Fans of small form factor PCs are a dedicated bunch, with the best Mini-ITX motherboards being the absolute superstars of each build. And it's easy to understand why. A mini PC just has an innate aesthetic appeal about it, but with the latest boards it's possible to achieve all the performance of a much larger build, while still saving some desk space. You'll also gain a measure of portability and be able to place it somewhere a full ATX case would not be practical.
Though we're nearing the end of the LGA 1700 era, this Asus is as good as it gets if you want to build a compact Intel 12th, 13th, or 14th generation system. It's jam packed with features and it's the kind of board that justifies spending some extra money on. Most Mini-ITX motherboards come with inevitable compromises, but Asus has managed to eliminate most of these with the X670E-I Gaming WiFi. It incorporates several interesting design innovations. Rather than settle with the constraints of a 17 x 17 cm Mini-ITX PCB, Asus went vertical by shifting some functionality onto daughter boards, and it completely relocated the audio section onto an external sound card that also functions as something of a hub or dock.
The Asus ROG Strix X670E-I Gaming WiFi is an easy pick for the best Mini-ITX motherboard. It's the ultimate choice for users looking to build a high-end gaming system. When you consider you'll have support for at least one more generation of Ryzen CPUs to come, it's an investment that will remain relevant for several years. It's in a class of its own.Pair it with a Ryzen 8000-series APU and you'll have the most affordable path to 1080p gaming you can get right now.
The USB complement is basic, with a single 10 Gbps port being the highlight, plus a further five ports made up of a mix of USB 3.1 5Gbps ports and USB 2.0 ports. The ROG Hive external sound card is a really classy and well-built piece of kit. It includes an ESS Sabre 9260Q DAC. The Hive includes some useful features with more USB ports, BIOS flashback functionality and an AI auto overclocking button.
The Asus ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi is an excellent vehicle for housing the ultimate Intel small form factor gaming rig. With its top class connectivity options, its ability to house a high end processor, Gen5 GPU and SSD support and excellent audio, it stands alone.You want guaranteed 14th Gen support out of the box:
It's got a 14+1+1 phase solution with 110a stages which means it's easily capable of powering an i9 14900K or KS, even with unlimited power. Of course, you'll need a high airflow case to allow it to stretch its legs and keep the VRM cool, but the same can be said of an ATX board too.