Abdul Rauf
Bluetooth connectivity has plenty of uses. Whether you want to connect a keyboard or pair a set of earphones, you will find that Bluetooth is an indispensable feature.
Fortunately, it is quite easy to find motherboards with Bluetooth connectivity. All you need to do is find a motherboard with built-in. Built-in WiFi on motherboards almost always comes equipped with Bluetooth.
If you find Bluetooth to be an essential feature in your desktop, then you will love the best motherboards with Bluetooth as reviewed below.
We look at motherboards for Intel and AMD systems.
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All Motherboards DO NOT have Bluetooth
No, not all motherboards have Bluetooth built in. Therefore, it is very important that you carefully read the specifications of the motherboard before purchasing it.
It is also important to read the version of Bluetooth the motherboard features. Ideally, you should go for the latest version since it greatly improves on its previous iteration.
You Do Not Have to Get an Expensive Motherboard
The primary deciding point for us in selecting this motherboard is the price tag. We have striven for the most affordable motherboard in a certain category.
Sure, there are plenty of expensive MOBOs out there with Bluetooth, however, the additional features they offer are only suitable for hard-core enthusiasts, gamers or professionals.
It should also be noted that motherboards with Bluetooth all offer WiFi as well since WiFi+Bluetooth is a combined system.
So there are four different routes that you go for:
- Intel 10th and 11th Gen CPU (With LGA1200 socket)
- Intel 12th and 13th Gen CPU (With LGA1700 socket)
- AMD Ryzen 3000 and 5000 (With AM4 socket)
- AMD Ryzen 7000 (With AM5 socket)
Lets talk about the first route.
Intel 10th and 11th Gen CPUs can be had for quite cheap and so are their motherboards. Since it is an older series, it is has slightly lower price tag than newer components.
10th and 11th Gen CPUs LGA1700 motherboards for 12th and 13th Gen CPUs are slightly more expensive but you can still find some at a great price. Plus they offer newer features like support for Gen 4 AND upcoming Gen 5 SSDs.
12th and 13th Gen CPUs 
LGA 1200 | 3 x M.2 slots | PCIe 4.0 | WiFi+Bluetooth
LGA 1700 | 2 x M.2 slots | PCIe 5.0 | WiFi 6+Bluetooth
For AMD the most natural choice of CPUs to go for these days are the newer 7000 series CPUs. They are leaps and bounds more powerful in terms of performance/dollar ratio compared to their older 5000 series cousins. There are four motherboard chipsets that you can get for AMD 7000 series chipsets: B650, B650E, X670, and X670E. The “E” series are made with enthusiasts and overclocking in mind. So for an average user, the “E” series chipsets are not recommended. The X series chipset is for high-end users as well and is expensive. Hence both the X670 and X670E are not recommended for average users and for those looking to save up. That leaves us with the B650 as the best option.
AMD Route
Also Read: Best Motherboards with M.2 Slots
The latest version is Bluetooth v5.3
Note that the latest version of Bluetooth found on Motherboards is 5.3, which naturally replaces v4.0 (v4.2 to be exact).
As is the case with all Bluetooth version updates, 5.0 improves the range and speed of the connection, and its iteration, 5.3, improves on stability and efficiency.
Here is a short list of everything that the v5.0 improves upon.
- Speed – v5.0 is twice as fast as the v4.0 at 2 Mbps
- Range – v5.0 increases the range from 50m to 200m in outdoor and from 10m to 40m indoor (line of sight) settings.
- Power Usage – v5.0 uses less energy.
- Support for IoT Devices – v5.0 supports a wider variety of IoT devices. With its increased range, speed and capacity, it can help grow the IoT interface. In other words, it is future-proof.
- Dual audio – v5.0 allows you to play audio on TWO devices simultaneously.
Can you Get Just Bluetooth Modem Built-in Without WiFi?
No, you cannot. Bluetooth and WiFi always come paired. While logic dictates that having no WiFi would reduce the cost of the motherboard, that is unfortunately not the case.
Basically, you have to pay for both.
How Do I Know If My Motherboard has Bluetooth?
The easiest way is to read the specifications. However, in some cases, you may not know the model name and number of your motherboard.
In these cases, the best way is to open the DEVICE MANAGER on your PC and look for Bluetooth Device under NETWORK ADAPTERS Tab.
How Do You Turn On Bluetooth on Your Motherboard?
This question entails solutions to various situations.
Are you trying to enable Bluetooth from BIOS settings or from the Operating System?
Perhaps you are not sure. As such, if you are having trouble turning your Bluetooth on, you can look at the following solutions.
From Bios
Check the BIOS settings on your motherboard. You can access BIOS via the SPLASH screen that comes up when you turn your PC on.
The key to enter BIOS varies from manufacturer to manufacturer but generally, it can be one of the following: F10, F2, F12, F1, or DEL.
Once you are in the BIOS, look for a TAB along the lines of Device Configuration, I/O Port, or Network Configuration.
In some BIOS, the location of Bluetooth device settings can be pretty peculiar and unintuitive such as under “Security” settings, etc.
Once you have found the relevant tab, it should have a list of network devices that you can enable or disable as below. This is where you can enable Bluetooth as well.
From the OS
Bluetooth must be enabled in the BIOS before it can be enabled in the OS.
Assuming that your Bluetooth Device is enabled in BIOS, you can easily turn on the Bluetooth in your OS by accessing the relevant setting.
The settings location may differ from OS to OS.
In Windows 10, you can easily access it by typing “Bluetooth” in the Search Bar located on the Task Bar below and then accessing the “Bluetooth and Other Devices Settings”.
Once accessed, simply turn on the Bluetooth by pressing the toggle button on top.
Final Words
There are plenty of motherboards that offer Bluetooth connectivity. However, choosing the right one for you can save you future frustration as well as your hard-earned money.
In order to maximize the value for money from the MOBO that you purchase, it is important to understand your requirements. Do you need a motherboard with a wide range of expandability or do you want a simple motherboard for office and home use purposes?
If you are an average home user, a budget motherboard would do just great and you wouldn’t even have to install a graphics card on it since they come with processor-driven HDMI or DisplayPort.
However, if you plan to gradually build a professional or a gaming rig, then you will need to consider the more expensive motherboards that are future-proof.
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