In this era of advancing technology, computers have become an integral part of our daily lives, with new models being introduced every year. But for every successful computer, there is an integral and inevitable core body, which is its motherboard. As the name suggests, just like a mother binding her family together, a motherboard does a similar job. It integrates all the computer components and makes sure the components receive the electric current properly. If you’re building your pc from the scratch, you will need a motherboard that can bind all your components efficiently. Hence before you buy a motherboard, make sure to follow these tips to get the best motherboard in the market.
- Consider the Form Factor
Form factor means the size, the mounting holes and the location offered by a motherboard, to check whether it suits your needs. ATX, Mini ATX, Micro ATX and E ATX are the typically used form factor for a motherboard. ATX is the oldest model used widely which offers 4 RAM slots and also 7 PCL-E slots whereas a Mini ATX model offers only 2 RAM slots and a single PCL-E slot. Micro ATX gives you 4 PCL-E slots and is quite smaller in size whereas E ATX is the largest type and has advanced features suitable for server machines. You can use more RAM cards in it as it offers 6 RAM slots and many other features. You can choose which model motherboard suits you the best based on your PC requirements.
- Check motherboard compatibility with your processor
Check whether the motherboard is compatible with your processor which would either be AMD or Intel. A CPU is a highly important part of your computer and it effectively executes all the computer functions. It’s the brain of the computer, so make sure your motherboard is compatible with your processor before buying it. Buying an Intel-based or AMD-based motherboard for any Intel or AMD processor won’t do any good, as the CPU socket type varies for each model of these 2 processors. Hence when you buy a motherboard, first check the CPU socket type of your processor model, then confirm whether the motherboard you’re planning to buy has it. For Example, the 12th Gen Intel processor requires LGA 1700 socket whereas the 11th Gen Intel processor requires LGA 1200 socket.
- Check if the motherboard chipset supports your processor
A chipset can be called the glue of a motherboard as it is responsible for communicating with all your computer components including the CPU, GPU, RAM, Storage drives, and peripherals. The chipset type will be different for both AMD and Intel processors, for example, Intel 12th and 13th Gen processors require Intel 600 series chipset, whereas Intel 10th and 11th Gen processors use Intel 400 and 500 series chipset motherboards. When it comes to AMD processors, the happy news is most of them work well with a wide range of chipset models. For example, the Ryzen 7 3700X can either go well with B450 or B550 chipsets, which are quite pocket-friendly or it can go for a high-end model like the X570. So before you buy a motherboard, make sure which chipset type you require.
- Check RAM compatibility
Similar to the processor, you also need to make sure your motherboard supports your RAM type. The type of RAM varies for each processor, for example, Intel 12th and 13th Gen processors support both DDR4 and DDR5 RAM cards, whereas the AMD 7th Gen series will only support DDR5 RAM. Besides RAM type, you will also need to check whether your motherboard supports the RAM speed (frequency) and offer RAM slots for future upgrades. For high-end gamers, DDR5 RAM offers great speed, whereas DDR4 still is the best choice for lower latency, better stability and also cheaper. So choose your motherboard accordingly which can support your RAM type and its frequency.
- Storage drive and peripheral support
ATX motherboard offers 4 to 5 M.2 slots and 6 SATA slots, whereas a Micro ATX motherboard gives you 2 PCle 4.0 M.2 slots for SSDs. It all depends on your requirement, your budget, whether you need great space or if you opt SSDs or HDDs. Your motherboard also needs enough ports to plug in your USBs, HDMI cable and other external components, an optical disk drive if needed, a type C port for the charger if needed, and also Thunderbolt 4 ports. Make sure your motherboard has all these ports to avoid future mishaps.
- Check whether your motherboard can overclock
A strong motherboard is essential for overclocking your CPU, GPU and RAM performance. Make sure that your motherboard has a cooling mechanism to eradicate excess heat and also whether the VRM structure is capable of providing the extra power needed for overclocking. The number of PCB layers dictates the amount of heat the motherboard can resist. Having more PCB layers ensures that more heat is resisted and your motherboard stays cool during heavy power usage. So before buying a motherboard, make sure it supports overclocking, whether it has a VRM structure that can provide additional power and enough PCB layers, heatsinks, heat pipes, and thermal pads to maintain the temperature of the VRM structure.
- Choose a motherboard which meets your budget
Motherboards vary in their prices with some offering high-end features and some offering fewer features but still durable. When it comes to purchasing, you should buy a motherboard which gives value for your money and should go according to your needs and preferences.
For example, a heavy gamer might require a motherboard with high-end chipsets, sockets to support heavy gaming processors, RAM slots to support the latest RAM type offering high frequencies and GPU slots to support their preferred graphics card. It is expensive to go for a high-end motherboard like this, but it is only subjected to gamers. For normal office or student usage, you won’t be needing a motherboard with high-end features. You can cut down a huge cost by going for a model which is just right for you and can finish your tasks efficiently. So before your purchase, always make sure you’re paying for what you really need, and not paying extra for things that you won’t be needing.
Here we Lists some of Top Selling Motherboards on Amazon
[amazon bestseller=”motherboards” items=”5″]