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| Learn about Motherboards | |
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Motherboards: Your PC's Central HubYour computer's motherboard is the central hub of your system, responsible for connecting and facilitating communication between key components such as the CPU, graphics card, memory, SSD, power supply, case, and other devices—ensuring everything communicates smoothly for optimal performance. Choosing the right motherboard depends on your CPU platform, expansion needs, and budget. Key Considerations for Choosing a Motherboard
PC Desktop Motherboard Options: Intel PlatformIntel motherboards utilize chipsets that manage communication between the CPU, memory, and other components. Popular chipsets include the Z790 and B760, both supporting DDR5 and DDR4 PC RAM and compatible with Intel's 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen CPUs. PC Desktop Motherboard Options: AMD PlatformAMD motherboards use chipsets to manage communication between the CPU, memory, and I/O devices. High-end options like the X670/E and B650/E support AMD Ryzen 7000/8000 series CPUs and the newest Ryzen 9000 series CPUs after BIOS update. Budget-friendly options like the B550, X570 and B450 motherboards are still available, supporting Ryzen 5000 series CPUs and DDR4 PC RAM. Introducing the X870 Series to the AM5 FamilyAMD announced X870E and X870 chipsets in June 2024. The X870 motherboard, set to release in late September, is a top-tier upgrade for enthusiasts seeking cutting-edge performance and future-proofing. It supports the latest processors with DDR5 memory for faster data speeds, PCIe 5.0 for double the bandwidth, and advanced cooling for stable overclocking. With robust power delivery and a rich array of features like USB 4.0, Wi-Fi 6E, and 10Gb Ethernet, it’s built to handle intensive gaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking. For those ready to elevate their system, the X870 offers smoother gameplay, faster workflows, and compatibility with the next generation of hardware innovations. Choosing the Right Motherboard to Meet Your Needs
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Planning Your Motherboard Layout & Upgrade PathWhen choosing a motherboard, think beyond today’s build. Consider how many PCIe slots, M.2 sockets, fan headers, and USB ports you might need two or three years from now. A slightly higher-end board today can save you from a full platform swap later if you add more storage, a capture card, or faster networking. Form Factors & Expansion RoomATX boards provide the most expansion slots and headers, making them ideal for high-end gaming and creator rigs with multiple drives and add-in cards. Micro-ATX offers a balance of size and expandability for mainstream builds, while Mini-ITX targets ultra-compact systems where space is at a premium. Choose a form factor that matches both your case and your long-term upgrade plans. Popular Motherboard Brands at NeweggNewegg carries a wide range of enthusiast-trusted motherboard brands, including ASUS, GIGABYTE, MSI, and ASRock. Premium lines like ASUS ROG, GIGABYTE AORUS, and MSI MPG often include stronger VRMs, reinforced PCIe slots, and upgraded audio, while more affordable series focus on essential features for everyday builds. Essential Companion ComponentsYour motherboard choice should align with the rest of your build. Pair it with an appropriate CPU, fast DDR4/DDR5 memory, a reliable power supply, and a case that supports your board’s form factor and airflow needs. If you plan to run high-end GPUs like the RTX 4090, look for boards with reinforced PCIe slots and robust power delivery. Future-Proofing: PCIe, Networking & StorageFor long-term builds, prioritize boards with multiple PCIe 4.0/5.0 M.2 slots, at least one PCIe x16 slot with Gen4/Gen5 support, and modern networking such as 2.5GbE LAN and Wi-Fi 6E/7. This ensures your system is ready for faster SSDs, next-gen GPUs, and higher-speed home networks as you upgrade over time. Helpful Tools & Buying GuidesTo dive deeper into selecting the perfect motherboard, check out Choosing the Right Gaming Motherboard. That guide walks you through processor sockets, chipset families, memory choices, PCIe standards, expansion options, and budget considerations—complete with real-world screenshots and side-by-side brand comparisons to help you make the most informed decision. By understanding the key aspects of motherboards, you're well on your way to selecting the perfect one for your PC build. Explore Newegg's extensive selection of motherboards, from top brands like ASUS, GIGABYTE, MSI, and ASRock, to find the ideal fit for your needs and budget. Build your dream machine with motherboards on Newegg!
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Many newer boards include 2.5G LAN by default, while Wi-Fi 7 is usually limited to higher-end models. Check the product specification table under “Networking” and “LAN” on the Newegg product page to confirm whether a specific board has both Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5GbE or faster Ethernet.
Reinforced PCIe slots (often branded as “Steel Armor” or “SafeSlot”) are common on gaming and enthusiast boards designed for heavy GPUs. Look for metal-sheathed x16 slots in the photos and confirm “reinforced PCIe slots” in the features list if you plan to use an RTX 5090 or similarly large graphics card .
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports can appear on the rear I/O and as internal headers for your case’s front-panel connectors. The exact count varies by model, so review the “Rear Panel I/O Ports” and “Internal I/O” sections on the product page to see how many 10 Gbps ports and headers the board offers.
Most modern motherboards support Intel XMP and/or AMD EXPO profiles, and some also offer vendor-specific memory tuning presets. Check the “Memory” section for phrases like “XMP/EXPO support,” “AEMP,” or “enhanced memory profiles,” and confirm that the chipset supports RAM overclocking (for example, Z790, X670, or B650).
For an RTX 4090, choose a sturdy ATX or E-ATX board with a reinforced PCIe x16 slot, strong VRM cooling, and at least one PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 x16 slot. Pair it with high-end chipsets such as Intel Z790 or AMD X670E/B650E and verify your case and power supply also meet NVIDIA’s clearance and wattage recommendations.
Both ASUS and MSI offer reliable boards across multiple price tiers, with premium lines focused on better power delivery and cooling. Reliability often depends more on the specific model and how it’s configured, so it’s best to compare user reviews, VRM design, and warranty coverage for the exact boards you are considering.
A good long-term board offers multiple M.2 slots, several PCIe expansion slots, modern USB and networking, and support for future CPU generations where possible. Check the manufacturer’s CPU support roadmap and look for newer standards like PCIe 4.0/5.0 and DDR5 if you plan to keep the platform for many years.
Built-in Wi-Fi 7 is useful if you plan to use a high-speed wireless network for gaming or large file transfers and want to avoid a separate PCIe card later. If your system will always use wired Ethernet, you can often save money by choosing a board with strong 2.5G or 10G LAN and skipping integrated Wi-Fi altogether.
ATX motherboards usually provide more PCIe slots, additional M.2 sockets, and extra headers, making them better suited for heavy expansion over time. Micro-ATX can still handle gaming and creator builds but is more limited in slot count, so choose ATX if you expect to add multiple cards or drives later.
VRM temperatures depend on the board’s power design, heatsinks, and the CPU you pair with it. Before buying, check professional reviews and user feedback for the exact model—especially if you plan to overclock or use high-core-count CPUs where weaker VRMs may run hot under sustained load.
Failure rates vary more by individual model and usage conditions than by brand alone. Major vendors like ASUS, MSI, GIGABYTE, and ASRock all produce reliable boards, so use a mix of professional reviews, RMA statistics (when available), and verified customer feedback to judge the reliability of specific models.
BIOS stability can improve over time as manufacturers release updates for new CPUs and memory kits. Check the Newegg review section and the vendor’s support page for notes about early BIOS problems, and make sure you update to the latest stable BIOS after building your system.
Coil whine can occur on any motherboard or GPU and is usually a by-product of power circuitry under certain loads rather than a defect. If you are sensitive to noise, scan recent user reviews for your target board and consider choosing models with stronger VRMs and good case sound dampening.
Bent pins are usually caused during installation rather than by the board itself, especially on LGA sockets where the contacts are exposed. Handle the socket cover carefully, follow the CPU installation guide step by step, and check user reviews or forums if you want to see how forgiving a particular board is during CPU installation.
For many platforms, older boards require a BIOS update to recognize newer CPU generations. Check the CPU support list on the manufacturer’s site for your exact motherboard model and, if needed, update the BIOS using the recommended method before installing a brand-new CPU without integrated graphics or older microcode support.
Enter your motherboard’s UEFI/BIOS by pressing the indicated key at startup (often Del or F2), then go to the memory or overclocking section and enable the XMP or AMD EXPO profile for your RAM kit. Save and exit, and the system will reboot with the higher rated speed and timings applied as long as the CPU and board support them.
In most UEFI menus, virtualization is found under CPU configuration or advanced processor settings and labeled as Intel VT-x/VT-d or AMD-V/SVM. Turn the setting on, save your changes, and reboot—after that, your operating system and hypervisor software can use hardware-accelerated virtualization features.
Dual-channel memory requires installing matched sticks in the correct paired slots, which are usually color-coded and labeled in the manual. If dual-channel isn’t detected, verify that both modules are identical, seated firmly, and placed in the recommended slots (for example A2 and B2), then clear CMOS or re-enable XMP if needed.
Resetting the BIOS only clears firmware settings and does not erase files on your drives. You can reset by loading “Optimized Defaults” inside the UEFI menu, using the clear-CMOS button, or briefly shorting the CMOS jumper as described in the manual—just make sure the system is powered off and unplugged when using hardware reset methods.
“ I would recommend this mother board to all my computer friends. ”
GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS ELITE AX LGA 1700 Intel Z790 ATX Motherboard with DDR5, Quad M.2, PCIe 5.0, USB 3.2 Gen2X2 Type-C, Intel WiFi 6E, 2.5GbE LAN, Q-Flash Plus, PCIe EZ-Latch“ Recommend to a gamer or computer enthusiasts. ”
MSI Z790 GAMING PRO WIFI LGA 1700 SATA 6Gb/s DDR5 ATX (280) Motherboards - Intel“ Now that everything is working, I am happy with my purchase and excited to be able to finally use computer. ”
GIGABYTE Z790 UD AC LGA 1700 Intel Z790 ATX Motherboard with DDR5, Triple M.2, PCIe 5.0, USB 3.2 Gen2X2 Type-C, Intel Wi-Fi, 2.5GbE LAN, PCIe EZ-Latch, Multi-Key“ Very happy with this Intel Proc Motherboard! ”
MSI MPG Z790 EDGE TI MAX WIFI LGA 1700(14th,13th,12th Gen) DDR5 Intel Z790 SATA 6Gb/s ATX Motherboard 2x PCI-E x16 slot Wi-Fi 7 Solution 2.5Gbps LAN“ It's been over 3 months since I've built my new current computer using this motherboard. ”
ASUS Prime Z790-A WiFi 6E LGA 1700(Intel®14th &13th&12th Gen) ATX motherboard (16+1 DrMOS,PCIe 5.0,DDR5,4x M.2 slots,Intel® 2.5 Gb LAN,USB 3.2 Gen 2 front panel Type-C,Thunderbolt™ 4(USB4),DP,Aura Sync RGB lighting)“ I would definitely recomend this MB to the 2nd or 3rd time builder, not for the first. ”
ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-H Gaming (WiFi 6E) LGA 1700(Intel14th &13th&12th Gen) ATX gaming motherboard(DDR5 up to 7800 MT/s, PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlot with Q-Release, 4xPCIe 4.0 M.2 slots,USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C, front-panel connector, AI Motherboard)“ Got this for my son to upgrade his computer. ”
MSI PRO Z790-A WIFI DDR4 LGA 1700 Intel Z790 SATA 6Gb/s DDR4 ATX Motherboard“ MY computer is up and running perfectly now. ”
MSI MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI LGA 1700(14th,13th,12th Gen) DDR5 ATX 8x SATA 6G 4x M.2 Wi-Fi 7 Bluetooth 2.5Gbps LAN Motherboard