# Best Motherboards: the stierproducts tier list - Source: https://stierproducts.com/categories/motherboards - Last researched: 2026-08-20T15:01:21.878Z - Products ranked: 19 - Method: https://stierproducts.com/methodology - Reuse: Text, rankings, tier assignments, LP values and verdicts are free to quote and reuse with attribution to stierproducts and a link to the source URL (CC BY 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). 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. Desktop PC motherboards; CPUs, RAM and graphics cards are separate. ## 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. ## Ranking | Rank | Product | Brand | Tier | LP | Outlets | Verdict | Page | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi | MSI | S | 988 | 20 | MSI’s flagship AM5 board delivers solid VRM, excellent BIOS and a long-term track record of reliability. | https://stierproducts.com/products/msi-mag-x870-tomahawk-wifi | | 2 | MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Max WiFi II | MSI | A | 777 | 39 | Strong overclocking potential on the B850 platform, with premium features like Wi-Fi 6E at a reasonable price. | https://stierproducts.com/products/msi-mag-b850-tomahawk-max-wifi-ii | | 3 | MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk WiFi | MSI | A | 697 | 29 | The X870E variant adds PCIe 5.0 support and a refined power stage, keeping the same proven durability. | https://stierproducts.com/products/msi-mag-x870e-tomahawk-wifi | | 4 | Gigabyte B850 Aorus Elite WiFi7 | Gigabyte | A | 671 | 29 | Strong Wi-Fi but weak VRM and infrequent firmware updates make it less reliable. | https://stierproducts.com/products/gigabyte-b850-aorus-elite-wifi7 | | 5 | ASRock Z890 Taichi | ASRock | B | 626 | 14 | ASRock’s Taichi line is built on a proven PCB design and has shown low failure rates in long-term testing. | https://stierproducts.com/products/asrock-z890-taichi | | 6 | Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master | Gigabyte | B | 622 | 27 | Gigabyte’s Master series is known for its solid build quality and long-term firmware support. | https://stierproducts.com/products/gigabyte-x870e-aorus-master | | 7 | MSI MAG Z890 Tomahawk WiFi | MSI | C | 487 | 17 | 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. | https://stierproducts.com/products/msi-mag-z890-tomahawk-wifi | | 8 | ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Hero | ASUS | C | 428 | 9 | The Maximus Z890 is noted for its durable construction and firmware updates that keep it secure over years. | https://stierproducts.com/products/asus-rog-maximus-z890-hero | | 9 | ASRock X870E Taichi | ASRock | D | 353 | 29 | The X870E Taichi inherits the same robust power delivery and firmware longevity as its Z890 counterpart. | https://stierproducts.com/products/asrock-x870e-taichi | | 10 | ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero | ASUS | D | 327 | 8 | ASUS’s flagship Crosshair is praised for its firmware stability and long-term support, making it a reliable choice. | https://stierproducts.com/products/asus-rog-crosshair-x870e-hero | | 11 | ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi | ASRock | D | 278 | 10 | Inconsistent power delivery and lagging firmware updates make it less reliable. | https://stierproducts.com/products/asrock-b860-steel-legend-wifi | | 12 | Gigabyte X870E Aorus Pro | Gigabyte | D | 271 | 27 | The Pro variant offers the same durable construction as the Master but at a more accessible price point, with firmware that remains stable. | https://stierproducts.com/products/gigabyte-x870e-aorus-pro | | 13 | Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WiFi7 | Gigabyte | D | 235 | 16 | A reliable board trapped in a pointless chipset; the non-E X870 premium buys nothing a B850 lacks. | https://stierproducts.com/products/gigabyte-x870-aorus-elite-wifi7 | | 14 | ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme | ASUS | F | 207 | 4 | 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. | https://stierproducts.com/products/asus-rog-maximus-z890-extreme | | 15 | ASUS TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi | ASUS | F | 207 | 11 | Budget appeal but weaker firmware and higher failure risk. | https://stierproducts.com/products/asus-tuf-gaming-b650-plus-wifi | | 16 | ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi II | ASUS | F | 187 | 5 | Premium Z790 board with top-tier power delivery and features; priced high, but still offers better performance per dollar than many flagship boards. | https://stierproducts.com/products/asus-rog-strix-z790-e-gaming-wifi-ii | | 17 | MSI MEG X870E Godlike | MSI | F | 186 | 23 | The MEG line is built for longevity; its high-end VRM and extensive cooling options give it a reputation for lasting performance. | https://stierproducts.com/products/msi-meg-x870e-godlike | | 18 | ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi | ASRock | F | 157 | 9 | Compact size but limited expansion and sparse firmware updates raise reliability concerns. | https://stierproducts.com/products/asrock-b850i-lightning-wifi | | 19 | MSI MEG Z890 Godlike | MSI | F | 145 | 10 | 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. | https://stierproducts.com/products/msi-meg-z890-godlike | ## Flagged as ones to avoid These entered one or more research runs as a product buyers cross-shop but should not buy, rather than as a pick. - MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk WiFi (#3, A tier): flagged by 1 of 10 runs. - Gigabyte B850 Aorus Elite WiFi7 (#4, A tier): flagged by 1 of 9 runs. - ASRock X870E Taichi (#9, D tier): flagged by 3 of 10 runs. - ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero (#10, D tier): flagged by 2 of 11 runs. - ASRock B860 Steel Legend WiFi (#11, D tier): flagged by 1 of 5 runs. - Gigabyte X870E Aorus Pro (#12, D tier): flagged by 2 of 9 runs. - Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WiFi7 (#13, D tier): flagged by 2 of 7 runs. - ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme (#14, F tier): flagged by 3 of 6 runs. - ASUS TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi (#15, F tier): flagged by 1 of 7 runs. - ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi II (#16, F tier): flagged by 1 of 5 runs. - MSI MEG X870E Godlike (#17, F tier): flagged by 3 of 9 runs. - ASRock B850I Lightning WiFi (#18, F tier): flagged by 1 of 6 runs. - MSI MEG Z890 Godlike (#19, F tier): flagged by 3 of 5 runs. ## Tier meanings - 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. ## How to read this - 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. - LP is the product's points on this category's ladder. It is comparable within a category and not across categories. - Outlets is how many distinct outlets are cited for that placement. The per-product page lists each citation, and shows which of their links were fetched and confirmed before publishing. - Nothing is hidden: every product the research placed is on this board.