While NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 3070 GPU works just fine with PCIe 3.0 slots, it's best to grab a motherboard with a PCIe 4.0 slot to make the most of its graphical prowess. We've rounded up the best motherboards with PCIe 4.0 slots for both AMD and Intel processors.
Best AMD motherboards for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
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ASUS ROG Strix X570-E
Premium X570
The X570 is the go-to chipset for AMD processors if you want PCIe 4.0 support, and all other bells and whistles board vendors can throw into the feature list. This fine example from ASUS has it all, including Wi-Fi 6, M.2 slots, excellent power delivery for overclocking the latest AMD CPUs, as well as a dedicated water-pump header for custom loops.
ASRock B550M Steel Legend
Budget B550
The B550 is a little less advanced than the X570 chipset, but you still get PCI 4.0 support. The ASRock B550M Steel Legend also comes with a 10-phase power delivery design, which is pretty good for the price, as well as support for super-fast RAM and an M.2 slot for installing your favorite OS.
ASUS Prime X570-P
Entry X570
You don't have to spend so much on an X570 motherboard. ASUS also has the Prime X570-P, which is considerably more affordable than our top pick but still comes with PCIe 4.0 support, metal heatsinks for the VRMs, high-quality components, and more highlights for a stable, powerful AMD PC.
ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Formula
Enthusiast Build
The previous recommendation was to save a little, but this motherboard goes all out in terms of features and cost. We're talking enthusiast-grade here. This motherboard from ASUS has a solid power delivery design, M.2 slots, 5Gb LAN support, and even water-cooling support for its VRMs. You can create one amazing machine with this foundation.
Best Intel motherboards for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
Intel doesn't officially support PCIe 4.0 yet but will offer the said functionality to match AMD with the launch of Rocket Lake processors. That hasn't stopped motherboard makers from preemptively adding PCIe 4.0 support into certain motherboards right now. So, while you can technically buy PCIe 4.0-ready motherboards for Intel CPUs, you'll be stuck on PCIe 3.0 until the new CPUs launch.
We'd recommend against buying an Intel motherboard right now for PCIe 4.0 support. Not until Intel launches its new Rocket Lake processors. If you absolutely must buy a new motherboard today for a 10th Gen Intel CPU, we've rounded up a few of our current favorites.
ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E Gaming
Best Overall
The Z490 is the chipset for Intel-based PCs right now, and this motherboard from ASUS has it all at a solid price. You've got plenty of features, including 2.5Gb LAN and Wi-Fi 6, as well as a great power delivery setup for a reliable overclock-friendly PC build. Other ports include DisplayPort, HDMI, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 (three USB-A and one USB-C), two USB 3.2 Gen 1, and four USB 2.0.
MSI MEG Z490 Unify
Runner-up
Like our top ASUS pick, this MSI motherboard comes rocking the same Z490 chipset, making it a perfect match for 10th Gen Intel CPUs. This motherboard has plenty going for it, including a solid price, reliable 16 phase power delivery, plenty of VRM cooling, expansion, and more. On the rear, you'll find PS/2 ports, 2.5G LAN, 2 USB 2.0 ports, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and a single USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 port.
MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Plus
Value Pick
This Z490 still rocks a killer chipset for Intel processors but comes at a more affordable price. You get excellent power delivery, cooled VRMs with some beefy heatsinks, as well as plenty of ports: PS/2, one USD 3.2 Gen 2 port, 2.5Gb LAN, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, Optical S/PDIF, and finally two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports.
ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero Z490
For Enthusiasts
This is an insane motherboard with plenty of high-end, premium features. You've got amazing overclocking support with stable power delivery and enough cooling for all the crucial components. There's also 5Gb LAN (as well as a 1Gb port), HDMI, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, Optical S/PDIF, and even Wi-Fi.
ASUS ROG Strix Z490-I Gaming
Compact Builds
If you want to build a compact PC, you'll need an ITX motherboard. This small little package has a lot going for it, including the same Z490 chipset in the larger motherboards here. Not only is it small, but you get a full PCIe slot for a GPU, as well as 2.5Gb LAN, DisplayPort, HDMI, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (one being a Type-C), two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and a Wi-Fi 6 module.
Choosing the best motherboard for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 3070
If you want to build an entirely new system right now and must have PCIe 5.0, you've got both Intel and AMD that offer such functionality on the latest processors and chipsets. To really make the most of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, you'll want at least a 12th Gen Intel or AMD Ryzen 3000 processor that offers PCIe 4.0.
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Senior Editor, PC Build
Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.
