Things To Consider Before Choosing a Motherboard for Your Build

Discover how to select the ideal motherboard for your build, with key considerations including form factor, CPU support, storage options, expansion capabilities, and more.

As the name suggests, the motherboard is the foundation of your PC. It connects all the components together and ensures your system starts up systematically. This is why making the right motherboard choice is vital when building a PC. This article covers the key factors to consider before selecting a motherboard for your build.

Note: The topics discussed in this article are surface-level knowledge, which is compulsory for a builder. Explaining the internal architecture of a motherboard and covering elements such as VRM, MOSFETs, LLC, I/O, etc., in detail will make this article extensive.

CPU Socket Compatibility for Your Motherboard

Gigabyte Aorus Series Motherboard (Image via Gigabyte)

With vendors naming their products within the margin of each other, it’s easy to buy an AMD motherboard and pair an Intel CPU. For example, Intel has the Z890 as their high-end chipset, and AMD has the X870, just a few numbers here and there, and the average person getting into building a PC is likely to do this, and there are countless memes across the internet giving the same idea. Here is how you can differentiate, by looking at the socket naming:

For Intel CPUs:

LGA 1851: Supports Intel Core Ultra series processors
LGA 1700: Supports Intel Core 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen processors
LGA 1200: Compatible with 10th and 11th Gen Intel Core CPUs

For AMD CPUs:

AM5: Latest socket for Ryzen 7000 series and newer, supports DDR5
AM4: Compatible with Ryzen 1000 through 5000 series processors

Always verify that your chosen CPU and motherboard have matching socket types before purchasing.

Form Factor Considerations

ASRock B650E PG-ITX — A mini-ITX motherboard (Image via ASRock)

Depending on your build’s form factor, either ATX, SFF, E-ATX, etc., motherboards come in different sizes, each with its own perks.

ATX (12″ × 9.6″)

Standard size with maximum expansion options.
Best cooling potential and component spacing.
Requires larger cases for best compatibility.

Micro-ATX (9.6″ × 9.6″)

Balanced size with moderate expansion options
Good value proposition
Compatible with most cases

Mini-ITX (6.7″ × 6.7″)

Most compact option for small form factor builds
Limited expansion capabilities
Often more expensive despite fewer features
ITX builds offer incredible portability

Your case must accommodate your chosen motherboard size, so select your form factor based on space requirements and expansion needs.

Chipset Selection

The chipset determines the capabilities of your motherboard and the features it offers.

Intel Chipsets

Z-series (Z690/Z790): Premium option with full overclocking support
B-series (B660/B760): Mid-range with balanced features
H-series (H610): Budget-oriented with basic functionality

AMD Chipsets:

X-series (X570/X670/X870): This is high-end with maximum features. It also carries the E tag for even more goodies, as X670 and X670E are different boards.
B-series (B550/B650): Mid-range with good value
A-series (A620): Entry level, budget-oriented, but offers excellent functionality.

RAM Compatibility

Gigabyte B650I Aorus Ultra — Gigabyte Aorus Series Mini ITX Motherboard (Image via Gigabyte)

RAM compatibility is vital, especially if overclocking terms such as EXPO, XMP, and HOF intrigue you. But for now, here are the basics:

Slot count: Most boards have 2-4 RAM slots; more slots allow for easier upgrades
Maximum capacity: Ensure the board supports your current and future RAM needs
Memory type: Some motherboards support DDR5 memory, while others are designed for DDR4. Intel 12th, 13th, and 14th gen boards come in DDR4 and DDR5 flavors.
Speed support: Verify that the motherboard supports your desired RAM speeds. Also, check the QVL list; otherwise, your superfast memory kit might not run at advertised speeds.

For general use cases, 4-DIMM boards are great, but for seasoned overclockers, 2-DIMM boards work the best.

Expansion and Storage Options

Expansion Slots

PCIe slots: Make sure the motherboard has enough PCIe slots for your GPU and any other add-in cards you plan to use
PCIe generations: Check how many NVMe SSD slots the motherboard supports and verify their maximum speed (e.g., PCIe Gen 4 or Gen 5)
Slot spacing: Consider clearance between slots when planning for multiple GPUs

Storage Connectors

M.2 slots: For NVMe SSDs; check quantity and supported speeds
SATA ports: You use SATA ports to connect traditional hard drives and SATA SSDs. Legacy devices such as CD/DVD drives also use the same.
SATA standard: Ensure SATA 6Gbps (SATA 3.0) support for best performance

It is a good idea to consider your present needs and future expansion plans when looking for storage options in a motherboard.

Connectivity Features

USB Ports

Number and type: Ensure your motherboard selection has enough USB ports, including USB 3.2 and Type-C ports.
Front panel headers: Ensure compatibility with your case’s front panel ports

Networking

Ethernet: Standard on all boards; higher-end models offer faster speeds
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth: Decide if you need wireless connectivity, since some boards include built-in.

Audio

Onboard audio: Quality varies; better boards have superior audio components
Audio output: Ensure compatibility with your speakers/headphones

Don’t pay extra for features you won’t use, but consider future needs as well

Power Delivery and VRMs

ASRock Taichi Lite Series Motherboard has one of the best VRM configurations (Image via ASRock)

Your CPU choice also correlates with high-performance use cases such as overclocking.

VRM quality: Better VRMs provide more stable power delivery
Heatsinks: Ensure adequate cooling for VRMs, especially for overclocking
Power phases: More phases generally indicate better power handling.

This is particularly important if you plan to use high-end CPUs or overclock your system

BIOS Features and Quality

Look for these helpful BIOS features:

BIOS Flashback: Allows BIOS updates without a compatible CPU installed
Debug LEDs/codes: Help troubleshoot boot problems
Overclocking utilities: Important if you plan to tune your system

A good BIOS makes system configuration and troubleshooting much easier

Build Quality and Durability

Quality indicators include these factors affecting the motherboard’s reliability and lifespan.

Heatsink coverage: Better cooling for voltage regulators and the chipset
PCB layers: More layers generally indicate better quality
Component quality: Better capacitors and chokes improve longevity.

Conclusion

When choosing a motherboard, always prioritize compatibility with your CPU and vice versa. Other components, such as RAM and storage options, are also important. A good motherboard balances factors such as ample storage, great build quality, features, and everything mentioned here. A cheap motherboard focuses on the core operational things and skims the rest.

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Things To Consider Before Choosing a Motherboard for Your Build