The motherboard is one of the most essential parts of a computer, especially when it comes to music production.
Today, we will be discussing:
- The 7 best motherboards you can buy for use when producing music
- Each product’s pros and cons, as well as a buying guide.
If you’re looking for a quick answer: The best motherboard for music production is the ASUS ProArt Z490-CREATOR Content Creation Motherboard. This motherboard ranks so highly because it comes with an Intel LGA 1200 socket and has high-speed connectivity!
Our two other motherboard picks are the Gigabyte Gv-N165SWF2OC-4GD and the Gigabyte Gv-N165SWF2OC-4GD Gigabyte B550M AORUS PRO-P.
But before we give too much away, let’s get into the rest of the article!
The Importance of a Quality Motherboard in Music Production
The motherboard of a PC plays the most crucial role in any PC’s functioning when it comes to music production, as it is the base upon which everything else is built.
A good motherboard will maximize stability, processing power, and connectivity by allowing all the other important components of your computer to function as they should (for example, the CPU and RAM).
While the majority of professional music producers will use external audio interfaces, a motherboard with a high-quality built-in audio interface can still provide enough quality for casual use and monitoring.
In short, while there are multiple important components to a music production setup, the motherboard is arguably the most critical.
So now that you are aware of the role they play in the process, let’s get into reviewing some of 2023’s best motherboard picks!
The Top 7 Best Motherboards For Music Production In Our Test
- ASUS ProArt Z490-CREATOR Content Creation Motherboard
- Gigabyte GV-N165SWF2OC-4GD
- Gigabyte B550M AORUS PRO-P
- Gigabyte Z390 DESIGNARE
- ASUS Prime Z390-A Motherboard
- ASUS AM4 TUF
- Gigabyte GA-A320M-S2H
1. ASUS ProArt Z490-CREATOR Content Creation Motherboard
The best motherboard for music production is this ASUS motherboard. In order to produce music, you need to make sure that your motherboard caters to music production and not just gamers. However, this motherboard was designed for music producers, audio producers, and content creators of various genres.
Let’s look at the specifications.
Product Technical Specifications:
- This motherboard has an LGA 1200 CPU socket.
- It is designed to maximize the performance of 10th Generation Intel Core processors.
- It has fast connectivity with two Thunderbolt 3 Type-C ports.
- It has a dual M.2, HYPER 10G LAN card, and an onboard 2.5G Intel LAN.
- It also has 12+2 DrMOS power stages.
- It has multi-GPU support and ASUS OptiMem II.
- In terms of the ProArt Creator Hub, there is software for monitoring and managing the ASUS ProArt series products.
Advantages:
- It is ideal for audio production.
- Most professional audio producers use this motherboard.
- It helps in providing better audio quality.
- It has a good quality Thunderbolt port.
Disadvantages:
- The price of this motherboard isn’t as cheap as some others available out there.
What Customers Say about ASUS ProArt Z490-CREATOR Content Creation Motherboard
The motherboard harnesses powerful 10th Gen Intel core processors for unrivaled speed, which facilitates unstoppable creativity.
Featuring easy installation and setup and a design that sets the stage for you to unleash your creativity, it’s not surprising that many customers rate this motherboard highly.
It also packs all the ports any creative will need while also being a flexible workhorse overall that can take pretty much anything you throw at it.
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2. Gigabyte GV-N165SWF2OC-4GD
The next item on our list is the Gigabyte GV-N165SWF2OC-4GD. This motherboard has all the components necessary for audio production! If you are a music producer, this motherboard help gives you that perfect sound quality that you’ve been looking for.
Let’s look at the specifications.
Product Technical Specifications:
- This mother has a Windforce 2X cooling system which features two 90mm unique blade fans.
- It has a dedicated graphics card.
- It has intuitive controls with an AORUS engine.
- It has one HDMI and one DisplayPort.
Advantages:
- It runs well with more than one monitor and works exceptionally well on a desktop PC.
- It is cost-effective.
- In addition to producing music, it works well if you’re a gamer.
Disadvantages:
- Thankfully, we have nothing wrong to say about this motherboard!
What Customers Say about Gigabyte GV-N165SWF2OC-4GD
This unique motherboard comes with a cooling system, sophisticated graphics card, and convenient connectivity options. It performed particularly well in our music production test.
People who don’t really need cutting-edge technology for their creative work will feel right at home with this motherboard.
With active cooling, low power consumption, and being perfectly capable of withstanding high-stress workloads, you’ll soon understand why this motherboard is such a popular and highly-rated choice.
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3. Gigabyte B550M AORUS PRO-P
Next up on our list is the Gigabyte B550M! This AM4 motherboard has been updated to work on high-performance processors like the AMD Ryzen 5000 Series Processors. If you’re wondering about how much RAM this motherboard has or whether it supports Radeon Vega Graphics, we’ll answer those questions right now. Additionally, if you’ve been looking to invest in the X series AMD motherboard, then now is the time!
Here’s a list of the technical specifications of these motherboards.
Product Technical Specifications:
- This motherboard supports AMD 3rd Gen Ryzen and 3rd Gen Ryzen with Radeon Graphics Processors.
- It has dual Channel ECC/ Non-ECC unbuffered DDR4 and 4 DIMMs.
- It has 10+2 Phases Digital Twin Power Design with 50A DrMOS.
- It comes with an advanced thermal design with enlarged VRM heatsinks.
- It has a PCIe 4.0 Ready x16 Slot.
- It has two NVMe PCIe 4.0/3.0 x4 M.2 that come with one thermal guard.
- It also has an AMP-UP audio with ALC1200.
Advantages:
- It is ideal for DAW software.
- It has a good quality power supply.
- It contains all the premium components users searching for in a motherboard.
- It is compatible with all AMD processors.
Disadvantages:
- It has only four SATA ports.
What Customers Say about Gigabyte B550M AORUS PRO-P
Gigabyte claims this motherboard is ‘blazing fast’, and upon using it for a while I found no reason to declare it anything less!
Aside from its sleek design, Amazon reviews have also praised the motherboard’s great thermals and heat dissipation, plethora of input ports, and pre-packaged hardware that’s included so you can start as soon as you get it running.
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4. Gigabyte Z390 DESIGNARE
If you’re wondering why we’ve included so many Gigabyte products, it’s only because we can’t get enough of the motherboard features that these products contain! A Gigabyte motherboard is compatible with any operating system, but especially the Intel Core series processors.
Let’s look at the specifics of this motherboard.
Product Technical Specifications:
- This motherboard is compatible with 9th and 8th Generation Intel Core i9 processors, Intel Core i7 processors, Intel Core i5 processors, Intel Core i3 processors, Intel Pentium processors, and Intel Celeron processors.
- It has a memory speed of 4400MHz.
- It has Dual Channel Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4 and 4 DIMMs.
- It has 13 phases of digital VRM solution with DrMOS.
- It has Intel Thunderbolt 3.
- It has dual Intel Gigabit LAN with cFosSpeed.
Advantages:
- The Thunderbolt 3 option works well on macOS.
- It has DisplayPort 1.4 integrated graphics cards.
Disadvantages:
- Thankfully, we don’t have anything negative to say about this motherboard!
What Customers Say about Gigabyte Z390 DESIGNARE
This motherboard has a sophisticated cooling system, incorporating a direct touch heat pipe into a main design feature – very cool, if you ask me.
Gigabyte isn’t here to disappoint, and if you need any proof of that, just take a look at this motherboard’s reviews online.
Aside from the motherboard’s stellar connectivity performance, abundance of I/O ports, and easy installation, customers also rave about the classy lights that give this product plenty of personality.
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5. ASUS Prime Z390-A Motherboard
Next up is an ASUS Prime motherboard. With 5-way optimization and ultrafast connectivity, this motherboard does a beautiful job with audio production. It works well with the Intel core processors.
Let’s look at the specifics.
Product Technical Specifications:
- It was designed for 9th and 8th generation Intel Core processors with M.2, USB 3.1 Gen2, and ASUS Optimum II.
- It has 5-Way Optimization.
- It comes with 5 times the amount of protection, thanks to three hardware-level safeguards with a safe slot core, a LAN guard, and voltage protection.
- It comes with a FanXpert 4 that keeps the system cool.
- It has HD Gaming Audio.
Advantages:
- This ASUS Prime motherboard is ideal for audio production.
Disadvantages:
- It might be difficult to install at first.
What Customers Say about ASUS Prime Z390-A Motherboard
Asus’ Prime Z390-A motherboard is a force to be reckoned with. Although it might be slightly difficult to install initially, once you get beyond that hurdle it works like a dream.
A particularly strong point of this motherboard is its advanced AI CPU overclocking that prevents overheating.
Many customers were blown away by how much power this motherboard packs thanks to its overclocking features and a reliable chipset.
Aside from its ability to effortlessly handle heavy creative tasks, reviews also loved the low-temperature operation and power-saving settings.
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6. ASUS AM4 TUF
We’re almost at the end of our list of recommendations. A list of the best motherboards for producing music wouldn’t be complete without an ASUS AM4 TUF. This motherboard is ideal for when you need a good processor, motherboard, and processor to work with all the sample libraries you’ve got saved.
Let’s look at the specifics of this product.
Product Technical Specifications:
- The ASUS AM4 TUF Socket is compatible with 2nd and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen processors.
- It has two M.2 Drives, a USB 3.2 Gen2, and AMD Store MI.
- It has an active PCH heatsink, VRM heatsink, M.2 heatsink, hybrid fan headers, and Fan Xpert.
- Its connectivity has a dual PCIe 4.0m .2 and USB 3.2 Generation 2 Type-A and Type-C.
- It has Realtek L8200A Gigabit Ethernet.
- It’s important to note that you must make sure you are using the current version of BIOS if you’re installing a motherboard from the Ryzen 5000 series CPU. For more information, visit the ASUS site and search for the motherboard’s model name. Next, go to the “Support” tab. Go to Drivers and Tools after that, then find “BIOS & Firmware” and then download the latest BIOS.
Advantages:
- It is easy to install.
Disadvantages:
- You have to ensure that the BIOS is up to date. If not, you will face problems when using this motherboard.
What Customers Say about ASUS AM4 TUF
Being optimized for the equally demanding task of PC gaming, the ASUS AM4 TUF handles music production like it’s Tetris. It also boasts all the latest connectivity offerings – essential if you’re working with physical plugins.
Getting high ratings on Amazon is one thing, but thousands of them? This motherboard is a strong contender for the best.
Among the positive reviews include praise for its cost-effectiveness, reliable connectivity, multiple SATA ports for massive files, and flexible customizability.
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7. Gigabyte GA-A320M-S2H
We’ve reached the last item on our list, which is the Gigabyte GA-A320M-S2H. With an AM4 socket and DDR4 of RAM, this motherboard works well on workstation PCs. It also helps you work with more cores if necessary and is compatible with Windows 8.1, Windows Pro, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
Let’s look at the specifications.
Product Technical Specifications:
- It supports AMD Ryzen and 7th generation A-series or Athlon processors.
- It has dual-channel non-ECC unbuffered DDR4 and 2 DIMMs.
- It has a PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2.
- It has high-quality audio capacitors and an audio noise guard.
- There is a Realtek Gigabit LAN with cFosSpeed internet accelerator software.
Advantages:
- It is easy to install and put together.
- The AM4 socket ensures that you have multiple upgrade options in the future.
Disadvantages:
- It has only two memory slots.
- If you want to overclock this motherboard, you cannot.
What Customers Say about Gigabyte GA-A320M-S2H
This is a motherboard equipped with very high-quality audio capabilities, which is an added bonus for producers of all skill levels.
Among the thousands of high ratings, customers commonly loved this Gigabyte motherboard for its updated drivers, relative cost-effectiveness, support for lightning-fast NVMe storage drives, and upgradability.
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Buying Guide: How to choose the right motherboard that fits your music production needs?
When building a computer for music production, there are various factors that you need to take into consideration. It can be an extremely stressful process, but to make sure that you’ve put together the best computer possible, you must keep these factors in mind. In this case, the component you need to dedicate time to is the motherboard.
1. Form Factor
The first thing you need to consider when buying a motherboard is the form factor. The most common type of motherboard is the ATX motherboard. When buying a motherboard, you might be unsure about what the correct size will be, which is why you want to take the ATX form factor into consideration. An ATX motherboard is one of the most popular types because it has many expansion slots, as well as a Micro ATX motherboard. Additionally, the Z-series Intel motherboards are worth investing in if you want to build your own PC from scratch.
2. RAM
Before you ask yourself how much RAM you’ll need for music production, remember that whichever motherboard you purchase determines the amount of RAM and what type of RAM you can have. Remember that you need at least 8 or 16 GB of RAM, mainly since you’ll be producing music. You can also purchase a motherboard with either four or more slows for memory. If you do this, you can install two RAM modules first, leaving you with additional room for more memory later on.
3. Socket types/Connectivity
Another important thing to consider when choosing a motherboard for use in music production is its connectivity.
Important things to take into consideration are RAM and PCI/PCI-e expansion ports for additional performance and functionality, as well as ample USB ports.
Music producers also often make use of hard drives and CD/DVD drives.
Ensuring your motherboard has all of these connection options is a shrewd move when shopping for your music production needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a good motherboard for music production?
Yes, you do. When you’re looking for a motherboard, and you’re looking at motherboard features, don’t stress too much about which one you’re going to get. Instead, we’d recommend looking at motherboards for gaming because they can hold up to the power that gaming requires.
Do you need a powerful PC for music production?
While a powerful PC makes a big difference, it can be expensive if you’re a music producer on a budget. Instead, we’d recommend that you buy a PC with enough RAM that is powerful enough to run several tasks simultaneously.
Can I use a gaming motherboard for music production?
Gaming motherboards are great for music production, as for the most part they are designed to be expanded.
What is the ideal RAM support I should look for in a music production motherboard?
You should be able to run synths, samples, and loops on at least 4 GB of RAM (the more complex your compositions become, however, the more RAM you will need). For the sake of future-proofing your device, investing in 32GB of RAM is a relatively inexpensive move.
Are there specific brands known for producing the best motherboards for audio work?
In our experience, the motherboards with the best music production capacity are gaming motherboards. While there may be limited music production-specific options, you will be able to find a great motherboard for your needs at a reasonable price.
Conclusion
In this article, we took you through a list of seven of the best motherboards for music production. After much deliberation, we’ve concluded that our top pick is the ASUS ProArt Z490-CREATOR Content Creation Motherboard. If you’re not satisfied with this ASUS motherboard, we’d recommend either the ASUS AM4 TUF or the Gigabyte GA-A320M-S2H. All of these motherboards will help you kick start a music production career or make an ongoing career even more successful!
A music production PC is powerful only because of all the different electronic components that put it together. Once you’ve found the best motherboard for music production, don’t forget to have a look at our lists of the best mouse for music production and the best processor for music production as well!
John Chiong is a creative writer with seven years of experience writing engaging and informative content for various industries. More so, he has a deep love for music that fuels his passion and creativity. John enjoys all types of music and has a favorite song from every genre. His love for music has greatly influenced his writing.