Question What makes a good motherboard?

MMohammed

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Sep 3, 2019
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Whether you're thinking about buying your first one or springing for an upgrade, shopping for a motherboard can be strenuous. For some of us, it's a research-intensive process and requires a lot of consideration.

Am I planning on regularly overclocking? Which slots - and how many of them - do I need my mobo to have? Then there's form factor to consider, and the list goes on.

How about you? What qualities do you look for in a quality motherboard?
 

jrg9206

Junior Member
Nov 18, 2020
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A good motherboard is based on a computer system design, so you must keep in mind what might be the purpose of the motherboard such as Graphic/CAD/CAM, Gaming, Audio/Video Editing, Networking, and Virtualization. Also, be aware of the motherboard form factor will be part of a Thin Client, a Standard Thick Client, a Home Server, an Industrial Computer, or a Mobile Computer.
 

UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
16,068
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A good motherboard is based on a computer system design, so you must keep in mind what might be the purpose of the motherboard such as Graphic/CAD/CAM, Gaming, Audio/Video Editing, Networking, and Virtualization.
What makes a particular motherboard work better in things like gaming or video editing?
 

jrg9206

Junior Member
Nov 18, 2020
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What makes a particular motherboard work better in things like gaming or video editing?

Basically, the differences lay in the capacity among hardware, such as: for Gaming the motherboard needs to support powerful multicore processor(s), High-end video cards (with maximum video RAM and specialized GPU), High-definition sound card, and speakers, High-end system cooling, an SSD, large amount of RAM, Large display or dual displays, quality mouse, optional gaming console, Headphone with microphone, Optional 3D glasses (if supported by the video card and monitor); and for Audio/Video Editing the motherboard needs to support specialized video card with maximum video RAM and GPU, specialized audio (sound) card and speakers, very fast and large-capacity hard drive, Dual monitors, powerful multicore processor(s), a large amount of system RAM, Quality mouse, and possible digital tablet or scanner.

If you noticed, gamers frequently build their own systems, but some computer manufacturers make gaming PCs, so gaming computers are a unique type of PC. However, an Audio/Video Editing workstation is used to manipulate sounds (shorten, add, overlay, and so on) or video, so this type of system requires a lot of hard drive space and RAM.






 

GrumpyMan

Diamond Member
May 14, 2001
5,778
262
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Lights, lots of RGB.....j/k....determine what the computer will be mainly used for and go on from there as far as what you will be needing: wifi, processors/ram, what kind of storage will be needed, gpu needed, etc. etc....reviews read all the reviews you can when you narrow it down to 2 or 3 mobos within your price range. The components used on the mobos, like the quality of the capacitors used for example, from the manufacturer are important to me because I want durability for years.
 

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
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Sep 28, 2005
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Basically, the differences lay in the capacity among hardware, such as: for Gaming the motherboard needs to support powerful multicore processor(s), High-end video cards (with maximum video RAM and specialized GPU), High-definition sound card, and speakers, High-end system cooling, an SSD, large amount of RAM, Large display or dual displays, quality mouse, optional gaming console, Headphone with microphone, Optional 3D glasses (if supported by the video card and monitor); and for Audio/Video Editing the motherboard needs to support specialized video card with maximum video RAM and GPU, specialized audio (sound) card and speakers, very fast and large-capacity hard drive, Dual monitors, powerful multicore processor(s), a large amount of system RAM, Quality mouse, and possible digital tablet or scanner.

If you noticed, gamers frequently build their own systems, but some computer manufacturers make gaming PCs, so gaming computers are a unique type of PC. However, an Audio/Video Editing workstation is used to manipulate sounds (shorten, add, overlay, and so on) or video, so this type of system requires a lot of hard drive space and RAM.

uhh... simple answer no...

There is no such thing as a good motherboard.
Its either you have too much junk which is worthless and gets replaced with aftermarket.
Or its you got overcharged because it was classed in "Gamer" which isn't really a gamer, but something like a ugly girl with lots and lots of makeup to make it look expensive.

You first got "Overclocking" tier... which has all the digital mosfets, extra mosfets, so many more mosfets that the board designers needed to play tetris to fit onto the board, and has cold stability to handle negative degree temps for LN2 pots.
"Gamer" is a market tag which represents almost nothing but RGB.
Its worse then "Enthusiast Tier" which IMO is a bastardization of "Enterprise" tier. Basically the two can be overswapped, Enthusiast tier is basically a dressed up enterprise tier with a bit more embellished cooling because they do not expect the boards to be sitting under 5000rpm industrial enterprise fans in a air conditioned server room.

So to answer the OP's question.... there is really no such thing as a good motherboard.
Its either a pretty RGB out lets overcharge the public because its used by Esports and has a "Gamer" tag.
Or its a overclocking extreme board to get high overclocks and use specialized components which 99% of us wont use because it wont be sitting under a Liquid Nitrogen Sink, but lets charge them anyway tier.
And finally you got your enthusiast tier, which is where most of the content creators, CAD, and all the other stuff not related to a corporation related IT falls under.
And finally you got your enterprise gear, where all the expensive stuff unimaginable goes under and also where price tags can quickly escalate 10x the market price of consumer gear.
 
Last edited:

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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the last two motherboards i've bought have been definitely not enough (cheap asus matx - could use another ethernet port and another x16 slot or second nvme, maybe wifi as well) and probably too much (taichi which i'm not using to its full potential). so i guess, one that costs enough but not too much.
 

MalVeauX

Senior member
Dec 19, 2008
653
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Too broad to answer.

The funny thing about a MB is that they all will work and do the job for literally every purpose, so they're all "good enough" in that respect. From there, it's about purpose utilization and building.

Another funny thing is that in the pre-made market world, it's all about advertising what CPU or GPU is involved and rarely ever talks about the actual MB.

For me, a good MB would be one that has no frill and whistles with "onboard crap." I don't want the "HD" audio junk. I don't want their cheap LAN components. I certainly don't want some built in WiFi junk either. I want good components and thermal handling with a lot of expansion capability. Minimalist so that you can purpose build. This doesn't exist.

Very best,
 

Leeea

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2020
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For me, a good MB would be one that has no frill and whistles with "onboard crap." I don't want the "HD" audio junk. I don't want their cheap LAN components. I certainly don't want some built in WiFi junk either. I want good components and thermal handling with a lot of expansion capability. Minimalist so that you can purpose build. This doesn't exist.

It does exist! You just need a 286!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/153254257146?mkevt=1&mkcid=28&chn=ps

I am so glad that died. The day mainboard manufacturers realized that putting onboard audio on was cheaper then putting another ISA slot on was wonderful. Same with serial ports, networking, IDE controllers, USB ports, WiFi, onboard video, SATA controllers, and especially bluetooth.

If you really hate it all that much, you can always go into the BIOS options and turn them off.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,065
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All factors likely go into prioritization

For me priorities would be listed below, in somewhat ordered order

Cost is #1
Chipset choice is #2
Form factor is #3
IO ports #4
power delivery is #5
ability to disable all the lights/doodads easily #6


I want to spend the least amount of money, get the chipset i want, in the form factor I want, with certain # of SATA, PCI, PCI-EXpress, PS2, USB, etc ports, that delivers adequate power to the CPU, and can be installed with no lights or any other power wasty crap.
 

mv2devnull

Golden Member
Apr 13, 2010
1,495
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All factors likely go into prioritization

For me priorities would be listed below, in somewhat ordered order
Availability has a priority too when waiting for undefined time is not an option. A board in your machine is way better than ten shiny ones that are out of stock.


for Gaming the motherboard needs to support powerful multicore processor(s)
You mean, if I can put eight of these into motherboard, then it is good for gaming?
There is always a different point of view.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,065
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Availability has a priority too when waiting for undefined time is not an option. A board in your machine is way better than ten shiny ones that are out of stock.

Good consideration


I too am only willing to deal with old slow obsolete stuff "waiting" for new parts availability for so long before plan B or plan C options look more attractive ...

I bought an X570 mobo after getting my Ryzen 3600 even though I would rather have spent less $$$ on a "good enough" updated B450 board which hadnt yet come out at the time.




Now, Im waiting for CPU availability for my upgrade to 5600x (and then I can stick the 3600 as an upgrade in my wife's PC)
 

Leeea

Diamond Member
Apr 3, 2020
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Cost is #1
Chipset choice is #2
Form factor is #3
IO ports #4
power delivery is #5
ability to disable all the lights/doodads easily #6

That is a good idea to look at it like that, I also have a very different perspective:

Form Factor
Memory speed support
Perceived quality (including power)
Perceived onboard audio quality
Expected lifespan ( chipset )
Cost
RGB
Onboard features ( WiFi, Bluetooth, fan headers, m2 slots, sata ports, etc )
IO ports
 

Tempacc42069

Banned
Nov 25, 2020
4
0
6
For a good mobo i search for the stuff that can really overclock well, like the mobos that have a higher end chipset eg x570, i dont care about rgb and that sort of junk i just care about function when buying a mobo, do not let these "gamer" motherboards fool you into buying an expensive mobo even though a cheaper one (with the same chipset) will perform just about the same as the "gamer" one, you wanna buy a mobo?? Then function first, asthetics second. You flip those around and you may regret it either in terms of performance or just wasting too much money.
 

Entangled

Banned
Nov 28, 2020
80
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Whether you're thinking about buying your first one or springing for an upgrade, shopping for a motherboard can be strenuous. For some of us, it's a research-intensive process and requires a lot of consideration.

Am I planning on regularly overclocking? Which slots - and how many of them - do I need my mobo to have? Then there's form factor to consider, and the list goes on.

How about you? What qualities do you look for in a quality motherboard?
Ultimately a good motherboard becomes one that you do not know that you have.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,083
5,611
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Pleasant aesthetics
Good Audio
Built-in backplate
at least 4 SATA ports, although I'm down to using only 1 these days
BIOS Flashing without CPU
Good quality Components used
Good Cooling of components
 

lifeblood

Senior member
Oct 17, 2001
999
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Before all else it must be reliable. Regardless of what I use it for, if it doesn't reliably do it then it doesn't matter how cool it looks or how much expansion it has. So that means things like quality caps, sufficient solder, etc. It also implies not including anything I don't need. It cant go bad if its not actually installed on the board. It also implies a quality manufacturer that will support you if it does go bad.

After that then really its all about what you need. My daughters PC has a glass side and there she wants lots of RGB headers for cool lighting effect. Mine is a black box so RGB stuff is unwanted.
 
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Midwayman

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
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Lots of people are talking about RGB, and RGB is important on a MB, but you're forgetting about the most important bit. Overall scheme and how much plastic 'armor' they put over the chip sets. The more of the base PCB you can see, the slower you know it is going to be. Plus if you have a white case or something, you're really going to want to match that.
 
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Jimminy

Senior member
May 19, 2020
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White cases are definitely the best. When you spray your case with 3M adhesive and then sprinkle on plenty of glitter, you'll find it shows up much better on white plastic. Especially with RGB lighting.

You'll swoon, even with an intel 8080, or Rockwell 6502.
 
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biostud

Lifer
Feb 27, 2003
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It depends on your usage, but build quality and high quality components, and long term support are always a good thing. Then buy whatever that has the features you want.