What Is the Best Motherboard for MacBook Pro Users?

There are numerous reasons you would want to change your motherboard. No matter why you need to swap out this device, it’s good to pick the right one. The varying specifications and pricing make the purchasing decision quite confusing.

In this post, you’ll look into what is the right time to upgrade or change your motherboard for MacBook Pro. To help you with confident decision-making, we enlist one of the high-rated motherboards hosting a range of advanced features.    

Reasons for Motherboard Damage

Not sure when to replace your motherboard? Look for your system performance. If it is running slowly, it’s high time to change the motherboard. An electrical spike or surge due to power-hungry apps and other reasons could lead to its failure.

Performing multiple high-end operations at once when a power supply is running at the maximum output can cause overheating. When a computer is running scarce of system resources, and you keep using the device, the temperature inside the CPU rises.   

To prevent this issue, checking the Mac temperature regularly is recommended. If you want to learn how to check Mac temperature, there are a number of apps that you can use for accurate monitoring. Other reasons for motherboard damage include dust and normal aging.

Best Motherboards for MacBook Pro

Whether upgrading an older MacBook or building a new one, considering a new motherboard is significantly important. Alongside graphic cards, SSDs, and CPUs, the motherboard also plays a vital role as it is the backbone of your system.

The selection of the motherboard influences several other aspects, such as the number of ports, PC case size, and others. So, purchase a motherboard fully compatible with your MacBook Pro and equipped with new exciting features.

1. MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi

This is a great Z690 motherboard with 8 x USB 2.0 ports and 9 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (Type-A and Type-C). It hosts a range of reliable features and is recognized for stellar performance. It is equipped with an Intel Z690 chipset and LGA1200 socket.

The MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi opens up two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots for GPUs as well as expansion cards. You will get 6 SATA 6Gb/s ports for 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives. It allows users to install up to 128 Gigabytes of DDR5 RAM.

2. ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E

This is another motherboard for those who have a massive case and need an ATX motherboard. ASUS ROG Strix Z490-E comes with a Z490 chipset. Users with sore eyes find it perfect for featuring RGB lighting.

It prevents overheating by keeping it cool with several heatsinks that keep the temperature on the down low. An LGA1200 socket provides amazing performance. Also, you will get great frame rates.

3. ASUS Pro WS WRX80E-SAGE SE WIFI

Featuring DDR4 RAM technology, Asus Pro WS WRX80E-SAGE SE WIFI is the right motherboard for MacBook Pro. It is equipped with a Socket AM4 and 10 GB of memory storage capacity.

Server-grade remote management – ASMB-iKVM provides intelligence for IPMI architecture for out-of-band management. It eventually improves hardware-level control for better IT efficiency. Other special features include complete cooling and ultrafast connectivity.

4. GIGABYTE B365M DS3H

When you need an affordable motherboard, you can trust the Gigabyte B365M DS3H. It fulfills all the requirements to effectively run your device. This budget-friendly motherboard connects with a decent processor – Intel Core i7-9700K for better performance.

Micro ATX design provides easier installation in any case you want. In this motherboard, you will get an Intel B365 chipset and LGA1151 socket. By purchasing this motherboard, you can enjoy long-term use and premium quality.

5. ASRock B660M Pro RS

This is another budget-friendly motherboard with an LGA1700 socket and B660 chipset. It is an mATX motherboard providing an incredible amount of value with several new features. These new chips are more affordable than premium motherboards.

The ASRock B660M Pro RS motherboard comes with 2 x USB 2.0 and 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 USB ports. It consists of a single PCIe 3.0 x1 slot and two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots towards the bottom. Most importantly, you can connect this motherboard to an Intel Core i3-12100 CPU.

6. ASUS ROG Maximus Hero Z490

Even though it is probably the most expensive motherboard, it is top-rated for exceptional performance and excellent durability. It is based on the Z490 chipset designed for 10th-generation Intel processors.

This motherboard features pre-installed passive cooling heat sinks and aura sync RGB lights. Coupled with 4x DIMM, this motherboard supports 28GB DDR4 RAM with 4800 MHz. Also, it offers awesome compatibility with the latest-gen USB connectivity.

Which Motherboards Support Overclocking?

Overclocking is the process that makes the CPU run faster than what its manufacturer intended to perform. That means you get access to much better performance without additional investment.

Intel’s Z-series boards support overclocking the memory and CPU. 12th generation models provide memory overclocking on the mid to low-end B660, H610, and H670. All AMD motherboards, excluding A520 chipsets, also support overclocking.

Guide to Buying the Right Motherboard

Purchasing a motherboard for a MacBook is not child’s play. There are so many factors to keep into account. Choose a motherboard with a Z490 chipset and LGA1200 socket for the 10th-generation processor. Also, buy one which is compatible with your computer case.

Motherboards come in numerous sizes, so test the model before buying to ensure it meets your needs. Select ATX boards, as they are perfect for standard size and provide space for slots and connections. Mini-ITX boards have limited space and fewer slots and ports. Consider one having the least good aesthetics.

MacBook Motherboard Replacement Cost

The replacement cost of the MacBook Pro motherboard will vary based on the quality of the part and your locality. The charges will be less when you reach a third-party authorized service center.

However, getting a replacement or repair solution from an authorized service center will cost you higher. The cost to replace the motherboard in a local repair shop near you is comparatively low.

Conclusion

Motherboards are capable of providing long-term use in any sort of specification. But, just like other electronic devices, it also eventually needs to be replaced for efficiency improvements and better performance.

Even though replacing the MacBook motherboard can be expensive, it can bring several benefits in multiple forms. Some of them include excellent hardware support, graphics support, and boosted speed.