Motherboards
Motherboards — Asus, ASRock, Gigabyte, MSI
550 motherboards for AMD and Intel, 496 of them with a 36-month warranty. It is the component that decides which processor, which memory and how many drives your system will accept.
- Asus 163 · ASRock 158 · Gigabyte 108 · MSI 71 · Biostar, Supermicro, Sapphire
- 496 boards with a 36-month warranty
- For AM5, AM4 and the current Intel sockets
- ATX, micro-ATX and mini-ITX for every case size
Socket first, everything else after
The socket is the processor mount and it must match exactly. An AMD Ryzen 7000 or 9000 series chip needs AM5, while older Ryzen chips need AM4 — they are in no way interchangeable. On Intel the socket changes roughly every two generations.
Second critical point: the socket also determines the memory type. AM5 platforms take DDR5 only, AM4 takes DDR4 only. The two are not compatible, mechanically or electrically.
Size: ATX, micro-ATX or mini-ITX?
ATX — full size. More expansion slots, more M.2 and memory sockets, stronger power delivery for overclocking. Needs a full-size case.
micro-ATX — the balance. It fits most cases and comfortably covers a system with a graphics card and two drives.
mini-ITX — for small, compact builds. Usually two memory slots and one graphics card slot. Note it requires a case built for it and often a low-profile cooler.
The rule: a case always accepts a smaller board than its own size, never a larger one. An ATX case takes micro-ATX too; a mini-ITX case takes mini-ITX only.
What else to check before buying
M.2 slots for NVMe drives: two is the practical minimum today, so you have room for a second drive with no cables. Memory slot count: four lets you upgrade later without discarding what you have.
Rear ports: count how many USB ports you actually need and whether you want USB-C. Networking and Wi-Fi: several models include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on board, saving a separate card.
BIOS updates: a board from an earlier batch may need an update to recognise a newer processor on the same socket. The better models support updating without a processor installed — worth looking for if you are building with a new CPU.
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Frequently asked questions about motherboards
- How do I know which board fits my processor?
- By the socket. Find your processor’s socket (AM5 or AM4 on AMD, for example) and choose a board with the same one. Without that there is not even a mechanical fit.
- Can I use DDR4 memory in a DDR5 board?
- No. The slots have a different notch and a different operating voltage. A board supports one type only.
- Will the board fit my case?
- A case accepts its own size and everything smaller. An ATX case takes ATX, micro-ATX and mini-ITX; a micro-ATX case does not take ATX.
- Does a new processor need a BIOS update?
- Possibly, if the board was manufactured before the processor launched. Models that can update without a CPU installed solve this without borrowing one.
- What warranty do they carry?
- 496 of the 550 boards carry a 36-month warranty. The exact term is stated on each product.