To save you some time searching around motherboard specification pages, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite motherboards that support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You’ll see I went with just the latest Intel and AMD offerings across both wallet-friendly and high-end budgets. So whether you’re an avid overclocking enthusiast or this is your first build, there should be something here for you.
Best Motherboards With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in a nutshell
How to Choose a Motherboard With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
As you already know, not all motherboards offer WiFi and Bluetooth. Although the feature isn’t the most important in a motherboard but you need it for some reasons we’ll explain later. So if you’re truly set on buying a WiFi/Bluetooth motherboard; here are a few things you must consider.
What Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Specifications is the Best?
Right now, the Wi-Fi 6 standard is the best we’ve got. It provides the biggest bandwidth capacity, fastest speeds, and most stable connection. So when shopping around for a motherboard, you’ll want to find one with either Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E. Wi-Fi 5 isn’t too shabby either, but I wouldn’t recommend going lower than that. When it comes to Bluetooth, the latest version is 5.2 and many people feel it’s a massive improvement over 5.0 and even 5.1. One of its best features is its ability to perform parallel transactions, which lets you connect multiple Bluetooth devices simultaneously with little latency. It’s also faster and more secure. When looking for a Bluetooth motherboard, I wouldn’t recommend anything below version 5.1.
Will Your CPU Play Along?
Your processor will be the biggest factor in determining which motherboard you can buy. CPUs use different socket types and different motherboards support different sockets. A motherboard only supports one socket type, but different chipsets can support the same socket which is why a CPU can fit multiple generations of motherboards.
Which Platform Takes the Cake?
If you’re planning on buying a new CPU with your motherboard, then the platform is your next biggest consideration. The socket issue is one thing to consider, as Intel only tends to support one or two generations per socket type before moving on to the next one. That leaves little room for upgrading before you need to replace the motherboard. AMD, on the other hand, committed to supporting AM4 from 2016 to 2020 and is moving on to AM5 (likely in 2022).
Is Your Wallet Up to the Task?
PC parts are expensive no matter which way you look at it, but you don’t have to splurge on an expensive motherboard if your needs don’t require one. Keep in mind that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-capable motherboards are generally more expensive than their counterparts. When shopping for a new motherboard, make sure you’ve selected the right model and not the version without Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Are There Upgrades in Your Future?
One of the best things about desktop computers is their customizability. You can’t just replace the SSD on your PlayStation but you can replace any part of your computer down to the cables. So it’s a good idea to consider what your future upgrades (because of course there will be upgrades) will look like. Naturally, you don’t have to decide exactly what other components you’re going to get in a couple of months/years, but it is good to leave space for expansion. That means getting a board that will support new technology like DDR4 (and the upcoming DDR5) RAM, PCIe 4.0 slots, and possibly one more generation of CPU.
Asus TUF Gaming Z690-Plus WiFi D4 – Best Affordable High-End Intel Option
The new generation of Intel motherboards introduces a bunch of new features and the TUF Gaming Z690-Plus is a fantastic way to get acquainted with them.
Chipset: Intel Z690 Number of Memory Slots: 4 x DIMM, DDR4 Maximum Memory Supported: 128GB Channel Supported: Dual Channel Socket: LGA1700 Wi-Fi: Intel Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth: Bluetooth V5.2 Form Factor: ATX
The only missing new feature here is DDR5 RAM slots, as this board still supports DDR4. While that will undoubtedly disappoint some people, especially overclockers, it shouldn’t be an issue for most. Upgrading to DDR5 offers a questionable bump in performance at this time anyway. Support for 4 DDR4 memory slots with speeds of up to 5133 MHz, The motherboard has 2.5 Gb Ethernet and premium TUF LANGuard along with the latest Intel WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 integration. It sports plenty of USB 3 slots as well as a Thunderbolt 4 header on the motherboard, sadly not on the rear I/O. This board is a great option for overclockers with its 14+1 DrMOS Power Stage 80A design. It should be able to power high CPU clocks on the new Intel CPUs without breaking a sweat.
Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming ATX AM4 – Best Mid-Range AMD Motherboard
Despite calling this board mid-range, I’ll readily admit that it can rub shoulders comfortably with some of the high-end AMD motherboards. What mainly sets it apart is its price tag and a lack of some (somewhat minor) features. This is a great option if you want high-end features without entering serious overclocking or enthusiast territory.
Chipset: AMD X570 Number of Memory Slots: 4 x DIMM, DDR4 Maximum Memory Supported: 128GB Channel Supported: Dual Channel Socket: AM4 Wi-Fi: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0 Form Factor: ATX
So let’s get the “bad” over with first. First off there’s just 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 front-panel connector port. This motherboard also doesn’t support integrated graphics CPUs and doesn’t have a video output port for it. This is nit-picky and truthfully motherboards are generally so well-built these days that it’s hard to find anything to complain about. What a problem to have. All I’ll say about it, though, is these might bother you given you’d want the best with this hefty price tag. Given its price range, though, you can expect excellent performance, especially when paired with an AMD Ryzen 5000 series CPU. It doesn’t support Ryzen 1000 series CPUs, and I wouldn’t put anything below a 3000 with this anyway or you waste most of its potential. It supports Intel’s Wi-Fi 6E AX200 and is Bluetooth 5.2 ready, but sadly this will only become available with “Windows 11 or later” according to the manufacturer. It comes with a WiFi and Bluetooth antenna. You also get LAN speeds of up to 2.5Gbps, two PCIe 4.0 x4-capable M.2 slots, as well as 8 rear USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports.
MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4 – Best Value for Money
This board gives you the best platform from which to upgrade to Intel’s 12th generation CPUs (features the new LGA1700 socket) and the latest RAM and SSDs without spending a ridiculous amount of money.
Chipset: Intel Z690 Number of Memory Slots: 4 x DIMM, DDR4 Maximum Memory Supported: 128GB Channel Supported: Dual Channel Socket: LGA1700 Wi-Fi: Intel Wi-Fi 6 module Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.2 Form Factor: ATX
Along with being one of the more affordable motherboards recently released by Intel, it also supports DDR4 memory slots (4 in total, speeds up to 5200 MHz) which means you don’t have to spend money upgrading to DDR5 either. You can bet DDR5 will probably be prohibitively expensive, much like DDR4 was when it first came out. The 2.5G LAN and Intel Wi-Fi 6 module offer a professional-level stable connection and comes with Bluetooth 5.2 support. A PCIe 5.0 slot gives you access to future GPU upgrades. While the board doesn’t provide a whole lot of space for future expansion, it does have enough to suit most people and it’s all packaged in a neat little board that won’t complicate your build. Plus, at this price level, those powerful features are hard to beat.
MSI MAG X570 Tomahawk WiFi ATX AM4 – Best All-Rounder AMD Option
If you’ve been researching motherboards, you’ve probably seen people recommend this board. It’s a solid piece of hardware at a very attractive price point and the X570 Tomahawk is well-beloved among both gamers and overclockers.
Chipset: AMD X570 Number of Memory Slots: 4 x DIMM, DDR4 Maximum Memory Supported: 128GB Channel Supported: Dual Channel Socket: AM4 Wi-Fi: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.1 Form Factor: ATX
For the overclockers, the X570 packs a lot of power. The robust VRM design on this board wouldn’t be out of place on a much more expensive model, and fixes a lot of the VRM issues that we saw with earlier X570 motherboards. With a dozen ISL99360 60A power stages! All of that paired with amazing thermal output, which I appreciate a lot living in a hot climate. The MSI X570 Tomahawk will fill all your networking needs with a pre-installed module in the M2_WIFI1 (Key-E) slot and support for Bluetooth 5.1. There’s a 2.5Gbps LAN Controller as well. It also comes with 4 DDR4 memory slots with speeds up to 4600 MHz, 1x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, and plenty of USB 3 and USB 2 connectors along with 1 Type-C connector.
MSI MPG B550 Gaming Edge WiFi ATX AM4 – Best Budget Motherboard
This is another popular board, and not just for its attractive price tag. The B550 chipset along with the layout of this board gives you a good upgrade path and it has support for both the AMD Ryzen 5000 & 3000 Series CPUs. This is also another board where MSI redeemed itself with regards to the VRM and the board’s heat distribution. It’s also the first 6 layer PCB motherboard in the MSI Gaming Edge series.
Chipset: AMD B550 Number of Memory Slots: 4 x DIMM, DDR4 Maximum Memory Supported: 128GB Channel Supported: Dual Channel Socket: AM4 Wi-Fi: Intel Wi-Fi 6 module Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.2 Form Factor: ATX
The chipset gets you PCIe 4.0 support, which is great at this price tag and it gets really impressive on the RAM side, with 4x DDR4 slots that support speeds of up to 5100MHz, which is insane at this price level. Beware that you’re only getting that speed with one high-end RAM stick plugged in, though. The more you add, the less MHz you’re going to get on this board sadly. For networking, you’ve got the excellent Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 or AX210 which comes pre-installed in the M.2 (Key-E) slot, and a Realtek 2.5Gbps LAN controller. It also supports Bluetooth 5.2. Along with that, you’ve got plenty of USB 3 and USB 2connectors and 2x M.2 slots (with the M.2 Frozr shields). One of this board’s selling points is its RGB setup and Mystic Light software. As someone who isn’t all that much into RGB, though, the LEDs on this motherboard seemed extremely bright. That seems to be a common issue with MSI boards these days, but luckily it can be fixed by just turning them off.
Is Ethernet Faster Than Wi-fi?
Ethernet is generally faster and more stable than a Wi-Fi connection. Exact cases may differ depending on your hardware. For example, the latest Wi-Fi standard (Wi-Fi 6) is theoretically considered faster than Ethernet speed limits but interference and hardware issues could slow your connection down. Wi-Fi can also introduce latency of a few milliseconds, which an Ethernet connection doesn’t typically do.
How Do I Know if My Motherboard Has Wi-fi and Bluetooth?
The fastest way to check if your motherboard supports Wi-Fi is to search your rear I/O plate for Wi-Fi antennae. Some Wi-Fi-capable desktop motherboards don’t come with antennae. In that case, you can also check the motherboard’s specifications on the manufacturer’s website.
How Can I Get Wi-fi on My Motherboard Without Wi-fi?
The easiest and cheapest way to add Wi-Fi to your motherboard is with a USB Wi-Fi adapter. You could also connect either your smartphone or laptop to your desktop PC and use one of them as a network adapter by sharing your connection.
How Do I Know if My Motherboard Supports Wi-fi 6
There should be a Wi-Fi 6 logo somewhere on the box your motherboard came in. If you didn’t see anything on the box, you can also go through the motherboard page on the manufacturer’s website. Look for it in the “details” or “specifications” tab. Some websites will require that you download the PDF manual to find the information you’re looking for.
Do All Motherboards Have Bluetooth?
Most motherboards don’t come with Bluetooth. Motherboards that support Wi-Fi typically have Bluetooth as well, but not always. If your motherboard doesn’t come with Bluetooth functionality, you can always add it on the cheap with a Bluetooth USB dongle. So getting Bluetooth isn’t necessarily a good reason to buy a new motherboard.
How Do You Turn on Bluetooth on Your Motherboard?
If your Bluetooth isn’t enabled, you’ll have to go to your BIOS settings by restarting the computer. After turning Bluetooth on in BIOS, you can check if it worked by opening the Device Manager app and finding Bluetooth in the list. You can also update your Bluetooth drivers here, if necessary. If you have Windows 10, you can easily turn Bluetooth on in the Action Center (the notifications side-panel) on your desktop taskbar. You can also turn Bluetooth on and pair devices in the Settings app under the Devices tab.
Why Do You Need a Wi-fi and Bluetooth Motherboard?
Getting a motherboard that natively supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth isn’t strictly necessary. Most people prefer to connect their desktop computers to the internet via an Ethernet cable anyway. However, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can be useful depending on your situation. For example, many external peripherals like mice and keyboards, and gaming controllers can be connected to a PC via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
