The modular motherboard concept that we are familiar with and familiar with today was created in the 1980s by Patty McHugh, an IBM engineer. Its development made it possible to greatly simplify the way in which the different hardware components interacted and, therefore, also facilitated the design of computers.
Best Motherboard for Office Work PC In 2022
Today, motherboards are an indispensable element of computers and a multitude of electronic devices, since the rest of the components are connected to them. Logically, if you need to acquire one it is important that you make sure that it is compatible with each and every one of them. And that it offers enough expansion options for the future.
ASUS ROG Maximus XII Hero Z490 (WiFi 6) LGA 1200
About this item
- Intel LGA 1200 socket: Designed to unleash the maximum performance of 10th Gen Intel Core processors
- Robust Power Solution: 14+2 power stages with ProCool II power connector, high-quality alloy chokes and durable capacitors to provide reliable power even when push the CPU performance to the limit
- Optimized Thermal Design: Except comprehensive heatsink, heatpipe and fan headers, features low-noise AI cooling to balance thermals and acoustics by reducing fan speeds and maintaining a 5 Celsius delta
- Fastest Gaming Connectivity: Dual Ethernet with 5Gb and gigabit Ethernet , LANGaurd, dual M. 2, USB 3. 2 Gen 2, and Intel WiFi 6 AX201 (802. 11 ax)
- Industry-leading Gaming Audio: High fidelity audio with the SupremeFX S1220A codec, DTS Sound Unbound and Sonic Studio III draws you deeper into the game action
- Unmatched Personalization: ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync RGB lighting, including RGB headers and Gen 2 addressable headers
- DIY Friendly Design: Pre-mounted I/O shield, BIOS Flashback, Q-Code and FlexKey
ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming
About this item
- Cutting edge gaming motherboard: with AMD AM4 socket, it is a perfect pairing for Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 & 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen CPUs
- Faster memory: 4 memory slots support dual channel DDR4 memory up to 128 GB, with ASUS OptiMem enabling higher memory frequencies and lower latencies
- Blazing data transmission speeds: Two M.2 slots, including the latest PCIe 4.0, provide maximum storage flexibility and the fastest data speeds available via the 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen platform
- High-performance gaming networking: Onboard WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and 2.5 Gb Ethernet for exceptionally fast and smooth online gaming experiences
- Optimized thermal solution: Customizable fanless VRM and chipset heatsinks with ASUS Stack Cool 3+ design keep your system running reliably
- Please ensure your BIOS is up to date if installing a compatible Ryzen 5000 series CPU. Visit ASUS site search by motherboard model name, click on “Support” tab, Drivers and Tools, then BIOS & Firmware to download the latest BIOS
MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Plus Gaming Motherboard
About this item
- Supports 10th Generation Intel Core / Pentium Gold / Celeron Processors for LGA 1200 socket
- Supports dual channel DDR4 memory up to 128GB (4800MHz)
- Twin Turbo M.2 with M.2 Shield Frozr delivers transfer speeds of up to 32 GB/s for ultra-fast SSDs
- Core Boost technology combines optimized power circuit layouts, double CPU power connectors, and a digital power design which allows for precise and steady current delivery to the CPU
- On-board 2.5G LAN plus Gigabit LAN with with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Pre-installed I/O Shielding for convenience and protection from electrostatic discharge
ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero
About this item
- AMD AM4 socket: Ready for 2nd, 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen processors and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen processors
- Comprehensive thermal design: Passive chipset heatsink, M.2 aluminum heatsinks and ROG Water Cooling Zone.
- Robust power delivery: Designed power solution 14+2 TI power stages rated for 90A, ProCool II power connectors, microfine alloy chokes and 10K Japanese-made black metallic capacitors
- High-performance connectivity: On-board Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with MU-MIMO support, 2.5 Gbps Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
- DIY Friendly Design: Pre-mounted I/O shield, ASUS SafeSlot, BIOS flashback and premium components for maximum endurance.
- Unmatched personalization: ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync RGB lighting, including RGB headers and Gen. 2 addressable headers
- Industry-leading ROG audio: ROG SupremeFX S1220 is combined with the venerable ESS ES9023P to deliver high-fidelity audio to headsets and exotic cans.
- Please ensure your BIOS is up to date if installing a compatible Ryzen 5000 series CPU. Visit ASUS site search by motherboard model name, click on “Support” tab, Drivers and Tools, then BIOS & Firmware to download the latest BIOS.
Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Elite
About this item
- Supports 9th and 8th Intel Core processors
- Dual Channel Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs
- Intel Optane Memory Ready
- 12+1 Phases digital VRM solution with DrMOS
- Advanced thermal design with screw mounted heatsinks
- Alc1220-vb enhance 114db(rear)/ 110db(front) SNR in microphone with WIMA Audio Capacitors
- Intel Gigabit LAN with cFosSpeed
The Most Important
- The motherboard is a fundamental element of computers, since the rest of the equipment components are connected to it, from the microprocessor to the graphics card through the RAM ( Random Access Memory , in English), the monitor or the computer. same keyboard.
- When choosing the motherboard, first of all you have to make sure that it is compatible with the processor that you are going to install. You not only have to consider the manufacturer, but also the processor model itself.
- It is important that you are familiar with the characteristics of the motherboards to choose the right one to replace the one you have in your computer or to mount your own PC. Therefore, it is essential that you know elements such as the chipset, the CPU socket ( Central Processing Unit , in English), the RAM memory slots, or the connection ports, since they will serve as purchase criteria.
Source: gigabyte.com
The Best Motherboards On The Market: Our Recommendations
Next, we present the classification that we have prepared with what, in our opinion, are the five best motherboards that you can currently find on the market. We have prepared it trying to include only items that offer great value for money. In addition, they are all top brands.
Buying Guide: What You Should Know About Motherboards
If you need to buy a motherboard, it is essential that you consider a number of important issues. After all, there is a wide variety of different models, designed for different user profiles. Therefore, in this section we are going to try to clarify the main questions you may have about motherboards.
What Exactly Is A Motherboard?
The motherboard, motherboard, system board or motherboard in English is a printed circuit that has the function of connecting and controlling all the components of a computer. In a way, it can be considered to be your spine. Hence its great importance in its performance. They are usually named based on the chipset that they integrate.
What Are The Possible Reasons To Buy A Motherboard?
The reasons why you may need to buy a motherboard are mainly three: replace the motherboard of your computer to improve its performance, replace it because it is failing or has definitively damaged, or purchase one to mount a new computer component by component.
In any case, before choosing a motherboard, it is important that you decide if you want one that offers you a long service life or one that delivers in the short term. Of course, the former will require a greater financial investment, but they also ensure the possibility of improving or expanding any of the components in the future.
What Are The Advantages Of Buying A Motherboard To Mount A Component-To-Component Computer?
Assembling a computer component by component offers a number of important advantages. For starters, it is usually cheaper than equipment that is already assembled as standard. In addition, it allows you to choose which components you want to install on your computer and invest more in those that you consider most important for the use you are going to make of it.
It may also be that you want to take advantage of a component of your old computer, that you want to take advantage of an offer or that you even want to buy some second-hand. Of course, designing your own PC requires a minimum knowledge of hardware and / or that you carry out a research process to find the right components.
What Are The Basic Elements Of A Motherboard?
The basic boards have a number of basic elements, such as the ATX power connector, the CPU socket, the slots for the RAM memory modules, the PCI and PCI Express expansion slots, the storage connectors, the connectors PS / 2, graphics connectors, CMOS battery, USB and network ports, BIOS, and chipset.
- ATX power connector : through which the main power comes from the source to the motherboard.
- CPU socket : it is the place where the processor is connected. It can be for Intel or AMD processors.
- RAM memory slots : In general, for desktop computers there are usually between two and eight slots. In the case of laptop boards, this is usually the only part of the board that includes expansion options.
- PCI and PCI Express expansion slots : used to add new components to the computer, such as graphics cards or sound cards. PCI slots are considered obsolete, so it is becoming less current to find boards that have them.
- Storage connectors : this is where you connect hard drives, SSD drives, DVD readers and writers, among others.
- PS / 2 connectors : to connect keyboards and mice.
- Graphic connectors : which are used to connect monitors. It is possible to find them as DisplayPort , HDMI, DVI and even VGA.
- USB ports : where you can connect from peripherals such as mice and printers to USB memory sticks or external hard drives.
- Network ports – This is where you connect Ethernet cables to enjoy a wired network.
- BIOS ( Basic Input / Output System , in English) : which is a read-only memory in which the software that controls the hardware is located and that operates as an interface between the operating system and the hardware of the computer.
- Chipset : composed of a set of small circuits, which are responsible for coordinating the flow of information to and from the different key components of the equipment.
- CMOS ( Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor ) battery: This is a lithium battery that supplies the energy needed to power the BIOS.
What Motherboard Formats Are There?
Today, there are dozens of different motherboard formats. Each one is designed for a type of computer. However, the three most common are: the full-size (ATX), the mid-size (micro ATX) or the small (mini ITX) form factor. We have prepared a complete table for you explaining its main characteristics.
Of course, the larger the size of the motherboard, the more connectors and expansion possibilities it will have. In addition, it is important that you bear in mind that the plate format determines the size of the PC case and, therefore, also affects the cooling system that you can mount.
| ATX | Micro ATX | Mini ATX | |
| Dimensions | 305 x 244 mm. | 244 x 244 mm. | 170 x 170 mm. |
| Use | Its use is very varied, so it can be used for gaming computers , office equipment or computers to work. | They are often used in office computers and for small computers. | They are designed for mini PCs, for cash registers and for any other small equipment. |
| Grooves | Up to seven expansion slots and four RAM memory slots. | They typically have five expansion card slots and up to four RAM modules. | One for expansion cards and two for RAM. |
| Advantage | Since they have a greater surface area for the integrated circuitry, they have a greater number of slots and expansion connectors for the components. | They are much cheaper than ATX. | They allow to mount computers with smaller dimensions. |
Why Would You Be Interested In Having Your Motherboard Allow You To Overclock ?
Surely, you have heard of overclocking and wonder what it is and what advantages it offers. To begin with, it is important that you are clear that overclocking is a practice that can be done both in the processor, in the RAM and in the graphics card. What is sought with this technique is to increase the clock speed or the working frequency of a component.
What you do is increase your performance and speed. In the case of processors, both Intel and AMD already have a technology that allows them to increase their frequency automatically. Of course, in order to carry out this practice it is important that the processor and the board are unlocked and allow overclocking .
Purchase Criteria
When it comes time to purchase a motherboard, it is important that you take into account some purchase criteria. To make the selection process more bearable, we have selected those that we think are the most important. We have done it so that you have a complete buying guide to choose the plate that best suits your needs.
- Format
- Socket
- Circuit Quality
- the Chipset
- The Graphics Card (s)
- Connections
Format
When choosing the format, you have to take into account the use that you are going to make of the equipment and think about whether you will need to carry out any expansion in the future. At first, except for very specific uses, you should opt for the ATX or micro ATX formats, which are quite flexible and offer enough expansion options.
ATX boards are compatible with practically any PC case. The micro ATX format is ideal if your budget is more limited. To build a liquid-cooled PC with multiple graphics cards and three or more storage drives, the XL-ATX and E-ATX form factors are convenient for you.
Socket
The socket determines which processor you can install. Therefore, it is essential that you make sure that you choose a board with a socket compatible with the processor you want to install. Currently, some of the most common are the LGA 1151 and LGA 2066 from Intel and the AM4 and TR4 from AMD. Nevertheless, they are not the only ones.
For the higher end and for server processors, Intel uses the LGA 2011 and LGA 2011-3 sockets, while for home use it uses the LGA 1151. AMD, for its part, uses FM2 and FM2 + sockets for its processors with the integrated graphics and AM4, AM3 and AM3 + for most processors for home use.
Circuit Quality
The build quality of the board influences both the proper functioning of the other components of the computer and the useful life of the equipment. Hence its importance. In the event that the equipment is going to be used for basic office automation tasks, you do not need a board that has capacitors and circuits that offer high performance.
A different case is if the equipment is going to suffer heavy workloads and / or you are going to overclock . If so, it is essential that you opt for one that has high-quality power circuits and phases, since the plate will be subjected to a great electrical demand. Of course, if the quality is higher, then usually so will its price.
The Chipset
The chipset or south bridge acts as the communication center and controller of the data traffic of the board. Also, it determines which components are or are not compatible with the motherboard. You can distinguish between chipsets compatible with Intel processors and those that are compatible with AMD. Here is a list of some of the best.
- Intel B360 : Low-end chipset without overclocking or RAID support, although it does for SSD drives. Ideal if you want to build an inexpensive computer.
- Intel H370 : It also does not have the ability to overclock, but it does have support for RAID and SSD drives. It is used in inexpensive boards, being ideal for mid-range gaming equipment.
- Intel Z390 : it is a high-end model. Allows overclocking. It is indicated for high-end gaming equipment. It is advisable to mount K-range processors, as well as 4,500 MHz and lower RAM.
- Intel X299 : This chipset represents the highest range of Intel. Especially suitable for Workstation or for computers oriented to the most demanding tasks.
- AMD A320 : framed within the low range of AMD. It does not allow overclocking or multiple graphics cards. Designed for the cheapest equipment.
- AMD B450 – Accepts overclocking and various graphics cards. Without a doubt, it is a particularly interesting option for mid-range gaming computers.
- AMD X470 : designed for high-end gaming equipment. Of course, it supports overclocking and various graphics cards.
- AMD X399 – AMD’s highest -end chipset. Designed for those who want or need very powerful equipment, either for design or for workstations.
The Graphics Card (s)
First of all, you have to make sure that the motherboard you buy is compatible with the graphics card that you are going to connect. In addition, in the event that you are thinking of installing two or more cards to improve the performance of the computer, especially to play video games, it is essential that you make sure that it supports the installation of more than one card.
Normally, if so, the manufacturer usually indicates it expressly. SLI (Scalable Link Interface, in English) is the Multi GPU system for Nvidia graphics cards and while Crossfire is the corresponding system for ATI / AMD graphics cards. Logically, you should also check the number of cards it supports.
Connections
Since motherboards are the connection center of a computer, it is essential that the one you buy has all the connections you will need. In any case, in general these are related to the type of chipset you choose. To begin with, it is recommended that you look at the number and type of SATA connectors you have.
Of course, you should also consider the number and type of USB ports it has, the type of audio and video connectors it has, and if it comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. In the case of USB ports, you should have one of them on the front of the board. And of course, don’t forget about the PCI Express ports.