It is mistakenly believed that motherboards are not important when assembling a PC. Many are convinced that motherboards are not capable of affecting the comfort of using the system, as well as the performance in games. In fact, this is not the case.
And if you want to know a little more about what exactly motherboards are responsible for and how to choose them, you are at the right place.
Many do not worry too much when choosing motherboards. A huge number of people believe that the motherboard is needed only in order to connect the central and graphic processor to it along with RAM. And while this is the case, it is still an incredibly superficial definition of exactly what a motherboard is for.
In fact, it is thanks to the motherboard that your PC is able to function. Otherwise, all your components, scattered in their work logic and purpose, would not make sense and simply would not work. Therefore, it is the motherboard that would be fairest to be called the heart of the computer. And yes, as is the case with a real heart, in no case can you save on a motherboard. But why is it so? Now let’s figure it out in detail.
Socket
First of all, you should decide on which processor you are going to buy and from which manufacturer. But what does the processor have to do with it? The fact is that chips of different models from different manufacturers have, roughly speaking, different structures. In this regard, you should take a motherboard, relying primarily on this, since if your processor and motherboard have different sockets, then you simply cannot install the chip.
The most common and popular sockets at the moment are:
- AM4in the case of AMD processors
- LGA 1151, LGA 1151v2 and LGA 2066 for Intel chips
Speaking of AMD , you can also find processors and motherboards with other sockets, namely TRX40 and TR4. For the sake of fairness, it should be said that this socket is found either in high-performance chips or in strictly specialized ones.
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Connection type
It is worth talking about the type of connection between the motherboard and the processor, that is, about how exactly they are connected. Two types of connections are currently relevant, namely: PGA and LGA.
If we talk about PGA , then this connection is inherent in motherboards for processors from AMD , although there are rare representatives from Intel . This mount is characteristic in that the processor itself has contact “legs” that are inserted into the motherboard.
The difference is clear.
Meanwhile, LGA connectivity is typical of Intel processors , although there are exceptions in the form of server and specialized chips from AMD . This connection is completely opposite to the PGA, because the chip itself does not have the above-mentioned contact “pins”. Instead, they are located on the motherboard itself. This information is especially important when choosing both a motherboard and a processor from Intel , because the company often indicates the type of mount right in the name.
Chipset
Many are often confused here. A lot of people say the word “chipset” means a socket. This is a serious mistake.
And in order not to make such mistakes, let’s figure it out with you what it is. A chipset, to put it briefly and clearly, is a technical means that connects the motherboard itself with all devices connected to it and allows all of them to intelligently interact with each other.
But you shouldn’t think of the chipset as just a kind of central hub between all the components. In fact, what additional functions you will have depends on the chipset, what will be the limit during overclocking and whether it will be possible at all, how much RAM can be supplied in terms of the volume and number of dies, and so on.
Also, be careful about whether your processor supports the chipset that is present on the motherboard of your choice. Sometimes it happens that processors that have one socket with the motherboard are incompatible precisely because of the chipset. Watch for this too.
The most relevant motherboard chipsets for Intel processors are Z390 and Z370 . There are some differences between these chipsets, but they are insignificant. It is worth saying only about the fact that the Z390 has a built-in Wi-Fi module, Bluetooth, and can also have USB 3.1 connectors of the second generation, while the Z370 does not.
Chipsets for motherboards specifically for AMD processors cannot be ignored…. The best are all X series chipsets, namely: X570, X470, X370 and others. They contain all the technologies that you only need, ranging from the notorious Wi-Fi to SLI, overclocking, CrossFire technology and so on. You can also consider motherboards based on B450 chipsets together with B350 for purchase, if SLI with CrossFire is not important to you.
Supported RAM
Random access memory is an essential element of any computer. It affects the operation of the entire system no less than the central and graphic processor. That is why the choice of a motherboard for compatibility with RAM should be approached no less responsibly than all other points.
To begin with, it is worth mentioning the most simple and obvious – there are many standards for RAM. But if you are assembling a modern system, then this point for the most part does not concern you.
Just remember that for gaming systems, and for a very different direction, take a motherboard that supports DDR4 RAM.
DDR2 and 3 have long been past generations that are unable to meet modern demands and requirements for speed and performance. And besides, if your motherboard supports DDR4, then you simply cannot install a die of another generation, for example, DDR3, and vice versa.
Another point that directly concerns RAM is the operation with which RAM frequency the board supports. That is, look at what frequency the selected RAM will have, and what frequency of this same RAM the motherboard supports. For example, if the board supports RAM at 2.133 MHz, but you put the die at 2.400 MHz, then the memory will operate at the frequency supported by the board. As a result, it turns out that you will overpay for RAM.
The same goes for volume. A motherboard that only supports 16GB will not be able to fully utilize the entire 32GB die.
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Motherboard size
This point is quite simple and proceeds from the fact in which case the motherboard will be installed in the case. For more information about the standard sizes of the mainboards, cases and how to choose them correctly, you can familiarize yourself with one of the previous materials . But in general, for PCs that will be used for games and demanding work, it is worth taking ATX or E-ATX motherboards. The number of available interfaces directly depends on this.
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ATX size is standard and is used by most of us. It has more than enough connectors and ports for the average gamer. In the meantime, E-ATX should only be installed in large cases, since the size of this motherboard is extremely large. However, it is E-ATX that is the best option for the most top-end systems, because it can accommodate much more components.
Connectors and interfaces
This point is very clear. You should decide in advance what exactly and in what quantity you will connect to your PC, and based on this, you should take a motherboard. And do not take a motherboard with end-to-end connectors. Take stock so that you always have, for example, at least a couple of additional USB ports. Also, if you are going to connect something via PCI Express, or install an M.2 drive, and so on, then first find out if there are corresponding slots on the motherboard of your choice.
For reference: as a rule, the more modern high-speed ports on a motherboard, the better the chipset on it.
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Power phases
In general terms, the power supply phases determine the current flowing to the motherboard, as well as the level of its heating. The more power phases on the motherboard, the more uniform and less load is placed on each individual phase. It is thanks to the increase in their number that the motherboard manufacturer can make it less susceptible to strong heat. The more phases, the better.
However, it is worth noting that the influence of the power phases on the uniformity of the distribution of this power itself and the level of heat generated does not end there. Phases are also very important when overclocking. If there are few of them, then you can forget about overclocking.
How many phases are considered acceptable? It is difficult to give an exact answer, but if their number is equal to or less than 4, then you can forget about overclocking.
If you dare to go for overclocking, then you simply risk burning your motherboard with all the components installed on it.
In general, the more power phases there are, the longer your motherboard will live. Often, when a given component fails, it is all the fault of the power supply phases, which, due to long work, are no longer able to withstand the previous load. But a large number of phases distributes the load, making it less for each individual phase. And by the way, it is still not very correct to say that the phases themselves regulate the load. In fact, the VRM model is responsible for this.
The Voltage Regulator Modle, in simple terms, distributes the incoming power evenly between literally everything, preventing your components from overheating due to a sudden power surge. And yes, a VRM is a must if you’re going to be doing heavy overclocking.
