Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question
Solved

How to know what motherboard to buy?

Tags:
  • Gaming
  • Memory
  • Build
  • Motherboards
  • CPUs
Last response: in Motherboards
Share
April 5, 2014 3:42:29 PM

Hi guys, i'm planning to build a new gaming pc.
The question is, how do I know if a motherboard will support a certain CPU or GPU? Or RAM, etc..?

More about : motherboard buy

a b 4 Gaming
a b } Memory
a c 91 V Motherboard
a b à CPUs
April 5, 2014 3:53:27 PM

The only real compatibility issue is between CPU and MOBO. Most motherboards these days will be able to handle any RAM (depending on speeds) and GPU.

Just make sure to match whatever chip you want with the proper motherboard (i.e. Intel chip with Intel-supported motherboards).
m
0
l
a c 298 4 Gaming
a c 251 } Memory
a c 1189 V Motherboard
a c 915 à CPUs
April 5, 2014 3:54:15 PM

The boards are advertised on their CPU socket and so are the CPU's. Then every manufacturer has a CPU support list available for their boards.
Start by selecting CPU with in your budget and then pick a board with the correct socket.
m
0
l
Related resources
a b 4 Gaming
a b } Memory
a c 84 V Motherboard
a c 96 à CPUs
April 5, 2014 3:55:53 PM

Each CPU has a "socket" type. Intel uses a numbered system like LGA 1150 and LGA 2011. AMD CPU's use an alphabetical numerical sequence to distinguish different "sockets". Like AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2. Choose the CPU first that you want then pick the appropriate motherboard to work with its socket. You can also insure the CPU will work with the chosen motherboard by looking at the compatible CPU list for the motherboard on the motherboards manufactures web page for that board.

Each GPU uses a PCI-e x16 lane bus slot. All newer motherboards have one of these on the board. PCI-e 2.0 is backwards compatible with PCI-e 3.0. so a 3.0 card will work with a PCI-e 2.0 slot.

Ram should be looked up on the motherboards manufactures web page for that particular board. they will have what is called a QVL list "qualified vender list" that will tell you the Ram speed and number that they have tested and works well with the board. It is recommended for beginner builders to choose ram from this list to insure compatibility.
m
0
l

Best solution

a b V Motherboard
a b à CPUs
April 5, 2014 4:04:48 PM

Always as possible check all the information and specifications about a motherboard in the official page of the manufacturer.

When looking at a motherboard, check the CPU socket, the chipset, memory RAM bandwidth, PCIe version (3.0, 2.0; 16x, 6x).

The CPU socket: it basically tells if a CPU will sit and fit (lol). Check if the CPU request the same socket. Eg: LGA1155 for 2nd and 3rd Core i family series, but LGA1150 for 4th generation. AMD AM3+ for a lot of AMD CPU models.

The chipset: it tells you if the motherboard will support USB 3.0 and the numbers of ports; what CPU it is compatible with, what technologies it uses, if it support overclocking the CPU or not, etc...

The memory RAM: DDR2 or DDR3? Wich bandwidth: 1333, 1600, 1866? The motherboards support a RANGE of bandwidth, but the memory RAM comes with a specification (eg DDR3 1600).

PCIe slot: it may be 2.0 or 3.0 and Express or not. Doesn't matter much (the speed difference isn't significant.

Ok, now an example:

Asus Z87-PRO (link)
- the chipset of the motherboard is Z87 (link)
Intel Core i5 4670k (link)
Kingston HyperX Beast 2x4GB DDR3-2400 (link)

This motherboard uses socket LGA1150 and you can read: "Intel® Socket 1150 for 4th Generation Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3/Pentium®/Celeron® Processors".
The CPU uses LGA1150, ok! And if you go there <<< it is written COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS and show a list of chipsets compatible. It lists Z87 and the motherboard has it, ok again!
The chipset supports overclocking, and that 'k' in the CPU model (4670k) stand for unlocked (you can overclock), ok. And the chipset support USB 3.0 and etc.
The memory RAM is DDR3-2400, and the motherboard: 4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 3000(O.C.)/2933(O.C.)/2800(O.C.)/2666(O.C.)/2600(O.C.)/2500(O.C.)/2400(O.C.)/2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/2000(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1800(O.C.)/1600/1333 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory. It list 2400(O.C.), ok again!


PS: there is a little incompatibility in this example. Can you find it now?
Share
April 5, 2014 4:25:17 PM

StoneKany said:
Always as possible check all the information and specifications about a motherboard in the official page of the manufacturer.

When looking at a motherboard, check the CPU socket, the chipset, memory RAM bandwidth, PCIe version (3.0, 2.0; 16x, 6x).

The CPU socket: it basically tells if a CPU will sit and fit (lol). Check if the CPU request the same socket. Eg: LGA1155 for 2nd and 3rd Core i family series, but LGA1150 for 4th generation. AMD AM3+ for a lot of AMD CPU models.

The chipset: it tells you if the motherboard will support USB 3.0 and the numbers of ports; what CPU it is compatible with, what technologies it uses, if it support overclocking the CPU or not, etc...

The memory RAM: DDR2 or DDR3? Wich bandwidth: 1333, 1600, 1866? The motherboards support a RANGE of bandwidth, but the memory RAM comes with a specification (eg DDR3 1600).

PCIe slot: it may be 2.0 or 3.0 and Express or not. Doesn't matter much (the speed difference isn't significant.

Ok, now an example:

Asus Z87-PRO (link)
- the chipset of the motherboard is Z87 (link)
Intel Core i5 4670k (link)
Kingston HyperX Beast 2x4GB DDR3-2400 (link)

This motherboard uses socket LGA1150 and you can read: "Intel® Socket 1150 for 4th Generation Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3/Pentium®/Celeron® Processors".
The CPU uses LGA1150, ok! And if you go there <<< it is written COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS and show a list of chipsets compatible. It lists Z87 and the motherboard has it, ok again!
The chipset supports overclocking, and that 'k' in the CPU model (4670k) stand for unlocked (you can overclock), ok. And the chipset support USB 3.0 and etc.
The memory RAM is DDR3-2400, and the motherboard: 4 x DIMM, Max. 32GB, DDR3 3000(O.C.)/2933(O.C.)/2800(O.C.)/2666(O.C.)/2600(O.C.)/2500(O.C.)/2400(O.C.)/2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/2000(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1800(O.C.)/1600/1333 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory. It list 2400(O.C.), ok again!


PS: there is a little incompatibility in this example. Can you find it now?


Thanks, this was a HUGE help. Btw, I didn't find the incompatibility, everything seems to be fine O.O
Mind sharing the secret ? :D 
m
0
l
a b V Motherboard
a b à CPUs
April 5, 2014 4:40:20 PM

The chipset supports 1333 and 1600 bandwidth, and the memory RAM is 2400.
m
0
l
a b 4 Gaming
a b } Memory
a c 84 V Motherboard
a c 96 à CPUs
April 5, 2014 4:40:48 PM

there is no guarantee that the CPU will reach the 2400 speed and could cause issues with booting. If I'm not mistaken the I5 4670 only natively supports the maximum of 1866Mhz ram with out overclocking.
m
0
l
a b 4 Gaming
a b } Memory
a b V Motherboard
a b à CPUs
April 5, 2014 4:47:36 PM

One other thing concerning the memory, the Motherboard will support memory above the native 1600Mhz. If you install say, 2133 Mhz Ram, it will run at the native 1600 Mhz until you Overclock it to 2133 Mhz. That is why you see the O.C., behind the memory speeds.
m
0
l
!