The motherboard acts as a platform, supporting various important hardware components and providing the necessary connections. It is the basic framework of a computer and plays a critical role in the computer’s performance and future hardware upgrades. There are many motherboard models available on the market, but the choice of motherboard depends on the CPU, which must be compatible with the motherboard interface. Once the CPU is decided, you can choose the motherboard. So how do we choose the right computer motherboard? What knowledge points should we be aware of regarding motherboards? Today, I will provide a detailed introduction!
As we all know, CPUs are divided into those produced by Intel and AMD. Similar to CPUs, motherboards also need to distinguish between Intel and AMD chipsets. Intel processors can only be paired with Intel motherboard chipsets, and the same goes for AMD; AMD processors can only be paired with AMD motherboard chipsets. This is particularly important; when DIYing a computer, be careful not to make the wrong choice! Below are physical images of the two types of motherboards, and we can first look at the differences in appearance between the two major platform motherboards.
From the image above, it’s clear that the CPU sockets are different!
Of course, not all Intel motherboards are compatible with Intel CPUs; you also need to look at the interfaces. For example, some older motherboards, like the B85 motherboard, cannot upgrade to the latest ninth-generation processors; a new motherboard must be replaced to support them. While both the motherboard and CPU are Intel, there can be interface compatibility issues; if the interfaces are different, they cannot be compatible. In most cases, different generations of processors are paired with different series of motherboards.
1. About Motherboard Levels
Whether it’s an Intel motherboard or an AMD motherboard chipset, they are categorized into levels. The first letter represents the chipset level, and different levels of chipsets pair differently with CPUs.
(1) Intel Motherboard Chipsets
Levels include: X, Z, B, H.
X: This is the highest level, positioned for enthusiasts, typically paired with high-end CPUs. For example, the currently available X299 motherboard has 2066 pins and is paired with LGA2066 interface processors such as i7 7820X, i9 7900X, i9 7920X, i9-7980XE, i9-9980X, i9-9980EX, i9-10980XE, etc. The prices of these motherboards and CPUs are quite staggering; for instance, the i9-10980XE processor is priced at 16,999 online! This is more for enthusiasts, and there’s no need for home use.
Price of i9-10980XE CPU online
Price of X299-E motherboard online
Z: Positioned as high-end, the highest quality among consumer-grade products, able to support overclocking. These motherboards usually support higher memory frequencies, such as the current Z390 motherboard, which is best paired with Intel processors that have a K suffix (supporting overclocking), like i9-9900K, i7-9700K, i5-9600K, etc. Most people won’t need these unless they are gaming enthusiasts!
B: Positioned as mid-range mainstream, offering the best cost-performance ratio, not supporting overclocking. Generally, Core processors without a K suffix are paired with B series motherboards, such as i3-8100, i5-8400/8500, i5-9400F, i7-8700, which are well-suited for B360 motherboards. This type of motherboard is suitable for most users and can fully meet the needs of the general public, offering high cost-performance; consider this when building a computer.
H: Positioned as entry-level, cheaper, and also not supporting overclocking. Generally recommended for pairing with Intel Celeron and Pentium processors, such as the H310 motherboard, paired with low-end entry-level processors like G4900, G5400. This type of motherboard and CPU is not highly recommended.
(2) AMD Motherboard Chipsets
Levels include: X, B, A, with a naming rule similar to Intel.
X: High-end series, supports overclocking, such as the X370 motherboard, generally paired with Ryzen R7 2700X processors.
B: Positioned as mid-range mainstream; AMD is generally more reasonable compared to Intel, as almost all Ryzen processors support overclocking, and mainstream motherboards can also support overclocking, such as the B450 motherboard, generally paired with Ryzen R5 2600, R7 2700 processors.
A: Positioned as entry-level, does not support overclocking, generally suitable for entry-level processors, such as the currently available A320 motherboard, typically paired with Athlon 200GE entry-level processors.
2. Main Interfaces of the Motherboard
The motherboard provides various hardware connections, with the CPU socket mainly determined by the CPU model, affecting compatibility. The number of memory slots determines how many memory sticks can be installed. If pairing with an M.2 SSD, ensure the motherboard supports M.2 interfaces; M.2 should ideally be full-speed, as non-full-speed interfaces cannot meet the needs of M.2 NVME high-speed SSDs, making them similar in speed to regular SATA SSDs. Also, there are USB 3.1/3.0 and Gigabit Ethernet interfaces (most new motherboards now have Gigabit Ethernet).
3. Motherboard Sizes
Motherboards also come in different sizes. Common motherboard formats include: E-ATX enhanced, ATX standard, M-ATX compact, and MINI-ITX mini.
Regarding motherboard size, it cannot fundamentally determine the quality of a motherboard. Large and small boards generally differ in the number of interfaces, which affects expandability, but there is no difference in performance. The size of the motherboard does not affect computer performance; therefore, when assembling a computer, the size can be selected based on compatibility requirements, cost-performance ratio, and case size.
4. Motherboard Brands
1. ASUS motherboards, positioned as a first-line brand;
2. Gigabyte motherboards, positioned as a first-line brand;
3. MSI motherboards, positioned as a first-line brand;
4. ASRock motherboards, positioned as a second-line brand;
The best-selling motherboards on the market are ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI. Many second and third-line brands have gradually disappeared from the market. Among the first-line brands, ASUS and Gigabyte are the first choices; their prices are slightly higher, but their quality is solid and after-sales service is complete. If you’re looking for cost-performance, consider MSI and ASRock; other brands are not highly recommended.
5. Purchasing Channels
Currently, purchasing channels are divided into online and offline. Online options are generally JD.com, Tmall, and Suning, while offline refers to physical stores. Nowadays, it is not recommended to purchase from physical stores; when buying online, be sure to choose official flagship stores, and for logistics, select JD, SF Express, etc. Electronic products are priced according to quality; after comparing three stores, choose a medium-priced option to avoid losing out by being too cheap. After determining the model, directly search on e-commerce websites, and check the detailed parameters in the product details to ensure they align with what you want; these are all details, and if there are issues, you can consult the store’s customer service.
Conclusion:When choosing a motherboard, first check if it is compatible with the chosen CPU, ensuring that their interfaces are consistent. Then check if the interfaces are sufficient, such as how many memory slots there are and whether there is an M.2 interface. If not using a dedicated graphics card, check what video interfaces the motherboard supports to avoid situations where the monitor and motherboard provide different interfaces, which would require purchasing an adapter to resolve. The brand is also crucial; a good brand determines quality, stability, after-sales service, and other aspects.
