To build a gaming PC is not a walk on the park. Your PC is only as strong as its weakest link! It can get really confusing very fast if you don’t know what to look for. Generally, there’s a concept for a gaming PC – both, CPU & GPU are the core components. While it remains somewhat true, have you ever thought what about the connection between those components? Is that at par with the PC’s CPU & GPU?
Yes, this is where motherboard comes into play. Like said before, your PC is only as strong as its weakest link, and if you pick a low-quality or straight-up dodgy motherboard then it can cause you issues down the road. You can’t just run in and buy any motherboard.
Two mainstream competitors in the segment: Intel based motherboards and the AMD based. So, while you choose a motherboard you should make sure its socket type should match to that of your CPU’s. Now let’s dive in depth to identify the apt motherboard for your gaming requirements.
- Form Factor (mITX vs mATX vs ATX boards): The form factor is important because accordingly you will require in buying your cabinet casing. ATX is considered as the standard size and the smaller versions of mini ATX and micro ATX are mainly focused on the budget friendly cheaper gaming PC set-ups. As a result, they are limited to expansion or upgradation in future. So, if you have any future plan to take your gaming to the next level start with choosing the right form factor of the motherboard you choose.
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Compatibility of motherboard with RAM: There are 3 factors to consider while checking the compatibility between motherboard and RAM. They are:
- RAM TYPE: There are now only 2 variations when it comes to RAM type. Either the new kid in the block DDR4 which is faster, smoother and more powerful or the its predecessor DDR3 which have been around a while which is much cheaper. So, understand which type your board supports
- RAM Capacity: it’s always good to have more than one RAM and you need to check at the beginning state how many RAMS can your motherboard can support.
- RAM Speed: You must also check that your board supports the specific speed of your RAM. So, if you buy a RAM stick with a speed of 2133Mhz, check in the motherboard specs that it supports 2133Mhz RAM.
- Expansion Slots & USB Ports: If you'll be making upgrades to your build down the line or are adding some extra cards from the get-go such as a sound card, network card, second graphics card, etc. You will want to check that the motherboard you pick has enough expansion slots such as PCI and/or PCI-E (PCI Express) ports.
- SLI and CrossFire Support: If you are planning to set up a secondary graphics card system based on Nvidia SLI or AMD’s CrossFire technology then you need to check whether your board supports either of this tech. Many of the mid-level budget friendly motherboards only support any one of them and not the both. If you are a crazy gaming fanatic and plan to implement any of this in future, it’s best to do your research before you choose your motherboard.
- Audio Support: Are you that kind of a person who gives utmost importance to sound quality and interaction while your gaming? Then we would suggest checking whether your choice of board can support expandable sound card.
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Brand: It is always better to stick on to the trusted and dependable motherboard brands when you are choosing one for gaming purposes. The most trusted among them are Asus, Gigabyte & MSI.
| Category | Motherboard | Socket | Chipset |
| Mini ATX |
Gigabyte B360N
Asus ROG STRIX Z390-I GAMING
MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC
Asus ROG STRIX X470-I Gaming
|
LGA1151
LGA1151
AM4
AM4
|
Intel B360
Intel Z390
AMD B450
AMD X470
|
| Micro ATX |
MSI H310M Gaming Plus
MSI MPG Z390M Gaming Edge AC
MSI B450M PRO-M2
|
LGA1151
LGA1151
AM4
|
Intel H310
Intel Z390
AMD B450
|
| ATX |
MSI Z390-A PRO
MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Edge AC
ASUS ROG Strix B450-F
ASUS ROG Strix X470-F
|
LGA1151
LGA1151
AM4
AM4
|
Intel Z390
Intel Z390
AMD B450
AMD X470
|
3 comments
This blog on choosing the perfect motherboard for a gaming setup has truly been a game-changer for me. As an avid gamer, I’ve always understood the importance of selecting the right components, but the intricacies of motherboard selection often left me feeling overwhelmed. However, this comprehensive guide has broken down the process into manageable steps, from understanding chipset compatibility to considering expansion options. The tips on selecting a motherboard that matches my gaming needs, whether it’s for overclocking capabilities or future-proofing, have been particularly enlightening. Thanks to this resource, I now feel equipped to make an informed decision that will undoubtedly enhance my gaming experience.
Good info at same place. Thank you. Keep it up!
Great!!