Premium "Gaming" Motherboards - Are They Worth it? ATX vs ITX Z87 Test
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Expensive overclocking and gaming motherboards. What do they really bring to the table? We took what we feel is possibly the best Z87 motherboard on the market (all bells and whistles included) and put it head to head in a real-world scenario (H100 cooling, no LN2) against the most barebones Z87 we could get our hands on. These results may shock you. Sponsor link: linustechtips.com Join our community forum: bit.ly twitter.com @LinusTech Pricing & availability: ncix.com Intro Screen Music Credit: Adhesive Wombat -
Check out his channel here: youtube.com Outtro Screen Music Credit: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High youtube.com
The video investigates whether premium gaming motherboards really deliver noticeable value, using a head-to-head comparison between a high-end Z87 board (the Maximus 6 Extreme) and a low-cost Z87 ITX board (Gigabyte Z87N-WiFi) to test whether features justify the price. The hosts clarify their test approach, noting they achieved the same overclock of 4.7 GHz on both platforms using a modest cooling setup (H100) and a standard gaming/test rig (4770K CPU, GTX 780, AX850, Vertex 4 SSDs). They emphasize that the primary variable is the motherboard, so any observed performance deltas across games should reflect platform differences rather than broader system changes. Graphs are shown to illustrate the performance gap, which they describe as typically small, ranging from about two to five percent as you move from an entry-level board to a high-end extreme board. Despite the small FPS gains, they argue there are concrete values in high-end boards, such as better on-board audio, stronger network solutions, and more robust overclocking features that appeal to enthusiasts who value tweakability and aesthetics. The discussion then pivots to practical takeaways, noting that while the top tier Maximus 6 Extreme offers expandability and overclocking flexibility, most users will not need four-way SLI/CrossFire or every available port, and entry-level boards can still deliver excellent performance. In conclusion, the testers state that gaming performance alone rarely justifies buying a premium motherboard, and instead suggest weighing the price against features that matter to the individual, such as audio quality, LAN, expansion options, and cosmetic preferences. They acknowledge there are scenarios where a high-end board makes sense, but emphasize value and personal needs as the deciding factors, inviting viewers to share their own priorities in the comments and to like or dislike the video based on usefulness and entertainment value.
Topics · technology · hardware · gaming · pc-components · overclocking · reviews · consumer-electronics
Questions answered
- Do premium gaming motherboards provide a noticeable FPS boost in real games?
- No, the video finds only modest FPS differences, generally two to five percent, when comparing high-end boards to entry-level boards in tested scenarios.
- What are the concrete reasons to buy a high-end motherboard beyond raw performance?
- Higher-end boards offer features like better onboard audio, improved LAN, robust overclocking tools, and aesthetic customization that may matter to enthusiasts and tweakers.