Whether your work involves a lot of heavy graphics-related work or you are an enthusiast trying to build a high-end gaming computer, having a motherboard that supports a multi-GPU setup will do wonders for you. Not just one, you can run two or more graphics cards simultaneously for your graphics-related work or live-streaming heavy games.
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If you don’t know how it works, here is a quick answer:
NVIDIA uses a Scalable Link Technology or SLI that can link more than one NVIDIA GPU together, giving you more processing power at once. The more graphics cards you add, the more power you can use.
While SLI technology is available on a plethora of motherboards — from budget to expensive, the only thing that varies is the number. There are 2-way SLI, 3-way SLI, and 4-way SLI motherboards available, and depending on the power and performance you need, you can pick any one of them.
To help you pick the right one, I have made a list of the 5 best motherboards for SLI in 2022.
Best SLI Motherboards in 2022
While SLI motherboards are available in different form factors like ATX, micro-ATX, etc; your best bet is to consider ATX or bigger motherboards as they offer better connectivity and expansion options for multiple graphics cards.
| Best SLI Motherboard in 2022 | Form Factor | Chipset | Memory Support | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIGABYTE TRX40 AORUS Xtreme Wi-Fi | XL-ATX | TRX40 | DDR4-4400+ | |
| EVGA X99 FTW K | E-ATX | X99 | DDR4-3200+ | |
| MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge Wi-Fi | mATX | Z490 | DDR4-2400+ | |
| ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Extreme | E-ATX | X570 | DDR4-5100+ | |
| ASRock X299 Steel Legend | ATX | X299 | DDR4-2400+ |
| Best SLI Motherboard in 2022 | Form Factor | Chipset | Memory Support | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIGABYTE TRX40 AORUS Xtreme Wi-Fi | XL-ATX | TRX40 | DDR4-4400+ | |
| EVGA X99 FTW K | E-ATX | X99 | DDR4-3200+ | |
| MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge Wi-Fi | mATX | Z490 | DDR4-2400+ | |
| ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Extreme | E-ATX | X570 | DDR4-5100+ | |
| ASRock X299 Steel Legend | ATX | X299 | DDR4-2400+ |
Another point to keep in mind while buying an SLI motherboard is to check the CPU socket. Multiple graphics cards would be of no use without the support of a powerful CPU. So in order to make sure your computer is performing perfectly, you should invest in a high-end CPU.
In this post, I have categorized each of these motherboards into — Top Pick, Runner-up, Micro-ATX, Value for Money, and Budget.
Having said that, here are the 5 best motherboards for SLI in 2022 and everything about each one in-depth!
Top Pick: GIGABYTE TRX40 AORUS Xtreme Wi-Fi
If your work involves a lot of graphics-related work, then a 4-way SLI motherboard might be your best option. In that case, I have picked GIGABYTE TRX40 AORUS Xtreme as my top pick. It is one of the best sTRX4-based motherboards for a high-end workstation. Though keep in mind you will require an AMD Threadripper processor to run this motherboard.
The GIGABYTE TRX40 AORUS Xtreme is an XL-ATX motherboard that supports 3rd generation AMD Threadripper processors. It comes with eight DIMM slots that can hold up to 256GB of memory. Not to mention, you can easily overclock your memory speed up to 4400MHz. It doesn’t have any display connectivity options as Threadripper processors don’t have any integrated graphics card.
The board is also loaded with built-in Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.0, four M.2 slots, ten SATA III ports, four PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, eight USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and six USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports.
Overall, the GIGABYTE TRX40 AORUS Xtreme is a complete package with extreme features and 4-way SLI support for extreme work. If you are building a professional workstation, then you will love to make this motherboard part of your build.
Pros
- Excellent performance
- High-memory support
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support
- 4-way SLI technology
- Four M.2 slots for storage
Cons
- Quite expensive
Runner-up: EVGA X99 FTW K
While the above-mentioned GIGABYTE TRX40 AORUS Xtreme is best for AMD users, in case you are an Intel fan, I would recommend the EVGA X99 FTW K. Just like the top pick, it also supports 2-way, 3-way, and 4-way SLI technology. It is loaded with impressive overclocking features and a Killer Gigabit LAN. So if Intel processors are your preference, go for this motherboard.
The EVGA X99 FTW K is an E-ATX motherboard that supports high-end Intel processors based on the LGA 2011-v3 CPU socket. It comes with eight DIMM slots that can hold up to 128GB of memory and can be overclocked up to 3200+MHz. Like the GIGABYTE TRX40 AORUS Xtreme, it too doesn’t support HDMI and DisplayPort.
Apart from these features, the board also comes with multiple M.2 slots, ten SATA III ports, five PCIe x16 slots, six USB 2.0 ports, six USB 3.0 ports, one USB 3.1 port, and supports up to 4-way SLI.
That said, the EVGA X99 FTW K is one of the best choices for Intel users.
Pros
- Excellent performance
- Great overclocking features
- High-speed memory
- 4-way SLI technology
- M.2 slots for storage
Cons
- No built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support
Micro-ITX: MSI MPG Z490M Gaming Edge Wi-Fi
No doubt ATX or bigger motherboards are much more capable of delivering excellent performance and expansion options. But what if your PC case can’t support an ATX or E-ATX motherboard? Obviously, you have to settle with smaller boards like the micro-ATX one. Considering that, I have picked MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge as the best micro-AT motherboard on this list.
The MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge is a micro-ATX motherboard that supports 10th generation, 11th generation, Pentium Gold, and Celeron processors based on LGA 1200 sockets. It comes with four DIMM slots that can hold up to 128GB of memory and can be overclocked up to 5000+MHz. For display connectivity, it has an HDMI port and a DisplayPort, with both supporting 4K resolution at 30Hz and 60Hz, respectively.
This board has support for 2-way SLI technology, has dual 5.2 slots, four SATA III ports, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.1, two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, two PCIe 3.0 x1 slots, three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports.
Overall, the MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Edge is a solid gaming motherboard with 2-way SLI support and excellent performance. If you can’t accommodate bigger-sized motherboards, then this micro-ATX motherboard can be your best bet.
Pros
- Excellent performance
- High-speed memory
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support
- 2-way SLI technology
Cons
- Only two M.2 slots for storage
- No built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support
Value for Money: ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Extreme
Those looking for a motherboard with the best return-on-investment, on they can easily bank on the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Extreme for its excellent performance delivery and impressive features. It is by far the best X570 motherboard I can remember.
The ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Extreme is an E-ATX motherboard that supports AMD Ryzen 5000, 5000 G-Series, 4000 G-Series, 3000, 3000 G-Series, 2000, and 2000 G-Series processors. It comes with four DIMM slots that can hold up to 128GB of memory and can be overclocked up to 5000MHz. For display connectivity, it has Thunderbolt and DisplayPort 1.4.
Other notable features include 2-way SLI technology, five M.2 slots, six SATA III ports, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth v5.2, two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, three PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, ten USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, six USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports.
Summing up, the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Extreme is a top-notch X570 motherboard with the best features it can offer at its price. If you are looking for a flagship X570 motherboard, then this one is for you.
Pros
- Excellent performance
- High-speed memory
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support
- 2-way SLI technology
- Five M.2 slots for storage
Cons
- Little space to lift the top PCIe slot
Budget: ASRock X299 Steel Legend
If your budget doesn’t exceed $500, then the ASRock X299 Steel Legend might be your best option. With great overclocking capabilities, high-end CPU support, and up to 256GB of memory support, you can conclude that for a price tag below $500, it is one of the best and cheapest motherboards out there. Though it lags in other aspects like fewer storage options, and no Wi-Fi support, its 3-way SLI technology covers it all.
The ASRock X299 Steel Legend is an ATX motherboard that supports Intel X-series processors based on the LGA 2066 sockets. It comes with eight DIMM slots that can hold up to 256GB of memory and can be overclocked up to 4200+MHz. Like the top two motherboards, it too doesn’t support HDMI and DisplayPort for display. Other notable features include 3-way SLI technology, dual M.2 slots, eight SATA III ports, four PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, one PCIe 3.0 x1 slot, and four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports.
That said, if you are a budget PC builder with a budget of less than $500 for an SLI motherboard, then the ASRock X299 Steel Legend can be your best bet.
Pros
- Great performance
- High-memory support
- 3-way SLI technology
- Cheap price
Cons
- No built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support
- Only two M.2 slots for storage
The Takeaway
While SLI technology is a handy way to draw more power out of multiple GPU support, it is important to invest in a motherboard that supports high-end CPUs too. Pairing multiple GPUs with weaker processors can’t do much for you.
So, if you are building a professional workstation or doing some heavy graphics-related work, then you can easily rely on the above-mentioned motherboards. They are some of the best SLI motherboards out there in 2022.
It goes without saying that our top pick – GIGABYTE TRX40 AORUS Xtreme Wi-Fi is what we recommend if your budget allows it. Other than that, any of the other motherboards from this list that tick off all the boxes for you are highly recommended.
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