What to look for when buying a gaming motherboard

Building your own gaming PC is rewarding and often far cheaper than buying a pre-built system.

However, gamers new to the world of PC hardware may be a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of different products and specifications.

This is especially true when buying a motherboard, as there are a number of specifications which will limit your build options based on compatibility.

We’ve listed a few things to look out for when buying a gaming motherboard below:

Socket

The most important part of choosing a motherboard is its socket type and model.

A processor is attached to a motherboard using a built-in socket on the board, meaning that you will need a motherboard with the right socket for your CPU or you will not be able to install your processor.

Sockets numbers are usually related to processor generations, with the LGA 1151 socket being compatible with Intel’s Skylake and Kaby Lake processors.

Another important factor to consider is the model of your motherboard, as some models are not capable of overclocking.

While overclocking is not necessary for gaming, it is always good to have the option of squeezing some more power from your CPU, especially if you have an aftermarket cooling solution.

Memory

One of the first things to check in a motherboard’s specification list is its compatible memory.

Modern gaming motherboards support either DDR4 or DDR3 RAM, and it is important to choose the motherboard model that supports your RAM.

While DDR3 is still perfectly serviceable for any gaming PC, most motherboard manufacturers are phasing it out in favour of DDR4, which is relatively cheap and faster than DDR3.

You should also take note of the maximum amount of memory your motherboard can support. While you won’t need more than about 8GB for modern games, it’s good to have room to expand.

Ports and expansion slots

Now that you’ve picked out a motherboard which supports your processor and memory, you’ll need to ensure it has enough expansion slots for your additional hardware and a few USB 3.0 ports for fast data transfer.

Smaller motherboards may not support more than graphics card, and if you’re planning on building an SLI gaming rig, you should make sure your motherboard supports both two graphics cards and SLI.

Additional features such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth may also be attractive to some gamers for mobile build connectivity and controller support via Bluetooth.

Form Factor

Size is important to consider, whether you’re cramming a bunch of gaming hardware into a case the size of a shoe box or building a towering custom water-cooled SLI gaming rig.

Smaller motherboards may have less expansion slots and ports, but still can include built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Larger motherboards are a good choice for large builds, as this allows you more slots for future hardware expansion and better heat distribution.

Manufacturers

Perhaps most importantly, do not buy cheap motherboards built by unknown manufacturers, especially not for gaming.

High-end gaming can place strain on your motherboard, which is why you should ideally buy a gaming motherboard from a respected manufacturer such as Asus, MSI, Gigabyte, or AsRock.

These manufacturers also sell high-end gaming motherboards with unique features such as reinforced PCIe expansion slots and programmable RGB lighting.