![What Makes a Motherboard Good](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/What-Makes-a-Motherboard-Good.jpg)
A motherboard is an integral part of any PC. It has to have great accessibility. An important factor that makes a motherboard good is its expansion slots. There should be enough room for expandability and upgrades to keep improving the computer’s performance.
In this article, I shall walk you through some key prerequisites of a good motherboard and how some factors differentiate the top ones from the herd.
What Makes a Motherboard Good?
A good motherboard’s qualities include support for the latest PC components, VRM, capacitors, ample PCIe lanes, and overclocking potential. But there’s much more to it, so let’s get into the details.
1. Chipsets & Generations
![Chipsets and Generations](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/chipsets.jpg)
A chipset is a silicon piece that is integrated into the motherboard. It works in cohesion with the CPU by relaying information.
Chipsets differ based on their generation. The fundamental difference between the two generations of a chip is in its expandability i.e., number of slots and features.
The “good-rated” motherboards should have the latest generation of chipsets that support a higher number of overclocking modes, PCIe lanes, and external ports.
2. Form Factor
The form factor relates to the overall dimensions of a motherboard. Larger-sized motherboards cost more since they need more build material. They also facilitate more peripherals because of the size.
There are no tags for a good or a bad motherboard based on their sizes, but the following are some common sizes among modern-day motherboards.
ATX
![ATX Motherboard](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ATX.jpg)
Suitable for those who need multiple RAMs or GPUs and scope for future expandability.
Micro ATX
![MicroATX Motherboard](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/MicroATX.jpg)
It does not have great expandability but does the job for routine users and leisure gamers.
Mini ITX
![Mini ATX Motherboard](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Mini-ATX-970x1024.jpg)
It suits devices with compact sizes and does not have any scope for expandability at all. For a closer look at the three-sized motherboards, head over to my dedicated comparison between Mini ITX, Micro ATX, and standard ATX.
3. CPU Sockets & Compatibility
![LGA and PGA CPU Sockets](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/CPU-Sockets-1024x550.png)
Motherboards with smaller form factors don’t have enough space for a slot or a socket for a CPU. CPUs are soldered in that case.
Modern-day processors contain at least one socket where you can slot your CPU. These sockets are designed based on performances, generations, and different product lines.
Based on what kind of pin array you have on your motherboard, you can match your CPU’s compatibility to it.
There are two types of pin grids to fit the CPU on a motherboard:
- Line Grid Array (LGA)
- Pin Grid Array (PGA)
Want to know how they differ? Check out my detailed comparison between LGA and PGA sockets.
4. PCIE Slots
PCIe stands for Peripheral Component Interconnect Express. It works on bus technology. It is a high-speed expansion bus that is integrated into a motherboard.
PCIe cables and ports connect key peripherals like GPUs, SSDs, network adapters, etc.
![PCIe Slots on a motherboard](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/PCIe-Slots-1024x768.jpg)
PCIe is one of the most common types of cables and slots to connect peripherals to the motherboard. More slots mean you can slot more peripherals.
Some peripherals, if installed in multiple, improve the performance of your PC. This makes motherboards with more slots favorable over the ones with fewer ones.
Suggested Read: Where and how to plug in fans on the motherboard?
5. SATA Slots
![SATA Slots on a Motherboard](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/SATA-Slots.jpg)
SATA is an abbreviated version of the Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. It is a type of cable and port used to connect storage hard drives and optical disc drives.
The latest standard of SATA III supports a data transfer rate of up to 600 MB/S. There are four types of SATA cables and connectors:
- SATA
- SATA II
- SATA III
- Micro SATA
- eSATA
- Low Profile SATA
Upgrading or expanding hard drives is a common phenomenon among graphics or video editors who constantly need storage. Good motherboards have more SATA ports that allow storage expansion.
6. Power Phases & VRM
![Power Phases & VRMs on Motherboards](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Power-Phases-VRM-1024x526.jpg)
When you alter the speeds of your CPUs or GPUs, they tend to consume more power than they did earlier. To facilitate this alteration, your motherboard must allow the PSU to regulate the voltages and alter the power phases.
Voltage Regulator Modules (VRMs) have ampere ratings. Motherboards with higher VRM ratings are considered good.
These modules are mini-components and need to be of high quality for the motherboard to adhere to the PSUs supply of stable power.
The indicators for the VRMs are referred to as power stages and are written something like 6+2 or 12+2. A 6+2 design indicates that it has 6 VRMs for CPU and 2 for RAM. Good mboard has a 12+2 design that indicates more VRMs for the CPU.
7. Overclocking Ability
Both CPUs and GPUs transfer data on a clock signal. Overclocking can increase the number of clock signals sent per instance.
This enhances the performance of both CPU as well as GPU, but that comes with a price of additional heating and power consumption. These alterations can be made through the operating system or a physical button on the motherboard.
This gives users control over how they want their vital peripherals to perform. There are plenty of modes of overclocking available. Good motherboards have multiple ways of overclocking on them.
8. Price You Pay
Beyond all the technical specifications and provisions lies an important factor – the price. Whether you are a beginner at PC building or a pro, it is very likely that you are going to decide on your motherboard based solely on the cost factor.
The way to look at the cost is by looking at what you are getting in return. Expandability has to be one of the biggest gains you get for whatever price you choose to pay when buying a motherboard.
If you have routine usage with no plans for regular expansion, then you should opt for budget micro ATX motherboards.
9. Space for Heatsink
![Space for Heatsink in a Main Board](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Space-for-Heatsink-1024x765.jpg)
Cooling is a very important factor to consider while judging a motherboard. Good motherboards have larger provisions for heatsinks for CPUs. This allows you to install the CPU cooler properly and manage all the cables well.
Airflow is very critical. Having wider lanes and open spaces inside the cabin is very important for the cooling of your PC, regardless of the cooling methods.
10. Additional Connectivity
![Additional Connectivity Ports on Mobo](https://pcbrim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Additional-Connectivity-Ports.jpg)
Many devices or peripherals can be connected to your computer externally through external ports. Devices for audio, video, printing, or accessibility can be connected through USB, HDMI, or audio 3.5mm ports.
Having more USB ports is recommended as it has become a standard and common mode of connectivity for external devices.
Apart from these, good motherboards have dual LAN ports in which. One is used to connect your computer to the network through an Ethernet cable, and the other one can be used with a WiFi antenna.
11. Looks & Appealings
Aesthetics has been a key factor in deciding many components like GPUs and coolers. Many modern-day motherboards come with RGB headers that power any array of lights on any component with options to customize them.
Addressable RGB lighting can be customized through the software or even an app on the phone. Non-addressable RGB lighting usually spots one color through an LED strip.
12. Build Quality
Almost all components on a motherboard are soldered. This needs a specific level of craftsmanship. The base of the motherboard, the alloys, the mounting, and the soldering need to be of high quality to allow users to install peripherals easily on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Having good expandability, in general, is the best quality a good motherboard can have. More RAM slots, SATA ports, PCIe lanes and ports, and external ports are a few examples of expandability.
A motherboard that has provision for bigger GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), more room for custom cooling, and more RAM slots are a few of the prerequisites for a good gaming motherboard.
A motherboard hosts functioning parts of all the peripherals like CPU, GPU & RAM. Apart from that, a good motherboard also has connectivity features that help these peripherals work efficiently in tandem.
Conclusion
There are standards of portability and dimensions for every peripheral that attaches to a motherboard, including cables. As long as your motherboard meets all these standards and has multiple slots for each component, you are good to go.
By and large, it’s the expandability of a motherboard that defines it. More ports and slots mean room for performance enhancement. The latest generation of connectivity and expansion slots differentiate good motherboards from the herd.
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