We have already introduced readers to the LGA1155 platform (Sandy Bridge processors) and reviewed some interesting motherboards. However, Intel soon recalled all chipsets of revision B2, as an error was discovered in the chips. How critical it really is is described in this material. Motherboard manufacturers have also removed solutions based on LGA1155 from sale. As a result, it was not possible to purchase a new PC base or conduct full comparative testing. Only in mid-March did boards built on the corrected southbridges of revision B3 appear on the domestic market. And now we have collected models for the LGA1155 platform, limiting ourselves to choosing the most striking and characteristic representatives of the product lines of leading vendors, and compared them with each other.

ASUS P8H67-M PRO (REV.3.0)

ASUS P8H67-M PRO (REV.3.0)

Not a bad power subsystem; equipment; detailed BIOS

Unable to unleash the potential of a CPU with the "K" index

Verdict

The product in question is the most functional in the ASUS lineup based on the H67 Express chipset. P8H67-M PRO (Rev.3.0) has a high-quality power subsystem equipped with a radiator. In addition to the usual ones, the rear panel of the board has USB 3.0 and optical S/PDIF connectors. Two full-length PCI-E x16 slots are overkill, since the bottom one operates at x4 speed.

Among the interesting innovations of ASUS, we highlight MemOK! – a technology that “expands” the compatibility of DDR3 RAM modules with the platform. The EFI-BIOS of this model is easy to navigate for both beginners and professionals. For the latter there is an extensive supply of settings. The only disappointing thing is the inability of the P8H67-M PRO (Rev.3.0) to reveal the potential of a CPU with the “K” index due to the peculiarities of the logic set used. Otherwise, this is an excellent board for assembling a functional PC, including NTRS.

ASUS P8P67 Deluxe (REV.3.0)

ASUS P8P67 Deluxe (REV.3.0)

Equipment and functionality; powerful power subsystem; overclocking capabilities; execution; contents of delivery

Verdict

The top-end motherboard from ASUS impresses with its equipment and capabilities. The first thing that attracts attention is the powerful power subsystem, covered with massive radiators. Almost all the space on the rear panel is devoted to interface connectors. Among the atypical elements of the device, we highlight the built-in Bluetooth receiver. The P8P67 Deluxe (REV.3.0) comes with a block that allows you to bring high-speed USB 3.0 ports to the front panel of the case.

This model demonstrates excellent overclocking results. The process of forcing the system should be simplified by control buttons wired to the RSV, and the ability to manually configure operating modes of energy-saving technologies.

If you do not need an extended configuration of graphics slots (x16+x8+x8 and more), the ASUS P8P67 Deluxe (REV.3.0) will be an excellent choice for creating a high-end PC.

ASUS SABERTOOTH P67 (REV.3.0)

Impressive design; overclocking capabilities; power subsystem and radiators

A bit expensive

Verdict

The ASUS TUF (The Ultimate Force) line of motherboards has always stood out for its extravagant design. However, SABERTOOTH P67 in this regard significantly surpasses its predecessors: its RSV is almost completely covered with a perforated decorative overlay. The user has access exclusively to functional connectors and ports. Below the processor socket there is a mounting hole into which you can install a small-sized fan and thus, according to the company’s engineers, improve the thermal performance of the components.

You have to pay for an exclusive - therefore, despite the more modest functionality compared to the Deluxe version and the absence of control buttons on the RSV, the model in question is not cheap. However, she will definitely find her fans.

Gigabyte GA-H67MA-UD2H-B3

Gigabyte GA-H67MA-UD2H-B3

Functionality; power subsystem; radiators; excellent overclocking capabilities (except for increasing the CPU multiplier)

Not detected

Verdict

The Gigabyte GA-H67MA-UD2H-B3 looks more like a device for enthusiasts than the basis of a productive multimedia PC. In addition to traditional USB 3.0 ports, the rear panel includes eSATA and a very rare feature for H67-based boards, Express DisplayPort. A powerful power subsystem and a functional BIOS will appeal to those who want to experiment with overclocking via BCLK - here the product in question has something to boast about. The heating of the GA-H67MA-UD2H-B3 turned out to be quite low, but it’s worth paying attention to the heatsinks: they are very flexible, since the contact area with the power transistors is small, and the thermal pad makes its contribution. Therefore, be careful when installing large CPU coolers.

Considering the maximum equipment of the board in question, its cost is quite justified.

Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3-B3

Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3-B3

Overclocking capabilities; power subsystem

BIOS Features; more expensive than competing solutions

Verdict

This product turned out to be very ascetic. GA-P67A-UD3-B3 aims for the mid-level segment, so it is noteworthy that at first glance the power subsystem of the GA-H67MA-UD2H-B3 multimedia board is better designed. However, this one is also good, and the overclocking capabilities of the solution in question are excellent. However, enthusiasts may be clouded by the behavior of the device after changing the settings in the BIOS - a triple restart is not uncommon for this model, and if the algorithm of actions is incorrect, it is not at all impossible for the system to freeze during the POST procedure. This feature is typical for all the manufacturer's products based on the P67 Express.

Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3-B3 is the basic motherboard in the line. It is quite well equipped, but if you compare the positioning and the final cost, it turns out that competing solutions of a similar class are slightly cheaper.

Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD7-B3

Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD7-B3

Equipment; bright design; overclocking capabilities; graphics slot configuration

Price; BIOS features

Verdict

The updated line of top-end Gigabyte motherboards turned out to be very attractive: the color combination and design of the radiators will not leave anyone indifferent. The functional equipment of the model also claims to be a record. In addition to the elements standard for high-level solutions, the RSV has an NF200 bridge, which allows you to combine several graphics adapters into a PC without compromising the final performance of the connections. The GA-P67A-UD7-B3 demonstrates excellent overclocking results, but it is characterized by the same behavioral features that we noted in the P67A-UD3-B3.

Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD7-B3 is the most expensive board for the LGA1155 platform on the market. However, this did not stop her from receiving the award.

MSI P67A-C43 (B3)

MSI P67A-C43 (B3)

Price; equipment; overclocking capabilities

Verdict

The P67A-C43 (B3) board is one of the most affordable on the market among models based on the P67 Express chipset. However, this did not particularly affect the functionality of the product: the rear panel is replete with connectors, the potential of the power subsystem is enough to overclock the CPU to 5 GHz and higher. The engineers took the trouble to install several LEDs on the RSV that indicate the operating mode of the PC. Just one PCI-Express x16 slot is unlikely to confuse anyone today, and the absence of heatsinks around the processor socket is not critical.

It’s nice that in addition to the standard elements of the delivery set, the box of this model contains connectors that simplify the connection of body connectors. Unlike its close relative, P67S-C43 (B3), this board has USB 3.0 support. Thanks to its balanced set of characteristics, it rightfully deserved the award.

MSI P67A-GD55 (B3)

MSI P67A-GD55 (B3)

Equipment; control buttons on RSV; detailed BIOS; high quality PWM

Not detected

Verdict

Unlike its predecessor, this model looks much more solid: the transistors of the power subsystem are covered with radiators, the Power and Reset buttons are wired to the RSV, and Clear CMOS is located on the rear panel. In addition to the now traditional USB 3.0 ports, the P67A-GD55 (B3) is equipped with an IEEE 1394 interface, coaxial and digital outputs.

The configuration of PCI-E x16 slots allows you to create dual-adapter graphics configurations based on this solution.

The board in question has good system overclocking capabilities and demonstrated good results.

It’s hard to find fault with the MSI P67A-GD55 (B3), and products of the same class from competing companies are often more expensive. Therefore, it will be a good option for building a productive PC.

MSI H61M-E33 (B3)

MSI H61M-E33 (B3)

Cost; presence of all video outputs on the rear panel

Basic functionality

Verdict

This product is the most affordable of those considered in the test, so it is difficult to demand outstanding overclocking capabilities and rich equipment from it. The attractive price is due to the use of the H61 Express chipset.

MSI H61M-E33 (B3) has a good power subsystem. The absence of radiators in the case of Sandy Bridge is not critical, because the transistors heat up weakly. All modern video interfaces are installed on the board, so you can build an inexpensive NTRS on its basis. The lack of USB ports on the rear panel (there are only two) will have to be compensated for by case connectors. The PCI slot is connected to the chipset via a bridge adapter. Judging by the empty seats for additional controllers, a more progressive board model will be built on the basis of the same RSV.

MSI Big Bang-Marshal (B3)

MSI Big Bang-Marshal (B3)

Excellent power subsystem; control buttons; DashBoard

No PCI; in some cases – reduced performance of video cards

Verdict

The top motherboard of the Big Bang series is a continuation of the line of products for enthusiasts. However, unlike the X58-based solution, there are several questions about it. Marshal is made on an enlarged PCB (EATX), equipped with a powerful power subsystem and in terms of control capabilities (buttons on the board, indicators, etc.) and overclocking it has no equal among models for the LGA1155 platform. However, not all of the eight full-size PCI-Express slots can operate at at least “half” x8 speed. Because they are connected via the Lucid Hydra switch chip, the graphics performance of Marshal-based PCs is sometimes slower than that of competing devices. The difference for the average user is insignificant, but for the target audience - overclockers - the lag in certain video tests is critical.

LGA1155 boards based on B2 and B3 chipsets - what is the difference?

The announcement of Sandy Bridge processors and the first tests of the platform demonstrated its significant advantage over its predecessors. Progressive representatives of the IT community have traditionally started upgrading their PCs. And everything would be fine if not for one thing. Intel Corporation in February disseminated information according to which an error was discovered in the south bridges of LGA1155 motherboards. According to the statement, after a fairly long period of time (1–2 years) it can lead to failure of the SATA II interface and devices connected to the corresponding ports (hard drives, optical drives, etc.). This message caused a lot of noise. Almost all motherboard manufacturers have withdrawn from sale their own solutions based on chipsets of the second revision, promising to soon bring to market updated models with B3 stepping chips. Many users, especially those who rushed to upgrade, were taken by surprise by such information.

However, it’s not for nothing that we highlighted the word “may” - the scenario indicated by Intel is not at all necessary. In addition, the problem does not affect SATA II and SATA 3.0 interfaces implemented using controllers from third-party manufacturers! Therefore, almost all market players have developed recommendations on how to protect themselves from possible surprises, and even released simple utilities that tell you which ports SATA devices are connected to and whether they need to be switched. Considering that the vast majority of motherboards for Sandy Bridge are equipped with the mentioned controllers, and many users today make do with one or two hard drives - in our opinion, everything is not so scary.

Motherboards based on revision B3 chipsets are highlighted by manufacturers in every possible way.
This is facilitated by the B3 suffix in the name, stickers on product packaging, and information in BIOS identifiers.

Currently, the market sells devices exclusively based on revision B3 chipsets. It is quite easy to distinguish them - all companies decorated the boxes of their products with appropriate stickers and indicators, and many added the suffix “B3” to the names of the updated models. We did not find any other improvements on boards of the same family that were reviewed by the Home PC editors.

Is it worth changing the solution with chipset version B2 to B3? Manufacturers promised to do this under a warranty program, but we are not sure whether it makes sense.

By the way, the remains of devices based on revision B2 chipsets are today sold cheaper than their updated counterparts. The difference is on average $10–20, which may make some users wonder whether to save money (especially if the PC has few drives installed that can be connected to ports implemented through additional controllers) or not.

Parade of chipsets for LGA1155

Even during the announcement of Sandy Bridge, Intel announced its intention to bring to the market five sets of system logic for LGA1155 processors. The first to conquer store windows were boards based on the P67 and H67 southbridges. The fundamental difference between them is the possibility of overclocking processors with index “K” with a multiplier on the former and the implementation of the functions of graphics built into the CPU on the latter. Today, solutions based on the H61 Express are appearing on the market, which I would like to dwell on in more detail. On the one hand, this chipset is capable of satisfying most of the requests put forward to a mass-produced PC; on the other hand, if you have additional requirements for the disk subsystem, it is better to immediately look at models that use more advanced south bridges. H61 is an entry-level chip (or, in fact, a simplified version of H67), so products based on it are affordable. Among the functional features, we note that the Intel H61 does not have built-in SATA 3.0 ports and support for RAID arrays. In addition, it has only six PCI Express 2.0 lanes, and the number of USB 2.0 connectors has been reduced from 14 to 10. It is unlikely that any manufacturer will massively equip budget solutions with USB 3.0 controllers. In addition, the user will not be able to enable the Advanced Mode feature of AHCI disk drives. To route the PCI slot on the boards, a special adapter bridge is used.

More interesting to enthusiasts will be the Z68 Express chipset, which actually combines the capabilities of the P67 for overclocking the CPU and the video interfaces of the H67 for using integrated processor graphics. This set of system logic is notable for two functions that are missing in the current flagship P67. Quick Sync will allow you to effectively precode video using the CPU (and this is one of the trump cards of Sandy Bridge). To use the technology, you will have to connect the monitor to the video outputs of the motherboard, but the user will nevertheless have access to all the resources of discrete graphics. Another interesting feature of the Z68 is SSD caching, which makes it possible to create a fairly fast disk subsystem based on a small solid-state drive and a traditional HDD. In this case, the SSD will be used in a non-standard way - as a capacious flash buffer for caching information. We will return to a detailed description of these technologies when the corresponding motherboards enter the market. Products based on the Z68 Express should hit the market in the next few months, and they will surely find a home in the high-end segment.

Characteristics of Intel chipsets

Chipset	Z68	P67	H67	H61
PCI-E lines, pcs.	8	8	8	6
USB 2.0 ports, pcs.	14	14	14	10
SATA 6 Gb/s ports, pcs.	2	2	2	0
SATA 3 Gb/s ports, pcs.	4	4	4	4
Intel Rapid Storage Technology RAID 0/1/5/10	+	+	+	—
AHCI	+	+	+	—
Integrated graphics support	+	—	+	+
RAM modules, pcs.	4	4	4	2

Testing methodology

The products under consideration are built on system logic sets, which are actually south bridges. The traditional features of motherboard chipsets are now integrated into the processor. Therefore, it would be too optimistic to expect at least some difference in the performance of PCs assembled based on the solutions presented in the material. However, with one exception, which we mentioned.

K-series CPUs can be overclocked by increasing the multiplier, but this option is only available on boards using the P67 Express chip. Overclocking Sandy Bridge at its base frequency (BCLK) is very difficult, but it is not impossible, so we examined the potential of the boards in this area. When assigning the final rating, we paid attention to the functionality, ease of use of the products, and the operating features of the RAM subsystem.

As an interesting addition, we present the temperature indicators of the power subsystem of each board. We shot them during idle periods - with the PC turned on and idle, and during a long load - the wPrime 1024m test running in four-thread mode. The temperature of the power subsystem elements was measured with a pyrometer (non-contact thermometer with an infrared sensor). The diagram shows the maximum values. During such measurements, the cooler was always positioned so that the air flow created by the fan moved in the direction of the connectors on the rear panels.

conclusions

Intel and its partners did an honorable job of replacing problematic motherboards with models with an updated revision of the south bridges. However, the error mentioned by the chipmaker is not as critical as it might seem at first glance, so owners of older products should not worry too much. Although the costs incurred need to be compensated somehow - if you noticed, today on the market motherboards with B3 series chipsets are on average $10–20 more expensive than similar solutions based on B2 revision chips. There are often no other differences between devices.

As for the products discussed in this material, I would like to highlight the appearance on sale of models built on the Intel H61 Express. They lack a number of functions inherent in boards based on the H67; they are simpler to equip, but also cost less. Solutions like the MSI H61M-E33 (B3) can fully satisfy the needs of the owner of an average inexpensive PC.

Based on the results of testing motherboards for the LGA1155 platform, it is difficult to clearly give preference to the products of any manufacturer. Gigabyte models, for example, suffer from repeated reboots after changing settings in the BIOS, but they attracted enthusiasts because they demonstrate a slight advantage over competing solutions in specialized tests like 3DMark2001 SE. With MSI everything is either too simple or, on the contrary, complicated, and on devices from this company it is possible to maximize the potential of the RAM only with the help of specialized utilities for fine-tuning the system. Against this background, ASUS developments, it seems to us, look the most balanced and demonstrate good performance during operation.

The most affordable model based on the P67 Express chipset among those reviewed is MSI P67A-C43 (B3). It claims to be a leader in the market in terms of price, but at the same time it is also very well equipped, so it deservedly receives the award "Editor's Choice: Best Buy". We chose the nominee for the most honorable title between ASUS P8P67 Deluxe And Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD7-B3. They have approximately similar equipment, but the first one has a more balanced price. The second offers expanded capabilities for creating multi-adapter graphics configurations, boasts a bright and memorable design, but at the same time is the most expensive motherboard for the LGA1155 platform available on the market. As a result, we decided that the reward "Editor's Choice: Best Quality" deserve both fees.

Andrey T. 22.07.2019

Pros: Nice price. Fast delivery within the specified time frame.
Cons: None.

middle 20.07.2019

Pros: I was looking for a battery for an old phone for a long time, but couldn’t find it anywhere. Luckily, I was able to find a rare model in this store.
Review: Thank you!

Roman S. 19.07.2019

Pros: Clarity and speed
Cons: no sign on the front of the pick-up point
Review: overall impression is positive

Bratsk Print 18.07.2019

Promptly processed the application and the fastest delivery))))

Stepan H. 17.07.2019

Pros: Very good store I couldn’t find a battery for my smartphone for a long time. I accidentally saw the Sidex website on the Internet, placed an order, they called me back in 30 minutes, the battery was exactly what I needed. The order arrived in 3 days. An SMS informed me about the delivery. Everything that I received. For this Thanks a lot!!!
Cons: none
Review: You have a very good store. Use its services. I recommend it to everyone.

Pavel Senyakin 17.07.2019

Pros: Not far from the metro, easy to get to on foot or by car. The time it took to receive my order was four minutes (I was in the store for seven minutes). Free delivery is possible with special order configurations. Informing via SMS and e-mail about the status of the order and the route/access route. Polite staff, no imposition of additional accessories. When asked about providing a cash receipt, they immediately printed it and issued it without any questions.
Cons: A significant drawback is the incorrect indication of the price of the product (a “fraudulent” scheme, often used to display it at the top of the list when sorting by price - at the “price in the online store” indicated on the website, the product can only be received with free delivery, in any other In case of self-pickup or paid delivery, the cost will be higher). The client receives information about the price only after placing an order via SMS message - SIDEX, this is your unpleasant surprise to your customers. The cost increases by about 10% (for example, in my order - by 335 rubles). By default, a cash receipt is not issued. Minor shortcomings - uninformative description of the product and its configuration on the website.
Feedback: The decision to finally become a client of SIDEX after being scammed with the price of the goods was made solely because of the lack of time to register the goods with competitors and travel to them. It is unlikely that I will buy anything else from SIDEX. For the review, they promised to put money on the phone, let's see how it works (addition: no way).

Ruslan Sh. 16.07.2019

Nice store with reasonable prices

Sergey 15.07.2019

I bought it for the first time. Thanks for the discount - it turned out to be 1000 rubles cheaper. I paid for the purchase upon receipt. It arrived through PEC in four days. Thanks to the site.

Alex 14.07.2019

Pros: The price is the lowest, and unlike other stores with low prices, they do not overcharge on delivery to the pickup point. Convenient pick up at the center.
Cons: The delivery of goods to the pickup point was postponed several times.
Feedback: Constantly informed about the status of the order, convenient.

Svetomysl G. 13.07.2019

Pros: Large selection of pickup sites.
Cons: The battery only lasts for half a day, but apparently this is a problem with the phone. When replacing the old battery, I accidentally pierced it, it was glued too tightly with double-sided tape. As a result, it exploded and flew out, the phone was charred, the screen became streaky, but it worked.
Review: The design is of course so-so, but the store works and performs its functions.

leo l. 13.07.2019

Pros: Good assortment
Normal order processing service
Very good, competitive prices (the main advantage!)
Cons: so-so system for informing about the progress of the order (via SMS)
Review: First time ordering from this store. And even with prepayment. It was scary to send money in advance, but the price was good, and the reputation according to reviews was also normal. Before the order was paid, an SMS was sent: pay for the order. As soon as I paid - that’s it, they forgot about me (= No SMS, no call... I called myself, they finally confirmed that the payment had arrived and would be waiting soon. Another day of silence and SMS started pouring in about the stages of sending the order by courier. The courier, by the way, arrived BEFORE the arrival of an SMS that the courier will arrive, his phone number is so and so. So everything is fine, thank you for the order, although you made me nervous. (=

Name hidden 12.07.2019

Pros: I ordered xiaomi audio receiver. In many stores it is listed as a product, but almost nowhere is it in stock. Apparently not the most popular product. At the same time, it was here and cost a little more than on the official website
Cons: In addition to paying for the product itself and delivery, they very persistently offer to pack it in a “hard box” and receive SMS notifications about the status of the order, not for free of course. SMS notifications about the status of the order were not that expensive, so I paid extra for this service, but it simply did not work at all. The manager, who called me to clarify the order, for some reason immediately added to the cost that very “hard box”, the addition of which I did not order on the website.
Review: I think it’s convenient that they deliver to the post office

Igor P. 12.07.2019

Pros: Great packaging. Fast order dispatch. SMS notification about cargo movement.
Great service! I recommend!
Cons: Expensive shipping by Russian Post!
Review: I ordered the lamp on the website https://site
The lamp is of excellent quality. Everything corresponds to the description. I was very pleased with this product.

Montigomo 11.07.2019

Pros: Quite fast delivery (Russian region). From ordering payment to receipt two days.
Cons: This is not even a disadvantage, but a subjective one - the site design is a little peculiar.
Review: In a nutshell, I liked it.

Anatoly E. 11.07.2019

Pros: It arrived what I ordered
Cons: Communication between consultants

Each user has their own opinion about where a computer starts. Some people prefer to build a system “around” the monitor, selecting components in such a way that they provide comfortable performance at the desired screen resolution. Some people prioritize the performance of a video card, choosing first the desired model of graphics accelerator, and then a power supply of suitable power and a case with sufficient cooling. Finally, for some, the highest speed of data processing is most important, and the computer is essentially assembled around a central processor and a pair of RAID arrays of SSDs and hard drives.

But when the user has already decided on the model of the most priority devices, he has to choose something that will allow them to be assembled into a single system that corresponds to the user’s initial ideas about the appearance and characteristics of the PC.

And, as you may have guessed, today we will talk about choosing a motherboard.

What you shouldn't pay attention to when choosing.

Board manufacturer.

A very large number of companies are engaged in the design and production of motherboards, and not all of them are represented in the DNS assortment. Moreover, the most famous vendors are already familiar to you from video cards and other computer components. ASUS, Gigabyte And MSI- the “big three”, from whose products users most often have to choose.

The paradox is that system performance in games does not depend on the motherboard. At all. The effectiveness of overclocking the central processor may depend on it, if such a function is available - this is a separate conversation. But if we exclude overclocking from attention, the same set of processor, video card and two to four memory sticks will produce the same performance when installed in a top-end motherboard or in one of the lower-end models.

Why? Because they determine gaming performance.

Recommendation #2: If you are planning to overclock a processor, pay attention to the number of phases in the board's power supply system, its cooling efficiency, voltage stability during overclocking, and BIOS capabilities. Yes, you cannot do without thoughtful and lengthy reading of reviews, but the result of your choice can also please you a lot. Again, these characteristics have nothing to do with the board’s positioning as “gaming/non-gaming” or even its price tag.

If overclocking is not planned at all, choose a board based on the characteristics that are more important to you: the number and type of peripheral connectors, the number of slots for memory modules, form factor, connectors for connecting case fans, and so on.

What is REALLY important for you to keep in mind.

Board form factor

It would seem that this is not the most serious aspect, but it is better to start with it. Agree, it’s not much fun if you choose the most suitable board, but it simply won’t fit into the case?

In addition, thanks to various motherboard standards, a personal computer today can be built in anything. There is no need to buy a bulky midi-tower case if you need a compact system that will fit in a desk niche. And it’s not at all necessary to place such a “box” next to the TV, if compact motherboards of mini-ITX or mini-STX formats can be “housed” in a small low-profile case, stylized as a multimedia player!

And don’t think that small systems always mean limited performance. Today, you can assemble a powerful gaming system in a compact case, and thanks to modern cases, coolers and the energy efficiency of current processors, it is not even in danger of overheating.

But let's get back to the point. So, what form factors of motherboards are presented in the DNS catalog?

Recommendation #5: The chipset does not affect performance, but as a rule, it allows you to clearly determine the positioning and functionality of the board. If you are not considering overclocking the processor, there is no point in chasing top models. Moreover, we are talking here not only about Intel platforms - for normal operation of AMD Ryzen processors and Bristol Ridge/Raven Ridge APUs, boards based on the budget AMD A320 chipset are enough.

However, if you plan to overclock the processor, connect a lot of high-speed peripherals, or build SLI/Crossfire systems, you should pay attention to older chipset models. In addition, since top-end motherboards are traditionally characterized by the best equipment, there is a chance that you will find among them models with built-in wi-fi and bluetooth modules, as well as other things useful to you.

CPU compatibility

Generally, if the motherboard and processor share the same socket, it means they are compatible. However, there are exceptions to every rule. So, not every LGA 775 board supports Wolfdale and Yorkfield processors, not every AM3+ socket board supports Piledriver processors, and not every LGA 1155 board supports Ivy Bridge processors without additional manipulations, and so on.

Recommendation #6: Before you go to the store to buy a new motherboard, visit the page for this model on the manufacturer's website and look at the list of compatible processors. It's completely easy and doesn't even take much time. But returning the board to the store or updating the BIOS at the service center will take time. Moreover, the BIOS update service at the service center is paid. And does it make sense to pay for it if the same money could simply be added to the budget and bought a more suitable motherboard?

Number of memory slots

RAM is an element of the PC that you can ignore for a long time, until one fine moment it is no longer enough. And it’s very good if at this moment you have the opportunity to increase the amount of memory. After all, if your PC has free slots, you just need to purchase the appropriate number of modules and continue to use the computer.

But if all the slots are occupied, you will have to sell the existing memory sticks, losing in price, and then buy larger capacity sticks, which in total will cost much more money, and will also take a lot of time... but you must admit, time can be spent with much more more benefit!

Recommendation #7: Save money by buying the entire motherboard with two RAM slots, it’s worth it only when you are firmly convinced that the PC should survive as long as possible without an upgrade and be replaced entirely. Otherwise, you will end up in the situation described above and make a hole in the family budget.

The "gold standard" in this regard is board with 4 memory slots. So, if you build a PC with two memory sticks of 8 gigabytes each, then in the future, if there is a lack of memory, it will be enough to just add two more sticks of 8 gigabytes each, which will be quite affordable.

8-slot boards Memory, as expected, belongs to the LGA 2011 and LGA 2011-3 platforms. With them everything is simpler: there the amount of memory is determined by the tasks for which the system is assembled, and is used immediately and completely.

Number of interface connectors

Since, when assembling a PC, you already have a rough idea of ​​what components and how many peripherals you will use, it is worth ensuring that the board allows you to connect everything you need without a clutter of adapters and splitters. It only seems at first that you can save money here, but in reality all sorts of USB hubs, external adapters and other extraneous parts make life very difficult.

So, what is desirable to provide?

Number and type of USB connectors on the rear panel. You shouldn’t get carried away here, especially since these ports are used primarily to connect a keyboard, mouse, graphics tablet and other stationary peripherals. Nevertheless, it is advisable to have at least four, and preferably six, connectors of the appropriate type on the back of the PC.

It is also advisable that at least two of which belonged to the 3.0 standard - high-speed peripherals such as portable hard drives will thank you.

Not necessary, but it wouldn’t hurt to availability of USB 3.1 ports. Today this is exotic, but in the foreseeable future the standard has every chance of becoming ubiquitous, so why not provide for it right away?

Having chosen a board that seems suitable at first glance, ask on the manufacturer’s website or in the “” service on the DNS website whether it has the ability to output USB ports to the front panel of the case. This doesn’t seem to be the most important thing to you now, but believe me, you will get tired of moving the system unit from place to place to connect a flash drive or cable from a camera/smartphone to the port on the back very quickly. And extension cords are just extra clutter on the desk. And besides, they love to fall at this very table.

It is also important to pay attention to the number and type of SATA connectors. You should pay attention to boards that support the currently fastest version - SATA 6 Gb/s. This will not require overpayment - connectors of this type are found even on completely budget devices. But one or two This type of connector will have a very good effect on the speed of the SSD.

Availability of type connectors SATA Express not necessary today, but it will be a good start for the future, when high-speed SSDs with such a connector become more widespread.

In some cases, a good bonus will be the presence built-in wi-fi adapter. For multimedia PCs living in the living room under the TV, this is practically a necessity, and for a large drawer with a separate table it may not be superfluous. Still, with the spread of smartphones and tablets, local networks in houses and apartments are most often implemented via wi-fi: it is more convenient to install one router / access point to which all devices will connect at once, than to make holes in the walls by laying a cable.

Most owners are satisfied with a very simple audio system, but if you have something other than the “two speakers, one subwoofer” setup in your home, pay attention to this point as well. Boards that allow you to connect surround sound systems like 5.1 or 7.1 , can seriously improve the sound in movies and games. Although the most demanding audiophiles, of course, cannot do without a discrete sound card.

If we are talking about discrete adapters, immediately evaluate the number, type and location of PCI-express slots. There is no secret here - everything is visible in the photographs of the product. Sufficient for a gaming PC in most cases one x16 connector, since one top-end video card is more than enough for games at current resolutions. Boards with two x16 slots are needed if you plan to build SLI/Crossfire, but here you need to make sure that the slots can operate in the “8+8” or “16+16 lines” mode. In the "16+4" mode, SLI simply will not work, and the gameplay when using the "inferior" Crossfire will be far from comfortable.

Boards with three or more PCI-e x16 slots are necessary only if you use any rare and highly specialized expansion cards. Installing more than two video cards into the system makes no sense. In addition, in the latest generations (GeForce 1000) of video cards, even Nvidia officially abandoned support for SLI from more than two accelerators (or rather, support for 3-way SLI is in benchmarks, and in several games it is enabled unofficially...).

It would be more useful to have it on the board PCI-e x1 slots: if you need an alternative sound or network card, or a discrete controller for any interfaces that are not on the motherboard, most likely these devices will use the x1 interface.

Legacy support PCI interface Today it is not necessary for an ordinary PC, but if you use some rare controllers or expansion cards in your work, it is worth considering it.

In addition, you should evaluate the number of connectors for connecting case fans. Of course, today's hardware has a predominantly calm disposition; you will no longer find real stoves among video cards and processors. And yet, it would be nice if the board allowed you to connect all cabinet turntables and control their speed without unnecessary adapters and reo-bass.

Recommendation #8: Of course, sometimes savings are at the forefront, and at many points you have to turn a blind eye just to assemble a PC faster and stay within the budget. And yet, the better equipped your motherboard is, the more convenient it will be to operate your PC. Moreover, again, it is not necessary to take exactly the top versions - sometimes even budget models can offer an interesting set of interfaces and connectors, you just need to carefully choose.

Overclocking options

If you are considering a motherboard for a platform that allows you to overclock central processors, you will agree that it would be nice to choose one that will allow you to achieve higher values ​​and, as a result, get O better performance. A little careful analysis in this case can pay off many times over, but neglect of information can, on the contrary, lead to useless expenses.

Recommendation #9: When choosing an “overclocking” motherboard, focus primarily on reviews on reputable resources. Of course, you should remember that in overclocking everything depends on the capabilities of a particular processor instance, but if several authors on several sources have one board that allows you to achieve a higher frequency than its analogues, this is a clear signal to buy.

Criteria and selection options:

According to the above, motherboards from the DNS directory can be ranked as follows:

For a nettop in a custom case, a home file server, a CarPC or an entry-level multimedia PC, mini-ITX motherboards are suitable for socket AM1, or options with soldered on the board AMD or Intel processors. You shouldn't expect enormous computing performance from these platforms, but they solve simple tasks easily and without wasting energy.

For a home multimedia PC that lives in the living room and masquerades as a VCR or stereo system, these are best suited compact boards for AM4 socket, having digital interfaces for video output. APUs are much more preferable for these tasks than a combination of a CPU and a discrete video card: when the processor and video live under the same cover, the computer can be made smaller and the heating will be lower. The latter is even more important for a compact system than for a gaming machine.

Whether your PC will become an office tool, a universal home assistant, a top-end gaming machine or a workstation for a reasonable price depends primarily on the processor you choose. But you need to choose from two options: either socket AM4, or LGA 1151_v2. At the same time, for a gaming machine you should pay attention first of all to boards that support processor overclocking- the opportunity to add speed to the system will not be superfluous.

For a purely office PC, probably a more suitable choice would be budget boards based on LGA 1151_v2, which do not support overclocking, but have video outputs for the graphics built into the processor. For obvious reasons, discrete video cards are not needed in most office workstations, and the graphics in the APU for the AM4 socket are too powerful for these purposes.

For a top-end workstation you will have to choose a motherboard either socket TR4, or under LGA 2066. The choice in this case will be determined only by which of the platforms will perform better in professional tasks, while the functionality and equipment of the boards themselves belonging to the top segment are at an approximately comparable level.

I think everyone knows that the motherboard is considered the connecting link in the design of the system unit. Therefore, some criteria need to be taken into account. You can learn how to choose the right inexpensive and good motherboard from this article. Or watch a special video that I have selected for you. Here is a summary of the article below:

• Main Components
• How to choose a motherboard manufacturer
• Form factor selection
• Chipset selection
• PCI-Express and memory slot
• External connectors
• Supporting Features

Video instructions on how to choose a motherboard

Main Components

To better understand its structure, I propose to consider its structure using a specific example. As a sample, let's take one of the highest quality models - Sapphire Pure Z77K. Of course, in order to examine in detail the main elements of the part, you can take any model. But we will focus on this one.

In the picture, the numbers indicate not only the main components of the motherboard, but also elements that are characteristic only of overclocking options.

• Number (1) indicates the processor socket, which is the main element of the device. It is important to ensure that the processor socket is absolutely compatible with the socket. The number (0) indicates a “double” radiator, which is responsible for the elements of the power converters of the built-in graphics core, processor and CPU VTT, namely for their cooling. Such radiators are found only in motherboards for overclocking. On ordinary ones there is no cooling element at all.
• The number (2) indicates PCI-Express slots. The printed circuit board contains three such X16 slots version 3.0. Such connectors are needed to install one or more video cards. The older version of the slot - 2.0 is numbered (3).
• The number (14) indicates PCI-E X1 slots. They are intended for installation of devices that require large bus bandwidth. One X1 line is enough for this. Examples of such devices are TV tuners, various controllers, audio and others.
• Number (4) is the chipset. It is located behind the cooling radiator. Connectors numbered (5) are needed for installing DDR3 RAM. They are usually painted black or blue. The slots are designed for installing memory modules, which significantly increases operating efficiency. Number (6) is the CMOS battery that powers the BIOS CMOS memory chip. This way the chip does not lose its settings after the computer turns off.
• (8) and (12) are 24-pin and 8-pin connectors. The first is the main 24-pin power connector. It is through it that most of the components are powered.
• Numbers (9) and (10) indicate SATA 3 (6 Gb/s) and SATA 2 connectors. They are located on its edge and are intended for connecting devices on the side for stands. Manufactured in the style of an overclocking connector. The SATA 2 connector is needed to connect a hard drive, drives and various SSD drives. Conventional models contain connectors located at the front and offset to the center. Therefore, it is convenient to use them within the system unit of a “non-overclocking” system.
• The number (11) indicates a non-standard element - a POST code indicator. It shows the processor temperature, but with slight inaccuracies.

• The rear panel with external connectors is shown as number (13). This panel has connectors that are needed to connect various peripherals, keyboard, mouse, headphones, speakers and many other add-ons.

So we have dealt with the main components, now we will analyze the individual blocks, and also consider the parameters that need to be taken into account when purchasing.

Which company to choose a motherboard

With this choice, oddly enough, it is not necessary to take into account its performance. You need to rely on trust in the manufacturer. The most famous companies are MSI, Gigabyte, Biostar, Intel, ASRock and Asus. And the sample that we are considering today is also worthy of attention. It happens that some models have an inconvenient layout or the supplied kit from a particular manufacturer is not wide enough. There are still flaws that some users would not like to see. But such shortcomings do not give grounds to write off motherboard manufacturers. Ultimately, their equipment from all manufacturers is not always the same, so it is impossible to say which company to choose or which is the best.

My advice to you is to take this one:

• which suits you at a price
• convenient location
• with good reviews on major portals

Chipsets come from AMD and Intel, so the functions of the devices are very similar. The only thing worth noting is reviews from real customers and detailed reviews of motherboards. This way you can at least somehow decide on the variety of products.

Form factor selection

A properly selected form factor will help avoid many problems in the future. Most popular form factors:

• ATX - full size
• Micro-ATX - stripped down version

The form factor determines the future expandability of the system. Micro-ATX usually has a small number of PCI-E and PCI expansion slots for video cards and other devices. Often such models are equipped with only two slots for installing memory modules. This fact greatly limits the expandability of RAM. And not only in terms of quantity, but also in terms of convenience. The main advantage of Micro-ATX is its low price. Choosing from two standards, we can safely say that Micro-ATX is a budget option for office and home systems.

The size of the board is also very important. The ATX form factor is larger in size. It is necessary to take into account the compatibility of the case and motherboard in size!

How to decide on the motherboard socket

After choosing a processor, you need to choose the right motherboard. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the socket. It is this that ensures compatibility between the motherboard and processor. So, for a processor with an LGA 1155 socket, only an LGA 1155 motherboard is suitable. Supported sockets and the processor can be found on the official websites of the manufacturers, but for AMD it is AM3 or AM3+.

Chipset selection

The chipset is the connecting link between the entire system. This component largely determines the capabilities of the motherboard. It has always been believed that a chipset is a set of system logic chips consisting of a south and north bridge. But now the ideas are a little different.

Particularly popular chipsets are the seventh series of Intel and the 900th AMD. Nvidia is famous for its small range of chipsets, but no less popular.

Intel's 7th series differs from the standard chipset because it only consists of a northbridge. But this does not affect the functionality of the motherboard in any way, because some controllers are transferred to the processor. This can be understood using the example of a PCI-Express 3.0 bus controller and a DDR3 memory controller. The North Bridge in this case received control of SATA, USB, PCI-Express. The block diagram of the Z77 chipset clearly shows what the elements are tied to and on which buses:

Z, H and B represent the positioning of the chipset for market segments.

Chipsets from AMD have two chips, it has 990X, 990FX and 970 northbridges and an SB950 northbridge.

The 990FX gives the chipset support for 42 PCI-Express lanes. Therefore, four video cards can be connected on the lines in a Cross Fire combination. But not everyone needs such opportunities. The remaining two northbridges support 26 lines, but the loss is not noticeable.

Supporting Features

Additional functions include those that are not always necessary. For the average user they are not very popular:

• ESATA - some models have an interface for connecting removable drives. Very useful for owners of external drives.
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module for wireless network and data transfer. They significantly increase the functionality of the motherboard.
• Thunderbolt - provides data transfer at a speed of 10 Gb/sec and connection of peripheral devices. Transfers data several times faster than USB 2.0, USB 3.0. Today only a few people need it, but in the future it will become more popular.
• Additional buttons and indicators for overclocking, proprietary technologies and manufacturer elements.

Rating of the best motherboards of the year

As you may have noticed, choosing a motherboard is not an easy task. Based on the listed parameters, you need to choose an option that would suit you both in terms of cost and functionality. Of course, the motherboard parameters are individual for each user. But still, for greater convenience, you can see the rating of the best motherboards for 2015-2016. Focusing on the basic parameters and the best models, you can make a truly right choice. Below is a video on this difficult topic for a better understanding.

Best motherboard socket 1150 (2016)

• MSI Z87 XPOWER
• MSI B85-G43 GAMING - best buy
• ASUS B85M-E - inexpensive and good motherboard for an average computer
• MSI B85-G43 - price-quality
• ASUS VANGUARD B85
• GIGABYTE GA-Z97X-Gaming GT - recommended for gamers

Best motherboard socket 1155 (2016)

• ASRock B75 Pro3-M - the best purchase of the year
• GIGABYTE GA-H61M-S2PV (rev. 2.2
• ASUS H61M-G
• ASRock H61M-VG4
• MSI H61M-P20 (G3)
• GIGABYTE GA-H61M-S2PV (rev. 2.0)

Best socket motherboard 2011 (2016)

• ASUS P9X79-E WS (s2011, Intel X79, PCI-Ex16) - the coolest purchase
• Asus Rampage IV Extreme (s2011, X79, PCI-Ex 16)
• ASUS P9X79 WS (s2011, Intel X79, PCI-Ex16) - the best price-performance ratio
• MSI X79A-GD65 (8D) (s2011, Intel X79, PCI-Ex16)

Best motherboard 2011-3 (2016)

• ASUS RAMPAGE V EXTREME/U3.1 - best buy
• Asus X99-Deluxe
• MSI X99A SLI PLUS - the best choice price-quality
• GIGABYTE GA-X99-UD3 (rev. 1.0)
• ASRock X99 Extreme4

The most powerful motherboard for a gamer with two processors - Asus Z9PE-D8 WS (2 x LGA2011, Intel C602, PCI-Ex16)