The motherboard, one of the essential components that every computer keeps inside. Whatever their nature, they all use one: larger or smaller, or with different capabilities to support these or other elements which together form the computer as a whole.
What motherboard to choose when buying a new computer? This is the question that surely many will be made, and now we intend to assist with this new special. We talk so much about what you should consider when choosing a motherboard, as the best motherboards that today we can buy to assemble a new PC.
What you should consider?
Dozens of models occupy stores around the world, and curiously are all different from each other. Given the complexity of the features of a motherboard, I will offer a few suggestions to consider and choose the model that best suits your expectations.
Size does matter
Is there any area where size does not matter? With the rise of the SFF or HTPC to play, motherboards are available in a variety of formats to suit these PCs in reduced format.
In Wikipedia, there is a broad comparative where we find all the characteristics of these formats, although it is true that most home plates are ATX format, 30.5×24.4 millimeters, but more and more common “small” – and – micro ATX, of 24.4×24.4 centimeters.
The first thing you should do is define the size of your new computer. Do you want a tower or a tower be? Or maybe a SFF? With these questions you can make a first selection, and continue.
Think about the future
A desktop computer is usually a machine we use for long periods of time, and precisely these teams also tend to be updated periodically. Small improvements are always welcome, and with which we can adapt our computer to new times.
We talked to renew the graphics card or adding more RAM or storage devices. When you buy a motherboard must look to the future, and estimate your refresh rate or do you think you will need in a few years.
This is closely linked to your starting point: if you’re starting with 4 GB of RAM, you may eventually buy another 4 GB, or maybe more. Your motherboard must have enough space for this expansion; the same can happen with storage -related with the number of SATA or available- M.2 ports or graphics card both by the standard PCIe and the number of these ports available, in case you’re thinking of multi graphics mount configurations.
Desktops are highly configurable and scalable, and precisely all these extensions will be connected to the motherboard which, incidentally, is usually the last item to be replaced. If you run short at first, bad business.
Standards
We said before the motherboards are riddled with features that can be really complicated to understand for a novice in the field. Since the motherboard is the component in which all “parts” of the computer, there need to be a set of standards that enable this communication are interconnected.
For example, we have SATA storage, known M.2 or USB (1.1, 2.0, 3.0 or 3.1), along with the full range of RAID available; in the section dedicated graphics, PCI Express 2.0 or 3.0 (X16, X8, X4 …); or much more. Just go to the tab specifications of a motherboard to be surprised with how complex it can become.
The key is knowing what standards are going to take advantage, and which are not. Generally the most versatile in terms of compatibility with components plates are also the most expensive, which is well adapted as possible. And again, as we said in the previous point, look for the future to estimate what we need.
The chipset
We could not leave here without talking about the chipset, the “heart” of the motherboard . Micros manufacturers (mainly Intel and AMD) seasoned the characteristics of their processors with a few options for chipsets with those seeking suit the different requirements of buyers … both technical and economic.
The chipset must be adapted to what you’re going to need, or rather, to use on your computer. For example, in the case of Intel in the last generation Skylake they have 6 chipsets, although it is not easy to find them all on the market.
The most powerful, the Z170 is wonderful for ‘high-end users’, but plenty on all sides to other buyers who, let’s face it, the majority in the market. It is easy to find specialized pages comparing all chipsets and discuss both the possibilities of each as it should fulfill the aim of each buyer.
You may also like to read another article on YellowTube: How the All in One has become the home computer
Selection of the best motherboards
After discussing the main points to consider when buying a new motherboard, we turn to make a selection of the best motherboards that can be found today in the market. A little bit of everything to suit the different uses that can occur.
Gigabyte G1-Gaming Z170X
It has everything, absolutely everything, in a large format (E-ATX) designed for embedding in larger boxes in the market. Gigabyte Z170X-Gaming G1 is characterized as one of the plates higher – end market, with socket LGA 1151, Intel Z170 chipset, 4 sockets DDR4 (up to 3866 MHz.), integrated sound and LAN Ethernet Creative Killer duplicate. It also includes two PCIe 3.0 x16 graphics cards for connecting paths, and two x8 to connect if the budget you would permite- two more.
ASRock Fatal1ty Gaming Z170 K4
Much more restrained, especially in the economic section, is the ASRock Fatal1ty Gaming Z170 K4. Less than 500, and 400, and 300, and … 200 dollars. with a series of features that make it extremely attractive and great quality / price: 4 sockets DDR4 (although there is a model with DDR3, for those who prefer the “vintage”) with two PCIe 3.0 x16, socket 1151 and chipset Z170, Realtek and Killer E2400 Ethernet.
Perhaps in this we cannot ride the most advanced of all the technological landscape equipment, but it is certainly a very attractive to those seeking a excels plate without having to ask a mortgage model.
ASUS H170 PRO GAMING
If you love the game, I watch for the ASUS H170 PRO GAMING. With the H170 and two PCIe 3.0 x16 chipset (you can connect two graphics cards at peak performance), also includes a M.2 for the fastest storage today, as well as four DDR4 DIMM (up to 2133 MHz.) And sound SupremeFX.
For those who do not want to be left the room, they can have it for 124 dollars in PC Components. It will allow them to invest a little more in other components such as the graphics card or processor, while having a plate with a quality / price ratioamong the best.
MSI H170I PRO AC
What overclocking sounds like Chinese, or rather not “jugártela”? Then the H170 chipset is for you, and make use of it the MSI H170I AC PRO is a very cute toy both features and price. Peculiar for its Mini-ITX format, this does not remove that offers support for DDR4 up to 2133 MHz. (Only two sockets, yes), chipset H170, PCIe 3.0 and M.2, along with four SATA 6 Gbps. Not that this is the most scalable in the world, but if you have clear and want to get a tiny PC, have it in mind.
Gigabyte GA-H110M-S2H
There is also room for those who do not want complicated: seeking a simple plate economic base, period. In this case, the Gigabyte GA-H110M-S2H is a very attractive starting point precisely because it offers a number of features like USB 3.0, SATA 6 Gbps, a pair of sockets DDR4 and PCIe 3.0 x16. For the geek of your cousin will fall short; new PC for my grandfather is more than enough.
Asus A88XM-A
Waiting for the new to arrive at AMD we can also highlight some model like the Asus A88XM-A which can be an interesting candidate for equipment away from gaming, or that they are not going to require many hours of play. Standards such as DDR3 recover (4xDIMM), with only one PCIe 3.0 x16, a handful of SATA 6 Gbps, and the addition of USB 3.0 on this model.