- this is the basis of the computer, and that is why when assembling a computer, first of all, you should pay attention to this particular component of the system. The performance of the computer and the stability of its operation largely depend on the characteristics and workmanship of the motherboard. Today we will try to talk about what main characteristics and features of the motherboard you need to pay attention to.
We decided that information would be better perceived if, when choosing a motherboard, we refer to the motherboards of one of the leading manufacturers - for the simple reason that it is the world-famous motherboard manufacturers that equip their products with the maximum number of technologies that improve and help you work with your computer. . In addition, only these manufacturers create their boards using the highest quality and most expensive components and only on the most modern equipment, because when it comes to trust, large manufacturers simply cannot, as they say, miss, because if this happens, they will lose their customers and, naturally the lion's share of the profits.
The choice fell on ASUS.
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For this article, we immediately chose a well-known manufacturer. ASUS is the largest player in the market of computer components, as well as laptops, high-performance computers and peripherals. ASUS made the main bet in the production of motherboards on several important points - quality, reliability, innovative approach and continuous improvement of the motherboard line both with the help of constructive additions and with the help of proprietary software products.
So how do you choose a motherboard?
First you need to decide on the purpose of the computer and the manufacturer of the processor that will be used in the computer. Then explore the possibilities of suitable motherboards. In most cases, the motherboard is chosen either for use in an office or home mainframe computer, or for a powerful gaming system or workstation that enthusiasts are going to use to its maximum potential.
In any case, ASUS offers the widest choice of motherboards for creating simple office or home computers, as well as gaming computers, workstations and servers. With this, you can choose the right ASUS motherboard for both modern AMD processors and the latest Intel processors.
Motherboards for office or universal home computers.
If you need a reliable office computer, universal home computer or HTPC, then first of all you need to pay attention to relatively inexpensive, but high-quality ones, since it is quality and reliability that play a key role here, and performance recedes into the background.
For office computers, as well as for universal home computers, they are perfect, as well. These ASUS motherboards differ from the rest in one common advantage - they are equipped with a video adapter built into the chipset or simply have video outputs for using the video core built into the processors. This means that having bought such an ASUS board, you don't have to worry about buying a discrete video card, the use of which in most cases is absolutely not justified in an office computer.
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First of all, ASUS thinks about reliability, therefore, in all, including inexpensive solutions, a full range of technologies is used. ASUS Protect 3.0 or its individual components that are able to protect the computer, the user himself and can significantly reduce the power consumption of the computer.
The first key component of ASUS Protect 3.0 is a unique chip EPU (Energy Processing Unit) responsible for efficient energy consumption. By increasing the efficiency of the processor power circuit using a separate chip, you can reduce the system's power consumption by almost half compared to motherboards where there is no such controller and where only software utilities are responsible for reducing power consumption.
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The second important and one-of-a-kind component of ASUS Protect 3.0 is the technology ASUS Anti Surge. This technology protects all chips of the main elements of the motherboard and other installed equipment from power surges and possible short circuits. If an unstable power supply is detected, it turns off the computer's power supply, thereby protecting itself and all devices connected to it from failure.
To protect the user from electromagnetic radiation, ASUS engineers manufacture boards using technology ASUS Low EMI, which nullifies the electromagnetic radiation of the board while the computer is running.
In order to increase the reliability of the motherboard and extend its lifespan, ASUS equips its motherboards with solid capacitors. Solid Capacitors capable of operating for up to several decades, unlike liquid tantalum capacitors, which can dry out or explode over time even with a slight increase in load or temperature.
Almost all use the new UEFI BIOS with a beautiful and user-friendly multilingual graphical interface. Via ASUS UEFI BIOS even a novice user can easily perform basic operations in the BIOS of the motherboard. In just a couple of mouse clicks in a simplified window ASUS EZ Mode you can configure the system, set the desired boot priority, view information about the state of the computer, and for advanced users, a full set of tools is available in the Advanced Mode tab. To update the BIOS firmware of the motherboard, you should use the function ASUS EZ Flash, for the operation of which you only need to point to the firmware downloaded from the manufacturer's website, and the motherboard will do the rest on its own.
Thanks to the high-quality components from which they are made, it has become possible to increase performance by overclocking the processor and video card installed on the motherboard. It is important that this feature is implemented even in inexpensive motherboards, which proves their reliability and readiness to work in the most difficult conditions.
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To increase system performance due to the hidden capabilities of the processor and video card, ASUS offers several software tools at once. The first instrument is named Turbo V and is implemented as a convenient utility that allows you to quickly and easily perform safe overclocking of the processor without the need to reboot the system or complex manipulations in the BIOS of the motherboard. Sometimes a similar mechanism is implemented in the form of a switch located on the board, when turned on, the motherboard itself selects the optimal settings and overclocks the processor. This technology is named Turbo Key II. Technology can be used with Turbo Key II Turbo V EVO, allowing you to achieve truly incredible system performance.
also support technology ASUS Core Unlocker to unlock the hidden cores of some AMD processor models, providing a significant performance boost.
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To overclock the video core built into the processor or motherboard chipset, ASUS has a separate utility called iGPU Boost. In operation, it is as simple and clear as Turbo V - a few mouse clicks and the built-in video core works much faster. This technology on some boards can also be implemented as a hardware switch on the board.
Due to the fact that the number of technologies implemented in is constantly growing, ASUS programmers have developed a unique software shell. This software package combines all the power management and overclocking capabilities of the system, and also allows you to change the rotation speed of all fans installed in the system unit to optimize cooling and reduce noise levels. Monitoring of the state of key system components is also available.
By the way, a very important factor for both a modern office computer and a computer for home is the speed of data transfer to external USB media, so in practice, due to which the data transfer speed increases up to 10 times compared to USB 2.0 ports.
(Small Business Advantage) is a combination of software and hardware that facilitates administration and improves data security on computers designed for small business use. To use it, you need a motherboard based on Intel B75 or Q77 chipsets and a processor from the Core i3/i5/i7 series.
Motherboards for gaming computers and workstations for enthusiasts.
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When choosing a motherboard for a gaming computer, especially enthusiasts who plan to work closely with overclocking, you should pay attention not only to the quality of the motherboard, but also to hardware improvements that will allow you to use the motherboard and the computer as a whole, as they say, to the maximum . To create game configurations, they are also suitable. These ASUS motherboards use the most advanced technologies developed by ASUS engineers.
The best uses technology ASUS Stack Cool3+, which combines a well-optimized PCB design with additional layers of copper inside the textolite, which improve heat dissipation from all heating elements. This approach allows not only to reduce heat, but also to extend the life of the gaming motherboard.
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Secondly, in order to provide stable power to the processor, achieve the highest possible frequency boost when performing resource-intensive tasks, and minimize power consumption during idle or standard computing, ASUS uses a digital power system SMART DIGI+ and technology Dual Intelligent Processors the third generation, the principle of operation of which is based on the introduction of several hardware controllers into the motherboard. Controller Smart Digi+ is responsible for fine-tuning each phase of the VRM and ensuring the optimum balance of performance and temperature. EPU responsible for the power efficiency of the computer, and TPU (separate microprocessor for overclocking) deals with the calculation, testing and optimization of overclocking parameters. By the way, each of these processors is found on others, which indicates the versatility of the technologies developed by ASUS engineers.
Specialized series of ASUS ROG and TUF motherboards.
The ASUS range also includes motherboards of the ROG (Republic of Gamers) series specially designed for gamers, which includes motherboards such as, and others. These motherboards incorporate all the latest technological developments from the company and are complemented by even more convenient tools to improve system performance and comfortably play the latest games. For example, on the motherboard, you can not only manage system overclocking and monitor hardware using OC Zone but also take advantage of technology ROG Connect, which allows you to monitor system performance and manage overclocking using a special ROG Key controller or a laptop connected to a PC via a USB port.
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Another series of ASUS motherboards differs from the rest in even higher quality components (chokes, solid capacitors, MOSFETs) that have passed military acceptance and tested according to the server standard. In addition, these boards are equipped with heatsinks using technology CeraM!X, which, due to the porous surface, better cool the "hot" elements of the board. Some boards in this series are equipped with a special casing TUF Thermal Armor, which allows you to direct the air flow along the motherboard from the CPU cooler, as well as from additional fans included in the kit, thus cooling almost the entire surface of the board. With ultra high quality components and an improved VRM, TUF Sabertooth motherboards have become a favorite of overclockers.
Convenience of assembling a computer and solving possible problems with starting the system.
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Do not forget about such a simple but important thing as convenience when assembling a computer system unit. The company has developed several simple solutions to make life easier for both professional PC builders and users who build their own computer.
Q-Shield Designed to simplify the installation of a protective plug between the motherboard connector panel and the hole on the back of the case, protecting the motherboard from static electricity. When installing conventional plugs, the user is often hindered by the antennae of the plug (they are also contacts for removing static), which strive to get inside the motherboard connectors and with which it is easy to cut yourself. ASUS Q-Shield does not have these very antennae - instead, a soft pad is used, covered with conductive foil, which is pressed against the metal housings of the connectors on the outside of the motherboard.
Q connector helps to avoid the inconvenience associated with connecting miniature contacts coming from the indicators, Power and Reset buttons on the case, as well as the speaker. Now you can connect the pins to the special Q-Connector adapter outside the computer case, and then connect the entire bundle of wires to the group of connectors on , as if connecting only one cable.
In order to understand why the computer you have assembled does not start (if this happens, God forbid), he suggests using the technology Q LED. The Q-LED indicators located on the board near the processor, memory modules, and a PCIe slot with a video card installed will indicate the problematic component of the system. Memory module compatibility problems are easily solved with the help of technology ASUS MemoOK!. Pressing the MemOK! button once - and she will select the settings for memory timings for the correct start of the system.
The technology used in a number of the latest boards allows you to update the BIOS of the board, having only a USB flash drive with a recorded BIOS image (you also need to rename it first according to the name of the board) and a power supply unit suitable for the board. Everything! No processor, no memory, no video card needed! The reprogramming process is initiated by pressing the BIOS FlashBack or ROG Connect button on the board's connector panel. This technology solves a known problem when the purchased processor is not supported by the BIOS version of the board flashed at the factory, and there is no possibility to install an older CPU for this socket.
Most ASUS LGA1155 boards will fully support the bus PCI-E version 3.0 after updating the BIOS and installing a 22nm processor. This greatly increases the upgrade potential of the system as a whole, especially if you plan to use a high-performance video card or even two.
We hope that after reading this article, our customers will make the right choice of motherboard and this board will certainly become.
A prerequisite for stable and long-term operation of a personal computer is the need to carefully select all components during assembly. This will not only minimize the number of possible failures, but also protect components from failure. So, any person should have a clear idea of how to choose a processor for a motherboard.
Installation method
The central processing unit is a conventional microcircuit with a high degree of integration of electronic components. To turn it on, a lot of thin legs-contacts are used. Previously, all manufacturers adhered to the same standard, according to which the above-mentioned legs were part of a microcircuit (they were soldered at one of the production stages). This design solution is called PGA. The processor was inserted with legs into a special socket-socket on the motherboard and mechanically fixed there. However, subsequently, Intel began to use a different approach, in which a set of pins was located in the socket, and the processor had contact pads instead of legs at the corresponding points. This made it possible to reduce the cost of production. This solution is called LGA. In both cases, the connectors are designed for a certain number of microcircuit pins.
So, in order to match the processor to the motherboard, you need to decide on the existing socket type. There are three ways: by directly inspecting the board and looking up the socket name; using the instructions for the motherboard, where the type is indicated; using data from the manufacturer's website. Let's assume that the board is designed for processors with In this case, the Core i3, i5, i7 models from Intel are suitable for it.
Load
The microprocessor, being an electronic product, consumes a certain amount of power during operation. Within the same model range, power consumption increases with increasing frequency. That is, if you want to match the processor to the motherboard, you need, again, to open the instructions for it and find an indication of what acceptable frequency the microprocessor can have. Obviously, if support for a solution with 2 GHz is declared, then it is not recommended to install a microcircuit model with 3 GHz in the socket, since the power system can fail, taking other components with it. This is usually listed in the "Supported Processors" section.
Cooling system
Perhaps the answer to the question of how to choose a processor for the motherboard is best known to specialists from computer companies. Most often, they are the ones who assemble the block and face all the nuances. So, having decided on the processor and familiarized yourself with its characteristics, you need to inspect the motherboard.
There were times when buyers wanted to install a powerful microcircuit on a frankly budget model. Although the motherboard manufacturer indicated support for the selected processor, an attempt to install an appropriate cooling system on the board (not a basic one, but an effective one) did not end in anything good. So, a large heatsink could block the nearest PCI-Express slots, subsequent maintenance became much more complicated, etc. Thus, a person studying how to choose a processor for a motherboard can be recommended to first compare the dimensions of the desired cooling system with the dimensions of the motherboard.
Memory
All modern microprocessors contain a RAM controller. This makes it possible to achieve a significant increase in the data exchange rate, eliminates the compatibility problem, and simplifies the layout of the board.
However, you can still find solutions from previous generations, in which the memory module control chip is a separate microcircuit located on the motherboard. Very often, such boards allow you to install RAM strips of any of the two types (for example, DDR2 and DDR3), these are transitional models. When figuring out how to choose a processor for the motherboard, and faced with similar solutions, you need to take into account that the board allows you to work with only one at a time. If the microprocessor is designed to work with DDR3, then they need to be installed.
Expediency
Interestingly, choosing a motherboard for a processor is just as important as choosing a central chip for a particular motherboard, which we will show below. When choosing components, it is important to observe the principle of parity, according to which the price categories of the processor and the board must be appropriate.
That is, by installing a productive microprocessor in a cheap motherboard, the owner will limit the capabilities of the system. For example, a system unit based on the budget board ASRock 960GM-VGS3 FX for 2500 rubles. should not be assembled with the FX-9370 for 15 thousand rubles, since in this case only basic functions will be implemented, and bonuses in the form of a mechanism for connecting several video cards, a faster version of SATA, memory size and frequency, etc. will be without support.
As an example, consider how to choose a processor for CROSSHAIR V FORMULA-Z. This is a top solution, the cost of which is about 14 thousand rubles. Such a motherboard can work with all processors with The specification for it states that it supports DDR3 -2400 MHz memory; SATA 6Gb/s; SLI/Crossfire X mode.
To unleash its full potential, you need a processor capable of working with 2133 MHz memory and designed for installation in Socket AM3+. Since the board is of the upper price category, the microprocessor is recommended with a third-level cache and a high frequency of operation. IN this case the top-down compatibility principle is followed, that is, the board will be able to work with the entire line of AMD products that have the appropriate socket (even if the controller supports 1333 MHz memory). You can choose a motherboard for a processor with an idea for the future: purchase a good motherboard and a budget CPU, which is subsequently planned to be replaced with a more advanced solution.
Video adapter
It is equally important to understand how to match the processor to the motherboard and video card. With a discrete video solution in hand, the owner is wondering about the wise investment in buying a microprocessor. Modern graphic applications, especially "heavy" ones (games), use the power not only of the video chip, but also of the central silicon brain. The mismatch between the performance of one component to another will lead to the fact that one of them will be idle part of the time, waiting for the completion of data processing by its “colleague”.
The correct solution to this problem is to study the results of testing various processors with an existing video card. There is a lot of this data on the web. Looking at the graphs, you can see that with each faster processor, the final value of the testers increases. At some stage, growth becomes insignificant. The processor at which this happened is just the optimal one for this motherboard and video card.
How to choose a processor for the motherboard on a laptop
Sometimes owners of portable computers are asked by the problem of improving the performance of their computing systems. This problem is solved by replacing the processor. You need to determine the type of socket that the board supports and find a replacement. In addition, the reference frequency of the old and new processors must be the same. It is also desirable that the TDP also match (or be less). That is, instead of the Pentium M 730 (1.6 GHz), you can install the Pentium M 780 (2.26 GHz).
Choosing a motherboard for an already purchased processor requires certain knowledge. First of all, it is recommended to pay attention to the characteristics of already purchased components, because. it makes no sense to buy a cheap motherboard for a TOP processor and vice versa.
Initially, it is better to buy such basic components as a system unit (case), a central processor, a power supply, a video card. If you decide to purchase a motherboard first, then you should know exactly what you want to expect from an already assembled computer.
Initially, you need to understand which brands are leading in this market and whether they can be trusted. Here is a list of recommended motherboard manufacturers:
If you have already bought powerful and expensive PC components, then by no means buy a cheap motherboard. At best, the components will not work at full capacity, lowering all performance to the level of budget PCs. At worst, they will not work at all and you will have to buy another motherboard.
Before assembling a computer, you need to decide what you want to get in the end, because. it will be easier to choose a board without buying in advance all the main components for the computer. It is better to buy a high-quality central board (you should not save on this purchase if the possibilities allow it) and then, based on its capabilities, select the rest of the components.
Chipsets for motherboards
The chipset directly determines how many components you can connect to the motherboard, whether they can work with 100% efficiency, which processor is better to choose. In fact, a chipset is something similar to a processor already built into the board, but which is responsible only for the most basic functions, for example, working in the BIOS.
Almost all motherboards are equipped with chipsets from two manufacturers - Intel and AMD. Depending on which processor you have chosen, you also need to choose a board with a chipset from the manufacturer of the selected CPU. Otherwise, there is a chance that the devices will be incompatible and will not work properly.
About Intel chipsets
Compared to the “red” competitor, the “blue” ones do not have so many models and varieties of chipsets. Here is a list of the most popular ones:
- H110- suitable for those who do not pursue performance and require the computer only to work correctly in office programs and browsers.
- B150 And H170– there are no significant differences between them. Both are great for mid-range computers.
- Z170- A motherboard based on such a chipset supports overclocking of many components, making it an excellent solution for gaming computers.
- X99- is in demand in a professional environment that requires a lot of resources from the system (3D modeling, video processing, game creation). Also good for gaming machines.
- Q170- this is a chipset from the corporate sector, it is not particularly popular among ordinary users. The main emphasis is on security and stability.
- C232 And C236- used in data centers, allows you to process a huge amount of information. Works best with Xenon processors.
About AMD chipsets
They are conditionally divided into two series - A and FX. The first is suitable for A-series processors, with already integrated video adapters. The second for the FX-series CPUs that do not have an integrated graphics adapter, but compensate for this with high performance and overclocking potential.
Here is a list of major AMD chipsets:
- A58 And A68H- very similar chipsets that are suitable for a regular office PC. Works best with AMD A4 and A6 processors.
- A78- for multimedia computers (work in office applications, simple manipulations with graphics and video, launching "light" games, surfing the Internet). Most compatible with A6 and A8 CPU.
- 760G- suitable for those who need a computer as a "typewriter with Internet access." Compatible with FX-4.
- 970 - its capabilities are enough to run modern games at minimum and medium settings, professional work with graphics and simple manipulations with video and 3D objects. Compatible with FX-4, Fx-6, FX-8 and FX-9 processors. The most popular chipset for AMD processors.
- 990X And 990FX- an excellent solution for powerful gaming and semi-professional machines. Best compatibility with FX-8 and FX-9 CPUs.
About guarantees
When buying a motherboard, be sure to pay attention to the guarantees provided by the seller. On average, the warranty period can vary from 12 to 36 months. If it is less than the specified range, then it is better to refuse to buy in this store.
The thing is that the motherboard is one of the most fragile components of the computer. And any breakdown of it will certainly lead, at a minimum, to the replacement of this component, the maximum - you will have to think about the complete replacement of a part or all the components that were installed on it. This is equivalent to replacing almost the entire computer. Therefore, in no case can not save on guarantees.
About dimensions
It is also a very important parameter, especially if you are buying a motherboard for a small case. Here is a list and characteristics of the main form factors:
In addition to these form factors, there are others, but they are practically not found on the market for components for home computers.
Processor socket
This is the most important parameter when choosing both a motherboard and a processor. If the sockets of the processor and motherboard are incompatible with each other, then you will not be able to install the CPU. Sockets are constantly undergoing various modifications and changes, so it is recommended to buy models with only the most current modifications so that in the future you can easily replace them.
Sockets from Intel:
- 1151 And 2011-3 - these are the most modern types. If you prefer Intel, then try to buy a processor and motherboard with just such sockets.
- 1150 And 2011 - they are still widely used on the market, but have already begun to become obsolete.
- 1155 , 1156 , 775 And 478 are outdated socket models that are still in use. Recommended for purchase only if there are no other alternatives.
Sockets from AMD:
- AM3+ And FM2+- these are the most modern sockets from the "red".
- AM1, AM2, AM3, FM1 And EM2– are considered either completely obsolete, or are already beginning to become obsolete.
About RAM
Motherboards from the budget segment and / or small form factors have only two slots for installing RAM modules. On boards of standard sizes for desktop computers, there are 4-6 connectors. Motherboards for small cases or laptops have less than 4 slots. For the latter, this solution is more common - a certain amount of RAM is already soldered into the board, and there is one slot nearby in case the user wants to expand the amount of RAM.
RAM is divided into several types, which are referred to as "DDR". The most popular and recommended for today are DDR3 and DDR4. The latter ensures the fastest possible computer performance. Before choosing a motherboard, make sure that it supports these types of RAM.
It is also recommended to take into account the possibility of increasing the amount of RAM by adding new modules. In this case, pay attention not only to the number of slots, but also to the maximum amount in GB. That is, you can buy a board with 6 connectors, but it will not support so many GB of RAM.
It is recommended to pay attention to the range of supported operating frequencies. DDR3 RAM operates at frequencies from 1333 MHz, and DDR4 2133-2400 MHz. Motherboards almost always support these frequencies. It is also important to pay attention to whether the central processor supports them.
If the CPU does not support these frequencies, then buy a card with XMP memory profiles. Otherwise, you can seriously lose in RAM performance.
Place for installing video cards
In medium and high-end motherboards, there may be up to 4 connectors for graphics adapters. On budget models, there are usually 1-2 sockets. In most cases, PCI-E x16 connectors are used. They allow you to ensure maximum compatibility and performance between installed video adapters. The connector has several versions - 2.0, 2.1 and 3.0. The higher the version, the better the performance, but the price is correspondingly higher.
PCI-E x16 slots can also support other expansion cards (such as a Wi-Fi adapter).
About additional fees
Expansion boards are additional devices that can be connected to the motherboard, but which are not critical to the operation of the system. For example, Wi-Fi receiver, TV tuner. For these devices, PCI and PCI-Express slots are used, more about each:
- The first type is rapidly becoming obsolete, but is still used in budget and middle class models. It costs significantly less than its newer counterpart, but device compatibility may suffer. For example, the newest and most powerful Wi-Fi adapter will work worse or not work at all on a given connector. However, this connector has excellent compatibility with many sound cards.
- The second type is newer and has excellent compatibility with other components. They have two variations of connector X1 and X4. The last one is newer. Connector types have almost no effect.
Information about internal connectors
They serve to connect important components to the motherboard inside the case. For example, to power the processor and the board itself, install, drive.
As for the power supply of the motherboard, older models work from a 20-pin power connector, and newer ones from a 24-pin one. Based on this, it is advisable to choose a power supply or select a motherboard for the desired contact. However, it will not be critical if the 24-pin connector is powered by a 20-pin power supply.
The processor is powered according to a similar scheme, only 4- and 8-pin connectors are used instead of 20-24-pin connectors. If you have a powerful processor that requires a lot of power, then it is recommended to buy a board and power supply with 8-pin connectors. If the processor is not too powerful, then you can completely get by with 4-pin connectors.
As for connecting SSD and HDD drives, almost all boards use SATA connectors for this. It is divided into two versions - SATA2 and SATA3. If an SSD drive is connected to the main board, then it is better to buy a model with a SATA3 connector. Otherwise, you won't see good performance from an SSD. Provided that you do not plan to connect an SSD, you can purchase a model with a SATA2 connector, thereby saving a little on the purchase.
Integrated devices
Mother cards can come with already integrated components. For example, some laptop boards come with soldered graphics cards and RAM modules. All motherboards have integrated network and sound cards by default.
If you decide to purchase a processor with a graphics adapter integrated into it, then make sure that the board supports their connection (usually this is written in the specifications). It is also important that external VGA or DVI connectors are integrated into the design, which are needed to connect the monitor.
Pay attention to the built-in sound card. For most users, standard codecs such as ALC8xxx will suffice. If you are planning to engage in video editing and/or sound processing, then it is better to pay attention to boards with an integrated adapter with the ALC1150 codec, because it provides excellent sound, but also costs much more than the standard solution.
A sound card usually has 3 to 6 3.5 mm jacks for connecting audio devices. Sometimes there are models where an optical or coaxial digital audio output is installed, but they are also more expensive. This output is used for professional audio equipment. For normal use of a computer (connecting speakers and headphones), only 3 sockets are enough.
Another component that is integrated into the motherboard by default is the network card responsible for connecting the computer to the Internet. The standard parameters of the network board on many motherboards are a data transfer rate of about 1000 Mb / s and an RJ-45 type network output.
The main manufacturers of network cards are Realtek, Intel and Killer. I use the products of the first in the budget and middle price categories. The latter are more often used in expensive gaming machines, because. provide excellent performance in online games even with a poor network connection.
The number and types of external sockets depend on the internal configuration of the board itself and its price. more expensive models have additional outlets. List of connectors that are most often found:
- USB 3.0 - it is desirable that there be at least two such outputs. A flash drive, mouse and keyboard (more or less modern models) can be connected through it.
- DVI or VGA - available in all boards, because it can be used to connect a computer to a monitor.
- RJ-45 is a mandatory design element. It is used to connect to the Internet. If the computer does not have a Wi-Fi adapter, then this is the only way to connect the machine to the network.
- HDMI - needed to connect a computer to a TV or a modern monitor. DVI alternative.
- Audio jacks - required for connecting speakers and headphones.
- Output for a microphone or an additional headset. Always included in the design.
- Wi-Fi antennas - available only in models with an integrated Wi-Fi module.
- Button for resetting BIOS settings - allows you to quickly reset the BIOS settings to the factory state without disassembling the computer case. Available only on expensive boards.
Power circuits and electronic components
When choosing a motherboard, be sure to pay attention to electronic components, because. they depend on the life of the computer. On cheap models, ordinary electronic capacitors and transistors are installed, without any additional protection. After 2-3 years of service, they may well oxidize and render the entire system unusable. It is better to choose more expensive models, for example, where Japanese or Korean-made solid capacitors are used. Even if they fail, the consequences will not be so catastrophic.
It is very important to pay attention to the power supply scheme of the processor. Distribution of power circuits:
- Low power - used in budget motherboards, have a power of no more than 90 W and no more than 4 power phases. Only low-power processors with low overclocking potential are suitable for them.
- Medium power - have no more than 6 phases and power not exceeding 120 watts. This is enough for all processors from the middle price segment and some from the high one.
- High power - have more than 8 phases, work perfectly with all processors.
When choosing a motherboard for a processor, it is important to pay attention not only to whether the processor is suitable for sockets, but also to the voltage. On the motherboard manufacturer's website, you can immediately see a list of all processors that are compatible with a particular board.
Budget models do not have this system at all, or they have one small radiator that can only cool low-power processors and video cards. Oddly enough, these cards are the least likely to overheat (unless, of course, you overclock the processor too much).
If you are planning to build a good gaming computer, then pay attention to motherboards with massive copper heatsink tubes. However, there is a problem - the size of the cooling system. Sometimes, due to too thick and high pipes, it can be difficult to connect a video card and / or a processor with a cooler for a long time. Therefore, it is necessary to check everything in advance.
When choosing a motherboard, you need to take into account all the information that was indicated in the article. Otherwise, you may encounter various inconveniences and unnecessary expenses (for example, the board does not support a certain component).
