What motherboard should I buy?

Hardware
1

A few days ago I posted this same question.
I asked which of the 2 boards I mentioned you would recommend if I wanted to connect 3 screens at 4K60. I asked for a motherboard with these specs as I want a formfactor that is as small as possible. So I’d hoped an extra GPU wouldn’t be necessary. As both boards I mentioned have there pro’s and cons, I wont mention them now. I just have the simple question: what board would you buy if you were me?

Some of you answered that I should go for a motherboard with a better CPU. And I agree.
On the other hand, as it’s also going to be an automation server (as well as a HTPC), It should have GPIO headers which that board doesn’t have.
Also, both boards don’t have 3 digital screen outputs.

What board would you recommend that has an onboard CPU, has at least 1 m.2 slot, is able to handle multiple tasks, has GPIO pins and can handle 3 screens?
If you recommend a pc with an exta GPU, please also recommend a small case. It shouldn’t be bigger than a Gygabyte Brix or a NUC.

It will probably run Ubuntu or another Opensource OS. (feel free to give me other recommendations)
Daisy chainging screens isn’t an option as 2 of the 3 screens will be touchscreens. I haven’t seen tablet size touchscreens that you can daisychain.

Thanks in advance for your recommendations. I look forward to see them.
If I think of something I haven’t mentioned that is important to this built, I will mention them in a reply.

2

TBH, its hard to find a powerfull board for 3 4k60 screens, in a small form factor and with GPIO. It would be way easier to add like an esp or arduino instead of the gpio, that would greatly increase the selection of usable boards, its kinda cheap and uses just 1 usb port or wifi.
Also 3 screens 4k60 at just a integrated graphics unit in a cpu will be almost impossible. I do not know any CPU what could handle this. TBH, ive looked at pcpartpicker.com for a decent htpc/server combo and its nearly impossible to build a server for decent price because even a gtx1050 costs over 400 dollar. Thats almost the price for ryzen 5 3600 with asrock b450M pro4, 2x4gb ram, 1 tb nvme, 450w 80+ bronze psu and cheap miniATX case together. This config is prob a bit overkill, but thats what i would use as server/htpc combo with probably one virtual machine for HA. Just needing a GPU. But like i described, the actual situation with gpus is just insane.

3

So if you had to configure something if money wasn’t a problem but space is? (Ofcourse something with built-in GPIO) lets say, not bigger than a PS5.
If that requires a PCIe slot, what Raspberry Pi CM4 I/O-like board would you buy?