Choosing the right motherboard depends on a lot of factors and can seem to be a mammoth task. To ease things, we have listed the top features that you need to look for when selecting an expensive motherboard.
CPU Socket: The CPU socket is the one that links the motherboard to the processor and allows it to connect to several other devices. As it is an important factor when looking at a motherboard, you need to go for the one that is absolutely compatible with your processor. For the Intel processors, the LGA series are the most common and for the AMD series, the AM series are highly compatible. Chipset Type: The chipset is another important consideration when looking at motherboards. Apart from the compatibility with the system, you need to look for two chips, Northbridge and Southbridge which take care of the high-speed and low-speed transfers respectively. Type of RAM: The RAM is the power supply that is fed to the CPU. so, it is important to make sure that the RAM is completely compatible with the whole system for faster and better performance of the processor. You need to check the memory first before you select the RAM.
More considerations for the factors and features to look for in a motherboard are given in the “Buying Guide” given later in the article. In this article, we have given a detailed analysis of the top 5 motherboards to help you select the best one for your system.
What is a Motherboard?
A motherboard is a PCB or printed circuit board that acts as the backbone of the computer system enabling several parts to interact and serving connectors to several parts, like the storage, memory, graphics processing unit or GPU and central processing unit or the CPU. Most devices like desktop computers, notebooks, tablets and smartphones, all feature a motherboard but the ones that you will purchase yourself are typically for a PC. A motherboard is a collection of heat sinks, connectors, slots, capacitors, transistors, and circuits, to power the PC, combine the route signals and enable the user to connect to the external components.
What are the form factors of a motherboard?
The motherboards are available in different sizes, which offers some flexibility to the user in choosing the one that is perfect for their setup. If your PC has ample free space, you should go for a full-capacity tower case. However, smaller motherboards are much more suitable for an HTPC or home theatre PC. The form factor or the size of the motherboard is not only about the space that it occupies but also tells a great deal about the devices it will support. Usually, the larger motherboards support more and greater kinds of devices than the smaller ones. Also, every case is not suitable for every form factor. Therefore, you need to see that the case and the form factor match each other. In the table given below, we have listed some of the guidelines of the most common motherboards, which will help you get a clear idea about their capabilities. The most important thing to look for is the size of the PC and the number of components you wish to connect. These factors will help you pick the correct form factor for you.
What are the expensive motherboards, and what is the need?
The motherboard that you are looking for depends on the aesthetics and the features you need as a user. For instance, if you are looking for an upgrade you need to invest more money in the motherboard. Alternatively, for overclocking or maximising performance, you should look for extra power phases or better cooling technology for the VRMs. The expensive motherboards are at the top end of the spectrum offering more features you might even require. The high-end motherboards provide better cooling facilities for your VRMs, more power delivery phases for the performance and overall, have the best components in the market.
Are the expensive motherboards worth it or not?
The expensive motherboards have better and enhanced components than the other motherboards. With better power phases for control, they also feature top-quality capacitors. The inexpensive motherboards have bad capacitors which are a major drawback and cause common faults. Also, these PCBs have a robust construction and more layers than the cheaper alternatives.
Best Most Expensive Motherboard Table
Best Most Expensive Motherboard Reviews
1. ASUS Strix Z790 Motherboard
This gaming motherboard features the Intel LGA 1700 socket compatible with the 13th Gen and 12th Gen Intel Core, Celeron, Gold, and Pentium processors. With the 16+1 power solution rated at 70 Ampere at each stage, this motherboard houses durable capacitors, top-quality alloy chokes, and ProCool II power connectors to sustain multi-core processors. Also, the huge heatsinks with high-conductivity thermal pads and integrated I/O covers are perfect for the dissipation of heat. It features intelligent control with Two-Way AI Noise Cancellation, AI Networking, AI Cooling and AI Overclocking to improve performance and simplify setup. The expansion slots include one PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot with backplate and heatsink and three others with heatsinks. Better connectivity is ensured with a front-panel connector and additional ports. Also, high-performance networking is ensured with 2.5 Gb ethernet, WiFi 6E and ASUS LANguard. The brand offers a 60-day trial subscription for this product. Best Features:
CPU Socket: LGA 1700 Chipset Type: Intel Z790 RAM Memory Technology: DDR5 Compatible Devices: Personal Computer
Pros:
Compatible with the latest and newest processors. Great connectivity. Intelligent overclocking. Sufficient M.2 support.
Cons:
A bit expensive.
2. MSI Z690 Carbon Motherboard
This gaming motherboard by MSI is compatible with 12th-generation Intel Core, Pentium, and Celeron processors. It features rear audio ports and 5 optical ports. The motherboard supports up to 5600 OC MHz and DDR5 memory. Further, there is a high-quality R&D design with two exclusive DIMM solutions that ensures world-class performance. On top of that, the 4 dedicated M.2 connectors maximise the storage performance, and 3 lightning Generation 4 solutions. The Shield Frozr design keeps the system safe by preventing throttling and enabling them to run faster. The aluminium cover, VRM heat pipe, and thermal pads with MOSFET Baseplate make sure of the best performance in low temperatures. Best Features:
CPU Socket: LGA 1700 Chipset Type: Intel Z690 RAM Memory Technology: DDR5 Compatible Devices: Personal Computer
Pros:
Top-notch R&D design. Shield Frozr prevents the throttling of the system. Great heat dissipation. 4 M.2 connectors.
Cons:
Not compatible with 13th-generation processors.
3. Asus Z690 Motherboard
This CPU socket of LGA 1700 is compatible with 12th Generation Intel Core, Gold, Celeron and Pentium processors. It is co-branded with EVANGELION making the design unique with packaging, nameplate, heatsink and PCB. The intelligent control is done possibly by ASUS exclusive tools, including two-way AI noise-cancellation, AI Networking, AI Cooling, and AI overclocking. A robust power solution is made possible with 20+1 teamed power stages rated at 90 Ampere with better metallic capacitors, ProCool II power connectors, and MicroFine alloy chokes. The VRM heatsinks with integrated aluminium I/O cover, embedded backplates, water-cooling zones, thermal pads, and heatsinks dissipate the heat. High-performance networking is enabled with Intel 2.5 Gb ethernet, WiFi 6E, and ASUS LANguard. The gaming connectivity is faster with PCIe 5.0, dual Gen 4 M.2, USB support and a front-panel connector. The unmatched personalisation is made possible with 2 RGB headers, polymo lighting, and RGB lighting. Best Features:
CPU Socket: LGA 1700 Chipset Type: Intel Z690 RAM Memory Technology: DDR5 Compatible Devices: Personal Computer
Pros:
EVANGELION branding Unique design. Intelligent control. High-performance networking. Unmatched personalisation.
Cons:
Some people had issues with durability.
4. ASUS Strix X670E-E Motherboard
ASUS ROG gaming motherboard comes with the AM5 CPU socket that is suitable for the AMD Ryzen 7000 series. The all-inclusive tools like AI networking, 2-way AI noise-cancellation, and AI cooling II from ASUS enable easy configuration and intelligent control. It is a robust motherboard with 18+2 dual power stages and 8 to 8-pin ProCool II power connectors. With these, long-lasting capacitors and premium alloy chokes allow multi-core processors. Thermal design is optimised with the massive VRM heatsinks integrated with an aluminium I/O cover, high-conduction thermal pad, M.2 combo-sink, M.2 backplate, and L-shaped heatpipe. Moreover, high-quality networking is ensured by ASUS LANguard, 2.5 Gb Ethernet, and WiFi 6E. Best Features:
CPU Socket: AM5 Chipset Type: AMD X670E-E RAM Memory Technology: DDR5 Compatible Devices: Personal Computer
Pros:
Optimal thermal design. Top-quality networking. Suitable for all AMD Ryzen 7000 processors. Easy configuration and intelligent control.
Cons:
Some people complained that the product description was inaccurate and misleading.
5. ASUS Crosshair X670E Motherboard
This AMD socket AM5 is suitable for AMD Ryzen 7000 series desktop processors. The system’s intelligent control is enabled with ASUS-inclusive tools like two-way AI Noise Cancellation and AI Cooling II for uncomplicated configuration and smart control. The concerned motherboard offers a robust power solution featuring the 18+2 dual power stages rated at 110 amperes, with high-quality metal capacitors, MicroFine alloy chokes, and ProCool II power connectors. Heat dissipation is made better with the huge VRM heatsinks with aluminium I/O cover with high conductivity thermal pads, 5 M.2 heatsinks, and 3 more with embedded backplates. It also features the ROG water cooling area. High-performance networking is enabled with the ASUS LANguard, 2.5 Gb ethernet, and WiFi 6E. Best Features:
CPU Socket: AM5 Chipset Type: AMD X670E RAM Memory Technology: DDR5 Compatible Devices: Personal Computer
Pros:
Offers robust power solutions. Better heat dissipation. ROG water cooling area. High-performance networking.
Cons:
Some users deemed it as unstable.
Things to Consider When Buying an Expensive Motherboard
The CPU and the RAM make up the processing power of the PC, while the graphics are taken care of by the video card installed in the system. A suitable ethernet jack allows you to connect to the World Wide Web. Therefore, when investing in a motherboard, you need to look at the features so that it ticks all your boxes. In the following section, we have listed the most important factors to help you select the best motherboard.
1. CPU Socket
The socket type of processor you have will influence the type of motherboard you need to go for. For the motherboards, AMD and Intel are the forerunners in the market, and they adhere to the socket types of AM and PGA/LGA series, which are the most common socket types. Sockets are the link that is established between the processor and the motherboards. It enables other parts to be connected to the motherboard and also serves mechanical and electrical support to the processor. For the superlative Intel processors, LGA is commonly found for PCs that feature a peak transfer rate of 2.5 or 4.8 Gigatransfers per second. Similarly, the AMD processors need an AM series that matches the processor that you have. Depending on the compatibility and the speed of the processor, you need to go for a motherboard that is totally compatible with the CPU. Or else, the motherboard purchase will be futile, and it will just be a piece of furniture.
2. Chipset Type
Some people might think that the chipset is not that important when checking the features of the motherboard but the informed ones are aware that it is primary to consider the chipset in order to understand the communication. There are two chips that are available: Northbridge and Southbridge. The Northbridge navigates the high-speed transfers, within the CPU and RAM while the SOuthbridge takes care of the transfer in the slower components. One thing to keep in mind while looking at chipsets is that the brands are in constant hustle among them. So, you might notice that the high-end chipset might not be compatible with the high-end motherboard that you purchased. Often the chipsets are not interchangeable between brands.
3. Type of RAM
One of the most eminent considerations when looking for speed is the RAM. The choice of RAM should depend on two factors, how much power can the processor take and the applications that you need to run. If the processor is the “brain of the computer”, then the RAM is the “food supply to the brain”. The brain can optimally function only with the right amount of food supply. Make sure that you go for that kind of RAM that is compatible with the CPU and the whole system that you are using. To determine the RAM, you need to understand the kind of memory your PC uses.
4. Form Factor
Another important consideration is the form factor of the motherboard. There are three kinds of form factors for the motherboard, Micro ATX, Mini-ATX, and ATX. the size of the motherboard should be such that it should fit in the unit. Then, there are several factors, like expansion slots, RAM, RAM slots, GPUs, and SATA ports, that influence the decision of the form factor. For more details, refer to the above section where detailed information about the form factor is provided.
5. Expansion of Slots
The expansion slots are very important as they determine the number of cards or controllers that can be installed via the motherboard. With the rapid growth in the technological field, it is important to make room for newer and better products. The PCI and PCIe cards are the most popular expansion slots available in the market. The PCIe slots are more nimble and faster than the other one. Therefore, it is better for gamers and extensive users to go for this slot.
6. Connectivity Technology
Earlier, the basic IDE cables were all you had for ensuring connectivity with the motherboard, but that is rapidly changing with the introduction of SATA drives. These SATA drives are faster, more compact, and more compatible than their earlier alternatives. But, they have not completely replaced the IDE cables, so it is better to go for that motherboard with both IDE cables and SATA drives installed.
7. VRM
VRM is the Voltage Regulator Module that converts and regulates the voltage to meet the demands of the GPU, memory, and CPU. The quality of the VRM can highly influence the stability and longevity of the whole system. The lower-end VRMs can show instability and crash at stock speeds or fail to start over a period. It can also hamper the power delivery of the motherboard and cause damage to expensive parts of the system. Therefore, it is advised to go for a better VRM for the system.
8. Warranty
As the expensive motherboard requires quite a hefty investment, you need to make sure that product is durable and will stand the test of time. So, it is good to check for a warranty as the time span of the warranty will give good feedback about the durability of the product.
Final Word
With this guide at your disposal, choosing the best, most expensive motherboard will be like a walk in the park. We have listed all the criteria you need to know to buy the best, most expensive motherboard. Therefore, you must apply these considerations when buying motherboards. You can write to us in the comments section below if you still have doubts.
If you are here for the recommendations, we have listed the top three favorites from the list. The first recommendation for the best overall product isASUS Strix Z790 Motherboard. It is compatible with the latest processors and offers great connectivity. The second recommendation if you are on a budget is MSI Z690 Carbon Motherboard. It has a top-notch R&D design with a great heat dissipation technique. The third and final product is the Asus Z690 Motherboard. It has EVANGELION unique design with high-performance networking.
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