASUS TUF Z390-Plus Gaming (Wi-Fi) LGA1151 | AT | Intel LGA 1151 | Intel Z390 | 3 year long | Check On Amazon |
MSI MEG Z490 ACE Gaming Motherboard | AT | Intel LGA 1200 | Intel Z490 | 3 year long | Check On Amazon |
GIGABYTE Z490 Vision G | AT | Intel LGA 1200 | Intel Z490 | 3 year long | Check On Amazon |
Best SLI Motherboards Reviews
1. ASUS ROG Strix B450-F Gaming Motherboard
Asus is primarily a brand of high-end computer components which also happens to be offering a few affordable options that can be a great option if you want to build a budget-friendly SLI computer.
The Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II SLI motherboard is the cheapest option given here making it perfect for entry-level SLI computer builds. Even though this is a budget-friendly option, it still manages to offer a full ATX form factor along with the AMD AM4 CPU socket thanks to its entry-level AMD B450 chipset. Thankfully, you still get a total of 4 memory slots that support up to 128 GB memory that can go up to 4400 MHz in terms of its speeds.
Since you will be using this affordable motherboard for an SLI build, it features a total of 6 PCIe slots which is more than enough for most. Similarly, you also get 2 M.2 SSD slots as well as 6 SATA ports for all your storage needs. Coming to the back of this motherboard, you will find 2 x USB 2.0 ports, 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 1 x USB type C 3.2 Gen 1 port, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.0 port, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 port, 1 x GbE port, 5 x audio jacks, and a couple more ports for versatility and ease of use.
Best Features:
- Uses the AMD B450 chipset with the AMD AM4 socket
- Features an ATX form factor
- Offers a total of 6 PCIe expansion slots
- Comes with 4 memory slots for up to 128 GB RAM at up to 4400 MHz
- Features 2 M.2 slot and 6 SATA ports
- Comes with a 3 year warranty
Pros:
- Highly affordable and budget-friendly SLI motherboard
- Supports overclocking for both CPU and RAM
- Wide range of connectivity and expansion options for the given price
Cons:
- Chipset model is a bit old
2. MSI MAG B550 TOMAHAWK Gaming Motherboard
If you want something more recent without paying a premium for the same, then you can also consider MSI and its mid-tier motherboards that can still be a great option for building an SLI computer.
MSI’s MAG B550 Tomahawk SLI motherboard can be a great value for money option since you get various features for its given price tag. Starting with the form factor of this SLI motherboard, it is also an ATX motherboard that is based on the newer AMD B550 chipset due to which it uses the AMD AM4 CPU socket. Being a more recent model, not only does it support up to 128 GB memory with its 4 memory slots, but it can handle up to 5100 MHz RAM.
However, unlike the Asus motherboard given above, this one only comes with 4 PCIe expansion slots which can be a bit limiting after installing 2 graphics cards. Thankfully, this motherboard offers various storage options with 6 SATA ports and 2 M.2 SSD slots.
You will also find superb connectivity options on the back including 2 x USB 2.0 ports, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 1 x USB type C 3.2 Gen 1 port, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.0 port, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 port, 1 x 2.5 GbE port, 1 x GbE port, 5 x audio jacks, and others for high speed connectivity.
Best Features:
- Uses the AMD B550 chipset with the AMD AM4 socket
- Features an ATX form factor
- Offers a total of 4 PCIe expansion slots
- Comes with 4 memory slots for up to 128 GB RAM at up to 5100 MHz
- Features 2 M.2 slot and 6 SATA ports
- Comes with a 3 year warranty
Pros:
- Offers a great value for money with various features and great performance
- Excellent connectivity options with high speed ports
- Supports fast memory for high end Ryzen CPU performance
Cons:
- Limited number of PCIe expansion slots
3. GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS PRO Wi-Fi
Gigabyte is another reputable brand of computer components that can be considered if you want to build an SLI computer but want an Intel-based system instead of an AMD one.
This Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro SLI motherboard is a great high-end motherboard that is ideal for using with Intel processors. To make this possible, this ATX form factor motherboard uses the Intel Z390 chipset. Since this is an older chipset, it also comes with the older Intel LGA 1151 CPU socket. Despite being old, you will still find a total of 4 memory slots on this motherboard which allow you to install up to 128 GB memory which can run at up to 4133 MHz.
Thanks to the large ATX form factor of this motherboard, it is able to offer a total of 6 PCIe expansion slots allowing you to install multiple GPUs and other expansion cards. You will be glad to know that this motherboard also offers a total of 6 SATA ports and 2 M.2 SSD slots for versatile storage options.
Moving to the back of this motherboard, you will find ports like 4 x USB 2.0 ports, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 1 x USB type C 3.2 Gen 2 port, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 1 x HDMI 1.4 port, 1 x GbE port, and 5 x audio jacks along with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity for ease of use.
Best Features:
- Uses the Intel Z390 chipset with the Intel LGA 1151 socket
- Features an ATX form factor
- Offers a total of 6 PCIe expansion slots
- Comes with 4 memory slots for up to 128 GB RAM at up to 4133 MHz
- Features 2 M.2 slot and 6 SATA ports
- Comes with a 3-year warranty
Pros:
- High end Intel motherboard with overclocking support
- Offers both physical ports and wireless connectivity options
- Large number of PCIe expansion slots for easy expansion
Cons:
- Not the latest motherboard chipset and CPU socket models
4. ASUS Prime X570-Pro AM4 Zen 3 Motherboard
Asus also offers high end and premium motherboards that you can consider if you wish to go with an AMD based system while having excellent performance by pairing it to high-end AMD Ryzen CPUs.
The Asus Prime X570 Pro SLI motherboard is the most powerful option given here for those who wish to build an AMD powered computer with SLI graphics card configuration. Similar to its budget-friendly alternative, this Asus motherboard also uses the ATX form factor along with the AMD AM4 CPU socket. But unlike that one, this uses the higher end and more recent AMD X570 chipset. Thanks to this chipset, it supports up to 128 GB RAM at up to 5100 MHz thanks to its 4 memory slots.
Another great benefit of this high-end AMD chipset is that its 6 PCIe expansion slots support PCIe 4.0 connectivity for superb graphics card performance. Just like most other SLI motherboards of this size, it also comes with 2 M.2 SSD slots along with 6 SATA ports.
Similarly, the connectivity options on the back also offer high end performance with 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 1 x USB type C 3.2 Gen 2 port, 1 x HDMI 2.0 port, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 port, 1 x GbE port, 5 x audio jacks, etc.
Best Features:
- Uses the AMD X570 chipset with the AMD AM4 socket
- Features an ATX form factor
- Offers a total of 6 PCIe expansion slots
- Comes with 4 memory slots for up to 128 GB RAM at up to 5100 MHz
- Features 2 M.2 slot and 6 SATA ports
- Comes with a 3 year warranty
Pros:
- Latest and high end motherboard chipset for superb features
- Supports PCIe 4.0 for its PCIe expansion slots
- Works with high capacity and high-speed memory
Cons:
- Not a budget-friendly SLI motherboard for budget computers
5. MSI MAG Z590 Torpedo Gaming Motherboard
Similar to Asus, MSI also offers high-end motherboards that you can consider if you are building a powerful computer that not only supports SLI configuration but also works with the latest Intel CPUs.
MSI’s Mag Z590 Torpedo SLI motherboard is the best performing option present here for those who are looking for a high-end Intel-based motherboard. As you would expect from a high end motherboard, it uses the ATX form factor. And since this is a newer model, you get the all-new Intel Z590 chipset along with the Intel LGA 1200 CPU socket. Another great thing about this high-end motherboard is that not only do you get support for up to 128 GB memory via its 4 memory slots, but they can even run at up to 5333 MHz speeds.
While it does support SLI configuration for graphics cards along with PCIe 4.0 connectivity support, it only has 4 PCIe expansion slots which is a bit less compared to others. However, it does offer better storage options thanks to its 6 SATA ports and 3 M.2 SSD slots. This superb connectivity further continues to the back of this motherboard where you will find 2 x USB 2.0 ports, 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 1 x USB type C 3.2 Gen 1 port, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.0 port, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 port, 1 x GbE port, 5 x audio jacks
Since you will be using this affordable motherboard for an SLI build, it features a total of 6 PCIe slots which is more than enough for most. Similarly, you also get 2 M.2 SSD slots as well as 6 SATA ports for all your storage needs.
Best Features:
- Uses the Intel Z590 chipset with the Intel LGA 1200 socket
- Features an ATX form factor
- Offers a total of 4 PCIe expansion slots
- Comes with 4 memory slots for up to 128 GB RAM at up to 5333 MHz
- Features 3 M.2 slot and 6 SATA ports
- Comes with a 3 year warranty
Pros:
- Superb performance with latest Intel chipset and CPU socket
- High end storage and memory support options for fast speeds
- Various types of high speed connectivity options on the back
Cons:
- Slightly on the expensive side compared to other SLI motherboards
6. ASUS Prime Z390-P LGA1151 ATX Motherboard
Asus also offers a few motherboard models that you can consider if you are on a tight budget but want to go with an Intel system that still supports overclocking for the CPU and RAM.
The Asus Prime Z390-P SLI motherboard is the cheapest option given here when it comes to Intel motherboards that not only support SLI, but also allow for overclocking. To make this possible, Asus has used the older Intel Z390 chipset in this ATX motherboard which is paired along with the Intel LGA 1200 CPU socket. For its given price tag, you get decent memory support from its 4 memory slots that work with up to 128 GB memory with up to 4266 MHz speeds.
Even though this is an affordable motherboard, you still get a total of 6 PCIe expansion slots with it which is always great to have. Although, despite having 2 M.2 SSD slots with it, you only get 4 SATA ports on this motherboard.
Similarly, the rear input and output connectivity of this motherboard is also a bit limited as you only get 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.0 port, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 port, 1 x GbE port, 3 x audio jacks, and PS/2 ports with this motherboard.
Best Features:
- Uses the Intel Z390 chipset with the Intel LGA 1151 socket
- Features an ATX form factor
- Offers a total of 6 PCIe expansion slots
- Comes with 4 memory slots for up to 128 GB RAM at up to 4266 MHz
- Features 2 M.2 slot and 4 SATA ports
- Comes with a 3 year warranty
Pros:
- Entry-level and budget-friendly Intel-based SLI motherboard
- Decent memory support with high capacity and speeds
- Large number of PCIe expansion slots for easy SLI setup
Cons:
- Limited internal and rear connectivity options
7. MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon Motherboard
Just like Gigabyte, you can also find a few slightly older motherboard models from MSI that are still viable for high-end usage thanks to the various features and performance numbers that you get with it.
MSI’s MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon SLI motherboard is one of the best options out there when you are talking about motherboards that offer a wide range of connectivity options. As you would expect, this motherboard has an ATX form factor to make this possible. For its CPU support, you will find the Intel Z490 chipset paired along with the Intel LGA 1200 CPU socket making it compatible with all the latest Intel processors. You can also pair your Intel CPU with high-performance RAM as its 4 memory slots work with up to 128 GB RAM and up to 5000 MHz speeds.
Even though you get a decent number of 5 PCIe expansion slots with this motherboard, it lacks PCIe 4.0 support with them due to its older chipset model. Fortunately, it still has a total of 2 M.2 SSD slots and 6 SATA ports for all your storage needs.
You will also find a superb range of connectivity options on the back which includes 2 x USB 2.0 ports, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 1 x USB type C 3.2 Gen 2 port, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.0 port, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 port, 1 x 2.5 GbE port, and 5 x audio jacks with some other basic connectivity ports. But the best thing about this motherboard is that you also get WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity with it.
Best Features:
- Uses the Intel Z490 chipset with the Intel LGA 1200 socket
- Features an ATX form factor
- Offers a total of 5 PCIe expansion slots
- Comes with 4 memory slots for up to 128 GB RAM at up to 5000 MHz
- Features 2 M.2 slot and 6 SATA ports
- Comes with a 3 year warranty
Pros:
- Excellent connectivity options along with wireless options
- Supports overclocking for high end performance
- Offers compatibility with all the latest Intel CPU models
Cons:
- Misses out on support for PCIe 4.0 connectivity
8. ASUS TUF Z390-Plus Gaming (Wi-Fi) LGA1151
Asus also offers a few high-end motherboard options under its TUF Gaming lineup of products that are also quite great if you want to have various connectivity options with your motherboard.
This Asus TUF Z390-Plus Gaming SLI motherboard can be another viable option if you want something with various connectivity options. Unfortunately, this SLI motherboard is not the best in terms of its compatibility since you get the older Intel Z390 chipset and the Intel LGA 1151 CPU socket with this ATX motherboard. Thankfully, it still supports up to 128 GB RAM that can run at up to 4266 MHz with its 4 memory slots.
Taking a look at its expansion options, you will find a total of 6 PCIe expansion slots which is on par with other large-sized ATX motherboards. You will also find a total of 2 M.2 SSD slots as well as 6 SATA ports which are always great to have on a motherboard.
Another great thing about this SLI motherboard is that not only do you get 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.0 port, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 port, 1 x GbE port, and 3 x audio jacks, but it even supports WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.
Best Features:
- Uses the Intel Z390 chipset with the Intel LGA 1151 socket
- Features an ATX form factor
- Offers a total of 6 PCIe expansion slots
- Comes with 4 memory slots for up to 128 GB RAM at up to 4266 MHz
- Features 2 M.2 slot and 6 SATA ports
- Comes with a 3 year warranty
Pros:
- Wide range of connectivity options including wireless ones
- Large sizes motherboard with multiple PCIe expansion slots
- Supports overclocking for both the CPU and the RAM
Cons:
- Does not work with the latest Intel CPUs
9. MSI MEG Z490 ACE Gaming Motherboard
MSI also offers a few highly premium motherboards that offer superb performance numbers along with high versatility making them great for your next SLI computer build.
The MSI Meg Z490 Ace Gaming SLI motherboard is one of the best high-end motherboards made for Intel-based computers. As you would expect from such a high end Intel motherboard, it uses the ATX form factor which is paired along with the Intel Z490 chipset. Despite being older, this chipset still offers the Intel LGA 1200 CPU socket for the support for the latest Intel CPUs along with up to 128 GB memory at up to 5000 MHz thanks to its 4 memory slots.
However, this chipset does not support the newer PCIe 4.0 connectivity despite having a total of 5 PCIe expansion slots which can be a bit limiting for modern graphics cards. Fortunately, it makes up for its expansion slots by offering 6 SATA ports along with a total of 3 M.2 SSD slots.
You will also find superb connectivity options on the back including but not limited to 2 x USB 2.0 ports, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 1 x USB type C 3.2 Gen 2 port, 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 1 x 2.5 GbE port, 1 x GbE port, 5 x audio jacks, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.
Best Features:
- Uses the Intel Z490 chipset with the Intel LGA 1200 socket
- Features an ATX form factor
- Offers a total of 5 PCIe expansion slots
- Comes with 4 memory slots for up to 128 GB RAM at up to 5000 MHz
- Features 3 M.2 slot and 6 SATA ports
- Comes with a 3 year warranty
Pros:
- Perfect for overclocking and high end performance numbers
- Superb connectivity options on the inside and on the rear
- Works great with the latest Intel CPU models
Cons:
- Highly expensive SLI motherboard for Intel CPUs
10. GIGABYTE Z490 Vision G
Gigabyte also offers more recent and high-end options for those who are looking for SLI motherboards that are designed for newer Intel CPUs while offering high-end performance numbers to the user.
This Gigabyte Z490 Vision G SLI motherboard is a motherboard from the previous generation that still supports all the latest Intel CPUs. To make this possible, Gigabyte has used an ATX form factor with this motherboard which is combined along with the Intel Z490 chipset and the latest Intel LGA 1200 CPU socket. Even though this is not the latest chipset, its memory support is still quite good as its 4 memory slots are designed for up to 128 GB RAM that can run at up to 5000 MHz speeds.
While you do get a total of 5 PCIe expansion slots with this motherboard, it does not support PCIe 4.0 connectivity which is a limitation of its older chipset. Thankfully, you still get 2 M.2 SSD slots along with 6 SATA ports which is quite common in SLI motherboards. Y
ou will also find fairly high end connectivity options on the back like 2 x USB 2.0 ports, 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 1 x USB type C 3.2 Gen 2 port, 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 1 x HDMI 1.4 port, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 port, 1 x 2.5 GbE port, 6 x audio jacks, and others.
Best Features:
- Uses the Intel Z490 chipset with the Intel LGA 1200 socket
- Features an ATX form factor
- Offers a total of 5 PCIe expansion slots
- Comes with 4 memory slots for up to 128 GB RAM at up to 5000 MHz
- Features 2 M.2 slot and 6 SATA ports
- Comes with a 3 year warranty
Pros:
- Pretty great performance with overclocking support for both memory and CPU
- Multiple high speed connectivity options on the rear
- Works with fairly high speed and high end memory
Cons:
- Lacks support for PCIe 4.0 connectivity
Buying Guide for the Best SLI Motherboards
Even though SLI is not used in most computers, it can be a great option for high-end PCs that are used for gaming at high resolutions or for productivity tasks that are highly demanding in terms of graphics power. In order to use an SLI GPU setup, you will need something like the best SLI motherboards given above in this article.
And to ensure that you are going with the right motherboard for your computer, these different SLI motherboards have their significant features and details explained properly. Although, if you wish to learn more about SLI motherboards, then you can simply check out this extensive buying guide for the best SLI motherboards:
Form Factor
While the form factor of any given motherboard may not affect its performance directly, it can definitely affect its functionality and compatibility. Taking a look at compatibility first, checking the form factor of your motherboard is highly important to ensure that it can fit in your computer cabinet properly.
As for functionality, going with a larger motherboard generally results in more connectivity and expansion options which is highly important for connecting two graphics cards for using SLI as you will see later on in this buying guide. Because of this reason, all of the SLI motherboards given above happen to be ATX motherboards which are quite large in size for excellent connectivity options.
CPU Socket
Apart from having powerful graphics cards in your computer, you would also want to have a powerful CPU in your system. And to ensure that you can install a given CPU of your choice, it is highly important to go with the right CPU socket which matches your processor model. Some of the common CPU sockets that you can find while buying an SLI motherboard includes AMD AM4, Intel LGA 1151, Intel LGA 1200, and more. While choosing one of these, you simply need to go with the CPU socket which is the same as the CPU socket used by your processor.
Chipset
Another factor that can affect the compatibility of your SLI motherboard in terms of its CPU support and features is the chipset used by it. Not only does the chipset affect the compatibility, but a high-end chipset also offers better performance via overclocking in most cases for both the CPU and RAM. Talking about the chipset options that you can find out there includes options like the AMD B450, AMD B550, AMD X570, Intel Z390, Intel Z490, Intel Z590, and others. Whether you are going with AMD or Intel motherboards, going with a higher and a newer chipset model always offers better performance and compatibility in terms of the features that you get with it.
PCI-E and Expansion Slots
Coming to the graphics card support of your SLI motherboard, it is highly important to check the expansion slots offered by your SLI motherboard. This ensures that you can install two graphics cards at the same time along with other expansion cards that you may require. For the same reason, almost all SLI motherboards have an ATX form factor. This allows them to offer 5-6 expansion slots which is more than enough for an SLI graphics card setup while having the space for more expansion cards if needed.
Memory Support
As mentioned earlier, having a powerful CPU in your SLI computer build is highly important. But even if you have a high-end CPU, you will not be able to get the most out of it if it is not paired along with the right memory kit. Hence, checking the memory support of your SLI motherboard is highly important. For starters, you need to check the number of memory slots offered by a motherboard which is thankfully 4 with almost all ATX motherboards including the ones given above.
Coming to their memory support, while entry-level models may support up to 64 GB memory, high-end options can also work with up to 128 GB memory where both are more than enough for most users. Other than the memory capacity, checking the support for memory speeds is also quite important to ensure that your SLI motherboard works with high performance memory as having the support for up to 3600 MHz RAM is much better than having support for up to 2400 MHz RAM as faster RAM always offers better performance.
Storage Options
Whether you are installing a large number of AAA gaming titles in your SLI computer build or you are into content creation, you are going to need a lot of storage space for both. Therefore, it is always a great idea to check the storage options offered by your SLI motherboard. Starting with the older SATA ports, almost all SLI motherboards come with 6 SATA slots thanks to their ATX form factor which are great for connecting 2.5 inch and 3.5 inch drives. As for high-speed M.2 SSD slots, you can find either 2 or 3 M.2 SSD slots in most high-end SLI motherboards which is perfect for high-end usage and fast storage speeds.
Connectivity Options and Ports
While it is quite great to have multiple connectivity and expansion options on your motherboard, your computer will not be practical if it does not have enough ports on the back as well. Therefore, checking the connectivity options and ports offered by your can be a great idea.
For checking the physical ports of your motherboard, you should look for ports like USB, USB type C, HDMI, ethernet, audio ports, DisplayPort, and others. Any motherboard that offers multiple of such ports with more recent versions is not only going to be more versatile but you can also expect great performance from such models. Apart from physical connectors, some of them may even come with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity which can be quite handy in many scenarios.
Warranty
Since most motherboards that support SLI are high-end models, you would want your premium motherboard to be as reliable as possible. Thankfully, just like most other computer components, motherboards also offer a 3-year long warranty which is quite good when it comes to getting an SLI motherboard for long term usage.
FAQs about the Best SLI Motherboards
Ans. SLI is a graphics card technology offered by Nvidia with most of its high end graphics cards. It allows two graphics cards to share graphic loads between them which results in improved performance when compared with a single graphics card. In order to use SLI with your graphics card, you will also need an SLI bridge that connects two different graphics cards together.
Ans. Even though SLI is a technology used in Nvidia graphics cards and AMD graphics cards use CrossFire for similar functionality, almost all SLI motherboards also support AMD CrossFire allowing you to use any graphics card that you like. However, you cannot use an AMD graphics card along with an Nvidia graphics card in SLI mode together.
Ans. Unfortunately, by using graphics cards in SLI mode, you may not see a performance boost in applications. This is due to the reason that any application or game that you are using also needs to support SLI before you can see any noticeable difference from using SLI.
Conclusion
In case you are not familiar with SLI, it allows you to use two graphics cards as a pair in your computer which can be great for certain graphic-intensive applications as well as gaming. But since not all motherboards work with two graphics cards at the same time, making sure that you have one of the best SLI motherboards discussed earlier in this listicle is highly important.
With these various motherboard models, you can also find their major factors and features along with a detailed buying guide so that you can go with the right SLI motherboard. But if you are still confused and don’t know which one to pick, you can also consider some of our favorite picks and recommendations for the best SLI motherboards:
- Even if you are on a budget, you can still build an SLI computer with the Asus Rog Strix B450-F Gaming II as it is the most affordable option given above. Despite its given price, you get an ATX motherboard that comes with the AMD AM4 CPU socket and the AMD B450 chipset. These are paired with its 4 RAM slots which support up to 128 GB memory. You will also find 6 PCIe expansion slots on this motherboard which are perfect for its given price.
- But if you want to go with a high-end AMD based SLI motherboard, then the Asus Prime X570-Pro can be a great pick. Being a high-end option, this ATX motherboard uses the AMD AM4 CPU socket along with the AMD X570 chipset. Since you get 4 memory slots with this motherboard, it supports up to 128 GB RAM. Similar to its entry-level option, this high-end AMD motherboard also comes with a total of 6 PCIe expansion slots allowing it to install multiple graphics cards.
- Taking a look at the Intel motherboard options, the MSI Mag Z590 Torpedo is the best performing Intel motherboard given above. Since this is a premium motherboard model, it uses the ATX form factor which allows it to use the Intel Z590 chipset along with the Intel LGA 1200 socket for modern Intel CPUs. You will also get the support for up to 128 GB RAM with this motherboard thanks to its 4 memory slots. While it only has 4 PCIe expansion slots, they are still more than enough for connecting dual graphics cards for SLI.