The best inexpensive motherboards. How to choose a motherboard: the most important rules


Long gone are the days when you could choose a PC of almost any configuration on the market for any task. There are now few companies that assemble PCs, and there are practically no companies left that specialize specifically in PC assembly. Moreover, the rest, as a rule, are engaged in exclusive and very expensive PCs, which not everyone can afford. But computers from companies that do not specialize in PC assembly often cause criticism. As a rule, these companies are engaged in the sale of components, and for them the assembly of ready-made configurations is not their main business, which is often just a means of cleaning warehouses. That is, computers are assembled according to the principle “what do we have in our warehouse?” As a result, for many users the motto “If you want it to be good, do it yourself” remains very relevant today.

Of course, you can always order a PC assembly of any configuration from commercially available components. But you will be the “foreman” of such an assembly, and it is you who will have to develop the PC configuration and approve the estimate. And this is by no means a simple matter and requires knowledge of the assortment on the component market, as well as the basic principles of creating PC configurations: in which case it is better to install a more powerful video card, and when you can get by with an integrated graphics core, but you need a powerful processor. We will not consider all aspects of creating a PC configuration, but we will have to remember several important steps.

So, at the first stage when creating a PC configuration, you need to decide on the platform: will it be a computer based on an AMD processor or based on an Intel processor. The answer to the question: “Which is better?” - simply does not exist, and we will not campaign in favor of one or another platform. In this article we’ll just talk about computers based on the Intel platform. At the second stage, after choosing a platform, you should decide on a specific processor model and select a motherboard. Moreover, we consider this choice to be one stage, since one is closely related to the other. You can choose a board for a specific processor, or you can choose a processor for a specific board. In this article we will look at the modern range of motherboards for Intel processors.

Where to begin

The range of modern motherboards for Intel processors, just like the range of Intel processors themselves, can be divided into two large families:

  • boards based on the Intel X299 chipset for Intel Core X processors (Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X)
  • boards based on Intel 300 series chipsets for 8th generation Intel Core processors (Coffee Lake).

These two platforms are completely different and incompatible with each other, and therefore we will consider them in more detail each separately. The remaining boards and processors are no longer relevant, although they can be found on sale.

Intel X299 chipset and Intel Core X family processors

The Intel X299 chipset, along with boards based on it and a family of compatible processors, was presented by Intel at Computex 2017. The platform itself was codenamed Basin Falls.

First of all, boards based on the Intel X299 chipset are only compatible with processors from the Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X families, which have an LGA 2066 processor socket.

The platform is quite specific and is aimed at the segment of high-performance solutions, which Intel dubbed HEDT (High End DeskTop). Actually, the peculiarity of this platform is determined by the peculiarity of the Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X processors, which are also called the Core X family.

Kaby Lake-X

Kaby Lake-X processors are 4-core. Today there are only two models of such processors: Core i7-7740X and Core i5-7640X. They are not much different from the “regular” processors of the Kaby Lake family with the LGA 1151 socket, but they are compatible with a completely different platform and, accordingly, have a different socket.

The Core i5-7640X and Core i7-7740X processors have an unlocked multiplier and lack a graphics core - like all models of the Core X family. The Core i7-7740X model supports Hyper-Threading technology (it has 4 cores and 8 threads), and the Core i7-7740X model supports Hyper-Threading technology (it has 4 cores and 8 threads), and the Core i5-7640X - no (4 cores and 4 threads). Both processors have a dual-channel DDR4 memory controller and support up to 64 GB of DDR4-2666 memory. The number of PCIe 3.0 lanes in both processors is 16 (as in regular Kaby Lake).

All processors of the Core X family with six or more cores are based on the Skylake microarchitecture. The range of models here is quite large. There are 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, 14-, 16- and 18-core models, they are presented in two subfamilies: Core i7 and Core i9. 6- and 8-core models form the Core i7 family, and models with 10 or more cores form the Core i9 family.

Skylake-X

All processors of the Skylake-X family have a four-channel memory controller and, accordingly, the maximum amount of supported memory for them is 128 GB. The L3 cache size for each core is 1.375 MB: for a 6-core processor it is 8.25 MB, for an 8-core processor it is 11 MB, for a 10-core processor it is 13.75 MB, etc. Models of the Core i7 family ( Core i7-7800X and Core i7-7820X) each have 28 PCIe 3.0 lanes, and Core i9 family models have 44 lanes.

Intel X299 chipset

Now let's focus on the Intel X299 chipset, which is the basis of the motherboard and determines 90% (relatively, of course) of its functionality.

Since Core X processors can have either dual-channel (Kaby Lake X) or quad-channel (Skylake-X) DDR4 memory controllers, the Intel X299 chipset supports both memory modes. And boards based on this chipset usually have eight DIMM slots for installing memory modules. It’s just that if a Kaby Lake X processor is used, then only four of the eight memory slots can be used.

The functionality of the chipset is determined by the set of its high-speed input/output ports (High Speed ​​Input/Output, abbreviated to HSIO): USB 3.1/3.0, SATA 6 Gb/s or PCIe 3.0.

The Intel X299 chipset has 30 HSIO ports. The set is as follows: no more than 24 PCIe 3.0 ports, no more than 8 SATA 6 Gbps ports and no more than 10 USB 3.0 ports. But we note once again that in total there should be no more than 30. In addition, there can be no more than 14 USB ports in total, of which up to 10 can be USB 3.0 versions, and the rest can be USB 2.0.

Flexible I/O technology is also used: some HSIO ports can be configured as PCIe or USB 3.0 ports, and some others can be configured as PCIe or SATA 6 Gb/s ports.

Naturally, the Intel X299 chipset supports Intel RST (Rapid Storage Technology), which allows you to configure the SATA controller in RAID controller mode with support for levels 0, 1, 5 and 10. In addition, Intel RST technology is supported not only for SATA ports , but also for drives with PCIe x4/x2 interface (M.2 and SATA Express connectors).

The distribution diagram of high-speed I/O ports for the Intel X299 chipset is shown in the figure.

Speaking about the Basin Falls platform, one cannot fail to mention such technology as Intel VROC (Virtual RAID on CPU). This is not a feature of the chipset, but of Core X processors, and not all of them, but only the Skylake-X family (Kaby Lake-X has too few PCIe 3.0 lanes).

VROC technology allows you to create a RAID array from SSD drives with a PCIe 3.0 x4/x2 interface, using PCIe 3.0 processor lines.

This technology is implemented in different ways. The classic option is to use a container card with a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface, which has four M.2 slots for SSD drives with a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface.

By default, RAID 0 is available for all SSD drives connected to the container card. If you want more, you have to pay. That is, in order for a RAID level 1 or 5 array to become available, you need to separately purchase an Intel VROC key and connect it to a special Intel VROC Upgrade Key connector on the motherboard (this connector is available on all boards with the Intel X299 chipset).

Intel 300 series chipsets and 8th generation Intel Core processors

The Basin Falls platform discussed above is aimed at a very specific market segment that requires multi-core processors. For most home users, computers on such a platform are both expensive and pointless. That's why The vast majority of PCs with Intel processors are 8th generation Intel Core computers, also known under the code name Coffee Lake.

All Coffee Lake family processors have an LGA1151 socket and are only compatible with motherboards based on the Intel 300 series chipset.

Coffee Lake processors are represented by the Core i7, Core i5, Core i3 series, as well as Pentium Gold and Celeron.

Processors of the Core i7, Core i5 series are 6-core, and CPUs of the Core i3 series are 4-core models without support for Turbo Boost technology. The Pentium Gold and Celeron series make up the entry-level 2-core models. Coffee Lake processors of all series have a built-in graphics core.

The Core i7, Core i5 and even Core i3 series each have one processor model with an unlocked multiplier (K-series), that is these processors can (and should) be overclocked. But here you should remember that for overclocking you need not only a K-series processor, but also a board on a chipset that allows overclocking of the processor.

Now about the Intel 300 series chipsets. There's a whole garden of them here. Simultaneously with the Coffee Lake processors, only the Intel Z370 chipset was announced, which represented the entire family for almost a year. But the trick is that this chipset is “not real”. That is, at the time of the announcement of the Coffee Lake processors (October 2017), Intel did not have a new chipset for these processors. Therefore, they took the Intel Z270 chipset, made cosmetic changes and rebranded it as Intel Z370. Essentially, these are the same chipsets, with the only exception that they are aimed at different families of processors.

In April 2018, Intel announced another series of Intel 300 series chipsets - this time truly new ones, with new functionality. In total, the 300 series today includes seven models: Z370, Q370, H370, B360 and H310. Two more chipsets - Z390 and Q360 - will be announced, presumably, in early autumn.

So, All Intel 300 series chipsets are compatible only with Coffee Lake processors with LGA 1151 connector. The Q370 and Q360 models are aimed at the corporate segment of the market and are not of particular interest to users in the sense that motherboard manufacturers do not make consumer solutions for them. But the Z390, Z370, H370, B360 and H310 are just for users.

The Z390, Z370 and Q370 chipsets belong to the top segment, and the rest are obtained by castrating the functionality of the top models. The H370, B360 chipsets are for mass-produced inexpensive motherboards (boards that are called popular), but the H310 is when life begins to crack.

Now let's talk about how the rest get from the top models. It's simple. The top models Z390 and Q370 have exactly 30 numbered HSIO ports (USB 3.1/3.0, SATA 6 Gb/s and PCIe 3.0). Please note that we do not classify the Z370 chipset as a top model, because, as we have already noted, it is “fake” simply because it does not have the features that are inherent in Intel 300 series chipsets, although there are also exactly 30 HSIO ports In particular, the Z370 does not have a USB 3.1 controller and there is no CNVi controller, which we will talk about a little later.

So, the Z390 and Q370 chipsets have 30 HSIO ports, of which there can be up to 24 PCIe 3.0 ports, up to 6 SATA 6 Gb/s ports and up to 10 USB 3.0 ports, of which up to 6 ports can be USB 3.1. Moreover, there can be no more than 14 USB 3.1/3.0/2.0 ports in total.

To get a non-top chipset from a top-end chipset, you just need to block some of the HSIO ports. That's all. True, there is one “but” here. The H310 chipset, which is completely castrated, differs from the others not only in that it has some HSIO ports blocked, but also in the fact that the PCIe ports here are only version 2.0, and not 3.0, as is the case with other chipsets. In addition, the USB 3.1 controller is also blocked here - in other words, there are only USB 3.0 ports.

The distribution diagram of high-speed I/O ports for Intel 300 series chipsets is shown in the figure.


If you have already become confused, then the easiest way to understand how the Intel 300 series chipsets for desktop PCs differ from each other is from this table.

Q370 Z390 Z370 H370 Q360 B360 H310
Total HSIO ports 30 30 30 30 26 24 15
PCIe 3.0 lanes up to 24 up to 24 up to 24 up to 20 14 12 6 (PCIe 2.0)
SATA 6 Gb/s ports until 6 until 6 until 6 until 6 until 6 until 6 4
USB 3.1 ports until 6 until 6 No up to 4 up to 4 up to 4 No
USB 3.0 ports to 10 to 10 to 10 up to 8 up to 8 6 4
Total number of USB ports 14 14 14 14 14 12 10
Intel RST for PCIe 3.0 (x4/x2 M.2) 3 3 3 2 1 1 No
Overclocking support No Yes Yes No No No No
PCIe 3.0 processor lane configurations 1x16
2x8
1x8 and 2x4		 1x16
Memory support DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4 DDR4
Number of memory channels/
number of modules per channel		 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/1
Intel Optane Memory support Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
PCIe Storage support Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
PCIe RAID 0, 1, 5 support Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
Support SATA RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
CNVi (Intel Wireless-AC) support Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Built-in gigabit network
MAC layer controller		 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Motherboard Manufacturers

There were times when there were dozens of motherboard manufacturers. But natural selection led to the fact that there were very few of them left - only the strongest survived. And if we talk about the Russian market, there are only four manufacturers of motherboards: ASRock, Asus, Gigabyte and MSI (do not pay attention to the order - everything is in alphabetical order). There is, however, also a company called Biostar, but you can safely forget about it.

Talking about whose products are of better quality is pointless and incorrect. The factories where boards are produced are the same for all companies in the sense that they use the same equipment. In addition, boards from the same Asus can be produced at Gigabyte factories and vice versa. It all depends on the workload of the factories, and not a single company disdains OEM production. In addition, there are companies such as Foxconn and ECS that are exclusively engaged in OEM and ODM manufacturing, including for ASRock, Asus, Gigabyte and MSI. So the question of where exactly the board was made is not so important. It matters who developed it.

Features of boards based on the Intel X299 chipset

First of all, we note that boards based on the Intel X299 chipset are aimed at expensive PCs. The peculiarity of these boards is that they support processors with different numbers of PCIe 3.0 lanes - 16, 28 and 44 lanes. Based on PCIe 3.0 processor lines, primarily PCI Express 3.0 x16/x8/x4 slots are implemented, as well as sometimes M.2/U.2 connectors. The difficulty in this case is that each type of processor must have its own implementation of slots.

In a simple case (not very expensive boards) the implementation is as follows. The processor version with 44 PCIe 3.0 lanes will have two PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, one PCI Express 3.0 x8 (in the PCI Express x16 form factor) and one PCI Express 3.0 x4 (again, can be in the PCI Express x16 form factor) ).


In the processor version with 28 PCIe 3.0 lanes, one PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot will become unavailable, that is, there will only be one PCI Express 3.0 x16, one PCI Express 3.0 x8 and one PCI Express 3.0 x4 slot.


In the processor version with 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes (Kaby Lake-X), another PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot is simply blocked and only PCI Express 3.0 x8 and PCI Express 3.0 x4 slots remain.


But it may also be that in the processor version with 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes, two slots will be available: PCI Express 3.0 x16/x8 and PCI Express 3.0 x8 - which operate in x16/- or x8/x8 modes (an additional PCIe 3.0 line switch is required ).

However, such sophisticated circuits are used only in expensive boards. Manufacturers do not pay much attention to the operating mode of the board with Kaby Lake-X processors. Moreover, there is even a motherboard based on the Intel X299 chipset, which simply does not support Kaby Lake-X processors.

Actually, this is quite logical and correct. There is no point in using Kaby Lake-X processors in combination with boards based on Intel X299 chipsets - this greatly limits the functionality of the board. First, there will be fewer PCI Express 3.0 x16/x8 slots available for use. Secondly, out of eight slots for memory modules, which are usually found on boards with the Intel X299 chipset, only four will be available. Accordingly, the maximum amount of supported memory will be two times less. Thirdly, Intel VROC technology will also be unavailable. That is, if a board based on the Intel X299 chipset is used with a Kaby Lake-X processor, then you will get an expensive solution that will be inferior in both performance and functionality to solutions based on the Coffee Lake processor. In a word, expensive and pointless.

In our opinion, boards based on the Intel 299 chipset only make sense in combination with Skylake-X processors, and it’s better if these are Core i9 series processors, that is, models with 44 PCIe 3.0 lanes. Only in this case can you take advantage of all the functionality of the Basin Falls platform.

Now about what the Basin Falls platform is needed for.

Most motherboards with Intel X299 chipsets are positioned as gaming ones. The names of the boards either contain the word “Gaming” or they generally refer to the gaming series (for example, Asus ROG). This, of course, does not mean that these boards are somehow different from those boards that are not positioned as gaming ones. It's just easier to sell. Now the word “Gaming” is thrown around everywhere, simply because there is at least some demand for it. But an extra word on the box, of course, does not oblige the manufacturer to anything.

Moreover, we would say that motherboards based on the Intel X299 chipset are least suitable for gaming. That is, you can, of course, build a gaming computer based on them, but it will be expensive and ineffective. Just The main highlight of the Basin Falls platform is multi-core processors, and games do not need this. And using a 10-, 12-, 14-, 16-, or 18-core processor will not provide any advantage in games.

Of course, boards with the Intel X299 chipset have a lot of PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots and, it would seem, you can install several video cards. But this is good just to show off to your neighbors: two video cards can be installed on a system with an Intel Z370 chipset, but three video cards simply do not make sense (however, two either).

But if the Basin Falls platform is not the most suitable option for games, then what is the best way to use it? The answer will disappoint many. The Basin Falls platform is very specific and most home users do not need it at all. It is optimal to use it for working with specific applications that can be well parallelized by more than 20 threads. And if we talk about the applications that home users encounter, there are very few of them. These are video conversion (and editing) programs, 3D rendering programs, as well as specific scientific applications that were originally developed for multi-core processors. In other cases, the Basin Falls platform simply will not provide any advantages over a platform based on Coffee Lake processors, but it will be much more expensive.

But if you still work with applications where 36 threads (18-core Skylake-X processor) would not be superfluous, then the Basin Falls platform is just what you need.

How to choose a board based on the Intel X299 chipset

So, you need a board on the Intel X299 chipset for Skylake-X processors. But the range of such boards is quite large. Only Asus offers 10 models based on this chipset in four series. Gigabyte has an even larger list of models offered - 12 pieces. Further, 10 models are produced by ASRock and 8 models by MSI. The price range is from 14 to 35 thousand rubles. That is, there is a choice, and it is very wide (for every taste and budget). What is the difference between these boards that they can differ so much (more than twice) in cost? It is clear that we will not describe the features of each of the 40 board models that are on the market, but we will try to highlight the main aspects.

The difference is primarily in functionality, which, in turn, is determined by the set of ports, slots and connectors, as well as various additional features.

If we talk about ports, slots and connectors, these are PCI Express 3.0 x16/x8/x4/x1 slots, USB 3.1/3.0 and SATA ports, as well as M.2 connectors (PCIe 3.0 x4/x2 and SATA). Not so long ago, there were also SATA Express and U.2 connectors on boards (there are such connectors on some models of boards sold), but still, these are already “dead” connectors, and they are no longer used on new models.

PCI Express 3.0 x16/x8 slots are implemented via PCIe 3.0 processor lines. PCI Express 3.0 x4 slots can be implemented via both processor lines and PCIe 3.0 chipset lines. And PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots, if any, are always implemented via PCIe 3.0 chipset lines

Expensive board models use complex switching schemes that allow maximum use of all PCIe 3.0 processor lines in the version of all processor types (with 44, 28 and 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes). Moreover, switching between processor and chipset PCIe 3.0 lines is even possible. That is, for example, when a processor with 28 or 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes is used, some slots with the PCI Express x16 form factor are switched to PCIe 3.0 chipset lines. An example would be a board or. It is clear that such opportunities do not come cheap.



Asus Prime X299-Deluxe board

As we have already said, the Intel X299 chipset has exactly 30 HSIO ports, which are PCIe 3.0, USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gb/s ports. For inexpensive (by the standards of this segment) boards, this is quite enough, that is, everything that is implemented on the board (controllers, slots, ports) can work without being separated from each other. Typically, boards with the Intel X299 chipset have two M.2 connectors (PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA), a gigabit network controller and a Wi-Fi module (or two gigabit controllers), a pair of USB 3.1 controllers, and a PCI Express 3.0 x4 slot. In addition, there are 8 SATA ports and 6-8 3.0 ports.

More expensive models can add more network controllers, USB 3.1 controllers, more USB 3.0 ports, as well as PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots. Moreover, there are also network controllers that meet new standards. For example, the 10-gigabit network controller Aquantia AQC-107, which can connect to the chipset via two or four PCIe 3.0 lanes. There are also Wi-Fi modules of the WiGig standard (802.11ad). For example, the Asus ROG Rampage VI Extreme board has both an Aquantia AQC-107 controller and an 802.11ad Wi-Fi module.

But... you can’t bend it above your head. And the fact that there is a lot of stuff on the board does not mean that all of it can be used at the same time. No one has canceled the chipset limitations, so if there is a lot of everything, then, most likely, something must be separated from something, unless the board uses an additional PCIe line switch, which allows, in fact, to overcome the limitations on the number of PCIe lanes . An example of a board that uses a switch (albeit PCIe 2.0 lines) would be.


ASRock X299 Taichi board

The presence of such a switch certainly increases the cost of the solution, but the feasibility of this is questionable, since the basic capabilities of the Intel X299 chipset are quite sufficient.

There are also boards where switches are used not for chipset lines, but for PCIe 3.0 processor lines, this allows you to increase the number of PCI Express 3.0 x16/x8 slots. For example, the Asus WS X299 Sage board, which is positioned as a workstation, has seven slots with PCI Express 3.0 x16/x8, which can operate in x16/x8/x8/x8/x8/x8/x8 mode. It is clear that even 44 PCIe 3.0 lanes of Skylake-X processors will not be enough for this. Therefore, the board additionally has a pair of PCIe 3.0 PLX PEX 8747 switches. Each such switch is connected to 16 PCIe 3.0 processor lines and provides 32 PCIe 3.0 lanes at the output. But this, of course, is a specific and expensive solution.


Asus WS X299 Sage board

The range of motherboards based on Intel X299 chipsets also includes quite exotic and expensive solutions. For example, motherboards or Asus ROG Rampage VI Extreme. The first of them is designed for extreme overclocking and has a reduced number of memory slots (one module per memory channel). Asus ROG Rampage VI Extreme is different in that it does not support Kaby Lake-X processors at all. In addition, both boards have proprietary DIMM.2 connectors, which are visually similar to slots for memory modules, but provide a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface and are designed for installing special expansion cards. Each such card allows you to install up to two SSD drives with an M.2 connector.


Asus ROG Rampage VI Apex Board


Asus ROG Rampage VI Extreme board

There is practically no demand for such solutions and it is almost impossible to sell them. But such boards are not made for sale - they are a kind of calling card of the company. Of all the motherboard manufacturers, only Asus can afford to make such boards.

As we have already noted, in addition to the diversity in the set of slots, connectors and ports, motherboards based on the Intel X299 chipset differ in the set of additional features and, of course, in the packaging.

A new trend is the presence of RGB backlighting on the board, as well as separate connectors for connecting LED strips. Moreover, there are even two types of connectors: four-pin and three-pin. A non-addressable RGB strip is connected to the 4-pin connector, in which all the LEDs glow the same color. Naturally, the color can be any and can change, but synchronously for all LEDs.

An addressable strip is connected to the 3-pin connector, in which each LED can have its own color.

The LED lighting on the board is synchronized with the lighting of the connected LED strips.

Why backlighting is needed on boards with the Intel X299 chipset is not very clear. There are all sorts of whistles, tricks and various lights - it's all aimed at pioneers. But when it comes to expensive, high-performance PCs that are designed to run highly specialized applications, LED backlighting hardly makes sense at all. However, it, like the word Gaming, is present on most boards.

So, let's summarize briefly. Boards based on the Intel X299 chipset are aimed at high-performance PCs that are designed to work with well-paralleled applications. It makes sense to use these boards in combination with Skylake-X Core i9 series processors. Only in this case can you take advantage of all the functionality of the boards. Not all home users need computers based on boards with the Intel X299 chipset. First of all, it's expensive. Secondly, it’s not a fact that your super-powerful computer based on, for example, an 18-core Core i9-7980XE processor will be faster than a computer with a 6-core Coffee Lake processor. It's just that in some cases it is better to have fewer fast cores than many slow ones.

Therefore, the Basin Falls platform only makes sense if you know for sure that the applications you are working with can be parallelized by more than 20 threads. But if not, then a computer with a Coffee Lake processor will be optimal for you, which, accordingly, will require a board based on the Intel 300 series chipset.

Features of boards based on Intel 300 series chipsets

Of the seven Intel 300 series chipsets, only five models are aimed at motherboards for home users: Intel Z390, Z370, H370, B360 and H310. The Intel Z390 chipset has not yet been announced, so we won’t talk about it yet, but boards based on the other chipsets are already available. The top of the remaining list is the Intel Z370 chipset. Next in terms of price and features are the H370, B360 and H310. Accordingly, boards based on the Z370 chipset are the most expensive. Then, in order of decreasing cost, there are boards based on the H370, B360 and H310 chipsets.

All Intel 300 series chipsets with the exception of the Z370 have built-in CNVi and USB 3.1 controllers (with the exception of the younger Intel H310 model). So why then is the Intel Z370 the top one, and the boards on it the most expensive?

Firstly, of the four (Z370, H370, B360 and H310) chipsets under consideration, only the Intel Z370 allows you to combine 16 PCIe 3.0 processor lines into x16, x8+x8 or x8+x4+x4 ports. All other chipsets only allow grouping into an x16 port. From a user's point of view, this means that only boards with the Intel Z370 chipset can have two graphics card slots based on PCIe 3.0 processor lines. AND Only Intel Z370 based boards can support Nvidia SLI mode. Accordingly, two slots with the PCI Express x16 form factor on boards with the Intel Z370 chipset operate in x16/— (when using one slot) or x8/x8 (when using two slots) modes.


Note that if a board with an Intel Z370 chipset has more than two slots with the PCI Express x16 form factor, then the third slot is a PCI Express 3.0 x4 slot, but in the PCI Express x16 form factor, and it can already be implemented on based on PCIe 3.0 chipset lines. The combination of x8+x4+x4 ports based on PCIe 3.0 processor lines on boards with the Intel Z370 chipset is found only in the most expensive models.


All other variants (H370, B360 and H310 chipsets) can only have one PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot based on 16 PCIe 3.0 processor lanes.


Secondly, of the four chipsets under consideration only Intel Z370 allows overclocking of the processor and memory. You can change both the multiplication factor and the base frequency BCLK. Changing the base frequency is possible for all processors, but changing the multiplier factor is only possible for K-series processors that have this factor unlocked.

As you can see, the Intel Z370 chipset has undeniable advantages over its brothers H370, B360 and H310. But, if you are not planning to overclock the system, then the advantages of the Intel Z370 chipset are no longer so obvious, since the need for two video cards is rather an exception to the rule. However, one more circumstance must be taken into account. The Intel Z370 chipset is top-end not only because it allows you to overclock the processor and group PCIe 3.0 processor lines into different ports. This chipset does not have blocked HSIO ports, and, accordingly, its functionality is wider. That is, based on the Intel Z370 chipset, most can be implemented.

True, the Intel Z370 chipset does not have a USB 3.1 controller or CNVi. But can this be considered a serious drawback?

As for USB 3.1 ports, on boards with the Intel Z370 chipset they are implemented, as a rule, using a dual-port ASMedia ASM3142 controller. And from the user’s point of view, there is no difference in how exactly USB 3.1 ports are implemented: through a controller built into the chipset, or through a controller external to the chipset. Another thing is more important: what exactly to connect to these ports. And the vast majority of users do not need USB 3.1 ports at all.

Now about the CNVi (Connectivity Integration) controller. It provides Wi-Fi connections (802.11ac, up to 1.733 Gbps) and Bluetooth 5.0 (a new version of the standard). However, the CNVi controller is not a full-fledged network controller, but a MAC controller. For a full-fledged controller, you also need an Intel Wireless-AC 9560 card with an M.2 connector (E-type dongle). Moreover, no other card will do. Only Intel 9560, which supports the CNVi interface.

Again, from the user’s point of view, it makes absolutely no difference how exactly the Wi-Fi network interface is implemented. In this case, the situation is approximately the same as with the Intel i219-V and Intel i211-AT gigabit network controllers. The first of them is a PHY-level controller, which is used in conjunction with a MAC controller built into the chipset, and the second is a full-fledged network controller.

How to choose a board based on the Intel 300 series chipset

So, there is an awareness of the fact that you need a board for a Coffee Lake processor with an LGA1151 socket. The range of such boards is very large. For example, Asus alone has 12 models of boards only on the Intel Z370 chipset, 10 models on the Intel B360 chipset, 6 models on the Intel H370 chipset and 5 models on the Intel H310 chipset. Add here the range of motherboards from Gigabyte, ASRock and MSI, and it becomes clear that there are a lot of possible options.

Intel H310

In the line of Intel 300 series chipsets, the H310 is the entry-level model or, in simple terms, this chipset is aimed at the cheapest motherboards with minimal capabilities.

In addition, only 15 of the 30 HSIO ports (6 PCIe, 4 SATA, 4 USB 3.0 and one port dedicated to LAN) are not blocked on the Intel H310 chipset; all ports are PCIe version 2.0. There is no USB 3.1 controller here either. It is also important to note that boards with Intel H310 can only have two slots for memory modules, since one module is supported per memory channel.

With such a chipset limitation, you can't really get away with it. That's why all boards based on Intel H310 are very similar to each other, and the price range here is not very large. In a typical version, the board has one PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot for a video card (based on PCIe 3.0 processor lines). In addition, there is a maximum of one M.2 connector (or none at all), a gigabit network controller, four SATA ports and a pair of PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots. There are also several (no more than 4) USB 3.0 ports. That's all, actually.

An example of a cheap (4800 rubles) version of a board based on the Intel H310 chipset could be the model. A more expensive option (6500 rubles) is a board.

Conclusion

We reviewed two modern platforms for Intel processors: the Basin Falls platform on the Intel X299 chipset, compatible with processors from the Intel Core-X family (Skylake-X, Kaby Lake-X), and the platform on Intel 300 series chipsets, compatible with processors from the Intel Core-X family of processors. Coffee Lake. We hope our story will help you more confidently navigate the huge range of motherboards and make the right choice for your specific tasks.

In the future, we plan to make a similar article dedicated to motherboards for AMD processors.

  • 1. Interaction between motherboard and processor
  • 2. Socket selection
  • 3. Bus frequency
  • 4. Chipset
  • 5. Manufacturers
  • 6. “Gaming” or “non-gaming” board
  • 7. Memory
  • 8. Board Form Factor
  • 9. Number of interfaces and connectors
  • 10. Overclocking the processor

The motherboard is the connecting link of all other computer devices, and therefore the question of how to choose the right motherboard is far from idle. The stability of the PC and its longevity depend on the choice of motherboard, and we don’t want to find ourselves in the situation of needing frequent, expensive selections and upgrades of hardware, do we?

In this material we will tell you what types of motherboards there are, what parameters you should pay attention to first of all, how to choose a motherboard so that it fits the processor, and so on. First of all, you should ask yourself the question: in which PC will the motherboard be located - office, gaming or mixed-purpose (home).

Interaction between motherboard and processor

First of all, we must decide on the architecture of our future PC, namely, decide whether we will build our entire system based on AMD or Intel.

Selecting a Socket

A socket is a type of connector in the motherboard that corresponds to the processor socket; it is this that divides all existing boards into two large categories:

  • Sockets starting with AM, FM and S support AMD processors;
  • Sockets starting with LGA support Intel processors.

Thus, we understand that the choice of motherboard and processor must occur simultaneously, and if you plan to use the motherboard for more than one processor generation, you will be forced to remain faithful to the previous choice of the processor manufacturer. It is also worth noting that the motherboard can be equipped with more than one socket (but of the same type), but such solutions are usually preferred for creating servers rather than PCs for personal use.

Bus frequency

At this point we are talking about the total throughput of the device; the higher the frequency, the greater the system performance, everything is obvious here. Let us remind you that the processor bus frequency must also match the motherboard bus frequency, otherwise you will waste your money. Select devices that will show the best performance when working in tandem.

Chipset

Everything is simple here, the chipset, also known as the north bridge, is a set of microcircuits contained on the motherboard and acting as a connecting link between connected devices. The most popular manufacturers include the above-mentioned AMD and Intel, as well as ATI and NVIDIA, famous for the production of video cards.

The main modern Intel chipsets include:

  • B250/H270 – for office, multimedia and gaming PCs;
  • Q270 – for the corporate sector;
  • Z270 – for powerful gaming and professional PCs;
  • X99/X299 – for very powerful professional PCs.

The main modern AMD chipsets include:

  • A320 – for office and multimedia PCs;
  • B350 – for gaming and professional PCs;
  • X370 is for enthusiasts.

These chipsets have a lot of differences, but ultimately we are only interested in their intended purpose. If we select a motherboard for a gaming computer, then we settle on the Z270 and B350, and so on. Selecting a motherboard knowing the final purpose of the computer being assembled will not be difficult even for a beginner.

Manufacturers

This point is important if you decide to choose a motherboard. The most expensive and most relevant in the high price segment are motherboards from ASUS. If we look through the prism of price/quality, especially if we are looking for a motherboard for gaming, then we should pay attention to the MSI brand. In the more customer-friendly segment, motherboards from Gigabyte and ASRock look good.

There are also less famous manufacturers on the motherboard market, and their names are legion, but there are no such fierce battles around motherboards as there are around processors or video cards, and therefore it is not worth overpaying solely for the name, especially since unsuccessful models are also found among market headliners. In any case, it is worth remembering that when asked how to choose a motherboard, the answer should not begin with the name of the manufacturer - it is secondary.

“Gaming” or “non-gaming” board

In fact, the motherboard is not responsible for performance in resource-intensive applications like demanding games, so this concept is very ephemeral. If you insert four sticks of RAM into an expensive board and repeat this process with a cheaper one, the result will not change.


You have to pay for appearance

The only difference is the card’s potential when overclocking the processor; here it’s worth taking a careful look at the board’s power supply, its cooling, voltage stability during overclocking and other secondary characteristics. In general, a few words will be said about this in the conclusion.

Memory

The number of slots depends on the form factor of the motherboard, so don’t expect to fit more than two slots into a compact motherboard. Full-size motherboards can handle four slots, and sometimes more. The current type of memory at the moment is DDR4, but they also differ in frequency. True, we do not recommend chasing beautiful numbers above 3000 MHz just yet, the price increase is exponential, but the performance increase is not so great

These are not all the characteristics that distinguish a good board from a weak one, but they will be enough to avoid getting into an unpleasant situation after the purchase.

Board Form Factor

The size of the board directly affects the size of your computer case, and, accordingly, the space it takes up, so there is no point in choosing the largest format - it will not necessarily be the most productive, but it will certainly be the most cumbersome.

Let's take a closer look at the available options:

E-ATX– size 305x330 mm. These boards are presented for the LGA 2011-3 connector and, as can be seen from the dimensions, can become a headache in terms of ergonomics. They are designed for top-end processors and are equipped with the most efficient cooling and power elements. If the space you occupy is not a headache for you, you can safely give them your preference.

Standard-ATX– 305x244mm. Perhaps the most widely represented format on the market, with it you will not have problems with compatibility with other devices, but, as before, the board is quite bulky and is not suitable for compact solutions.

Micro-ATX– 244x244 mm. The reduction in board height is achieved by reducing the PCI-e slots. If earlier this form factor was perceived as a budget analogue to larger boards, then with the development of electronics it became capable of implementing all the functionality of its older brothers.

Mini-iTX– 170×170 mm – an option for those who like to replace a standard computer case with something compact and stylized as a multimedia player.

Mini-STX– 140×140 mm. Memory modules from external laptops and external power supplies are already used here. You can experiment with building a PC based on this board, but most likely you will lose in performance and overpay.

Number of interfaces and connectors

Often, buyers choose a board based on the name of the manufacturer or the mythical term “gaming,” but when they come home they discover that they simply cannot connect this or that device to it. To prevent a similar incident from happening to you, we will try to briefly review all the external interfaces necessary for the motherboard.

First you need to decide how many USB outputs you will need on the rear panel to connect peripheral devices. You shouldn't chase the quantity, but a reasonable 4-6 ports should be present. It is advisable that a couple of them comply with the 3.0 standard, then you will not have any hassle connecting portable hard drives. The 3.1 format is slowly entering our lives - it would be nice to look beyond the event horizon and become concerned about its presence.

SATA is another necessary connector; high-speed SSDs work with this interface, since this connector is an integral part of any, even the most budget, motherboard.

Advice from my own experience - be sure to take into account the presence of a built-in Wi-Fi adapter. There is already a router in almost every home and it is much easier to purchase a suitable board rather than go through the laborious process of laying a cable to your computer and spoil the appearance of the room.

If you are an audiophile and sound quality is important to you, pay attention to whether the integrated sound card supports 5.1 and 7.1 systems, or immediately ask to add a suitable discrete sound card to your motherboard.

PCI-express slots and their location are not so critical for gamers choosing one top-end card, but if you have other goals and want to use SLI/Crossfire technologies, then take a look at the number of ports and the comfort of their location - it will not be superfluous.

CPU overclocking

If your motherboard is the basis for overclocking the processor, then you need to immediately inquire about the previous experience of the owners of this board in order to achieve maximum results and increase performance as much as possible. If you are looking for an “overlocker” card, do not disdain reviews from reputable experts. If the same card shows decent performance in this difficult task over and over again, it is likely that it is the answer to your question of how to choose a motherboard for a computer.

I hope our article on the tricky issue of choosing a motherboard helped you, and you will never again become a victim of the cunning of sellers or your own ignorance of the issue. Be patient when analyzing the saturated motherboard market and good luck with your purchase.

Not the most common problem. Most users do not change the processor until the computer is completely replaced. However, sometimes due to a breakdown or upgrade, it becomes necessary to replace the installed processor. In this case, the question arises of how to match the processor to the motherboard. In this article we will analyze this problem and talk about how to choose the right processor.

In order to select a processor for the motherboard, you need to find out which socket it supports. A socket is a connector on the motherboard designed to install a processor. There are different types of sockets. Sockets differ in size, shape and number of legs. Therefore, it is not possible to install a processor in an unsuitable socket.

Now the most popular sockets are:

  • For Intel processors
    • LGA 1150
    • LGA 1155
    • LGA 1356
    • LGA 1366
  • For AMD processors

If you are using a motherboard that is installed in a working computer, then you can find out the name of the socket using special programs for viewing the characteristics of the computer. The most suitable program for our case is the CPU-Z program. Using this program you can find out all the main characteristics of the processor and motherboard.

The name of the socket will be indicated on the first tab of the CPU-Z program, opposite the inscription “Package”. You can also use this program to find out the manufacturer and model of the motherboard. To do this, go to the “Mainboard” tab.

Just because a motherboard is equipped with a particular socket does not guarantee that it supports all processors with the same socket. Some newer processors may not work. That's why in order to select a processor for the motherboard, you need to go to the website of the manufacturer of this board and view the list of supported processors. Finding the information you need is not difficult. Just enter the name of the motherboard into the search engine and go to the manufacturer’s official website.

If you have a motherboard for which you need to select a processor, but the computer does not work or is not assembled at all. Then you can look at the name of the motherboard on its box. If there is no box, then carefully inspect the board itself; the name should be printed on its surface.

Once you know the name of the socket and motherboard, selecting a processor is not difficult. First, select a processor that is equipped with the desired socket, and then check whether it is supported by your motherboard.

How to choose a motherboard is the question that users most often ask when assembling a new computer.

Sometimes it is chosen for an already finished PC, intending to improve its performance and increase its capabilities.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to buy a new board if the previous one breaks. In this case, if funds allow, this situation should be used for a small modernization.

You should choose carefully: when assembling a computer, the motherboard is a system-forming factor in the computer ecosystem, on which all other components will depend.

Where to begin?

Before buying a board, you should know that it is one of the most important elements of a computer.

And the purchase of other components will depend on its choice - from the case, which must match in size, to the processor, memory modules and video cards.

Therefore, you should select a motherboard only in conjunction with other parts - or at least know their approximate characteristics.

In addition, the buyer must understand for what purpose he will need the board - for office work, for high-performance games or as a home multimedia center.

Board functionality

The capabilities of a motherboard are primarily related to its price - the more expensive the device, the higher its functionality.

New and expensive motherboards provide the ability to simultaneously install several graphics processors - for working with drawings and 3D objects or for connecting 2-3 monitors.

Budget boards provide maximum operation of one video card and are often equipped with built-in graphics, which are not compatible with most games, but are quite suitable for working with documents, Internet surfing, and sometimes even for watching movies in FullHD (if there is enough memory).

Choosing the motherboard size

When you start choosing a motherboard, you immediately pay attention to its dimensions. This nuance is especially important if the part is purchased for an existing system unit.

A large case can accommodate a board of any size, and in this case it is worth choosing the ATX form factor, which allows you to install more peripheral devices.

For a compact office computer or nettop, micro-ATX and mini-ITX formats are suitable, although it is unlikely that it will be possible to install even one powerful video card on such devices.

CPU compatibility

Each motherboard supports its own type of processor. It is important that both of these components are compatible.

To do this, the board's characteristics indicate the compatibility of its socket (slot for installing a processor) with one or more types of chipsets.

Slots for memory and peripherals

Another nuance that people pay attention to when buying a board is slots for memory modules and support for certain types of RAM.

A high-performance computer definitely requires the ability to work with GDDR5, which provides high speed performance.

It is also desirable that the number of connectors for memory sticks be more than 2 - four for a gaming PC (which will allow you to expand the RAM without changing modules, but by purchasing new ones), eight for a server or workstation.

An equally important nuance is the presence and number of connectors for peripheral devices:

  • USB slots. For a modern PC, it is recommended to choose a board with USB 3.0 connectors, which speed up the process of reading and writing media. Their number is usually 4, but on ATX motherboards it can be increased;
  • PCI Express slots required for connecting video cards. Moreover, it is better to use a different connector for each type of GPU. For example, new video processors improve performance when installed in a PCI Express (PCIe) x16 slot;

  • ATA and IDE, connectors for connecting hard drives. The latter option is no longer used, and the number of the former determines how many built-in storage devices can be installed on a given PC;
  • PCI, a connector into which sound cards and other peripheral devices are connected.

Gaming motherboard

You can choose the right gaming motherboard by knowing the following features:

  • support for the latest versions of RAM;
  • compatibility with the processor selected for gaming (Intel Core i5 and i7, Socket AM 3+);
  • the ability to install a powerful video card (it is necessary to have 1–2 PCI-E x16 slots and support for this technology in the motherboard BIOS).

Other board characteristics are not so important when choosing a device for gaming. Although it is worth considering that an increase in its functionality also affects the increase in cost.

The best boards for a computer in 2017

When deciding on purchasing a motherboard, many people wonder whether there is a better universal board that can perform any task.

There are such options, but their cost will not suit every user.

Therefore, you should choose a specific model depending on the intended use of the computer:

  • for study;
  • for work;
  • for running serious graphic applications;
  • for modern games;
  • for high-performance games running at maximum settings (board for an avid gamer's computer).

For study

Determining which board is suitable for a schoolchild or student’s computer is not easy.

Moreover, the user’s goal may be not only to work with office programs, but also to play in his free time from studying.

In this case, you should choose models such as MSI H110M PRO-VH (for Intel processors) or Gigabyte GA-F2A78M-DS2 (for AMD).

Their capabilities are enough to run, for example, AutoCAD, and for gaming applications, and the cost is quite low - within 4,000 rubles.

For office

The main characteristics of the office board are energy efficiency, small size, affordable price, and reliability.

It is possible that such a device will be installed on a nettop - a computer with minimal characteristics for operation and, most often, with a small hard drive (or without it at all).

Today, choosing a motherboard for an office is not particularly difficult - just buy any budget model.

For example, GIGABYTE GA-F2A88XM-DS2, working with processors from AMD or MSI H81M-E33 for Intel. The price of each option is 3000 rubles.

For graphics programs

Working with graphics requires the use of more powerful hardware. Therefore, the board has serious requirements:

  • at least 4 RAM slots;
  • 2 slots for video cards;
  • support for AM3+ and Socket 1151 (Intel) processors.

A possible option for using AMD chipsets is the MSI 970A-G43 board, which is distinguished by its functionality and relatively affordable price (from 4,500 rubles).

For Intel processors, the same manufacturer MSI can offer the B150M PRO-VDH model, the cost of which starts from 5,000 rubles.

For a budget gaming computer

Buying a gaming computer most often involves more serious expenses than when choosing an office option - such equipment will require more memory, a powerful processor, and a discrete video card.

However, if you want to save money, you can try to reduce the final cost of the computer, starting with the motherboard.

The MSI A78M-E45 model (about 4,000 rubles) is quite enough to run modern gaming applications with minimal or medium settings.

The board has a built-in graphics card, which in the future can be supplemented with a discrete one (even two), supports FM2+ processors and installation of up to 64 GB of DDR3 RAM (more affordable than the latest generations of RAM).

The ASROCK B150M PRO4S/D3 model (for Intel), which can be purchased for 5,300 rubles, has approximately the same capabilities.

For a powerful gaming PC

A motherboard that meets fairly strict requirements will help you achieve maximum performance.

The first of them is a high load, reaching almost 1000 W when connecting all gaming devices (manipulators, several video cards and monitors, a powerful processor and a powerful cooling system).

In addition, such a board requires at least 4 memory slots and an M.2 connector for SSD hard drives.

All these characteristics are found in the ASROCK FATAL1TY 970 PERFORMANCE/3.1 model (supports AMD FX 9590 and 9370 processors), which can be called the best for gaming.

Although it is also suitable for any other tasks, it’s just that not every user will agree to pay almost twice as much for it. The average price of such a board is in the range of 8.5–10 thousand rubles.

Results

When choosing a video card that suits your needs and capabilities, it is worth considering several options with equal characteristics.

For applications that do not require resources, and especially for working exclusively with documents, models released 2-3 years ago are quite suitable - this will most likely be a board with acceptable parameters and price.

For those who are assembling a gaming computer, it is advisable to opt for the most modern board, which will not become outdated for a long time, and the components for which can be painlessly changed for several more years.

Have a nice shopping!

If you decide to assemble a computer from independent components yourself, read our other materials about choosing a motherboard:

and about choosing a suitable video card:


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