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Jenna Inouye | 29 Dec, 2022

9 Best Mining Motherboards for Crypto Mining [2023]

Although GPU mining is facing some darker days, you can still turn a profit if you do your research and carefully select which cryptocurrencies to mine. Add in a stroke of luck and low electricity costs in your area, and you can still find profit in this recovering space.

For that, you’ll need the best mining motherboard. Below, we compiled a list of some of the best available in 2023.

Best Mining Motherboards: Our Top Recommendations

MoBo

Description

Form Factor

GPU Support

RAM/Speed

CPU Socket

Link

ASUS B250 Mining Expert

Best Top-Of-The-Line Motherboard for Mining

ATX

19

Up to 32 GB DDR4, 2133 MHz

LGA 1151

Check Price

ASUS Prime Z390-P

Best Cheap Motherboard for Mining

ATX

6

Up to 64 GB DDR4, 2400MHz

LGA 1151

Check Price

Asrock H110 Pro BTC+

Best Mining Motherboard Overall

ATX

13

DDR4, 2400 MHz

BGA 437

Check Price

Biostar TB250-BTC Pro

A Crypto Mining Motherboard Offering Great Value

ATX

12

Up to 32 GB DDR4, 2400 MHz

LGA 1151

Check Price

ASUS ROG Strix Z270E

A Gaming Motherboard That Works Well for Mining

ATX

6

Up to 64 GB DDR4, 3866 MHz

LGA 1151

Check Price

MSI Z170A Gaming Pro Carbon

Best Crypto Mining Motherboard for Gaming

ATX

7

Up to 64 GB, DDR4 2133 MHz

LGA 1151

Check Price

Gigabyte Z390 UD

Another Cheap Mining Motherboard

ATX

6

Up to 128 GB, DDR4 2666 MHz

LGA 1151

Check Price

Zotac B150 Mining ATX Motherboard

Another of the Many Budget Mining Motherboards

ATX

8

Up to 32 GB DDR4, 2400 MHz

LGA 1151

Check Price

Gigabyte H110-D3A

A Stable and Reliable Mining Motherboard

ATX

7

Up to 32 GB DDR4, 2400/2133 MHz

LGA 1151

Check Price

What is a Mining Motherboard?

A while ago, GPUs became the most crucial components of mining rigs when CPU mining could no longer result in sufficient profit. And so, by connection, crypto mining motherboards also became vital parts of a mining rig, as they can support multiple graphics cards running simultaneously.

Choosing the right motherboard is important to your rig’s profitability. After all, the more GPU slots it has, the more processing power you can theoretically have.

But what exactly is a mining motherboard?

Mining motherboards (mining mobos) are specifically designed for the express purpose of cryptocurrency mining. They were made to be able to handle heavy workloads and near-constant uptime.

Mining mobos typically have many more PCIe slots capable of supporting multiple graphics cards that can run at the same time to solve complex mathematical problems and run millions upon millions of calculations during the mining process. These calculations, once verified, can return some cryptocurrency, which you can then hold or sell for profit.

A mining motherboard can come in the standard forms we know, such as ATX, Mini-ATX, E-ATX, and so on. However, ATX seems to be the most common form factor by far.

There are benefits to using mining motherboards, such as the ability to run multiple GPUs simultaneously, better affordability at the expense of the exclusion of some ‘standard’ features you’d see in a regular mobo, good cooling solutions, and more. But of course, there are also downsides, such as energy consumption and the fact that most are best used for mining, although they can also be used for regular work/gaming rigs (but you would be limited in the CPUs you can use).

Related:

Best Blockchain Courses To Learn

What is the Difference Between Mining Motherboards and Normal Motherboards?

To a layperson, mining motherboards and normal motherboards likely look exactly the same. However, there are indeed some differences, such as:

  • Normal or standard mobos are incredibly inefficient at mining digital currency, and it is very unlikely you will be able to complete your calculations
  • Mining mobos can have multiple GPUs, while standard mobos may be limited by having few PCIe slots
  • A mining mobo can be used as a standard motherboard (even if you may be limited in terms of compatible CPUs and memory), but the reverse is not true

How to Choose the Best Mining Rig Motherboard

Choosing the right mobo is important to your rig’s efficiency and profitability. But what factors should you consider as you shop for the best motherboard for crypto mining? Consider the ones below:

  • Quality - your selected motherboard should be high quality and must be well-built to survive the rigors of mining. It should also be able to help maximize the potential of your graphics cards’ capabilities.
  • PCIe/GPU slots - mining motherboards are nothing without the GPUs doing the calculations. Consider how many graphics cards you want in your rig and whether you want more slots in case you want to add more GPUs later.
  • Processor socket type and compatibility - Mining mobos won’t be compatible with all CPUs. Some aren’t even compatible with the later generations of Intel and AMD chips. Ensure you choose the right mobo for the CPU you want to use.
  • Price and availability - Nowadays, mining mobos and rig components are less in-demand and are easier to acquire. However, you’ll still want to consider the price to ensure the mobo fits your budget.
  • Condition - If you are buying your motherboard used, consider checking its condition before completing the transaction.

Best Mining Motherboard: Top Picks for 2023

1. ASUS B250 Mining Expert - Best Top-Of-The-Line Motherboard for Mining

Specifications

  • Memory Capacity: Up to 32GB DDR4, 2133 MHz
  • Form Factor: ATX
  • CPU Socket: LGA 1151
  • Operating System Support: Windows 7 or 10 (x64)
  • PCIe Slots: 19
  • GPU Support: 19

The ASUS B250 Mining Expert is one of the best mobos available for mining today. Easily among the top-of-the-line options, this board can support up to 19 GPUs and is compatible with 6th and 7th-generation Intel processors (Celeron, Pentium, Core i3/i5/i7) with its LGA 1151 socket.

If you want to build an extremely powerful mining rig or just want a mobo with more slots you can fill down the line, the ASUS B250 Mining Expert is one to consider.

Pros

  • Supports up to 19 GPUs
  • Features to help stable power delivery
  • No extra BIOS setup is necessary

Cons

  • Price
  • Can be hard to find sometimes

See More Here.

2. ASUS Prime Z390-P - Best Cheap Motherboard for Mining

Specifications

  • Memory Capacity: Up to 64 GB DDR4, 2400MHz
  • Form Factor: ATX
  • CPU Socket: LGA 1151
  • Operating System Support: Windows 10 64-Bit
  • PCIe Slots: 6
  • GPU Support: 6

Mining rigs don’t have to be insanely expensive. Take the ASUS Prime Z390-P, which is one of the best affordable mobos for crypto mining. Although it can only support six GPUs, it comes much more affordably and can support up to 8th and 9th-generation Intel CPUs, thanks to its LGA 1151 socket. We’d say that the ASUS Prime Z390-P is an excellent option if you want a multi-tasking mobo that can also power a work/gaming rig reasonably.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • m.2 storage support
  • Good build quality

Cons

  • Only 6 GPUs

See More Here.

3. Asrock H110 Pro BTC+ - Best Mining Motherboard Overall

Specifications

  • Memory Capacity: DDR4, 2400 MHz
  • Form Factor: ATX
  • CPU Socket: BGA 437
  • Operating System Support:
  • 7th-Gen Intel CPUs: Windows 10 64-bit
  • 6th-Gen Intel CPUs: Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 8.1 64-bit, Windows 7 32-bit or 7 64-bit
  • PCIe Slots: 13
  • GPU Support: 13 

The ASRock H110 Pro BTC+ is another excellent option and our pick for the best mining motherboard overall, thanks to the balance of features and price. This mobo features a solid build quality with slots for up to thirteen graphics cards, allowing you to expand your rig as needed. It’s worth noting that Windows only supports up to 8 GPUs at t he moment, so you may need to do some additional setup (or try using Linux).

Pros

  • Up to 13 GPUs supported
  • Has power/reset switches on board
  • Can run Windows 10

Cons

  • Can be challenging to set up

See More Here.

4. Biostar TB250-BTC Pro - A Crypto Mining Motherboard Offering Great Value

Specifications

  • Memory Capacity: Up to 32 GB DDR4, 2400 MHz
  • Form Factor: ATX
  • CPU Socket: LGA 1151
  • Operating System Support: Windows 7, Windows 8, Linux
  • PCIe Slots: 12
  • GPU Support: 12 (with Linux), 8 Nvidia GPUs, or 6 AMD GPUs for Windows 

If you are looking for the cheapest possible motherboard you can find for your mining rig, the Biostar TB250-BTC Pro is a good one to consider. It’s capable of running up to 12 GPUs simultaneously on Linux and 8 Nvidia or 6 AMD GPUs on Windows.

Pros

  • Extremely affordable
  • Up to 12 GPUs with Linux (8 Nvidia with Windows)

Cons

  • Can be hard to find

See More Here.

5. ASUS ROG Strix Z270E - A Gaming Motherboard That Works Well for Mining

Specifications

  • Memory Capacity: Up to 64 GB, DDR4 3866 MHz
  • Form Factor: ATX
  • CPU Socket: LGA 1151
  • Operating System Support: Windows 7 32-bit/64-bit, Windows 8.1 64-bit, Windows 10 64-bit
  • PCIe Slots: 7
  • GPU Support: 6

The ASUS ROG Strix Z270E is a gaming motherboard you can also use for mining, as it has seven PCIe slots. Notably, however, it can only run six GPUs simultaneously.

This mobo, which comes from ASUS’ Republic of Gamers line of products, can support 6th or 7th-Generation Intel CPUs with its LGA 1151 socket. You can also have up to 64 GB of RAM with this board, making it a great option for a dual-purpose work/gaming and mining rig.

Pros

  • You can also use this mobo for gaming

Cons

  • Only supports six GPUs

See More Here.

6. MSI Z170A Gaming Pro Carbon - Best Crypto Mining Motherboard for Gaming

Specifications

  • Memory Capacity: Up to 64 GB, DDR4 2133 MHz
  • Form Factor: ATX
  • CPU Socket: LGA 1151
  • PCIe Slots: 7
  • GPU Support: 7

The MSI Z170A Gaming Pro Carbon is a stable, reliable gaming motherboard. You can certainly tell it’s made for gaming just by its aesthetic, but that doesn’t diminish the fact that it’s also a capable mining mobo that can support up to seven graphics cards.

Like the ROG Strix Z270E above, the LGA 1151 socket in this board makes it compatible with 6th and 7th-generation Intel CPUs.

Pros

  • Also works well for gaming
  • Supports up to 7 GPUs

Cons

  • Has some gaming features and does have a gaming aesthetic, which may not be for everyone — YMMV

See More Here.

7. Gigabyte Z390 UD - Another Cheap Mining Motherboard

Specifications

  • Memory Capacity: Up to 128 GB, DDR4 2666 MHz
  • Form Factor: ATX
  • CPU Socket: LGA 1151
  • Operating System Support: Support for Windows 10 64-bit
  • PCIe Slots: 6
  • GPU Support: 6

The Gigabyte Z390 UD is a standard motherboard, but don’t be fooled — it’s one of the few that can also handle supporting a GPU mining rig. It runs Windows 10, supports up to 8th and 9th-gen Intel CPUs, and can handle up to 128 GB of DDR4 RAM. Best of all, this standard mobo has six PCIe slots, meaning you can run six GPUs simultaneously.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • m.2 storage support
  • RGB lighting support

Cons

  • Not made specifically for mining

See More Here.

8. Zotac B150 Mining ATX Motherboard - Another of the Many Budget Mining Motherboards

Specifications

  • Memory Capacity: Up to 32 GB DDR4, 2400 MHz
  • Form Factor: ATX
  • CPU Socket: LGA 1151
  • Operating System Support: Windows 10 Ready
  • PCIe Slots: 8
  • GPU Support: 8

Zotac is more popularly known for their graphics cards than their other components. However, the Zotac B150 is absolutely a mining mobo to consider. This board can support up to eight GPUs and can run Windows 10, making it a better option than other pricier boards that can only run Windows 7 or 8.

Pros

  • Reasonably affordable
  • Easy to find
  • Supports up to 8 GPUs

Cons

  • Can only support CPUs that are up to 64W
  • Slightly larger than other mobos that are also ATX form factor

See More Here.

9. Gigabyte H110-D3A - A Stable and Reliable Mining Motherboard

Specifications

  • Memory Capacity: Up to 32 GB DDR4, 2400/2133 MHz
  • Form Factor: ATX
  • CPU Socket: LGA 1151
  • Operating System Support: Windows 7 32-bit, Windows 7 64-bit, Windows 8.1 64-bit, Windows 10 64-bit
  • PCIe Slots: 7
  • GPU Support: 7 

The Gigabyte H110-D3A is a mining motherboard offering a stable and reliable experience for your rig — whether you use it for mining or day-to-day work/gaming. This board can support up to seven GPUs and can support SSD storage.

Pros

  • Support for up to 7 GPUs

Cons

  • No HDMI connector
  • Slightly pricey in comparison to other similar mining mobos

See More Here.

How We Chose the Best Mining Motherboards

We put together a list of recommendations for some of the best Nvidia and AMD mining motherboards above, but why should you trust our opinion?

Knowing what cryptocurrency mining requires, we considered these factors as we chose our contenders for the list of best mining mobos:

  • PCIe Slots/GPU support
  • Price
  • Expandability
  • CPU Compatibility
  • Availability

A lot of research went into compiling this list. We asked experienced GPU miners what their favorite mobos were. We went into forums and spent time on Reddit, finding the general consensus among the passionate community. We also looked closely at product reviews to ensure each mobo on this list is high-quality.

Mining After the Ethereum Merge

Following the Ethereum merge, there is one question on many people’s minds: is a GPU mining motherboard still worth it? Can you still turn a profit mining cryptocurrency after everything?

Unfortunately, we don’t have much good news for you in this regard.

On September 15 of this year, the Ethereum merge finally happened. What this means is that ETH, one of the largest and arguably most profitable cryptocurrencies, phased out GPU mining. And while there are significant benefits for the planet, primarily being a much-lessened strain on resources and power grids, it’s a major downside for crypto miners worldwide. The elimination of GPU-based ETH mining took away the most profitable income stream in the space.

Does this mean you can’t mine or turn a profit anymore? No!

You absolutely can continue to mine, but you would have to mine for small or altcoins that may or may not go “to the moon” one day. There is substantially more risk and, in some cases, not enough ROI.

Many have seen that this may be the “death” of GPU mining as we know it. For this reason, you’ll see many shutting their mining rigs off or even selling their gear to recoup their initial expenses.

That said, now might be a good time to buy some of the many discarded GPUs and rigs that have been and will continue to flood the market — just make sure you check and double-check their condition!

To mitigate your risk and increase your chances of success and profit, visit WhatToMine, which helps you calculate which coins would be most profitable for you.

Conclusion

Although ETH GPU-based mining is out of the picture, you can still continue mining for other smaller cryptocurrencies in hopes of finding one that will take you to the moon. For that, you’ll need the best mining motherboard for your budget and needs.

We hope that this list of the best mobos for crypto mining has helped you find one that fits your needs! If you think we missed one that should be on this list, let us know in the comments below.

Want to learn more about blockchain and crypto? Check out our recommendations for the best cryptocurrency and blockchain tutorials. You can also look at our step-by-step beginner’s guide for blockchain.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which motherboard is best for mining?

The best motherboard for mining depends on your needs and budget. Just remember to consider factors such as how many GPUs a motherboard supports, which operating systems you can use, the board’s energy consumption, and how much you are willing to spend. Also, consider the motherboard’s condition if you are purchasing it secondhand or refurbished.

2. Are mining motherboards worth it?

Mining motherboards can be incredibly worth it, especially if you are able to get your ROI within an acceptable amount of time.

3. How important is the motherboard for crypto mining?

If your main intent is to mine cryptocurrency with GPUs, then your best bet is to purchase one of the many great motherboards for mining. Remember that mining motherboards can be used as a standard board for a work or gaming computer, but a standard board will most likely fail at mining cryptocurrency. Thus, a mining mobo is 100% vital to your mining rig.

4. How long do motherboards last mining?

Motherboards are built to be durable and reliable. In a mining rig, motherboards take much less stress than your GPUs, which do the brunt of the calculation work. Thus, while you can expect your GPUs to have a shorter lifespan (think three or so years rather than five or more), your motherboard can easily last five or more years — even when used 24/7. Of course, this assumes that you are taking proper care to maintain your equipment well.

5. How many GPUs can a motherboard support mining?

The number of GPUs a motherboard can support usually depends on how many PCIe slots it has. Therefore, it’s not uncommon to see some motherboards capable of supporting only two to three GPUs. However, there are now many motherboards with even more PCIe slots, which means you’ll find plenty of mobos supporting six, eight, twelve, or even up to nineteen graphics cards.

6. Can I use any motherboard for GPU mining?

Technically, yes. But if you want to be profitable and get your ROI within a reasonable amount of time, you’ll want to invest in a mining motherboard. Luckily, there are many affordable options, such as the ones listed in our recommendations above.

7. Is it possible to put a mining motherboard inside a PC case?

Yes, it is — but only if you intend to use just one or two graphics cards with it. Mining rigs often use many GPUs, each of them requiring cooling to function efficiently (and without breaking). Thus, you’ll want to keep your mining rig out of a PC case to ensure all components get sufficient cooling that can help them perform better and last longer.

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By Jenna Inouye

Jenna Inouye has been a full stack developer for two decades, specializing in web application design and development. For the last eight years, she has worked as a news and feature writer focusing on technology and finance, with bylines in Udemy, SVG, and The Gamer.

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