How To Pick a Motherboard? Best Guide

Though the greatest graphics card and CPU are frequently given more consideration, picking the finest motherboard is in many ways the most crucial component of your PC design. Your motherboards of choice accepts connectors from every component of your PC. Here are some factors that will help you in how to pick a motherboard. So, The size of your computer and the number of peripherals you can plug into it are determined by its form factor, while the chipset and CPU socket determine the type of processor you may install.

In relation to build budgets, you should read our article on the Best Motherboard for Ryzen 7 5800x you probably don’t need if you want to shop for a new computer on a budget.

If you’re looking for a brand-new motherboards for either AMD’s X570 or Intel’s Z590 platform, be aware that both platform’s motherboard costs have gone up in comparison to prior generations, at least in part because of PCIe 4.0 capability. However, the Intel Z490 boards that mention PCIe 4.0 capability (and all new Z590 boards) will only activate that support when coupled with a next-generation Rocket Lake-S CPU.

In a hurry? Check out my new post on Best Motherboards for i7 9700K

This is important to keep in mind as AMD’s B550 boards enable PCIe 4.0 currently with a Zen 2/3-based processor. Those processors won’t be here right now, but they should in a few months. The motherboard is perhaps the most crucial part of a computer since without it, nothing else functions, and it determines what future upgrades are possible.

Form Factor

You must first decide on a form factor. Micro ATX and ATX motherboards are both prevalent (although these are smaller in size and reduce the number of expansions slots). You may always measure your old motherboards and compare it to other sizes if you’re buying a new one and are unsure of what size would fit. Because it offers additional expansion slots, which might be handy, the ATX board is well-liked.

Processor Socket

You must pick a CPU socket after deciding on a form factor. Three types of sockets are the only ones that still apply today despite other types having been utilised in the past. LGA, PGA, and BGA are these. AMD utilises PGA, whereas Intel uses LGA. BGA sockets are less common than the latter since they cannot be updated or maintained because they are permanently connected to the motherboard.

What kind of CPU you may purchase will depend on the type of socket your motherboard has. Therefore, you should probably decide on your preferred CPU before purchasing a motherboard.

RAM (Random Access Memory) 

RAM, often known as random access memory, comes next. The type and amount of RAM you might have will essentially depend on the motherboard you choose. Therefore, when choosing to purchase a motherboard, it is important to keep this in mind.

As a result, even if you have the option to use this memory in the future if you don’t originally plan to purchase that much memory, we advise picking a motherboard that can support at least 16 GB. Additionally, search for a board with 4 or more memory slots. This indicates that you may start by installing 2 RAM modules and that you will have extra space for future memory upgrades.

Also, check out our separate post on How to Choose a Motherboard? Exclusive Guide

PCI Slots

A connector or connection found on the motherboard is known as a PCI slot. They have long been the typical form of expansion slot and enable the connection of expansion cards. You should think about whether your motherboard has the slots necessary for your needs based on how you want to utilise your computer. If you wish to connect numerous cards, you’ll need multiple full speed PCI express x16 slots, which you should have if you’re a gamer. For additional cards, such as sound cards, Wi-Fi adaptors, and other connection extensions, motherboards also have smaller PCI express ports in addition to normal PCI slots.

Features

You won’t need to worry about purchasing extra expansion cards if you get a motherboard that comes with the functionality you need. On-board audio is a more frequent feature that is often included on the majority of motherboards. However, mid-range speakers are typically the only ones who can use this. It’s important to note that better motherboards frequently have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies as well, but you’ll pay extra for them. They will however lessen the requirement for expansion cards. Features can easily help you in how to pick a motherboard.

Check out our separate post on How to Clean Thermal Paste off Motherboard

GPU Support

Every PC must have a mechanism to output data in a fashion that humans can understand. Simply said, it refers to the process of showing images on a monitor. The GPU, or graphics card, is the component in a standard PC that does this, therefore you’ll need to be sure that your motherboard can handle the GPU type you want for your planned usage.

AMD’s accelerated processing unit (APU), which combines a CPU and a GPU on a single device, is similar to Intel’s integrated GPUs in that it gives users the ability to show output on a monitor. These GPUs use relatively low power and are excellent for productivity activities, but they can only run less visually intensive games (like e-sports titles).

You’ll probably want a separate GPU if you want a more potent GPU, either for gaming or for demanding tasks like video editing that might benefit from a GPU for quicker processing. The kind of GPUs you can connect to your motherboard in such situation, as well as the maximum number of GPUs that your motherboards can handle, should be kept in mind.

SATA

The quantity of SATA ports you’ll require should be taken into account when thinking about purchasing a motherboard. You may connect an optical disc and storage devices, such as an SSD or HDD, to each SATA port. Determining if your motherboards has all the SATA ports required for all of your drives is therefore crucial. It’s also important to note that your motherboard must support SATA 3.0, sometimes known as the SATA 6 gigabytes standard. You might also need to think about peripheral connections, such a USB 3.0.

Conclusion:

Purchasing any computer component is an investment and requires careful research, but none more so than the motherboard. Often the first thing you decide on besides the processor is your motherboard. The chipset of your motherboard, along with the available ports and connections, will tell you the many different peripherals and features you can use with your computer. Remember to consider factors like future upgrades, build difficulty, and final PC size when you choose a motherboard. Upgrading a motherboards are not as easy as other components, so take it slow and make sure you are getting the best possible component for your build. After reading this article you are able to how to pick a motherboard according to your desire.

After choosing the type of motherboard that will be used to make your own PC or that will serve as the structure of the pre-built PC you’ll be purchasing, you should think about the company that made it. Some businesses specialise in making motherboards for gamers that have enough of room for GPU expansion and LED lighting systems, while others concentrate on more commonplace systems.

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