State of the art motherboards. Choosing a motherboard for your computer

Affordable cost of the motherboard based on the AMD 970 chipset.

The motherboard, known as the system board, is a technically complex device consisting of many layers, over the area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich the so-called contact tracks are applied. It is made from textolite, resembling glass in appearance in one of several form factors. Generally speaking, the motherboard is the circulatory system of the entire computer. Its presence is an integral part of a complex electronic computing device. Any kind of computer equipment, both office and personal or laboratory, has a motherboard at the base of its components.

The motherboard is tested at the factory for compatibility with components that the user will supply in the future. It is this compatibility that is very important. And there are plenty of accessories. Here we can note the processor, RAM strips, hard drives, graphics adapters, devices for reading and writing external media, peripherals for working with text, printers, scanners, and so on. The difference between budget-level motherboards and gaming motherboards is usually in the quality of materials and components used to assemble the board itself, the number of different functions that allow you to overclock the processor, graphics card, and RAM. Here are some of the most up-to-date comparison reviews for each class of motherboards. Almost all of the models below are quite popular among users, have a large number of reviews, and as a result, we will be able to consider all their pros and cons.

The best budget motherboards for office PCs

Score (2018): 4.2

Advantages: Best Inexpensive Board for Socket AM1

Manufacturer country: China

Model MSI AM1I is one of the many budget gaming models with the usual functionality. We can say that our hero is a kind of anti-crisis solution for a poor gamer. The indisputable advantage of this model is the presence of three options for displaying pictures on the monitor. These are D-sub, HDMI and DVI-D, thus there is no problem of compatibility and finding the necessary adapters. The device is equipped with an auto-security system that protects it from short circuits, power surges, and high humidity. Electromagnetic interference is also easily leveled by this board. The MSI Live Update 5 proprietary utility allows you to change the BIOS version to newer or more stable ones, as well as update system drivers automatically. The maximum amount of RAM is as much as 32GB, which is undoubtedly an excellent result for a motherboard with such a price. There is a so-called "booster" of the system using proprietary MSI Fast Boot technology. The network component of this board is capable of maintaining a stable connection to the World Wide Web.

Score (2018): 4.4

Advantages: Best Inexpensive Board for Socket AM3+

Manufacturer country: China

So, having set yourself the task of purchasing a motherboard for a working computer, take a closer look at the ASUS M5A78L-M LX3 model, which is an excellent option that combines adequate cost and good functionality. An integral advantage of this model is the presence of as many as eight USB outputs on board, allowing you to easily connect a sufficient number of peripheral equipment, from flash drives to printers. The manufacturer completes this device with an excellent graphics component based on the HD3000 chip. Thanks to him, you don’t have to worry about displaying HD pictures on a monitor or TV. Well, the presence of four SATA connectors on board makes it possible to expand the peripherals with additional hard drives and DVD read-write devices. The owners' rating is mixed, but the average score is about 3.5-4 out of five.

Score (2018): 4.7

Advantages: Best Inexpensive Board for Socket LGA1150

Manufacturer country: China

Advantages	Flaws
Russified BIOS The ability to navigate the Russified BIOS using the mouse low price	Lack of internal USB 3.0 connectors Few USB 3.0 connectors on the board

So, the gold medal of our comparative review of low-cost motherboards justifiably goes to the model of the well-known company MSI - H81M-E33, built on the LGA1150 architecture. The owners call the indisputable advantage of this device that this model is able to work with powerful CoreI3 and CoreI5 processors, as well as the ability to overclock directly from the BIOS. The hero of our review is very small, due to the form factor in which it is made. Accordingly, putting it in the vast majority of cases is not a problem. It is quite predictable that the model is equipped with a high-quality HDMI connector, which can also be safely added to the treasury of pluses. The USB outputs are thoughtfully and ergonomically located on the rear side. Among the six USB ports, two high-speed, 3.0 standards can be distinguished. As for the minuses, here the owners highlight the lack of internal USB 3.0 connectors, as well as their small number on the board. Let's return to the advantages of the model. Undoubtedly, it is necessary to mention the Russified BIOS, as well as the ability to navigate through it with the mouse, and this can hardly be overestimated. The cost of this model is currently a little less than 3000 rubles. The owners of this motherboard unconditionally attribute this fact to its merits.

Worth considering…

When choosing a motherboard, you need to pay attention to such important characteristics as:

1 Product quality - in this case, verification is possible only visually, no one will allow you to check the electronic components of the board with your hands, but you can shake it in order to check the reliability of soldering and the strength of fastening of the components, as well as check for any damage to ports, slots (to for example, bent contacts in memory slots or in a socket). 2 Manufacturer - it is necessary to prefer a well-known brand that has been on the market for a long time, with its own history and keeping pace with technological progress. The most famous motherboard suppliers at the moment are MSI, Asus, Gigabyte, Acer. 3 Presence of cooling systems on the chipset (radiators that remove heat). A chipset is a set of microcircuits that are mounted on a motherboard and most often the organization scheme for all logic is based on the north and south bridges. 4 An important parameter is the compatibility of elements when buying a motherboard. All element base or external peripherals must be physically or programmatically combined with the motherboard. 5 Sufficient number of slots, ports and sockets (connectors for connecting the processor). The socket for the processor is built into any motherboard. The number of connectors and outputs is quite an important indicator, it should correspond to the number of devices that you plan to connect, they will be especially useful if after some time you decide to upgrade your computer and add additional memory modules, gaming peripherals or a hard drive. 6 It is also important to pay attention to other components, such as: built-in sound chip (headphone connection), graphics chip (an alternative to a dedicated graphics card), LAN adapter (connection to a global network), BIOS in Russian, proprietary software that allows you to restore system.

Best Motherboards for Socket Intel LGA1150

Socket LGA 1150, the successor of the legendary LGA 1155, is widely used both in the segment of budget and powerful gaming solutions. It has support for most of the processors currently on the market. We also note that models with this architecture have a long working life and excellent potential in terms of functionality and power.

Score (2018): 4.4

Advantages: Excellent price. One of the most popular motherboards for Socket 1150

Manufacturer country: China

We start our top three with a representative of the Chinese company Asus - B85M-G. It is one of the most popular motherboards with LGA1150 socket. The secret of the popularity of this particular model is quite simple - it has a sane price. An excellent choice for those who can't afford flagship models but want to build a decent multimedia device or a decent work machine.

The connectors on board are well protected, the panel itself is made of anti-corrosion alloy. The presence of COM and LPT connectors says that the manufacturer still positions it as a model for assembling a "workhorse". Separate words deserve the cooling system of this motherboard, it includes solid capacitors that allow the system to work even in extreme conditions (when it reaches 110 degrees). Functioning of USB 3.0 connectors is accelerated up to 170% thanks to the support of UASP technology. Configuration, driver installation and system management are user-friendly, so even a person with little experience can handle it. The proprietary AI Suite software stands out for its extreme ease of use and great functionality.

Score (2018): 4.6

Advantages: Quality board with CrossFire support at a great price

Manufacturer country: China

The silver of our comparative review is represented by the MSI model - B85M-G43. Socket LGA1150, on which this model is built, is capable of working with processors of the Core I, Celeron and Pentium series. More owners of this device believe that the price of this motherboard, compared to the price of competitors in this segment, is an undeniable advantage. This model has high-quality capacitors on board to stabilize the system and increase its working life. This motherboard also has protection against power surges in the network. The heat sink is made with the help of radiators and outlet tubes. It is possible to connect hard drives in RAID mode if the owner has a need to work with large amounts of data.

A distinctive feature of MSI products in this price range is the use of high-end Military Class 4 components. With their help, excellent heat dissipation is achieved even when the system is fully loaded, plus an increased operating life of the board. This model has the ability to install two graphics cards to work in tandem using Radeon CrossFire technology. This function can increase the power of the graphics component in the game mode.

Score (2018): 4.6

Advantages: Best value for money

Manufacturer country: China

And here it is, our leader of today's TOP motherboards based on Socket LGA1150 - the MSI Z97-G43 model. This architecture is supported by most devices, as it is based on the fourth and fifth series Intel Core processors.

The undoubted advantage of the hero of our comparative review can be called a relatively small price tag for excellent technical parameters. These parameters allow you to equip this motherboard with almost any PC, regardless of the tasks for which it is intended. The built-in sound processor is a very high-quality solution that quite successfully eliminates interference when playing content. Thanks to the flexible and intuitive work in the BIOS, overclocking of the system has become available even to an inexperienced person in these matters. The performance of the graphic component is directly related to a productive LAN adapter with a bandwidth of 1Gb / s.

Dedicated HDMI connectors allow you to work with a high-definition picture and display it on the monitor screen. A proprietary utility for quickly raising productivity is called OC Genie. The essence of its work is simple - with the help of only one key, the increase in power is 20%. This model of the motherboard will allow you to save money, and at the same time it is good to upgrade your own computer.

Note…

Motherboard for office computer or study.

Such a motherboard, used in computers used for work, is much cheaper than a game board. It has the minimum configuration of the "north bridge", since office programs do not impose special requirements on the performance of the chipset, and also do not need a graphics processor. You will need a minimum number of RAM slots and not too much bus passthrough capability. However, the “south bridge”, which has connectors for connecting peripherals, must have a complete set here. This is due to the need to connect a huge number of different drives, as well as office equipment, for example, a printer, copier, memory cards and an external drive.

Motherboard for a gaming computer.

Such a motherboard is completely opposite to the one purchased for work purposes. The "Northbridge" must have a particularly powerful chipset, increased bandwidth, and the processor and motherboard buses must be fully aligned. About four to eight slots should be allocated for RAM, so that if there is not enough of it, there is the possibility of understaffing. "South Bridge", respectively, here looks more modest. The maximum number of USB ports required here is three. These are the necessary connectors for connecting a monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Best Socket Intel LGA1151 Motherboards for Gamers

Motherboards based on the LGA1151 architecture are a must have among users who want to get the most out of their PC. With the previous generation, it has a lightweight processor mounting system in common. What's new? Undoubtedly, this is an opportunity to install the latest generation of DDR4 RAM, as well as truly limitless overclocking prospects. What should a person buy from models based on the LGA1151 architecture, with all the variety on the market? How to get the ideal option in terms of price and built-in functionality? Let's try to figure this out.

Score (2018): 4.2

Advantages: Attractive price tag

Manufacturer country: China

Advantages	Flaws
High quality sound processor from Realtek Eight USB outputs Six SerialATA outputs Affordable price	Loss of performance at full load

The device, which takes third place in our comparison review, unlike the device from ASUS, which took silver, can turn your computer into a powerful entertainment center for quite reasonable money. A distinctive feature of the solution from MSI is a record number of ports: eight USB 3.1 outputs, six SerialATA standard outputs (up to 6 Gb / s bandwidth). At the same time, the motherboard supports the installation of DDR4 memory sticks with a frequency of up to 3.6 GHz. You can install up to four sticks with a total of 64 GB of high-performance RAM. As the positive aspects of this solution from MSI, users highlight the high-quality sound processor from Realtek, soldered on the board. It is worth considering that other companies, even in their flagships, do not install it, considering it expensive. As for comparing the hero of our review with the solution from ASUS, which took second place, we can say that the model is just as good as its more expensive counterpart. All this is possible thanks to the method of heat removal, built on radiators. As a drawback, we can say that when the system is fully loaded, the solution from ASUS will have obvious performance gaps.

Score (2018): 4.5

Advantages: Excellent performance. Hydro-heat dissipation system

Manufacturer country: China

In second place we have settled the device of the Taiwanese company ASUS, model MAXIMUS VIII HERO, which we have already mentioned in passing. It is made in ATX format and has on board to assemble a powerful system. This motherboard is built on the Intel Z170 architecture, the undoubted advantages of which are the widest possibilities for overclocking the processor, the graphics component, and the RAM. By the way, this model supports RAM with a frequency of 2133 MHz. A hardware-implemented function that allows two or more graphics cards to work in tandem is also a plus in the piggy bank of this model. By choosing the appropriate hardware for this motherboard, you can spend time playing an excellent game in 4K format.

Another plus that the owners of this board highlight is the combined heat dissipation system, which is the so-called symbiosis of the hydraulic system and system fans. All this allows you to forget about sagging in performance due to reaching a critical temperature. Also on board this motherboard, you can select six USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port for working with high-quality images, three PCI-Express bays for installing graphics cards and LAN solutions. The front part is equipped with an S/PDIF output, and this is a way to appreciate high-quality multi-channel sound. You can also highlight the presence of as many as sixteen USB ports and a DisplayPort output that allows you to work with high-quality images.

The downside is the cost of this motherboard, you can immediately call it very expensive, but looking closely and taking into account its technical characteristics, we can conclude that in fact it will be almost impossible to find an alternative that allows you not to think about upgrading for the next 3-4 years.

Score (2018): 4.8

Advantages: The most popular board for gaming computers. The best ratio between cost and quality

Manufacturer country: China

Advantages	Flaws
RAM operating at a frequency of 2133 MHz 2 slots for installing RAM 4 USB class 3.0 inputs Low price	Motherboard does not have coolers There is no function for linking hard drives into a raid array Overclockers will be left out due to the locked multiplier You can put only one video card

This model is built on the H110 architecture, which actually belongs to the inexpensive class. There are only 2 slots for installing RAM, 4 USB class 3.0 inputs and 4 SerialATA class 3.0 inputs. You are probably wondering how this device was able to supplant its more expensive counterparts and earn a gold medal in our comparative review. The answer is quite simple, the price tag of this model is very democratic. By paying a very small amount, you can buy this miracle, and it is not possible in principle to find an alternative to it for this money.

The negative side is that this motherboard does not have coolers, there is no function for linking hard drives into a raid array, overclockers will also be left out due to a locked multiplier, and you can install only one video card. It supports only 32GB of RAM, which is undoubtedly small compared to its more expensive counterparts, but, nevertheless, this is enough for the eyes. However, according to one of the most important indicators, namely the price, this motherboard leaves all its competitors far behind. After all, just think about it - the difference in price is more than five times. In positive qualities: overclocking of the graphics core, RAM operating at a frequency of 2133 MHz ... This is a real opportunity, spending mere pennies, to provide yourself with power and fairly wide functionality for years to come.

The best motherboards for AMD processors

Processor manufacturer AMD has created a solution based on the socket FM2+ architecture that competes with its only opponent, Intel's LGA1150 solution. The unifying factors between them are the budget positioning of products based on them and versatility. A nice feature of AMD's product is the AMD AM1 mounting method, which supports newer processor series. However, for work based on high power, the company announced a method of mounting AM3 +, the presence of which will no doubt be appreciated by fans of computer games and professionals involved in video processing. Motherboards that support this technology do not have a graphics chip, but have the widest functions for overclocking the processor and RAM.

All this together allowed us to win a fairly large market share and create the basis for assembling a wide variety of configurations, including both computers for office work and high-performance gaming solutions. A rather risky decision by AMD, in which 1 slot is used both for a fairly inexpensive series of processors and for quite powerful ones, gave positive results. An indisputable advantage is the integrated graphics component that can please gamers, allowing them to run their favorite games, albeit with reduced graphics.

Score (2018): 4.4

Advantages: Affordable cost of the motherboard based on the AMD 970 chipset

Manufacturer country: China

The third place in our comparative review is occupied by MSI's 970A-G43 board based on the well-known AMD970 chip. It is a bargain due to the excellent combination of cost and functionality. The manufacturer quite definitely positions its product as affordable, but, nevertheless, equipped it with six SerialATA connectors, sixteen USB ports, four of which are revision 3.0. The function of working two graphics cards in tandem is also available in the arsenal and is implemented using two PCI-Express x16 slots.

Another plus in the piggy bank of this model is the ability to install RAM strips with an operating frequency of 2133 MHz, but there is no potential for overclocking. As for the negative sides noted by the owners, here we can single out the lack of a socket with which you can transmit an audio signal in digital form, as well as an optical input from the rear. However, all this can be called small nit-picking, taking into account the price tag of this model.

Score (2018): 4.6

Advantages: Favorable price of the AMD 990X chipset

Manufacturer country: China (Assembly Taiwan)

In second place in our comparative review is the GIGABYTE model - GA-990X-Gaming SLI. Assembled on the basis of the AMD 990X chip, it combines an adequate price tag and advanced functionality to create powerful solutions. The difference in price with the leader of our comparative review, which we will talk about a little later, is very significant, but, nevertheless, it does not lose to it in the quality and quantity of technical solutions and functionality. RAM sticks can be supplied with a frequency of up to 2 GHz. This device also has on board as many as 6 SerialATA slots and 2 PCI-Express x1 for connecting network equipment, which is quite rare in this value segment. You can also highlight the presence of as many as eighteen USB outputs, which include 2 outputs of the 3.0 series and 2 outputs of the 3.1 series.

Summarizing the picture and summarizing the above facts, we can say that basically this model belongs to the number of very profitable acquisitions, based on the already created fame and a whole army of satisfied users.

Score (2018): 4.8

Advantages: The best board for overclocking. popular model

Manufacturer country: China

The device is equipped with an AMD 990FX chip, so it is designed to assemble powerful gaming solutions in its price segment. Naturally, there is a function of simultaneous operation in tandem of two or more graphics adapters at a peak RAM frequency of 1866 MHz. Undoubtedly, the positive aspects of this model include a huge number of modes with the PCI-Express bus. There are truly limitless possibilities for overclocking, allowing you to boost the power of both the processor and RAM, as well as the graphics component, which is good news for gamers who do not have the opportunity to buy expensive components.

What is worth dwelling on is the number of exits. The rear part contains twelve USB connectors (there are eighteen in total), while four of them are 3.0 series. The ability to work with an audio signal in digital format is implemented through S/PDIF. There are also plenty of SerialATA inputs - as many as six, with a bandwidth of 6Gb / s.

Summarizing all of the above, we can say that this model from a Chinese company is an unsurpassed option that has in its arsenal the widest functionality, excellent proprietary software, and high-quality assembly materials. And all this for a completely justified cost.

The best motherboard | Introduction

The best motherboard | Intel LGA-1151

This page provides our recommendations for choosing an Intel motherboard for the most popular LGA-1151 socket, which includes motherboards for 9th generation Coffee Lake Refresh chips, motherboards based on the Z370 chipset for 8th generation Coffee Lake chips, and their a more affordable alternative based on the H370 chipset. For our board recommendations for high-end Intel LGA-2066 processors on X299 chipsets, go to the next page. The third page contains our recommendations for choosing motherboards for AMD processors.

Choose the correct socket for your processor. It is possible to find a great processor from both AMD and Intel, but regardless of your choice, make sure that your board has the correct socket that supports this processor. Modern mainstream AMD chips use the AM4 connector, while Intel, starting from the 8th generation, uses LGA 1151v2.

The smaller the board, the fewer slots and functions. Motherboards come in three main form factors, from large to small: ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX (yes, mini is smaller than micro in this case). To build a compact PC, you can take a miniature board, but then you have to put up with fewer PCI Express slots, RAM slots and other connectors.

You can spend less than 7000 rubles. You can find a good motherboard for under $700, but if you need to overclock Intel processors or if you need a lot of ports, then you will have to spend a lot, usually up to $15000. High-end processors such as AMD Threadripper require expensive boards from 25,000 rubles and more.

Pay for built-in Wi-Fi and expensive controllers only if you need them. Don't waste your money on a Wi-Fi controller if you're using a wired connection. That being said, USB 3.1 Gen 2 or Thunderbolt 3 support could pay off in the future.

The best motherboard | Intel LGA-1151 - summary table

Model	ASRock Z390 Extreme4	ASRock H370M Pro4	Asus ROG Strix Z370-G Gaming
The best price in the Russian Federation, rub.	13100	7000	14000
Processor socket	LGA 1151	LGA 1151	LGA 1151
Chipset	Intel Z390	Intel H370	Intel Z370
Form Factor	ATX	MicroATX	MicroATX
	12	10	10
Video connectors	DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4, VGA	VGA, DVI-D, HDMI 1.4	DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4b
USB ports	5 Gbps: (4) Type A	10 Gbps: (1) Type-C, (1) Type A	10 Gbps: (2) Type-A 5 Gbps: (4) Type-A, (2) USB 2.0
Network connectors	(1) Gigabit Ethernet	(1) Gigabit Ethernet
Audio connectors		(3) analog	(5) analog, (1) digital output
PS/2	1		1	1
Other connectors and ports	Antenna bar	No	No
PCIe 3.0 x16	(3) v3.0 (x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4)	(2) v3.0 (x16/x4*) (*shared with top PCIe x1)	(2) v3.0 (x16/x0, x8/x8)
PCIe 3.0 x8	No	No	No
PCIe 3.0 x4	No	No	No
PCIe 3.0x1	(2)v3.0	(2) v3.0 (Top x1 common with 4 lane x16 slot)	(2)v3.0
CrossFire/SLI	3x / 2x	2x/-	2x / 2x
Number of DIMM slots	(4) DDR4	(4) DDR4	(4) DDR4
M.2 connectors	(2) PCIe 3.0 x4* / SATA*, ​​(1) M.2 Key-E (*shared with SATA ports 0/1, 4/5)	(1) PCIe 3.0 x4 /, (1) PCIe 3.0 x1 / SATA*, ​​(1) Key-E/CNVi (*SATA shared with port 1)	PCIe v3.0 x4 / SATA3 (shared with SATA port 1), PCIe v3.0 x4
U.2 connectors	No	No	No
SATA connectors	(8) 6Gbps (Ports 0/1, 4/5 shared with M.2)	(6) 6Gbps (Port 1 shared with M.2-2)	(6) 6 Gbps (SATA M.2-1 shared with port 1)
USB connectors	(1) 5Gb/s Type-C, (2) v3.0, (2) v2.0	(2) v3.0, (1) v2.0, (1) v2.0	(1) USB v3.0, (2) USB v2.0
Fan connectors	(5) 4-Pin	(4) 4-Pin	(5) 4-Pin
Legacy Interfaces		COM port	COM port, system speaker
Other interfaces	FP-Audio, D-LED, (2) RGB-LED, Thunderbolt AIC, TPM	FP-Audio, TPM	FP Audio, connectors for thermal sensors
Diagnostic panel	No	No	No
Internal buttons	No	No	No
SATA/RAID Controllers	integrated (0/1/5/10), ASM1061 PCIe	built-in (0/1/5/10)	built-in (0/1/5/10)
Ethernet Controllers	WGI219V PHY	WGI219V PHY	WGI219V PHY
WiFi/Bluetooth controller	No	No	RTL8822BE 802.11ac 2x2 (867mb/s) / BT 4.2 Combo
USB controllers	ASM1074 Hub	built-in	ASM3142 PCIe 3.0 x2
Audio codec	ALC1220	ALC892	ALC1220
DDL/DTS Connect	DTS Connect	No	No
Guarantee	3 years	3 years	3 years

Model	Gigabyte Z370 Aorus Gaming 5	Gigabyte Z370 Aorus Gaming 7	Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Xtreme
The best price in the Russian Federation, rub.	14300	17500	42200
Processor socket	LGA 1151	LGA 1151	LGA 1151
Chipset	Intel Z370	Intel Z370	Intel Z390
Form Factor	ATX	ATX	ATX
Phase Voltage Regulator	11	10	16
Video connectors	DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4	DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4	HDMI 1.4, Dual Thunderbolt 3
USB ports	10 Gbps: (1) Type-C, (1) Type A 5 Gbps: (4) Type A; (2) USB 2.0	10 Gbps: (1) Type-C, (1) Type A 5 Gbps: (5) Type A	10 Gbps: (4) Type A (+2 Thunderbolt 3 5 Gbps: (2) Type A; (2) USB 2.0
Network connectors	(1) Gigabit Ethernet, (2) Wi-Fi antenna	(3) Gigabit Ethernet (1x shared with PCIe), (2) Wi-Fi antenna	(1) 10GbE, (1) Gigabit Ethernet, (2) Wi-Fi antenna
Audio connectors	(5) analog, (1) digital output	(5) analog, (1) digital output	(5) analog, (1) digital output
PS/2	1	1	No
Other connectors and ports	No	No	No
PCIe 3.0 x16		(3) v3.0(3) v3.0 (x16/x0/x4*, x8/x8/x4*, x8/x8/x2*)	(3) v3.0 (x16/x0/x4*, x8/x8/x4*, x8/x8/x2*) (* 2 lanes shared with third M.2)
PCIe 3.0 x8	No	No	No
PCIe 3.0 x4	No	No	No
PCIe 3.0x1		(3) v3.0 (disables SATA port 1 when using the third slot)	(2)v3.0
CrossFire/SLI	3x / 2x	3x / 2x	3x / 2x
Number of DIMM slots	(4) DDR4	(4) DDR4	(4) DDR4
M.2 connectors		(2) PCIe 3.0 x4 / SATA Gb/s (disables SATA ports 0, 4/5,), (1) PCIe 3.0 x4	(2) PCIe 3.0 x4 / SATA 6Gb/s (occupies SATA ports 4/5, 3), (1) PCIe 3.0 x4
U.2 connectors	No	No	No
SATA connectors		(6) 6Gbps (SATA M.2-3 shared with port 0, M.2-1 shared with ports 4-5)	(6) 6Gbps (M.2-1 shared with ports 4-5, SATA M.2-2 shared with port 1)
USB connectors	(1) 5 Gb/s Type-C, (1) v3.0, (2) v2.0		(1) 10 Gb/s Type-C, (1) v3.0, (2) v2.0
Fan connectors	(8) 4-Pin	(8) 4-Pin	(8) 4-Pin
Legacy Interfaces	No	No	System speaker tweeter
Other interfaces		FP-Audio,TPM, (2)RGBW-LED, (2) D-LED, (2) thermal connectors	FP-Audio, SPDIF/O, (2)RGB-LED, (2) D-LED, LED Demo, TPM, OC-Touch, (2) Thermal Sensor Headers
Diagnostic panel	digital	digital	digital
Internal buttons	No	Power, Reset, OC, CLR_CMOS	Power, OC Mode, Reset, CLR_CMOS / BIOS ROM, BIOS Mode
SATA/RAID Controllers	built-in (0/1/5/10)	built-in (0/1/5/10)	built-in (0/1/5/10)
Ethernet Controllers	WGI219V PHY	WGI219V PHY, Killer E2500 PCIe	AQC107 PCIe, WGI211AT PCIe, WGI219V PHY
WiFi/Bluetooth controller	Intel 3165 802.11ac (Mbps) / BT 4.2 Combo	No	Intel 9560 802.11ac 2x2 (1.73Gb/s) / BT 5 Combo
USB controllers	(2) ASM3142 PCIe 3.0	(2) ASM3142 PCIe 3.0 x2	JHL7540 Thunderbolt 3 PCIe 3.0 x4
Audio codec	ALC1220	ALC1220	ALC1220
DDL/DTS Connect	No	No	No
Guarantee	3 years	3 years	3 years

The best motherboard | Chipset Intel H370

ASROCK H370M PRO4

ADVANTAGES

• Two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports and two Gen1 USB 3.1 ports on the rear panel
• Four USB 3.0 front panel ports
• H370 chipset functionality at the price of a B360

FLAWS

• No RGB lighting controller
• No header for front USB 3.1 Gen2 ports

VERDICT

For those who don't need RGB lighting or front-facing 10 Gigabit USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, the ASRock H370M Pro4 offers more advanced ports in almost every case than the competition, and at a lower price point.

The best motherboard | Chipset Intel Z370

ASUS ROG STRIX Z370-G GAMING

ADVANTAGES

• x16 to x8/x8 lane split for SLI and PCIe drive on CPU controller
• Wi-Fi controller 867 Mbps for remote installation or use as an access point
• Bracket for 40mm or 50mm cooling fan, user's choice
• Good overclocking potential with adequate cooling

FLAWS

• Voltage regulators require active cooling

VERDICT

ASUS ROG Strix Z370-G Gaming has enough features and overclocking potential to make the best combination of price and performance. However, the need for additional active blowing of voltage stabilizers does not allow us to recommend it to a wide consumer.

GIGABYTE Z370 AORUS GAMING 5

ADVANTAGES

• Excellent overclocking potential
• Three M.2 slots

FLAWS

• Only four SATA ports may be available due to resource sharing
• When using the third M.2 slot, the resources of the lower PCI Express slot are limited to two lanes

VERDICT

Significantly lower price than Gaming 7 makes this board attractive to users, especially those who like excessive RGB lighting.

GIGABYTE Z370 AORUS GAMING 7

ADVANTAGES

• Excellent overclocking potential
• High quality audio components
• Two USB 3.1 Gen 2 controllers with front port header
• Three M.2 slots
• Excellent location of connectors for coolers
• Advanced backlighting with two D-LEDs and two RGBWs

FLAWS

• A bit pricey for this feature set
• Inefficient without overclocking

VERDICT

The equipment and overclocking potential of the Z370 will satisfy most enthusiasts, but at a price that is more attractive to show system builders.

Choosing a motherboard for a computer requires some knowledge of its characteristics and an accurate understanding of what you expect from a finished computer. Initially, it is recommended to choose the main components - processor, video card, case and power supply, because. it is easier to select a system card for the requirements of already purchased components.

Those who first buy a motherboard, and then all the necessary components, should have a clear understanding of what characteristics the future computer should have.

Let's study the list of the most popular manufacturers whose products have earned the trust of users of the global market. Here are the companies:

Provided that you have already purchased components for a gaming computer, do not choose a cheap motherboard from an unreliable manufacturer. At best, the components will not work at full capacity. At worst, they may not work at all, break themselves, or damage the motherboard. For a gaming computer, you need to buy the appropriate board, suitable dimensions.

If you decide to purchase a motherboard initially, and then, based on its capabilities, buy other components, then do not save on this purchase. More expensive cards allow you to install better equipment on them and remain relevant for a long time, while cheap models become obsolete in 1-2 years.

Chipsets on motherboards

You need to pay attention to the chipset first of all, because. it depends on how powerful the processor and cooling system you can install, whether other components can work stably and with 100% efficiency. The chipset partially replaces the main processor if it fails and / or is dismantled. Its power is enough to support the basic operation of some PC components and work in the BIOS.

Motherboard chipsets are made by AMD and Intel, but chipsets made by the motherboard company are rare. It is worth choosing a motherboard with a chipset from the manufacturer that produced the central processor you have chosen. If you install an Intel processor in an AMD chipset, the CPU will not work properly.

Intel chipsets

The list of the most popular Blue chipsets and their characteristics look like this:

• H110 - suitable for ordinary "office machines". Able to ensure correct operation in the browser, office programs and mini-games;
• B150 and H170 are two chipsets identical in their characteristics. Great for mid-range computers and home media centers;
• Z170 - not far removed in terms of performance from previous models, but has great overclocking capabilities, which makes it an attractive solution for inexpensive gaming machines;
• X99 - a motherboard based on this chipset is very popular with gamers, video editors and 3D designers. capable of supporting high-performance components;
• Q170 - the main focus of this chip is on the security, convenience and stability of the entire system, which made it popular in the corporate sector. However, motherboards based on this chipset are expensive and lack high performance, which makes them unattractive for home use;
• C232 and C236 are suitable for processing large data streams, which has made them a popular solution for data centers. Best compatibility with Xenon processors.

AMD Chipsets

They are divided into two series - A and FX. In the first case, the greatest compatibility comes with A-series processors, which integrate weak graphics adapters. In the second, better compatibility with FX-series processors, which do not come with integrated graphics adapters, but are more productive and overclock better.

Here is a list of all sockets from AMD:

• A58 and A68H are chipsets from the budget segment, they cope with the work in the browser, office applications and mini-games. Greatest compatibility with A4 and A6 processors;
• A78 - for the mid-budget segment and home multimedia centers. Better compatibility with A6 and A8;
• 760G is a budget socket suitable for FX series processors. Most compatible with FX-4;
• 970 is AMD's most popular chipset. Its resources are sufficient for medium performance machines and inexpensive gaming centers. The processor and other components running on this socket can be well overclocked. Better compatibility with FX-4, Fx-6, FX-8 and FX-9;
• 990X and 990FX - used in motherboards for expensive gaming and professional computers. The FX-8 and FX-9 processors are the most suitable for this socket.

Existing sizes

Consumer motherboards are divided into three main form factors. In addition to them, there are others, but very rarely. The most common board sizes:

CPU socket

The socket is a special connector for mounting the central processor and cooling system. When choosing a motherboard, you need to take into account that processors of a certain series have different socket requirements. If you try to install a processor on a socket that it does not support, then nothing will work for you. Processor manufacturers write down which sockets their product is compatible with, and motherboard manufacturers provide a list of processors that their board works best with.

Sockets are also produced by Intel and AMD.

AMD Sockets:

• AM3+ and FM2+ are the latest models for AMD processors. Recommended for purchase if you plan to improve your computer later. Boards with such sockets are expensive;
• AM1, AM2, AM3, FM1 and EM2 are deprecated sockets that are still in use today. The most modern processors are not compatible with them, but the price is much lower.

Intel sockets:

• 1151 and 2011-3 - system cards with such sockets entered the market relatively recently, so they will not become obsolete soon. Recommended for purchase if you plan to upgrade hardware in the future;
• 1150 and 2011 - are gradually beginning to become obsolete, but are still in demand;
• 1155, 1156, 775 and 478 are the cheapest and most rapidly obsolete sockets.

RAM

Full size motherboards have 4-6 ports for RAM modules. There are also models where the number of slots can reach up to 8 pieces. Budget and / or small-sized samples have only two connectors for installing RAM. Mother cards of small dimensions have no more than 4 slots for RAM. In the case of small boards, sometimes there may be such an arrangement of slots for RAM - a certain amount is soldered into the board itself, and next to it is a slot for an additional bracket. This option is more often seen on laptops.

RAM sticks may have designations such as "DDR". The most popular series are DDR3 and DDR4. The speed and quality of the RAM in conjunction with the rest of the computer components (processor and motherboard) depends on what number is at the end. For example, DDR4 provides better performance than DDR3. When choosing both a motherboard and a processor, see what types of RAM are supported.

If you plan to build a gaming computer, then see how many RAM slots are on the motherboard and how many GB are supported. Not always a large number of slots for brackets means that the motherboard supports a lot of memory, sometimes it happens that boards with 4 slots are able to work with more volumes than their counterparts with 6.

Modern motherboards now support all the main operating frequencies of RAM - from 1333 MHz for DDR3 and 2133-2400 MHz for DDR4. But still, it is recommended to check the supported frequencies when choosing a motherboard and processor, especially if you choose budget options. Provided that the motherboard supports all the necessary RAM frequencies, and the central processor does not, then pay attention to motherboards with built-in XMP memory profiles. These profiles can significantly reduce the loss in RAM performance if there are any incompatibilities.

Connectors for video card

All motherboards have space for graphics adapters. Budget and / or small-sized models have no more than 2 slots for inserting a video card, while more expensive and larger counterparts can have up to 4 slots. All modern boards have PCI-E x16 connectors, which allow for maximum compatibility between all installed adapters and other PC components. In total there are several versions of this type - 2.0, 2.1 and 3.0. Higher versions provide better compatibility and improve overall system performance, but are more expensive.

In addition to the video card, you can install other expansion cards (for example, a Wi-Fi module) in the PCI-E x16 slot if they have a suitable connector for connecting.

Additional fees

Additional boards are components without which the computer is able to function quite normally, but which improve the quality of work behind it. In certain configurations, some expansion cards can be an important component for the operation of the entire system (for example, on laptop motherboards it is desirable to have a Wi-Fi adapter). An example of additional boards is a Wi-Fi adapter, TV tuner, etc.

Installation takes place using PCI and PCI-Express connectors. Consider the characteristics of both in more detail:

• PCI is an obsolete type of connector that is still used in old and / or cheap motherboards. The quality of work of modern additional modules and their compatibility can suffer greatly if they work on this connector. In addition to cheapness, this connector has another plus - excellent compatibility with all sound cards, incl. and newer;
• PCI-Express is a more modern and high-quality connector that provides excellent device compatibility with the motherboard. The connector has two subtypes - X1 and X4 (the latter is more modern). The subtype has almost no effect on the quality of the work.

Internal connectors

With their help, important components inside the case are connected, necessary for the normal functioning of the computer. They provide power to the motherboard, processor, serve as connectors for installing HDDs, SSDs and DVD drives.

Motherboards for home use can work on just two types of power connectors - 20-pin and 24-pin. The last connector is newer and allows you to provide enough power to powerful computers. It is advisable to select a motherboard and power supply with the same connectors for connection. But if you connect a motherboard with a 24-pin connector to a 20-pin power supply, you will not experience serious changes in system operation.

The processor is connected to the mains power supply in a similar way, only the number of pins for the connectors is less - 4 and 8. For powerful processors, it is recommended to purchase a motherboard and a power supply that support an 8-pin connection of the processor to the mains. Processors of medium and low power can function normally even at low powers, which are provided by a 4-pin connector.

SATA connectors are required to connect modern HDDs and SSDs. These connectors are on almost all motherboards, with the exception of the oldest models. The most popular versions are SATA2 and SATA3. SSD drives provide high performance and many times the performance if you install an operating system on them, but for this they must be installed in a SATA3 type slot, otherwise you will not see high performance. If you plan to install a regular HDD without an SSD, then you can purchase a board with only SATA2 connectors installed. These boards are much cheaper.

Integrated devices

All motherboards for home use come with pre-integrated components. The card itself has sound and network cards installed by default. Also on laptop motherboards there are soldered RAM modules, graphics and Wi-Fi adapters.

Provided that you purchase a board with an integrated graphics adapter, you need to make sure that it will work fine with the processor (especially if it also has its own integrated graphics adapter) and find out if this motherboard has the ability to connect additional video cards. If yes, then find out how compatible the built-in graphics adapter is with third-party ones (written in the specifications). Be sure to pay attention to the presence in the design of the VGA or DVI connectors that are required to connect the monitor (one of them must be installed in the design).

If you are engaged in professional sound processing, then be sure to pay attention to the codecs of the built-in sound card. Many sound cards have standard codecs for normal use - ALC8xxx. But their capabilities may not be enough for professional work with sound. For professional audio and video editing, it is recommended to choose cards with the ALC1150 codec, because it is capable of transmitting sound with the highest quality, but the price of motherboards with such a sound card is very high.

By default, the sound card has 3-6 3.5 mm inputs for connecting third-party audio devices. Many professional models have an optical or coaxial digital audio output, but they are also more expensive. For ordinary users, only 3 sockets will be enough.

The network card is another component that is built into the system board by default. You should not pay too much attention to this item, because. almost all cards have the same data transfer rate of about 1000 Mb/s and an RJ-45 type network output.

The only thing that is recommended to pay attention to is the manufacturers. The main manufacturers are Realtek, Intel and Killer. Realtech cards are used in the budget and mid-budget segment, but despite this they are able to provide a high-quality connection to the network. Intel and Killer NICs are able to provide excellent network connectivity and minimize problems in online games if the connection is unstable.

The number of outputs for connecting external devices directly depends on the dimensions and price of the motherboard. List of connectors that are most often found:

• USB - present on all motherboards. For comfortable work, the number of USB outputs should be 2 or more, because. with their help, flash drives, keyboard and mouse are connected;
• DVI or VGA are also installed by default. only with their help you can connect the monitor to the computer. If several monitors are required for work, then see that there are more than one of these connectors on the motherboard;
• RJ-45 - required to connect to the Internet;
• HDMI - somewhat similar to DVI and VGA connectors, except that it is used to connect to a TV. Some monitors can also be connected to it. This connector is not available on all boards;
• Audio jacks - required for connecting speakers, headphones and other audio equipment;
• Output for a microphone or an additional headset. Always provided in the design;
• Wi-Fi antennas - available only in models with an integrated Wi-Fi module;
• Button to reset BIOS settings - with its help you can reset the BIOS settings to the factory state. Not available on all maps.

Electronic components and power circuits

The service life of the board depends very much on the quality of the electronic components. Budget motherboards are equipped with transistors and capacitors without additional protection. Because of this, in the event of oxidation, they swell greatly and are able to completely disable the motherboard. The average service life of such a board will not exceed 5 years. Therefore, pay attention to those boards where the capacitors are Japanese or Korean-made, because. they have special protection in case of oxidation. Thanks to this protection, it will be enough to replace only a damaged capacitor.

Also on the motherboard there are power circuits that determine how powerful components can be installed in a PC case. The power distribution looks like this:

• Low power. More common on budget cards. The total power does not exceed 90 W, and the number of power phases is 4. Works normally only with low-power processors that cannot be overclocked too much;
• Average power. Used in the medium-budget and partly in the expensive segment. The number of phases is limited to 6, and the power is 120 W;
• High power. Can be more than 8 phases, better interaction with demanding processors.

When choosing a motherboard for a processor, pay attention not only to socket and chipset compatibility, but also to the operating voltage of the card and processor. Motherboard manufacturers post on their websites a list of processors that work best with a particular motherboard.

Inexpensive motherboards do not have a cooling system at all, or it is very primitive. The socket of such boards is capable of supporting only the most compact and lightweight coolers that do not differ in high-quality cooling.

Those who require maximum performance from a computer are advised to pay attention to boards where it is possible to install a massive cooler. Even better, if this motherboard has its own copper pipes for heat dissipation by default. Also make sure that the motherboard is strong enough, otherwise it will sag under the heavy cooling system and fail. This problem can be solved by purchasing special fortifications.

When buying a motherboard, be sure to look at the length of the warranty period and the warranty obligations of the seller / manufacturer. The average term is 12-36 months. The motherboard is a very fragile component, and if it breaks, it may be necessary to change not only it, but also a certain part of the components that were installed on it.

Choosing a motherboard for an already purchased processor requires certain knowledge. First of all, it is recommended to pay attention to the characteristics of already purchased components, because. it makes no sense to buy a cheap motherboard for a TOP processor and vice versa.

Initially, it is better to buy such basic components as a system unit (case), a central processor, a power supply, a video card. If you decide to purchase a motherboard first, then you should know exactly what you want to expect from an already assembled computer.

Initially, you need to understand which brands are leading in this market and whether they can be trusted. Here is a list of recommended motherboard manufacturers:

If you have already bought powerful and expensive PC components, then by no means buy a cheap motherboard. In the best case, the components will not work at full capacity, lowering all performance to the level of budget PCs. At worst, they will not work at all and you will have to buy another motherboard.

Before assembling a computer, you need to decide what you want to get in the end, because. it will be easier to choose a board without purchasing in advance all the main components for the computer. It is better to buy a high-quality central board (you should not save on this purchase if the possibilities allow it) and then, based on its capabilities, select the rest of the components.

Chipsets for motherboards

It directly depends on the chipset how many components you can connect to the motherboard, whether they can work with 100% efficiency, which processor is better to choose. In fact, a chipset is something similar to an already built-in processor in a board, but which is responsible only for the most basic functions, for example, working in the BIOS.

Almost all motherboards are equipped with chipsets from two manufacturers - Intel and AMD. Depending on which processor you have chosen, you also need to choose a board with a chipset from the manufacturer of the selected CPU. Otherwise, there is a chance that the devices will be incompatible and will not work properly.

About Intel chipsets

Compared to the “red” competitor, the “blue” ones do not have many models and varieties of chipsets. Here is a list of the most popular ones:

• H110- suitable for those who do not pursue performance and require the computer only to work correctly in office programs and browsers.
• B150 And H170– there are no significant differences between them. Both are great for mid-range computers.
• Z170- A motherboard based on such a chipset supports overclocking of many components, making it an excellent solution for gaming computers.
• X99- is in demand in a professional environment that requires a lot of resources from the system (3D modeling, video processing, game creation). Also good for gaming machines.
• Q170- this is a chipset from the corporate sector, it is not particularly popular among ordinary users. The main emphasis is on security and stability.
• C232 And C236- used in data centers, allows you to process a huge amount of information. Works best with Xenon processors.

About AMD chipsets

They are conditionally divided into two series - A and FX. The first is suitable for A-series processors, with already integrated video adapters. The second for the FX-series CPUs that do not have an integrated graphics adapter, but compensate for this with high performance and overclocking potential.

Here is a list of major AMD chipsets:

• A58 And A68H- very similar chipsets that are suitable for a regular office PC. Works best with AMD A4 and A6 processors.
• A78- for multimedia computers (work in office applications, simple manipulations with graphics and video, launching "light" games, surfing the Internet). Most compatible with A6 and A8 CPU.
• 760G- suitable for those who need a computer as a "typewriter with Internet access." Compatible with FX-4.
• 970 - its capabilities are enough to run modern games at minimum and medium settings, professional work with graphics and simple manipulations with video and 3D objects. Compatible with FX-4, Fx-6, FX-8 and FX-9 processors. The most popular chipset for AMD processors.
• 990X And 990FX- an excellent solution for powerful gaming and semi-professional machines. Best compatibility with FX-8 and FX-9 CPUs.

About guarantees

When buying a motherboard, be sure to pay attention to the guarantees provided by the seller. On average, the warranty period can vary from 12 to 36 months. If it is less than the specified range, then it is better to refuse to buy in this store.

The thing is that the motherboard is one of the most fragile components of the computer. And any breakdown of it will necessarily lead, at a minimum, to the replacement of this component, the maximum - you will have to think about the complete replacement of a part or all the components that were installed on it. This is equivalent to replacing almost the entire computer. Therefore, in no case can not save on guarantees.

About dimensions

It is also a very important parameter, especially if you are buying a motherboard for a small case. Here is a list and characteristics of the main form factors:

In addition to these form factors, there are others, but they are practically not found on the market for components for home computers.

Processor socket

This is the most important parameter when choosing both a motherboard and a processor. If the sockets of the processor and motherboard are incompatible with each other, then you will not be able to install the CPU. Sockets are constantly undergoing various modifications and changes, so it is recommended to buy models with only the most current modifications so that in the future you can easily replace them.

Sockets from Intel:

• 1151 And 2011-3 - These are the most modern types. If you prefer Intel, then try to buy a processor and motherboard with just such sockets.
• 1150 And 2011 - they are still widely used on the market, but have already begun to become obsolete.
• 1155 , 1156 , 775 And 478 are outdated socket models that are still in use. Recommended for purchase only if there are no other alternatives.

Sockets from AMD:

• AM3+ And FM2+- these are the most modern sockets from the "red".
• AM1, AM2, AM3, FM1 And EM2– are considered either completely obsolete, or are already beginning to become obsolete.

About RAM

Motherboards from the budget segment and / or small form factors have only two slots for installing RAM modules. On boards of standard sizes for desktop computers, there are 4-6 connectors. Motherboards for small cases or laptops have less than 4 slots. For the latter, this solution is more common - a certain amount of RAM is already soldered into the board, and there is one slot nearby in case the user wants to expand the amount of RAM.

RAM is divided into several types, which are referred to as "DDR". The most popular and recommended for today are DDR3 and DDR4. The latter ensures the fastest possible computer performance. Before choosing a motherboard, make sure that it supports these types of RAM.

It is also recommended to take into account the possibility of increasing the amount of RAM by adding new modules. In this case, pay attention not only to the number of slots, but also to the maximum amount in GB. That is, you can buy a board with 6 connectors, but it will not support so many GB of RAM.

It is recommended to pay attention to the range of supported operating frequencies. DDR3 RAM operates at frequencies from 1333 MHz, and DDR4 2133-2400 MHz. Motherboards almost always support these frequencies. It is also important to pay attention to whether the central processor supports them.

If the CPU does not support these frequencies, then buy a card with XMP memory profiles. Otherwise, you can seriously lose in RAM performance.

Place for installing video cards

In medium and high-end motherboards, there may be up to 4 connectors for graphics adapters. On budget models, there are usually 1-2 sockets. In most cases, PCI-E x16 connectors are used. They allow you to ensure maximum compatibility and performance between installed video adapters. The connector has several versions - 2.0, 2.1 and 3.0. The higher the version, the better the performance, but the price is correspondingly higher.

PCI-E x16 slots can also support other expansion cards (such as a Wi-Fi adapter).

About additional fees

Expansion boards are additional devices that can be connected to the motherboard, but which are not critical to the operation of the system. For example, Wi-Fi receiver, TV tuner. For these devices, PCI and PCI-Express slots are used, more about each:

• The first type is rapidly becoming obsolete, but is still used in budget and middle class models. It costs significantly less than its newer counterpart, but device compatibility may suffer. For example, the newest and most powerful Wi-Fi adapter will work worse or not work at all on a given connector. However, this connector has excellent compatibility with many sound cards.
• The second type is newer and has excellent compatibility with other components. They have two variations of connector X1 and X4. The last one is newer. Connector types have almost no effect.

Information about internal connectors

They serve to connect important components to the motherboard inside the case. For example, to power the processor and the board itself, install, drive.

As for the power supply of the motherboard, older models work from a 20-pin power connector, and newer ones from a 24-pin one. Based on this, it is advisable to choose a power supply or select a motherboard for the desired contact. However, it will not be critical if the 24-pin connector is powered by a 20-pin power supply.

The processor is powered according to a similar scheme, only 4- and 8-pin connectors are used instead of 20-24-pin connectors. If you have a powerful processor that requires a lot of power, then it is recommended to buy a board and power supply with 8-pin connectors. If the processor is not too powerful, then you can completely get by with 4-pin connectors.

As for connecting SSD and HDD drives, almost all boards use SATA connectors for this. It is divided into two versions - SATA2 and SATA3. If an SSD drive is connected to the main board, then it is better to buy a model with a SATA3 connector. Otherwise, you won't see good performance from an SSD. Provided that you do not plan to connect an SSD, you can purchase a model with a SATA2 connector, thereby saving a little on the purchase.

Integrated devices

Mother cards can come with already integrated components. For example, some laptop boards come with soldered graphics cards and RAM modules. All motherboards have integrated network and sound cards by default.

If you decide to purchase a processor with a graphics adapter integrated into it, then make sure that the board supports their connection (usually this is written in the specifications). It is also important that external VGA or DVI connectors are integrated into the design, which are needed to connect the monitor.

Pay attention to the built-in sound card. For most users, standard codecs such as ALC8xxx will suffice. If you are planning to engage in video editing and/or sound processing, then it is better to pay attention to boards with an integrated adapter with the ALC1150 codec, because it provides excellent sound, but also costs much more than the standard solution.

A sound card usually has 3 to 6 3.5 mm jacks for connecting audio devices. Sometimes there are models where an optical or coaxial digital audio output is installed, but they are also more expensive. This output is used for professional audio equipment. For normal use of a computer (connecting speakers and headphones), only 3 sockets are enough.

Another component that is integrated into the motherboard by default is the network card responsible for connecting the computer to the Internet. The standard parameters of the network board on many motherboards are a data transfer rate of about 1000 Mb / s and an RJ-45 type network output.

The main manufacturers of network cards are Realtek, Intel and Killer. I use the products of the first in the budget and middle price categories. The latter are more often used in expensive gaming machines, because. provide excellent performance in online games even with a poor network connection.

The number and types of external sockets depend on the internal configuration of the board itself and its price. more expensive models have additional outlets. List of connectors that are most often found:

• USB 3.0 - it is desirable that there be at least two such outputs. A flash drive, mouse and keyboard (more or less modern models) can be connected through it.
• DVI or VGA - available in all boards, because it can be used to connect a computer to a monitor.
• RJ-45 is a mandatory design element. It is used to connect to the Internet. If the computer does not have a Wi-Fi adapter, then this is the only way to connect the machine to the network.
• HDMI - needed to connect a computer to a TV or a modern monitor. DVI alternative.
• Audio jacks - required for connecting speakers and headphones.
• Output for a microphone or an additional headset. Always included in the design.
• Wi-Fi antennas - available only in models with an integrated Wi-Fi module.
• Button for resetting BIOS settings - allows you to quickly reset the BIOS settings to the factory state without disassembling the computer case. Available only on expensive boards.

Power circuits and electronic components

When choosing a motherboard, be sure to pay attention to electronic components, because. they depend on the life of the computer. On cheap models, ordinary electronic capacitors and transistors are installed, without any additional protection. After 2-3 years of service, they may well oxidize and render the entire system unusable. It is better to choose more expensive models, for example, where Japanese or Korean-made solid capacitors are used. Even if they fail, the consequences will not be so catastrophic.

It is very important to pay attention to the power supply scheme of the processor. Distribution of power circuits:

• Low power - used in budget motherboards, have a power of no more than 90 W and no more than 4 power phases. Only low-power processors with low overclocking potential are suitable for them.
• Medium power - have no more than 6 phases and power not exceeding 120 watts. This is enough for all processors from the middle price segment and some from the high one.
• High power - have more than 8 phases, work perfectly with all processors.

When choosing a motherboard for a processor, it is important to pay attention not only to whether the processor is suitable for sockets, but also to the voltage. On the motherboard manufacturer's website, you can immediately see a list of all processors that are compatible with a particular board.

Budget models do not have this system at all, or have one small radiator that can only cool low-power processors and video cards. Oddly enough, these cards are the least likely to overheat (unless, of course, you overclock the processor too much).

If you are planning to build a good gaming computer, then pay attention to motherboards with massive copper heatsink tubes. However, there is a problem - the size of the cooling system. Sometimes, due to too thick and high pipes, it can be difficult to connect a video card and / or a processor with a cooler for a long time. Therefore, it is necessary to check everything in advance.

When choosing a motherboard, you need to take into account all the information that was indicated in the article. Otherwise, you may encounter various inconveniences and unnecessary expenses (for example, the board does not support a certain component).

It is important to approach the choice of a motherboard with all responsibility, since it is one of the main elements that connects the components of a computer. Even the mouse and keyboard are connected to the motherboard connectors, not to mention the organization of communication with the main components of the PC. The motherboard must be compatible with the processor, so you should choose them either together, or select one of the devices for the other. In addition, it will not be superfluous to take care of a further upgrade in advance, if it is planned in the future. Often, assembling a computer begins with the purchase of a processor and a video card. At the same time, the motherboard is selected appropriate, for example, when you purchase an Intel CPU with the K index, that is, for overclocking, the motherboard chipset must have a Z index that supports this feature. Certain boards are suitable for each processor model, and it's not just about the manufacturer and the socket. There are exceptions when, with a suitable connector, device interaction is not ensured. When buying a motherboard, many parameters are decisive, including sockets (a processor socket that determines which model can be installed), chipsets, form factor (dimensions also matter), interfaces (number and type of connectors), memory slots, and others nuances. , which are the main component of the motherboard, what their functions are expressed in, as well as which chipset is better to choose in this or that case. This element of the motherboard can also be purchased separately, if circumstances so require.

The right choice of motherboard chipset in 20148.

The chipset of a PC or laptop motherboard is a set of chips, its purpose is to ensure the smooth operation of all components, including a processor, video card, hard drives, memory cards and other peripheral devices. In the motherboard architecture in its classic version, there are a south and north bridge (relevant for AMD platforms, Intel has integrated the lion's share of the north bridge functions into the CPU), slots for installing RAM (DDR4, DDR3). The northbridge connects the processor to the graphics adapter, memory card and southbridge, it also determines the functioning parameters of the system bus, RAM and video controller. Despite the fact that in a modern assembly, computer performance does not depend on the chipset, since the northbridge has migrated to processors to increase data transfer speed and reliability, the role of the southbridge should not be underestimated either. It is on him that the functionality of the motherboard depends, thanks to him communication with the periphery is provided.

Often, a cooling chip is placed in addition to the north bridge, since it can overheat from excess load. The south bridge fails for other reasons, for example, shorting the USB port, contact with a faulty drive, etc. It is not necessary to change the entire board. If the motherboard is from a number of top-end ones, it makes sense to change only the chipset; with budget options, such actions are impractical. The main chipset manufacturers are Intel and AMD, familiar to everyone from processors. They make up the largest market share. NVidea was also involved in production, more familiar with its video cards, the role of other manufacturers is not so significant.

How to choose a chipset

The main condition for a successful purchase is full compatibility of components, therefore, when deciding which chipset to choose a motherboard for, you need to take into account the processor model that is installed or planned to be installed. Having initially decided on the platform, Intel or AMD, we proceed to the choice of the CPU. Since the processor and motherboard are in close relationship, we select them simultaneously or under each other. The question of which manufacturer is better is incorrect in this case, so there will be no answer to it, we will consider chipsets from both AMD and Intel. Both corporations produce high-quality products and have long established themselves in the market.

In cases where the CPU is already available, the range of options narrows. If the choice with the platform is most often predetermined, then you will have to carefully read the rest of the board parameters so that the purchase meets the requirements. So, the cost of a top model does not make any sense if the computer will be used in an office or at home with minimal use of resources, therefore, first of all, it is worth deciding what tasks the board is selected for, the same applies to the processor or other components involved in the assembly. It is not good if a device with great potential does not use even half of its capabilities, while you need to take into account the material side of the issue, because you have to pay for power and additional functionality. Since all the elements go together, they must be in harmony for the best joint functioning.

Top motherboards are built on the Z chipset, but this does not mean at all that you need to chase devices from the first lines of the rating. After all, the compatibility of the elements and the expediency of the purchase are more important. To determine which motherboard chipset will be better, you can look at the parameters of the processor, a clear idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwhat tasks the computer is used for is also a decisive factor. Having outlined the goals, we begin the selection. In general it looks like this:

• For an office or home computer (provided that it is not a gamer's computer), a budget assembly is suitable, because it is simply unnecessary to equip the device with high-power components. A board that interacts with a CPU with an integrated graphics core is quite suitable for working in conjunction with the same processor. For a budget build, the H110 or H310 chipset is the best choice. You should not expect great functionality from motherboards based on chipsets of this level, but this does not mean at all that they are bad;
• If the user works more seriously with graphics, for example, uses graphic applications, plays games with average system requirements, an additional video card is purchased, then there is no need for a graphics chipset, it should only support the functioning of the installed video adapter. For an assembly of average power, motherboards based on B 150, B 250 chipsets are suitable.

The range of motherboards based on mid-level chipsets is quite wide. Here you can find models with decent equipment from both Intel and AMD;

• For a powerful computer on which professional work with graphics, demanding programs is carried out, heavy games are launched, both a high-performance processor and an appropriate board that also supports several video cards are selected. Chipsets Z 270 or Z 170 are ideal for overclocking RAM, processor. For some boards on the Z170 there is a modified BIOS, due to which it is possible to overclock processors that do not have a K index via the bus (relevant for Skylake 6th generation). Overclockers will find a suitable motherboard model among the range of boards with older chipsets. Such motherboards have the best equipment, so it will not be difficult to find an instance with an integrated Wi-fi or Bluetooth module (if necessary) or other additional goodies in this category of models. By the way, if the board and the processor do not support overclocking, this does not mean that a computer with such equipment will not be a gaming one. For a gaming computer on Intel, Z370, H370, B360 chipsets are suitable.

The Best Intel and AMD Motherboard Chipsets

As mentioned above, the concept of "the best chipset" is very arbitrary. The best choice will always be the most suitable option for a particular assembly. However, Intel has placed Z chipsets at the top of the food chain, usually (though not always) with more features, so they will lead the rating.

Intel chipsets

In addition to the letter marking, the chipsets are divided into series (the 300th, 200th, 100th series are relevant today). The 300th is adapted for the eighth generation of processors, the 200th is suitable for the seventh and sixth, the 100th for Intel Core, Pentium and Celeron. Indexes Z, H, B, Q indicate the categories of chipsets (Z - gaming with overclocking capability, H - functional mainstream chipsets, B - for office or home, Q - for business).

300

Let's start the list of Intel chipsets from the top. Motherboards equipped with these particular chipsets shine in the ratings today.

• Z370/390. The difference between the chipsets is not that big. The Z370 chipset is a pioneer in the series, one of the best, but despite the overclocking capability, some of the functionality inherent in subsequent instances of the 300th is missing (compare the same H370 with the new USB1 Gen 2 and support for wireless networks). The new Z390 is a slightly more modernized analogue of the Z370 with the same PCI-Express channel and USB drive configurations, but with the addition of USB 3.1 Gen 2 and Intel Wireless-AC MAC;
• Q As with Z-chipsets, multiple video cards are supported, but there is no overclocking option. It is adapted to business needs, so you can’t count on the assortment of motherboards with its participation;
• The H370, which is a step down, is very similar to its Z370 sibling, and although it does not have overclocking capability, and PCI-Express and USB channels are slightly smaller, the H370 outperforms USB1 Gen 2 and supports Wi-fi and Bluetooth 5.0. If the mainland is not purchased for the purpose of overclocking, then this chipset should be paid attention to when assembling a productive computer;
• B360 is not as fancy chipset as the one discussed above, but not as limited in functionality as H310, it has a dual-channel memory controller, USB1 Gen 2, supports version 3.0 buses, and also allows you to use a graphics core integrated into modern Intel processors;
• H310 is a budget version of the series with a minimum set of functions for undemanding users. The chipset does not support the PCI-Express version 3.0 bus, like the other representatives of the series, there is a second one here, which has a lower bandwidth. The situation is exactly the same with the DMI version, the memory controller is single-channel, and in general, many features have been cut.

100 and 200

There is no strong difference between the series, although the 200th and more have been modernized.

• X299 is worth special attention, it is designed for the Kaby Lake-X and Skylake-X high-performance CPU line without integrated graphics and supports overclocking;
• Z170/270. Like other Z-index carriers, the chipsets are ideal for overclocking processors and are equipped with good functionality;
• H170/270. With motherboards equipped with H chips, the user has much more options than when using B, while there is no overclocking on such motherboards;
• B150/250 is the golden mean between the budget option and the gaming one. Boards based on these chipsets are installed in the assembly of medium power, sufficient to perform various everyday tasks on a PC;
• The H110 has limited functionality, but is great for budget assemblies, because it can be unreasonable to purchase an expensive motherboard with many features, for example, in the case of office work, etc.

Chipsets with the Q index are not too different from H, while they have a certain set of corporate goodies. In all Intel series, there is a certain structure that ranks models based on their inherent bells and whistles. The cherry on Intel's cake may soon be the announced X399 chipset (the name echoes AMD's Ryzen Theadripper CPU model).

AMD Chipsets

The company offers two options for chipset configurations - chipsets, where the south and north bridges coexist in one set and exist separately from each other. Combined variations are oriented for processors with new AM4 and TR4 sockets, a separate configuration is used for earlier sockets.

TR4 processors

Under the powerful AMD Ryzen Theadripper CPUs, the company released the X399 chipset. A significant proportion of controllers have now migrated to the processor, which has increased performance and reliability (it's no secret that the processor cools better). The equipment includes 4-channel RAM, NVMe device connection and other useful things. Overclocking is supported.

AM4 processors

Chipsets for AM4 also have a combined version, and the lion's share of controllers moved to the processor, only peripherals remained for the chipset.

• The X470 is a new top-of-the-line chipset that is a more upgraded version of the X370. The chipset is perfect for gamers, overclockers. Among the features - overclocking, support for multiple video cards, booting from NVMe RAID, etc. In addition, X470 supports AMD StoreMI technology, which allows you to combine hard drives into one volume and automatically move frequently used files to SSD .;
• B350 is a more modest representative of chipsets for gaming computer motherboards, while also providing the ability to overclock and work with multiple video cards;
• A320 is an option for "workhorses" that operate with one video adapter. Overclocking is not supported in this case, but the chipset's capabilities are quite enough to solve urgent problems.

For small form factor motherboards, the X300 chipsets (analogous to the gaming X370) and A300 (analogous to the A320) are produced. The difference lies in the reduced support for connection interfaces.

AM3+ processors

Chipsets for AM3+ sockets are available in a northbridge and southbridge configuration.

• The 990FX and 990X chips are designed for gaming platforms, support overclocking and OverDrive control, there is no integrated graphics. 990FX supports 4 video cards, 990X - two;
• There is also an AMD 970 chipset with similar specifications, but it supports one video adapter;
• The 980G with integrated graphics is ideal for office and low-end home PCs without a connected graphics card. It will be possible to play not too demanding games, if the processor power allows, one video card slot is available.

Processors FM2+

FM2+ chipsets and similar sockets are suitable for A-series and Athlon APUs.

• A88X provide the ability to overclock, support the connection of two video cards, RAID functionality (it is advisable to use with AMD A8 - A6);
• A78 also has an arsenal for overclocking, supports one video adapter (it is better to use it on A6 - A4 CPU lines);
• A58 and more advanced fellow A68H. Both chipsets support dual graphics (improved graphics performance is achieved through the use of hybrid processors in conjunction with some graphics adapters from AMD).

Results

Considering the current market, it should be taken into account that Intel's Coffee Lake generation processors are only compatible with the new 300 chips and the LGA1151v2 socket, while new AMD processors, including the second generation Ryzen, are compatible with AM4. Chipsets from Intel, marked Z or X, allow you to overclock the machine, while others do not, even with a processor with a free multiplier, suggesting such manipulations with its frequency. With AMD, overclocking can be done on a motherboard with an X or B chipset.

When the goals are completely different and the extra spending of funds is not justified, or a very limited budget for the assembly plays a decisive role, you can get by with not particularly outstanding motherboards. By the way, among them you can find interesting specimens with a good set of interfaces and connectors.