The best motherboards for 2022 for a gaming PC, according to the blog

Good afternoon, dear readers of my blog. Today on the agenda are the best motherboards for gaming in 2022 and, in part, 2022. And I would immediately like to note how a gaming MP differs from an office one, because we simply feel the indignation of the series “I play Tanks on an old s775 and I don’t know grief.”

Models with a well-thought-out connector architecture, a reinforced power subsystem for overclocking, backlighting (no other way), support for high-speed output ports, and more will be presented here. No office models based on H110 or A320 chipsets. By the way, you can read about chipsets in this article, but I will continue.

And the list will consist of the following representatives:

• Asus Prime Z370-A;
• Asus Rog Maximus X Hero;
• Asus Prime X370-Pro;
• Gigabyte Z370 HD3;
• Gigabyte GA-AB350-Gaming 3;
• MSI X370 XPower Gaming Titanium;
• MSI X470 Gaming Pro Carbon;
• ASRock X370 Killer SLI.

I want to say right away that these boards are purely my idea of ​​a base for a gaming PC. Whether the MP described above is good or you can get something better for the money is up to you to decide. And yes, I deliberately did not take into consideration the top chipsets for enthusiasts (s2066/TR4), because there are still much fewer people willing to build a computer based on them.

Best Budget Intel Motherboard: MSI B250M Gaming Pro

Characteristics:

Form factor : Micro ATX | Socket : LGA-1151 (7th and earlier) | Chipset : Intel B250 | Memory support : dual channel 2 x DDR4 2400 MHz (up to 32 GB) | Multi-GPU support : No | Features : 1 x PCIe M.2 (32-110 mm), Intel Optane Memory Ready

+ Micro ATX form factor;

+ Inexpensive;

– Not much room for expansion;

– Only 2 slots for RAM.

You don't have to break the bank to build a computer on the right base. This board from MSI is an excellent, inexpensive solution. It has limited options for future expansions, making it ideal for a one-off build. Since this is a gaming motherboard, it has support for things like "Mystic Light Sync" which allows you to sync all your RGB lighting with one click.

Price: from €75.83

Asus Prime Z370-A

Here is a full-fledged ATX board in white, designed for Intel processors. What immediately catches your eye is the impressive casing above the rear panel interfaces, as well as the radiators on the south bridge and above the power circuits. The layout of the PCB allows you not to bother with the number of connected expansion cards, be it GPU, SSD or PCI devices.

The Prime series is that golden mean between “inexpensive” and “how did I ever live without this.” So I recommend ASUS PRIME Z370-A for purchase.

The model, built on the Z370 chipset for s1151v2 socket, is designed for Coffee Lake processors, including the top-end Intel Core i7-8700K with an unlocked multiplier. Everything here allows you to achieve higher frequencies of hardware: chip, video card, memory and more. RAM goes up to 4000 MHz, and therefore it will be more difficult to get such strips than to add several hundred megahertz to them.

Huge selection of expansion ports, including M.2, USB-C and USB 3.1 10 Gbps.

Best Budget AMD Motherboard: Asus Prime A320M-K

Characteristics:

Form factor : Micro ITX | Socket : AMD AM4 | Chipset : AMD A320 | Memory support : single channel 2 x DDR4 3,200 MHz (up to 32 GB) | Multi-GPU support : No | Features : 1 x PCIe M.2

+ Great price;

– Limited expansion.

Budget builds are almost always based on AMD hardware. Not because AMD is "budget", but because they are cheaper than Intel and Nvidia. Start your build with a good, inexpensive base, with this motherboard from ASUS. It has everything you need to make a decent PC build without breaking the bank. It doesn't have any visual flair, but hey, it's a budget solution.

Price: from €54.94

Asus Rog Maximus X Hero

Here is a top-end MP on the Z370 with a stunning aggressive design and amazing outstanding overclocking capabilities of any components. It is able to keep the RAM frequency at 4133 MHz, and this is only the figure officially declared by the manufacturer. In fact, the situation is even better.

The enhanced power subsystem, coupled with the CBO, makes it possible to achieve a stable 5 GHz for Intel Core i7 processors, the Coffee Lake generation. All that remains is to get money to buy it and everything will be in chocolate.

Cool SupremeFX S1220 audio subsystem, 5 USB 3.1, USB-C ports, post-code indicator, firmware, overclocking and BIOS reset buttons, as well as backlight, where would we be without it. Buy and never know grief.

Gaming boards

Intel DN2800MT

Intel DN2800MT motherboard. An advanced platform running on the Intel NM10 chipset and supporting VPro technology (remote interaction with BIOS). One of the advantages is its small dimensions, which will definitely fit even in a cramped case. Integrated sound - based on Realtek ALC88S, standard network controller.

The dimensions of the board are unusually compact - no more than 25 centimeters on each side. One of the downsides is the focus on the same compact and low-power processors of the Atom line, which is why you shouldn’t count on the exorbitant power of the finished PC. And there are not enough connectors for memory slots - exactly 2, which support a maximum of 4 GB and DDR3 at a speed of 1066 MHz.

It’s hard to call such specifications sufficient for 2022, much less “gamer-friendly.” But, if you need a modest PC that can easily fit right on your computer desk and decorate your system, then the Intel DN2800MT is a worthy, although not ideal, option.

GIGABYTE GA-B150-HD3 DDR3

GIGABYTE GA-B150-HD3 DDR3 (rev. 1.0). Chipset – Intel H100 with full compatibility with Intel Core 6 and 7 series processors. There are 4 slots for RAM with support for dual-channel mode (modules – DDR4) and a total “capacity” of up to 32 GB.

Among the advantages over competitors are high-quality assembly, a critically low price (it’s a pity to find at least two copies on sale - it’s a real challenge), support for SATA Express technology (the total data transfer speed exceeds 15 Gbit/s). The manufacturer did not forget to add EasyTune and Cloud Station tools to the mandatory software for analyzing and monitoring the system and lightning-fast and safe overclocking.

The downside is the difficulty of searching: even advanced online stores rarely have a powerful new product from GIGABYTE on sale.

Z370 Aorus Gaming 7

The Z370 Aorus Gaming 7 motherboard is an amazing tool from Gigabyte with an aggressive design and a variety that stands out from its competitors - silver heatsinks, logos, and menus with special and expressive RGB backlighting are visible on the board, which, if desired, turns even an inexpressive case into a desktop decoration .

Form factor Z370 – ATX. Chipset – Intel Z370, supported socket – 1151 V2 (there will definitely be no problems with new processors). Among the surprises are Sound Blaster 720 technology, powerful network controllers and gold-plated HDMI and 3.5 mm connectors. However, if the aesthetic qualities of a motherboard are the last thing you need, then GIGABYTE will not disappoint here either - the Z370 still has no competitors in terms of overclocking.

As experts suggest, with sufficient cooling, even beginners at home will jump the 5 GHz bar. Well, in addition to this power will be RAM up to 64 gigabytes and a card from NVidia or AMD in SLI or CrossFire mode.

MSI B250M Gaming Pro

The word “gaming” attached to potential computer components immediately forces buyers to increase their budget by 10 or even 15 percent.

The marketing is too cruel and the manufacturers are too cunning. MSI B250M is a pleasant exception to the established realities of the market. The price of a powerful board with 2 RAM slots (up to 32 gigabytes with a purity of 2400 MHz), an LGA-1151 socket (7th generation and younger versions) and a single GPU connector ranges from 5-7 thousand. It is unlikely that competitors will be able to offer solutions with similar specifications for the same modest cost.

Potential downsides include limited options for subsequent upgrades. Processors older than 7 series will no longer be suitable, the slots will run out sooner or later, and video cards can no longer be added to SLI or Crossfire, but for a one-time trip into the world of modern entertainment, MSI’s power will definitely be enough. And those who have never encountered RGB backlighting will be able to touch the “beauty” without having to rob the nearest bank.

Asus ROG Strix Z370-I Gaming

The Mini-ITX form factor is a rarity on the motherboard market, and therefore ASUS is diligently increasing the available variety and offering interesting new products that will not become standard “plugs” for office PCs, but will help to fit the bestial grin of advanced technologies into a compact case.

The advantages are compact size, amazing assembly, proper distribution of space on the board, cooling, USB 3.1 (Type-C) and reliability in every millimeter - from the power supply to the controllers and the chipset that supports extreme overclocking.

The specifications are generally interesting - 32 GB of RAM (dual-channel mode - in place), support for the LGA-1151 socket (as a result, there will be no problems with either the i3-8100 or new products like the i7-8700K, which, as ROG Strix owners suggest Z370, accelerate to 5 GHz). It's a pity, NVidia SLI or AMD CrossFire can only be a dream...

MSI X370 Gaming Pro Carbon

Motherboard MSI X370 Gaming Pro Carbon. Support for liquid cooling and manual fan control tools to maintain optimal temperatures in the computer case, work on the AMD X370 chipset (ideal connection with the Ryzen line) and special PCI-E ports, reinforced with metal inserts developed using Steel Armor technology to securely mount even heavy video cards from NVidia or AMD - an unexpected board from MSI - a real revelation in the genre of “gaming” platforms for assembly, deserving only the highest ratings.

And the main reason for this is balance. The manufacturer thought through cooling and appearance (brightness in details and outstanding aggressive design, complemented by RGB backlights), moderated the price and did not forget about support for CrossFire and SLI, and the presence of 4 slots for RAM up to 64 gigabytes. If you really want to look into the red camp, then the MSI X370 is the ideal tool for any gamer.

ASRock AB350 Gaming-ITX

ASRock AB350 Gaming-ITX board. An unexpected contender that made it to the top gaming motherboards of 2022, built on the Mini-ITX form factor and supporting the AM4 socket. The standard chipset is B350.

On the plus side, it has an ideal build from the very first revision, support for up to 32 GB of RAM, the ability to overclock out of the box and without additional settings. The downside is its compactness, which forces you to give up two video cards and 4 RAM slots.

ASRock X399 Professional Gaming sTR4

The most expensive representative of the top, aimed at those who are not afraid to spend “extra” (the price ranges from 35 thousand rubles!). 4-way support for SLI and Quad CrossFire, 4 slots for RAM with a speed of 3200 MHz with a total capacity of a fabulous 128 gigabytes, the socket is sTR4, and the chipset is the famous X399, turning a home computer system into an entertainment-eating monster. The main disadvantage of such a platform is the price. But, if the budget doesn’t put a strain on your pocket, then why not? In addition, ASRock definitely has no competitors in this segment.

Asus Prime X370-Pro

And here is an excellent board for AM4, i.e. for AMD processors. A very restrained and even ascetic design, with a minimum of decorative elements, immediately catches your eye. The power circuit radiators are small, but they perform their functions perfectly, and the user doesn’t need anything else.

The device allows you to place up to 3 video cards from AMD; fortunately, the same number of full-fledged PCI-E (x16+x4 or x8+x8) are soldered onto the PCB.

There is support for M.2 drives of unlimited length, as well as the ability to install up to 64 GB of RAM with frequencies above 2666 MHz. Flashing the BIOS to the latest version will make it possible to install top-end Ryzen 2xxx.

Best motherboard for mining

If the motherboards presented above are perfect for both casual users and more for gamers, then this motherboard is well suited for cryptocurrency miners.

ASRock H110 Pro BTC+

• Form factor: ATX
• Connector type: Socket 1151
• Chipset: Intel H110
• Maximum RAM: 32 GB

ASRock H110 Pro BTC+ is truly the best motherboard for mining as it was specifically designed for this purpose. It is possible to install 13 connectors, which allow you to install up to 13 video cards.

conclusions

This article looked at the best motherboards of 2022 for both a gaming PC and a mining machine.

We hope we helped you decide which motherboard is best to choose. We would also like to draw your attention to the form factor of motherboards and the compatibility of the processor and motherboard.

If you want to start mining cryptocurrencies, then you should pay attention to the best motherboards for mining. Although we showed one motherboard for mining, you can also find motherboards that support a large number of video cards.

Gigabyte Z370 HD3

Let's dilute the dominance of ASUS with a competitive product from Gigabyte. Its functionality almost completely repeats the capabilities of its predecessor, and visually the differences in the design are insignificant. Another thing is that the board is designed for Intel Coffee Lake, but the chipset allows you to overclock processors with an unlocked multiplier.

Of the features, it is worth noting the really low price, support for up to 64 GB of RAM with a frequency of 4000 MHz+ and 4 USB 3.1 first generation.

Otherwise, this is a reference MP, practically devoid of shortcomings. The lack of backlighting may even be beneficial for some - there is too much of it everywhere now.

Gigabyte X299 AORUS Ultra Gaming

Finally, we have a top-notch gaming motherboard from Gigabyte, another top motherboard manufacturer that stands shoulder to shoulder with Asus and MSI.

The Gigabyte X299 AORUS Ultra Gaming is as big as its name. This is one of the most advanced (and expensive) motherboards currently on the market, and you'll soon see why. In terms of design, the main body of the board is mostly black, decorated with dark gray patterns, heatsinks fit well into the color scheme and perfect RGB backlighting.

Supported Hardware

• Processors – With an LGA2066 socket and X299 chipset, the Aorus Ultra Gaming motherboard is designed for the 7th generation of Intel X-series processors, the most powerful currently on the market. What's more, it supports Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0, allowing you to get the absolute maximum out of these already powerful processors.
• Graphics Cards - The motherboard has a total of 5 PCIe 3.0 slots and can run in NVIDIA Quad-GPU SLI and 3-Way/2-Way NVIDIA SLI modes with PCIe speed and number of GPUs depending on the processor model.
• RAM – As expected from a high-end motherboard, it has a total of 8 RAM slots, supporting a maximum RAM capacity of 128GB with speeds up to 4400MHz.

Additional features

• RGB Fusion - The Aorus Ultra Gaming motherboard comes with more advanced lighting. The LEDs can be customized in great detail and in almost any way, and you can also switch between different presets. In addition, additional RGB strips can be added.
• High-quality sound card - In addition to using the most advanced Realtek ALC 1220 audio codec, the sound card is also equipped with a smart headphone amplifier and Creative SoundBlaster 720˚ audio engine.
• Advanced Cooling – The motherboard features SmartFan 5 technology designed to optimize cooling and optimize gaming experience with nine temperature sensors. There are also eight additional pin connectors for installing six fans and two water pumps.
• Intel Optane Technology - Naturally, a motherboard designed to work with the most powerful Intel processors will also support Optane technology. As always, it provides an excellent alternative to SSDs, although it can't quite match their performance.

Flaws

• High Price – Considering that we are talking about one of the best motherboards designed to work with Intel i9 processors, in addition to all its other features, it is obvious that it will cost a lot. Although this price shouldn't be too much of an issue for users looking to buy the aforementioned line of processors, which are much more expensive.
• Ambiguous compatibility - The 8th generation of processors is on its way and it is unclear whether the new i9 processors will be compatible with the X299 chipset or whether a newer version will be required. There is a chance that a BIOS update will make the X299 chipset compatible with them, especially since they have done it before and we are talking about a very high quality motherboard.

pros

• Intel X-series support
• Optimized smart cooling for better gaming and overclocking experience
• 2-Way and 3-Way SLI/CrossFireX
• Maximum RAM capacity

Minuses

• Expensive
• May not be compatible with 8th generation i9 processors

Gigabyte GA-AB350-Gaming 3

An aggressive black and red color scheme, the Gaming inscription on the heatsink of the south bridge, reinforced PCI-E slots for video cards and expansion cards - all this is Gigabyte Gaming 3 for the AM4 socket. Perhaps this is one of the cheapest MPs on our list, since it is built on the B350 chipset, but its functionality is as balanced as possible and does not require modification with a file.

The board runs without problems with RAM at 3200 MHz and higher. AMD has long ago solved the problem of starting with its processors by creating new BIOS firmware, and therefore you won’t have to be nervous and dance with a tambourine.

There is backlighting, but it is as organic as possible and does not catch the eye. But the expansion ports are located as well as possible and in a large assortment.

MSI H270 GAMING M3

The first motherboard on our list is from MSI, one of the top four motherboard manufacturers. The model in question is the MSI H270 Gaming M3, an affordable yet powerful and well-designed motherboard.

The Gaming M3 is mostly all black, with red lines and raised plastic heat spreaders, one of which has the MSI logo on it. To give it a special gaming focus, it is equipped with customizable RGB lighting.

Supported Hardware

• Processors - the motherboard is equipped with an LGA1151 socket and the previous generation H270 chipset, which allows full support for Intel processors of the 6th and 7th generations. Unfortunately, not compatible with the latest version of 8.
• Graphics Cards – With two PCIex16 slots, the motherboard can accommodate two full-size graphics cards. However, only 2-Way AMD CrossFireX is supported, not Nvidia's SLI, the latter of which is quite rare among low-cost motherboards.
• RAM – The M3 has four RAM slots and supports dual-channel configurations. In addition, DDR4 memory modules with speeds up to 2400 MHz and a total RAM capacity of up to 64 GB are supported.

Additional features

• Mystic Light Sync – As mentioned above, the motherboard features customizable RGB lighting, which is not often found in this price range. It can operate in several modes, can be controlled remotely and even expanded with additional RGB strips.
• Advanced Cooling Options - There are a total of six fan headers to customize the cooling of your computer. Moreover, the possibility of installing water cooling is supported.
• Intel Optane Technology Ready - You'll be able to take advantage of this feature on 7th generation Intel processors and above, which is a great way to improve hard drive performance if you can't afford an SSD.
• VR Ready - not all latest generation chipsets support VR, but the H270 does. So, you don't need to worry about any problems if you already own or are planning to buy a VR headset in the near future.

Flaws

• There is no foundation for the future - the H270 chipset does not support the latest 8th generation Coffee Lake processors. There is a possibility that Intel could make it transition compatible via a BIOS update, as they did with some H1XX chipsets, but this is unlikely.
• Chipset does not support CPU overclocking – Another disadvantage of the H270 chipset is that it does not support CPU overclocking. This also ties into the previous point, as overclocking your 6th or 7th generation processor can be a good way to bring its performance up to par with newer processors.

pros

• Supports two AMD graphics cards
• Customizable and expandable RGB lighting
• Excellent value for money and quality

Minuses

• No reserve for the future
• There is no way to overclock processors

MSI X370 XPower Gaming Titanium

A powerful and at the same time beautiful motherboard for AMD Ryzen processors. White PCB is a rather rare occurrence on the gaming hardware market. And the combination of white, black and the complete absence of LED backlighting is practically nonsense. This is what MSI buys for a potential buyer who wants to build a top-end PC.

Attention has been paid to every detail, including the enhancement of PCI-E and DDR4 ports. Mosfets radiators look solid and fundamental. The audio path and outputs on the rear panel are covered with decorative covers, which only adds points to the MP status.

But what many people definitely don’t expect is a 24+8+4+6 pin power system. Dreaming of overclocking? Forward.

ASRock A320M-HDV

ASRock is a motherboard manufacturer that used to be known mostly for low-cost, uncomplicated devices, although they have since moved into the realm of high-end gaming motherboards. We will still look at a motherboard that falls into the previous category.

The ASRock A320M-HDV is a surprisingly powerful and reliable device despite its low price. Outwardly, it is not attractive, since the general lack of aesthetic elements combined with its small size is not very impressive, not like more expensive gaming motherboards. But when it comes to performance, the board is unlikely to disappoint.

Supported Hardware

• Processor – Using the AM4 socket and A320 chipset, this motherboard is designed to work with AMD's new Ryzen series of processors as well as their older A-series
• Video Card - The motherboard only has one PCIex16 slot, which is understandable given that it is a Micro ATX board.
• RAM – Due to the physical size of the motherboard, it is limited to only two RAM slots, but this is not enough for most users. It supports up to 32GB of RAM in a dual-channel configuration and also supports speeds of up to 3200 MHz.

Additional features

• VR Ready - It may be small and deceptively cheap, but the ASRock A320M-HDV is ready to handle VR if your graphics card is up to the task.
• Durable Design - Durability is the least expected of a motherboard in this price range. While it may not be as durable as premium options, the A320M-HDV is designed to withstand high-voltage, high-humidity environments.

Flaws

• Limited space - Apart from one PCIe x16 slot, which will be used for the graphics card, the motherboard only has one additional PCIe x1 slot. This limits future expansion options such as a discrete sound card or internal capture card.
• No Overclocking - When you think of an AMD processor, you think of overclocking. Indeed, every Ryzen processor can be overclocked. Unfortunately, the A320 chipset doesn't support overclocking, so if you're looking for a motherboard that will allow you to push your processor to its limits, you're better off looking at a more expensive alternative.

pros

• High quality budget motherboard
• Supports high speed RAM
• VR Ready

Minuses

• Only one PCIex1 expansion slot
• Does not support overclocking

MSI X470 Gaming Pro Carbon

And again MSI, and again for AMD Ryzen, and again a top-end chipset, only this time from the updated 2022 line for second-generation processors. Unlike the previous version, this board is completely black, and the casing near the mosfets and the radiator above the south bridge have a “carbon fiber” texture, which seems to justify the name of the series. And the picture looks great.

There is also a separate M.2 with an additional heatsink, several ports in the spirit of the top chipset, and reinforced ports for RAM and GPU. And the picture is crowned with neat, uniform illumination.

Yes, the power layout here is also non-standard, namely 24+8+8 pin.

Which motherboard to choose

Before choosing a motherboard, you should decide which motherboard you need to choose, since the compatibility of the processor and motherboard is a really important issue.

• CPU and motherboard compatibility

As we have already repeated many times before choosing components, you should decide on the future processor. Namely, you should pay attention to the type of connector on the motherboard and the type of connector on the processor itself, they must be compatible.

• Motherboard form factor

The form factor of the motherboard is also very important to consider when assembling a computer. Because form factor is a standard that determines the dimensions of a motherboard.

The most popular form factors are ATX, MicroATX and Mini-ITX, which are compatible with ATX format system units. Simply put, in a system unit that supports ATX form factor motherboards, you can easily install motherboards with the form factors mentioned above, but not vice versa.

ASRock X370 Killer SLI.

This top would not be complete if it were not for the 4th key market player - ASRock. Black and white design, nice branded south bridge lighting, decorative casings and appropriate radiators above the power circuits. Essentially, nothing superfluous.

There is full support for SLI, there are 2 M.2 slots, as well as several PCI-E connectors (2 full-size + 4 PCI-Ex1). In a good way, the board can even be used for mining if the desire arises, but it is more suitable for gamers.

Any Ryzen will run like a charm on it.

Best Mini-ITX AMD Motherboard: ASRock AB350 Gaming-ITX

Characteristics:

Form factor : Mini-ITX | Socket : AM4 | Chipset : AMD B350 | Memory Support : Dual Channel 2 x DDR4 3.466MHz (up to 32GB) | Multi-GPU support : No | Features : 1 x M.2 (M Key)

+ Fast RAM speed;

+ Built-in graphics support;

– RAM limit 32 GB.

Small and powerful, ASRock's motherboard is a beast, supporting memory overclocking speeds of up to 3.466 MHz for processors that support it. If that's not enough to get your engine going, it also supports 4K resolutions and full Blu-ray support via HDMI ports. Yes, ports: it has two, as well as built-in video support.

Price: from €109.99

Results

What would I ultimately recommend? Fans of overclocking AMD processors will certainly appreciate the MSI X370 XPower Gaming Titanium. Here the power subsystem is so developed that at the time the Ryzen 7 2700x can drive up to 4.3 GHz across all cores. Yes, and there is no intrusive backlight, although here it is up to anyone.

To the Intel camp I would like to recommend the Asus Rog Maximus X Hero. In essence, this is the people's flagship with unlimited possibilities. And the design here is also amazing, although ASUS simply don’t know any other way. That's all for me friends, don't forget to share with your friends on social networks and subscribe to my blog updates, bye.

Sincerely, author Andrey Andreev

Choosing a motherboard - what to look for

You already know that the absolutely critical element to consider when choosing a motherboard is its socket and chipset. What else is worth paying attention to?

Internal motherboard ports

The first thing you should pay attention to is the internal ports. On all motherboards you will find PCIe connectors, RAM slots and SATA ports. However, it is necessary to pay attention to how many there are and what type they are. Let's look at the most popular and most important of them.

Let's start with RAM slots . As a rule, they are found in quantities of two, four or eight pieces. It's important to pay attention to the type of memory supported - currently the newest and most popular type is DDR4 sticks. Depending on the motherboard chipset, the maximum clock frequency may vary (the higher the chipset, the higher the frequency).

PCIe ports are used to connect video cards, sound cards or any other expansion cards. There are several types of this connector: x16, x8, x4, x1. They differ in data throughput. PCIe x16 is the most efficient and reaches a throughput of about 32 GB/sec. Currently, most motherboards are equipped with the latest version 3.0 connector.

You can connect HDD, SSHD and SSD to the SATA connector Currently, the fastest standard is SATA-III, which reaches a throughput of about 6 Gbit/s.

The M.2 connector is a new standard that is used to connect SSD hard drives. Please note which bus this port works with. This can be either SATA III or PCIe - the second guarantees higher performance. Additional acceleration will be provided by support for the NVMe protocol. Various sizes of such drives are also available, however, most motherboards are ready for this.

Another thing to pay attention to is the front panel ports . In addition, of course, to connectors for turning on and restarting the computer, you can find USB and audio ports on the panel. It is worth making sure that the motherboard has a sufficient number of at least USB 3.0 connectors.

Motherboard fan headers One of them is always dedicated to cooling the processor (usually signed CPU_FAN). You may also encounter a water pump connector - useful when using water cooling.

Other connectors you can find on MOBO, such as the LED strip connector or the U.2 port.

I/O panel

That is, the input/output panel, which is located on the back of the case. Typically, peripheral devices such as a mouse, keyboard, monitor or printer are connected to it. What ports are useful there?

Let's start with PS/2 , which is slowly becoming a thing of the past. This is the port to which the mouse and keyboard are connected, however, currently such accessories use a USB connector. However, if your accessories have round plugs, it is worth remembering that the board has such a connector.

too USB ! In addition to the mentioned keyboard and mouse, it is often used to connect a printer, external drive, flash drive or, for example, a gamepad. In case you want to use this port for file transfer, it is good that it is of the highest standard - USB 3.2, 3.1 or 3.0. Motherboards with USB Type C inputs are also available today.

Each motherboard also has a video output . This is especially important if you are using processor-integrated graphics. So pay attention to what input your monitor uses - it could be one of the older VGA or DVI connectors, or the newer HDMI or DisplayPort.

Next comes the RJ-45 connector , an ethernet port, which is used to connect a cable from the Internet. This connector is located on every motherboard.

The motherboard must also have audio connectors . They are used to connect headphones, speakers and microphones. Depending on the sound system, a different number of outputs (3 or 6) may be available.

Built-in sound card

Nowadays, every motherboard has its own sound chip. If you are not an audiophile, but sound quality is important to you, pay attention to what chip the motherboard manufacturer has implemented. If sound is of paramount importance to you, buy an external sound card.

Currently, Realtek chips are by far the most popular. There are several models available, and below we have ordered them from the best:

• ALC 1220
• ALC 1150
• ALC 892
• ALC 887

Before choosing, you should check whether the sound chip is protected from interference. This solution increases the cost of production, therefore it is found in more expensive models of motherboards, however, it reduces the level of signal distortion and noise. Manufacturers often emphasize this by highlighting the audio system with LED lighting.

Additional motherboard modules

Motherboards can have additional modules installed, such as Wi-Fi or bluetooth . If you plan to use the services of such a solution, instead of purchasing additional accessories, look for models equipped with the appropriate modules.

Manufacturer technologies

Often, motherboards, in addition to the main components and functions, offer something extra. Manufacturers use different names, usually for the same functions.

• Reinforced Design – You will often find motherboards that are made from more durable materials, the PCIe connector has additional reinforcement, and the remaining connectors are abrasion resistant.
• Overclocking support – Some motherboards have ready-made overclocking settings. Simply select the appropriate option in UEFI and MOBO will automatically set the processor frequency and voltage.
• Sound quality improvement is one of the most commonly used additives.
• Network connectivity support is a technique that improves communication quality and reduces interference and delays.

These are, of course, just a few of them. The list of technologies used by motherboard manufacturers is very long.

MSI B450 GAMING PLUS MAX motherboard

Reasonable price is not the only positive quality that the MSI B450 GAMING PLUS MAX motherboard has - there are other excellent characteristics. For example, it should be noted that this product has an optimal power level and will be able to work at a decent level with both a quad-core processor and those devices that have a higher level of performance.

In addition, the MSI B450 GAMING PLUS MAX motherboard located on this page boasts a high level of reliability, and this is important. The AMD B450 chipset is presented here, which is responsible for the stable operation of the device. In addition, support for CrossFire and SATA RAID should be mentioned. The device's natural frequency is 2667 MHz. Memory is represented by 4 slots.

GIGABYTE GA-B250M-DS3H motherboard (rev. 1.0)

Gigabyte motherboards use gold-plated processor socket contacts. This guarantees reliable connection, protection of contacts from corrosion and stable operation of the system throughout its entire service life.

Gigabyte motherboards with Dual BIOS technology have 2 separate chips containing the board BIOS. To make things easier to understand, let’s call them “main” and “backup”. If the “main” copy of the BIOS was damaged at any time, the “backup” one will automatically replace it the next time the system boots and restore it in the shortest possible time. In case of any damage to the “main” BIOS, whether as a result of a computer virus attack or incorrect flashing, the “backup” chip will replace it and restore it automatically.

The ability to scale allows you to optimize the performance of the video subsystem and implement configurations demanded by true fans of computer games who require maximum frame rates at the highest possible screen resolution without sacrificing performance.

What is the best board to buy for AMD in 2022?

Thus, for up to $100 you can get a board with support for light overlocking capabilities (maximum for overclocking on the X370 chipset). A budget of around $150 allows you to get more advanced RGB lighting, more radiators, stabilizers and ports. Premium motherboards that match the latest innovations start from $200. With their help, it will not be difficult to cope with the performance of AMD Threadripper. If you don’t know which motherboard to buy for Ryzen, we suggest summarizing:

1. The best gaming motherboard for Ryzen is Asus ROG CROSSHAIR VIII Dark Hero;
2. Budget compact model (micro-ATX) – PRIME B450M-A
3. A good AM4 model for price and quality is ASRock Fatal1ty B450 Gaming K4;
4. The best premium motherboard is Asus ROG CROSSHAIR VIII IMPACT.

MSI MAG B460 TOMAHAWK motherboard

The MAG series products are aimed at users, especially novice gamers, who prefer easy-to-use and reliable solutions. Thoroughly tested, they simply do what they are designed to do consistently.

The MAG B460 TOMAHAWK motherboard has a pair of Ethernet ports (2.5G and Gigabit Ethernet), which allow you to transfer data over a wired network with high speed and low latency. The LAN Manager utility can automatically detect the type of applications that use the network connection and give highest priority to the most important ones.

Supports 10th Gen Intel® Core™/Pentium®/Celeron® processors for LGA 1200 socket

Supports DDR4 memory up to 2933(Max) MHz

Efficient cooling system: large power radiator and M.2 Shield Frozr technology

Lightning USB 20G interface (USB Type-C connector): ASMedia 3241 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 controller provides data transfer speeds up to 20 Gbps with USB Type-C

The latest network standards: built-in Gigabit LAN controllers, 2.5G Ethernet.

Turbo M.2 interface: connects high-speed solid-state drives in PCIe Gen3 x4 mode.

Audio Boost: High-quality sound that creates a unique atmosphere in games.

Supports 2-Way CrossFire™ multi-GPU graphics configurations, reinforced PCIe Steel Armor slots

⇡#Test bench, methodology and software

Even before testing budget H310 boards, it was obvious that the flagship six-core Core i7-8700K would not work stably in programs such as LinX and Prime95. Therefore, testing of motherboards was carried out with three processors at once. Although all test participants support the top-end Coffee Lake, buyers will probably install cheaper 6-core models in them, or even something simpler.

Stability testing consisted of two parts. First we looked at how the boards behave in games. For this test, such projects as “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt”, Fallout 4, GTA V and Battlefield 1 were sequentially launched on the stands. Then we turned on the LinX 0.9.1 program - it was in it that the weakest sides of those considered in this were manifested devices article.

It is important to understand that the LinX program is one of the most serious load tools for modern Intel processors. Practice shows that most other resource-intensive applications that we use in everyday life do not load the system this way. Although there are exceptions - for example, the x265 encoder actively uses AVX2 instructions. Nevertheless, stable operation of the computer in LinX is a guarantee that the system will not subsequently overheat, throttle, or become unstable.

The test benches used a maintenance-free NZXT Kraken X61 air cooler - this “water cooler” does an excellent job of cooling even the Core i7-8700K, but you need to understand that the VRM zones of the motherboards were not additionally cooled during testing. Other components are listed in the table below.

After stress testing, the performance level of the test systems was determined. The set of applications, games and benchmarks is as follows:

• 3DMark Professional Edition 2.2.3509. Time Spy test, DirectX 12.
• "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt." Full HD resolution, maximum quality, HBAO+, AA, NVIDIA HairWorks off.
• GTA V. Full HD resolution, DirectX 11, maximum quality, AA off, 16 × AF.
• Blender 2.79. Determining the final rendering speed in one of the popular free 3D graphics packages. The duration of building the final model from Blender Cycles Benchmark rev4 is measured.
• x265 HD Benchmark. Testing the speed of video transcoding into the promising H.265/HEVC format.
• Corona 1.3. Testing rendering speed by building a standard BTR scene used to measure performance.

⇡#Starting build

The assembly is suitable for modern AAA games using mostly average graphics quality in Full HD resolution. However, in most cases such systems do an excellent job with games that are 5-7 years old.

*In the “Video Card” column for all “Computer of the Month” builds, links to the X-Com Shop catalog are not specifically indicated - this is still useless due to the small number of video cards on sale and their high turnover. In October, data from the e-katalog portal (Moscow region) is used, since in the current situation it is very difficult to adequately assess the availability of goods using just one store.

Today, as part of the “Computer of the Month”, we are talking about motherboards recommended and used in assemblies. Some system blocks in the section have changed over the past month, but nothing radical or noticeable, in my opinion, has happened. It will not be a problem to get the necessary information about choosing other components by reading the previous issues - there is plenty of useful information there. For example, the 6-core Ryzen 5 1600 returned to the starting assembly in October. Why this chip disappeared from sale and why nothing more suitable was found for the same or lower price was discussed in detail in the last issue of “Computer of the Month.”

In September, talking about the launch build, I said: “Even the GIGABYTE B450M S2H V2 board will be quite enough to eventually replace the Ryzen 3 1200 with a peppy 6-core Ryzen 5 5600X. Believe me, your system will become much faster in all applications without exception. But I wouldn’t risk installing 8-core Zen chips of the latest series in such a board.” In response to this statement, the following comment “flew in”:

Of course, the cheapest boards can handle processors whose power consumption does not exceed 64 W, but only modern chips have noticeably higher power. The TDP level indicated by the manufacturer often indicates a certain average value characteristic of the base clock frequency. In reality, the power consumption of the same Ryzen 7 3700X will easily exceed 100 W in resource-intensive applications, and in some cases, in games.

Here's a clear example: the previously mentioned GIGABYTE B450M S2H V2 was equipped with the Ryzen 7 3800X - an 8-core Zen 2 chip, the power consumption of which, however, turns out to be slightly higher than the same Ryzen 7 3700X. To cool the CPU, a maintenance-free life support system was used, the test bench was open. Yes, the use of dropsy in such conditions increases the load on the power converter of any motherboard, but the operating conditions of the hardware may be different, and it is simply unrealistic to analyze all cases. It is worth considering that in some assemblies that use a similar set of basic hardware, the VRM of the boards will heat up even more even when using a simple air cooler. However, the opposite situation is also possible. In addition, we are dealing with a launch build - it is full of compromises.

As you can see, the GIGABYTE B450M S2H V2 does not provide stable operation of the Ryzen 7 3800X in the Blender application - real software that is used for 3D modeling. In it, the power consumption of the 8-core reaches 142 W, so we are not even talking about any 64 W. But speaking of stress tests, you can choose software that will load the central processor even more - I will give such an example in the second part of the article.

It is important to understand that Computer of the Month builds are recommended for home use and are intended for content consumption, mainly for gaming. In games, the load on the central processor and motherboard is noticeably lower, which is quite natural. In the same testbed with a GIGABYTE B450M S2H V2 and a Ryzen 7 3800X using a GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, the average power consumption of an 8-core AMD card in Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Full HD, maximum quality, but without DXR) was 64 W. However, as soon as I installed the much more processor-dependent GeForce RTX 3080 model into the assembly, the processor power consumption increased by 40 W. The thermal imager images above clearly show that the GIGABYTE B450M S2H V2 can withstand the load in both cases, and therefore the board’s performance in games can be called conditionally stable. Conditionally - because it is possible that in the near future there will be games that can load the central processor even more.

This is why I will never recommend a GIGABYTE B450M S2H V2 class board paired with a really powerful AMD processor in the “Computer of the Month”. It is important for me to provide the reader who “here and now” needs a new system unit with a reliable, stable, compatible and fully working configuration. Although comments in the style of “yes, on my cheapest motherboard all stress tests pass with a bang” and after this clarification will not go anywhere.

By the way, the GIGABYTE B450M S2H V2 board really copes with the Ryzen 5 5600X, although its power converter can still, figuratively speaking, boil in some sealed and unventilated case.

I believe that the potential owner of the starter assembly must answer one very ambiguous question for himself: will the system undergo a radical upgrade over time? This phrase means replacing the video card and central processor. And depending on this, you need to select a motherboard, cooler, power supply and case of the appropriate class. If you seriously want to replace the Ryzen 5 1600 or Core i3-10105F with something noticeably more powerful, my advice to you is: don’t skimp on the motherboard. But at the same time, I fully admit that system units such as the starting assembly are, in most cases, taken on the principle of “someday I’ll completely update my system unit later.”

So, let's go to the website of the category sponsoring store. In the X-Com Shop catalog for the AMD AM4 platform we found:

• 15 motherboards based on the A320 chipset at prices ranging from 4,000 to 8,000 rubles, taking into account slight rounding.
• 30 B450 motherboards priced from 4,500 to 10,000 rubles.
• one motherboard based on the X370 and X470 chipsets. The B350 was not on sale.
• 14 A520 motherboards priced from 5,000 to 9,500 rubles.
• 45 B550 motherboards priced from 6,000 to 26,500 rubles.
• 27 X570 motherboards priced from 13,500 to 49,500 rubles.

It is noticeable that the most popular (and therefore widespread) are devices using the B450 and B550 chipsets. The market has developed in such a way that the most interesting motherboards in the price-quality category belong precisely to these product categories. Motherboards based on the B350, X370 and X470 have practically disappeared from sale.

A320 boards have a number of disadvantages compared to B450 devices - noticeable and not so noticeable. Among the important (for me) shortcomings, I would like to highlight the lack of support for Zen 3 processors; One of the less important ones is the lack of overclocking capabilities for Ryzen chips. For the rest, it is necessary to compare not chipsets, but specific models, since not necessarily all the functions of a particular set of logic will be used in one or another device - and vice versa, because no one forbids a motherboard manufacturer to equip its products with additional controllers and slots. As a result, the ASRock A320M PRO4-F, which is quite suitable for us, costs 4,800 rubles, and the GIGABYTE B450M DS3H V2 costs 5,500 rubles. I don’t see the point in saving 700 rubles, losing the opportunity to replace the same Ryzen 5 1600 with the Ryzen 5 5600X in the future.

In motherboards based on the A520 chipset, the overclocking functions of the central processor are also cut out. Motherboards still do not support the PCI Express 4.0 interface, and some GIGABYTE A520M DS3H, at a price similar to the GIGABYTE B450M DS3H V2, has a better power converter (5+3 versus 4+2 phases, ONSemi 4C10N and 4C06N assemblies are used everywhere) , but devoid of at least some passive cooling. But the most important thing is the lack of official support for the Ryzen 1000 and Ryzen 2000 chips. Yes, I launched the very first “ryazhenkas” on various B550 motherboards from ASUS, but I can’t vouch for all the motherboards on the market that use 500-series chipsets Can.

Finally, when comparing inexpensive B450 solutions with B550 boards, it is necessary to mention a rather noticeable extra charge for PCI Express 4.0 bus support. The same GIGABYTE B550M S2H costs almost 7,000 rubles, and the GIGABYTE B550M DS3H costs a little more than 7,500 rubles. These boards have 8 honest phases (versus six in the GIGABYTE B450M DS3H V2 and GIGABYTE B450M S2H V2), but otherwise the changes are minimal - and they mainly concern functionality. And since we are talking about two thousand savings, the choice is made in favor of a less modern device. Still, within the AM4 generation it is quite possible to do without PCI Express 4.0 (this still requires a specific processor), and the possibilities of working with the same GIGABYTE B450M DS3H V2 with different processors were discussed earlier. Plus, there is absolutely no confidence that all B550 boards, without exception, support the chips recommended in the starting assembly.

A similar, but with its own nuances, picture is observed in the motherboard market for the Intel LGA1200 platform. Boards with different logic sets overlap in price and less modern devices cost less, although they have slight differences in equipment and functionality. Found on sale:

• 10 motherboards based on the H410 Express chipset at prices ranging from 5,500 to 10,500 rubles, taking into account the standard rounding for “Computer of the Month”.
• 14 B460 Express motherboards priced from 6,500 to 14,500 rubles.
• 3 H470 Express motherboards priced from 6,000 to 12,500 rubles.
• 15 Z490 Express motherboards priced from 13,000 to 62,500 rubles.
• 12 H510 Express motherboards priced from 6,000 to 9,000 rubles.
• 30 B560 Express motherboards priced from 7,500 to 20,000 rubles.
• 8 H570 Express motherboards priced from 10,000 to 15,500 rubles.
• 36 Z590 Express motherboards priced from 12,000 to 74,500 rubles.

It is easy to notice that motherboards for LGA1200 cost more than devices designed for the AM4 platform. I again urge you to compare only specific models with each other, but in the budget segment the difference in price is noticeable, as they say, with the naked eye. The reality is that for 6,000 rubles you have to buy outright rubbish, which belongs in office PCs. At the same time, the LGA1200 platform has a large number of limitations, and therefore is inferior to its competitor in terms of functionality.

Thus, all 400 series chipsets with the exception of the Z490 Express are deprived of the ability to overclock the processor. Let’s also add here that not every Core generation chip is equipped with an unlocked multiplier - for overclocking you need to take a model with the letter “K” in the name. But it’s much more unpleasant to see restrictions on working with RAM in 2022. Only Z490 boards support high-frequency RAM modules. The rest of the motherboards in the 400 series have an effective frequency limit of 2933 MHz for Core i7 and Core i9 chips and 2666 MHz for Core i5 and younger.

Another problem with the 400 series chipsets is that many models (even those based on the once flagship Z490 Express set) did not receive support for Rocket Lake processors and will never receive it. And there are versions of Z490 boards that are ready to accommodate the 11th generation Core after updating the BIOS, but supporting the same PCI Express 4.0 interface can still only be a dream, because the manufacturer saved on wiring all the nodes necessary for this.

Fortunately, some of the shortcomings of the 400 series were removed in the 500 series boards. This did not make the motherboards of the previous series any better, but in the context of “Computer of the Month” - an article about new system units - the LGA1200 platform became a little more attractive. In particular, when using a Rocket Lake processor, the slots connected to it will work with a faster version of the interface without any reservations. This also applies to M.2 slots connected to PCI Express processor lines, into which modern high-speed SSDs with PCIe 4.0 support can be installed. A more significant improvement was the appearance of functions for memory overclocking and support for DDR4-3000+ modules out of the box.

Among the imaginary variety of motherboards for the LGA1200 platform, my choice for a starting assembly leans towards inexpensive H510 devices that will be used together with a 4-core Core i3-10105F. Here MSI H510M-A PRO costs 6,000 rubles at Ikskom. The MSI B460M PRO model costs the same amount - in terms of functionality, it is not much different from other H510 analogues. MSI B560M-A PRO costs 7,500 rubles. In the first case, the power converter operates according to a 4+2 phase scheme using SinoPower SM4337NS and SM4503NH assemblies, in the second - 4+1, the B560M-A PRO uses the same power subsystem as in the H510 version.

For options with a higher-quality power converter (for example, ASRock B460M PRO4) you will have to pay 8,000 rubles or more, but truly high-quality boards that can handle any 6-core Rocket Lake under serious load and without restrictions on power consumption cost in the category's partner store starting from 10,000 rubles.

So it turns out that the transition from a budget board of the MSI H510M-A PRO level to, for example, MSI B560M PRO-VDH (power supply circuit - 5+2, power converter elements are equipped with a passive cooling system) requires a noticeable increase in the budget - by 4,000 rubles at least . And that's the price you'll have to pay if you plan to eventually upgrade your Core i3 to a 6-core Rocket Lake. Because the MSI H510M-A PRO class board cannot handle resource-intensive tasks with the youngest in the Core i5-11400 series. In games, the power converter of such motherboards also gets very hot. And the stronger the processor dependence, the higher the temperatures of the VRM circuit elements. The same Core i5-11400 in conjunction with a GeForce RTX 3080 in the game Shadow of the Tomb Raider consumes an average of 90 W - this is noticeably more than the basic specifications of the processor. It turns out that at the moment the Intel starting build is of the “someday I’ll completely update my computer later” option.

The lot of boards like MSI H510M-A PRO are chips from the Core i3 series and younger. The board works absolutely stably with these processors.

In general, it turns out funny: the cheaper and simpler we use a motherboard, the more ventilated the computer case should be. Only inexpensive devices for the AM4 and LGA1200 platforms have a minimum of connectors for connecting fans. The same MSI H510M-A PRO is equipped with only a pair of 4-pin connectors - we will connect the “turntable” of the processor cooler and the case “wind blower” to them. The GIGABYTE B450M DS3H V2 has the same number of ports, and if there are not enough pads for connecting fans, you will have to use adapters and splitters. However, this is not the first time I remind you that the starting assembly always involves some kind of compromise.

GIGABYTE B450M GAMING motherboard (rev. 1.0)

The GIGABYTE B450M GAMING motherboard is perfect for building a high-quality, high-performance computer. The main feature of this model is the use of innovative microcircuits that have a large margin of safety and also have electrostatic protection. Therefore, the device will last a long time even under increased loads.

GIGABYTE B450M GAMING motherboard is compatible with AMD AM4 CPU socket. In addition, it is equipped with large DDR4 RAM for storing a large amount of information. The package includes an excellent cooling system in the form of aluminum radiators that ensure constant air circulation. There is an M.2 port for connecting storage devices, and the network adapter guarantees uninterrupted network operation.

Table of participants in the rating of motherboards for Intel 2021-2022