{
  "category": {
    "slug": "motherboards",
    "name": "Motherboards",
    "description": "Desktop PC motherboards; CPUs, RAM and graphics cards are separate."
  },
  "url": "https://stierproducts.com/categories/motherboards",
  "markdown": "https://stierproducts.com/categories/motherboards.md",
  "updated": "2026-08-20T15:01:21.878Z",
  "productsRanked": 19,
  "summary": "On the stierproducts motherboards board, MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi ranks #1 in S tier, ahead of MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi II (#2, A tier) and MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk WiFi (#3, A tier). The board ranks 19 motherboards from S (best) to F (avoid), last researched 20 Aug 2026, drawing on 336 outlet citations across the board. Placed in the bottom tiers as ones to avoid: ASRock X870E Taichi, ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero, ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi, and 8 others.",
  "method": {
    "summary": "Each category is researched in four independent runs, one per lens (expert consensus, value, reliability, community pulse). Every run ranks a board of candidates that deliberately includes products buyers cross-shop but should avoid. Placements score on a ranked ladder (LP), and tiers are derived from LP, so no tier is ever assigned by hand.",
    "url": "https://stierproducts.com/methodology"
  },
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
    "terms": "https://stierproducts.com/license",
    "covers": [
      "text",
      "rankings",
      "tiers",
      "lp",
      "verdicts",
      "pros",
      "cons"
    ],
    "excludes": [
      "images"
    ],
    "imageRights": "Product photographs are not covered: they belong to their respective owners and are reproduced to illustrate the product being reviewed. Do not redistribute them under this licence."
  },
  "tierMeanings": {
    "S": "Exceptional. Finishes top run after run; capped at 3 slots per category.",
    "A": "Excellent. Strongly recommended, beaten only by the very best.",
    "B": "Good. A solid choice with real caveats worth knowing.",
    "C": "Fair. Acceptable in the right situation, outclassed at its price.",
    "D": "Weak. Hard to recommend when better options cost similar money.",
    "F": "Avoid. The evidence points you elsewhere."
  },
  "products": [
    {
      "rank": 1,
      "tier": "S",
      "lp": 988,
      "name": "MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi",
      "brand": "MSI",
      "slug": "msi-mag-x870-tomahawk-wifi",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/msi-mag-x870-tomahawk-wifi",
      "verdict": "MSI’s flagship AM5 board delivers solid VRM, excellent BIOS and a long-term track record of reliability.",
      "pros": [
        "Solid VRM design",
        "Excellent BIOS support",
        "Long-term proven durability",
        "Excellent power delivery",
        "Feature-rich"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Costs more than the B850 Tomahawk, which delivers most of the same ownership experience"
      ],
      "citations": 22,
      "distinctOutlets": 20,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/msi-mag-x870-tomahawk-wifi.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 2,
      "tier": "A",
      "lp": 777,
      "name": "MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi II",
      "brand": "MSI",
      "slug": "msi-mag-b850-tomahawk-max-wifi-ii",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/msi-mag-b850-tomahawk-max-wifi-ii",
      "verdict": "Strong overclocking potential on the B850 platform, with premium features like Wi-Fi 6E at a reasonable price.",
      "pros": [
        "Strong overclocking potential",
        "Wi-Fi 6E support",
        "Reasonable price",
        "Excellent VRM",
        "Wi-Fi 6E"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Trims high-speed connectivity versus the X870/X870E tier"
      ],
      "citations": 47,
      "distinctOutlets": 39,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/msi-mag-b850-tomahawk-max-wifi-ii.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 3,
      "tier": "A",
      "lp": 697,
      "name": "MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk WiFi",
      "brand": "MSI",
      "slug": "msi-mag-x870e-tomahawk-wifi",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/msi-mag-x870e-tomahawk-wifi",
      "verdict": "The X870E variant adds PCIe 5.0 support and a refined power stage, keeping the same proven durability.",
      "pros": [
        "PCIe 5.0 support",
        "Refined power stage",
        "Same durability as X870",
        "Excellent performance",
        "Solid build quality"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Costs noticeably more than the X870 Tomahawk"
      ],
      "citations": 35,
      "distinctOutlets": 29,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 1,
        "ofRuns": 10
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/msi-mag-x870e-tomahawk-wifi.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 4,
      "tier": "A",
      "lp": 671,
      "name": "Gigabyte B850 Aorus Elite WiFi7",
      "brand": "Gigabyte",
      "slug": "gigabyte-b850-aorus-elite-wifi7",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/gigabyte-b850-aorus-elite-wifi7",
      "verdict": "Strong Wi-Fi but weak VRM and infrequent firmware updates make it less reliable.",
      "pros": [
        "High-speed Wi-Fi",
        "Aorus branding",
        "Wi-Fi 7 support",
        "Solid VRM",
        "Good value"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Weak VRM design",
        "Sparse firmware updates",
        "Risky for long term",
        "Gigabyte's AM5 BIOS cadence had early stumbles before improving"
      ],
      "citations": 35,
      "distinctOutlets": 29,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 1,
        "ofRuns": 9
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/gigabyte-b850-aorus-elite-wifi7.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 5,
      "tier": "B",
      "lp": 626,
      "name": "ASRock Z890 Taichi",
      "brand": "ASRock",
      "slug": "asrock-z890-taichi",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/asrock-z890-taichi",
      "verdict": "ASRock’s Taichi line is built on a proven PCB design and has shown low failure rates in long-term testing.",
      "pros": [
        "Proven PCB design",
        "Low failure rates",
        "Durable",
        "Strong VRM cooling",
        "PCIe 5.0 ready"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "ASRock's historically weaker software/firmware tooling",
        "Slower BIOS polish than rivals",
        "The LGA1851 platform is a dead end with no CPU upgrade path"
      ],
      "citations": 17,
      "distinctOutlets": 14,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/asrock-z890-taichi.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 6,
      "tier": "B",
      "lp": 622,
      "name": "Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master",
      "brand": "Gigabyte",
      "slug": "gigabyte-x870e-aorus-master",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/gigabyte-x870e-aorus-master",
      "verdict": "Gigabyte’s Master series is known for its solid build quality and long-term firmware support.",
      "pros": [
        "Solid build quality",
        "Long-term firmware support",
        "Reliable",
        "Robust VRM",
        "PCIe 5.0 support"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Still a premium-priced board above the mainstream picks"
      ],
      "citations": 32,
      "distinctOutlets": 27,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/gigabyte-x870e-aorus-master.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 7,
      "tier": "C",
      "lp": 487,
      "name": "MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi",
      "brand": "MSI",
      "slug": "msi-mag-z890-tomahawk-wifi",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/msi-mag-z890-tomahawk-wifi",
      "verdict": "MSI’s Z890 board offers the same robust build quality as its X870 siblings, with added PCIe 5.0 lanes and a firmware that stays stable over time.",
      "pros": [
        "Robust build quality",
        "PCIe 5.0 lanes",
        "Stable firmware",
        "Good VRM",
        "Wi-Fi 6E"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "LGA1851/Arrow Lake is a dead-end socket with no upgrade path",
        "Platform liability caps long-term ownership value regardless of board quality"
      ],
      "citations": 23,
      "distinctOutlets": 17,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/msi-mag-z890-tomahawk-wifi.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 8,
      "tier": "C",
      "lp": 428,
      "name": "ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Hero",
      "brand": "ASUS",
      "slug": "asus-rog-maximus-z890-hero",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/asus-rog-maximus-z890-hero",
      "verdict": "The Maximus Z890 is noted for its durable construction and firmware updates that keep it secure over years.",
      "pros": [
        "Durable construction",
        "Regular firmware updates",
        "Secure",
        "Premium build quality",
        "Strong performance"
      ],
      "citations": 9,
      "distinctOutlets": 9,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/asus-rog-maximus-z890-hero.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 9,
      "tier": "D",
      "lp": 353,
      "name": "ASRock X870E Taichi",
      "brand": "ASRock",
      "slug": "asrock-x870e-taichi",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/asrock-x870e-taichi",
      "verdict": "The X870E Taichi inherits the same robust power delivery and firmware longevity as its Z890 counterpart.",
      "pros": [
        "Robust power delivery",
        "Firmware longevity",
        "Same quality as Z890",
        "Solid feature set",
        "Reviews brilliantly on features-per-dollar"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Older revision",
        "Higher price for similar performance",
        "Poor VRM cooling",
        "Limited I/O",
        "Wave of Ryzen X3D CPU failures concentrated on ASRock AM5 boards"
      ],
      "citations": 35,
      "distinctOutlets": 29,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 3,
        "ofRuns": 10
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/asrock-x870e-taichi.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 10,
      "tier": "D",
      "lp": 327,
      "name": "ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero",
      "brand": "ASUS",
      "slug": "asus-rog-crosshair-x870e-hero",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/asus-rog-crosshair-x870e-hero",
      "verdict": "ASUS’s flagship Crosshair is praised for its firmware stability and long-term support, making it a reliable choice.",
      "pros": [
        "Firmware stability",
        "Long-term support",
        "Reliable build",
        "Premium power delivery",
        "PCIe 5.0 ready"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "ASUS's documented warranty and RMA reputation problems",
        "'Anything but ASUS' is now a recurring sentiment among builders"
      ],
      "citations": 8,
      "distinctOutlets": 8,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 2,
        "ofRuns": 11
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/asus-rog-crosshair-x870e-hero.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 11,
      "tier": "D",
      "lp": 278,
      "name": "ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi",
      "brand": "ASRock",
      "slug": "asrock-b860-steel-legend-wifi",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/asrock-b860-steel-legend-wifi",
      "verdict": "Inconsistent power delivery and lagging firmware updates make it less reliable.",
      "pros": [
        "Strong marketing",
        "Wi-Fi support",
        "Solid VRM",
        "Good overclocking headroom",
        "Competitive price"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Inconsistent power delivery",
        "Firmware lags new CPUs",
        "Less durable"
      ],
      "citations": 11,
      "distinctOutlets": 10,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 1,
        "ofRuns": 5
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/asrock-b860-steel-legend-wifi.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 12,
      "tier": "D",
      "lp": 271,
      "name": "Gigabyte X870E Aorus Pro",
      "brand": "Gigabyte",
      "slug": "gigabyte-x870e-aorus-pro",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/gigabyte-x870e-aorus-pro",
      "verdict": "The Pro variant offers the same durable construction as the Master but at a more accessible price point, with firmware that remains stable.",
      "pros": [
        "Durable construction",
        "Stable firmware",
        "More affordable",
        "Solid build",
        "Same X870E chipset as the Aorus Master at a lower price"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Missing premium features",
        "Similar price to better variant",
        "Lower performance",
        "Higher price than comparable",
        "Slightly trimmed VRM and I/O versus the Aorus Master"
      ],
      "citations": 30,
      "distinctOutlets": 27,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 2,
        "ofRuns": 9
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/gigabyte-x870e-aorus-pro.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 13,
      "tier": "D",
      "lp": 235,
      "name": "Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WiFi7",
      "brand": "Gigabyte",
      "slug": "gigabyte-x870-aorus-elite-wifi7",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/gigabyte-x870-aorus-elite-wifi7",
      "verdict": "A reliable board trapped in a pointless chipset; the non-E X870 premium buys nothing a B850 lacks.",
      "pros": [
        "Fundamentally a reliable, well-built board",
        "Includes forced USB4 connectivity"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Non-E X870 forces USB4 but lacks the second chipset of X870E",
        "Costs meaningfully more than B850 for connectivity that is largely a wash in practice",
        "The B850 Aorus Elite WiFi7 or B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi II are the better buys",
        "Not a bad board, but a bad deal"
      ],
      "citations": 18,
      "distinctOutlets": 16,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 2,
        "ofRuns": 7
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/gigabyte-x870-aorus-elite-wifi7.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 14,
      "tier": "F",
      "lp": 207,
      "name": "ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme",
      "brand": "ASUS",
      "slug": "asus-rog-maximus-z890-extreme",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/asus-rog-maximus-z890-extreme",
      "verdict": "The worst combination in the category: maximum price, dead-end platform, and the industry's most-criticized support operation. Buy almost anything else on this list first.",
      "pros": [
        "Top-of-line flagship hardware and feature loadout",
        "ASUS's UEFI interface is regarded as the best in the business"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Even higher price than the Godlike, the most expensive board here",
        "Same dead-end LGA1851 socket with no platform longevity",
        "Carries ASUS's current warranty and RMA reputation, the worst among the big four vendors",
        "The ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero is the defensible ASUS flagship; this is not"
      ],
      "citations": 4,
      "distinctOutlets": 4,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 3,
        "ofRuns": 6
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/asus-rog-maximus-z890-extreme.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 15,
      "tier": "F",
      "lp": 207,
      "name": "ASUS TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi",
      "brand": "ASUS",
      "slug": "asus-tuf-gaming-b650-plus-wifi",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/asus-tuf-gaming-b650-plus-wifi",
      "verdict": "Budget appeal but weaker firmware and higher failure risk.",
      "pros": [
        "Budget price",
        "Wi-Fi support",
        "Affordable price",
        "Wi-Fi 6E",
        "Durable build"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Firmware updates lag",
        "Higher failure rate",
        "Less durable"
      ],
      "citations": 11,
      "distinctOutlets": 11,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 1,
        "ofRuns": 7
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/asus-tuf-gaming-b650-plus-wifi.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 16,
      "tier": "F",
      "lp": 187,
      "name": "ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi II",
      "brand": "ASUS",
      "slug": "asus-rog-strix-z790-e-gaming-wifi-ii",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/asus-rog-strix-z790-e-gaming-wifi-ii",
      "verdict": "Premium Z790 board with top-tier power delivery and features; priced high, but still offers better performance per dollar than many flagship boards.",
      "pros": [
        "Top-tier power delivery",
        "Rich feature set",
        "Good performance per dollar"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "No PCIe 5.0",
        "No Wi-Fi 6E"
      ],
      "citations": 6,
      "distinctOutlets": 5,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 1,
        "ofRuns": 5
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/asus-rog-strix-z790-e-gaming-wifi-ii.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 17,
      "tier": "F",
      "lp": 186,
      "name": "MSI MEG X870E Godlike",
      "brand": "MSI",
      "slug": "msi-meg-x870e-godlike",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/msi-meg-x870e-godlike",
      "verdict": "The MEG line is built for longevity; its high-end VRM and extensive cooling options give it a reputation for lasting performance.",
      "pros": [
        "High-end VRM",
        "Extensive cooling",
        "Longevity",
        "Extreme VRM",
        "Excellent overclocking headroom"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "High price",
        "Limited feature advantage",
        "Flagship money for an LCD panel and VRMs nobody outside LN2 competition will stress",
        "Same gaming performance as the far cheaper B850 Tomahawk",
        "The definition of a product that is good only because it is expensive"
      ],
      "citations": 32,
      "distinctOutlets": 23,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 3,
        "ofRuns": 9
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/msi-meg-x870e-godlike.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 18,
      "tier": "F",
      "lp": 157,
      "name": "ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi",
      "brand": "ASRock",
      "slug": "asrock-b850i-lightning-wifi",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/asrock-b850i-lightning-wifi",
      "verdict": "Compact size but limited expansion and sparse firmware updates raise reliability concerns.",
      "pros": [
        "Compact design",
        "Wi-Fi support",
        "The standout Mini-ITX B850 option",
        "Frequently surfaced in community roundups as the small-form-factor value pick",
        "Best SFF choice in the field"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Limited expansion options",
        "Sparse firmware updates",
        "Longevity concerns",
        "ASRock's firmware caveats apply",
        "Ryzen X3D CPU failure reports hang over the brand"
      ],
      "citations": 10,
      "distinctOutlets": 9,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 1,
        "ofRuns": 6
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/asrock-b850i-lightning-wifi.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 19,
      "tier": "F",
      "lp": 145,
      "name": "MSI MEG Z890 Godlike",
      "brand": "MSI",
      "slug": "msi-meg-z890-godlike",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/msi-meg-z890-godlike",
      "verdict": "A flagship-priced showcase on a socket with no future; build quality is real, ownership value is not. Buy the Z890 Taichi or Z890 Tomahawk.",
      "pros": [
        "Impeccably built",
        "Showcase extras like the LCD dashboard for buyers who want them"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Flagship money for a socket Intel has already abandoned",
        "Money buys an LCD dashboard and E-ATX excess rather than longevity",
        "Zero CPU upgrade path on LGA1851",
        "The Z890 Taichi or Z890 Tomahawk deliver the experience for a third of the price"
      ],
      "citations": 11,
      "distinctOutlets": 10,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 3,
        "ofRuns": 5
      },
      "image": "https://stierproducts.com/images/products/msi-meg-z890-godlike.webp"
    }
  ]
}