When it comes to component selection, the motherboard is the most complex part of a PC build. The reason is that multiple factors, such as CPU socket type (Intel LGA1700 or AMD AM5), chipset generation (Z790 or B650), and memory standard (DDR4 vs DDR5), determine compatibility. All input and output interfaces, including USB ports, PCIe lanes, and M.2 slots, connect through the motherboard, and selecting the wrong model prevents components from working together.
Since the motherboard is the largest internal component after the PC case, its integration of subsystems makes it highly complex. If you notice, your audio chipset, network controller, storage slots, memory channels, and VRM power phases, all of this is linked to your motherboard. In this article, to choose a motherboard, we explain the key criteria, including chipset series, socket type, expansion slots, and power delivery design.
1. Chipset
The chipset is the primary specification you must check when shortlisting a motherboard. Processors are incompatible with mismatched chipsets. Several chipset models exist for each processor generation, including differences in performance, I/O bandwidth, and PCIe lane counts.
When it comes to the latest motherboard chipsets, AMD Ryzen 9000-series processors are compatible with X870/E, X670/E, B650/E, and A620. The A620 chipset is entry-level; the B650/E chipset targets mainstream users with balanced features, while the X870/E and X670/E chipsets are the enthusiast-tier options with overclocking and extended PCIe 5.0 support.
On the other hand, with Intel, you find a wider variety of chipsets. For 14th-generation Intel Core i-series processors, you can use Z790, Z690, H770, H670, B760, B660, and H610 chipsets. The Z-series chipsets are the high-end platforms offering unlocked overclocking, while the H and B-series chipsets are budget options, with H610 being the most limited entry-level chipset.
2. Socket
The socket is the primary specification of a motherboard. The CPU socket determines processor compatibility, and a motherboard chipset can only be selected after confirming the socket type.
There are two main socket types for consumer AMD platforms: AM4 and AM5. We won’t delve into the Threadripper series, as they are not considered for average consumers. The AM4 socket supports over 125 Ryzen processors released between 2017 and 2022, including Ryzen 5 3600, Ryzen 7 5800X, and Ryzen 9 5950X. With the Ryzen 7000 series in 2022, AMD introduced the AM5 socket, which also supports the Ryzen 9000-series CPUs.
As for Intel platforms, the latest mainstream socket for the Core i-series processors is LGA 1700. This socket was launched in late 2021 and supports the 12th, 13th, and 14th-generation Core i-series processors. The 10th and 11th-generation processors used the LGA 1200 socket, while older processors used the LGA 1151 socket.
3. Form Factor
Once you have settled on the socket and the chipset, you can determine the motherboard form factor, which is the physical size and layout standard that defines case compatibility. The form factor of the motherboard affects case compatibility, so choosing the correct size for your PC case is mandatory. The mainstream form factors of motherboards are ATX, mATX, E-ATX, and mini-ITX.
E-ATX (305 × 330 mm) motherboards are the largest boards, generally premium workstation or gaming variants with additional features. ATX motherboards (305 × 244 mm) are the standard size offered across all chipsets, providing the widest selection of models.
The mATX motherboards (244 × 244 mm) are smaller than ATX and usually include fewer PCIe slots, making them cost-effective options. The mini-ITX motherboards (170 × 170 mm) are the most compact, designed for small form factor (SFF) cases, and despite the size, many models provide advanced features such as PCIe 5.0 support or Wi-Fi 6E.
4. Memory Support
Motherboards determine the memory support of the system. High-end motherboards support defined DDR4 and DDR5 clock speeds up to numeric limits such as 7200 MT/s for DDR5, which improves the overall performance of the system. They provide better power delivery, extended VRMs, BIOS memory tuning, and XMP/EXPO profiles that can be used to overclock the RAM.
Apart from the memory clock rates, some chipsets provide both DDR4 and DDR5 variants so that the buyer can choose the motherboard according to the memory type selected. This is only possible with Intel processors, as 12th-generation, 13th-generation, and 14th-generation Intel Core CPUs support either DDR4 or DDR5 depending on the motherboard chipset.
AMD follows a different approach. Ryzen 7000-series processors support only DDR5, while Ryzen 5000-series and older generations support only DDR4.
5. Power Delivery
Power delivery on a motherboard is managed by the Voltage Regulator Module (VRM), which regulates voltage for the CPU and RAM. System stability and overclocking potential depend on VRM design and phase count.
Intel Z790 and Z690 chipsets and AMD X670E and X570 chipsets provide stronger VRMs compared to Intel B760 or H610 and AMD B550 motherboards, although there are some exceptions.
Mid-range motherboards typically use 8–12 phase VRMs, which are sufficient for casual users and light overclocking, while premium models such as the ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero use 18–20 phases for stable multi-core workloads.
5. Expansion Slots
If you plan to use PCI-Express-based hardware components, select a motherboard that offers 3–5 PCI-E slots. You are going to look at an E-ATX or ATX motherboard for this, since smaller form factors like Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX usually provide only 1–2 PCI-E slots. The PCI-E slots can be used for graphics cards, NVMe storage adapters, sound cards, network adapters, and capture cards.
Apart from slot count, there is a difference in slot versions as well. The latest motherboards include PCI-E 5.0 support. Budget motherboards are limited to PCI-E 4.0. PCI-E 5.0 provides 128 GB/s bandwidth on a x16 slot, which is double the 64 GB/s bandwidth of PCI-E 4.0. This speed difference matters when using flagship graphics cards such as NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT, or Intel Arc A770.
Large graphics cards often block multiple adjacent PCI-E slots. Users require motherboards with more slot spacing or additional slots when installing multiple PCI-E devices.
6. I/O Connectivity
The Input/Output functionalities of a system are controlled by the motherboard, since most connectivity ports and expansion slots are integrated into it. When it comes to selecting a motherboard based on I/O connectivity, the key factors include USB 3.2 and USB 4 versions, the presence of Type-C, BIOS Flashback or Clear CMOS buttons, and networking interfaces such as RJ45 Ethernet (2.5GbE or 10GbE). Audio outputs are also important, especially S/PDIF, as many motherboards don’t provide it.
Another important factor for motherboard selection is the presence of connectors and slots on the motherboard. High-end motherboards include up to 8 SATA III ports, multiple M.2 PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 slots, 6–10 fan headers, and several RGB/ARGB headers. Apart from that, there is a great difference in the quality as well, where you will find that most high-end motherboards feature large aluminum M.2 heatsinks and high-amperage fan or pump connectors (up to 3A).
7. Onboard Features
There are more than 10 active motherboard brands, such as ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, and ASRock, and all of them try to provide distinct onboard technologies. You can review the official specifications of each motherboard on the manufacturer’s website, which is often the deciding factor for buyers. Many motherboards provide integrated audio chipsets such as Realtek ALC4080 or ESS Sabre DAC for measurable improvements in signal-to-noise ratio. This can also be said about the networking controllers like Intel I225-V or Killer E3100, as well as high-speed I/O features including USB 4.0 and Thunderbolt 4.
8. Color Theme
The color theme of a motherboard is an important factor for PC builders, as it affects the visual consistency with the case and graphics card. Most motherboards use black PCBs with integrated RGB lighting, but builders using a white case often select white-themed motherboards.
The Gigabyte Aorus Ice series, Colorful CVN Frozen series, and NZXT N7 series motherboards are well known among PC enthusiasts for their white designs. NZXT uses white covers on black PCBs, creating a high-contrast aesthetic. Other than that, ASRock, ASUS, and MSI manufacture partially white models, where specific heatsinks or slots are designed in white.
9. Pricing
The price of a motherboard depends on the processor model. Do not purchase a premium variant of a motherboard, if paired with a low-end processor. For users focused on raw performance, select a high-end motherboard only with an octa-core or higher CPU such as AMD Ryzen 7 or Intel Core i7.
A premium motherboard is also purchased for advanced I/O features such as PCIe 5.0, USB 4.0, and Wi-Fi 6E, where pairing with a budget processor remains valid. On average, motherboard cost ranges from 40% to 60% of CPU price in USD for mid-range builds.
