What is the difference between gaming motherboards and regular motherboards. "Mother" is the head of everything: how to choose a motherboard for a computer. Video: processor for games

Recently, more and more users are assembling PCs according to certain parameters, which allows them to save a lot and select components that best suit the owner's needs. For obvious reasons, the question is very relevant - how to choose a motherboard? Let's start with the fact that it must be bought last when assembling a computer.

One of the most common mistakes when using budget processor and the best motherboard, and, conversely, a chip with an inexpensive motherboard that simply cannot withstand heavy loads. You should know, each of them has its own processor - chipset. The functionality of the product depends on this detail, and it is selected taking into account the purpose of the PC.

Each processor is connected to the motherboard using a connector called a Socket. It is important that both components have the same socket. At the same time, they are constantly being upgraded, which is why many new modifications regularly appear on the market. If you don’t know how to choose a motherboard socket, please note that today there are 2 giants - AMD and Intel.

Intel processor sockets:

1. Old ones - 2018, 778, 1155, 1156, 488;
2. Still relevant - 1150, 2011-3;
3. In the trend - 1151-v2, 2066 and 1151.

If you decide to build a gaming PC with an Intel processor from scratch, it is better to choose a motherboard with an LGA 1151 300 series socket.

AMD processor sockets:

1. Old ones - FM1, FM2, AM1, AM2, AM3;
2. Still relevant - FM2+, AM3+;
3. In trend TR4, AM4.

Keep in mind, buying a modern Socket, you automatically provide yourself with the opportunity to replace the processor or motherboard in the next 2-3 years with more powerful models.

It should be noted right away that chipsets are distinguished by different parameters. However, when choosing a motherboard for a computer, we only need an appointment. They are produced by 2 manufacturers - Intel and AMD. If you took the processor first, then the motherboard must be of the same company.

Intel chipsets:

1. For office - B250/H270, B360/H370;
2. For remote control - Q270, Q370;
3. PC for games - Z270, Z370;
4. Powerful - X99/X299, X370/470.

Most PCs are equipped with B360/H370 chipset motherboards. The H models have more PCI-E lanes than the B segment, which is only important when installing 2 or more video cards. Q chipsets support more security features and are more often used for remote control. Sector X or Z supports overclocking - overclocking the processor.

AMD chipsets:

1. For office - A320;
2. PC for games - B350;
3. Powerful PC - X370;
4. Powerful - X399.

The first option does not support overclocking the processor. Gaming PC chipsets provide for overlocking, and the X370 also includes more lanes for installing two video cards. The last segment is focused on powerful processors connected using the TR4 socket.

What are the sizes of motherboards? This parameter is called the form factor. There are 3 types:

1. ATX- a full-size version, which is designed for stationary PCs, and provides for the installation of an extensive number of slots. Dimensions - 305 by 244 mm;
2. MicroATX– reduced type, including fewer slots. Dimensions are 244 by 244 millimeters;
3. Mini-ITX- a small format designed for compact cases. When choosing a motherboard 170 by 170 millimeters, keep in mind that it will be limited not only in terms of components, but also the cooling system.

There are other sizes of motherboards, but they are used less often, and they are difficult to find in the free market.

Internal connectors

Quite often, users focus on motherboards for the processor and video card, and forget about other equally important parameters. In particular, about the quality and purpose of the internal connectors:

• SATA - for mounting hard drives, SSD drives, drives. At the moment, the SATA 3 connector is considered the most versatile. For convenience, several of these modules can be placed in a separate Express unit;
• M.2 - used to connect ultra-fast SSDs. When choosing a motherboard, keep in mind that 2280 is considered the most popular size. It is desirable that this connector is designed to work in PCI-E and NVMe mode;
• Motherboard power - all modern models are equipped with a 24-pin connector;
• Chip power connector - can be a four and eight pin connector. The first is suitable for weak PCs. The second prevents voltage drops even when overclocking powerful processors.

Motherboard memory slots

As a rule, large form factor motherboards are equipped with four memory slots, and compact models are equipped with 2. When choosing a motherboard, keep in mind that free RAM bays will never hurt if you want to expand the capabilities of a personal computer in the future.

As for the type of RAM, DDR4 is the most popular standard today. Regarding the frequency, budget options have a maximum of 2400, 2666 MHz. Models of the middle class are equipped with RAM with a frequency of 3400 to 3600 MHz. Please note that the cost of memory over 3 thousand MHz is much more expensive, although you will not feel a noticeable increase in efficiency. For obvious reasons, it is not always advisable to overpay for ultra-high memory frequency.

Video card connector

Expensive motherboard models include PCI-E x16 version 3.0 for installing video cards. However, there may be several departments. This is necessary to install additional power in games. At the same time, mounting more than one video card is a rare preferred solution, since modern graphics accelerators do their job well, and free PCI-E x16 slots can be used to connect other cards - a faster SSD, a sound card, etc. Also, this connector can be used for a Wi-Fi adapter, TV tuner and other additional components.

On the rear panel of the motherboard there is a different number of external connectors depending on the class and cost of the model. Consider the most popular:

• DisplayPort - used to synchronize a PC with a number of monitors;
• HDMI - installed in modern motherboards that support connecting a TV;
• Wi-Fi connector - only a number of expensive models that have a built-in adapter are equipped;
• USB 3.0 - used for storage media. It is desirable that they be from 3 to 4 units;
• RJ-45 is a mandatory connector designed to connect to the Internet;
• audio output - for acoustics, speakers;
• microphone.

The list is not final. In order not to be mistaken with the choice of the motherboard, try to decide in advance on the entire list of devices that you will operate.

You must understand that cheap network cards use inexpensive electronic components, including chokes, weak transistors, and the same capacitors. This indicates a short lifespan. Often, capacitors in budget motherboards fail for 1.5-2 years already. For this reason, many experts recommend choosing maternal Intel boards which work on the basis of solid capacitors. However, there is still an active struggle between competing companies, and it is impossible to say with confidence that AMD is worse. It is important to consider many parameters.

Motherboard cooling system

The principle is simple. The larger the heatsink on the chipset, the better. Therefore, a small form factor is always riskier. In any case, if it is paired with a powerful processor. Often, due to the lack of free space, manufacturers generally have to install a cooling system for a transistor close to the processor department. In this case, it is clearly worth limiting yourself to a weak chip. As for the number of phases, the number always matches the number of chokes. The larger the processor, the more rectangular parts should be near the heatsink.

How to choose a motherboard is the question that users most often ask when assembling a new computer.

Sometimes it is chosen for an already finished PC, intending to improve its performance and increase its capabilities.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to buy a new board when the previous one breaks down. In this case, if funds allow, this situation should be used for a small upgrade.

You should choose carefully: when assembling a computer, the “motherboard” is a system-forming factor in the computer ecosystem, on which all other components will depend.

Where to begin?

Before buying a board, you should know that it is one of the most important elements of a computer.

And the purchase of other components will depend on her choice - from the case, which must match in size, to the processor, memory modules and video cards.

Therefore, the motherboard should be selected only complete with other parts - or at least know their approximate characteristics.

In addition, the buyer must understand for what purpose he will need the board - for work in the office, for high-performance games, or as a home multimedia center.

Board functionality

The capabilities of the motherboard are primarily related to its price - the more expensive the device, the higher its functionality.

New and expensive "motherboards" provide the ability to install multiple GPUs at the same time - to work with drawings and 3D objects or to connect 2-3 monitors.

Budget boards run at most one graphics card and often feature integrated graphics that are not compatible with most games, but are quite suitable for working with documents, surfing the Internet, and sometimes even watching movies in FullHD (if there is enough memory).

Motherboard size selection

Starting to choose a motherboard, immediately pay attention to its dimensions. This nuance is especially important if the part is bought for an existing system unit.

A large case can accommodate a board of any size, in which case it is worth choosing the ATX form factor, which allows you to install more peripherals.

For a compact office computer or nettop, micro-ATX and mini-ITX formats are suitable, although it is unlikely that even one powerful video card can be installed on such devices.

Processor Compatibility

Each motherboard supports its type of processor. It is important that both of these components are compatible.

To do this, the characteristics of the board indicate the compatibility of its socket (slot for installing a processor) with one or more types of chipsets.

Slots for memory and peripherals

Another nuance that they pay attention to when buying a board is slots for memory modules and support for certain types of RAM.

A high-performance computer necessarily requires the ability to work with GDDR5, which provides high speed operation.

It is also desirable that the number of memory slots be more than 2 - four for a gaming PC (which will allow you to expand the RAM without changing modules, but buying new ones), eight for a server or workstation.

An equally important nuance is the presence and number of connectors for peripheral devices:

• USB slots. For a modern PC, it is recommended to choose a board with USB 3.0 connectors, which speed up the process of reading and writing for media. Their number is usually 4, but on ATX motherboards it can be increased;
• slots PCI Express required to connect video cards. And for each type GPU better to use your connector. For example, new video processors improve performance when installed in a PCI Express (PCIe) x16 slot;

• ATA and IDE, connectors for connecting hard drives. The latter option is no longer used, and the number of the first ones determines how many built-in storage devices can be installed on a given PC;
• PCI, a connector into which sound cards and other peripherals are connected.

Gaming motherboard

You can choose the right gaming motherboard, knowing the following features:

• support latest versions RAM;
• compatibility with the processor chosen for games (Intel Core i5 and i7, Socket AM 3+);
• the ability to install a powerful video card (1-2 PCI-E x16 slots are required and support for this technology in the BIOS of the motherboard).

Other characteristics of the board when choosing a device for games are not so important. Although it should be borne in mind that an increase in its functionality also affects the growth in cost.

The best computer boards in 2017

When deciding on the purchase of a motherboard, many are wondering if there is a better universal board that can perform any task.

There are such options, but their cost will not suit every user.

Therefore, it is worth choosing a specific model depending on the intended use of the computer:

• for study;
• for work;
• to run serious graphics applications;
• for modern games;
• for games with high performance running at maximum settings (board for the computer of an avid gamer).

For study

It is not easy to determine which board is suitable for a schoolchildren's and student's computer.

Moreover, the goal of the user can be not only work with office programs but also play in your free time.

In this case, you should choose models such as MSI H110M PRO-VH (for Intel processors) or Gigabyte GA-F2A78M-DS2 (for AMD).

Their capabilities are enough to launch, for example, AutoCAD, and for gaming applications, and the cost is quite low - within 4,000 rubles.

For office

The main characteristics of the office board are energy efficiency, small size, affordable price, and reliability.

It is possible that such a device will be installed on a nettop - a computer with minimal performance characteristics and, most often, with a small hard drive (or without it at all).

To date, choosing a board for the office is not particularly difficult - just buy any budget model.

For example, GIGABYTE GA-F2A88XM-DS2, working with processors from AMD or MSI H81M-E33 for Intel. The price of each option is at the level of 3000 rubles.

For graphics programs

Working with graphics requires the use of a more powerful hardware component. Therefore, serious requirements are imposed on the board:

• at least 4 RAM slots;
• 2 video card slots;
• support for AM3+ and Socket 1151 (Intel) processors.

A possible option for using AMD chipsets is − MSI board 970A-G43, characterized by functionality and a relatively affordable price (from 4500 rubles).

For Intel processors, the same manufacturer MSI can offer the B150M PRO-VDH model, the cost of which starts at 5,000 rubles.

For budget gaming PC

Buying a gaming computer is most often associated with more serious expenses than when choosing an office option - such equipment will require more memory, a powerful processor, and a discrete graphics card.

However, if you want to save money, you can try to reduce the total cost of the computer, starting with the motherboard.

Model MSI A78M-E45 (about 4000 rubles) is enough to run modern gaming applications with minimum or medium settings.

The board has an integrated graphics card, which in the future can be supplemented with a discrete one (even two), supports FM2 + processors and installs up to 64 GB random access memory DDR3 (more cost effective than the latest generations of RAM).

The ASROCK B150M PRO4S/D3 model (for Intel) has approximately the same capabilities, which can be bought for 5300 rubles.

For a powerful gaming PC

A motherboard that meets fairly stringent requirements will help you achieve maximum performance.

The first of them is a high load, reaching almost 1000 W when all gaming devices are connected (manipulators, several video cards and monitors, a powerful processor and a powerful cooling system).

In addition, such a board requires at least 4 memory slots and an M.2 connector for SSD hard drives.

The ASROCK FATAL1TY 970 PERFORMANCE/3.1 (support for AMD FX 9590 and 9370 processors) has all these characteristics, which can be called the best for games.

Although it is also suitable for any other tasks - just not every user agrees to overpay almost twice for it. The average price of such a board is in the range of 8.5-10 thousand rubles.

Results

When choosing a graphics card that is right for your needs and capabilities, it is worth considering several options with equal characteristics.

For applications that are undemanding to resources, and even more so for working exclusively with documents, models released 2-3 years ago are quite suitable - this will surely be a board with acceptable parameters and price.

For those who assemble a gaming computer, it is advisable to opt for the most modern board, which will not become obsolete for a long time, and components for which can be painlessly changed for a few more years.

Have a nice shopping!

If you decide to assemble a computer from independent components, on your own - read our other materials about choosing a motherboard:

and about choosing the right video card:

I think everyone knows that the motherboard is considered the connecting link in the design of the system unit. Therefore, some criteria must be taken into account. You can learn how to choose the right inexpensive and good motherboard from this article. Or watch a special video that I have selected for you. Here is a summary of the article below:

• Main Components
• How to choose a motherboard manufacturer
• Form factor selection
• Chipset selection
• PCI-Express and memory slot
• External connectors
• Auxiliary features

Video instruction how to choose a motherboard

Main Components

To better understand its structure, I propose to consider its structure using a specific example. As an example, let's take one of the highest quality models - Sapphire Pure Z77K. Of course, in order to consider in detail the main elements of the part, you can take any model. But we will focus on this one.

In the picture, the numbers indicate not only the main components of the motherboard, but elements that are typical only for overclocking options.

• Number (1) is the processor socket, which is the main element of the device. It is important to pay attention to the fact that the processor socket is absolutely compatible with the socket. The number (0) indicates a "double" radiator responsible for the elements of the power converters of the integrated graphics core, processor and CPU VTT, namely for their cooling. Such radiators are only found in overclocking motherboards. On conventional cooling element is not worth it at all.
• The number (2) indicates the PCI-Express slots. The circuit board contains three of these X16 version 3.0 slots. Such connectors are needed to install one or more video cards. More old version slots - 2.0 is numbered (3).
• The number (14) indicates the PCI-E X1 slots. They are intended for installing devices that require a large bus bandwidth. One X1 line is enough for this. An example of such devices are TV tuners, various controllers, audio and others.
• Number (4) is the chipset. It is located behind the cooling radiator. Connectors numbered (5) are needed to install DDR3 RAM. They are usually painted black or blue. Designed slots for installing memory modules, which greatly increases the working efficiency. Number (6) is the CMOS battery that powers the BIOS CMOS chip. So the microcircuit does not lose settings after the computer is turned off.
• (8) and (12) are 24-pin and 8-pin connectors. The first is the main 24-pin power connector. It is through it that most of the components are powered.
• The numbers (9) and (10) indicate the SATA 3 (6 Gb / s) and SATA 2 connectors. They are located on its edge, intended for connecting devices to the side for stands. Made in the style of an overclocking connector. SATA 2 connector is required for connection hard drive, drives and various SSD drives. Conventional models contain connectors located frontally and offset to the center. Therefore, it is convenient to use them within the framework of the system block of a “non-overclocking” system.
• The number (11) indicates a non-standard element - an indicator of POST codes. It shows the temperature of the processor, but with small inaccuracies.

• The rear panel with external connectors is shown as number (13). This panel has connectors that you need to connect various peripherals, keyboards, mice, headphones, speakers and many other add-ons.

So we figured out the main components, now we will analyze the individual blocks, and also consider the parameters that need to be considered when buying.

Which company to choose a motherboard

With this choice, oddly enough, it is not necessary to take into account its performance. You need to rely on the trust of the manufacturer. The most famous are MSI, Gigabyte, Biostar, Intel, ASRock and Asus. And the sample that we are considering today is also worthy of attention. It happens that some models have an inconvenient layout or the kit supplied by any manufacturer is not wide enough. All the same, there are flaws that some users would not like to see. But such shortcomings do not give grounds to write off motherboard manufacturers. Ultimately, their equipment is not always the same for all manufacturers, so it is impossible to say which company to choose or which is the best.

My advice to you is to take this one:

• which suits you for the price
• convenient in location
• from good reviews on major portals

Chipsets come from AMD and Intel, so the functions of the devices are very similar. The only thing to notice is the reviews of real buyers and detailed reviews motherboards. So you can at least somehow decide on the variety of products.

Form factor selection

Properly selected form factor will help to avoid many problems in the future. Most popular form factors:

• ATX - full size
• Micro-ATX - stripped-down version

The form factor determines the scalability of the system in the future. Micro-ATX usually has a small number of PCI-E and PCI expansion slots for graphics cards and other devices. Often such models are equipped with only two slots for installing memory modules. This fact severely limits the expandability of RAM. And not only in quantitative terms, but also in terms of convenience. The main advantage of Micro-ATX is its low price. Choosing from two standards, we can safely say that Micro-ATX is a budget option for office and home systems.

The size of the fee is also very important. ATX form factor is larger in size. Be sure to consider the compatibility of the case and the motherboard in size!

How to choose motherboard socket

After choosing a processor, you need to choose the right motherboard. The first thing you need to pay attention to the socket. It is he who ensures the compatibility of the motherboard and processor. So, for a processor with an LGA 1155 socket, only an LGA 1155 motherboard is suitable. Supported sockets and a processor can be found on the official websites of manufacturers, but for AMD it is AM3 or AM3 +.

Chipset selection

The chipset is the connecting link for the interaction of the entire system. This component largely determines the capabilities of the motherboard. It has always been believed that the chipset is a set of system logic chips, consisting of a south and north bridge. But now the views are a little different.

Particularly popular chipsets are the seventh series of Intel and the 900th AMD. Nvidia is famous for a small assortment of chipsets, but no less popular.

The seventh series of Intel differs from the standard representation of chipsets, because they consist only of the north bridge. But this does not affect the functionality of the motherboard in any way, because some controllers have been transferred to the processor. This can be understood by the example of a PCI-Express 3.0 bus controller and a DDR3 memory controller. The north bridge in this case received SATA, USB, PCI-Express control. The block diagram of the Z77 chipset clearly shows what the elements are tied to and on which buses:

Z, H and B stand for chipset positioning for market segments.

Chipsets from AMD have two chips, it has northbridges 990X, 990FX and 970 and northbridge SB950.

The 990FX gives the chipset support for 42 PCI-Express lanes. Therefore, four video cards can be connected on the lines in the Cross Fire bundle. But not everyone needs these opportunities. The remaining two northbridges support 26 lines, but this loss is not noticeable.

Auxiliary features

Additional features include those that are not always needed. For the average user, they are not very in demand:

• ESATA - some models have an interface for connecting removable drives. Very useful for owners of external drives.
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module for wireless networking and data transfer. They greatly enhance the functionality of the motherboard.
• Thunderbolt - provides data transfer at a speed of 10 Gb / s and the connection of peripheral devices. Transfers data several times faster than USB 2.0, USB 3.0. Today it is needed by units, but in the future it will become more popular.
• Additional buttons and indicators for overclocking, proprietary technologies and manufacturers' elements.

Rating of the best motherboards of the year

As you can see, choosing a motherboard is not an easy task. Based on the listed parameters, you need to choose an option that would suit you both in terms of cost and functionality. Of course, the parameters of the motherboard for each user are individual. But still, for greater convenience, you can see the rating of the best motherboards for 2015-2016. Focusing on the main parameters and the best models, you can make a truly right choice. Below is a video on this difficult topic for a better understanding.

Best Socket 1150 Motherboard (2016)

• MSI Z87 XPOWER
• MSI B85-G43 GAMING is the best buy
• ASUS B85M-E - inexpensive and good motherboard for an average computer
• MSI B85-G43 - price-quality ratio
• ASUS VANGUARD B85
• GIGABYTE GA-Z97X-Gaming GT - recommended for gamers

Best Socket 1155 Motherboard (2016)

• ASRock B75 Pro3-M is the best buy of the year
• GIGABYTE GA-H61M-S2PV (rev. 2.2)
• ASUS H61M-G
• ASRock H61M-VG4
• MSI H61M-P20 (G3)
• GIGABYTE GA-H61M-S2PV (rev. 2.0)

Best Socket Motherboard 2011 (2016)

• ASUS P9X79-E WS (s2011, Intel X79, PCI-Ex16) - the coolest purchase
• Asus Rampage IV Extreme (s2011, X79, PCI-Ex 16)
• ASUS P9X79 WS (s2011, Intel X79, PCI-Ex16) - the best price-performance ratio
• MSI X79A-GD65 (8D) (s2011, Intel X79, PCI-Ex16)

Best Motherboard 2011-3 (2016)

• ASUS RAMPAGE V EXTREME/U3.1 is the best buy
• Asus X99 Deluxe
• MSI X99A SLI PLUS - the best choice price-quality
• GIGABYTE GA-X99-UD3 (rev. 1.0)
• ASRock X99 Extreme4

The most powerful motherboard for a gamer with two processors - Asus Z9PE-D8 WS (2 x LGA2011, Intel C602, PCI-Ex16)

Motherboard, motherboard or in the common people "board" - a complex and basic basic component in assembling a computer, which serves to accommodate all the elements to start the system. The main materials of execution are textolite and getinax, created using special printing technologies. Motherboards are available in several main form factors:

• Micro-ATX
• Mini-ATX

Mini-ATXs are used to build entry level systems or mini builds to save space and budget. Their main disadvantage is the lack of enough space to upgrade and install powerful components. Micro-ATX is installed in mid-range systems and allows you to place both low-budget and some top-end components. ATX is used in the assembly of top-end systems that require not only a lot of space for the component base (for example, video cards or cooling systems), but also high-quality materials of the board itself in order to withstand heavy loads.

We've rounded up the top 15 best motherboards to build. gaming computers on the most popular and relevant sockets in 2019.

The best motherboards for AM4

AM4 is designed to replace the obsolete platform with AM3 +, depriving it of its shortcomings and at the same time compete with the now popular LGA1151. Its main innovations include:

• Support for the new format of DDR4 RAM and a frequency of up to 3200 MHz;
• Stable performance with multi-threaded Ryzen processors with and without integrated graphics;
• Reduced heat dissipation, 65 W on average;
• Support USB1 and 3.0 gen 2 at 5 and 10 Gbps.

The main disadvantage was the partial incompatibility of boards with previous sockets - only a few models have support for them.

4 ASRock B450M Pro4

The best cheap board on the market for AM4
Country: China
Average price: 6237 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.9

The board has 3 reinforced power phases and 3 regular ones, albeit in the lower arm and containing a pair of mosfets. Both VRM zones are covered with modest-sized radiators, but thanks to cuts, they have an increased dissipation area for better heat dissipation. 6 cores will be hard to overclock, but it will not work on the bus, since not a single “board” on a 450 chipset has such functions.

Traditionally, the board has a curve for ASRock BIOS. Buyers in their reviews praise the many ports. By default, there are 5 slots for connecting coolers or water cooling systems. In order not to take a steam bath once again and not burn the system, it is recommended to have a well-ventilated case or purchase additional turntables. Given the price, it turned out to be an excellent product, with the exception of a random masfette, which changes from delivery to delivery.

3 MSI B450 TOMAHAWK

The coldest motherboard
Country: China
Average price: 9000 rubles.
Rating (2019): 5.0

The power system holds the overclocking of any six-core machine and is quite capable of pulling the Ryzen 2700 at 4 GHz without any overlays. This is the coldest B450 board on the market thanks to its sturdy power supply and horse-sized heatsink.

The only hot spot is the controller. There is no offset here, but there is the possibility of offline BIOS flashing. "Tomahawk" has 4 slots for high-frequency RAM with a maximum rate of 3466 MHz. Supports 1st and 2nd generation Ryzen processors. MSI did a great job and if it was still possible to get to the bottom of the B350 chipset, then TOMAHAWK will withstand any criticism and give a big head start to competitors, despite not the best best sound and a network, which is justified by the desire of the manufacturer to stuff the feeder to the maximum.

2 MSI X470 GAMING PLUS

Excellent VRM equipment
Country: China
Average price: 11800 rubles.
Rating (2019): 5.0

The board has 4 + 2 reinforced power phases, each of which has acquired a double set of components. In the latest generation, MSI gave up under a flurry of criticism and stopped buying second-rate elements, catching up with ASUS in quality. For the money, it has the best VRM equipment, even taking into account fewer phases than the famous ASUS Prime. In general, it is also heated, but it costs less.

Among the shortcomings, there is the impossibility of overclocking on the bus and the traditionally good overclocking potential of the memory. There is no clock generator and voltage offset. The ability to overclock the APU's integrated graphics has also been cut out. Thus, the board became an example of how you can save on minor things for the sake of more important things. Mediocre sound and network are compensated by a high efficiency power supply, which is also not without heating under load.

Motherboards for office or study

Motherboards for work purposes are much cheaper than gaming counterparts. They have a weak component base, they may lack protection against voltage surges, and there will be few power circuits in general. They can also be limited by the frequencies of the supported RAM, its volume. The BIOS is severely limited in functionality.

Gaming Motherboards

Here is the complete opposite. For a good gaming board, you need 4 slots for RAM with a capacity of 16 GB or more. In this case, it is recommended to use a RAM with frequencies from 1866 MHz and higher. An excellent option would be a model with powerful cooling radiators and at least 5 power circuits, so that in the event of overclocking, the “board” does not burn out. It is worth noting that there are game boards on sale without overclocking, but you need to use them very carefully. The BIOS of a good board will have an interface for overclocking the bus and other PC components.

1 MSI X470 GAMING PRO CARBON

The best combination of characteristics
Country: China
Average price: 16106 rubles.
Rating (2019): 5.0

The Gaming PRO version has 1 more power phase, which has a positive effect on temperatures and the behavior of the board as a whole. As a result, MSI engineers managed to make a top power supply among pre-top motherboards. It is characterized by excellent memory overclocking, a simple and clear BIOS with quick navigation. A conveniently located reset button on the I / O panel will also please the owner who decides to play around with the settings.

This board opened a new era for MSI by stopping voltage drops during overclocking. This feature does not have the best effect on temperatures and power consumption in idle, but oddly enough, it fully complies with AMD specifications. Not suitable for APU overclocking due to missing BIOS settings. The maximum amount of supported RAM is 64 GB with a frequency of up to 3466 MHz.

Best Motherboards for Intel LGA1150 Socket

The LGA 1150 socket has replaced the LGA 1155 and is designed for most modern processors. If you don't care about overclocking, get boards from MSI or GIGYBITE. Want to save money on an external sound card? Then pay attention to the "boards" with a built-in of at least Realtek 1150. The combination of all of the above will give you a quality base for assembling an inexpensive computer for both work and play.

4 Esonic H81-BTC-KING

Choice of buyers and miners
Country: China
Average price: 3430 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.1

Among eminent competitors, the board from Esonic was lost. This is a rather modest "board", created exclusively for office purposes and to drive simple browser toys without any hint of serious games or pumping.

2 slots for DDR3 RAM, only 4 power phases and an abundance of USB slots indicate that the place for this board is only in the office - to print documents or just watch movies. Of the benefits - there are Japanese capacitors. There are 4 SATA extensions, which will allow miners to attach 6 video cards to the board at once.

3 ASUS B85M-G

Best price. One of the best selling socket 1150 motherboards
Country: China
Average price: 4940 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.6

The third place rightfully went to the mother ASUS board B85M-G. It can be attributed to the best-selling models that are equipped with an Intel LGA1150 socket. The cost of the device is quite low, so it is very popular. An ideal option for those who want to save money, and at the same time collect good system multimedia for home or office computer.

All external interfaces have reliable protection, the panel is made of steel, which does not corrode. The model is especially relevant for the office, as the manufacturer has equipped it with COM and LTP ports. In the presented motherboard, the cooling system is based on high-quality solid-type capacitors, which guarantee durability even at critical temperature conditions (up to 105 degrees).

USB 3.0 interfaces accelerate up to 170% when interacting with any compatible peripherals, as they have support for the UASP protocol. As for the management and settings, even a beginner will figure it out. Software Al Suite 3 is characterized by simplicity and wide functionality.

2 ASRock H81 Pro BTC R2.0

For entry-level overclocking
Country: China
Average price: 5879 rubles.
Rating (2019): 5.0

With recent BIOS versions, the board is capable of delivering up to 1.35 volts to the processor, although this is not the maximum that is needed. However, these indicators are quite enough for most users who want to have 4.6-4.7 GHz in overclocking.

Outwardly, it seems quite simple and has only 2 external USB 3.0 ports, plus two ordinary ones - laughter, and nothing more. The built-in sound card doesn't stand out either. However, the abundance of PCIe slots captivates. There are only 2 slots for RAM with a total capacity of no more than 16 GB and a frequency of 1866 MHz. Buyers in their reviews note that this model can be safely used for mining, it has excellent compatibility with GTX1080 Ti video cards and is characterized by a good cooling system. Please note that there is another port above the video card slot, which makes it possible to install any overall cooler to provide vertical blowing.

Despite the undisputed leadership of ASUS in the market of motherboards, their products for socket 1150 are pure overpayment. They are not distinguished by textolite, not by overclocking capabilities, not by components, but the manufacturer asks for his creations on average more than others. Even rather disputable mainboards from MSI look more solid than ASUS with a round piece.

1 GIGABYTE GA-B85M-D3H-A (rev. 1.0)

No overclocking restrictions
Country: China
Average price: 5925 rubles.
Rating (2019): 5.0

The board has no overclocking restrictions, for which it has become one of the most popular and relatively inexpensive options. It supports many processors, the list of which is as follows:

• Intel Core i7;
• Core i5;
• Core i3;
• Pentium;
• Celeron.

The BIOS has built-in protection and an emergency recovery system in case of overheating or critical errors. The maximum amount of supported RAM is 32 GB of DDR3 format with a frequency of no more than 1600 MHz. There is support for the CrossFire system.

Best Motherboards for Intel LGA1151 Socket

The LGA 1150 socket has replaced the LGA 1155 and is designed for most modern processors. If you don't care about overclocking, get boards from MSI or GIGYBITE. Want to save money on an external sound card? Then pay attention to the "boards" with a built-in not lower than Realtek 1150 and not worse. The combination of all of the above will give you a quality base for building an inexpensive computer for both work and play.

4 MSI H110M PRO-VD

Best price
Country: China
Average price: 3400 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.7

This model, unlike ASUS MAXIMUS VIII HERO, allows you to deploy a full-fledged gaming system with a relatively modest investment. The main trump card of the H110M PRO-VD is a large number of connectors: for devices with USB 3.1 support, there are 8 of them, and for SATA - as many as 6 (the bandwidth of each is up to 6 Gb / s). It is possible to install DDR4 RAM with a frequency of 2133 to 3600 MHz. For this, there are 4 slots, which makes it possible to equip your PC with up to 64 GB of high-speed and energy-efficient RAM.

The built-in sound chip from Realtek can also be added to the list of pluses - many manufacturers of expensive motherboards do not consider it necessary to add it to their solutions. In general, the H110M PRO-VD is not much inferior in terms of hardware capabilities to ASUS MAXIMUS VIII HERO, giving the latter a 30% head start in price. The reason for this is passive cooling: at maximum loads of PCs based on ASUS MAXIMUS VIII HERO, the performance drop will be more noticeable.

3 ASRock Z370 Pro4

Great choice of ATX format
Country: China
Average price: 7949 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.9

Not everyone will like the fact that the radiators here are only on the left side and there are only 6 standard external USBs. But in this case, given that the case will be for ATX and there are 7 expansion slots, you can remove the memory sticks with external USB ports. There is a Z370M Pro4 variant on the market - the same, only Micro ATX and with the same problems. Although, in games there is no difference whether there are radiators around the socket or not - the 5 GHz frequency will be stable.

The maximum supported amount of RAM is 64 GB, in total 4 slots are available with support for DDR4 up to high-frequency 4266 MHz. Buyers in their reviews praise the convenient BIOS, good overclocking capabilities and the lack of ready-made profiles for overclocking. And advice: do not buy identical models on the H chipset - they are more expensive and there are no heatsinks on the socket. Be careful when buying - many manufacturers indicate support for SLI, but given function available only on single versions.

2 MSI Z370 KRAIT GAMING

Cool board with great features
Country: China
Average price: 12690 rubles.
Rating (2019): 5.0

Powerful heatsinks, a cool sound card, the ability to print additional accessories on a 3D printer - this is just a small part of all the possibilities that Z370 KRAIT GAMING can provide you. For lovers of pleasant appearance backlight available. There is also SLI, but only 4000 MHz memory is officially supported. Therefore, there may be a feeling that everything is cool, but something is missing. Audio Boost 4 with Nahimic 2+ technology will help you enjoy high-quality sound. It will help give your headset a studio-quality touch without noise or interference.

In case of problems, the built-in EZ Debug debugging system will help you, and of course the convenient Click BIOS 5. 2 M.2 slots will help you easily install a couple of additional modules to expand the functionality. The only catch is a small overpayment for a strange design, which you can safely do without.

1 ASUS MAXIMUS VIII RANGER

For overclocking to 4.9 GHz on the bus
Country: China
Average price: 6740 rubles.
Rating (2019): 5.0

The board is perfect for those who want to build a computer with high processor frequencies. With it, you can overclock the i7-6700 processor to 4.9 GHz on the bus or up to 5 GHz on the multiplier in the case of the i7-7700K. 4 slots for RAM with a frequency of 3400 MHz and up to 64 GB is an excellent indicator for its category. What pleases is the simultaneous support for SLI and CrossFireX technologies.

The board is made in a simple and effective design without frills, the cooling of the power phases is just on top. New drivers are released on the site approximately every 1-2 months. CPU Installation Tool is better not to use, but to install the processor in the old fashioned way, so as not to break anything. The BIOS has many settings and the average user will have to read the manual and watch the guides to get comfortable with the controls.

Best Motherboards FOR AM3+

Socket AM2+ was AMD's answer to the Intel LGA1150. These solutions combine two features: versatility and affordability of motherboards based on them. A bonus for buyers was the AMD AM1 module, which provides compatibility with subsequent generations of processors. AMD's next step was the more productive AM3+, created specifically for the FX processor line and designed for overclocking top systems. Its characteristic features are the lack of integrated graphics, a "hot" northbridge and good overclocking potential. At the same time, the matter is not limited to setting the multiplier - you need to “drive” it along the bus, forgetting about the voltage and RAM, the frequency of which for efficient operation should not be less than 1866 MHz.

After an unexpected disclosure, as tech bloggers say, “danced” AM3 +, AMD significantly pressed Intel, finishing off a competitor with a line of budget “stones” of the A4-A10 series.

3 ASUS M5A78L-M LE/USB3

The best choice for office systems and gaming PCs without overclocking
Country: China
Average price: 4173 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.7

This is an entry-level board that is not designed for overclocking due to the 760G chipset, relatively weak cooling system and a small number of power circuits. It is able to “start” RAM with frequencies up to 1866 MHz, but there are only 2 slots for RAM and one dual-channel mode. The maximum amount of RAM is only 16 GB and it is not able to see more.

It is simply not recommended to drive the processor above 4.1 GHz, otherwise you will see reboots and blue screens of death. Solid capacitors do not swell under loads and are made very soundly. From the factory it often comes with the latest or penultimate BIOS version, but it itself is already obsolete. It is not recommended to install processors with a TPD above 95 watts, otherwise the power circuits will warm up and the circuits themselves will melt. Sometimes you come across defective versions with a background sound system at more than 50% volume.

2 GYGABITE GA970-DS3P (rev. 2.x)

Ideal choice for mid-level builds
Country: China
Average price: 5074 rubles.
Rating (2019): 5.0

Meet the popular favorite, the choice of which fell on the majority of buyers. Using this plan is comparable to playing the Paganini violin - very difficult, but if you delve into the nuances, it can give the most vivid sensations from the gameplay. The optimal frequencies for FX are from 4.0 to 4.2 GHz, which increases heat dissipation to 125 watts, respectively, the north bridge and power circuits can no longer cope with such a load and require the placement of additional coolers with a diameter of 40 mm, otherwise overheating will occur in 10-15 minutes.

The new BIOS shows itself well, now configurable not only with the keyboard but also with the mouse. The board has a slot for USB connections 3.0, as well as 8 ports on the rear panel, 6 of which are USB 2.0. Realtek 7.1 is responsible for the sound, and the maximum supported frequency of RAM reaches 2000 MHz with a volume of up to 32 GB. Users in their reviews recommend not to get involved in overclocking without additional airflow, otherwise about system unit you can safely warm your hands.

1 ASUS M5A99FX PRO R.2.0

Best overclocking board for AM3+
Country: China
Average price: 10770 rubles.
Rating (2019): 5.0

This is the best and currently available motherboard for FX, Phenom, Athlon 2, Sempron 100 processors. And at the same time the most expensive one. It is not distinguished by the number of slots for RAM - there are 4 of them according to the classics. But the main trump card is the increased frequency of the OP - up to 2133 MHz. The maximum volume is 32 GB, which is enough for the eyes for all possible operations. On the periphery of the case, powerful bridge radiators for passive cooling with heat pipes are installed.

An important element is the many 4-pin connectors for connecting fans, as additional turntables are often required to improve air circulation. The presence of 8 power phases at once is also pleasing, because of which you don’t have to worry about protecting the board from “burning out”. With a full and proper upgrade, the board can handle 5.1 GHz of the FX8300 processor without any problems. The main material of execution is a strong hardboard for increased loads and heavy "tower" cooling systems.

How to choose a motherboard?

When choosing motherboards, rely on the following aspects:

1. Compatibility is an important parameter when choosing a motherboard. Any element and external device must be physically and software compatible with the board. An excellent option would be a board that implies a transition to another processor in case of improvement.
2. Required number for ports, slots and socket (socket - a socket or "pocket" for connecting a processor). It is integrated into all boards, but as for USB ports and other elements, they may vary depending on the modifications. This is especially important when building a reserve for an upgrade in the future.
3. The presence of cooling systems (cooling radiators) on the chipset. Chipset - a set of microcircuits mounted on the motherboard. Most often, all logic is tied to the north and south bridges. There are boards on which there are no bridges, but there is a different logic organization scheme.
4. Other components: built-in sound controller (speaker connection), video adapter (similar to an external video card), network controller (Internet connection), CMOS battery, Russified BIOS (optional), built-in recovery software.