Chipset choices
Selecting a chipset is another key choice. Picking a high-end chip will unlock more features, but you can save money by choosing a modest chipset if you’re not going to use them.
Take AMD’s X570 chipset, for instance. This flagship chip supports 12 USB ports and 12 SATA connectors, full dual-graphics capability, overclocking and PCIe 4, but AMD’s low-end chipsets drop features and reduce connectivity.
On the Intel side, the enthusiastlevel Z490 chipset supports multiple GPUs, 24 PCIe 3 lanes, 14 USB ports and multiple M.2 connectors – and it includes beefed-up Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5Gbits/sec Ethernet.
A quick look online demonstrates just how cheap – or just how expensive – motherboards can be. A low-end board with an entry-level chipset will be fine for day-to-day use, and they’re available for under £100. If you’re an enthusiast, though, you can easily spend more than £500.
Delve into details
Memory is vital when it comes to effective PC operations, and most motherboards have four slots, which is ideal for dual-channel functionality now and upgrades in the future Entry-level boards sometimes only have two slots, though, and high-end boards that support quad-channel memory have eight.
Memory speed is another key consideration. Processors have peak memory speeds, but the vast majority of motherboards allow memory to run at higher clocks: you can effectively plug in your DDR4 and it will work smoothly at its advertised speeds, even if you’re using 3,200MHz memory on an Intel board or 3,466MHz DDR4 with an AMD CPU.
The big caveat can be found at the low-end: entry-level motherboards usually adhere to the CPU’s memory limits, with no ability to go beyond that. On Intel’s Comet Lake chips, for instance, that means you won’t be able to go past 2,933MHz, and AMD’s Zen 2 parts peak at 3,200MHz.
PCI slots are another important consideration. You need a PCIe x16 slot to install a discrete graphics card, and you’ll need a second slot with ample bandwidth if you want to use two GPUs – and a chipset that supports it. Wireless modules, certain SSDs and other expansion cards use smaller PCIe slots.
It’s important to examine how many PCI slots you need, but it also pays to notice the difference between AMD and Intel: AMD supports PCIe 4, while Intel is still stuck on PCIe 3. AMD’s newer protocol means that you can use faster SSDs.
Storage and networking
The majority of motherboards will have at least six SATA ports, which means connecting conventional SSDs and hard disks is easy. More variety is found in
M.2 connectivity. Most motherboards will have one of these slots – but if you wan want to add more, then it’s easy to find boards with two three connectors.
If you’re particular about storage, you should check which RAID levels your potential motherboard supports. And, if you want to use older or larger M.2 hardware, do your research first because not every
M.2 port will support SATA connections or longer drives.
On the networking side of things, you’ll only find wireless on pricier boards. If you’re already picking a board with wireless, it’s worth upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 (also known as 802.11ax). In a year or two, this will be the default choice for wireless routers and you’ll feel the benefit. The final networking boost comes from 2.5Gbits/sec Ethernet, which is welcome extra headroom found on some high-end boards. or
The little details
Motherboards contain a host of smaller features that remain important for PC decision-making. If you work with audio, it’s worth picking a board with a better chipset and a DAC, for instance.
Check the number of fan and water-cooling headers if you want to add loads of cooling, and seek out a board with onboard buttons and power-on self-test (POST) displays if you’re going to do lots of overclocking and tweaking.
The ports at the rear are important: while every very board will have enough USB ports for basic peripherals, pricier cier boards have more ports and nd faster connectors. Finally, there’s the question of aesthetics. If you’re buying a high-end case with a glass panel then you might want to buy a board with huge heatsinks, more RGB LEDs and nd extra onboard lighting connectors. nectors. We won’t judge.
“It pays to notice the difference between AMD and Intel: AMD supports PCIe 4, while Intel is still stuck on PCIe 3”