2016-2017 will not bring new platforms to the personal computer market: fans of Intel products are in full swing to master the recently introduced Skylake architecture, and AMD fans are patient until the end of this year - the beginning of next year, when the first products supporting the new AM4 socket are expected to go on sale. However, those consumers who want to radically improve their existing computer or buy a new computer are not in the easiest situation. Now the question of how to choose the best motherboard (system) board does not have a clear answer.

What should you pay attention to?

The motherboard is the basis of the computer. It determines which processor, memory, hard drive and other components can be installed in the system.

Some characteristics of motherboards have become de facto industry standards, and therefore are valid for all modern models. These include the presence of USB 3.0 ports (a universal means of communication with almost all external peripherals and gadgets), Ethernet (LAN adapter), and one or more PCI-e x16 slots (video cards are connected to them). Thus, when choosing a suitable motherboard, you should only pay attention to:

• form factor - the physical dimensions of the board. They determine the type of computer case and the possible number of expansion slots (it is impossible to place a large number of large parts on a small piece of PCB). Now mini-ITX, micro-ATX, ATX, extended-ATX (arranged in order of increasing size) are relevant. The first ones are designed for very compact computers; they contain only one expansion slot and, in some cases, the central one is already soldered to them. Extended-ATX boards are designed for systems with the highest possible power;

Motherboard - the basis of a computer

• processor socket type;
• a set of system logic (chipset), on which support for individual proprietary technologies depends, the maximum amount of RAM, a list of expansion slots and ports for peripherals.

New or proven old?

The latest innovation on the personal computer market is Intel's Skylake architecture. It brought an LGA1151 processor socket, support for DDR4 memory, and a number of technologies that are not so important for the average consumer. However, at present, the practical benefits of these innovations are not obvious - the increase in productivity compared to the previous generation is not noticeable to the eye.

In most special test applications or computer games, the increase in computing power does not exceed a few percent. DDR4 has also yet to reach its potential, but this will require more advanced chipsets, memory modules and processors. As a result, the Haswell platform with an LGA1150 and DDR3 socket is still relevant.

Attention! Skylake processors support DDR4 and DDR3L memory. The latter operates at a lower voltage than DDR3 (1.35 V versus 1.5). DDR3 and DDR3L modules are not interchangeable. Installing memory that is not supported by the processor and motherboard may result in component failure.

The only choice for users who care about maximum performance is motherboards with LGA2011-3 socket. This platform supports four-channel DDR4 memory and up to 40 PCI-e 3.0 lanes (up to 4-5 slots for video cards).
Relatively modern platforms from AMD are AM3+ and FM2+. Motherboards with these connectors support the main set of modern technologies. However, AMD processors are inferior to competing solutions from Intel in terms of performance, heat dissipation and power consumption. The feasibility of building a system based on the AM3+ and FM2+ platforms is now in question.

Finally, there are boards with pre-installed processors and the AM1 platform from AMD. They're cheap, but they're only powerful enough to handle text, web browsing, and 10-year-old games.

What chipset should the motherboard have?

For each platform, manufacturers present several chipset models:

1. Intel LGA1150:
   • H81 – overclocking of components is not supported (a special setting that increases operating frequencies and performance), no more than 2 memory modules can be installed;
   • B85 – overclocking is not supported, installation of up to 4 memory modules, a set of proprietary technologies for building business infrastructure is supported;
   • The Q87 differs from the B85 by supporting more USB ports and software technologies for business;
   • The H87 is aimed at home users, so unlike the Q87 it does not support business technologies;
   • Z87's fundamental differences from other models come down to overclocking support.
2. Intel LGA1151:
   • H110 – no overclocking support, the number of memory slots is limited to 2;
   • H170 – the number of memory slots has been increased to 4;
   • The B150 supports fewer USB ports compared to the H170, and the chipset is designed for business users;
   • Q170 – support for more business technologies;
   • Z170 – overclocking support, more USB ports, increased PCI-e bus bandwidth (useful when installing multiple video cards).
3. Intel 2011-3:
   • X99 – supports overclocking, a large number of USB ports, business technologies, and provides the highest possible PCI-e bus bandwidth.
4. AMD FM2+:
   • A88X, A78, A68H, A58 – support up to 4 memory slots and overclocking. Significant differences boil down to the availability of CrossFire technology (needed to install two video cards on AMD GPUs, present on the A88X), the number of USB and SATA ports (for connecting optical drives and). Overclocking capabilities vary depending on the individual characteristics of specific motherboard models.
5. AMD AM3+:
   • 990FX – up to 4 PCI-e x16 slots, maximum stability during overclocking, 4 memory slots;
   • 990X – up to 2 PCI-e x16 slots, overclocking support, 4 memory slots;
   • 970 – 1 PCI-e x16 slot (motherboard manufacturers use third-party means to increase their number to 2), overclocking support, 4 memory slots.

Attention! For effective overclocking, the relevant technologies must be supported not only by the motherboard, but also by the processor. Chips with an unlocked multiplier are marked with the K index, for example, A10-7870K or Core i7 6700K. At the same time, all processors for the AM3+ platform of the FX series have a free multiplier.

Intel Corporation produces quad-core processors under the Core i5 brand without support for multi-threading technology - Hyper Threading. It allows you to simultaneously process 2 computational threads on one core, while a four-core processor is approaching the computing power of an eight-core processor. The performance of Core i5 chips is enough to solve any problems that arise for home users.

Motherboards for Intel Core i5

Modern chipset models support the entire line of processors of the corresponding generation. Thus, for Core i5 chips of the Haswell architecture, motherboards on any system logic set are suitable - H81, B85, Q87, H87 or Z87. A similar situation arises with the Skylake architecture.

Advice. Overclocking support increases the cost of the processor and motherboard. If there are no plans to increase the factory frequency, there is no point in overpaying for components. The combination of a multiplier-locked processor and a Z-series chipset will not bring any practical benefit. The influence of system logic sets on the overall system performance (all other components being equal) is currently reduced to a statistical error.

Gaming PC Motherboards

Throughout the history of personal computers, one of their main purposes has been games. This type of entertainment has come a long way from a hobby for geeks, children and teenagers to official recognition as a sports discipline. At its core, a computer game is not much different from other software, for example, a text editor or three-dimensional models.

The latest innovation in the digital entertainment industry will work on any system that can provide a sufficient level of computing power - with a certain amount of RAM and graphics memory, free hard drive space, and a suitable graphics and central processor. However, component manufacturers are trying to break this axiom.

Gaming computer motherboard

In the last 5-10 years, marketers have been actively promoting the concept of a “gaming computer”, meaning maximum computing power and bright, catchy design. This term is also used by motherboard manufacturers. Each of them has a specialized line of products for gamers.

Gaming motherboards have unusual PCB colors, LED backlighting, and large decorative panels or radiators on the chipset and key power supply components. Such components are more expensive than their analogues, but in essence they only demonstrate the external attributes of the gamer subculture. The key characteristics of a regular motherboard are no different from a product for a gaming computer made on a similar chipset.

The modern motherboard market allows you to choose a product that best suits the individual preferences of the end consumer. In this case, the main requirement may be a striking design, maximum practicality or system performance. A careful analysis of the basic characteristics of motherboards will protect you from thoughtless purchases and help you save your money.

The motherboard is the main connecting link within the computer system unit.

That is why it is very important when purchasing to be able to select from a large assortment of motherboards exactly the one that suits your tasks and satisfies all your requirements. In this article, we will generally look at the main points that you should pay attention to when choosing a motherboard.

For convenience and quick transition, a brief summary is provided:

Motherboard and its main components

In order to better navigate the main components and further visualize for ourselves what we will choose, I suggest that you familiarize yourself with the layout of the motherboard elements using a specific example. For our sample, we took a very original Sapphire Pure Z77K motherboard (original, because Sapphire), which is also aimed at the overclocking market. In fact, for the task of visually examining the main elements of the motherboard, neither the model nor the positioning matters at all. Therefore, let's move on to considering this motherboard:

Click on the picture to enlarge

Here the main components are highlighted with numbers, but some rather specific elements inherent only to overclocking motherboards are also touched upon.

(1) CPU socket- one of the main elements of the motherboard. The processor is installed in the socket and it is very important that CPU socket which it was targeting was compatible with the socket on the motherboard.

Under the number (0) "double" was specified radiator, which is responsible for cooling the elements of the processor power converters, the integrated graphics core and the VTT CPU. Such heatsinks are often found only in motherboards for overclocking. Regular motherboards come without this cooling element.

(2) PCI-Express slots . On the printed circuit board of this motherboard we see 3 PCI-Express X16 version 3.0 slots; these connectors are designed for installing video cards (either one or several in SLI and Cross Fire modes). This also includes the number (3) - it's the same PCI-Express x16 slot, but already an older version 2.0. Between PCI-E X16 slots, numbered (14) posted PCI-E X1 slots. These expansion connectors are designed for installing devices that do not require large bus bandwidth; One X1 line is enough for them. Such devices include TV tuners, audio and network cards, various controllers and many others.

Under the number (4) we have indicated chipset(in this case Intel Z77), which is hidden under the radiator that cools it. The system logic set contains various controllers and is the connecting link between the control of some components and the processor.

(5) Connectors for installation DDR3 RAM. These connectors are painted black and blue for installing memory modules in dual-channel operating mode, which allows them to slightly increase their operating efficiency.

(6) CMOS memory battery. This battery powers the microcircuit CMOS BIOS memory so that it does not lose its settings after turning off the computer.

(8) , (12) 24-pin and 8-pin connectors respectively. 24-pin is the main 24-pin power connector through which most components of the motherboard are powered.

Under the number (9) And (10) connectors are indicated SATA 3 (6 Gb/s) and SATA 2 respectively. They are located on the edge of the motherboard and are made in the style of motherboard connectors for overclocking (connecting devices on the side for open stands). SATA interface used to connect hard drives, SSD drives and drives. In conventional motherboards, they are deployed frontally and shifted closer to the center, which allows them to be conveniently used within the system unit of “non-overclocking” systems.

Under the number (11) a rather specific element was designated, which is found only in motherboards for enthusiasts - this POST code indicator. It also displays the processor temperature, but likes to lie a little.

(13) Back panel motherboard with external connectors. A variety of peripheral devices such as a mouse, keyboard, speakers, headphones, and many others are connected to the connectors on this panel.
Now that we have gone through the layout of the components on the motherboard, we can move on to considering the individual blocks and parameters for choosing a motherboard. Since this article is introductory, everything will be described briefly and discussed much more deeply in separate articles. So, let's go.

Choosing a motherboard manufacturer

The motherboard manufacturer is not a very important factor when choosing. The situation here is absolutely identical as with manufacturer's choice for video card- everyone is good and the question here is rather “religious” - who believes in what. Therefore, you can safely choose from all the “no name” manufacturers such as Asus, Biostar, ASRock, Gigabyte, Intel and MSI. Even the motherboard from the unknown in the motherboard market, Sapphire, which we took to review the main components, is a good example. Perhaps some boards have a not very convenient layout, perhaps some manufacturer’s package is not very extensive, and some may have a box that is not as bright as we would like - but still, all this does not give us the right to single out someone. then one, as an impeccable leader and answer the question: which motherboard is better within the framework of the manufacturer’s assessment.

All motherboards will eventually come with the same chipsets from AMD and Intel, and will be functionally similar. The only thing is that before purchasing, I advise you to review reviews of motherboards and user reviews, so as not to run into a model with unsuccessful cooling or something else. We will not dwell on the choice of motherboard manufacturers for long, but rather move on.

Choosing the right form factor

Initially, the correct choice of form factor will save you from many problems in the future. At the moment, the most popular form factors of motherboards are ATX and its stripped-down version – Micro-ATX.

The fact that the form factor determines the further expandability of the system is very important. The Micro-ATX form factor usually has fewer PCI and PCI-E expansion slots for video cards and additional devices. Also, often, such motherboards have only two slots for installing memory modules, which significantly limits the expansion of RAM, both quantitatively and in terms of convenience issues. But the main advantage of Micro-ATX lies in the price. Based on the description of these two standards, it can be argued that Micro-ATX is positioned as a budget solution for compact office and home systems.

The size is also important, as it follows from the form factor. ATX boards are much larger than their “Micro” brothers, so you should take into account the size of the case in relation to the size of the motherboard.

The form factors and their features will be described in more detail in a separate article.

Choosing a motherboard socket

Once you have decided on the processor, the selection of the motherboard begins. And the first factor of choice should be the socket, which ensures compatibility between the processor and motherboard. That is, if an Intel processor with an LGA 1155 socket was selected, then the motherboard must also have an LGA 1155 socket. A list of supported sockets and processors can be found on the motherboard manufacturer’s website.

You can find out more about modern processor sockets in the article: CPU socket .

Choosing a motherboard chipset

The chipset is the connecting link between the entire system. It is the chipset that largely determines the capabilities of the motherboard. Chipset- this is initially a “set of chips” of system logic, which consists of a north and south bridge, but now this is not so simple.

Today, the latest 7-series chipsets from Intel and the 900-series from AMD are popular, and Nvidia is also joining them, but the range of chipsets there is quite small.

Chipsets of the seventh series of Intel such as Z77, H77, B75 and others have slightly distorted the concept of “chipset”, because they do not consist of several chips, but only of a north bridge. This in no way reduces the functionality of the motherboard, because some of the controllers were simply transferred to the processor. Such controllers include a PCI-Express 3.0 bus controller and a DDR3 memory controller. The North Bridge was given control of USB, SATA, PCI-Express, etc. What is connected to what and on what buses is clearly visible in the block diagram of the Z77 chipset:

Indices Z, H, B - mean the positioning of a particular chipset for different market segments. Z77 was classified as a chipset for overclocking enthusiasts. H77 is a regular mainstream chipset with advanced functionality. B75 is a slightly trimmed H77 in terms of capabilities, but for budget and office systems. There are other letter indices, but we will not dwell on them in detail.

Chipsets from AMD continue the tradition of dual-chip chipsets and the latest 900 series is no exception. Motherboards with this set of system logic are equipped with 990FX, 990X 970 north bridges, as well as SB950 south bridge.

When choosing a northbridge for an AMD motherboard, you should also take into account its capabilities.

The 990FX is a northbridge designed for the enthusiast market. The main feature of the chipset with this northbridge is its support for 42 PCI-Express lanes. Therefore, on the 32 lines allocated for video adapters, you can connect up to 4 video cards in a Cross Fire combination. From this we conclude that only a few users need such capabilities, so the functionality of motherboards with this chipset will be redundant for most users.

990X and 970 are versions with slightly reduced capabilities. The main difference, again, is in the PCI-Express lines. Both of these north bridges support 26 lines, but this is unlikely to be a problem for anyone. It is worth noting that the 970 does not have support for SLI and Cross Fire, as a result of which it will not be of interest to users who plan to combine more than one video card in the system, but due to its reasonable price, the 970 will look very tasty for a wide audience of users limited to one video card.

The capabilities of AMD and Intel chipsets will be discussed in more detail in a separate article.

Memory slots and PCI-Express

The number of connectors for installing memory and PCI-Express expansion slots is an important factor when choosing a motherboard. As we said above, the number of these same connectors is often determined by the form factor. Therefore, if you are counting on seriously and conveniently scaling the amount of RAM, then it is better to take a closer look at motherboards with 4 and 6 slots for installing RAM. This also applies to PCI-Express slots: it is stupid to take a Micro-ATX form factor motherboard if you are counting on installing three video cards in SLI or Cross Fire.

Also, it is very important to pay attention to the type of RAM that the motherboard supports. Nowadays you can still find motherboards with supported DDR2 memory types on sale. When assembling a new system from scratch, it is better not to go back to the past and take a motherboard with DDR3 memory type.

The version of the PCI-Express bus is not an important factor, so you shouldn't be too keen on PCI-Express 3.0 support. For modern video cards, version 2.0 is sufficient. Yes and backwards compatible No one has canceled the various versions of this interface.

External connectors

The presence of certain connectors on the rear panel of the motherboard is quite important. Their number is also important. If we take into account the USB ports, then there should be, let’s say, quite a few of them, since, in most cases, a mouse, keyboard, webcam, printer, scanner and a large variety of other devices are connected there.

You should pay attention to the audio connectors of the integrated sound card: there can be either three or six. Three connectors are enough for a standard circuit: microphone, headphones and subwoofer. If you plan to use multi-channel acoustics, then you need to look towards motherboards with 6 connectors. But even if you are not currently planning to purchase such acoustics, the connectors will not hurt, and they may be very useful in the future. And for office and budget systems, 3 audio connectors are more than enough.

In addition, two LAN connectors may be useful; for this, two network controllers must be soldered on the board. But for most users, one network connector will be enough.

Additional features

Additional features include functionality that is not in demand for the average user, but for some can be very useful:

• ESATA is an interface for connecting removable drives; it is not present in all motherboards and can be a very useful feature for owners of external drives.
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module - integrated wireless network and data transfer modules can significantly improve the functionality of the motherboard.
• Thunderbolt is a new interface for connecting peripheral devices and provides data transfer at speeds of up to 10 Gb/s, which is 20 times faster than the now popular USB 2.0, and 2 times faster than USB 3.0.

A very specific interface that only a few people will need today, but which promises to gain great popularity in the future.

• This also includes special buttons and indicators on motherboards for overclocking. It can also be various branded elements and technologies from the manufacturer.

conclusions

Choosing a motherboard is not such an easy task. It is necessary, based on all the parameters, to select an option that will be satisfactory both in functional terms and in terms of cost. You need to be able to catch that fine line of the price/performance ratio. It should be remembered that everything is very individual and the best motherboard for your friend may be the worst option for your needs.

But if you focus on the basic parameters and approach the issue comprehensively, then the choice will be correct and will fully satisfy all your expectations.

P.S. We will try to answer your questions like “which motherboard should I buy?”, “which motherboard is better?” etc., in the comments to the article or on our forum.

Thank you for your attention. Good luck with your choice!

Hello friends! If you don’t very often have to choose a motherboard in a store and you are interested in how to do it correctly, then read our detailed instructions, written in a fun way.

From our article you will learn literally everything about existing motherboards, and most importantly, much of what even the sellers themselves don’t know, or maybe worse, they know but are keeping silent!

At the beginning of the article, we publish an interesting letter from our reader who made a number of mistakes when choosing a motherboard. Let's learn from other people's mistakes!

How to choose a motherboard

Hello admin! Tell how to choose a motherboard and which manufacturer, I don’t want to be mistaken, because the motherboard is the main board on the computer and we will connect all the other components to it. In my life, I bought a computer three times and despite the fact that I myself have an education in the field of information technology, all three times I made a mistake with the choice of motherboard. I’ll tell you my story briefly, you can laugh, I won’t be offended!

The first time (it was 11 years ago) I regretted the money and decided choose motherboard without a SATA connector, and a year later I realized that my computer was old, since the IDE interface was rapidly becoming outdated, and new SATA hard drives could not be connected to it. In addition, I chose the wrong motherboard manufacturer, now it has completely disappeared, and the motherboard failed a year and a half after purchase.

I bought a second computer in 2005, I was advised to buy it with a motherboard that had a connector for connecting AGP 8x video cards (it was supposedly cheaper and more practical), and again about a year later I realized that I had made a mistake, video cards with an AGP interface began to disappear and soon they were widely replaced by PCI Express video cards. My AGP video card burned out after two years and I had to look for and buy the same one at exorbitant prices.

When choosing a third computer, I also made a mistake, because, and besides, I chose a motherboard with two PCI connectors located so poorly that it was impossible to connect a discrete sound card and TV tuner to them over time; the discrete video card kept getting in the way. In addition, when choosing a motherboard, I completely forgot about my old IDE hard drives and bought a motherboard without an IDE connector, and half my life was on these old hard drives, then I had to buy this special one, which I also had to throw away, since it would not be inserted into an inconveniently located PCI connector, I still found a way out.

And just recently I had to choose a motherboard for the fourth time in my life. The first thing that was offered to me in a computer supermarket was the ASUS P8Z77-V PRO motherboard, but I’m in no hurry to buy, I want to consult with you.

Firstly, the price is 7,000 rubles, and for what! For three PCI Express slots, but I don’t need all of them, because I have one video card.

And most importantly, my powerful 2 GB video card cannot be installed in the first dark blue PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot; it is hampered by a beautiful aluminum radiator cooling the Intel Z77 Express chip on the motherboard.

It is in the first dark blue PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot that all 16 lanes from the processor will be available. I will have to install the video card in the second light PCI Express 3.0 x8 slot, and only 8 lanes from the processor are available in it.

No, I understand that if I insert a video card into the middle PCI Express 3.0 x8 slot, the performance loss will be only 5%, but there is still this loss. About the third black PCI Express 2.0 x4 slot I’m generally silent, only 4 lines from the processor are available to it, the question arises as to why it is needed at all, unless there’s nothing to rip me off for.

See what the GPU-Z.0.7.7 utility shows if you install a GeForce GTX 560 video card with a PCI Express 2.0 x16 interface in the first slot of the PCI Express 3.0 x16 specification.

If you install a video card in the second slot of the PCI Express 3.0 x8 specification, the video card starts working according to a completely old specification PCI-E 16x 1.1. I won’t even experiment with the third PCI Express 2.0 x4 slot, since everything is already clear.

Admin Note: I am familiar with the ASUS P8Z77-V PRO motherboard and I want to say that everything our reader says is true, but I doubt that it was impossible to install the video card in the first PCI Express x16 slot. I often installed various video cards on this motherboard and there were no problems. I would like to know the model of our reader’s video card.

Secondly, the presence of USB 3.0 ports, up to 4 ports, but again I can get by with two.

Thirdly, 2 SATA 6.0 Gb/s connectors, but again I don’t need two, since I have one 3TB hard drive.

There are also 4 SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports, but why do I need so many, I only have one hard drive and, as I already noticed, it has a SATA 6.0 Gb/s interface. In addition, all SATA connectors are inconveniently placed on the motherboard, but this is my personal opinion.

Fourthly, the presence of a proprietary Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n adapter, but I don’t need it either, since I have a router.

Conclusion: most likely I don’t need such a motherboard, or am I still thinking incorrectly and missing something and misunderstanding?

The second motherboard offered to me is P8Z77-V LX2. Inexpensive price of 2900 rubles, everything you need is present on the motherboard: SATA 6 Gbit/s and SATA 3 Gbit/s connectors, many ports USB 3.0, USB 2.0 and so on, but again this is what confuses, firstly there is no interface panel DVI video output is enough, there is only VGA.

Additional processor power is presented in the form of a 4-pin ATX12V power connector instead of an 8-pin one, this is quite strange, because the socket (the seat for the processor) on the motherboard is LGA1155 and, accordingly, I have an Intel Core i7 processor! Is such cut-off food enough for him? I googled about this issue, people say it’s not scary, but oh well.

And there’s another problem with the PCI Express connector! The first PCI Express x16 complies with specification 3.0, but my video card again does not fit into it due to the heatsink of the south bridge, and the second specification 2.0 and only 4 lanes from the processor are available in it, well, this is very little for my powerful video card. It seems to me that this is an obvious loss of productivity.

The video card does not fit into the PCI Express connector, the latch does not snap into place, and the south bridge heatsink is in the way.

Admin Note: In fact, not every video card can be installed in the first PCI Express x16 slot on this motherboard; the south bridge heatsink will interfere with it.

In short, I feel, admin, that you are giving me a headache, just like the consultants I talked to in the store, but I still hope for your help.

As we can see, friends, choosing a motherboard for your computer is relatively difficult, since you need to know many nuances

Therefore, I choose the motherboard at the very end, when the computer configuration is already known. To make this easier, let’s divide the selection process into a number of specific questions.

Motherboard developers

The developers of motherboards, or, more accurately, chipsets or chipsets, are the same well-known corporations that develop processors. These are Intel and AMD. You can find old motherboards with NVidia, VIA, SiS, Ali chipsets. But they are not used in new motherboards, since the NVidia chipset development department was acquired by AMD and now produces logic sets under its own brand, while the VIA, SiS, and Ali chipsets were not very successful and did not withstand the competition.

On which chipset developer (Intel or AMD) you choose a motherboard depends solely on what processor you have chosen.

What is a chipset (logic set)

The chipset or logic set is the main integrated circuit of the motherboard. This is a kind of processor that connects and controls all board devices: central processor, memory, video card, hard drives, expansion cards, external and internal connectors, etc. The performance of the motherboard and, accordingly, the entire computer depends on how powerful and modern the chipset is.

Previously, the motherboard chipset had a classic layout in the form of the so-called north and south bridge. These were two separate integrated circuits, which received their name from their location on the board.

North Bridge was located higher on the board, like north on the geographical map of the world, and was responsible for the fastest components of the system: processor, memory and video card, with which it is connected by the so-called buses (copper tracks) of the motherboard. The Northbridge is the fastest, most loaded and, accordingly, hottest component of the motherboard. It requires some cooling.

South Bridge was located below the northern one, closer to such slower devices as: hard drive, slots for expansion cards, USB connectors, the operation of which was regulated through the buses associated with them on the motherboard. The south bridge is not as powerful as the north bridge, it usually did not heat up very much and did not have or had weaker cooling.

Over time, technology developed and developers came to combine these two microcircuits into one, which was responsible for everything at once and, traditionally, was called the north bridge, as it was more important. This made it possible to save on the production of chipsets and, accordingly, motherboards, but was used mainly in cheaper boards, while more powerful and expensive ones still used two full-fledged bridges.

Chipsets of powerful modern motherboards, thanks to advanced technologies and more sophisticated manufacturing processes, have only a north bridge. However, in some models, you can still find the classic separation.

Chipset classification

Motherboard chipsets, as well as other system components, are divided into classes depending on power and functionality, which is reflected in the price.

They are installed on the same inexpensive motherboards, have low performance and are designed for weak office or home computers.

Mid-range chipsets are installed on mid-price motherboards and are designed for more powerful office or home computers.

High level chipsets installed on more expensive motherboards and designed for home multimedia or professional computers.

The top, most powerful chipsets are installed on very expensive motherboards and are intended for powerful gaming PCs, wealthy enthusiasts and PCs used for professional and scientific purposes.

Chipsets of modern motherboards

Like many components, motherboard chipsets are marked according to the principle: the higher the digital value of the marking, the higher class it belongs to.

Modern motherboards have the following series (or lines) of chipsets.

Modern Intel chipsets

B, Q– business series of chipsets with support for special security and remote management technologies for the corporate sector

H, P, Z– consumer series of chipsets for office and home PCs

X– top series of chipsets for powerful gaming and professional PCs

Modern AMD chipsets

760 – old series of entry-level chipsets

970 – old series of high-end chipsets

990 – old series of top chipsets

A55– a new series of entry-level chipsets

A75, A78– a new series of mid-range chipsets

A85, A88– new series of high-end chipsets

Based on the chipset, you can roughly determine the class of the motherboard and whether it is suitable for its intended purpose for your PC, but the choice can only be made based on the characteristics of a specific motherboard.

How do chipsets differ?

All chipsets, regardless of manufacturer, differ in such parameters as:

Supported processors

Type and frequency of supported memory

Bus frequency and bandwidth

Availability of built-in sound (audio codec)

Availability of built-in network card

Type and number of supported connectors for connecting storage devices (SATA, IDE)

Type and number of supported connectors for connecting video cards (PCI-E)

Type and number of supported slots for connecting expansion cards (PCI)

Type and number of supported connectors for connecting USB devices

Other parameters and technologies

You can find out information about any chipset on the developer’s website or by entering its markings in Google, but I repeat that usually this is not required to select a motherboard, since firstly, all the important parameters are indicated in the motherboard’s specifications on the manufacturer’s website, and secondly Secondly, a specific motherboard may not use all the capabilities of a particular chipset or, conversely, correct its shortcomings with its own solutions.

The figure below is an example of a chipset diagram that reflects the technologies it supports and the buses through which it is connected to system components.

Motherboard Manufacturers

Motherboards are made by many manufacturers. At the same time, they use chipsets from two major developers - Intel and AMD. In practice, there are several well-established manufacturers. Reliable motherboard manufacturers include the following companies: ASUS, Gigabyte, Intel, MSI. Just as a compromise option in terms of price/quality ratio, brands such as AsRock and Biostar can be considered.

For example, AsRock was acquired by ASUS and is its division, initially positioned as a budget brand, but has now acquired all lines of motherboards from budget to high-end gaming. At the same time with more affordable prices. I would not recommend purchasing motherboards from little-known brands that are represented in our country by only a few models: 3Q, EliteGroup (ECS), Fujitsu, Supermicro, Tyan, Zotac.

Guarantee

Keep in mind that the motherboard is not the most reliable component of the system and, unlike the video card, it can be problematic to replace it, since they quickly become outdated and it can be difficult to find a replacement, and purchasing a more modern model may entail replacing other system components (processor, memory). Therefore, the motherboard should be as reliable as possible and preferably have a sufficient warranty of 24-36 months.

The first signs of imminent failure of the motherboard are that the computer turns on every once in a while, reboots itself or turns off, slows down, and capacitors swell.

Purpose of motherboards

Based on their purpose, motherboards can be divided into:

For office– the most inexpensive models for simple tasks, on which the appropriate components are installed (weak processors with integrated video, small amount of memory).

For home multimedia PCs– the most popular models in the mid-price range, which are equipped with mid-range processors and video cards.

For games– fast motherboards on which powerful processors and video cards are installed (from 1 to 4).

For the corporate segment– with support for special security technologies, remote control, an expanded set of ports, etc.

For professionals and enthusiasts– top-end, very expensive motherboards on which you can install the most powerful components (top-end processor, 4 video cards, 32-64 GB of RAM, 6-12 drives, etc.).

It is imperative to consider how powerful the components will be installed on the motherboard. If you install a powerful processor and/or video card on a cheap motherboard, then firstly they will not be able to work at full capacity, since the performance of the chipset will not be enough, and secondly, this motherboard will not withstand such a load for a long time and will fail. And vice versa, if you install a weak processor and/or video card on a fast motherboard, then it will be a waste of money.

Processor socket (slot)

Processor sockets on motherboards correspond to processor sockets. The processor socket, or as it is also called Socket, is the connection point between the processor and the motherboard. Processor sockets for each manufacturer and line of processors are different and they are marked either by the number of pins in the socket or by the marking of the line of processors.

The technological process is currently moving very quickly, processors are changing, processor sockets are changing. If you are assembling a new computer, do not use motherboards and processors with outdated sockets, since if problems arise or you want to improve these components in a year or two, it will be difficult for you to find replacements for them.

Obsolete Intel processor slots are marked: LGA 775

Modern Intel processor slots are marked: LGA 1150, LGA 1155, LGA 2011

Obsolete AMD processor slots are marked: AM3, AM3+, FM1

Modern AMD processor slots are marked: FM2, FM2+, FX

All you need to know about the slots is that they must be the same on the processor and motherboard, otherwise the processor simply will not install.

In addition, here is a remark from one of the readers of our site that processors with sockets AM2+, AM3, AM3+ can be installed in the AM2 processor socket. Thanks to this, you can significantly increase PC performance by installing a more powerful processor without replacing the motherboard.

Supported processors

CPU socket and supported processors are not the same thing. Each motherboard is designed for specific processor models. However, after the motherboard is released into production, new processor models appear that it was not originally designed for. In most cases, a processor with the same socket as on the motherboard will work on it, but not always.

On the website of each manufacturer there is a list of processors supported by a particular motherboard. After the release of the motherboard, this list is supplemented for some time with new models of supported processors that have been found to be compatible and verified through testing by the motherboard manufacturer. Compatibility issues are often resolved by releasing a new firmware version (BIOS) of the motherboard. Before buying a motherboard, make sure that your processor is on this list, otherwise there is no guarantee that the system will work normally.

If you replace the processor on an old motherboard, the required model may not be in the list of compatible processors. However, this processor will probably work on this board. Try searching the Internet for reviews from those who have already tried installing this processor on the same motherboard. Agree with the seller to take the processor for testing, or bring the system unit to him. Be sure to flash the latest BIOS from the motherboard manufacturer's website. But keep in mind one important nuance: the processor may not be on the compatibility list for the reason that the motherboard's power supply circuit cannot provide the power required by the processor. In this case, there is a risk of early failure of the motherboard. The thermal package "TDP" of the processor should not exceed that of the motherboard.

Memory connectors (slots)

Inexpensive motherboards often have only 2 slots for installing memory modules. In principle, for the configurations in which they are used, this may be quite sufficient. However, if you install two memory modules on such a motherboard, then to increase its capacity in the future you will have to completely replace it, since there will be nowhere to insert additional modules. If you install one module during assembly, then in the future you can install another one in the remaining free slot. But when using one module, memory performance is lost due to the fact that it will not work in dual-channel mode.

Motherboards in the mid-range and higher price ranges usually have 4 memory slots. This not only allows you to install more memory, but also easily add memory in the future without losing performance due to the use of dual-channel mode.

The most expensive (for example, gaming) motherboards can have 6 slots for installing memory modules and support three-channel operation.

Type, size and frequency of supported memory

Older motherboards used DDR, DDR2 and older types of memory. DDR2 memory can still be found in computer stores and can be used to increase its capacity in an old PC. DDR memory can only be purchased used. The most popular type of memory today is DDR3 memory, and DDR4 memory will soon begin to hit the markets. The same principle applies here as with processor slots - buy motherboards that support the most modern type of memory to ensure system expandability and maintainability in the next few years. Today it is still DDR3.

Each motherboard has a limit on the maximum amount of memory module that can be installed in the slot. Plus there is a limit on the total amount of memory supported.

The motherboard can support RAM of different frequencies. The most common memory frequencies today are: 1333, 1666, 1800, 2000 MHz, and there are higher ones. But here it comes down to the processor, since most modern processors support memory with a frequency of up to 1666 MHz. Memory modules with this frequency today are optimal in terms of price/performance ratio. The letters “OC” after the memory frequency in the motherboard marking mean that it supports the specified frequency in the processor overclocking mode (for example, DDR3 2000 MHz (OC)).

Connectors (slots) for installing video cards

Old motherboards had an AGP connector for installing video cards, but they were completely and hopelessly outdated and have long since disappeared from sale.

All modern motherboards have a PCI Express (PCI-E) slot for installing video cards. This connector has 3 revisions (PCI-E v.1, v.2 and v.3), which differ in bus bandwidth (data transfer speed between the motherboard and video card). All these revisions are compatible, and I do not focus on them. In addition, depending on the bandwidth, the connectors are also marked as x4, x8, x16. All motherboards on sale today have a PCI-E v3 x16 connector.

Mid- and high-end motherboards can have from 1 to 4 PCI-E slots and, accordingly, they can install several video cards in SLI mode (for NVidia video cards) or CrossFire (for AMD video cards). In this case, cheaper motherboards can only support multiple video cards at a reduced bus speed (for example: x8+x8 or x4+x4+x4). Expensive gaming video cards can support x16+x16 or x8+x8+x8+x8 dual operation mode, which can increase the performance of the video system when installing several powerful video cards.

Older motherboard models may support either SLI or CrossFire mode. But many modern models can work in both modes.

Also pay attention to the distance between PCI-E slots. This may determine what form factor of video card you can install (dual-slot or single-slot). In addition, in a configuration with several video cards, they may overlap connectors for expansion cards, into which you may want to install a good sound card or Wi-Fi adapter card. If you don't plan to install multiple video cards, you may not need a motherboard with 4 PCI-E slots.

Main system bus

The throughput of the main system bus HT (Hyper Transport), and previously FSB (Front System Bus) is characterized mainly by the speed of data exchange between the processor and RAM. Typically, the system performance is not limited by the motherboard bus, since it is designed for the fastest processor existing at the time of its development and the fastest RAM, and with a reserve. However, if you want to save money now by buying a not the most expensive processor so that in a year or two, when prices fall, you can exchange it for a more powerful one, then it is advisable not to buy a motherboard with a bus of the outgoing generation. This parameter is not so relevant today, so it is rarely mentioned in price lists and product catalogs. This can be found on the motherboard manufacturer's website. Modern motherboards have a bus bandwidth of 5200 Mb/s (5.2 Gb/s) and higher; their past generation had a bus of 1000-2000 Mb/s (1-2 Gb/s).

Built-in (integrated) video

In older motherboards with an integrated video card, the video chip was soldered on the board itself. Modern motherboards do not have this chip, since many modern processors already have a video core. In any case, the built-in video does not have its own separate memory and uses the computer's RAM for its work. Motherboards with an integrated video card have connectors for connecting a monitor and/or TV. On older motherboards this is a VGA connector, on new ones it is DVI and HDMI.

The description of a motherboard with integrated video usually contains either the model of the video chip (in older models) or a prefix like “int. video" (for new ones), meaning that it supports processors with a video core and has the appropriate connectors.

An integrated video card is optional for a computer with a separate (discrete) video card and in this case, usually no attention is paid to it, but it can help out if the main video card fails, especially if it goes to a service center in another city for a warranty examination .

A modern video card integrated into the processor is quite enough for all office, multimedia tasks and simple games. But if you plan to install modern games, then you will need a full-fledged discrete video card.

Built-in (integrated) sound

Old motherboards had a built-in AC’97 sound card (audio codec), which, like integrated video, was soldered directly on the motherboard in the form of a separate chip and used computer resources, such as the processor and RAM, for its work. At the same time, the sound quality left much to be desired and hurt the ears so much that even non-audiophiles preferred to purchase a separate discrete sound card (for example, from the very popular manufacturer Creative Sound).

All modern motherboards have an HDA (High Definition Audio) class audio codec, which is already included in the chipset. This audio codec produces sound quality comparable to budget discrete sound cards and its sound depends more on the quality of the connected acoustic system (speakers). But if you want to purchase a multi-channel Hi-Fi audio system, then it is better to get a professional sound card.

Motherboards usually have 3 or 6 3.5 mm jacks for connecting audio devices, one of which is always used to connect a microphone. If the motherboard has only 3 3.5 mm jacks, then you can only connect a 2.0 (stereo) or 2.1 (2 channels and subwoofer) speaker system to it. If there are 6 sockets - a speaker system from 2.0 to 7.1 (7 channels and a subwoofer).

The motherboard can also have digital audio outputs - coaxial (in old boards) and optical (in new ones). More expensive speaker systems may support such connections. At the same time, there is practically no sound distortion when transmitting a signal from the sound card to the speakers. Such systems are preferred by music lovers or professional musicians.

Built-in (integrated) network card

The network card is also soldered into separate chips (on old boards) or is part of the chipset (on new ones) and uses the computer’s resources. Almost all modern motherboards have a network card with a data transfer rate of 1000 Mb/s (1 Gb/s). If the network card on an old or cheap motherboard has a speed of 100 Mb/s, then this is enough for even the fastest Internet, but not enough for frequent exchange of large amounts of data (10 or more GB) between home computers.

In any case, when buying a computer, it is better to purchase a separate network card. It is not expensive ($5-10) and will save your motherboard in the event of a high-voltage breakdown on the part of the provider. This often happens during a thunderstorm.

The motherboard with a built-in network card has an RJ-45 connector. There are motherboards with two network cards. In this case, they have two such connectors.

Media support

Modern motherboards are fully compatible SATA2 (3 Gb/s) and SATA3 (6 Gb/s) connectors for connecting various storage media: hard drives (HDD), optical drives (ODD), fast solid-state drives (SSD).

IDE connector for connecting old-type drives is obsolete and is not available on all modern motherboards. You may only need it if you have a good large-capacity disk or are on a very limited budget and want to install an old DVD drive.

Modern HDD and ODD have interface connectors SATA2 or SATA3 and for them this is not important, since their speed is limited by mechanics (up to 150 Mb/s), while the interface allows you to transfer data at a speed an order of magnitude higher.

Modern SSDs The drives have a SATA3 interface and can be connected to SATA2 connectors, but sometimes there are compatibility problems and speed drops. In this case, it is still advisable to have SATA3 connectors on the motherboard.

Modern HDDs 3 GB or more are not supported by motherboards with classic BIOS. In this case, the system simply does not see the entire disk volume. If you plan to use hard drives of this size, then your motherboard must support the UEFI interface.

Connectors for expansion cards

Older motherboards used PCI slots to accommodate expansion cards. This connector may be needed if you have such cards, for example, a professional sound card or TV tuner.

Modern motherboards use PCI Express slots to install expansion cards: PCI-E 1x, 2x, 4x, and PCI slots are almost history.

If you plan to use expansion cards (sound card, network card, etc.), then pay attention to the presence of the required type of connectors on the motherboard and that they do not overlap when installing video cards.

External connectors

The picture below shows the external connectors of an old, simple motherboard.

The picture below shows the external connectors of a modern motherboard.

Internal connectors

The image below shows the main internal connectors and elements of the motherboard that you need to pay attention to when choosing a motherboard.

Wireless technologies

Some modern motherboards may have built-in wireless adapters: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. They may be needed if this motherboard is planned to be used to assemble a multimedia center in a compact case. In other cases, you can use a separate wireless controller board, since such functionality “out of the box” greatly affects the price.

Form factor (size) of motherboard

Motherboards have the following standard form factors (sizes):

ATX– the most common full-size format of the motherboard (305 × 244 mm), is optimal for a desktop computer, since the dimensions of the board allow not much savings and it is convenient to distribute and place all the elements on it; it is installed in most cases for desktop PCs.

Mini-ATX– a very common stripped-down motherboard format (284 × 208 mm), typical of budget motherboards, usually has fewer connectors (for example, only 2 memory slots), installed in most cases for desktop PCs and smaller cases of the same format.

Micro-ATX– a slightly less common smaller format of the motherboard (244 × 244 mm), used primarily for assembling multimedia centers and can have built-in wireless adapters, installed in special cases for multimedia centers.

There are other less common formats: Mini-ITX, EATX, XL-ATX, Thin Mini-ITX. They all differ in size and are usually matched to an already defined body.

Electronic components

Cheap motherboards always use the appropriate element base (for example, Chinese electrolytic capacitors).

More expensive boards may have higher quality electronic components (such as Japanese solid capacitors). If this is so, then the manufacturer always tries to emphasize this with a marketing slogan like: Solid Caps (solid-state capacitors), Super Alloy Power (reliable power system), Military Standard (military standard), etc. In any case, such motherboards are more reliable and durable.

Processor power supply

The power supply circuit of the processor determines how powerful the processor can be powered by the motherboard. Cheap boards have a 3-4 phase processor power supply, mid-range ones have 5-6 phases, gaming motherboards have 8 or more processor power phases. This information can be found on the motherboard manufacturer's website.

Cooling system

Inexpensive motherboards usually have a small aluminum heatsink on the mosfets (transistors) of the processor power circuit and a small heatsink on the northbridge. And, with a little ventilation of the case, this is usually enough for them, since such systems do not use powerful processors and video cards.

Old motherboards often also had a small high-speed fan on the northbridge radiator, which over time began to howl loudly.

Mid-range motherboards usually have either larger radiators or heatpipe cooling systems, which is preferable, but still requires air circulation inside the case.

Cooling systems for powerful motherboards are usually built on heat pipes and have even higher requirements for organizing case ventilation.

You should pay attention to the size and location of these heatsinks, as if they are too tall and located close to the motherboard slots, they may interfere with the installation of a long video card or a powerful processor cooler.

Additional equipment

The additional package of any motherboard includes: a cover for the rear panel of connectors, 2-4 SATA interface cables, a disk with drivers and a user manual. Usually this is enough, but not always. There are times when I bought everything, brought it, started assembling it, and suddenly discovered that some kind of cable or adapter was missing. Check the motherboard configuration on the manufacturer's website.

Included with more expensive motherboards and the so-called Deluxe versions of cheaper ones, there is a lot of all sorts of junk: 6 SATA cables, brackets with external Wire Fire, USB connectors, etc. Usually all this is lying around idle and it is better to overpay for a good motherboard than for such a “generous” add-on.

Motherboard firmware (BIOS and UEFI)

Gradually, all motherboards are moving from classic BIOS-type firmware to the UEFI interface, which has many additional functions, in particular support for disks larger than 2 TB, installation of multiple operating systems on one disk, etc. It is better not to pull the cat by the tail and immediately take a motherboard with UEFI support, so that later there will be no problems with new devices and operating systems.

Supported operating systems and drivers

Modern motherboards usually support all popular operating systems (OS). For any motherboard to operate, it requires a set of special firmware, called drivers, that are required for the chipset and all the electronic components integrated into it. New models often no longer have drivers for older operating systems (Windows XP, 7). In addition, after some time (1-2 years) the release of drivers for newly emerging operating systems is discontinued. For cheaper motherboards this support period is very short (about 1 year), for more expensive ones it is longer (up to 3 years). In addition, the same applies to firmware updates (BIOS or UEFI) and after a while you may not be able to install, for example, a new processor or drive on such a motherboard.

Additional software

Popular motherboard manufacturers (ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte) have many special programs that increase their functionality. For example, they change power consumption modes, fan speeds, allow you to monitor various system operating parameters, improve sound, etc. Although I don’t often use such utilities, I really like the programs from ASUS and only thanks to them would I buy a motherboard from this company again, but otherwise the quality of their motherboards in the middle and high price range is very good, although they are also a little more expensive. If we are talking about purchasing a cheap motherboard for an office computer, then this is all useless and I would advise not to overpay for the brand in this case.

3. Sort the remaining motherboards by price.

4. View all items in order, starting with the cheapest ones.

5. Having reached a position that meets all the main parameters, go to the manufacturer’s website and clarify all other parameters.

6. Carefully look at the photo of the motherboard on the manufacturer’s website from all available angles. Pay attention to the number and location of various connectors, the size and location of radiators (so that they do not interfere with the installation of other components: video card and processor cooler).

7. Look at several other suitable and similar priced motherboards; perhaps they will have a better configuration.

This way you will choose the optimal motherboard in terms of price/quality/functionality ratio.

Summary

Summarizing all the information from this article, I want to summarize what you need to pay attention to when choosing a motherboard for both a new and an old PC.

15. Availability of wireless technologies (if necessary).

16. Warranty period for the motherboard.

17. Additional equipment (to buy more if something is missing).

The motherboard is the main component of any desktop PC. It must have a sufficient number of necessary connectors so that the user can install a powerful video card, a large amount of RAM and several drives. In addition, do not forget about the need to connect various peripherals. We tried to find out which motherboards can now be called the best.

The correct choice of “mother” is the basis for assembling a PC: if the processor within one socket can, if desired, be changed to a faster one, the memory can be increased, the video card can be replaced, then the motherboard usually lives in the case until a radical upgrade or serious breakdown. So you should choose a motherboard with long-term use in mind... Although Intel’s proverbial love for regularly changing processor sockets without backward compatibility already leads to the fact that even a small upgrade forces you to change the motherboard along with the CPU. In this regard, AMD’s conservatism looks more reasonable - remember how long the AM3+ socket has lived, which is only now being replaced by the incompatible AM4, and there is every reason to believe that the new assembly for Ryzen will be able to be updated on the same board for a long time.

• LGA 1151- Intel Skylake, Kaby Lake processors, in version v2, incompatible with the previous one (well, it’s Intel!), and Coffee Lake. This allows you to choose processors from the Celeron G4900 to the Core i9-9900K - that is, from a simple office build to a powerful workstation or gaming PC.
• LGA 2011- the socket was originally for Intel Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge-E, but Intel wouldn’t be themselves if they didn’t create a socket incompatible with it LGA 2011-3 under Haswell-E. We will focus on the latest version - this is an excellent platform for assembling a powerful workstation or server, and there are a lot of people who assemble Haswell-E PCs for home use.
• LGA 2066- the latest socket for top-end Intel Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X processors - the same ones that are successfully trying to catch up and surpass the old AMD in terms of thermal package. But if you have almost 140 thousand for an 18-core Intel Core i9-7980XE, then you will definitely have money for cooling that can cope with its 165 W of heat dissipation.
• AM4- a new socket from AMD that came with AMD Ryzen. And this is an opportunity to already use processors from the inexpensive AMD A6-9500E for “office-home” assemblies to the top-end Ryzen 7 2700X, and the AM4 socket is guaranteed to last for another year or two. In addition, new APUs (processors with integrated graphics that previously used their FM sockets) were also transferred to it.