Asus motherboards which one to choose. How to choose a motherboard for a new computer or upgrade? Universal technique. Main elements soldered on the board surface
To choose motherboard it is important to approach it responsibly, since it is one of the main elements connecting the components of the computer. Even the mouse and keyboard are connected to the motherboard connectors, not to mention the organization of communication with the main PC components. The motherboard must be compatible with the processor, so you should either choose them together, or match one of the devices to the other. In addition, it would not be a bad idea to take care of further upgrades in advance if they are planned in the future. Often, assembling a computer begins with purchasing a processor and video card. In this case, the appropriate motherboard is selected, for example, when you purchase an Intel CPU with index K, that is, for overclocking, the motherboard chipset must have index Z, which supports this feature. Each processor model is suitable for certain boards, and it’s not just about the manufacturer and socket. There are exceptions when, with a suitable connector, interaction between devices is not ensured. When buying a motherboard, many parameters are decisive, including sockets (a processor socket that determines which model can be installed), chipsets, form factor (dimensions also matter), interfaces (number and type of connectors), memory slots and others nuances. , which are the main component of the motherboard, what their functions are, and also which chipset is better to choose in this or that case. This motherboard element can also be purchased separately if circumstances require it.
The right choice of motherboard chipset in 20148.
The chipset of the motherboard of a PC or laptop is a set of chips, its purpose is to ensure the coordinated operation of all components, including the processor, video card, hard drives, memory cards and others peripheral devices. The motherboard architecture in its classic design has a south and north bridge (relevant for AMD platforms; Intel has integrated the lion's share of the north bridge functions into the CPU), slots for installing RAM (DDR4, DDR3). The north bridge connects the processor with the graphics adapter, memory card and south bridge; the operating parameters of the system bus, RAM and video controller also depend on it. Despite the fact that in a modern build, computer performance does not depend on the chipset, since the north bridge has migrated to processors to increase data exchange speed and reliability, the role of the south bridge should also not be underestimated. The functionality of the motherboard depends on it, thanks to it communication with the periphery is ensured.
Often a cooling chip is added to the northbridge, since excess load can cause it to overheat. The south bridge fails for other reasons, for example, a shorted USB port, contact with a faulty drive, etc. It is not necessary to replace the entire board. If the motherboard is one of the top ones, it makes sense to change only the chipset; with budget options, such actions are impractical. The main manufacturers of chipsets are Intel and AMD, familiar to everyone from their processors. They make up the largest market share. Also involved in production was NVidea, which is more familiar with its video cards; the role of other manufacturers is not so significant.
How to choose a chipset
The main condition for a successful purchase is full compatibility of the components, therefore, when deciding which chipset to choose a motherboard on, you need to take into account the model of the processor that is installed or planned to be installed. Having initially decided on the platform, Intel or AMD, we proceed to selecting the CPU. Since the processor and motherboard are closely related, we select them simultaneously or one after the other. The question of which manufacturer is better is incorrect in this case, so there will be no answer to it; we will look at chipsets from both AMD and Intel. Both corporations produce high-quality products and have long established themselves in the market.
In cases where the CPU is already available, the range of options narrows. If the choice of the platform is most often predetermined, then you will have to carefully familiarize yourself with the remaining parameters of the board so that the purchase meets the requirements. Thus, the cost of a top-end model does not make any sense if the computer will be used in the office or at home with minimal use of resources, so first of all it is worth deciding for what tasks the board is selected, the same applies to the processor or other components involved in the assembly. It’s no good if a device with great potential does not use even half of its capabilities, and you also need to take into account the material side of the issue, because you have to pay for power and additional functionality. Since all the elements go together, they must harmonize to function better together.
Top motherboards are built on the Z chipset, but this does not mean at all that you need to chase devices from the top of the rating. After all, the compatibility of the elements and the feasibility of the purchase are more important. You can determine which motherboard chipset will be better by looking at the processor parameters; the decisive factor is also a clear idea of what tasks the computer is used for. Having identified the goals, we begin the selection. In general terms it looks like this:
- For office or home computer(provided that this is not a gamer’s computer) a budget build is suitable, because equipping the device with high-power components is simply unnecessary. A board that interacts with a CPU with an integrated graphics core is quite suitable for working in conjunction with the same processor. For a budget build, the H110 or H310 chipset is optimal choice. You shouldn’t expect much functionality from motherboards with chipsets of this level, but this does not mean that they are bad;
- If the user works more seriously with graphics, for example, uses graphical applications, plays games with average system requirements, an additional video card is purchased, then there is no need for a graphics chipset, it should only support the functioning of the installed video adapter. For a medium-power build, motherboards with B 150 and B 250 chipsets are suitable.
The range of boards based on mid-level chipsets is quite wide. Here you can find models with decent equipment from both Intel and AMD representatives;
- For a powerful computer on which professional work with graphics, demanding programs is carried out, and heavy games are launched, both a high-performance processor and an appropriate board that also supports several video cards are selected. Chipsets Z 270 or Z 170 are ideal for overclocking the RAM and processor. For some boards on the Z170 there is a modified BIOS, due to which you can overclock processors that do not have the K index on the bus (relevant for Skylake 6th generation). Overclockers will find a suitable motherboard model for themselves among the range of motherboards with older chipsets. Such motherboards have the best equipment, so it won’t be difficult to find a copy with an integrated Wi-fi or Bluetooth module (if needed) or other additional goodies in this category of models. By the way, if the board and processor do not support overclocking, this does not mean that a computer with such equipment will not be gaming. For gaming computer Chipsets Z370, H370, B360 are suitable for Intel.
The best chipsets for Intel and AMD motherboards
As mentioned above, the concept of “best chipset” is very relative. Best choice There will always be the most suitable option for a particular assembly. Nevertheless, Intel has assigned chipsets at the top of the “food chain” for motherboards with the Z index, usually (though not always) equipped with more functionality, so they will top the rating.
Intel chipsets
Except letter marking, chipsets are divided into series (the 300th, 200th, 100th series are relevant today). The 300th is adapted for the eighth generation of processors, the 200th is suitable for the seventh and sixth, the 100th is suitable for Intel Core, Pentium and Celeron. The indices Z, H, B, Q indicate the categories of chipsets (Z – gaming with overclocking capabilities, H – functional mainstream chipsets, B – for office or home, Q – for business).
300
Let's start the list of Intel chipsets from the top. Motherboards equipped with these particular chipsets are shining in the ratings today.
- Z370/390. The difference between the chipsets is not that big. The Z370 chipset is the pioneer of the series, one of the best, but, despite the possibility of overclocking, some of the functionality inherent in subsequent copies of the 300th is missing (compare the same H370 with the new USB1 Gen 2 and support wireless networks). The new Z390 is a slightly more modernized analogue of the Z370 with the same configurations of PCI-Express channels and USB drives, but with the addition of USB 3.1 Gen 2 and Intel Wireless-AC MAC;
- Q Like Z-chipsets, the use of multiple video cards is supported, but there is no overclocking option. It is adapted to business needs, so you can’t count on an assortment of motherboards with its participation;
- The H370, located one step below, is very similar to its brother Z370, and although it does not have overclocking capabilities, and there are slightly fewer PCI-Express and USB channels, the H370 is superior in having USB1 Gen 2 and supports Wi-fi and Bluetooth 5.0. If the mainland is not purchased for the purpose of overclocking, then this chipset is worth paying attention to when assembling a productive computer;
- B360 is not as sophisticated a chipset as the one discussed above, but it is also not as limited in functionality as the H310, it has a dual-channel memory controller, USB1 Gen 2, supports version 3.0 buses, and also allows the use of a graphics core integrated into modern Intel processors;
- H310 is a budget version of the series with a minimum set of functions for undemanding users. The chipset does not support the PCI-Express bus version 3.0, like other representatives of the series; there is a second one, which has lower bandwidth. The situation is exactly the same with the DMI version, the memory controller is single-channel, and in general many features have been reduced.
100 and 200
There is no significant difference between the series, although the 200th and more have been modernized.
- X299 is worth special attention, it is designed for the line of high-performance Kaby Lake-X and Skylake-X CPUs without integrated graphics and supports overclocking;
- Z170/270. Like other Z-index carriers, chipsets are ideal for overclocking processors and are equipped with good functionality;
- H170/270. With boards equipped with H chips, the user has much more options than when using B, but there is no overclocking on such motherboards;
- B150/250 is the golden mean between a budget option and a gaming one. Boards based on these chipsets are installed with average power, sufficient to perform various everyday tasks on a PC;
- The H110 has limited functionality, but is great for budget builds, because purchasing an expensive motherboard with many capabilities can be unreasonable, for example, in the case of office work etc.
Chipsets with the Q index are not too different from H, but have a certain set of corporate goodies. In all Intel series, a certain structure can be traced, ranking models taking into account their inherent bells and whistles. The announced X399 chipset (the name echoes the AMD model for the Ryzen Theadripper CPU) may soon become the icing on Intel’s cake.
AMD chipsets
The company offers two options for chipset configurations - chipsets, where the south and north bridges coexist in one set and exist separately from each other. The combined variations are aimed at processors with the new AM4 and TR4 sockets; a separate configuration is used for earlier sockets.
TR4 processors
The company released the X399 chipset for powerful AMD Ryzen Theadripper CPUs. A significant proportion of controllers have now migrated to the processor, which has increased performance and reliability (it’s no secret that the processor is cooled better). The equipment includes 4-channel RAM, connecting devices via NVMe and other useful features. Overclocking supported.
AM4 processors
Chipsets for AM4 also have a combined version, and the lion's share of the controllers moved into the processor, leaving only the peripherals for the chipset.
- X470 is a new top-end chipset that is a more upgraded version of X370. The chipset is perfect for gamers and overclockers. Features include overclocking, support for multiple video cards, loading from NVMe RAID, etc. In addition, the X470 supports AMD StoreMI technology, which allows you to combine hard disks into one volume and move to automatic mode frequently used files on SSD.;
- B350 is a more modest representative of chipsets for motherboards of gaming computers, while also providing the ability to overclock and work with multiple video cards;
- A320 is an option for “workhorses” operating with one video adapter. Overclocking is not supported in this case, but the capabilities of the chipset are quite sufficient to solve pressing problems.
For small form factor motherboards, the X300 (analogous to the gaming X370) and A300 (analogous to the A320) chipsets are produced. The difference lies in the reduced support for connection interfaces.
AM3+ processors
Chipsets for AM3+ sockets are available in a north and south bridge configuration.
- The 990FX and 990X chips are designed for gaming platforms, support overclocking and OverDrive control, and do not have integrated graphics. 990FX supports 4 video cards, 990X – two;
- There is also an AMD 970 chipset with similar characteristics, but it supports one video adapter;
- 980G with integrated graphics perfect option for office and low-power home PCs without a connected video card. It will be possible to play not too demanding games, if the processor power allows, one connector for a video card is available.
FM2+ processors
FM2+ chipsets and similar sockets are suitable for use in conjunction with A-series and Athlon hybrid processors.
- A88X provide overclocking capabilities, support the connection of two video cards, RAID functionality (it is advisable to use with AMD A8 - A6);
- A78 also has an arsenal for overclocking, supports one video adapter (it is better to use it on CPUs of the A6 - A4 line);
- A58 and more advanced brother A68N. Both chipsets support dual graphics (improved performance graphics system achieved through the use of hybrid processors in conjunction with some graphics adapters from AMD).
Results
Considering the modern market, you should take into account that the company’s processors Intel generation Coffee Lake are only compatible with the new 300 chips and the LGA1151v2 socket, while new AMD processors, including the second generation Ryzen, are compatible with AM4. Chipsets from Intel, marked Z or X, allow you to overclock the machine, while others do not, even if the processor has a free multiplier, suggesting similar manipulations with its frequency. With AMD, overclocking can be done on a motherboard with an X or B chipset.
When the underlying goals are completely different and the extra expenditure of money is not justified or a very limited budget for assembly plays a decisive role, you can get by with not particularly outstanding motherboards. By the way, among them you can find interesting specimens with good set interfaces and connectors.
A gaming motherboard is a device no less important for a PC than a processor or video card, which are considered to have a decisive influence on the performance of a computer. Which of the models of the corresponding type of device can be classified as the most functional, and at the same time affordable?
What are the latest solutions that support Intel and AMD chips?
The best gaming motherboards for modern PCs are more likely to be found by considering solutions that are equipped with chips from the world's leading manufacturers of the corresponding type of electronic components - the Intel and AMD brands. If we talk about the latest chips from Intel, chipsets such as, for example, H97/Z97, as well as X99, deserve attention. Regarding competing products from AMD, you can consider chips from the A85/A88X line.
In turn, solutions from both brands can be installed in products from the widest range of global manufacturers. Gaming motherboards produce such largest companies, like ASUS, GIGABYTE, MSI, and also ASRock. Let's look at the features of using AMD chips in the most popular modifications of motherboards produced by these brands - in those price ranges that are acceptable for most users, as well as the key capabilities of the corresponding solutions.
Gaming solutions from ASUS based on AMD chipset
Among the most famous products from ASUS in the gaming motherboard segment is the Crossblade Ranger device.
This device:
Designed in ATX format;
CrossFire compatible.
The device is equipped with a modern network controller, as well as high-performance sound module. The motherboard in question is characterized as being highly overclockable.
Motherboards from MSI based on AMD chipsets
The next largest brand producing motherboards for gaming computers is MSI. Among its most notable products is the A88XM Gaming device. This device is one of those that are based, therefore, on a chipset from AMD.
The motherboard in question is designed, in turn, based on the microATX format. With its help, you can assemble a computer of smaller dimensions than in the case of using the previous solution from ASUS. The solution in question is notable for supporting the CrossFire standard, as well as being equipped with a high-performance sound module. This motherboard also has an excellent quality network controller. Among others distinctive features devices - the presence of 8 SATA ports in version 3.0. Like the solution from ASUS, it lends itself well to overclocking.
Another interesting product from MSI is the MSI 970 motherboard. It is equipped with PCI Express x16 slots and supports the CrossFire standard. It can also overclock well, thanks to the modern power subsystem of the main chip, which operates using 8 phases. The device is equipped with a high-performance sound module, which is complemented by capacitors and amplifiers. The motherboard also contains a high-tech network controller.
Solutions from ASRock based on AMD chipsets
Another well-known brand that produces gaming motherboards is ASRock. If we consider modern models of devices produced by him, then we can pay attention to the product FM2A88X. It is also based on a chipset from AMD. Made, in turn, in miniATX format. Among the most notable features of this motherboard is its availability of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules.
The next famous product from ASRock is 990FX. Also based on a chipset from AMD. Equipped with Express 2.0. It has 8 SATA ports in version 3.0, as well as high-performance Having examined gaming motherboards based on AMD chipsets, we will now study the specifics of products in which chips from Intel are installed.
Solutions from ASUS based on Intel chips
ASUS is one of those brands that successfully produces devices that operate both on the basis of chips from Intel and those produced by the main competitor of this brand, AMD. An example of such a product is the H97-PRO motherboard. It is based on the ATX format. It is noteworthy that this motherboard, despite being equipped with an Intel chip, can support the CrossFire standard, which is considered typical for AMD products.
Among the main competitive advantages that characterize the solution under consideration is support for standards such as SATA Express, as well as M2. The device is also equipped with a high-tech network controller and an audio processing system, which contains capacitors, operational amplification modules, and noise shielding.
There are ASUS gaming motherboards on the market, which are also based on another modern chipset from Intel - Z97. Among these is the product MAXIMUS VII FORMULA. It is based on the ATX format. Equipped with 3 PCI Express x16 and x1 slots. Supports CrossFire and SLI standards. The motherboard in question is characterized as one of the most optimal in terms of overclocking.
The most powerful one produced by Intel chips today - X99. It is designed for use with 8-core chips based on the Haswell-E microarchitecture, as well as when using DDR4 RAM modules. ASUS also produces motherboards that support X99 chips.
Among such products is the RAMPAGE V EXTREME device. This motherboard has large dimensions because it is based on the E-ATX format. The device is equipped with 5 PCI Express x16 slots and a high-tech network controller. The device supports wireless standards Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The motherboard is equipped with a high-performance audio subsystem.
Solutions from ASRock supporting Intel chips
Motherboards for gaming computers supporting modern Intel chipsets are also produced by MSI. Among the most notable solutions produced by this brand in the corresponding segment is the Z97M product. It is made in the microATX format. This motherboard has 4 expansion slots, SATA Express connectors, as well as high-speed M2 connectors. There is a high-tech sound module, as well as a powerful controller.
Solutions from GIGABYTE with support for Intel chipsets
Excellent gaming motherboards supporting chips manufactured by Intel are produced by another famous brand - GIGABYTE. Among its most notable solutions is the GA-H97M product.
It is equipped with a high-performance network processor and an op-amp-optimized audio codec. It may be noted that the device comes with a disk with special program for working with sound. The product is based on the microATX format.
Solutions from MSI with support for Intel chips
Gaming ones are also supplied to the market in modifications that support Intel chipsets. Among these is the H97I AC device. With this motherboard you can build a computer in a particularly compact format. The device is equipped with a wireless module, as well as a high-performance PCI Express x16 connector.
As for devices that support the Z97 chipset, MSI also successfully produces them. An example of such a solution is the Z97 XPOWER motherboard. First of all, it is worth noting the size of the corresponding model - it corresponds to the E-ATX format. Therefore, it is supposed to be placed in a fairly large PC case. The device is equipped with a high-tech cooling system. The motherboard has 5 PCI Express x16 slots, as well as 2 PCI Express x1. Each of them can operate within the speeds guaranteed by the 3rd version of the corresponding data transfer standard. The device also supports CrossFire technology.
The MSI brand also produces devices compatible with the X99 chip. Among these is the X99S MPOWER product. This device is also considered as one of those that is best optimized for overclocking. As some experts note, in the appropriate operating mode the device operates stably, without significant failures. The device is equipped with a powerful controller and a high-tech audio codec.
Choosing a motherboard for games: basic criteria
For a computer designed for gaming? The main criteria that experts recommend focusing on when purchasing the appropriate type of device are the following.
Firstly, it’s worth deciding what specific games you’re going to build a PC for. The fact is that even the most inexpensive computers are capable of running games with average requirements at almost the same speed as devices assembled from premium components. Therefore, it may not make sense to purchase a motherboard that supports the latest standards - for example, DDR 4 memory modules. Its compatibility with traditional technologies for the gaming solutions segment may well be sufficient. Such as, for example, support for DDR3 memory, the ability to connect devices via the SATA interface in version 3.0. Likewise, the user does not always use all the ports available on the device - to connect RAM modules or video cards. It may be better to purchase a motherboard with fewer connectors. It is desirable that the device be equipped with a high-performance network controller, as well as a technologically advanced sound module. Optionally, it may be preferable for the device to support wireless modules.
Secondly, you need to look at the form factor of the motherboard, which actually determines its size. It is undesirable for it to exceed the dimensions of the PC system case used. It is best if its form factor and the corresponding standard of the motherboard are completely identical.
Thirdly, the user needs to decide whether he needs additional options on the motherboard - such as, for example, support for wireless modules. Even the best gaming motherboards, when considering their performance and functionality in terms of support for various connectors, may not be compatible with the corresponding technologies.
The device, of course, must be fully compatible with other electronic components that are supposed to be placed on it. There are 2 main brands that produce chipsets for devices such as gaming motherboards - Intel and AMD. If the device is designed to work with a chip from Intel, then the possibility of installation into it is practically excluded. You should also check whether other devices are compatible with the connectors of the motherboard you are purchasing. Such as, for example, a video card and an audio card.
So, a modern gaming motherboard for games:
Supports the desired chipset;
Has a sufficient number of ports;
Supports traditional or advanced RAM modules - DDR3 and DDR4, respectively;
Equipped with a modern network controller, sound module, optionally with support for wireless standards;
Balanced in terms of technology support and price.
The specifics of the last point can be considered in more detail.
How much do modern motherboards for gaming PCs cost?
Let us therefore study the price aspect of choosing devices such as gaming motherboards. Their prices are determined by the degree of novelty, compatibility with a chip from a particular brand, as well as supported standards. Regarding solutions that are based on chips from AMD in the A88X modification, their price is in the range between 4,500 - 12,000 rubles. The cost of motherboards that have the latest chips from Intel - X99 installed - is much higher - up to 20,000 rubles or more.
At the same time, among the brands we examined, there are no ones that can be unambiguously characterized as budget or premium. A good gaming motherboard, in principle, cannot be cheap. However, from the entire range of devices on the market, it is quite possible to find one that will have the optimal price in terms of user needs and performance.
The motherboard chipset is the blocks of microcircuits (literally chip set, that is, a set of chips) that are responsible for the operation of all the others computer components. The performance and speed of your PC also depends on it.
As you understand, in addition, you should pay close attention to the chipset placed on it, especially if we're talking about about modern powerful home or gaming computers.
They are easy to identify visually on the motherboard - these are large black microcircuits, which are sometimes covered with cooling radiators.
Motherboard architecture with two bridges
In the already outdated design of the motherboard, the chipset chips were divided into two blocks - the north and south bridge according to their location on the diagram.
The functions of the north bridge are to ensure the operation of the processor with RAM (RAM controller) and video card (PCI-E x16 controller). The southern one is responsible for connecting the processor with other computer devices - hard drives, optical drives, expansion cards, etc. via SATA, IDE, PCI-E x1, PCI, USB, sound controllers.
The main performance characteristic of the chipset in this architecture is the data bus (System Bus), designed to exchange information between the various parts that make up the computer. All components work with the chipset through buses, each at its own speed. This is clearly visible in the chipset diagram.
The performance of the entire PC depends precisely on the speed of the bus that connects it to the chipset itself. In Intel chipset terminology, this bus is referred to as FSB (Front Side Bus).
In the description of the motherboard, this is referred to as “bus frequency” or “bus bandwidth”.
Let's take a closer look at these characteristics of the data bus. It is determined by two indicators - frequency and width.
- Frequency is the speed at which data is transmitted, measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). The higher this indicator, the higher the performance of the entire system as a whole (for example, 3 GHz).
- Width - the number of bytes that the bus has the ability to transfer at a time in bytes (for example, 2 Bt). The greater the width, the more information the bus can transmit in a certain period of time.
When we multiply these two values, we get a third, which is precisely indicated on the diagrams - throughput, which is measured in gigabytes per second (Gb/s, Gb/s). From our example, we multiply 3 GHz by 2 Bytes and get 6 Gb/s.
In the picture below, the bus bandwidth is 8.5 gigabytes per second.
The north bridge communicates with the RAM using a built-in two-channel controller via the RAM Bus, which has 128 contacts (x128). When working with memory in single-channel mode, only 64 tracks are used, so for maximum performance it is recommended to use 2 memory modules connected to different channels.
Architecture without northbridge
In the latest generation processors, the north bridge is already built into the processor chip itself, which significantly increases its performance. Therefore, on new motherboards it is completely absent - only the south bridge remains.
In the example below, the chipset does not have a north bridge, since its function is taken over by a processor with a built-in video core, but from it we also see the designation of the data bus speed.
Modern processors use the QPI (QuickPath Interconnect) bus, as well as the PCI-e x16 graphics controller, which used to be in the northbridge and is now built into the processor. As a result of them becoming embedded, the main data bus characteristics are not as important as they were in the previous generation dual-bridge architecture.
In modern chipsets on new boards, there is another bus operation parameter - transfers per second, which indicates the number of data transfer operations per second. For example, 3200 MT/s (megatransfers per second) or 3.2 GT/s (gigatransfers).
The same characteristic is indicated in the descriptions of processors. Moreover, if the chipset has a bus speed of 3.2 GT/s, and the processor, for example, has 2 GT/s, then this combination will operate at a lower value.
Chipset manufacturers
The main players in the market of chipset manufacturers are the companies already familiar to us from Intel and AMD, as well as NVidea, which is better known to users for its video cards, and Asus.
Since the main manufacturers today are the first two, let's take a look at modern and already outdated models.
Intel chipsets
Modern - 8x, 7x and 6x series.
Outdated - 5x, 4x and 3x, as well as NVidea.
Marking a chipset with a letter before a number indicates the power of the chipset within one line.
- X - maximum performance for gaming computers
- P - high performance for powerful computers for mass use
- G - for a regular home or office computer
- B, Q - for business. The characteristics are the same as “G”, but have additional functions, such as remote maintenance and access monitoring for administrators of large offices and enterprises.
Recently, several more new series have been introduced for the new LGA 1155 chipset:
- N - for ordinary users
- R 67 - for enthusiasts who are planning further modernization and overclocking of the system
- Z - universal option, combines the characteristics of the previous two
From the chipset diagram you can easily understand what built-in and external functions it supports. For example, let's look at the diagram of the modern high-performance Intel Z77 chipset.
The first thing that attracts attention is the absence of a north bridge. As we can see, this chipset works with processors with integrated graphics core (Processor Graphics) of the Intel Core series. For a home computer, the built-in core will be enough to work with documents and watch videos. However, if greater performance is required, for example when installing modern games, then the chipset supports the installation of several video cards in the PCI Express 3 slot. Moreover, when installing 1 video card, it will use 16 lines, two - each with 8 lines, or one 8, the other 4 , and the remaining 4 lines will be used to work with devices via Thunderbolt technology.
The chipset is also ready for further upgrades and system overclocking (Intel Extreme Tuning Support).
For comparison, let's look at another chipset - Intel P67, which is shown below. Its main difference from the Z77 is that it does not support working with the processor’s built-in video core.
This means that a motherboard equipped with a P67 will not be able to work with the integrated graphics core of the processor and you will definitely have to buy a discrete (separate) video card for it.
AMD chipsets
Modern - Axx series (for processors with a built-in video core), 9xx and 8xx.
Outdated - 7xx, nForce and GeForce, with the exception of some models.
The weakest in terms of performance are those models whose names contain only numbers.
- The letters G or V in the model name indicate the presence of a built-in video card in the chipset.
- X or GX - support for two separate (discrete) video cards, but not at full capacity (8 lines each).
- FX are the most powerful chipsets that fully support multiple graphics cards.
The bus that connects the processor and the chipset is called Hyper Transport (HT) by AMD. In modern chipsets working with sockets AM2+, AM3, AM3+ it is version 3.0, in AM2 it is 2.0.
- HT 2.0: max frequency - 1400 MHz, width 4 bytes, bandwidth 2.8 GT/s
- HT 3.0: max frequency 2600 MHz, width 4 bytes, bandwidth 5.3 GT/s
Let's look at an example of a motherboard description on the website and determine which chipset is installed on it.
In this picture we have the MSI Z77A-G43 model - from the name itself it is clear that it is equipped with an Intel Z77 chipset, which is also confirmed in detailed description.
And here is the ASUS SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 board with a powerful chipset from AMD 990FX, which is also evident both from the name and from the detailed description.
What is the best motherboard chipset?
Let's summarize - which chipset is better to choose for your computer?
It all depends on what purpose you are building your PC for. If this is an office or home computer on which you do not plan to install games, then it is advisable to choose a chipset that works with processors with an integrated graphics core. By purchasing such a board and, accordingly, a processor with built-in video, you will receive a kit that is quite suitable for working with documents and even watching videos in good quality.
If more advanced graphics work is required, for example for medium-sized video games or graphic applications, then you will use a separate video card, which means there is no point in overpaying for a graphics chipset that supports working with the built-in video processor - it is better if it ensures the maximum performance of the video card.
For the most powerful gaming computers, and to a lesser extent for those that will run graphics-intensive professional programs, choose the most powerful models that fully support multiple graphics cards.
I hope this article has opened the curtain a little for you on the mystery of motherboard chipsets and now you can more correctly choose these components for your computer! Well, to consolidate your knowledge, watch the video tutorial posted at the beginning of the article.
Thank you! Did not help
Introduction
It's no secret that a computer is a complex device consisting of a huge number of parts. But what is its main part responsible for - the motherboard? At the dawn of time, its function was utilitarian - a platform for other computer components, with a dozen basic settings - and nothing more. Over time, the motherboard took on more and more more features, and now you won’t surprise anyone with the built-in sound card and a video card, USB and FireWire controllers. It would seem that since there is nothing more to integrate (after all, expansion cards are now rarely found in a regular computer), then progress should have stopped. No matter how it is! We will prove the reliability of the last statement using the example of the motherboard of one of the patriarchs of the IT industry - Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.
We will talk about the configuration and diagnostic application software of modern boards, about the element base that affects reliability during intensive use, about proprietary technologies that simplify the setup and operation of a computer, and about the fact that plug-ins for the VKontakte social network are by no means only for communicators and smartphones, but also for operating systems built into the BIOS, about processor overclocking and modern means overclocking, about related capabilities that help other computer components work more reliably and efficiently - in a word, about everything that the manufacturer has invested in his brainchild and which buyers are sometimes completely unaware of.
The motherboard is big, but what can it do?
Can a new generation motherboard provide significantly more than solutions from previous generations? Yes!
The motherboard is the largest board in the computer, and various functions of the future computer depend on it - both basic and additional. Yes, with main function- combine all computer devices into a ready-made system capable of performing the tasks assigned to it - all motherboards do an excellent job. Let's start with additional functions that will make working with your computer easier, making it as comfortable as possible. Typically, such technologies have a name that does not always reveal their essence. For example, what is “APS” and what is it for? Let's try to consider some of the most interesting features using the example of MSI MS-7760 X79A-GD65-8D. For clarity, let's create the following table:
| Description | MSI MS-7760 X79A-GD65-8D |
| Increased current in USB ports for charging smartphones and tablets | Super Charger |
| A utility that simplifies BIOS settings | ClickBIOS II |
| Automatic overclocking | OC Genie II |
| BIOS Update Utility | M-Flash |
| Energy saving technology | APS |
| Component base with increased resource | Military Class III |
| Mini OS for quick access To global network Internet | Winki 3 |
| Software for updating firmware and drivers from Windows | Live Update 5 |
| Ability to use disks larger than 2.2 TB | 3TB+ Infinity |
| Compliance with surround sound standards | THX, HD Audio |
Although the above list, of course, does not pretend to be complete, the listed technologies alone already allow us to conclude that a high-quality motherboard satisfies most of the needs of both ordinary users and specialists.
VKontakte cannot wait!
Can the motherboard make it so that the boot necessary applications did it take less time with an HDD compared to a state-of-the-art SSD?
Typically, the computer startup time is associated with the drive installed in the system. 75% of this is true: Windows starts many times faster from a modern SSD drive compared to the system installed on HDD. It is worth noting that before running the installed operating system the computer conducts self-diagnosis, the duration of which, sometimes reaching 10-15 seconds, sometimes accounts for half (or even more) of the total computer startup time. With the introduction of UEFI BIOS into the latest generation of motherboards, the time from pressing the power button to transferring control to the operating system has been significantly reduced, so when choosing a new motherboard, you should pay attention to this parameter. In addition to reducing startup time, UEFI BIOS made it possible to implement a graphical interface into the program initial setup BIOS Setup. In addition, it became possible to change the interface language, and some manufacturers, for example, have Russian in their extensive list of languages.
However, that's not all. Quite often, the computer is turned on simply to check mail or communicate in popular in social networks, such as VKontakte or Facebook, for which you have to wait for the operating system to load and launch the browser - when using classic hard drives, this procedure takes quite a long time. To reduce latency, MSI motherboards support the Winki 3 mini operating system, which has minimal functionality but starts up in just a few seconds. When using it, you will have access to an Internet browser, a photo viewer, an Internet pager and an office suite. It is worth noting: this possibility is this moment is unique, and no other motherboard manufacturer offers such a set of applications, which increases its attractiveness in the eyes of potential buyers.
ATX, ITX, or maybe DTX? What are these abbreviations?
Does size matter? Is the functionality of the board related to its format? In "supercomputer" motherboards, "bigger" always means "better"!
. When choosing a motherboard, you should remember that modern cases have different sizes, and not every board will fit into the selected case. In order to simplify the selection of a motherboard, standards have been developed indicating the dimensions of the board, the location of mounting holes and expansion slots. These standards are called motherboard form factors. For desktop computers the most common sizes are XL-ATX, ATX, microATX, mini-ITX. In the list below, the formats are presented in decreasing order of size. It should be remembered that a small board can be installed in a large case: all fasteners and expansion slots will be in the right places, but this should only be done as a last resort. For example, when upgrading, you have an ATX case, and you like a microATX board. When purchasing a new computer, it is better to select components of appropriate sizes. The photographs below show boards with different sizes.
Please note: a computer assembled on a board of the smallest format (mini-ITX) is usually designed to work in office computers or media centers, so such models do not have a PCI-E 16x slot for installing discrete video cards, as a result of which modern games will not be available .
In general, when miniaturizing a motherboard, first of all, additional slots for video cards are removed from it, the cooling system is simplified, and sometimes the number of SATA connectors is reduced. When choosing a board, you should think about whether there will be system unit any components have been added - if not, then microATX will be an excellent choice, because computers assembled on such boards take up much less space, but they are not suitable for a serious gaming computer.
Is “chipset” just a buzzword or something more?
What do manufacturers ask for money for when they offer more or less expensive motherboards on the same chipset: for marketing or for really useful things that make the computer more convenient to use?
When choosing a motherboard, you need to pay attention to such a component of the motherboard as the chipset. For a long time, this complex semiconductor device was practically the second processor of any home computer. Its functionality included a memory controller, a PCI-E or, even earlier, AGP controller, an integrated graphics adapter, USB and hard drive controllers, and more. As a result, computers assembled from the same components, but differing in motherboards and, accordingly, chipsets, had different performance.
Today, the situation has changed: functions critical to performance have moved to the processor, so the impact on computer performance has been significantly reduced. Computers built on different chipsets of the same generation have the same performance, differing in such parameters as support for the video core built into the processor, the ability to overclock, the number of SATA II/SATA 6 Gb/s and USB/USB 3.0 ports. Despite this, manufacturers quite often in their model range have several boards based on the same system logic. This is done to expand the functionality of the product by adding additional controllers or disabling functions that are not critical from the point of view of reducing the final cost of the product. A good example can serve as a ruler on Intel chipset Z68.
| Z68A-G45 (B3) | Z68A-GD65 (B3) | Z68A-GD80 (B3) | |
| Intel Smart Response | + | + | + |
| Lucidlogix Virtu Switchable Graphics | + | + | + |
| Charging USB devices (iPod, iPhone, etc.), | + | + | + |
| Uses 100% solid polymer capacitors | + | + | + |
| Automatic overclocking | + | + | + |
| Heatpipe based cooling system | - | + | + |
| Increased power of USB ports | - | + | + |
| Driver MOSFET (DrMOS) | - | + | + |
| Tantalum capacitors | - | + | + |
| IEEE-1394 controller | - | - | + |
| Availability of two network cards 10/100/1000 Mbit/s | - | - | + |
| 3 PCI-E slot 16x | - | - | + |
If you look at the price list of the NICS Computer Supermarket, it becomes obvious that the maximum function board has the maximum price. Three computers assembled on the basis of the same components, but having three motherboards from the above example, will have the same performance, but the functionality and reliability in this case will differ due to the use of high-quality components that have passed military approval in expensive models.
“I want Japanese capacitors.” Is such a desire justified?
Stability in everything is the desire of most of humanity, and if its implementation in life largely depends on the state, then in a computer this role is assigned to the motherboard. But do all “computer governments” care about their “residents” equally?
All motherboard manufacturers strive to increase the life of their products using advanced scientific achievements, and the only limitation in this case is the efficiency of engineers. Quite a long time ago, two or three years ago, many companies began to use expensive solid-state capacitors in the production of their boards. This step made it possible to significantly increase the reliability of the boards, since swollen electrolytic capacitors in the power circuit central processor were a fairly common cause of failure of an entire computer.
Then ferrite coils and low-resistance transistors began to appear, but progress does not stand still, and over time, components previously used only in the aerospace industry began to appear in boards for desktop computers, which made it possible to bring reliability to new level. MSI is ahead of the curve with its industry-first use of Hi-c polymer capacitors based on the rare earth metal tantalum.
Unlike conventional solid capacitors, which cannot function when damaged, MSI HI-c capacitors can self-heal thanks to Nobel Prize-winning polymers.
In addition, the low height of such capacitors minimizes the likelihood of damage to them when installing a bulky processor cooling system. The only drawback of these devices is the rather high price, so Japanese solid-state capacitors, which have a very long service life, are used in less critical areas of the board. To ensure the reliability of its motherboards, MSI independently tests components to the MIL-STD-810G standard, which demonstrates the highest quality and reliability. It’s not for nothing that all US Army equipment is subject to such certification. To obtain the appropriate certificate, components must pass 7 tests:
- Temperature changes
- Possibility of use in high humidity
- Vibration test
- Low pressure operation
- High temperature operation
- Low temperature operation
- Physical resistance test
Overclock the processor? Easily!
Everyone knows: Russians love to drive fast. And what in motherboards is compatible with this feeling?
There are situations when the performance of the processor used is not high enough. What to do in this case? There are two options:
- Buy a faster processor
- Overclock an existing one
We use the word “usually” for a reason. Most modern motherboards provide the possibility of automatic overclocking, which makes this activity quite simple and safe, but not everything is ideal here.
The most common method of automatic overclocking is to run a specialized utility that gradually increases the processor frequency. Subsequently, a reboot occurs and a subsequent increase in frequency - and so on until a certain level is reached that is safe, according to the electronics of the board. Although this method, of course, is effective, the overclocking process takes quite a long time, and not everyone is satisfied with the need to install additional software. MSI took a different path by developing OC Genie technology and its further development - OC Genie II.
To overclock the processor on an MSI board, just before turning on the computer, press the button on the motherboard labeled “OC Genie” and turn on the computer. Immediately after switching on, the frequencies will be increased and the computer will be ready to work, and system stability will not be affected due to the use of high-quality components.
What if you need to install more than one video card?
Since we are talking about performance, a completely logical development of this topic would be to mention the computer’s graphics subsystem. When choosing a high-performance gaming computer, you should first of all pay attention to the video card, because gaming performance mainly depends on it. “What does this have to do with the motherboard?” - you ask. Let's figure it out.
Since modern gaming video cards are installed in the PCI-E 16x slot, Mini-ITX motherboards are the most suboptimal choice for a gaming computer due to the lack of such a slot. Quite often, motherboards have two or more PCI-E 16x slots. This configuration will be of interest to hardcore gamers and enthusiasts, since it will allow them to build a multi-GPU system, increasing the performance of the computer’s graphics subsystem by a factor of the number of video cards.
To implement such a scenario, just having the necessary connectors is not enough - support for Crossfire technologies for video cards is required AMD Radeon or SLI for video cards nVidia GeForce. Information on support for these technologies can be found in the description of the motherboard you like on the website or on the manufacturer’s website. If games as a class of software are not of interest to you, in this case it is quite possible to get by with a video card integrated into the motherboard or processor, the capabilities of which in most cases will be sufficient for office work and watching any movies, and this solution will save energy.
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"Hybrid graphics". Did not hear? We'll tell you!
Your new computer may become noticeably quieter and more economical than before!If you want to not only play modern games, but also save electricity, then the best option There will be a motherboard with hybrid graphics. For the first time, such technologies appeared in laptops - the most energy-critical devices, because battery life directly depends on this parameter. Over time, the turn came to desktop computers. Working in this mode is quite simple to explain. During idle time (for a video card, idle mode is any mode other than gaming), the built-in video adapter works, and when a game or other application that actively uses the resources of the graphics adapter is launched, the discrete video card comes into play.
Energy savings are achieved due to the fact that any discrete video card consumes more energy when idle than integrated graphics, and the difference is quite significant. If you plan to use such a combination, you should choose boards that support Lucidlogix Virtu Switchable Graphics technology, such as. You can find out about the board's support for this technology on our website in the description or by looking at the box, where the corresponding logo should be present.
If saving energy is not a priority, but when working with a computer you have to convert video materials, in this case, purchasing a board that supports Lucidlogix Virtu also has one very significant advantage. The fact is that the graphics core built into Intel Sandy Bridge processors supports Intel Quick Sync technology, thanks to which the time required to convert a video is reduced significantly. Thus, by configuring discrete graphics for continuous operation, and the built-in video core for a video converter, you will get the highest performance in games and the ability to encode video in a minimum time.
What to choose?
So what should you ultimately choose? Quality? It is at the proper level for all major manufacturers. Advanced functionality? As we pointed out in the first part, the variety of functions ultimately results in different names for the same features. Price? Perhaps this is indeed the right factor - however, it is not worth taking the most expensive, since for the most part this is a payment for a louder name and the active work of marketers.
The MSI company, founded more than a quarter of a century ago, independently produces motherboards and components, so the prices for MSI products are among the most affordable, and we are talking about full-fledged products highest quality. Another important advantage of MSI solutions is the long warranty period and excellent support. For fans of online battles, unique promotions conducted by MSI together with the developers of popular games will be a pleasant surprise. If you are a fan of the most popular MMO World of Tanks, then by purchasing, you will receive some in-game gold and a premium account.
