In this article, I will be revealing to you how to choose a motherboard for your PC; either you want to use it for gaming or cryptocurrency mining. Reading through this page, you will get to find all you need to know before you buy your next motherboard for your PC.
PC Motherboard
The motherboard is an integral part of every computer. It is often described as the circulatory system. It is also an essential component of PC design. As an interface with all other components of the PC, nothing else would work without the motherboard.
The choice of motherboard will determine how powerful your PC is and how powerful it can eventually become. Like I said from the start, in this article, I will be showing you how to choose a motherboard for your gaming and cryptocurrency mining PC requirements.
Also read: How to Keep Your Home Wi-Fi Safe From Hackers
How to Choose a Motherboard/What to Know Before Buying a Motherboard
There are many things you need to be aware of before buying your next motherboard. Below are some of the important things you need to consider first.
CPU
What CPU chip is preferable to you? Is it AMD or Intel? You will need to make your choice beforehand since the motherboard you are buying will accommodate the right processor socket for the chip. Both processors are powerful, and they are designed to moderate gaming, web browsing, and overall performance.
In all, understanding which socket and chipsets would fit the motherboard you want to buy is key. Different chipsets will have elements that vary, depending on the GPU, RAM, etc.
RAM
how many Ram modules would you like to use? The motherboard you choose will need enough slots to accommodate the RAM you will like to use now and in the future.
If you want to upgrade your RAM build by adding more modules, then you will have to buy a motherboard that has that capacity.
GPU Support
The graphic card you are using needs to support the motherboard you intend to buy, this is to ensure good visual displays and performance. Also, knowing how many graphic cards your motherboard can handle smoothly is important if you wish to boost the power.
Motherboard Size
What size of motherboard will you prefer to buy? Out of the four main sizes of motherboards, the ATX is the standard and caters to a full range of features. The micro ATX is slightly smaller and it offers lesser expansion, RAM slots, and features.
The larger the motherboard, the more components it can support and the more efficiently it adapts to the CPU.
Storage
The storage connectors are another important element you should consider when buying a motherboard. You will need to be aware of the different types of external and internal connectors you will want to use. Whatever the storage you have in mind, you should ensure that the motherboard you want to buy can handle it, in addition to the data you will be storing.
Features
What features will you like to see? Many motherboards will have built-in features, saving you the stress of buying expansion cards. The best motherboards have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, but these boards are slightly more expensive.
SATA Ports
SATA ports enable connections for optical and storage drives like HDD or SDD. Ensure that the motherboard you want to buy has the ports you will need to connect your drives. Check if it supports the standard SATA 6 gigabytes – SATA 3.0. Also, you should have in mind other peripherals you will like to connect, like USB 3.0.
Also read: How to Check Hard Drive RPM Rates by using the HDD Model Number
PCI Slots
These slots allow the connection of expansion cards. Depending on how you want to use your PC, you will need to know if the motherboard is equipped with enough slots to suit your needs. Motherboards also offer basic PCI slots and express slots for sound cards and Wi-Fi adaptors.
How to Choose a Motherboard for a Gaming PC
An ideal gaming PC is all about performance. Therefore, maximizing performance with a top-quality and compatible motherboard should be your top priority. Let me now show you some things you need to consider while choosing a motherboard for your gaming PC.
What is Your Budget?
The motherboard you want to buy does not need to be expensive. However, it is better to avoid sacrificing key features with cheaper models. For example, if you are looking to build a mid-range system, anything within $100 to $150 is okay. But if you are using a powerful processor such as Intel i9 or AMD Ryzen 9, you will need to go for a compatible motherboard.
Motherboard Compatibility
CPU
Your motherboard must be compatible with all the components you want to add to it, especially the CPU.
You will need to choose which CPU chip, AMD, or Intel your motherboard will need. Different chips have different socket types. Therefore, it is important that you do some research beforehand. For instance, not all AMD boards are compatible with their chips even though they say they are. Go to the AMD and Intel websites to verify what motherboard is compatible with what processor.
RAM
Another important compatibility consideration you need to note is whether your motherboard will function well with your selected RAM modules. Your motherboard will need to support the exact RAM type, capacity, and speed. Currently, the standard type for RAM is DDR4, with next-generation RAM DDR5 on its way. However, there is no need to worry too much about RAM types as your motherboard will only support one. Thus, it will be better for you to buy DDR4 RAM and a board to support it.
Also, ensure that your RAM’s speed matches the rate specified in your motherboard’s record of supported RAM speeds. “OC” after the speeds indicates that you will need to tweak the settings in the BIOS to operate the module at the preferred speed. If you want to operate your computer on lots of RAM, you will need to verify the maximum capacity that your motherboard can handle. Reaching the full capacity is rare, but it is best to be on the safe side.
Also, how many sticks of RAM are you hoping to install at once? Your motherboard will need to have enough RAM slots.
Motherboard Size
The motherboard comes in four different sizes, just like I stated earlier.
ATX
The ATX is the standard size. It will fit into any full or mid-tower case. Their size allows them to facilitate a wide range of features.
Micro ATX
The Micro ATX, or mATX, is slightly smaller than the ATX. This size is okay if you are on a low budget or want a smaller PC. However, the trade-off will be less capacity for features, fewer expansion slots, and potentially fewer RAM slots. However, many mATX motherboards are still perfectly used as gaming PCs.
Mini ITX
The Mini ITX is the smallest motherboard you will find. It is almost half the size of the standard ATX board. This board can be difficult to work with and they are only compatible with specific cases.
Extended ATX
The Extended ATX is the largest motherboard available. They are found in dual-CPU and Quad-GPU builds. They are rarely in the standard builds.
Motherboard Brand
The four leading manufacturers of motherboards who are known for their reliability and quality are as follows:
- Asus
- Gigabyte
- MSI
- ASRock
You are assured of a quality motherboard when you buy from any of these brands.
How to Choose a Motherboard for Mining PC
There are certain things you need to consider when choosing a motherboard that is appropriate for mining cryptocurrencies. Let me show you some of them.
How Many Graphic Cards Can a Mining Motherboard Handle?
When looking for a suitable motherboard for mining, the most important thing you should consider is whether the model offers stability and flexibility. This is more important than extreme performance since the aim is to attach as many GPUs as possible.
If you are a new miner, you could settle with using a gaming motherboard, though most models might be overkill. Gaming motherboards from established manufacturers like Asus, MSI, or Gigabyte will be okay. Be sure to check the documentation to know how many GPUs it supports. Also, remember that you will need to carry out some BIOS tweaks to increase the stability with additional cards.
Dedicated Mining Motherboards
For a better cryptocurrency mining experience, it is better to choose a dedicated mining motherboard. They offer very few additional features but are specifically optimized for mining crypto. The BIOS settings come pre-tweaked, and it can connect to over a dozen GPUs. One of these motherboards could cost you around $100, so it is well worth considering if the price suits your budget. Meanwhile, motherboards that support more than six GPUs are often not in stock, and even when they are they tend to be very expensive.
Fitting Multiple GPUs to Your Motherboard
To fit several GPUs into a motherboard, you will need another piece of hardware called a PC riser card. This little piece of equipment allows you to attach bulky, high-performance GPUs to the motherboard slots by using a cable.
Crypto mining does not require a high-bandwidth connection, so any type of PCIe slot will work perfectly.
Conclusion
Every single component of your PC connects to your motherboard. Motherboards run the entire PC functions, and without them, nothing will work. Knowing how to choose a motherboard for your PC is important when building a PC or replacing your current motherboard. This article must have taught you what to consider when you want to make your choice.
