November 16, 2022

Building a computer for gaming can be a daunting task especially for those new to the field. With all the different parts of a computer to understand and the wide variety of individual components to choose from, this can make the task of building an ultimate gaming machine challenging to say the least. In this article, I take a look at the central component of any computer, the motherboard. With an eye to what is available on the market right now and in layman's terms as much as possible, I go into what you should know about the different elements of a motherboard in order to help you choose the best one for your next PC build.  

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E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX?

The very first decision when choosing a motherboard for gaming is to decide on the format that fits your circumstances. Motherboards come in several different sizes, the most common of which are the E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX formats:  

Gaming motherboard size comparison chart

Format

Max. Dimens. (w x d)

Extended ATX (E-ATX)

305 x 330 mm

ATX

305 x 244 mm

Micro-ATX (mATX, µATX, uATX)

244 x 244 mm

Mini-ITX

170 x 170 mm

Mini-DTX

203 x 170 mm

Different size motherboards have their advantages and disadvantages and will fit the needs of different users. For instance, if you need the whole computer to have a smaller overall physical size, you will be looking for a smaller computer case that will likely only fit Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX motherboards. Alternatively, if you are looking to build a High-end desktop (HEDT) computer that can support massive amounts of RAM and peripheral components, you may need a larger format motherboard like the E-ATX just to have available the hardware to accommodate the higher specification. Finally, cost also plays a role in deciding which size is right for you since, in general, bigger motherboards will cost more than smaller ones.

The overwhelmingly dominant motherboard size that is most often opted for by the majority of PC gamers is the ATX format, so this will be the motherboard format I will be concentrating on in this article.


Intel or AMD

vs

The next decision when choosing a motherboard for gaming is to decide on the company you want to declare your allegiance to. Fortunately, there are really only two companies to choose from: Intel and AMD. The decision on which to go for really depends on whether you want an Intel CPU or an AMD CPU driving your computer. Both companies offer excellent CPUs and each have their advantages and disadvantages, however, helping you make your CPU-buying decision is beyond the scope of this article. 

Both Intel and AMD have several CPUs to choose from, which vary in generation (i.e. the microarchitecture), the number of cores, and the processor speed. In general, for gaming, one wants to prioritise the later generations of CPU and the speed at which they run over the number of cores, as most of today's games do not make use of more than a few cores. Ultimately, the best way to choose a gaming CPU is to compare benchmark results of CPUs against one another.


CPU Socket and Chipset

The question of which CPU to buy will determine the CPU socket and chipset you need to have on your motherboard. Currently, Intel's latest (12th and 13th) generations of CPUs use the LGA 1700 socket, while for AMD, the AM5 socket is used by its latest Ryzen 7000 series CPUs.

The LGA 1700 and AM5 sockets are present on a range of motherboards with different chipsets. Each Intel chipset has its own characteristics, but one type, in particular, is most relevant to gamers, especially competitive gamers. Any Intel chipset beginning with the letter 'Z' (eg. Z790 or Z690) means that it is compatible with overclocking. In the case of AMD, chipsets beginning with the letters 'X' or 'B' (eg. X670 or B650) are compatible with AMD CPUs being overclocked. 

Overclocking

But why would you want to overclock your computer in the first place?

Due to manufacturing differences, no single computer component, CPU included, is identical to another, even between individual units of the same component made at the same time. Manufacturers configure components (CPUs, GPUs, Memory, etc) to run at speeds where the risk of failure across a batch of a particular model is minimal. That means that the default running speeds of components are set lower than what individual units may be able to achieve. As a result, by following a careful overclocking procedure, you can usually optimise the individual components of your computer to get more performance out of them, which may, in turn, give you more of that gaming edge.

Overclocking may not seem necessary when you are first starting out on your gaming career, and that may be true. However, further down the line, it will probably be something you will want to try, especially if it has the potential to increase your gaming potential! Consequently, this article will be centred around the overclocking-compatible Intel 'Z'-model chipsets and AMD's 'X'- and 'B'-model chipsets.

CPU sockets & compatible chipsets for today's CPUs
Header

Intel

Intel

Intel

Intel

(HEDT*)

AMD

AMD

AMD

(HEDT*)

Socket Type

LGA 1700

LGA 1200

LGA 1151

LGA 2066

AM5

AM4

TR4

Compatible

Chipsets

Z790

Z690

Q670

H670

B660

H610

Z590

Z490

H570

H470

B560

B460

H510

H410

Q570

Q470

W580

W480

Z390

Z370

Q370

H370

B365

B360

H310

C246

X299

X670E

X670

B650E

B650

X570

X470

X370

X300

B550

B450

B350

A520

A320

A300

X399

* HEDT = High-End DeskTop

Intel Motherboards

Since the Z790 chipset motherboard represents the top end of affordable and overclockable Intel motherboards in today's market, this is most likely going to be the chipset you are going to choose as a gamer. Of course, there are better Intel motherboards for the extreme end (High-End DeskTop or HEDT) of computer building, but putting together an HEDT is usually unnecessary for gaming and also tends to be out of the price range of most.  

Below you will find a table of Intel ATX motherboards with Z790 chipsets that are available today. In the interests of clarity, I have focused on the version of the board that uses the latest form of memory, DDR5.

Scroll further down the page to get more detailed explanations of what each specification means and what to look for.

Intel ATX Z790 Motherboards (DDR5 Memory*)

To narrow down your motherboard search, enter unique terms (case-insensitive) from the table, separated by spaces:

eg. MSI WiFi-6E HDMI to show only motherboards from MSI with WiFi 6E and an HDMI port.

eg. Gen2x2 Ethernet-2.5Gb for motherboards with at least one USB 3.2 Gen2x2 port and 2.5 Gigabit ethernet.

eg. Type-C Gen2x2 for motherboards with at least one USB 3.2 Type C port and a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 port which may be one and the same.

Intel ATX Z790PCIe 5.0PCIe 4.0PCIe 3.0Storage
Slots
Supported Front
Ports
Rear Peripheral
Ports
Networking
Features
Video Out
Ports
GIGABYTE
Z790 UD AC
1 PCIe x161 PCIe x16@x42 PCIe x16@x1
2 PCIe x1
1 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
2 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
6 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
4 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
4 USB 2.0
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-5
Bluetooth-5.1
HDMI
DisplayPort
ASRock
Z790 PG Lightning
1 PCIe x161 PCIe x16@x43 PCIe x11 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
3 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
4 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C
4 USB 3.2 Gen1
2 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
5 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
1 USB 2.0
Ethernet-2.5GbHDMI
ASRock
Z790 PRO RS
1 PCIe x161 PCIe x16@x42 PCIe x11 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
3 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
8 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
4 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
2 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
4 USB 2.0
Ethernet-2.5GbHDMI
DisplayPort
ASRock
Z790 PG RIPTIDE
1 PCIe x161 PCIe x16@x41 PCIe x11 M.2 (PCIe 5.0)
1 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)

3 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
8 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
2 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
1 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C
4 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
2 USB 2.0
Ethernet-2.5GbHDMI
DisplayPort
ASUS
Prime Z790-P WiFi
1 PCIe x163 PCIe x16@x41 PCIe x11 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
2 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
4 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
4 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
2 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
4 USB 2.0
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6
Bluetooth-5.2
HDMI
DisplayPort
ASRock
Z790 LiveMixer
1 PCIe x162 PCIe x16@x41 PCIe x11 M.2 (PCIe 5.0)
1 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)

3 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
4 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
4 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
2 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
4 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
6 USB 2.0
Ethernet-2.5GbHDMI
DisplayPort
GIGABYTE
Z790 AORUS ELITE AX
1 PCIe x162 PCIe x16@x4--1 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
3 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
6 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
3 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
4 USB 2.0
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6E
Bluetooth-5.3
HDMI
DisplayPort
GIGABYTE
Z790 AERO G
1 PCIe x162 PCIe x16@x4--1 M.2 (PCIe 5.0)
1 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)

3 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
4 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
4 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
2 USB 2.0
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6E
Bluetooth-5.3
HDMI
DisplayPort
ASUS
Prime Z790-A WiFi
1 PCIe x161 PCIe x16@x4
1 PCIe x4
2 PCIe x11 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
3 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
4 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
4 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6E
Bluetooth-5.2 / 5.3**
HDMI
DisplayPort
MSI
MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK WIFI
1 PCIe x161 PCIe x16@x41 PCIe x11 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
3 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
7 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
4 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
4 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6E
Bluetooth-5.2
HDMI
DisplayPort
MSI
PRO Z790-P WIFI
1 PCIe x161 PCIe x16@x41 PCIe x16@x1
1 PCIe x1
1 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
3 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
6 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
4 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
2 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
4 USB 2.0
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6E
Bluetooth-5.2
HDMI
DisplayPort
MSI
MPG Z790 EDGE WIFI
1 PCIe x161 PCIe x16@x41 PCIe x11 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
4 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
7 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
4 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
4 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
4 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6E
Bluetooth-5.2
HDMI
DisplayPort
MSI
PRO Z790-A WIFI
1 PCIe x161 PCIe x16@x41 PCIe x16@x1
1 PCIe x1
1 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
3 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
6 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
3 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
2 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
2 USB 2.0
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6
Bluetooth-5.2
HDMI
DisplayPort
ASUS
ROG Strix Z790-F Gaming WiFi
1 PCIe x162 PCIe x16@x41 PCIe x11 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
3 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
4 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
4 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
4 USB 2.0
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6E
Bluetooth-5.3
HDMI
DisplayPort
ASUS
ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi
1 PCIe x162 PCIe x16@x41 PCIe x11 M.2 (PCIe 5.0)
1 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)

3 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
4 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
4 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
6 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
4 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6E
Bluetooth-5.3
HDMI
DisplayPort
MSI
MPG Z790 CARBON WIFI
1 PCIe x161 PCIe x16@x41 PCIe x11 M.2 (PCIe 5.0)
1 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)

3 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
6 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
6 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
2 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6E
Bluetooth-5.3
HDMI
ASUS
ROG Maximus Z790 Hero
2 PCIe x16@16, x8/x81 PCIe x16@x4--1 M.2 (PCIe 5.0)
2 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
6 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
4 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
2 Thunderbolt 4
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
5 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
4 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6E
Bluetooth-5.3
HDMI
Connected directly to the CPU

Connected to the Chipset

* All motherboards in this table have 4x slots for DDR5 memory up to a maximum of 128GB
** Bluetooth version varies with motherboard version



AMD Motherboards

In the case of AMD, your focus should be on the latest AM5 socket-based motherboards as this is AMD's new socket hardware that should be relevant for several years to come. In terms of affordability and greatest bang for your buck, the B650E chipset seems to currently offer the best value one can get as a regular gamer. 

AMD ATX B650E Motherboards

AMD ATX B650EPCIe 5.0PCIe 4.0PCIe 3.0Storage SlotsFront Peripheral
Ports (Maximum)
Rear Peripheral
Ports
Networking
Features
Video Out
Ports
ASRock
B650E PG RIPTIDE
1 PCIe x161 PCIe x11 PCIe x16@x41 M.2 (PCIe 5.0)
1 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
1 M.2 (PCIe 3.0)

4 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen1
3 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
2 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
6 USB 2.0
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6E
Bluetooth-5.2
HDMI
ASRock
B650E STEEL
LEGEND WiFi
1 PCIe x16--1 PCIe x16@x41 M.2 (PCIe 5.0)
2 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
2 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
4 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
4 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
2 USB 2.0
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6E
Bluetooth-5.2
HDMI
DisplayPort
ASUS
ROG STRIX
B650E-F GAMING WiFi
1 PCIe x161 PCIe x16@x4
2 PCIe x1
--1 M.2 (PCIe 5.0)
1 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)

1 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
4 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
4 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
4 USB 2.0
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6E
Bluetooth-5.2
HDMI
DisplayPort
ASUS
ROG STRIX
B650E-E GAMING WiFi
2 PCIe x161 PCIe x16@x4--2 M.2 (PCIe 5.0)
1 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)

1 M.2 (PCIe 4.0)
4 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
6 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
4 USB 2.0
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6E
Bluetooth-5.2
HDMI
DisplayPort
GIGABYTE
B650E AORUS MASTER
1 PCIe x161 PCIe x16@x4
1 PCIe x16@x2
--4 M.2 (PCIe 5.0)
4 SATA
1 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C
2 USB 3.2 Gen1
4 USB 2.0
1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C
4 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A
4 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A
4 USB 2.0
Ethernet-2.5Gb
WIFI-6E
Bluetooth-5.2
HDMI
Connected directly to the CPU

Connected to the Chipset

* All motherboards in this table have 4x slots for DDR5 memory up to a maximum of 128GB



PCI Express (PCIe)

Probably one of the most important aspects when building a computer is its expandability. Expansion is primarily mediated through the availability and type of PCI Express (PCIe) ports that are available on the motherboard. Expansion cards of different types can be inserted into these PCIe ports to increase the computer's functionality. The majority of motherboards come with several PCIe ports of different physical size of which the most common are:

  • PCIe x1
  • PCIe x4
  • PCIe x16

Importantly, expansion cards will naturally fit into PCIe slots that are sized for their PCIe interface but they will also work in PCIe slots that are physically larger. This means, for example, that an expansion card with a PCIe x4 size interface can be used in a PCIe x4 size slot, but it can also be used in a PCIe x8 size slot or a PCIe x16 size slot (assuming the slot has the required number of data lanes - more on this below). 

In addition, the larger the PCIe port size, the greater the bandwidth it usually supports and the greater its ability to transfer data. However, some larger PCIe ports only support reduced numbers of data lanes even though their physical size matches that of a larger port. For example, a PCIe x16 size port may only be able to support 4 data lanes (instead of the expected 16 based on its port size). This can be represented in a few different ways, one of which is through the use of the "@" symbol, so in our example, the PCIe x16 size port that supports only 4 data lanes would be represented as "PCIe x16 @ x4".

Occasionally, one also comes across two PCIe x16 ports sharing 16 data lanes. If only one of the ports is used, then it functions as a full-sized PCIe x16 port using all 16 data lanes for itself. However, if both PCI x16 ports are used at the same time, then the two PCIe x16 ports share the bandwidth and both function as PCIe x16 @ x8 ports using only 8 data lanes each. In this case, these ports are represented as "2 PCIe x16 @ x16, x8/x8".

Most common PCIe port types found on the latest motherboards

PCIe Port Type

Description

PCIe x16

PCIe x16 size port using all 16 lanes of data

PCIe x16 @ x4

PCIe x16 size port that has only 4 data lanes

PCIe x1

PCIe x1 size port that has only 1 data lane

2  PCIE x16 @ x16, x8/x8

Two PCIe x16 size ports, one of which can be used as PCIe x16 port (when the other is unoccupied) OR if both are occupied, then both function as PCIe x16 @ x8 ports


How many PCIe ports do you need?

Deciding on the number and type of PCIe ports you need on your computer's motherboard is determined by the number and types of expansion cards you plan to add to your machine, which is ultimately determined by how you intend to use the computer and for what purposes. 

Usually, the primary component gamers want to add to their computer is a graphics card. Almost all graphics cards today use a PCIe x16 size port, and to get the most out of the card, especially if you are gaming, a PCIe x16 (i.e. using all 16 data lanes) should be used. Fortunately, every ATX motherboard comes with at least one full-sized PCIe x16 port for this reason. 

After the graphics card, things get a little less well-defined and how many ports and which types are needed is determined by what sort of computer user (in addition to being a gamer!) you are or intend to be. Expansion cards come in many different forms as shown in the table below. 

Types of PCIe expansion cards

Expansion Card

What It Does

Number PCIe Data Lanes Usually Needed

Examples

Graphics cards

Improve computer graphics or connect more screens at higher resolutions

16

(i.e. PCIe x16)

M.2 interface cards

Add more M.2 slots so that more M.2 SSD drives or other M.2 devices can be connected

16

(i.e. PCIe x16)

RAID cards

 Implement RAID configurations across multiple storage drives

4, 8, or 16

(eg. PCIe x16

or PCIe x16 @ x8

or PCIe x16 @ x4)

SSD cards

Add an additional SSD storage drive

8

(eg. PCIe x16 @ x8

or PCIe x8)

Network cards (special)

Add upgraded ethernet (eg. dual or 10Gb)

4

(eg. PCIe x16 @ x4

or PCIe x4)

USB 3 interface cards

Add more USB 3 ports

4

(eg. PCIe x16 @ x4

or PCIe x4)

USB 2 interface cards

Add more USB 2 ports

1

(i.e. PCIe x1)

Sound cards

Improve sound

1

(i.e. PCIe x1)

Parallel interface cards

Connect to (usually older) printers, scanners, memory card readers, barcode scanners, etc

1

(i.e. PCIe x1)

Serial interface cards

Connect to serial devices such as scales, touchscreens, magnetic card readers, bar code scanners, receipt printers, label printers, etc

1

(i.e. PCIe x1)

Firewire interface cards

Add Firewire ports to connect to Firewire devices such as (older) hard drives

1

(i.e. PCIe x1)

SATA interface cards

Add more SATA ports to connect more hard drives or optical drives

1

(i.e. PCIe x1)

Network cards

Add ethernet or WIFI / Bluetooth

1

(i.e. PCIe x1)


Do you need the latest version of PCIe?

As with all things digital, the PCIe standards are constantly improving and changes are represented by the increase in the version number of the PCIe interface. PCIe version 3.0 and 4.0 have been the standard for at least a couple of years now, but a more recent version, PCIe version 5.0, is starting to replace them. The major difference between PCIe standards is that the data transfer rate of a PCIe version is twice as fast as the PCIe version before it.

So do you need your motherboard to support PCIe version 5.0? The simple answer is probably yes, but as always it depends on what you intend to do with your computer and how much disposable cash you have.

For one of the most important aspects of a gaming computer: graphics, the increase in performance from one PCIe version to the next is usually minor, although the occasional game can show a significant improvement when using a later PCIe version. Making use of the latest generation of CPU will make full use of PCIe version 5.0 and should unleash the extra power a PCIe 5.0-compatible motherboard and graphics card are capable of.

Another benefit of a PCIe 5.0-compatible motherboard is seen with the movement of data to and from SSD storage drives that also make use of the more advanced PCIe standard. A good example where this may have a significant impact for gamers is in the loading times of games, which will be significantly faster with PCIe version 5.0 than with version 4.0.

The final obvious benefit of opting for a motherboard that supports PCIe 5.0 is that it future-proofs the hardware for the inevitable full uptake of the higher PCIe standard over the next few years.


Storage Drive Slots

All computers need long-term storage and, when connecting storage drives, two types of interfaces are currently the standard: SATA and M.2.  SATA is traditionally the connection used for spinning hard drives and optical drives, while M.2 is becoming the de facto standard for connecting SSD drives.  

SATA

Most of us will know hard drives and optical drives connect via a wide 'SATA connector'. However, did you know that this SATA connector consists of two delineated parts, the data pins and the power pins? 

The SATA connector on a hard drive

The SATA connector on a hard drive

When a SATA drive is used within a gaming computer, two separate cables are used to connect it: the data cable that connects a SATA port on the motherboard to the data pins of the drive, and a power cable that connects the computer power supply to the power pins of the drive. Importantly, SATA connections make use of the AHCI driver and the SATA bus to mediate file transfer (more on that later).

When solid-state drives or SSDs first came out they too were connected via the SATA connector and SATA SSD drives are still available today. However, more modern SSDs have moved on from the SATA connector to the M.2 connection interface.

M.2

Solid-state drives (SSDs), in contrast to hard drives and optical drives, are much smaller, faster and more robust. As a consequence, SSDs are slowly becoming the major mediator of file storage on a computer. Solid-state drives today primarily connect via the M.2 interface, where the drive is installed directly onto the motherboard. However, today there are two main types of M.2 connection and therefore two different types of M.2-based SSDs:

SSD Drive

Connection

Bus

Driver

Speed

M.2 SATA SSD

M.2

SATA

AHCI

same as SATA

M.2 PCIe SSD

M.2

PCIe

NVMe

faster than SATA

M.2 SATA (AHCI) SSDs  - these SSDs connect via the M.2 physical connector making use of the SATA bus on the motherboard to transfer data, and use the AHCI driver (which was originally designed for SATA connections and the SATA bus).

M.2 PCIe (NVMe) SSDs - these SSDs connect via the M.2 connector making use of the PCIe bus on the motherboard and with the more recently-developed NVMe driver, which was designed to facilitate data transfer at a much higher rate (NB: When M.2 PCIe SSDs first came out, they still made use of the existing AHCI driver. These M.2 PCIe (AHCI) SSDs were faster than M.2 SATA SSDs but not as fast as today's M.2 PCIe (NVMe) SSDs. Today, however, these M.2 PCIe (AHCI) SSDs have mostly been phased out).

It is also important to note that the motherboard M.2 ports themselves will either support SATA bus connections only, PCIe bus connections only, or both SATA and PCIe bus connections. So it is important to check which type of M.2 ports a motherboard has to ensure that they are compatible with the type(s) of SSDs you intend to use in your new computer. 


External Peripheral Connections

USB & Thunderbolt

Being able to connect peripheral devices to a computer from the outside of the case is an important consideration when building your new computer. External peripheral ports have come in many flavours over the years, but today USB has become the dominant player in this space, along with a couple of other port types that make an appearance occasionally.  

It is important here to differentiate between the actual physical port used and the peripheral connection standard that uses that physical port. Some physical ports can support different connection technologies eg. a USB Type-C physical port can support different versions of USB 3.2 and can also sometimes support Thunderbolt 3 or 4. In addition, some connection technologies can opt to use different types of physical ports eg. USB 3.2 can use either USB Type-A or USB Type-C physical ports.

How many USB ports do you need and which types? 'A few' is probably the best answer as we all have some peripheral hardware (external hard drives, printers, scanners, computer mice, keyboard, trackpad, etc) that we will need to connect to our finished build. As for which versions of USB connections will depend on what data speeds you need the USB ports to perform at. All USB versions are backwards and forwards-compatible, which means that any USB device will work with any USB connection. However, the older the USB version is, the slower it is at moving data through it. For some low data-consuming applications, for instance, a keyboard or mouse, any USB connection will do. However, for heavier data-transferring applications, such as accessing an external hard drive, you will want the fastest USB connection available. 

Common external peripheral connections & ports found on today's motherboards

Connection Technology

Previous names

Maximum Speed

Physical Ports Used

USB 2.0

--

0.48 Gbps (480 Mbps)

USB Type-A

USB 3.2 Gen 1

USB 3.0,

USB 3.1 Gen 1

5 Gbps

USB Type-A

USB Type-C

USB 3.2 Gen 2

USB 3.1 Gen 2

10 Gbps

USB Type-A

USB Type-C

USB 3.2 Gen 2x2

--

20 Gbps

USB Type-C

Thunderbolt 3

--

40 Gbps

USB Type-C

Thunderbolt 4

--

40 Gbps

USB Type-C


Internal headers for front-facing USB ports

Traditionally, physical ports are soldered onto the motherboard in a rear-facing orientation, designed to protrude from the back of a finished computer build. However, the majority of modern motherboards now also come with the ability to connect to front-facing USB ports. The way this is accomplished is by providing the header pins on the motherboard that accept the cables needed to link them to physical USB ports embedded in the front of most computer cases.

PS/2

Another port one sometimes sees on motherboards is the PS/2 port. This is a legacy port that was developed many years ago but still gets included on some hardware for various reasons. Its function is exclusively to connect computer mice and keyboards that operate via a PS/2 connector rather than USB.


Memory (RAM)

RAM slots on a motherboard

RAM slots on a motherboard

Motherboards come with several slots that accept memory (RAM) modules which are critical for holding applications or games so that they are readily accessible to the CPU. The more memory a motherboard has, the greater the number of programs it can load simultaneously. For most gaming needs, 16 GB is currently sufficient while 32 GB is usually more than enough. There will be an upper limit to the total amount of memory a motherboard can support but this is usually way in excess of what normal users or gamers will ever need, for example, most Z790 chipset ATX motherboards will support up to 128 GB of RAM.

Different sized motherboards can also vary in the number of RAM slots. For small mini-ITX boards, these usually have 2 slots, while larger ATX boards will normally have 4 slots for RAM. As for High-End DeskTop (HEDT) motherboards, they will usually have 8 slots to accommodate the larger memory requirements more demanding applications may require.

Ultimately, when it comes to RAM slots, more is always better. RAM modules are more expensive the more memory each module holds. This means that a certain amount of memory spread over fewer modules will be more expensive than the same total amount of memory spread over more modules. So for instance, 2 x 8 GB of memory will cost more than 4 x 4 GB of RAM, even though their total capacity (16 GB) is the same. As a result, the more memory slots a motherboard has, the better it is from an economic standpoint as well.

In addition to the amount and the size of memory that can be added to a motherboard, another important criterion to consider is the maximum memory speed the motherboard will support. Naturally, the faster the memory, the snappier the computer will operate, so choosing a motherboard that can handle as high a memory speed as possible should be aimed for here. The best Z790 chipset motherboards can usually support DDR5 RAM speeds of up to 5600 MHz without overclocking, while Z690 (DDR5-specific) chipset motherboards are specified to support up to 4800 MHz. Lower specification boards, still using DDR4 memory, including ones with Z790 and Z690 (DDR4-specific) chipsets, are limited to speeds of up to 3200 MHz without overclocking. This is the same as what older Z590 chipsets support, while even older Z490 chipset motherboards are specified to support up to 2933 MHz memory speeds.


Networking

One of the primary functions of a computer is to connect to networks. On a motherboard, this is implemented through three different technologies: Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. In today's technologically-driven world, most of us already understand the role each of these technologies plays in our digital lives. However, each exists in several different versions and, when picking a motherboard, understanding the capabilities of each version of a networking technology will help determine what is necessary for your particular build.  

Ethernet

Today most ethernet comes in three different data transfer speeds that are usually measured in Megabits per second (Mbps) or Gigabits per second (Gbps). These are:

  •  '1 Gigabit (1Gb) Ethernet' = 1000 Mbps  = 1 Gbps
  •  '2.5 Gigabit (2.5Gb) Ethernet' = 2500 Mbps = 2.5 Gbps
  • '10 Gigabit (10Gb) Ethernet' = 10,000 Mbps = 10 Gbps

What speed do you need on your motherboard? Today, you should at least have a 2.5 Gigabit ethernet port. Although the majority of home broadband speeds remain at or less than the 1 Gigabit level, this is in a constant state of flux with faster speeds coming down the line all the time (excuse the pun!). Indeed, home internet speeds are already available that exceed this minimum both in the US and in the UK, although the residential footprint of these services is still relatively small.

There is also one important situation where a higher 10 Gigabit ethernet connection might be useful and that is if you need super fast intranet speeds for data transfer between computers/devices within your home. In order to facilitate this, you will also need to ensure that your router and participating devices also have 10 gigabit ethernet ports to make use of this super high-speed connection. Currently, most routers included with home broadband packages do not have 10 Gigabit ethernet ports. However, high-end routers with more than one 10 Gigabit port are available, such as the ROG Rapture GT AXE16000 which has two of these super high-speed connections. In addition, if you want more than just a couple of devices to partake in your 10 Gigabit intranet, then you will also might need a 10 Gigabit switch (something like this one) in order to connect them all of the 10 Gigabit devices up since routers don't currently come with more than a couple of 10 Gigabit ports at most.

You may also wonder whether high-speed Wi-Fi can make up part of this 10 Gigabit network especially since Wi-Fi 6 can reach theoretical speeds of 9.6 Gbps (see next section on Wi-Fi). Unfortunately, this is just the theoretical Wi-Fi standard. In practice, the current fastest PC Wi-Fi modules are limited to about 2.4 Gbps with their 2x2 Wi-Fi antenna configuration. This may change, however, as the upcoming Wi-Fi 7 in client devices is expected to be able to reach practical speeds of up to 5.8 Gbps


Wi-Fi

Another important networking technology to consider including on your motherboard is wireless internet or Wi-Fi. Again this has evolved over the years and currently exists in several versions with increasing capabilities. Like ethernet, however, the versions of Wi-Fi that are common in today's motherboards (Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E) can transfer data at speeds in excess of the majority of home broadband connections and so will unlikely be a limiting factor on internet speeds now or in the near future. However, wireless signals are a bit more complicated than ethernet in that they are more easily subject to interference and congestion. Wireless signals are impeded by physical structures such as walls and are limited in the distance they can travel, which affects data transfer speeds. And if too many devices are using the same bandwidth, this too can slow down internet connection speeds due to congestion. With each new version of Wi-Fi, these problems have been better addressed.

Wi-Fi versions found on today's motherboards

Wi-Fi Common Name

Technology

Frequency Range

PC Maximum Data Transfer Rate

(In Practice)

Wi-Fi Standard Maximum Data Rate (Theoretical)

Wi-Fi 4

802.11n

2.4 GHz

5 GHz

300 Mbps

600 Mbps

Wi-Fi 5

802.11ac

5 GHz

1.7 Gbps

3.5 Gbps

Wi-Fi 6

802.11ax

2.4 GHz

5 GHz

2.4 Gbps

9.6 Gbps

Wi-Fi 6E

802.11ax

2.4 GHz

5 GHz

6 GHz

2.4 Gbps

9.6 Gbps

Today, Wi-Fi 6 should be the minimum standard on a new motherboard. Wi-Fi 6 and 6E come with some new technologies that help address some of the interference and congestion issues of earlier versions:

Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi 6 is better than Wi-Fi 5 in three main ways:

  • it can better handle multiple connected devices at once by interacting with them simultaneously rather than one by one.
  • it has 'Transmit beamforming' which means the Wi-Fi signal is directed at specific devices which allows for faster speeds at a greater range.
  • Wi-Fi 6 routers now have 'Target Wake Time' which tells devices when to wake and sleep so they are not constantly looking for a signal. This means less energy/battery usage and reduced congestion on the airways.
Wi-Fi 6E

Wi-Fi 6E has everything that Wi-Fi 6 possesses but it has been extended (hence the 'E' at the end) to include the 6 GHz frequency band in addition to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz ranges that are used by Wi-Fi 6. This means there is much more space on the airways to send wireless signals so congestion will be reduced further still.

Wi-Fi on your router

Importantly, routers also have to support the highest version of Wi-Fi that you intend to use. Wi-Fi routers currently included with home broadband packages are starting to support up to Wi-Fi 6. In addition, Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E-compatible routers are available for purchase from retail outlets.


Bluetooth

Like Ethernet and Wi-Fi, Bluetooth too improves with each version and, like the other networking technologies, moving between Bluetooth versions requires new hardware. At the time of writing, Bluetooth version 5 is the default standard with motherboards of today coming mostly with Bluetooth version 5.1 or 5.2.  

Bluetooth Version 5.1

The main improvements over version 5.0 are:

  • Version 5.1 can now pinpoint your location which is useful for Bluetooth lost item-locator devices.
  • Version 5.1 mediates faster connection initiation between Bluetooth devices while also using less power to do so.
  • Version 5.1 has improvements in connection advertising, which is where a Bluetooth device indicates that it is available for connection.
Bluetooth Version 5.2

The main improvements over version 5.1 are:

  • Version 5.2 uses low energy power control, which allows for more information to be transmitted using less bandwidth & lower amounts of power.
  • Version 5.2 allows for parallel communication, for example, multiple apps on a device may use the Bluetooth module simultaneously to communicate externally.
  • Version 5.2 uses asynchronous channels which permits simultaneous connections to multiple devices from single sources. For example, you can pair your computer with both Bluetooth headphones and speakers at the same time and then switch between them seamlessly.


Video-Out Ports

A lot of motherboards today come with one or two video-out ports. These are capable of connecting the motherboard to display screens without the need for a dedicated graphics card (although your CPU is then usually required to have an integrated GPU). However, since one of the major reasons for building a gaming computer in the first place is for the enhanced visuals that a high-end graphics card can produce, these motherboard video-out ports are often superfluous. 

There are, however, some special circumstances when you might want to use the integrated graphics capability of the motherboard rather than a dedicated graphics card. These predominantly include the initial configuration of a system or BIOS before the graphics card has been installed or configured, or when diagnosing a computer problem that might involve the dedicated graphics card.

Most of today's motherboards will include one or more of the following video-out ports:

  • HDMI
  • DisplayPort
  • Thunderbolt (passthrough)

Thunderbolt (passthrough)

HDMI and DisplayPort are straightforward connections that are easy to understand and most people have experienced connecting a monitor via one or both standards. However, a Thunderbolt 'passthrough' connection is a little bit more complicated. It allows for the connection of Thunderbolt displays - think Apple displays - to your computer. However, although you connect the Thunderbolt display to the USB-C port in the usual way, another connection is needed between a Mini DisplayPort IN port on the motherboard, and either a DisplayPort also located on the motherboard (which uses the integrated graphics previously described) or a DisplayPort on a dedicated graphics card.

(excerpt from the GIGABYTE Z590 Vision D motherboard manual)


Conclusion

When building a gaming computer, the motherboard is probably one of the most complicated components to choose, as it connects all of the other hardware together. This makes it necessary to understand how the computer will function as a whole before deciding on which motherboard is a good fit. 

Once you have decided on the size format of the motherboard as well as whether it should run an Intel or AMD CPU, you then have to determine what its hardware characteristics should be.

The hardware choices to make include computer expandability through the PCIe bus, how much internal long-term storage you may want on your computer, and the number and type of external connection ports to have for peripheral devices. In addition, you will also need to decide on the amount of RAM the motherboard should be capable of supporting, its networking capabilities, and finally, which type (if any) of video-out connections you may need to make with the motherboard itself.

Hopefully, this article has covered most of these issues in sufficient detail for you to make your motherboard-buying decision just that little bit easier!


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