For high-end gaming rigs, RTX 2080 Ti is one of the best GPUs at the moment to play games at 4K settings. And honestly, if we talk about the performance of this graphics card, there are no words to define it. It is one of the most powerful GPUs in the market, so you need to have the latest hardware to run it. Unfortunately, your old motherboard isn’t good enough to run this GPU anymore. So you have the get the best motherboard for RTX 2080 Ti if you want serious performance in gaming.
Not every gaming motherboard is compatible with RTX series GPUs. So you have to be careful in choosing your motherboard or you might face compatibility issues. To make things easier for you, we have tested and reviewed some of the reliable motherboards that are highly compatible with RTX 2080 Ti.
List of the Best Motherboards for NVidia RTX 2080 Ti
We’ve rounded up some of the top-rated RTX 2080 Ti compatible motherboards here on our list.
| Brand | Name | Why We Recommend It |
| MSI | MSI Z370 Gaming M5 | Reliability & Affordable Price |
| MSI | MSI B450 | Ram Capacity up to 128 GB |
| GIGABYTE | GIGABYTE Z390 DESIGNARE | Thunderbolt 3 |
| ASUS | ASUS ROG Maximus X Hero | Best for Overclocking |
| ASUS | Asus ROG Strix Z370-E | Best Value |
MSI Z370 Gaming M5 | The Best Budget Motherboard to Pair with RTX 2080 Ti
Key Specs
Form Factor: ATX
DIMM Slots: 4
Max Memory: 64 GB
Socket: LGA 1151
MSI Z370 M5 is an excellent choice for gamers who are looking for a sweet spot between price and performance. We really appreciate MSI for putting a lot of effort to build this gaming motherboard. The Z370 M5 gaming packs all the features that you need in a gaming PC. Just under the $200 price tag, you get four DDR-4 DIMM slots, RGB LED header, six PCIe 3.0 slots, 6 SATA slots, and dual M.2 slots.
At the back panel, you get two USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A and C for faster data transfer. And for better cooling, you get 6 fan headers, water cooling, and PWM mode. So if you install your RTX 2080 Ti on this motherboard, there won’t be any heat issues for sure as it comes with plenty of cooling options.
We really the BIOS interface that MSI has introduced in this motherboard. You can easily access it and do tweaks to optimize your performance. All in all, this is the most reliable and budget-friendly motherboard if you are don’t want to break your bank.
We really miss the onboard WiFi and U.2 controller on this board. If these features don’t bother you, we recommend going for this motherboard right away.
MSI B450 Tomahawk | Most Durable RTX 2080 Ti Compatible Motherboard
Key Specs
Form Factor: ATX
DIMM Slots: 4
Max Memory: 128 GB
Socket: AM4
We like the Tomahawk B450 for its sleek design and durable build quality. And in these times, there isn’t any better board than this one if you got an AMD processor and an RTX-series video card. The Flash Bios options give you easy access to upgrade your motherboard.
There are many reasons to include this motherboard on our list, one of which is the metal armored protected PCIe slots. This means you can install your expensive RTX 2080 GPU on this motherboard with peace of mind.
With 4 DIMM slots, you can expand the memory up to 128 GB. Tomahawk B450 supports DDR4 ram up to a speed of 3466 MHz. Moreover, there is an on-board 7.1 Channel sound card for an immersive gaming experience. We highly recommend this motherboard if you have 3rd generation of AMD CPUs, especially the Ryzen 3600.
In terms of storage, you only get a single M.2 slot. But there are 6 SATA, 2 USB 3.1 Gen2 slots. Also, you get your hands on 6×4-pin fan headers for optimal performance.
If we go for the downsides then this motherboard lacks another M.2 slot. Moreover, the RGB headers cannot be controlled independently. Other than this, it is the best AMD motherboard that is compatible with RTX 2080 Ti motherboard in a go.
GIGABYTE Z390 DESIGNARE | Most Reliable MOBO for 2080 Ti with Thunderbolt 3 Controller
Key Specs
Form Factor: ATX
DIMM Slots: 4
Max Memory: 128 GB
Socket: LGA 1151
The Gigabyte Z390 Designare lets you test the limits of your 2080 Ti GPU with the Thunderbolt 3 controller. Yes, you can now push the graphics up to 8K resolution for an immersive gaming experience. And if you are a video editor, then this motherboard allows you to create HD videos with your RTX 2080 Ti without any problem.
We appreciate the build quality of this motherboard as compared to previous motherboards on our list. This board supports socket LGA 1151 from Intel, which means you can easily install 8th or 9th gen CPUs in a go.
The Gigabyte Z390 is a powerhouse that comes with 8+4 solid-pin power connectors to supply enough energy to power-hungry GPUs like RTX 2080 Ti. The Direct Touch Heat pipes on this motherboard are ideal for heat dissipation. So this makes this board an ideal choice for gamers and overclockers.
With adequate 4 DIMM slots, you can install ram up to 128 GB. And each slot on this motherboard holds memory up to 32 GB with a maximum speed of up to 4266 MHz (when overclocked). Moreover, you get access to the very first direct CPU attached SSD and PCIe slot for higher performance.
Lastly, if we talk about the expansion slots, you will see 3 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, 3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 slot, and an M.2 socket for the Wi-Fi module. Moreover, there are 5 USB 3.1 Gen2 and 6 USB 3.1 Gen1 slots for faster data transfer.
With so many options to go with, there are some cons to this motherboard as well. First, the software that comes with customizing RGB lights isn’t versatile. We want Gigabyte to update this software with more freedom to set up your favorite RGB theme.
Secondly, the overclocking isn’t good enough on this motherboard. Well, it doesn’t mean that you cannot overclock your hardware but it needs improvement.
All in all, the Gigabyte Z390 Designare is a high-end motherboard that comes with a thunderbolt 3 controller for taking gaming or video editing to next level. It is an expensive motherboard for a costly GPU like RTX 2080 Ti, but it’s a reliable option to go with.
ASUS ROG Maximus X Hero | The Ideal Motherboard for Overclocking
Key Specs
Form Factor: ATX
DIMM Slots: 4
Max Memory: 64 GB
Socket: LGA 1151
Although Asus Rog Maximus X Hero is an old motherboard if we compare it with a high-end GPU like RTX 2080, it is powerful enough to handle this video card without any problem. And this mobo is a bit overpriced if we fall down to the specs that it offers.
The reason we included this mobo on our list of best mobos for RTX 2080 Ti is that it shines in the overclocking department. You can easily overclock your 8th Gen Intel CPU to enjoy higher clock speeds. But if we compare this motherboard to others from ASUS and GIGABYTE, it falls short in most of the needed features.
And the Asus Rog Maximus X Hero comes with SLI and CrossFire technology like other mobos for high-end gaming performance. But if you hold a GPU like RTX 2080 Ti, you don’t need any SLI slots as this GPU alone can handle a lot of stuff.
The motherboard comes with Aura Sync RGB lighting to add more colors to your gaming rig. And there is plenty of room for adding more fans for better cooling. This mobo comes with a simple and easy-to-use BIOS interface.
The Asus Rog Maximus X Hero can handle DDR4 ram up to 64 GB. Now, this is half the way that other motherboards on our list offer. But honestly, many advanced gaming titles need less than this amount of ram. So, we can keep up to what Asus Rog Maximus X Hero has to offer us.
ASUS X Hero comes with 3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 and 3 x PCIe 2.0 x1 expansion slots. It features a dual M.2 socket 3 and has 6 SATA 6Gb/s connectors for more storage. Moreover, you get 6X fan headers for plenty of cooling. For rapid data transfer, there are 3 x USB 3.1 Gen2 ports and 6 x USB 3.1 Gen1 ports.
This motherboard offers built-in Wi-Fi. But this motherboard does not have a VRM sensor, which isn’t a big deal as far as your concern is to play games at RTX 2080 Ti. We recommend this motherboard if you want to overclock your CPU for higher FPS.
Asus ROG Strix Z370-E | Best Valued Mobo for RTX Series GPUs
Key Specs
Form Factor: ATX
DIMM Slots: 4
Max Memory: 64 GB
Socket: LGA 1151
Asus ROG Strix Z370-E has been excellent in handling high-end video cards like the RTX 2080 Ti. Although this mobo is few years old now, it excels in performance when you pair a gaming GPU with it. The Strix Z370 is top of a line mobo from ASUS that is still ruling the custom-built gaming PCs in 2021.
With FanXpert 4 system, you can really push the limits of your video card. As this motherboard supports the socket LGA 1151, you would be limited to 8th gen CPUs from Intel. But the room for overclocking gives your more edge on this motherboard if you have a powerful GPU like RTX 2080 Ti.
The Strix Z370-E comes with onboard Wi-Fi for fast internet connectivity. And in terms of slots, you are limited to 2x PCIe 3.0 x16 SafeSlots, 1x PCIe 3.0 x16, and 3x PCIe 3.0 x1. Yes, it lacks few more USB ports at this point.
For making your rig colorful, this motherboard is blessed with Aura sync RGB lights as well. But the software that ASUS uses to control the RGN lighting is terrible. We really appreciate it if ASUS uses something like ICUE (software from Corsair) to control the RGB lights.
Apart from its few cons, the Strix Z370-E is an ideal motherboard for installing RTX 2080 Ti if you want better gaming performance. It is equipped with a dual M.2 heatsink for efficient cooling of your M.2 SSD. And it offers a good value in comparison to the price point that it comes with.
The Verdict
No doubt, the RTX 2080 Ti is a powerful gaming GPU that allows you to play games on 4K and even 8K settings. So before choosing the motherboard for RTX 2080 Ti make sure that you have a powerful processor as well. The socket LGA 1151 supports some of the most powerful CPUs from Intel so far. Also, the motherboards that support LGA 1151 lie on a sweet spot between price and performance.
Moreover, the motherboard that you choose should be capable of handling more power. As RTX-Series GPUs consume more power, you will have to opt for a good motherboard that can provide enough energy to the GPU to function properly.
Finally, we suggest you go for the motherboard that falls under your budget. The MSI Z370 Gaming M5 comes at an affordable price and is good enough to juice RTX 2080 Ti without any problem. The GIGABYTE Z390 DESIGNARE on other hand is more expensive but gives you a lot of connectivity and overclocking room for better performance.
FAQs
Do we need a good CPU for RTX 2080Ti?
Yes, Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti is a powerful GPU capable of playing games at 4K settings. So, you must have a strong processor to avoid bottlenecking.
How much power supply is enough for RTX 2080 Ti?
The RTX 2080 Ti is a power-hungry card, so you go for a 650W power supply to avoid any issues. Many gamers recommend going for a 700W supply for the safe side.
