I'm looking for recommendations on budget motherboards for either AM5 or LGA 1851 platforms that can genuinely support 4K at 120Hz (or better) with HDR and VRR through HDMI 2.1. My goal is to connect this setup directly to a TV, which is why HDMI is a must—DisplayPort won't work for my needs. The motherboard must support a 265k or one-chiplet X3D processor, feature one PCIe 5.0 slot and at least two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, plus support for memory overclocking to utilize XMP/EXPO profiles. I'm not interested in overclocking the CPU, just the RAM. Ideally, I want to be able to output 4K 120Hz using the integrated graphics via the motherboard, avoiding the need for a discrete GPU or an alternative device like a Mac Mini. This PC also needs to handle multiple SATA 3.5-inch drives internally, making a mini PC solution less appealing.
3 Answers
Are you planning to game on this PC at all? If you’re adding a graphics card, just connect your TV to that instead of worrying about the motherboard's video output.
I get what you’re saying! I'm also looking for high refresh rates for better desktop use and want to stay away from 60Hz.
Most motherboards with HDMI input connect directly to the CPU, meaning all AM5/1700/1851 CPUs with integrated graphics should support HDMI 2.1. AMD’s Raphael GPU can handle 48 Gbps, which is enough for 4K at 120Hz. However, I’ve seen reports that some motherboards only list 4K 60Hz support even with HDMI 2.1, indicating higher bandwidth might not be guaranteed for all models.
I’ve done some research too, and I found that while some boards market HDMI 2.1, they still restrict themselves to 4K 60Hz. It seems the HDMI 2.1 branding might be misleading since many boards don’t deliver on the full spec.
Are you aiming for a home theater PC or something more like a console in terms of use?
I’ve updated the initial post to include more details. It’s kind of a hybrid device for streaming, gaming, and even serving as a server.
Exactly! If no dedicated GPU is in the mix, a mini PC might be a better fit for 4K capabilities rather than building a custom one.