When it comes to computer components that are most prone to issues, the motherboard is undoubtedly the first.Hence, after numerous verifications, people have come to this purchasing advice: buy expensive.However, just like those who can afford luxury cars often do not understand them as well as those who cannot afford them, it is essential to understand various specifications regarding motherboards.In this article, we will help you understand motherboards.
01
Motherboard Chipset
If the CPU is comparable to the brain, then the motherboard is the body.The motherboard’s role is to provide a platform for all computer components and to connect the CPU with other components.For this, we also need something akin to the spinal cord: the chipset.
1.1 Chipset Origins
The term chipset is a conventional term.
In the early days of computers, chipsets indeed consisted of a group of chips, which later simplified into the Northbridge and Southbridge.Now, the Northbridge chip has been integrated into the CPU, leaving only the Southbridge chip, which is now called the PCH chip.
1.2 Chipset Levels
Every time Intel and AMD release a new generation of CPUs, they also release new chipsets, which are then categorized into multiple levels.Intel chipsets are categorized as H, B, Z, X four levels.The corresponding numerical models are 1, 6, 9, such as Hx10, Bx60, Zx90, and the top platform X299.The H series chipset also has a mid-to-high-end positioning Hx70, but it has always been somewhat lackluster and not very prominent, so related motherboards are scarce.AMD can be divided into A, B, X, TRX four levels.The corresponding numerical models are 2, 5, 7, such as Ax20, Bx50, Xx70, and the top platform TRX40.Although Intel and AMD’s chipset naming methods are similar, there are patterns that can be followed.
1.3 Chipset Naming
Intel initially used a numbering system of 1, 5, 7.However, in 2017, AMD released a new generation of Ryzen processors, adopting a similar chipset numbering of 2, 5, 7.To avoid name overlap, Intel changed the B series numbers from 5 to 6 and Z series from 7 to 9 starting from the 300 series, thus becoming 1, 6, 9.In response, AMD also changed its chipset naming starting from the 300 series to avoid name overlap.Therefore, if a motherboard is named B660, it must be an Intel motherboard, while if it is named B650, it must be an AMD motherboard.Similarly, if a motherboard is named B250, it is also an Intel motherboard.Additionally, the AMD Threadripper CPU’s chipset was initially named X399.However, AMD soon realized it would conflict with IntelX299‘s next-generation chipset, so after X399, it was renamed TRX40.
02
Motherboard Compatibility
With the above knowledge, when selecting a motherboard, the first thing to ensure is whether it can be paired with the CPU, and then consider whether the pairing is reasonable.
2.1 CPU Pins
Intel always changes the CPU pins with each new generation of CPUs.For example, the pins of the 12th generation Core CPUs are different from those of the 11th generation; the 12th generation uses LGA1700, while the 11th generation uses LGA1200, and they cannot be mixed.However, the 13th generation CPU pins are the same as the 12th generation, so these two can be used interchangeably.In this respect, AMD is much simpler.AMD Ryzen processors have consistently used the AM4 interface PGA1331 pins for a long time.However, in the latest 7000 series processors, AMD not only changed to the AM5 interface but also adopted a pin similar to Intel’s LGA1718.Thus, when selecting a motherboard, it is essential to first check if it can match with the CPU.
2.2 Chipset Recommendations
Secondly, CPUs of the same generation but different levels have identical pins.This means that a high-end CPU can also be installed on a low-end motherboard, and vice versa.However, this would be akin to using a big knife to kill a chicken or a small horse to pull a big cart.Generally speaking, entry-level CPUs should choose entry-level motherboards, mid-range CPUs should choose mid-range motherboards, and high-end CPUs should choose high-end motherboards.CPUs with a K suffix should ideally be paired with Z series motherboards due to their support for overclocking.However, if you cannot overclock and just want a higher turbo frequency, it is also possible to pair a K suffix CPU with a non-overclocking B series motherboard.AMD processors, as they support overclocking across the entire series, make chipset selection much simpler. Entry-level CPUs match with entry-level chipsets, while high-end CPUs pair with high-end chipsets.
03
Motherboard Brands
Once you’ve selected a chipset, you also need to choose a manufacturer that produces the motherboard.
3.1 Manufacturer Naming
After purchasing the chipset, motherboard manufacturers will launch motherboards with varying specifications, materials, designs, and functions through their own R&D.
Thus, even motherboards with the same chipset can be further categorized into high, medium, and low-end once they reach the manufacturer.For example, ASUS, MSI, GIGABYTE, ASRock all have multiple levels.Moreover, even within the same level of motherboards, manufacturers will often categorize them into multiple versions through various “cutting methods“. The lower-spec versions are often referred to by netizens as the “beggar version“.For instance, the ASUS B360M-K motherboard, the K suffix indicates it is the cheapest version.
3.2 First-line Brands
There are many motherboard manufacturers, but the leading three brands are ASUS, MSI, and GIGABYTE.ASUS is the king of motherboards.It not only holds the highest market share, but its high-end brand ROG (Republic of Gamers) is also highly renowned.ROG is divided into pure blood ROG and Strix series, and ASUS also has several series under its brand, such as Master and Gaming Agent.MSI is the second in motherboards and also the first in AMD motherboards.Its design philosophy aligns with AMD, offering high cost-performance ratios, and its product line is simple, consisting of only MEG, MPG, MAG, PRO four levels.GIGABYTE is the third in motherboards.GIGABYTE is known for its solid construction and materials, and its Ultra Durable series motherboards are indeed long-lasting.However, GIGABYTE has also faced backlash for criticizing Chinese manufacturing, leading to netizens mocking them with phrases like skill is not as good as others, courage is commendable, and even boycotting purchases, which can only be described as self-inflicted.
3.4 Second-line Brands
There are many second-line motherboard brands, but the leading one is ASRock.After ASUS, MSI, and GIGABYTE established their first-line market, they all launched their second-line brands to squeeze out other second and third-line brands.In naming, they were quite straightforward, with ASUS’s being ASRock, MSI’s being MAG, and GIGABYTE’s being AORUS.However, only ASRock has survived.ASRock’s designs tend to be unconventional, featuring many unique motherboards that only ASRock offers, and ASRock even calls itself the Monster Board Academy.Thus, ASRock has become a favorite among overclocking enthusiasts and those seeking cost-performance ratios.
3.5 Other Brands
As for other brands, if your budget is limited, it is also acceptable to choose brands other than the top four.After all, their prices are much lower, sometimes even half.Examples include Colorful, Galax, Maxsun, ONDA, ENERMAX, Biostar, ONDA, Yeston, and so on.As for stability, all motherboards now come with at least 3 years of warranty.If you do not need to overclock and just want to use it normally while saving money, choosing them is also acceptable, as the prices are right.
04
Motherboard Interfaces
The motherboard is a functional component but does not provide performance.However, through marketing by manufacturers, motherboards have gained a “faith enhancement”, such as ASUS’s RoG Eye, MSI’s Dragon Shield, and GIGABYTE’s Big Eagle.When purchasing a motherboard, it is essential to look at its configuration.
4.1 Motherboard Size
The interfaces and expansions on the motherboard are usually proportional to its size.Generally speaking, the larger the board, the more components can be installed, and the stronger the expansion capabilities. Motherboards are typically divided into four sizes:E-ATX, ATX, M-ATX, ITXE-ATX and ITX board types have unique uses, one for top-tier platforms and the other for mini PCs. The mainstream options are ATX and M-ATX.For most people, the M-ATX board is sufficient and more economical.If you plan to add more components later, consider choosing an ATX board.
4.2 PCIe Interfaces
PCIe is a high-speed expansion interface on computers, and most motherboards will have at least two PCIe interfaces.The topmost interface is typically used for graphics cards as it directly connects to the CPU.For other PCIe interfaces, you can use them for network cards, sound cards, video capture cards, and any PCIe conversion interfaces.Currently, the PCIe standard has developed to 5.0.Slot lengths are available in x1, x4, x8, x16, with speeds reaching up to 63.0GB/s.However, the speed of PCIe 3.0 is already fast enough; even top-tier graphics cards only just saturate the bandwidth of PCIe 3.0 x16, which is considered a “future-proof” design.
4.3 Storage Interfaces
The motherboard’s hard drive interfaces come in two types: traditional SATA interfaces and high-speed M.2 interfaces.SATA Interfaces:Most motherboards have at least four SATA interfaces for installing SATA SSDs, mechanical hard drives, optical drives, etc.Although it has developed to SATA 3.0, its maximum speed is only 600Mb/s.M.2 Interfaces:M.2 interfaces were initially used for hard drives in laptops.However, due to their faster speed compared to SATA, they have also been adopted by desktop computers, and most motherboards now support M.2 SSDs.Currently, there are various types of M.2 SSDs with different channels and protocols available on the market.Generally, choosing an NVMe protocol PCIe 3.0 *4 channel SSD is sufficient, as it is already fast enough.
4.4 Peripheral Interfaces
Peripheral interfaces are usually located at the upper left of the motherboard, including display interfaces, audio interfaces, network interfaces, USB interfaces, etc.Display Interfaces:Display interfaces include VGA, DVI, HDMI, DP four types.VGA is the earliest interface, still found in some low-end computers, while DVI is a more advanced digital interface that has nearly disappeared.Newer interfaces such as HDMI and DP have replaced it.HDMI interfaces can be used with TVs, monitors, set-top boxes, and other home devices, while DP interfaces are generally used with computers and monitors.Audio Interfaces:Typical motherboards have three audio jacks.Higher-end audio interfaces may have six jacks and support up to 8-channel audio, with high-end audio interfaces also supporting blind plugging without needing to pair them one by one.Network Interfaces:As for network interfaces, they generally come with built-in gigabit network cards, and some motherboards may also integrate wifi interfaces, indicated by the suffix WIFI, AC.USB Interfaces:The basic USB interface is USB 2.0.USB 2.0 interfaces are typically black or white, blue indicates USB 3.1, while red or turquoise indicates USB 3.2.Higher-end USB interfaces may also provide Type-C interfaces (standard USB is Type-A), and even Type-C Thunderbolt interfaces.
4.5 RGB Interfaces
As for RGB lighting effects, some consider it light pollution, while others believe RGB lighting provides a 30% performance boost.If you are among those who believe in performance enhancement.Make sure to select RGB headers with 5V3 pins that are programmable, and it is best to choose motherboards and graphics cards from the same brand to achieve “synchronized board and card”.
4.6 Power Phases
If you are an overclocking enthusiast, you need to pay attention to the motherboard power supply.Typically, the more power phases a motherboard has, the lower the load on each phase, resulting in less heat and better CPU performance and stability.The best power supply method is direct power supply, but due to costs, manufacturers have invented phase doubling and parallel power supply.If you do not overclock, you do not need to worry about the power supply.As long as you are pairing with a CPU of the same level, there will be no power supply issues since manufacturers have already tuned them for normal use without problems.
4.7 BIOS
Finally, let’s discuss BIOS.BIOS can be considered the motherboard’s operating system, being the first application executed after the computer powers on, responsible for detecting and debugging the hardware on the motherboard.For ordinary users, BIOS is only used during the first installation; afterwards, it is not required. However, for advanced users, the BIOS experience is crucial.ASUS’s high market share is also attributed to its user-friendly BIOS design.
05
Motherboard Selection
Selecting a motherboard can be challenging, but it can also be straightforward. Overall, it can be divided into three steps.
5.1 Selection Steps
First, determine what type of CPU you want to buy; then, check the compatible chipsets for the CPU; finally, choose a specific brand and model.For example, I want to build a high cost-performance mid-range computer:Step 1:i7-13700K is currently the second-in-command among Intel Core processors.It outperforms the i9-12900K while the retail price is only 3000 yuan, making its performance and price “sweet spot”.Step 2:However, I do not overclock and do not like overclocking, so I chose the B660 chipset, selecting the K version of the i7-13700 for its higher turbo frequency.Step 3:I learned that the MSI B660M Mortar motherboard has a power supply capacity far exceeding previous models.It is more than sufficient for the i7, even maintaining stable performance while running at full turbo frequency, and its interfaces are also adequate and even surplus.Finally, with a price around 1200 yuan, I decided on the MSI B660M Mortar WiFi.
5.2 Brand Selection
Regarding motherboard brand selection, netizens have summarized this thought based on years of experience:Choose ASUS for high-end, MSI for mid-range, GIGABYTE for low-end, and others if you are on a budget.ASUS excels in high-end motherboards in terms of construction, materials, aesthetics, and usability, with the strongest “faith enhancement”.MSI motherboards follow a similar philosophy to AMD, focusing on cost-performance. Choosing MSI for mid-range motherboards is a safe bet.Especially the popular Mortar motherboard, which offers the best cost-performance ratio online.Thus, we have the saying, “When in doubt, choose Mortar”.In low-end motherboards, most manufacturers’ products tend to be significantly downgraded, which is precisely the strength of GIGABYTE as the “Material King”.Its Ultra Durable series motherboards are indeed long-lasting.As for ASRock motherboards, you can consider them as ASUS motherboards’ budget options.When other brands’ prices are presented to you, you might think they are “really fragrant”.
5.3 Board-CPU Bundles
If you find it challenging to select a motherboard.You can search for a certain CPU’s “board-CPU bundle” on major e-commerce platforms, which not only eliminates compatibility issues but also often comes at a lower overall price.For novice users, this is indeed a great deal!
Conclusion
Selecting a motherboard is like choosing a car.You can choose an entry-level commuter car, an all-weather SUV, or a luxury sedan that showcases status.No matter what the need, cost-performance is what we should focus on.Indeed, even luxury cars emphasize cost-performance; otherwise, they would be excessively expensive.This article explains various aspects of motherboards from an educational perspective, and the next issue will discuss specific purchasing experiences for motherboards.We hope this helps with your build.Remember to like and share!!!Reply with the keyword C to view all articles in this series, and reply with the keyword C01 to obtain all resources mentioned in this article.Recent Articles:Column Introduction:After Reading the Article:1、Click “Read”, which can help more people see this article.2、Leave a Comment, if you have questions, write a comment, and I will reply as much as possible.3、Follow, and star it to get updates first.
