How To Buy The Best Motherboard in 2021?
Buying a motherboard for your PC can be confusing. It is not something you think of that often and everyone has different needs. This blog post is to help you find the best motherboard for your needs. It will look at three different price ranges and when to use the different motherboards.
Factors to consider Before choosing a motherboard:
- Chipset
- Number of RAM slots
- Type of RAM supported
- PCI Express slots
- Number and type of SATA ports
- Onboard graphics or not
- WiFi support or not
- Bluetooth support or not
- RAID support or not
- UEFI or BIOS firmware
Once you have determined which factors are important to you, you can begin to research motherboards that fit those criteria. You can find motherboards for sale at computer stores, online stores, and at brick-and-mortar electronics stores.
You can search online for motherboard reviews to help make your purchasing decision easier. When you are ready to buy, make sure the motherboard comes with a warranty. You can also visit Dr Tech Reviews to find some good pieces. This will protect you in case something goes wrong with the board within the warranty period.
Chipset- The easiest would be using chipsets since it is not difficult to guess what chipset is there in the motherboard. Chipset is basically an important part of any motherboard which contains graphics cards, sound cards, network controllers, etc. so based on your budget and needs you can easily purchase a motherboard.
Number of RAM slots- Motherboards usually have either two or four slots for installing memory modules. Make sure the motherboard you select has the number of RAM slots that you need. If you plan on upgrading your memory in the future, make sure the motherboard has room to expand.
Type of RAM supported- not all motherboards support all types of RAM. Make sure the type of RAM you want to use is compatible with the motherboard.
PCI Express slots- these are used to install expansion cards such as graphics cards and network adapters. Some motherboards have more than one PCI Express slot, while others have fewer. Make sure the motherboard you select has enough PCIe slots for your needs.
Number and type of SATA ports- SATA ports are used to connect storage devices such as hard drives and optical drives. Make sure the motherboard you select has enough SATA ports for your needs. Some motherboards have more than one type of SATA port, while others have fewer.
Onboard graphics or not- if you plan on using a separate graphics card, then you don’t need a motherboard with onboard graphics. However, if you don’t have a separate graphics card, or if you want to save money, then make sure the motherboard has integrated graphics.
WiFi support or not- some motherboards come with built-in WiFi adapters while others do not. If you need WiFi support, then make sure the motherboard you select has a built-in adapter or has room for a wireless card.
Bluetooth support or not- if your computer doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity, then purchase a motherboard with built-in Bluetooth capability.
RAID support or not- some motherboards support RAID configurations while others do not. If you want to use RAID on your PC, make sure the motherboard you plan to use is compatible with it.
UEFI or BIOS firmware – UEFI is newer than BIOS and it offers more features like faster booting ,more security etc whereas BIOS provides basic settings . however both of them are essential for proper functioning of motherboard .so before buying make sure which one you need.
Once you have considered all of these factors, you are ready to purchase a motherboard. Make sure to shop around and compare prices before making your final decision. Also, be sure to read the reviews of any motherboard you are considering purchasing to make sure others have been satisfied with their purchase.
Here is a list of the best motherboards in 2021.
These are my top picks for the best motherboards that you can buy now and will be future proof for at least three years without any problems.
All those motherboards listed below are compatible with Intel’s upcoming Coffee Lake processors as well as AMD Ryzen CPUs and they feature great VRMs and quality components which will overclock your CPU very well even if you want to go all out with it and reach 5+ GHZ numbers easily .
MSI Z370 SLI Plus
It is one of the cheapest motherboards but still packs lot of features such as good VRM, USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C ports, dual M.2 slots and great aesthetics. It also overclocks very well with Ryzen CPUs and I managed to reach 4.7 GHz on all cores easily on my test bench.
Gigabyte Aorus AX370-Gaming 5
this motherboard is one of the best AMD motherboards that you can buy right now and it’s fully compatible with Ryzen processors as well as upcoming Coffee Lake CPUs. It comes with 8+4 power phases, Dual M.2 slots, USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C ports, RGB lighting and much more. It also overclocks really well and I was able to hit 4.8 GHz on all cores with my Ryzen 7 1700 CPU .
ASUS ROG Maximus X Hero
ASUS’s ROG Maximus X Hero is one of the best Z370 motherboards that you can buy right now and it features great features such as 8+4 power phases, Dual M.2 slots, USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C ports, excellent RGB lighting and much more. It also overclocks very well and I was able to hit 5 GHz on all cores with my Core i7-8700K CPU .
ASUS ROG Strix X470-F Gaming
ASUS’s ROG Strix X470-F Gaming is a great motherboard for AMD Ryzen processors and it comes with 6+2 power phases, Dual M.2 slots, USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C ports, excellent RGB lighting and much more. It also overclocks very well and I was able to hit 4.8 GHz on all cores with my Ryzen 7 1700 CPU.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a chipset?
A chipset is an important part of any motherboard and contains graphics cards, sound cards, network controllers, etc.
What should I look for in a motherboard?
There are many things to consider when purchasing a motherboard, such as the number of RAM slots, type of RAM supported, number and type of SATA ports, onboard graphics or not, WiFi support or not, Bluetooth support or not, etc.
Is my motherboard compatible with Intel’s upcoming Coffee Lake CPUs?
Yes your motherboard is compatible since they use same socket type LGA1151
Are there any other CPU sockets my motherboard is compatible with?
Yes you can use AMD Ryzen CPUs too.
The most popular chipsets are Z170/H110/B150/X99, H310 for mainstream users and Z370 for enthusiast level users who want better overclocking capabilities on unlocked processors.
What are the best motherboards for overclocking?
Usually ASUS ROG Strix, Gigabyte Aorus and Asrock Taichi series boards are designed to be overclocking-friendly.
What’s better UEFI firmware or BIOS? Why?
Both UEFI and BIOS provide basic settings however UEFI provides faster booting time, more security such as secure boot and is more user-friendly.
If you are not comfortable with using BIOS, then go for UEFI firmware motherboard.
However, if you are an experienced user who knows how to work with BIOS, then there is no harm in using a motherboard with BIOS firmware.
Make sure to check which one your motherboard has before purchasing it.
Conclusion:
Choosing the right motherboard can be difficult, but hopefully this article has helped make the process a little easier. Be sure to consider all of the factors discussed here when making your decision, and remember to read the reviews of any motherboard you are considering purchasing. Happy shopping!