Purchasing a motherboard can be time-consuming, considering the myriad of form factors, chipsets, and variants available. But it’s the foundation of your system – it governs many aspects of your PC. From compatible processors and memory, to things like platform longevity and connectivity, you need to consider a many things when buying a motherboard.
Tip: concerned about your motherboard? These are the warning signs of a bad motherboard.
Socket and Chipset
A socket is the physical slot on a motherboard that determines which CPU can be installed on it, as every CPU is compatible with only one socket. You can’t install a CPU on a socket without compatibility. For example, Intel’s latest 14th Gen CPUs are compatible with the LGA 1700 socket, and AMD’s Ryzen 7000 CPUs are compatible with the AM5 socket.
The next most important aspect of a motherboard is the chipset; it is responsible for connecting all the components of your computer. Every socket is accompanied by a number of compatible chipsets, designed by CPU manufacturers, like AMD and Intel, and manufactured by board partners like Asus, Gigabyte, and MSI.
A motherboard’s chipset also determines:
- Data transfer speed
- Number of ports on the motherboard
- Features like overclocking
A motherboard socket can last for multiple CPU generations, but there are usually new chipsets accompanying every CPU generation. Because of this, sometimes a new CPU will need a BIOS or UEFI update before it can be used on a newer chipset on the same socket.
AMD usually offers support for multiple CPU generations on the same socket. For instance, the AM4 socket lasted from 2017 to 2022, and the company has promised support for the new AM5 socket until 2027, at least. Intel, on the other hand, rarely supports more than one CPU generation on the same socket. The exceptions are the 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen CPUs that are compatible with the same LGA 1700 socket.
FYI: wondering about BIOS and UEFI? Learn how to convert legacy BIOS to UEFI in Windows.
Form Factor
Once you know which motherboard socket you want to buy, the next important thing is to decide which motherboard size is right for you. Desktop motherboards usually come in four sizes: E-ATX, ATX, micro-ATX, and mini-ITX. The primary difference between these form factors is the number of different components you can install and the available room for cooling the components. Larger motherboards are also generally higher quality and have more features.
A smaller motherboard in a larger case will look visually unappealing, as there would be too much empty space inside the case. Essentially, if you don’t plan on installing multiple graphics cards and don’t need support for intense overclocking and more than a few components, a Micro-ATX, or even a Mini-ITX motherboard, will more than serve your needs.
In addition, if you’re after a small form factor (SFF) computer, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX boards will be more suitable.
Good to know: confused about the size of your case? These PC case size options will help you make the right choice.
RAM and Storage Support
The journey of buying a motherboard doesn’t end with the chipset and form factor. Every motherboard is compatible with only one of the two types of memory, DDR4 and DDR5. If you’re building an Intel system with the 12th, 13th, or 14th Gen CPUs, you’ll have the option to choose a DDR4 or DDR5 version of the same motherboard, as these CPUs support both. But in the case of AMD, the previous-gen AM4 motherboards support only DDR4 RAM, while the newer AM5 models support only DDR5 RAM.
Smaller motherboards will often have just two RAM slots, limiting future RAM upgrades. Plus, some lower-end motherboards can limit the maximum RAM speed to 6,400MT/s, whereas higher-end boards would support speeds of up to 8,000MT/s, or even more.
You need to be careful which PCIe generation your motherboard supports. This is mostly important for your SSD. A motherboard with only PCIe 3.0 M.2 slots will be able to run a PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 NVMe SSD, but at reduced speeds. If you’re planning to run multiple high-speed SSDs on your computer, look for a motherboard that has enough M.2 slots with the desired PCIe generation support.
FYI: building a gaming PC? These are the best SSDs for gaming.
Connectivity Ports and Expansion Slots
The number of I/O ports on your motherboard will determine the number of peripherals you can connect to your PC. This becomes important when you have multiple wired and wireless devices, like keyboards, mice, and headphones. Even wireless devices need a USB slot for their receivers. Entry-level motherboards will often have the bare minimum of USB ports, SATA ports, Ethernet ports, and audio/video ports.
Mid-range motherboards are often the best choice, as they offer a decent number of higher-specced ports, such as USB 3.2 Gen2x2, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Thunderbolt 4, and 2.5Gb Ethernet. You’ll also get integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on many motherboards.
Besides the I/O ports, the number and performance of the expansion slots on your motherboard can also be important, depending on your use case. A PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 slot for the graphics card will future-proof your system for the time when GPUs take full advantage of the increased PCIe bandwidth. If you want to connect sound cards or network cards, you’ll need sufficient high-speed expansion slots.
You should also take note of the number of PCIe lanes on your motherboard. They determine how many high-speed PCIe components you’ll be able to run simultaneously. Those running multiple graphics cards or NVMe SSDs will need to be careful about this aspect.
VRMs and Other Features
The motherboard VRM or voltage regulator module does the job of converting your AC power into the right voltage and amount for your individual PC components. It’s a physical component of your motherboard, made up of chokes, capacitors, and MOSFETs, and impacts your motherboard’s ability to deliver clean and stable power to the CPU, GPU, and other components.
If you’re overclocking your CPU, you’ll need a high-quality motherboard with a decent VRM design that’s capable of handling the increased voltage. Intel limits overclocking to its Z-series motherboards and K-series processors, whereas AMD allows overclocking on almost all of its motherboards and processors.
Besides the VRM design, other features that aren’t necessary but can influence your buying decision are:
- Onboard debug LEDs to display error codes when troubleshooting
- BIOS flashback button to update BIOS without a CPU
- Integrated I/O shield
- Ample fan and ARGB headers
- Tool-less M.2 slots for easy SSD installation
- Preinstalled M.2 heatsinks
- RGB lighting
Tip: done with CPU overclocking? Try overclocking your RAM with Ryzen Master.
Learning how to buy a motherboard may not be the most glamorous part of building a PC, but it’s as important to your build as choosing the best CPU or the best GPU. Once you know your specific needs and preferences, shortlist the motherboards that fit your use case. The best AMD gaming motherboards and the best Intel motherboards are great sources to begin your motherboard research.
Image credit: Pexels
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