How to choose a motherboard is the question most often asked by users when assembling a new computer. Sometimes it is chosen for a ready-made PC, intending to improve its performance and increase its capabilities.

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

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

Where to begin?

Before buying a motherboard, you should know that it is one of the most important elements of a computer. And the purchase of other components will depend on its choice - from the case, which must match in size, to the processor, memory modules and video cards.

Therefore, you should select a motherboard only complete with the rest of the parts - or at least know their approximate characteristics. In addition, the buyer should have an idea for what purpose he will need the board - for office work, for high-performance games, or as a home multimedia center.

Board functionality

The capabilities of a motherboard are primarily related to its price - the more expensive the device, the higher its functionality. New and expensive "motherboards" provide the ability to simultaneously install multiple graphics processors - for working with drawings and 3D-objects, or for connecting 2-3 monitors.

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

Choosing the size of the "motherboard"

Having started choosing a motherboard, they immediately pay attention to its dimensions. This nuance is especially important if the part is purchased for an existing system unit.

A large case can accommodate a board of any size, in which case it is worth choosing an 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 such devices are unlikely to be able to install even one powerful video card.

Processor Compatibility

Each motherboard supports a different 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 people pay attention to when buying a motherboard is slots for memory modules and support for certain types of RAM.

A high-performance computer definitely requires the ability to work with GDDR5, providing high-speed operation. It is also desirable that the number of slots for memory strips be more than 2 - four for a gaming PC (which will allow expanding 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 accelerate the process of reading and writing media. Their number is usually 4, but on ATX motherboards it can be increased;
PCI Express slots required for connecting video cards. Moreover, for each type of GPU it is better to use its own 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 former depends on how many built-in storage devices can be installed on a given PC;
PCI, the slot into which sound cards and other peripheral devices are connected.

Gaming motherboard

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

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

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

The best motherboards for a computer in 2016

When deciding on the purchase of a "motherboard", many are wondering whether there is a better universal motherboard capable of performing 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 high-performance games running at maximum settings (board for an avid gamer's computer).

For study

It is not easy to determine which board is suitable for the computer of a pupil and a student. Moreover, the user's goal may be not only to work with office programs, but also to play in their free time.

In this case, you should choose such models as MSI H110M PRO-VH (for Intel processors) or Gigabyte GA-F2A78M-DS2 (for AMD). Their capabilities are enough for launching, for example, AutoCAD, and for gaming applications, and the cost is quite low - within 4000 rubles.

For office

The main characteristics of an 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 minimum performance characteristics and, most often, with a small hard drive (or without it at all).

Today, choosing a motherboard for an 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 a more powerful hardware component. Therefore, serious requirements are imposed on the board:

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

A possible option for using AMD chipsets is the MSI 970A-G43 board, which is distinguished 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 from 5000 rubles.

For a budget gaming computer

Buying a gaming computer is most often associated with more serious expenses than choosing an office option - this technique 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 quite enough to run modern gaming applications with minimal 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 the installation of up to 64 GB of DDR3 RAM (more favorable in price than the latest generations of RAM).

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

For a powerful gaming PC

A motherboard that meets fairly stringent requirements will help to achieve maximum performance in games.

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 productive cooling system).

In addition, such a board requires at least 4 memory slots and an M.2 slot for SSD hard drives. All these characteristics are available in the ASROCK FATAL1TY 970 PERFORMANCE / 3.1 (support for AMD FX 9590 and 9370 processors), which can be called the best for gaming.

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

Outcomes

When choosing a graphics card that suits 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 motherboard, which will not become obsolete for a long time, and whose components can be painlessly replaced for several more years.

Have a nice shopping!

When assembling a computer, many are concerned about the question of which motherboard to choose, because there is a huge variety of models on sale that need to be chosen taking into account the numerous characteristics. It is best to give preference to products of well-known brands, the quality of which there can be no doubt and it is officially sold in our country with a manufacturer's warranty. Reliability and quality are the main criteria when choosing a motherboard, because no one wants to buy a new one every year, or even earlier.

How to choose a motherboard for your computer?

The best motherboard manufacturers at the moment are the following brands:

Asus;
Gigabyte.

These are some of the most popular and well-known brands, in the range of which you are guaranteed to find a good model. Having decided on the choice of a brand, we turn to how to choose a motherboard for a computer, taking into account its characteristics.

Features of the motherboard design

A motherboard is a special device with slots for connecting the rest of the computer's elements, including a video card, RAM, power supply and much more. Without it, it will be impossible to use a PC.

The basic set of elements present on the motherboard:

A socket is a large slot that houses a processor;
Chipset - a microcircuit that connects two bridges. The north bridge connects the processor and the video card. Yuzhny is responsible for the functioning of the BIOS, hard drive, mouse, display, keyboard and other external devices;
Slots to which RAM and video card are connected;
Connectors for a floppy drive and a hard drive;
Connectors for power supply, mouse, keyboard and other devices;
USB pins, which can be internal or external. They are used to connect the power button on the system unit, restart, and more.

All components of the computer are connected to the motherboard. Thus, it is used to place them and ensure the interaction of system components with each other.

Choosing a motherboard for Intel processors

While figuring out which motherboard to choose for intel, you probably already noticed that such solutions are significantly more expensive. More sophisticated models that support the latest RAM standards with a frequency of up to 2864 MHz and even more are intended for them. Often in such a motherboard there are SATA connectors with a bandwidth of 6 Gb / s. Of course, not every motherboard will have such characteristics, there are also budget solutions, but in general, motherboards for Intel are much better. When choosing them, you need to pay attention to the standard of the slot for the processor, otherwise it may simply not fit.

Advantages:

Excellent throughput;
Top-end video cards and high-frequency RAM are supported;
A wide range of motherboards from budget to expensive professional models.

AMD processor motherboard

When figuring out which motherboard to choose for a computer, many choose solutions for AMD chips, which is associated with their affordable cost. But in terms of their parameters, they will be inferior to solutions for Intel. New models are equipped with slots for DDR4 RAM, but as a rule, the frequency of their operation turns out to be lower - within 2400 MHz. The bandwidth will also be lower - no more than 3 GB / s, although this is a decent result. Often, such motherboards are equipped with a large number of slots for RAM and are much cheaper.

Advantages:

Affordable price;
Supports modern standards of RAM and video cards;
A large number of slots are available for expanding the amount of RAM.

Disadvantages:

Often they are not as durable, so motherboards for intel;
They do not have such a high throughput.

Chipset

A chipset is a processor integrated into the motherboard that is responsible for controlling the hardware connected to it. It depends on him how functional and fast it will be - it will allow the filling to function at the limit of its capabilities or become a ballast that limits the capabilities of the system. Let's figure out how to choose the right motherboard for your computer, and what you need to consider. You should choose a chipset for the processor company, but it is equally important that its characteristics correspond to your current needs, for which the PC is going.

Motherboards equipped with Intel chipsets:

For mid-range computers, the B250 and H270 chipsets are ideal. A more simplified version - B150 and H170 is suitable for assembling a working PC;
the Z270 chipset is suitable, which supports several top-end video cards at the same time;
X99 / X299 boards are selected for programming.

AMD does not lag behind the competitor, releasing chipsets for various purposes. The only thing is that they are not as powerful and slower. On the other hand, they are cheaper.

A320 motherboards are intended for assembling an office PC;
For gaming computers, the B350 chipset has been developed to improve the performance of the processor;
For professional PCs, the X370 chipset is used, which supports multiple video cards and is faster than others.

Computer motherboard form factor

It will be easier to choose AMD or Intel motherboards if you know their form factor. It predetermines the physical dimensions of the panel, and with it the number of slots provided by the manufacturer. Small boards often have limited capabilities because they cannot accommodate many connectors. According to the form factor, the models produced now are divided into several types, for each of which a certain system unit is suitable:

ATX is the most popular format. It is a full-size board that can accommodate the maximum required slots. Dimensions are as follows: 30.5x24.4 cm;
MicroATX is a reduced board, the size of which does not exceed 24.4x24.4 cm. The number of additional slots in it does not exceed 6;
MiniATX is the smallest version with dimensions of 17x17 cm. Such a board will fit even into a compact system unit, but there is also a significant drawback - a very limited number of slots and problems with organizing effective cooling.

Socket

The socket is an important factor in the selection that determines the usable processor.

Intel offers several variants of LGA1150 and LGA2011-3. This is an obsolete format. which is still in use, but it is better to pay attention to the more modern socket 1151. In the future, it will be possible to easily replace the processor with a new, more efficient one;
When figuring out how to choose a motherboard for an AMD processor, it is better to order a model with the current AM4 socket or the still in-demand AM3 + and FM2 +. The newer the socket, the easier it will be in the future to select a replacement processor, so it is better to give preference to the newest socket.

Now that you know how to choose a motherboard for a processor, let's move on.

Number of slots for RAM

The more slots, the better, because this opens up ample opportunities for upgrading your PC in the future. If we talk about the memory standard, then it should be DDR4. DDR3 strips may be cheaper, but they work less efficiently and may soon disappear from the market. When figuring out which motherboard to choose in 2018, you need to take into account what frequencies it supports, otherwise the part can slow down the system.

Budget models support 2400-2600 MHz, which will be enough for an ordinary user;
To build a gaming and professional PC, the frequency must be above 3000 MHz. As a rule, it is possessed by motherboards of the middle price segment and premium models.

Of great importance is the number of slots, of which there are 4 in a full-sized board, and only 2 in Micro and Mini. Keep this in mind, the possibility of expanding the memory capacity will never be superfluous.

Other connectors that the board can be equipped with

Understanding the question of which gaming motherboard to choose, you will notice that most models come with connectors for video cards such as PCI Express 16. There can be from 1 to 4 such slots, which is useful when assembling a computer for gaming and mining. A spare slot to accommodate an additional graphics card is never superfluous. You can also connect additional equipment there, such as a modem, solid-state drive and much more.

You also need to pay attention to other slots to make it comfortable to work with a computer:

USB 3.0 and 2.0 - Used to connect external devices such as a keyboard and mouse. It is desirable that there are at least 5 of them;
PS / 2 is a legacy connector that was previously widely used to connect a keyboard. Now its presence does not make sense, since all peripherals come with a USB connector;
DVI - intended for connecting a monitor and is present exclusively in models with an integrated video card. HDMI is used for the same purpose, but a TV can also be connected to it;
BIOS reset key. Used to reboot it;
eSATA - connector for external hard drives;
RJ-45 - port for connecting an Internet cable;
Audio output for headphones and microphone.

Built-in elements

Modern motherboards can be equipped with a wide range of modules, including built-in sound and video card Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and much more. Accordingly, if they are already integrated into the board, then you do not have to buy them separately. But as a rule, integrated modules turn out to be worse and weaker than those that you can buy separately and install yourself. Therefore, such savings are questionable.

Electronics

Low-cost boards use simple capacitors that can behave unpredictably. In the event of overheating or power outages, the electrolyte in them swells, but the circuit continues to function. Solid capacitors will be more reliable, but also expensive.

Assembling or upgrading a computer is a solution to a problem with several inputs, and the result should satisfy all "Wishlist" as much as possible and keep within all the "mess" so as not to exhaust 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 consider the lower and middle price range, leaving the models "for overclocking" and games for the next time.

Criterias of choice

As always, we dance from a traditional Russian household item, "from the stove", for which we will choose the "people's" socket 1151, for which the manufacturers have released a huge number of motherboards. With this 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 this knowledge, we will distribute all the boards into several classes. Naturally, this division is conditional, and does not mean at all that from a motherboard from the budget segment one can expect only dull performance, suitable only for office use.

Not at all. Even ready-made system units from renowned manufacturers, and positioned as gaming ones, are often equipped with seemingly unsuitable motherboards based on the H110 chipset.

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 overclocking the processor and memory, this is one class of devices. If the assembled computer will have to work normally before its replacement / upgrade in the form in which it is purchased, then what is the point of overpaying for redundant functions?

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

Budget motherboards

Models fall into this section not so much by price as by their capabilities. Agree, the H110 chipset cannot be classified as a top solution in any way. This is a typical 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 you can find on sale now. Let's go ascending price.

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 DDR4-2133 memory slots. 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 support 7th generation Kaby Lake processors out of the box. If you get an earlier board, then it's okay too. As a last resort, you will have to update the BIOS.

The board has a microATX form factor. The 8-pin processor power connector is located close to the socket, which can cause problems when installing bulky coolers. It may not work well and neatly to lay the cables. Naturally, there is no talk of any use of 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. The differences are 2 PCI-E x1 connectors, 6 power phases, 2 USB 3.1 connectors and, perhaps, that's all. The slightly larger size allowed the board to be assembled in a more traditional way, placing the connectors for connecting drives along the bottom edge.

In general, this is a more than decent choice for a minimum of money, and the board shows excellent performance. If you are ready to put up with the presence of only DVI, the absence of 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 in the presence of HDMI. There are no more advantages. 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 a wide monitor connection is quite justified.

Of the features, it is worth mentioning the unfortunate arrangement of contacts for connecting the front audio connectors. They are located exactly in front of the PCI-E x16 connector, and the installed video card overlaps these pins. Yes, and one of the SATA is out of the line, being in a little in the back of 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 by the smaller number of USB ports on the rear wall (4 versus 6) and the presence of two full-fledged PS / 2 together, one combined. Here is such a plus.

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

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

ASUS H110M-CS

An incomprehensible fee, or rather, the price for 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 the second PCI-E x1 connector and the replacement of DVI with the already archaic VGA. What to overpay for, 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 based on an Intel chip, which is a little faster than solutions based on chips from Realtek.

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

Otherwise, there are no obvious 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 gaming boards and for red connectors, the manufacturer wants 700 rubles more than for the previous, "eco-friendly" version. You will have to pay for the visual appeal.

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

MSI H110M GRENADE

Price - about 4700 rubles. It differs from most previous ones by the presence of an Intel network chip, an M.2 slot on the PCI-E bus and USB Type-C. Is it worth all the overpayment - you decide. Having M.2 for installing an SSD under an operating system can be useful when building 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. Features - support for processors with a TDP of up to 65 W, the use of an Intel network chip, SO-DIMM DDR4 memory modules. There is USB Type-C, 2 SATA3. You can use VGA, HDMI or DisplayPort to connect the monitor.

Installed 2 M.2 slots:

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 SATA M.2 drives, only PCIe!

An external 19V power supply is used.

ASUS H110T

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

To connect a monitor, you can use HDMI, DisplayPort. Memory - laptop, SO-DIMM.

Other options

Naturally, these are not all models. I have listed only those that, in my opinion, may be of interest to something. For approximately the same cost, you can find other options that do not differ in almost anything. For example, the Gigabyte GA-H110M-S2 can compete with the cheapest models, 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 the layout.

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

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

Many models of boards, 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 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.

Such motherboards as Gigabyte GA-H110-D3A, ASRock H110 Pro BTC + and the like stand somewhat apart. Their cost is 7500 for the first and about 12,700 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, while ASRock has 12. It is probably already clear that these boards are designed specifically for mining cryptocurrencies.

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 words, 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. Even the cheapest motherboard can be connected via DVI. 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, the better. ASRock especially loves to save on the number of power phases. On the other hand, only she has radiators to cool these circuits. Considering that overclocking processors is impossible, this is quite enough.

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

Mid-range motherboards

Here motherboards based on B150 / 250, H170 / 270, Q170 / 270 chipsets will be considered. 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 as opposed to the 2nd in the 110th chipset, a larger number of USB ports, as well as the ability to use 4 DIMM slots instead of two ...

The 2xx generation is not much different from the 1xx generation of chipsets. One of the main differences is storage 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 you will not be able to use this feature.

The glory of office solutions has been fixed for the B150 / 250 chipsets, although the number of offered models is large, the Q170 / 270 are specific products, more focused on the corporate segment, and the number of motherboards based on them is quite small. The most popular is the H170 / 270, which is deprived only of the ability to overclock the processor by a multiplier. The rest is 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 differ little from each other. I will focus on the most attractive options.

ASRock B150M-HDS

In fact, it is a complete analogue to the ASRock B110M-HDS board, differing only in another chipset (B150) and the price is about 250-300 rubles higher. I don't see much point in buying it, given the minimum of connectors, the absence of M.2, and even the not entirely successful arrangement of the SATA connectors. It will be difficult to organize cables beautifully and neatly.

Gigabyte GA-B150M-D2V

One of the cheapest, which already has 6 SATA connectors. The cost is about 4200 rubles. The advantages are 4 USB 3.0 on the back panel, the presence of VGA and DVI for connecting a monitor. Among the minuses - only 2 DIMM DDR4, the absence of HDMI and M.2 (although this minus is rather controversial).

For your money - not a bad option.

Gigabyte GA-H170M-HD3 DDR3

Quite a controversial model. Chipset - H170. On the one hand, the price is about 4200 rubles, which includes 6 SATA3, 2 SATA Express (not very relevant 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 the memory of the already outdated DDR3 generation, and you can install only 2 such modules. In our times, this is, rather, already a minus, although if other characteristics suit you, then you can take it. There won't be much difference between DDR3 and DDR4. The problem is in the further upgrade. The next time the motherboard is replaced, this memory will no longer be used.

If memory modules of this particular generation remain, then you can save 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 controversial. Another PCI-E would be better. In general, I would not take this motherboard, precisely because of the hopelessness 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 has a PCIe M.2 connector, 4 USB 3.1 on the rear panel, the ability to connect 6 SATA drives. The lack of HDMI (there are only VGA and DVI) may upset, and there are only two memory connectors. Otherwise, it is a good option at an attractive price on a good chipset.

ASRock B250M-HDV

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

For a little money, a pretty decent motherboard.

ASUS H170M-E D3

An even more controversial option than Gigabyte GA-H170M-HD3 DDR3. The cost is about 4600 rubles. The same DDR3 memory, though there are 4 slots for installing RAM modules. At the same time, there are 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 absolutely need a RAID, then there is a slightly cheaper Gigabyte, in which you can also connect 2 more drives. The only, albeit controversial, plus is 4 memory slots, and even then, there is Gigabyte GA-H170M-D3H DDR3, which also has 4 DIMMs and the same price. The model has outlived its life and is not interesting for purchase.

ASUS B150M-A / M.2

Quite a controversial option, primarily due to not the freshest chipset. Judge for yourself. Indeed, for 4800 rubles. there are 4 connectors for DDR4, and HDMI, and 6 SATA, and M.2, and USB 3.1 Type-C. On the downside, there is no RAID, the memory frequency is limited 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. Inexpensive, but everything you need is there. At the same time, about all the same can be found on a more recent chipset and for about the same money.

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

There is also the already mentioned ASRock B250M-HDV, which has everything that is in this model, 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 the 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 a particular model at the moment. What is cheaper - then take it.

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

MSI B150M NIGHT ELF

The cost is about 5500 rubles. Similarly equipped boards can be found cheaper. What is the overpayment for then? For the backlight, Intel NIC, and nice 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. To connect the monitor, DVI is installed.

For aesthetics, having a glass wall in the case is a very good option. For those who are more important not how the board looks, but how it works, a waste of funds is not justified.

ASUS STRIX B250G GAMING

Cook 6,200 rubles. For what? For beautiful radiators, an Intel network card, 2 M.2 connectors, HDMI, a SupremeFX audio chip, which is used in more advanced motherboards from this manufacturer. Is the sound better than using the Realtek audio chip? I do not think.

Otherwise, it is much more attractive than the previous model, if only 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. In the presence of 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 only PCIe drives.

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

I advise you to take a closer look. If you don't need multiplier overclocking, this is probably one of the best options. Similar in characteristics to MSI H270M BAZOOKA for about 300 rubles. expensive. Moreover, there is only one M.2.

There is a modification of this board with a slightly different layout - the H270 Pro4 model, although it is already more expensive by about 400 rubles. But there is also ASRock B250M Pro4, a slightly simplified version 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, which are painted with memory slots and heatsinks. Metal connector for a video card.

There is everything that should be in such cards - 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 overpayment is worth it is up to you. (Hint: ASRock B250M Pro4 has everything the same, but without pretties, 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. In terms of characteristics, there is 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 a sufficient number of lanes to install such a number of expansion slots. And for all this you will have to pay about 6,700 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, Intel network controller. You can use VGA, DVI or HDMI to connect the monitor. No, maybe 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 price 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 do not have.

ASUS B150 PRO GAMING / AURA

The cost is about 7,500 rubles. Compared to Gigabyte GA-H270-HD3 offers nothing new. Moreover, it lacks RAID support, no USB 3.1, and the old series chipset.

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

Gigabyte GA-H270-Gaming 3

Estimated price - about 9000 rubles. Belongs to the gaming series of boards, which, in fact, follows from the name. It has everything you need to build a highly productive gaming computer.

There are 6 SATA3 slots 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 Killer E2500 network controller from Rivet Networks. Naturally, everything is in the newfangled illumination. The form factor is full ATX.

MSI H270 GAMING PRO CARBON

This is one of the most expensive boards. Its cost is about 9,300 rubles. The H270 chipset provides support for DDR4-2400 memory, 4 memory slots, 6 SATA3 slots, 2 M.2 slots. There are all modern interface connectors, including USB Type-C. A network card based on an Intel chip is used.

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

This board does not fundamentally differ from its cheaper counterparts. In this case, the choice is more based on the aesthetic qualities of the product than on the characteristics that can be found in motherboards at a lower price.

MSI B250M PRO OPT BOOST

The characteristics of the motherboard practically do not differ from the above-described MSI B250M BAZOOKA, and unlike the latter, there is no Typ-C port, and a combined PS / 2 is installed. At the same time, the price of the board is about 7900 rubles. The difference with the bazooka is about 2500 rubles. For what? And for the 16 GB Intel Optane module that comes in 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. Isn't there a reason to buy a motherboard in one shot 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 a hard drive almost like a solid-state one?

Other options

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

For example, the ASRock B250M-HDV has HDMI, which is not found in the similar ASUS PRIME B250M-K, while it is also slightly cheaper. The point then in buying this ASUS model?

So, the above MSI H270 GAMING PRO CARBON is far from the only one focused on use in gaming computers. Moreover, it is one of the most expensive in this segment. There is 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 on the same ASRock H270M Pro4 chipset, which is about 3000 rubles. cheaper, then let's see what, in fact, is included in this difference. In terms of functionality, the boards are identical, except for the absence of RAID in MSI and the presence of 2 USB 3.0 more on the rear panel, as well as an S / PDIF output.

But MSI is equipped with backlighting (where is it now without it), beautiful radiators, generally quite spectacular appearance, well, and gold-plated audio connectors. It turns out that the increase in value includes exclusively all this beauty. Is it worth it?

Conclusion. How to choose the right motherboard

How to choose the best option from all the variety of offers? It is unlikely that it will be possible to give an unequivocally correct answer. For a start - I would not "bother" about the manufacturer. Only a few trustworthy companies are engaged in the release and, frankly, whose products differ little from each other. I would not consider exotic things like Biostar or Colorful.

The next step is to decide on the main characteristics. What processor are you planning to use? If from the last (at the moment) generation of Kaby Lake, then I see no reason to save money and consider models based on chipsets of the 100th family. Except for H110, if a budget system is being assembled and the goal is maximum savings. The 200 family of chipsets 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. The same is with memory. Even if there are DDR3 strips left, it is not entirely reasonable to save money and continue using them with a new motherboard. Since we are talking about an upgrade, you will have to part with the honestly outdated DDR3 and switch to DDR4.

Naturally, when buying a motherboard based on chipsets without the letter "Z", that is, without the possibility of overclocking by changing the multiplier, the use of processors with an unlocked multiplier is not implied (for example, I7-7700K). Such a bundle, of course, will work, but why overpay for an "unlocked" processor, if you cannot 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, are you planning to use it? If yes, then there are no questions, if your monitor works perfectly with DVI, then is it really important if 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 the old version of USB, some have more USB 3.0. Many also offer USB 3.1, and sometimes Type-C is also present. You need it - look for a model with such a connector, no - well, don't pay attention.

After determining the list of required characteristics, select the appropriate models. Should I take the most expensive one? Well, if only for the sake of the backlight, the unusual color of the PCB, metal connectors for memory / video card or any similar "buns". It will work in the same way as its cheaper counterpart.

For that matter, it’s better to pay attention to the processor power supply, how many phases are used in the selected motherboard model, whether there are heatsinks on them. This is especially true if you are not going to waste your time on trifles and plan to install a powerful processor.

The main thing is what to choose from what to choose, and what 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 should be in gaming computers.

A motherboard chipset is a block of microcircuits (literally a chip set, that is, a set of chips) that are responsible for the operation of all other computer components. It also affects the performance and speed of the PC.

As you understand, in addition, you should pay close attention to the chipset located on it, especially when it comes to modern powerful home or gaming computers.

It is easy to identify them visually on the motherboard - these are large black microcircuits, which are sometimes covered with cooling radiators.

Dual bridge motherboard architecture

In the already outdated scheme for constructing a motherboard, the chipset microcircuits were divided into two blocks - the north and south bridges according to their location on the diagram.

The functions of the north bridge are to ensure the operation of the processor with RAM (RAM controller) and a video card (PCI-E x16 controller). The southern one is responsible for connecting the processor with other computer devices - hard disks, optical drives, expansion cards, etc. via controllers SATA, IDE, PCI-E x1, PCI, USB, sound.

The main characteristic of the performance of the chipset in this architecture is the data bus (System Bus), intended for the exchange of information between the various parts of the computer. All components work with the chipset via buses, each with its own speed. This can be clearly seen on the chipset diagram.

The performance of the entire PC depends precisely on the speed of the bus that connects it to the chipset itself. In the terminology of Intel chipsets, this bus is referred to as FSB (Front Side Bus).

In the description of the motherboard, it is referred to as the "bus frequency" or "bandwidth" of the bus.
Let's take a closer look at these characteristics of the data bus. It is determined by two indicators - frequency and width.

Frequency is the data transfer rate and is measured in megahertz (MHz, MHz) or gigahertz (GHz, GHz). The higher this figure, the higher the performance of the entire system as a whole (for example, 3 GHz).
Width - the number of bytes that the bus is able to transfer at a time in bytes (for example, 2 Bt). The larger the width, the more information the bus will be able to transmit in a certain period of time.

When multiplying these two values, we get the third, which is exactly indicated on the diagrams - the bandwidth, which is measured in gigabytes per second (Gb / s, Gb / s). From our example, we multiply 3 GHz by 2 Bytes and get 6 Gb / s.

In the picture below, the bus bandwidth is 8.5 gigabytes per second.

The connection between the north bridge and the RAM occurs with the help of a two-channel controller built into it through the RAM Bus, which has 128 contacts (x128). When working with memory in single channel mode, only 64 tracks are involved, so for maximum performance it is recommended to use 2 memory modules connected to different channels.

Architecture without the north bridge

In the latest generation processors, the northbridge is already built into the chip of the processor itself, which significantly increases its performance. Therefore, on new motherboards, it is absent altogether - only the south bridge remains.

In the example below, the chipset lacks a north bridge, since its function is taken over by a processor with an integrated video core, but from it we also see the designation of the data bus speed.

Modern processors use the QPI (QuickPath Interconnect) bus, as well as the PCI-e x16 graphics controller, which used to be in the north bridge, but is now integrated into the processor. As a result of their being built-in, the characteristics of the main data bus are not as important as they were in the previous generation dual-bridge architecture.

In modern chipsets on new motherboards, there is another parameter of the bus operation - transfers per second, which indicates the number of data transfer operations per second. For example, 3200 MT / s (megatransfers per second) or 3.2 GT / s (gigatransfers).

The same characteristic is indicated in the descriptions of the processors. Moreover, if a chipset has a bus speed of 3.2 GT / s, and a processor has, for example, 2 GT / s, then this bundle will work at a lower value.

Chipset manufacturers

The main players in the market of chipset manufacturers are the firms already familiar to us from Intel and AMD, as well as NVidea, which is better known to users for its video cards, and Asus.

Since the main manufacturers are today the first two, let's take a look at the modern and already outdated models.

Intel Chipsets

Modern - 8x, 7x and 6x series.
Obsolete - 5x, 4x and 3x, as well as NVidea.

The marking of the chipset with a letter in front of the number means the power of the chipset within one line.

X - maximum performance for gaming computers
R - high performance for powerful computers of mass use
G - for a regular home or office computer
B, Q - for business. The characteristics are the same as "G", but they have additional functions such as remote maintenance and access monitoring for administrators of large offices and enterprises.

Recently, several more new series have been introduced for the new LGA 1155 chipset:

N - for ordinary users
R 67 - for enthusiasts who are planning further modernization and overclocking of the system
Z - a universal option, combines the characteristics of the two previous

It is easy to understand from the chipset schematic what built-in and external functions it supports. For example, let's take a look at the diagram of a modern high-performance Intel Z77 chipset.

The first thing that attracts attention is the absence of the north bridge. As we can see, this chipset works with processors with integrated graphics core (Processor Graphics) of the Intel Core series. For a home computer, the built-in kernel will be enough for working with documents and watching videos. However, if high performance is required, for example, when installing modern games, then the chipset supports the installation of several video cards in the PCI Express slot 3. Moreover, when installing 1 video card, it will use 16 lines, two - each with 8 lines, or one 8, the other 4 , and the remaining 4 lines will be used to work with devices using Thunderbolt technology.

The chipset is also ready for further upgrades and system overclocking (Intel Extreme Tuning Support).

For comparison, let's take a look at another chipset - Intel P67, which is shown below. Its main difference from the Z77 is that it does not support the integrated video core of the processor.

This means that a motherboard equipped with a P67 will not be able to work with the integrated graphics core of the processor and you will definitely have to buy a discrete (separate) graphics card for it.

AMD Chipsets

Modern - the Axx series (for processors with an integrated video core), 9xx and 8xx.
Outdated - 7xx, nForce and GeForce, with the exception of some models.

The weakest in terms of performance are those models with only numbers in their names.

The letters G or V in the model name indicate the presence of an integrated video card in the chipset.
X or GX - support for two separate (discrete) video cards, but not at full capacity (8 lines each).
FX are the most powerful chipsets that fully support multiple graphics cards.

The bus that connects the processor and chipset at AMD is called Hyper Transport (HT). In modern chipsets working with sockets AM2 +, AM3, AM3 +, it is version 3.0, in AM2 - 2.0.

HT 2.0: max frequency - 1400 MHz, width 4 bytes, bandwidth 2.8 GT / s
HT 3.0: max frequency 2600 MHz, width 4 bytes, bandwidth 5.3 GT / s

Let's look at an example of a description of a motherboard on the site and determine which chipset is located on it.

In this picture, we have a model MSI Z77A-G43 - from the very name it is clear that it is equipped with an Intel Z77 chipset, which is also confirmed in the detailed description.

And here is the ASUS SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 board with a productive chipset from AMD 990FX, which is also evident both from the name and from the detailed description.

What's the best motherboard chipset?

Let's summarize - which chipset is the best for your computer?

It all depends on the purpose for which you are assembling your PC. If this is an office or home computer on which you do not plan to install games, then it is advisable to choose a chipset that works with processors with an integrated graphics core. By purchasing such a board and, accordingly, a processor with integrated video, you will receive a kit that is quite suitable for working with documents and even watching videos in good quality.

If you need more in-depth work with graphics, for example, for medium-sized video games or graphics applications, then you will use a separate video card, which means there is no point in overpaying for a graphics chipset that supports work with an integrated video processor - it is better if it provides the maximum work video cards.

For the most powerful gaming computers and, to a lesser extent, those that will work with graphics-intensive professional programs, choose the most productive models that fully support work with multiple video cards.

I hope this article has opened a little for you the curtain over the mystery of the motherboard chipsets and now you can more correctly choose these components for your computer! Well, to consolidate your knowledge, watch the video tutorial posted at the beginning of the article.

Thanks! Did not help

Hello dear readers, today I will help you choose the most important part in your computer. We will choose the motherboard, and each will choose the best for himself.

How to choose a motherboard for your computer

Somehow recently I wrote an article about, but wrote it first under the heading iron for my own reasons. Now I want to improve and write about one of the important details - motherboard.

There are a large number of motherboard manufacturers, the main ones are Asus and Gigabyte. For me, let's say it's better than Asus, because in my practice there were fewer problems with them. So how to choose the best?

How to choose a motherboard

Now we will see how they differ and everyone will choose for themselves the best motherboard.

First of all, you need to decide for what purposes your computer is used, gaming or office.

If you are using a computer for games, then it is worth taking a motherboard with support for modern connectors. For games, it is better to put two video cards of the same manufacturers, this will give a big performance boost. And also so that there are more than 2 slots for RAM. And in general, you need to take a full-format, tk. in most cases, the channel width is the largest, it's a pity that many do not understand this and do not pay attention to the motherboard. After all, having put in all the cool parts, they will not work completely on the saved motherboard. For now, I would recommend the Asus z-87 pro! I took z87-a and regretted saving 1 ton ...

If you need a computer for the office, then you can save on a video card, take a motherboard with an integrated video card (modern motherboards have a powerful (relatively) built-in video) and focus on the processor and RAM for comfortable work, as well as deliver.

Now we will move away from the topic quite a bit and consider what the motherboard consists of, so that it is better to assimilate the material and so that you come to the store as an advanced user 🙂

1. Socket for connecting the CPU (processor).

- This is where the processor is installed.

2. Chipset of the South Bridge.

- Serves for connection and control of RAM and video cards. Connection in the form of a bridge. The better the chipset, the more expensive the motherboard will be.

3. Chipset of the North Bridge.

- Serves for connection and control of Ethernet, audio, hard disk, PCI bus, PCI-Express and USB.

4. Slot of RAM. Channel 1.

- RAM is responsible for the temporary storage of data, the more RAM the faster the information will reach the processor.

5. Slot of RAM. Channel 2.

6. Slot of RAM. Channel 3.

7. Serial ATA connector.

The SATA connector is usually hard drives and CD-DVD-ROM drives.

8. PCI-Express connection slot.

The most popular devices are the network card and. And so anything with a PCI-Express slot.

9. PCI connection slot.

Usually a video card is connected.

10. Power supply connector - 24-pin ATX Power.

11. Power supply connector - 8-pin ATX-12v Power.

12. Front panel audio connection.

13. Connector for connecting Floppy.

14. Connector for USB connection of the front panel or additional equipment, such as a card reader.

15. Connector for connecting the front panel buttons (power buttons, reset buttons, HDD loading indicator).

There are other microcircuits on the motherboard that are responsible for certain work, but this is already in-depth knowledge, they will not be useful to you.

What to look for when choosing a motherboard?

Now, in more detail, what you should pay attention to choosing a motherboard.

1. Chipset. As you can see in the picture, there are north and south. The better it is, the more expensive the motherboard is. On some motherboards, the northern chipset and the FSB bus are not installed.

To choose a chipset, it is better to look for the latest changes on the official sites of AMD and Intel. For example Intel Z77.

Just as different ATI Crossfire and NVIDIA SLI support.

If SLI, then the video card must support SLI, if Crossfire, then, accordingly, there must be support for Crossfire.

2. Socket... Socket for installing the processor. The motherboard usually says for example LGA1155. In order for a processor to fit, you need to find out which socket your processor is suitable for.

Size 3... Or the form factor. The larger the size, the more connectors there will be on the motherboard.

and its capabilities. Now the form factor is mainly ATX, LX, WTX, microATX.

4. Built-in devices. Nowadays, almost all motherboards have a built-in network and sound card.

If a video card is built into the motherboard, then such a computer is more suitable for an office.

Also see how many SATA connectors you have, they can come in handy if you want to connect another hard drive or some SATA device.

5. Connectors for RAM. Nowadays, memory with the DD3 connector is mainly used. You cannot insert into the DD3, DD2 connector, they have different forms of circuits. Accordingly, the more connectors there are, the better, in the future it will be possible to upgrade. It is desirable that the connectors be of different colors to make it clearer which ones to connect to, but this is not the most important thing. Also, make sure they are farther from the video card connector, otherwise the RAM can interfere with a large video card.

Also see what frequency the connectors support and how much maximum memory you can install.

What does the motherboard look like in the price list?

For example, they will assemble a trial complete set of the computer and such a motherboard will be in the price list. Let's take a look at what each parameter stands for.

ASUS P8Z77-V Intel Z77, 1xLGA1155, 4xDDR3 DIMM, 3xPCI-E x16, embedded audio: HDA, 7.1, Ethernet: 1000 Mbps, ATX form factor, DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB 3.0

ASUS- manufacturer.

P P8Z77-V - motherboard model.

Intel Z77- the name of the chipset.

1xLGA1155- one socket and socket name.

4xDDR3 DIMM- 4 connectors for DD3 RAM.

3xPCI-E x16- 3 PCI Express slots (x16 data transfer rate, the more the faster).

Built-in sound: HDA- built-in sound card with HDA sound.

there are also DSP, AC'97 and Digital Signal Processor.

Of course, the built-in sound cards do not produce the best sound, but they will do for ordinary speakers. If you need good sound for good speakers, it's better to read the article about. There, by the way, you can download a program to test your sound card.

7.1 CH - Support 7.1 system connection. Seven speakers, one subwoofer.

Ethernet: 1000 Mbps - built-in network card with the ability to transfer data up to 1 GB / s.

ATX Form Factor - motherboard size.

DVI- support for connecting a monitor with a video card via DVI connector. There is also a D-sub. DVI is newer.

HDMI- High-Definition Multimedia Interface - also a connector for high frequency media transmission.

DisplayPort- the connector to be replaced DVI and HDMI connectors.

USB 3.0- a very important factor, since devices supporting such USB will transfer data much faster than usual, and the difference is very large.

That's it, now I think choose the best motherboard for yourself it will not be difficult for you, the main thing is to sit and carefully read the characteristics. Believe me, there is nothing complicated, the main thing is care 🙂 For example, knowing the characteristics I need, I select in the Yandex market, which is what I advise you.