What motherboards support. Motherboard selection. Types of motherboards

In one of the previous articles, we talked about. And that at the heart of any gaming assembly is a bunch of processor + video card. However, in order for these devices to really form a bundle and reveal their full potential, their company must have a third worthy participant - the motherboard.

In continuation of the topic, let's talk about how to choose a motherboard for a desktop computer. Perhaps you have read a dozen articles on this topic and have already formed an idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwhat your new “mother” should be. I will not retell banal truths, but will focus on what users often lose sight of, because inattention to some things leads to disappointment in the purchase or excessive spending.

Chipset

The first thing to look at when choosing a new motherboard is what kind of chipset it has.

CH ipset (system logic), speaking in simple terms- this is the brain of the motherboard, a set of chips that provides all its basic functionality and the interaction of connected devices. On old "mothers" it consisted of two large microcircuits - the north and south bridges. With the advent Intel processors Nehalem in 2009, the need for a two-chip chipset layout has disappeared. This happened because the memory controller and integrated graphics - what used to be the northbridge - moved to the processor. The remaining chip is now called not the south bridge, but the hub of the platform or in short PHC(Intel) FCH(AMD) or MCP(NVidia) depending on the manufacturer.
Block diagram of a motherboard based on a two-chip chipset.

What is included in the modern platform hub:

• Controller peripherals(sound, network and others), interrupt and direct memory access controllers, RAID controller.
• Bus controller USB, SATA, PCI, PCI Express, LPC, FDI (VGA video output), SPI, etc. Support for a number of legacy interfaces, in particular, PCI and FDI, is no longer supported in some of the latest chipsets.
• Real time clock (RTC).
• ME controller (only on Intel hubs).

But this is in general. Each individual version of the chipset differs in a set of technologies, as well as the type and number of supported interfaces for connecting devices. In addition, some of them have the ability to overclock the processor by a multiplier.

Depending on the functionality, chipsets are divided into classes or segments. For modern models from Intel, belonging to a class is determined by five letters in the name:

• H is a mass consumer segment of chipsets for multimedia and home systems. These are installed on motherboards of the lower and middle price categories.
• Q - business segment. It implements remote administration technologies, trusted boot, hardware-level security protection and other functions required by the corporate sector. It is used in mid-price and expensive motherboards.
• B - a budget class of chipsets for office "typewriters" with support for some features of the Q segment.
• Z - for overclockers. Supports overclocking of Intel K-series processors.
• X - top-level chipsets for powerful gaming machines. On their basis, the most expensive platforms are produced.

The marking of the bulk of AMD chipsets also begins with a letter, which means:

• A - mass segment.
• B - for business.
• X - for high performance gaming systems.

The numbers in the marking are the generation and index of the chipset model within the same series. For example, Intel B150 is a representative of the 100 series, Intel H270 is a representative of the 200 series. 50 and 70 are index values. The higher the index, the wider the capabilities of the chipset in comparison with other representatives of the same segment.

Modern Intel and AMD chipsets

The younger the generation of the chipset, the longer (conditionally) the motherboard will meet modern requirements.

At the beginning of 2018, among Intel chipsets, models of the 100 series, 200 series for Skylake and Kaby Lake processors, as well as 300 for the latest Coffee Lake microarchitecture, are relevant. Among AMD are representatives of the 300 and 400 series (the latter is promised to be released to the market this spring) for AMD Ryzen, Athlon X4 processors and 7th generation A-series hybrids.

socket type

Make sure the socket supports the processor you need.

Under the type of motherboard socket is understood the configuration of the socket located on it for installing the processor. The list of CPUs compatible with the board and, accordingly, the socket are determined by the chipset version. But be careful, as nuances are possible here. For example, the latest generation boards based on Intel 100, 200 and 300 series chipsets are equipped with an LGA 1151 socket. This socket is physically compatible with Skylake, Kaby Lake and Coffee Lake processors, however the latter will not run on a board designed for the first two. And vice versa.

In fact, motherboards for CPU Coffee Lake use the second revision of the LGA 1151 socket, but this is not always reflected in the description on store websites.

If the motherboard was released before the next generation of processors with the same type of socket was released, it is likely that the devices are incompatible with each other. At best, the compatibility problem will be solved by updating the BIOS, but this should be the will of the manufacturers. At worst, one of the devices will have to be changed to a more suitable one.

To find out which processors are supported by the motherboard model you like, it is often enough to “feed” Google or Yandex with the search query “ model_nameCPUsupport" or " model_nameprocessorsupport". Lists of compatible CPUs are often kept in nooks and crannies on motherboard manufacturers' websites and on some specialized resources.

Processor power system

Don't fall for marketing gimmicks.

Not all buyers of PC components have an idea of ​​​​how the processor power system, which is otherwise called the VRM module (or VRD, which is more correct), is arranged and how it functions. This is used by cunning marketers, passing off individual circuit solutions as progressive innovations. Thanks to their efforts, the confidence has settled in the minds of people that the more power phases a processor has, the better. And that a board with 8 phases of the VRM module is definitely worse than with 16.
Processor power system around the socket

There is some truth in this, since polyphase CPU power systems are used to smooth out voltage ripples, and the smoother it is, the higher its quality. The more phases, the less ripple and the lower the current load on the elements. However, there is a catch here, because marketers and engineers call CPU power phases different things.

In fact, the number of processor power phases on the boards from the example above can be the same. On the second they may be even less than on the first. Without going into technical details, I will explain: the true number of processor power phases is equal to the number of phases of the shim controller, which "conducts" this entire system. If an 8-phase PWM is installed on the first motherboard, and a 4-phase PWM is installed on the second, then the number of phases on them, respectively, will be 8 and 4. Where did the second one come from 16? It’s just that several power channels can be connected to one phase of the shim controller, in particular, 4. And together they get 16.

The difference between channels and true CPU power phases is that they do not smooth out ripples, but only distribute the current load. I admit that such solutions are technologically justified, but I think it is wrong to pass them off as something they are not, and even increase the price for it.

Set, models, versions and location of integrated devices

Not only the set is important, but also the placement of devices on the board.

The number of RAM slots, the network controller, the brand of the audio codec, the number, generation and location of the USB sockets, as well as other interfaces and devices that are present on the “board” of the motherboard - this is what, perhaps, all users focus on. And it is right. However, it is important to look not only at the presence and number of devices, but also at their location.
Realtek network controller

For example, you are planning to overclock the processor and have purchased a cooler with a massive heatsink for this. If you choose a "mother" on which the RAM slots are close to the socket, the cooler will block some of them, and you will not be able to install all the supported memory on the computer.

If the case system block long and tall, the basket for drives is located at the top, and the SATA ports are at the very bottom of the motherboard, the length of standard cables may not be enough.

These are just 2 possible situations, in reality there are much more nuances in terms of the mutual placement of devices.

Cooling system

Adequate cooling is the key to health.

Every modern motherboard is equipped with radiators for cooling large microcircuits and highly loaded elements of power circuits, however, some models are cooled efficiently, while others are not. On many gaming prototypes, heatsinks cover a significant surface area. Representatives of the economy class, as a rule, have nothing outstanding, except for one small aluminum “hedgehog” on the chipset.

According to some motherboard manufacturers, good cooling is a luxury that only top models deserve. And why not save on the rest?

Problems from prolonged operation in conditions of excessive heating and poor heat dissipation will most likely make themselves felt not in the first year of operation of the computer, but after the end of the warranty period for the “mother”. In a word, if you want your motherboard to "live" a long healthy life, choose models with good passive cooling.

BIOS (UEFI)

If a board with a top chipset is suspiciously cheap, some of its functions are most likely disabled inBIOS.

It is not always possible to know from the descriptions which functions and technologies are supported by the BIOS of a particular motherboard. But if you manage to find such information, consider yourself lucky. Availability for the user of the chipset functions is implemented through the BIOS interface (UEFI). And which of their set you can use, the board manufacturer decides in his "highest favor".

Such nuances are especially important to find out if you are building a computer for overclocking, gaming, or use in the corporate sector. Also, don't overlook technology support.

Form Factor

Size matters, but not decisive.

The form factor or size of the motherboard matters when choosing only in one case - if you have already acquired a system unit case and select components based on its capacity. The principle the more the better is not applicable when choosing motherboards. Among them there are both small and remote, and large, but slow.

Manufacturer

A well-known brand is insurance.

As for brands, it is still better to choose a motherboard from well-known ones. Large manufacturers such as Asus, Asrock, Gigabyte, MSI can afford expensive developments, so their products are usually more technologically advanced and more predictable. Buying an unfamiliar brand may save you money, but you risk missing out on warranty, BIOS updates, device documentation, and technical support. Or documents and support will be available only in Chinese, which will create unnecessary difficulties for you.

The best motherboard | Introduction

The best motherboard | February 2020 updates

Place maternal Gigabyte boards X570 Aorus Pro Wi-Fi in the category "Best X570 mid-range" won the model Gigabyte X570 Aorus Ultra.

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 your board has the correct socket that supports that 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 platform: Z390, H370, Z370 and X299

Model	Gigabyte Z390 Designare	ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming	ASRock H370M Pro4
Category	Best ATX Z390	Best Mini-ITX Z390	Best Intel H370
The best price in the Russian Federation, rub.	17200	13700	6600
Processor socket	LGA 1151	LGA 1151	LGA 1151
Chipset	Intel Z390	Intel Z390	Intel H370
Form factor	ATX	Mini-ITX	MicroATX
phase voltage regulator	13	7	10
PCIe 3.0 x16	(3)v3.0	(1) v3.0 (full speed)	(2) v3.0 (x16/x4*) (*shared with top PCIe x1)
USB ports (10 Gb/s)	(2) Type-C (Thunderbolt), (2) Type A	(4) Type A, (1) Type-C (Thunderbolt 3)	(1) Type-C, (1) Type A
USB ports (5Gb/s)	(4) Type A; (2) USB 2.0	(2) Type A	(2) Type A; (2) USB 2.0
Guarantee period	3 years	3 years	3 years

Model	Gigabyte Z370 Aorus Gaming 5	ASRock X299 Extreme4	ASRock X299E-ITX/ac
Category	Best ATX Z370	Best ATX X299	Best Mini ITX X299
The best price in the Russian Federation, rub.	13100	11900	n.a.
Processor socket	LGA 1151	LGA 2066	LGA 2066
Chipset	Intel Z370	Intel X299	Intel X299
Form factor	ATX	ATX	Mini-ITX
phase voltage regulator	11	11	7
PCIe 3.0 x16	(3) v3.0 (x16/x0/x4, x8/x8/x4, x8/x8/x2)	(3) v3.0 (44: x16/x16/x4), 28: (x16/x8/x4), 16: (x16/x0/x4,	(1)v3.0
USB ports (10 Gb/s)	(1) Type-C, (1) Type A	(1) Type-C, (1) Type A	(1) Type-C, (1) Type A
USB ports (5Gb/s)	(4) Type A; (2) USB 2.0	(4) Type A, (2) USB 2.0	(4) Type A
Guarantee period	3 years	3 years	3 years

Model	Gigabyte Z390 Gaming X
Category	Best Budget Z390
The best price in the Russian Federation, rub.	10100
Processor socket	LGA 1151
Chipset	Intel Z390
Form factor	ATX
phase voltage regulator	12
PCIe 3.0 x16	(2) v3.0 (x16/x4)
USB ports (10 Gb/s)	(1) Type A
USB ports (5Gb/s)	(5) Type A, (2) USB 2.0
Guarantee period	3 years

The best motherboard | The best on the Intel Z390 chipset

The best motherboard | Best ATX Z390 - Gigabyte Z390 Designare

ADVANTAGES

• Fully compliant Thunderbolt 3 ports
• Supports 8K pass-through from video cards via DisplayPort 1.4
• Two ports gigabit ethernet and Wi-Fi 1.73 Gbps
• Third PCIe x16 slot switches from chipset lines to processor lines
• Great price for extra features

LIMITATIONS

• Mediocre processor overclocking

VERDICT

The Z390 Designare beats the competition with a richer set of features for the same price, it has the same overclocking capabilities as its closest competitors, but better overclocked memory performance, and at least one option that justifies the premium cost. At the same time, it has mediocre overclocking capabilities, but given that you are unlikely to achieve a significant performance boost when overclocking the i9-9900K, this disadvantage can be ignored.

The best motherboard | Best Mini-ITX Z390 - ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming ITX

ADVANTAGES

• Extremely improved power efficiency of the Core i9-9900K
• Outstanding Performance
• Good overclocking potential
• Thunderbolt 3 and 1.73Gbps Wi-Fi at a very attractive price

LIMITATIONS

• Incredibly high voltage on DIMM
• Firmware hardware monitoring gives incorrect data about increased voltage on DIMM
• Thunderbolt 3 only works at half speed (20Gbps)
• Poor RGB lighting
• No Gen2 header for front USB 3.1 ports

VERDICT

Even if you never use Thunderbolt 3 ports, it's hard to disagree with the superiority of a board that does everything else better than the competition but costs less. The Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ac is cheaper than even the MSI ATX MGP Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon in the non-Wi-Fi version, although this is unlikely to impress those who need the extra DIMM slots and PCI Express offered on larger form factor boards. However, for those interested in a Mini ITX board with support Intel Core The i9-9900K, Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ac is definitely the best choice.

The best motherboard | Best Budget Z390 - Gigabyte Z390 Gaming X

ADVANTAGES

• The price is about 10,000 rubles
• Full support for Core i9-9900K
• Good overclocking potential

LIMITATIONS

• The second PCIe x16 slot only has four lanes from the chipset
• No header for front USB 3 Gen2 ports
• Only one USB 3 Gen2 header
• Hot voltage regulator needs a fan near the CPU socket

VERDICT

The Gigabyte Z390 Gaming X provides the same overclocking capabilities as the Gaming SLI at a similar design and significantly lower price. Apart from the Gaming SLI, which is no longer available in the US, the Gaming X is the only budget motherboard for overclocking Intel K-series processors for the LGA-1151 socket with an unlocked multiplier.

The best motherboard | Best on Intel H370 chipset

The best motherboard | Best on Intel H370 - ASRock H370M Pro4

ADVANTAGES

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

LIMITATIONS

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

VERDICT

Those who don't need RGB lighting or 10 Gigabit front USB 3.1 Gen2 ports will appreciate the fact that the ASRock H370M Pro4 offers more advanced ports in almost every case than the competition, and at a lower price.

The best motherboard | The best on the Intel Z370 chipset

The best motherboard | Best ATX Z370 - Gigabyte Z370 Aorus Gaming 5

ADVANTAGES

• Excellent overclocking potential
• Three M.2 slots
• Excellent location of connectors for coolers
• Advanced backlighting with two D-LEDs and two RGBWs

LIMITATIONS

• 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.

The best motherboard | Best on Intel X299 chipset

The best motherboard | Best ATX X299 - ASRock X299 Extreme4

ADVANTAGES

• Low price
• Good cpu overclock
• Superb overclocked memory bandwidth

LIMITATIONS

• Extremely many restrictions due to slot layout

VERDICT

ASRock X299 Extreme4 is a worthy choice, for example, to install a six-lane PCI Express x16 M.2 adapter paired with a single graphics card. The price may also tempt power users to upgrade from six-core to eight-core processors. However, the inconvenient arrangement of the slots imposes too many restrictions on the possible configurations.

The best motherboard | Best Mini ITX X299 - ASRock X299E-ITX/AC

Assembling or upgrading a computer is a solution to a problem with several inputs, and the result should satisfy all the “Wishlist” as much as possible and meet all the “mogelki” so as not to deplete the family budget. Well, let's start talking about the parts that make up any computer, from the basics, from the basis, from the mother of our systems. As you understand, today we will talk about how to choose a motherboard, which model can be the best purchase, what you can save on without overpaying for unnecessary functions. Today is the first part, and we will look at the lower and middle price range, leaving the models "for overclocking" and games for next time.

Criterias of choice

As always, we are dancing from the traditional item of Russian life, “from the stove”, for which we will choose the “folk” socket 1151, for which manufacturers have released a huge number of motherboards. With such a choice, sometimes the eyes really “run up”. We have to figure out how the fees differ, and for what the manufacturer wants to take this or that amount from us, and what to give for this amount.

Armed with knowledge, we will distribute all the boards into several classes. Naturally, this division is conditional, and does not mean at all that only dull performance, suitable only for office use, can be expected from a motherboard from the budget segment.

Not at all. Even ready-made system blocks from well-known manufacturers, moreover, positioned as gaming ones, are often equipped with motherboards based on the H110 chipset, which seem to be hardly suitable for this.

And yet, in terms of functionality and, most importantly, expansion options, motherboards differ. How they differ and depending on the purpose for which they are selected. If you are interested in the possibility of overclocking the processor and memory, this is one class of devices. If the assembled computer will have to work in normal mode until it is replaced / upgraded in the form in which it is bought, then what is the point of overpaying for redundant functions?

I will not limit the form factor either. ATX, mATX, Mini-ITX, Mini-STX and others - we'll leave everything and consider it. The only thing that we will leave out of the brackets is the preferences of a particular brand, the quality of service.

Budget motherboards

Models fall into this section not so much by price, but by their capabilities. Agree, the H110 chipset cannot be attributed to top solutions. This is typically a budget option for building systems with rather limited expansion and configuration options.

At the same time, such motherboards perform their work no worse than more expensive models, and within the limits of their capabilities, they work as they should. So let's see what's on sale right now. Let's go in ascending order.

ASRock H110M-DGS R3.0

One of the cheapest models, the price of which is around 3000 rubles. Has PCI-E x16 slots, 1 PCI-E x1 slot, 4 SATA3 slots, 2 slots for DDR4-2133 memory. A typical budget option with, however, a radiator is used for cooling.

R3.0 means that this is the 3rd revision of the board, and it should already support 7th generation Kaby Lake processors out of the box. If an earlier board came across, then that's okay too. In extreme cases, you will have to update the BIOS.

The board has a microATX form factor. The 8-pin CPU power connector is located close to the socket, which can cause problems when installing bulky coolers. It may not be possible to lay the cable qualitatively and neatly. Naturally, there is no talk of using two video cards. Moreover, there is only DVI for connecting a monitor.

MSI H110M PRO-D

In fact, it is a direct analogue of the previous one, the cost, if different, is 100-200 rubles in one direction or another, depending on the store. Of the differences - 2 PCI-E x1 slots, 6 power phases, 2 USB 3.1 slots and, perhaps, that's all. A slightly larger size allowed the board to be laid out more traditionally, placing the connectors for connecting drives along the bottom edge.

In general, this is a more than worthy choice for a minimum of money, and the board shows excellent performance. If you are ready to put up with only DVI, no M.2, only two memory slots, and do not plan to install a large number of additional devices then this board is definitely a bargain.

ASUS H110M-R/C/SI

At a price of about 3300 rubles. differs from those listed, perhaps, only by the presence of HDMI. There are no more benefits. So, if only DVI is not enough to connect a monitor, then in this case the whole “zoo” is present - VGA, DVI, HDMI. An overpayment of a couple of hundred rubles for the wide possibility of connecting a monitor is fully justified.

Of the features, it is worth mentioning the unsuccessful arrangement of contacts for connecting front audio connectors. They are located right in front of the PCI-E x16 slot, and the installed video card covers these pins. Yes, and one of the SATA stands out from the row, being a little deeper in the board.

MSI H110M PRO-VD (PLUS)

Unremarkable "mothers" at a price of just over 3300 rubles. At the same time, the PLUS version differs from the usual one in a smaller number of USB ports on the back wall (4 versus 6) and the presence of two full-fledged PS / 2 together with one combined one. Here is such a plus.

USB version 3.1 is used. DVI and VGA are used to connect the monitor. There are 4 SATA, 2 memory slots, 1 PCI-E x16 and 2 PCI-E x1.

In the rest - normal boards, if there are no cheaper alternatives, then you can take it.

ASUS H110M-CS

An incomprehensible fee, or rather, the price of it. For 3800 rubles. everything is offered the same as in the case of the cheapest ASRock H110M-DGS R3.0. The difference is in the presence of a second PCI-E x1 slot and the replacement of DVI with the already archaic VGA. For what to overpay, for a brand?

MSI H110M ECO

The price is just over 3800 rubles. seems overpriced, although compared to the previous one, it is somewhat compensated by the presence of VGA, DVI, HDMI, as well as the use of a network controller on an Intel chip, which is a little faster than solutions based on Realtek chips.

The board provides ample opportunities for energy saving. It is possible to manually turn off unused elements (fans, lights, etc.). There is also an automatic mode in which you can set up to 3 energy saving profiles. while using a high-quality element base.

Otherwise, there are no clear arguments in favor of this fee, as well as reasons to overpay. There are no advantages over cheaper alternatives.

MSI H110M Gaming

For a beautiful name, belonging to game boards and for the red connectors, the manufacturer wants 700 rubles more than for the previous, “environmentally friendly” version. You will have to pay for external attractiveness.

True, there will be not 4 USB connectors on the rear panel (which is not enough in our times), but 6, and 4 of them are versions 3.1. Otherwise, it is an analogue of the previous one, functionally not having any advantages.

MSI H110M GRENADE

Price - about 4700 rubles. It differs from most of the previous ones by the presence of an Intel network chip, an M.2 connector on the PCI-E bus and USB Type-C. Is it worth all the overpayment - you decide. M.2 availability for SSD installations under operating system may be useful when assembling compact computers.

ASRock H110M-STX

Mini-STX form factor board for building very compact systems. The cost is about 5200 rubles. The layout is specific, in which the connectors are located not only on the rear edge of the board, but also on the front. Of the features - support for processors with TDP up to 65 W, the use of an Intel network chip, modules SODIMM memory DDR4. There is USB Type-C, 2 SATA3. You can use VGA, HDMI, or DisplayPort to connect a monitor.

2 M.2 connectors installed:

• Key E (Socket 1) - for installing Wi-fi or Bluetooth modules.
• Key M (Socket 3) - for installing SSD drives on the PCIe Gen3 x4 2280 bus.

Please note that this board does not support M.2 drives running on the SATA bus, only PCIe!

An external 19 V power supply is used.

ASUS H110T

Form factor - Thin Mini-ITX. Price - about 5300 rubles. Of the differences from the previous model - the presence of two gigabit network interfaces (based on Intel and Realtek chips), the absence of USB Type-C, support for M.2 SSDs in sizes 2242/2260. Lack of support for the most popular 2280 SSD size may negate the use of this slot.

To connect the monitor, you can use HDMI, DisplayPort. Memory - notebook, SO-DIMM.

Other options

Naturally, these are not all models. I have listed only those that, in my opinion, may be of some interest. For about the same cost, you can find other options that do not differ in almost anything. So, the cheapest models can be competed with, for example, Gigabyte GA-H110M-S2, but at the same or slightly higher (50-100 rubles) cost, there are no advantages. The whole difference comes down to the number of power phases and layout.

MSI H110M PRO-VH is a typical competitor to the MSI H110M PRO-VD (PLUS) models, and differs only in the presence of HDMI, for which you will have to pay about 60 rubles.

You can pay a few hundred rubles extra if you really need an HDMI, M.2 connector, or you have equipment connected via outdated COM or LPT interfaces.

Many board models, in fact, have several modifications that differ in the installed interfaces, primarily for connecting a monitor. So, ASRock's simplest H110M-DGS R3.0 has only DVI, and H110M-DVS R3.0 also has VGA. True, it already costs 400 rubles more. ASRock H110M-HDV is already equipped with HDMI, and for this you will have to pay another 100 rubles compared to the previous version.

Boards such as Gigabyte GA-H110-D3A, ASRock H110 Pro BTC+ and the like stand somewhat apart. Their cost is 7500 for the first and about 12700 for the second. Both of them are full-fledged ATX, and such a characteristic as the number of PCI-E x1 ports speaks about the scope of application. Gigabyte has 5 of them, and ASRock has 12. It is probably already clear that these boards are designed specifically for cryptocurrency mining.

To summarize, there is no fundamental difference between the boards. You can take any at the lowest price with the required set of installed interfaces, the choice of which, in other matters, is not so wide. They differ in the presence and quantity of USB 3.0 / 3.1, USB Type-C, M.2 connector. There are differences in the way the monitor is connected. By DVI, you can connect even to the cheapest motherboard. Yes, and with HDMI, the model is only 300 rubles more expensive.

I would not pay much attention to the difference in the processor power system. Someone has only 4 phases, someone has 6. It is clear that the more of them, the better. Especially ASRock likes to save on the number of power phases. On the other hand, only she has radiators to cool these circuits. Considering that overclocking of processors is impossible, this is quite enough.

Perhaps, Mini-ITX, Mini-STX form factor models have their own specifics, but when choosing such motherboards, you most likely know why such options are needed.

Mid-Range Motherboards

Here, boards based on the B150/250, H170/270, Q170/270 chipsets will be accepted for consideration. Let me remind you that they differ from the H110 in a larger number of PCI-E lanes, the use of the 3rd generation of this interface, unlike the 2nd in the 110th chipset, a larger number of USB ports, and the ability to use already 4 DIMM slots instead of two .

The 2xx generation is not much different from the 1xx chipset generation. One of the main differences is drive support. Overclocking on these chipsets is not provided. This can only be done by increasing the frequency of the processor or memory. The use of processors with an unlocked multiplier (with the letter "K" in the marking) is not justified, since this feature cannot be used.

B150/250 chipsets are famous for office solutions, although the number of models offered is large, Q170/270 are specific products, more focused on the corporate segment, and the number of board models based on them is very small. The most popular one is the H170/270, which lacks only the ability to overclock the processor by a multiplier. In the rest - one of the most functional options.

Considering all the proposed models is a thankless task. There are quite a few of them, and most of them are not much different from each other. I will focus on the most attractive options.

ASRock B150M-HDS

In fact, it is a complete analog of the ASRock B110M-HDS board, differing only in a different chipset (B150) and a price of about 250-300 rubles higher. I don’t see much point in buying, given the minimum of connectors, the lack of M.2, and even the not very good location of SATA connectors. It will be difficult to lay cables nicely and neatly.

Gigabyte GA-B150M-D2V

One of the cheapest, which already has 6 SATA connectors. The cost is about 4200 rubles. In the pros - 4 USB 3.0 on the rear wall, the presence of VGA and DVI for connecting a monitor. Of the minuses - only 2 DIMM DDR4, lack of HDMI and M.2 (although this minus is rather controversial).

For your money - a good option.

Gigabyte GA-H170M-HD3 DDR3

Pretty controversial model. Chipset - H170. On the one hand, the price is about 4200 rubles, which includes 6 SATA3, 2 SATA Express (outdated connector), support for RAID 0,1,5,10, the presence of PCI-E M.2, VGA, DVI, HDMI. On the other hand, it works with memory of the already outdated DDR3 generation, and only 2 such modules can be installed. In our times, this is rather a minus, although if other characteristics suit you, then you can take it. There will be no noticeable difference between DDR3 and DDR4. The problem is with the upgrade. The next time you replace the motherboard, this memory will no longer be usable.

If memory modules of this particular generation remain, then you can save money and use them by updating the motherboard and processor, postponing the transition to a new generation of memory for another time.

The presence of a PCI slot is also debatable. One more PCI-E would be better. In general, I would not take this motherboard, precisely because of the futility of memory.

MSI B250M PRO-VD

A motherboard based on a fresh B250 chipset for 4400 rubles, and one of the cheapest on it. The asset is a PCIe M.2 connector, 4 USB 3.1 on the rear wall, the ability to connect 6 SATA drives. The lack of HDMI (there are only VGA and DVI), and there are only two memory slots can be disappointing. Otherwise, it's a good option at an attractive price on a good chipset.

ASRock B250M-HDV

Direct competitor of the previous model. It differs by a slightly higher price (about 4500 rubles), the presence of HDMI and a gigabit network card based on an Intel chip. True, USB is only version 3.0, no 3.1 and Type-C. In my opinion, the variant is a little more preferable than the model from MSI, if there are no complaints about the absence of the newfangled Type-C and USB 3.0 is quite enough.

A decent motherboard for the money.

ASUS H170M-E D3

An even more controversial option than the Gigabyte GA-H170M-HD3 DDR3. The cost is about 4600 rubles. The same DDR3 memory, although there are 4 slots for installing RAM modules. At the same time, only 4 SATA3, although with support for RAID 0,1,5,10, there is M.2.

I have no arguments in favor of this model. If you definitely need RAID, then there is a slightly cheaper Gigabyte, in which you can also connect more drives for 2 drives. The only, although controversial, plus is 4 memory slots, and even then, there is a Gigabyte GA-H170M-D3H DDR3, which also has 4 DIMMs and the same price. The model has become obsolete and is not interesting for purchase.

ASUS B150M-A/M.2

Quite a controversial option, primarily due to not the most recent chipset. Judge for yourself. After all, for 4800 rubles. there are 4 connectors for DDR4, and HDMI, and 6 SATA, and M.2, and USB 3.1 Type-C. In the minuses - the lack of RAID, the limitation of the memory frequency to 2133 MHz. If you need M.2 and Type-C is useful, then it makes sense to include this board in the list of candidates for purchase. It's not expensive, but it has everything you need. At the same time, almost everything the same can be found on a more recent chipset and for about the same money.

An alternative is the Gigabyte GA-B250M-DS3H, which costs about 200 rubles. larger, offers a more recent chipset, but no Type-C. The ASUS PRIME B250M-A costs about the same with the same specifications and the same price.

There is also the already mentioned ASRock B250M-HDV, which has everything that this model has, but with a more recent chipset. True, this ASUS has 4 slots for installing memory, unlike the B250M-HDV, but the price is slightly higher.

Another alternative is MSI B250M PRO-VDH, which has everything the same as this Asus, but the chipset is more recent.

MSI B250M BAZOOKA (PRO)

The cost is about 5300 rubles, the chipset is B250. What advantages does it have over ASUS PRIME B250M-A? None. All the same. In this case, the determining factor is the cost of one or another model at the moment. Whichever is cheaper, take it.

The PRO version differs from the usual one by the installed heatsink on the processor batteries.

MSI B150M NIGHT ELF

The cost is about 5500 rubles. A similarly equipped board can be found cheaper. What is the overpayment for then? For backlighting, an Intel network card and beautiful heatsinks.

With the characteristics, however, everything is in order. There are also 6 SATA, 4 slots for memory modules, and 2 PCI-E x16, and an Intel network chip. DVI is installed for monitor connection.

For aesthetics, if the case has a glass wall, a very good option. For those who are more concerned not with how the board looks, but with how it works, spending money is not justified.

ASUS STRIX B250G GAMING

Prepare 6200 rubles. For what? For beautiful heatsinks, an Intel network card, 2 M.2 connectors, HDMI, the SupremeFX audio chip, which is used in more advanced motherboards from this manufacturer. Is the sound better than when using a Realtek audio chip? I do not think.

Otherwise, it is much more attractive than the previous model, at least thanks to a newer chipset, the presence of M.2.

ASRock H270M Pro4

One of the cheapest motherboards based on the H270 chipset. The cost is about 6200 rubles. There are 6 SATA3 with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, 2 M.2 connectors, both running on the PCIe bus, with one M.2 supporting SSDs of this form factor running on the SATA bus. The second M.2 is PCIe drives only.

There is also HDMI c DVI, USB Type-C is also installed. Processor power supply - 6-phase. In general, a very "packed" model on a fresh chipset and for reasonable money. It can be compared with the previous model. Although there are no beautiful heatsinks and the word "GAMING" in the name, the performance is by no means worse, and even better.

I advise you to take a look. If multiplier overclocking is not needed, this is probably one of the best options. Similar in characteristics to the MSI H270M BAZOOKA for about 300 rubles. more expensive. In this case, only one M.2.

There is a modification of this board with a slightly different layout - the H270 Pro4 model, although it is already about 400 rubles more expensive. But there is also ASRock B250M Pro4, a slightly simplified version based on a simpler chipset, devoid of RAID. But it costs 800-1000 rubles. cheaper.

ASRock Fatal1ty B250M Performance

The cost is about 6350 rubles. The board is beautiful, made in red and black colors, in which the memory slots and heatsinks are painted. Metal connector for video card.

There is everything that should be in such boards - HDMI, Type-C, M.2, a network card from Intel, 6 SATA, DVI-D, HDMI, VGA, 4 slots for memory modules.

Well, the big name in the title. Whether all this is worth the overpayment is up to you. (Hint: the ASRock B250M Pro4 has everything the same, but without prettiness, for about 5200 rubles).

MSI B250M MORTAR ARCTIC

The cost is about 6600 rubles. The board is of interest primarily to modders who assemble a system unit in white colors. According to the characteristics - no difference with cheaper competitors.

Gigabyte GA-H270-HD3

A full-fledged ATX board with three PCI-E x16, two PCI-E x1 and two PCI slots, since the chipset has enough lanes to install such a number of expansion slots. And for all this you will have to pay about 6700 rubles.

Among other characteristics - 4 slots for DDR4 memory, 6 SATA, which can be combined into RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, there is PCI-E M.2, an Intel network controller. You can use VGA, DVI, or HDMI to connect a monitor. No, except perhaps Type-C. The rest is a very sophisticated model. It will come in handy for those who really need all these features.

Against its background, the ASUS H170-PLUS D3 chamber looks strange, which at the same cost has DDR3 memory, only 4 SATA, USB 3.0 instead of version 3.1 from Gigabyte. Do you have any arguments in favor of this Asus? I have no.

ASUS B150 PRO GAMING/AURA

The cost is about 7500 rubles. Compared to the Gigabyte GA-H270-HD3 does not offer anything new. Moreover, it lacks RAID support, there is no USB 3.1, and the chipset of the old series.

True, beautiful lighting and painted radiators. The SupremeFX sound subsystem is used, there are 6 SATA, M.2, an Intel network controller, there is USB Type-C. For modders - it's the most, and the proprietary Aura lighting system is just to help. For boring pragmatists - unnecessary buns, for which it is not clear why they have to pay.

Gigabyte GA-H270-Gaming 3

Estimated price - about 9000 rubles. Belongs to the game series of boards, which, in fact, follows from the name. It has everything that should be to build a very productive gaming computer.

There are 6 SATA3 with support for RAID 0, 1, 10, 5, and 2 M.2 connectors, and 4 slots for DDR4-2400 memory, and USB 3.1, and Type-C, and DVI with HDMI. By the way, there is also support for RAID 0, 1, 5, 10. Among the features is the use of a network gigabit controller Killer E2500 from Rivet Networks. Naturally, everything is in newfangled lighting. Form factor - full ATX.

MSI H270 GAMING PRO CARBON

This is one of the most expensive boards. Its cost is about 9300 rubles. The H270 chipset provides support for DDR4-2400 memory, 4 memory slots, 6 SATA3 installed, 2 M.2 connectors. There are all modern interface connectors, including USB Type-C. An Intel based network card is used.

Naturally, it was not without customizable backlighting, installing a metal connector for the first PCI-E x16. The radiators are marked with logos and inscriptions.

This board is fundamentally no different from cheaper analogues. In this case, the choice is based more on the aesthetic qualities of the product, rather than on the characteristics that can be found in motherboards at a lower price.

MSI B250M PRO OPT BOOST

The characteristics of the board practically do not differ from the MSI B250M BAZOOKA described above, and unlike the latter, there is no Type-C port, and a combined PS / 2 is also installed. At the same time, the price of the board is about 7900 rubles. The difference with a bazooka is about 2500 rubles. For what? And for the 16 GB Intel Optane module that comes with the kit (the letters OPT in the name are for a reason).

Moreover, the cost of such a caching module, if you buy it separately, is about 1000 more than the difference in the cost of these two boards. What is not a reason to “one-shot” to buy a motherboard and, in addition to it, a completely fresh Intel Optane, which will allow you to do without purchasing an SSD, but get the speed of work hard drive almost like a solid state?

Other options

As in the case of budget motherboards, a large number of other models remain behind the scenes, which literally do not differ from those listed, but have a higher price. Surely there is a range of motherboards that will meet the required characteristics, and choose the one that is simply cheaper.

For example, ASRock B250M-HDV has HDMI, which is not available in similar software. ASUS specifications PRIME B250M-K, while it is also a little cheaper. Sense then in purchase of this ASUS model?

So, the above MSI H270 GAMING PRO CARBON is far from the only one oriented to use in gaming computers. Moreover, it is one of the most expensive in this segment. There are ASRock B250 Gaming K4 (8200 rubles), ASUS ROG STRIX B250I GAMING (8200 rubles), ASUS STRIX H270F GAMING (9100 rubles) and a number of others. Which one to choose is a matter of taste and financial capabilities.

On the other hand, if we compare the top (in this collection) MSI H270 GAMING PRO CARBON and the cheapest one on the same ASRock chipset H270M Pro4, which is about 3000 rubles. cheaper, then we'll see what, in fact, is included in this difference. By functionality the boards are identical, except for the lack of RAID in MSI and the presence of 2 more USB 3.0 on the rear wall, as well as an S/PDIF output.

But MSI is equipped with a backlight (where would it be without it now), beautiful heatsinks, a rather spectacular appearance in general, and gold-plated audio connectors. It turns out that the increase in cost includes only all this beauty. Is she worth it?

Conclusion. How to choose the right motherboard

How to choose the best option from all the variety of offers? It's hard to give a definitive answer. For starters - I would not "bother" about the manufacturer. Only a few companies are engaged in the release, they are trustworthy and, frankly, the products of which differ little from each other. I would not consider exotics like Biostar or Colorful.

The next step is to decide on the main characteristics. What processor are you planning to use? If from the latest (at the moment) generation of Kaby Lake, then I see no reason to save money and consider models based on 100-family chipsets. With the exception of H110, if a budget system is being assembled and the goal is maximum savings. The 200 chipset family supports DDR4-2400 memory, has more PCI-Express lanes, which gives more options for system expansion.

Moreover, the savings may turn out to be minimal, and the chosen mother on the old chipset may no longer have any prospects. Likewise with memory. Even if there are DDR3 sticks left, it's not entirely wise to save money and keep using them with a new motherboard. Since we are talking about an upgrade, you will have to part with DDR3 that has honestly served its purpose and switch to DDR4.

Naturally, when buying a motherboard based on chipsets without the letter "Z", i.e. without the possibility of overclocking by changing the multiplier, the use of processors with an unlocked multiplier (for example, I7-7700K) is not implied. Such a bundle, of course, will work, but why overpay for an “unlocked” processor if you can’t use it?

As you can see, there are models that may differ from each other by the presence or absence of just one connector, for example, HDMI. Do you need it, do you plan to use it? If yes, then there are no questions, if your monitor works fine from DVI, then is it really so important that the selected “mother” also has HDMI?

Now about the interfaces for connecting external devices. All models have USB 2.0 and 3.0, some have more connectors with old version USB, someone has more USB 3.0. Many offer USB 3.1, and sometimes Type-C is also present. You need it - look for a model with such a connector, no - well, do not pay attention.

Having determined the list of required characteristics, select suitable models. Is it worth taking the most expensive one? Well, if only for the sake of having a backlight, an unusual color of the textolite, metal connectors for a memory / video card, or some similar “buns”. It will work exactly the same as a cheaper analogue.

For that matter, it is better to pay attention to the processor power supply, how many phases are used in the selected board model, and whether they have heatsinks. This is especially true if you are not going to trade on trifles and plan to install a powerful processor.

The main thing is that there is plenty to choose from, and there is something to choose from. As usual, in all the variety of motherboards there are those that will fully meet your requirements, and among them it is quite possible to choose the most affordable one.

Next time, let's look at motherboards that involve overclocking and which have a place in gaming computers.

The motherboard is an indispensable multifunctional "basis" of a personal computer, ensuring the operability of the remaining components of the system: RAM, video card, processor, hard drives. The choice of motherboard depends on the compatibility of the future assembly, and overall performance, and even potential savings. For example, if you buy a processor with no chance of overclocking, why take an expensive "base" with gaming chipset? The situation is also with RAM - if the strips are already limited in frequency, why pay more? Therefore, it is important to feel the balance and understand the details even before contacting the online store for a purchase.

Choosing the right hardware often starts with sorting by price, motherboard manufacturer, and belonging to the "gaming segment". But, as practice suggests, neither the first, nor the second, nor even the third indicator determines the level of quality, does not guarantee stable operation for ten years and does not increase performance (of course, other details are responsible for this - processor, video cards, RAM). It is worth starting acquaintance with the segment with completely different characteristics and parameters:

• Form Factor Classics of the genre - ATX. Board size 305x244 mm. From the offered interfaces, slots and connectors, it is easy to assemble office computers capable of working with documents and a browser, and powerful professional PCs that can cope with any workload - from graphics processing to games in 4K resolution. Among the advantages of ATX is an impressive variety, the presence of both expensive and cheap models, compatibility with almost any equipment. Of the minuses - dimensions. For multimedia platforms, ATX is definitely not suitable. But Micro-ATX - with ease. The dimensions are noticeably smaller - 244x244 mm, the interfaces are almost the same, and you won't have to allocate a lot of space under the table. The E-ATX solution deserves a special mention - flagship models with advanced technologies and a focus on premium markets. Size - 305x330 mm. Attention! The size of the case also depends on the choice of the form factor, and if there is not enough space in the room, it is worth stopping at the Micro-ATX option.
• socket. The "socket" responsible for the performance of the processor. More important than the characteristics of the motherboard can not be found with a strong desire. Before directly buying the "base", you will have to figure out which process will be used in the assembly (it is important to know the manufacturer - AMD or INTEL and the model name), and for what purposes. If you first choose a motherboard with a specific socket, then the further choice of processors will be limited, and therefore you need to act exactly the opposite - first the processor, then studying the characteristics, and only after selecting the platform. It is important to remember - sometimes you can save on the current purchase, but with a reserve for the future.
• Chipset. A parameter indicating the number and type of interfaces supported (for connecting hard drives, USB ports), and at the same time suggesting whether overclocking is possible (this characteristic is especially important on Intel processors, where the necessary settings are made directly in the BIOS, greatly simplifying life for beginners, has not yet familiar with an abnormal increase in equipment power). And chipsets also share motherboards available on the shelves by cost. The initial options do not allow you to overclock the processor, connect a dozen SSD drives, and sometimes prohibit RAM from working in dual-channel mode. But older chipsets and Wi-Fi adapters are equipped, and they receive a Bluetooth signal, and it works without any problems with two or three video cards in SLI format and Crossfire. Which chipset should I refer to when buying? Depends on the wallet and the desired functionality. Most likely, it is worth stopping at some average option, but with the support of official overclocking - this is, in fact, the reserve for the near future, right?
• Memory slots. RAM helps the central processor not to process the same actions ten thousand times a day, but to take the result of the work done directly from the RAM. With this approach, a lot of time is saved, and the load on the CPU is greatly reduced. Therefore, it is important to acquire a sufficient amount of RAM in advance. As practice suggests, 4 slots capable of operating in dual-channel mode are the standard for the 2018/2019 season.
• Interfaces and connectors. It is important to deal with SATA connectors (support for a version running at 6 Gb / s is required) and SATA Express, the presence of USB 3.0 and PCI-e x16. The rest of the elements already belong either to pampering or to the premium segment. Such as Wi-Fi adapters, HDMI (and why, if the same interface is available on the video card?).

Choose for office and study

What motherboards are best for office and study? Those based on cheap chipsets for Intel and AMD run on common sockets that are easy to match with both cheap and expensive "growth" processors and are assembled in the mATX or ATX form factor for a standard case. If you also choose a company, then you should stop your attention on ASROCK and ASUS - you definitely won’t be able to miscalculate.

How to choose a motherboard for gaming

With the gaming segment, the situation is simpler - AM4 and LGA 1151_v2 are suitable sockets (not to be confused with the standard 1151!), the chipset must support overclocking, and the memory slots must reach the number "4", and even work in dual-channel mode. The remaining indicators of the motherboard will no longer have to be chosen - manufacturers will get to match the parameters described above and required interfaces, and technology.

Which brand of motherboard to choose

ASUS, Gigabyte and MSI are the top three. The listed brands present models both in the "basic configuration" for office assemblies, and in the "maximum" for gaming PCs with a bunch of additional features. Most likely, it's worth staying somewhere nearby, not forgetting to look at the characteristics of competitors, such as ASROCK (a subsidiary of ASUS), Zotac and Biostar.

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- this is the basis of a computer, and that is why when assembling a computer, first of all, you should pay attention to this particular component of the system. The performance of the computer and the stability of its operation largely depend on the characteristics and workmanship of the motherboard. Today we will try to talk about what main characteristics and features of the motherboard you need to pay attention to.

We decided that information would be better perceived if, when choosing a motherboard, we refer to the motherboards of one of the leading manufacturers - for the simple reason that it is the world-famous motherboard manufacturers that equip their products with the maximum number of technologies that improve and help you work with your computer. . In addition, only these manufacturers create their boards using the highest quality and most expensive components and only on the very modern equipment, because when it comes to trust, large manufacturers simply cannot, as they say, miss, because if this happens, they will lose their customers and, of course, the lion's share of the profits.

The choice fell on ASUS.

For this article, we immediately chose a well-known manufacturer. ASUS is the largest player in the market of computer components, as well as laptops, high-performance computers and peripherals. ASUS made the main bet in the production of motherboards on several important points - quality, reliability, innovative approach and continuous improvement of the motherboard line both with the help of constructive additions and with the help of software products own development.

So how do you choose a motherboard?

First you need to decide on the purpose of the computer and the manufacturer of the processor that will be used in the computer. Then explore the possibilities of suitable motherboards. In most cases, the motherboard is chosen either for use in an office or home mainframe computer, or for a powerful gaming system or workstation that enthusiasts are going to use to its maximum potential.

In any case, ASUS offers the widest choice of motherboards for creating simple office or home computers, as well as gaming computers, workstations and servers. At the same time, you can choose the right ASUS motherboard for modern AMD processors, and for latest processors Intel.

Motherboards for office or universal home computers.

If you need a reliable office computer, a versatile home computer or HTPC, then first of all you need to pay attention to relatively inexpensive, but high-quality ones, since it is quality and reliability that play a key role here, and performance recedes into the background.

For office computers, as well as for universal home computers, they are perfect, as well. These ASUS motherboards differ from the rest in one common advantage - they are equipped with a video adapter built into the chipset or simply have video outputs for using the video core built into the processors. This means that having bought such an ASUS board, you don't have to worry about buying a discrete video card, the use of which in most cases is absolutely not justified in an office computer.

To improve the operation of such motherboards in a computer and to ensure a comfortable user experience, it develops a huge number of technologies that are introduced in the production of motherboards or supplied with motherboard when it comes to software products.

First of all, ASUS thinks about reliability, therefore, in everything, including inexpensive solutions, uses a full set of technologies ASUS Protect 3.0 or its individual components that are able to protect the computer, the user himself and can significantly reduce the power consumption of the computer.

The first key component of ASUS Protect 3.0 is a unique chip EPU (Energy Processing Unit) responsible for efficient energy consumption. By increasing the efficiency of the processor power circuit using a separate chip, you can reduce the system's power consumption by almost half compared to motherboards where there is no such controller and where only software utilities are responsible for reducing power consumption.

The second important and one-of-a-kind component of ASUS Protect 3.0 is the technology ASUS Anti Surge. This technology protects all microcircuits of the main elements of the motherboard and other installed equipment from power surges and possible short circuits. If an unstable power supply is detected, it turns off the computer's power supply, thereby protecting itself and all devices connected to it from failure.

To protect the user from electromagnetic radiation, ASUS engineers manufacture boards using technology ASUS Low EMI, which nullifies the electromagnetic radiation of the board while the computer is running.

In order to increase the reliability of the motherboard and extend its lifespan, ASUS equips its motherboards with solid capacitors. Solid Capacitors capable of operating for up to several decades, unlike liquid tantalum capacitors, which can dry out or explode over time even with a slight increase in load or temperature.

Almost all use the new UEFI BIOS with a beautiful and user-friendly multilingual graphical interface. Via ASUS UEFI BIOS even a novice user can easily perform basic operations in the BIOS of the motherboard. In just a couple of mouse clicks in a simplified window ASUS EZ Mode you can configure the system, set the desired boot priority, view information about the state of the computer, and for advanced users, a full set of tools is available in the Advanced Mode tab. To update the BIOS firmware of the motherboard, you should use the function ASUS EZ Flash, for the operation of which you only need to point to the firmware downloaded from the manufacturer's website, and the motherboard will do the rest on its own.

Thanks to the high-quality components from which they are made, it has become possible to increase performance by overclocking the processor and video card installed on the motherboard. It is important that this feature is implemented even in inexpensive motherboards, which proves their reliability and readiness to work in the most difficult conditions.

To increase system performance due to the hidden capabilities of the processor and video card, ASUS offers several software tools at once. The first instrument is named Turbo V and is implemented as a convenient utility that allows you to quickly and easily perform safe overclocking of the processor without the need to reboot the system or complex manipulations in the BIOS of the motherboard. Sometimes a similar mechanism is implemented in the form of a switch located on the board, when turned on, the motherboard itself selects optimal settings and overclocks the processor. This technology is named Turbo Key II. Technology can be used with Turbo Key II Turbo V EVO, allowing you to achieve truly incredible system performance.
also support technology ASUS Core Unlocker to unlock the hidden cores of some AMD processor models, providing a significant performance boost.
To overclock the video core built into the processor or motherboard chipset, ASUS has a separate utility called iGPU Boost. In operation, it is as simple and clear as Turbo V - a few mouse clicks and the built-in video core works much faster. This technology on some boards can also be implemented as a hardware switch on the board.
Due to the fact that the number of technologies implemented in is constantly growing, ASUS programmers have developed a unique software shell. This software package combines all the power management and overclocking capabilities of the system, and also allows you to change the rotation speed of all fans installed in the system unit to optimize cooling and reduce noise levels. Monitoring of the state of key system components is also available.

By the way, a very important factor for both a modern office computer and a computer for home is the speed of data transfer to external USB media, so in practice, due to which the data transfer speed increases up to 10 times compared to USB 2.0 ports.

(Small Business Advantage) is a combination of software and hardware that facilitates administration and improves data security on computers designed for small business use. You need a motherboard to use it. Intel chipsets B75 or Q77 and a processor from the Core i3/i5/i7 series.

Motherboards for gaming computers and workstations for enthusiasts.

When choosing a motherboard for a gaming computer, especially enthusiasts who plan to work closely with overclocking, you should pay attention not only to the quality of the motherboard, but also to hardware improvements that will allow you to use the motherboard and the computer as a whole, as they say, to the maximum . To create game configurations, they are also suitable. These ASUS motherboards use the most advanced technologies developed by ASUS engineers.
The best uses technology ASUS Stack Cool3+, which combines a well-optimized PCB design with additional layers of copper inside the textolite, which improve heat dissipation from all heating elements. This approach allows not only to reduce heat, but also to extend the life of the gaming motherboard.

Secondly, in order to provide stable power to the processor, achieve the highest possible frequency boost when performing resource-intensive tasks, and minimize power consumption during idle or standard computing, ASUS uses a digital power system SMART DIGI+ and technology Dual Intelligent Processors the third generation, the principle of operation of which is based on the introduction of several hardware controllers into the motherboard. Controller Smart Digi+ is responsible for fine-tuning each phase of the VRM and ensuring the optimum balance of performance and temperature. EPU responsible for the power efficiency of the computer, and TPU (separate microprocessor for overclocking) deals with the calculation, testing and optimization of overclocking parameters. By the way, each of these processors is found on others, which indicates the versatility of the technologies developed by ASUS engineers.

Specialized series of ASUS ROG and TUF motherboards.

The ASUS range also includes motherboards of the ROG (Republic of Gamers) series specially designed for gamers, which includes motherboards such as, and others. These motherboards incorporate all the latest technological developments from the company and are complemented by even more convenient tools to improve system performance and comfortably play the latest games. For example, on the motherboard, you can not only manage system overclocking and monitor hardware using OC Zone but also take advantage of technology ROG Connect, which allows you to monitor system performance and manage overclocking using a special ROG Key controller or a laptop connected to a PC via a USB port.

Another series of maternal ASUS boards, differs from the rest with even better components (chokes, solid capacitors, MOSFETs) that have passed military acceptance and tested according to the server standard. In addition, these boards are equipped with heatsinks using technology CeraM!X, which, due to the porous surface, better cool the "hot" elements of the board. Some boards in this series are equipped with a special casing TUF Thermal Armor, which allows you to direct the airflow from the cooler along the motherboard CPU, as well as from additional fans included in the kit, thus cooling almost the entire surface of the board. With ultra high quality components and an improved VRM, TUF Sabertooth motherboards have become a favorite of overclockers.

Convenience of assembling a computer and solving possible problems with starting the system.

Do not forget about such a simple but important thing as convenience when assembling a computer system unit. The company has developed several simple solutions to make life easier for both professional PC builders and users who build their own computer.
Q-Shield Designed to simplify the installation of a protective plug between the motherboard connector panel and the opening on the back of the case, protecting the motherboard from static electricity. When installing conventional plugs, the user is often hindered by the antennae of the plug (they are also contacts for removing static), which strive to get inside the motherboard connectors and with which it is easy to cut yourself. ASUS Q-Shield does not have these very antennae - instead, a soft pad is used, covered with conductive foil, which is pressed against the metal housings of the connectors on the outside of the motherboard.
Q connector helps to avoid the inconvenience associated with connecting miniature contacts coming from the indicators, Power and Reset buttons on the case, as well as the speaker. Now you can connect the pins to the special Q-Connector adapter outside the computer case, and then connect the entire bundle of wires to the group of connectors on , as if connecting only one cable.

In order to understand why the computer you have assembled does not start (if this happens, God forbid), he suggests using the technology Q LED. The Q-LED indicators located on the board near the processor, memory modules, and a PCIe slot with a video card installed will indicate the problematic component of the system. Memory module compatibility problems are easily solved with the help of technology ASUS MemoOK!. Pressing the MemOK! button once - and she will select the settings for memory timings for the correct start of the system.

The technology used in a number of the latest boards allows you to update the BIOS of the board, having only a USB flash drive with a recorded BIOS image (you also need to rename it first according to the name of the board) and a power supply unit suitable for the board. Everything! No processor, no memory, no video card needed! The reprogramming process is initiated by pressing a button BIOS FlashBack or ROG Connect on the board's connector panel. This technology solves a known problem when the purchased processor is not supported by the BIOS version of the board flashed at the factory, and there is no possibility to install an older CPU for this socket.

Most ASUS LGA1155 boards will fully support the bus PCI-E version 3.0 after updating the BIOS and installing a 22nm processor. This greatly increases the upgrade potential of the system as a whole, especially if you plan to use a high-performance video card or even two.

We hope that after reading this article, our customers will make the right choice of motherboard and this board will certainly become.