Best Motherboard for Gaming

The ASUS ROG STRIX Z270F GAMING Motherboard is our best motherboard for gaming which has the LGA1151 Intel socket (Z270 chipset) for the i7 and similar cores. It also features Auto-Tuning and FanXpert 4 for overclocking performance for the gamers out there. Overclocking is important for any motherboard for gaming to maximize their gaming experience.

Our step-up pick is the GIGABYTE AORUS GA-Z270X-Gaming 7 LGA1151 Motherboard and this particular motherboard for gaming supports USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C due to its ports. It can be installed in a full tower case or in a mid tower due to the form factor. It also comes with HDMI and Display Port interfaces for your display needs.

The budget pick is the MSI 970 GAMING DDR3 AMD Motherboard and with a total of 2 PCIe slots for its video port, the motherboard for gaming is a good motherboard for the casual gamer. It has a port for SATA at 6 Gb/s so it transfers data just fine. Moreover, the motherboard for gaming can get up to 60 fps for games so it is a good pick for those who don’t have a lot of money.

A Little Background

The motherboard holds all of the essential things that are needed by a computer to run, other than the CPU itself, such as memory card slots, graphics cards / video cards, sound cards, USB ports and the like. Motherboards can be upgraded if you want to do peculiar things that a normal computer can’t do, such as gaming, video editing, photo editing and graphics design.
Gaming motherboards can be different, as the construction of a gaming motherboard is different, as it has signal improvement parts such as copper parts and e-glass. This is important to make the signals run as fast as possible to reduce gaming lag, especially in larger games such as MMOs.
Most people think that the CPU case IS the CPU, but it is actually the little chip that sits in your motherboard. Most processors can either be Intel or AMD made. Desktops and laptops (and notebooks) may have different processor needs, since laptops are supposed to be mobile.
Form factor plays a role on a motherboard if it fits your CPU case or laptop. For instance, large motherboards are more suitable to tower PCs while smaller ones are for general PCs but may not have a lot of slots for the memory. Therefore, if you want a good gaming motherboard then you might want to have one with a lot of slots for the memory, and therefore a larger form factor.
A lot of motherboards out there have at least 2 slots for memory cards. It is important to consider the memory type of a motherboard, because if you buy a motherboard that only accepts DDR1, you will find it hard to look for an appropriate memory card for it.
Higher sized video cards are important if you want to have a gaming motherboard, especially if you want to emulate games that require a lot of heavy 3D and graphic processing or you want to use it for video editing, photo editing, graphic design and the like.
The number of cores on a processor chip is also important. You will still see dual core processors in old desktop and laptop computers, but most computers today will have either i3 or quad-core, or even octa-core (8 cores) for the higher end (and pricier) ones.

How We Picked

When you want to choose the best motherboard for gaming, you should consider these facts:
Form factor: a lot of motherboards for gaming can have Micro ATX, Mini ITX, Extended ATX or simply ATX for its form factor. Any motherboard that is meant for gaming usually has bigger form factors such as the EATX, but this is mostly true only for tower PCs or bigger PCs.
Memory technology: you should pick a motherboard for gaming that has the right memory technology, such as DDR2 and above, since DDR and SDRAM are old ones that aren’t suitable for today’s gaming needs. Most motherboards for gaming can reach up to DDR4 technology. You should also know whether the motherboard for gaming uses DIMM or SO-DIMM for its memory cards.
Number of memory card slots: the motherboard for gaming should have a set number of memory card slots, depending on its form factor, which can be from 2 to 8 depending where it goes. A motherboard that is meant for a desktop computer will have a lot more memory card slots than one that is meant for a notebook or laptop.
Max RAM size: know how much memory card size or RAM card size can the motherboard for gaming take in total. Most modern gaming motherboards can take up to 64 GB at maximum while some can take up to 32 GB in total. Being able to install more RAM to your motherboard makes it ideal for gaming and other memory-eating processes such as video editing, graphics editing and the like.
CPU socket type: most motherboards for gaming can only have either Intel or AMD socket types for their processor or CPU socket type. You should also know the model of the chipset that is used by the socket of the motherboard.
USB port: some motherboards for gaming, especially those of modern build, already have USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 technologies for their USB ports, which enables faster data transfer rate, especially if you use either an HDD or SSD externally for loading up games. Don’t worry, as most USB 3.0 and 3.1 ports are still backwards compatible with USB 2.0 ports.
Number of USB ports: it is important to have a motherboard for gaming that has a ton of USB ports so you can connect as many devices as possible without overloading anything. A lot of ports can help out if you need to connect an external drive for your game source, or even a controller or VR device.
Fan and cooling: do know that a motherboard for gaming will spend a lot of time being overclocked and overheated so make sure the fan system is sufficient for cooling so that you’ll spend more time playing games and less time watching over your motherboard if it heats up.
Storage sockets: most motherboards for gaming will still use the PCIe, but with a higher standard or version. Some higher-end motherboards for gaming can utilize an M.2 storage socket, which is suitable if you have an SSD or solid state drive, so you can easily retrieve loads of data for lag-less gaming. Cheaper gaming motherboards will still use SATA but they will still be fast because of their possible integration with a USB 3.0 interface.
Built-in graphics and sound cards: a motherboard for gaming will have built-in cards for graphics and for sound, but these can be upgraded as you wish. However, they should still be high-end as it will be a gaming motherboard.
Display options: most gaming motherboards nowadays already have an HDMI port so that you can connect it to your favorite high-end smart TV or just a regular LED TV or monitor for the ultimate gaming experience.
LAN and WiFi cards: consider a motherboard for gaming that has a good LAN and WiFi card, especially if you’ll be playing a lot of online games and LAN games with the motherboard.
Color effects: most motherboards for gaming, like mice and keyboards, also have programmable LED strips that make a nice color show for hardcore gamers who want to assemble their own awesome PC that respond smartly to their actions in the game and give off a nice aesthetic vibe.
Energy Star certification: a motherboard for gaming that is Energy Star certified not only means that it’s safe, but it is also eco-friendly for its features and manufacturing methods and standards.

Our Pick

ASUS ROG STRIX Z270F GAMING Motherboard
Our best motherboard for gaming would be the ASUS ROG STRIX Z270F GAMING Motherboard which has a 5-way optimization for overclocking profiles. This motherboard uses the Dual M.2 socket for faster SSD loading and if you are building your own computer with the M.2 in mind.
With up to 64 GB for the maximum memory size, the motherboard has a total of 4 RAM slots. Having a lot of RAM slots for a motherboard for gaming is important because it allows you to fully customize and add your own powerful RAM cards to enhance the system of your gaming rig.
With an easy to use BIOS to navigate through, it has a good PCIe slot plus it has dynamic system cooling for hardcore gamers who play 24/7. Cooling is important for any motherboard for gaming because it helps your system stay in shape for a very long time.
With this motherboard for gaming, you can expect good features such that it has an integrated I/O cover and it also has AURA Sync RGB lighting and headers for matching with your other gaming gear. The lighting is awesome for this motherboard due to its adjustability.
Aside from its lighting effects, the motherboard for gaming also supports DDR4 RAM cards and features 8-channel HD audio built-in to the unit. If you plan on water cooling then this is a good motherboard for gaming you should check out.
It features Display Port, HDMI and DVI for its video outputs and also has WiFi and Bluetooth. It comes with SATA cables other than the M.2 port. It also supports EK VRM cooling as well as the Intel Optane Memory feature. As an ATX motherboard, overclocking and cooling is easy for this motherboard.
The motherboard for gaming is suitable and compatible with Kaby Lake processors and it also comes with USB 3.1 Type-A/Type-C ports. It is also compatible with SLI and Crossfire for all your GPU maximization needs. It also has a 3D printing mount for those who need it.

Flaws but Not Dealbrakers

The ASUS ROG STRIX Z270F GAMING Motherboard may be our top pick but it does have a few caveats, which aren’t really deal breakers at all. These small flaws include the fact that it doesn’t have a lot of USB ports, but you can always expand that with an extension gadget.

Step-up Pick

GIGABYTE AORUS GA-Z270X-Gaming 7 LGA1151 Motherboard
The GIGABYTE AORUS GA-Z270X-Gaming 7 LGA1151 Motherboard is our step-up pick which greatly supports 7th and 6th Gen Intel Core Processors. Being fully optimized for overclocking, this motherboard for gaming is Windows 10 friendly, so newer PCs won’t have a lot of trouble installing it.
The Creative Sound Core 3D with a 192 kHz/24-bit audio signal of this motherboard for gaming will enhance your gaming sounds for a better experience. It is also suitable for hyper threading for multitasking gamers.
In addition to that, there is also the included Thunderbolt 3 port which can transfer up to 40 Gb/s can really help with SSDs. The motherboard for gaming is powered by the SBX Pro Studio Audio Suite included with the motherboard. Bearing an ATX form factor, it fits a lot of gaming rigs.
There is also the Smart Fan 5 for those who want to do water cooling (with 8 pump connectors). The motherboard for gaming comes with M.2, PCIe and SATA interfaces for your convenience and is powered up by the Killer E2500 Gaming Network for your lag-less games.
It is also equipped with a 6gb SATA cable for all your data transfer needs. The motherboard for gaming can take up to 64 GB of RAM at 4 slots and it also has the Intel Gigabit LAN for your awesome LAN game experience. The motherboard for gaming also has 7 temperature sensors for your water cooling needs.
With DDR4 RAM support with DIMM RAM technology, the motherboard for gaming also works for a Windows Server so it is not just for gaming. There’s also the RGB fusion app that has multi-zone LED lighting to make your gaming rig aesthetically awesome when it comes to the lighting show.
The motherboard for gaming has 2-Way SLI or 3-Way CrossFire for its graphics support. It is also ideal for multiple network streams. With over 16.8M RGB colors for the lighting, it supports the Intel Z270 chipset. It has enough build quality and a total of 17 USB ports, from USB 3.1 to 2.0 ports.

Budget Pick

MSI 970 GAMING DDR3 AMD Motherboard
The MSI 970 GAMING DDR3 AMD Motherboard is our budget pick which has a Micro ATX form factor. This motherboard for gaming has a straightforward BIOS navigation so it is easy to go through for settings. It supports DDR3 RAM cards and it has ALC1150 for its audio chip with Audio Boost 2.
If you are on a budget then this is an applicable motherboard for gaming for your first gaming build. It greatly supports AMD FX and similar processors for its AM3+ socket. Moreover it has USB 3.0 so it is fast for data transfers. It works well for Windows 10 so you’ll have less headaches for drivers.
There is a big heat sink for heat dissipation and good thermal transfer. The motherboard for gaming has tons of overclocking features and it can take up to 4 RAM cards (DIMM slots) at up to 32 GB. It can also handle large GPUs from NVIDIA and has USB 3.0 for its ports.
The motherboard for gaming also supports 2-Way CrossFire so it is a great thing to have for gamers who want to do multiple GPU supports at once. It also uses the Qualcomm Killer E2205 GB LAN so it kills your lag effectively. It can also take an 8-core CPU or an octa-core processor.
Great for custom builds that won’t breank the bank, the motherboard for gaming has 2-Way SLI for its GPU support, so it is definitely a must-have for beginner PC builds, who have the intention of turning their PC into a gaming rig. It’s also a good alternative to an Intel socket board due to being an AMD socket motherboard for gaming.

Best Motherboard for Gaming with a Mini ITX Form Factor

ASRock Motherboard Z270 Gaming ITX/ac DDR4
The ASRock Motherboard Z270 Gaming ITX/ac DDR4 is a great choice for you if you are looking for a Mini ITX form factor motherboard for gaming. Its super alloy construction makes this motherboard for gaming sturdy and also efficient in cooling and preventing data loss.
HDMI and Display Port interfaces can be found on this motherboard for gaming so it is modern motherboard to have. It also supports 7th and 6th Generation Intel Cores so you can expect a lot of good things from it. With multiple PWM connections, you can use it for water cooling as well.
Taking up to 32 GB of RAM cards, the motherboard for gaming supports i3, i5 and i7 PCs and it also has MOSFET cooling abilities for your gaming rig needs. It has a built-in 1 GB initial graphics card and it also has an LG1151 socket for Intel processors.
The Mini ITX form factor is just right and it also supports Bluetooth 4.0 and DDR4 cards. The M.2 support with SATA3 and PCIe Gen 3 makes this motherboard for gaming a modern choice for gamers. It supports overclocking and it also has enough ports for network gaming.
For instance, it has a WiFi 2.4/5 GHz Antenna and Dual Band 802.11ac WiFi plus Gigabit LAN. 1 2T2R for LAN games. The power efficiency at 1.2 mΩ for the die area at 60A power makes it a good motherboard for gaming. With a PCIe 3.0 (16) slot, it also supports the Kabe Lake processor.
The motherboard for gaming also has the Thunderbolt 3 for faster data transfers and seamless gaming action. It also has the Realtek ALC1220 7.1 CH HD Audio built-in for awesome sound onboard. It also has a thicker gauge metal for connecting the WiFi for killing your lag.
The unit has a total of 9 USB 3.0 ports so you can connect as much as equipment as you like. With HDMI 2.0 support, you can use it for various large TVs and monitors. The Creative SoundBlaster Cinema3 technology also enhances the sound of this motherboard for gaming.
With a very good I/O interface, building an ITX system is a breeze with this motherboard for gaming. Moreover, it is also ideal for water cooling. Likewise, the motherboard for gaming has a total of 6 SATA3 and 1 SATA Express for its ports.

Best Motherboard for Gaming with DDR3 RAM Slots

ASUS 970 Pro Gaming/Aura ATX Motherboard
The ASUS 970 Pro Gaming/Aura ATX Motherboard is our choice if you want a motherboard for gaming that supports DDR3 RAM cards. Built with an AM3+ socket for AMD processors, it has good overclocking abilities and it is great for those who want to build and customize their own PC for a gaming rig.
Fitting AMD FX processors, the motherboard for gaming uses a Fan Xpert program for those who want an advanced cooling system. It is very sturdy and has a good audio to feel the game action. The motherboard for gaming takes DDR3 with up to 32 GB of capacity (4 slots).
The motherboard for gaming also supports AMD Crossfire and NVIDIA SLI are supported as well for GPU. It has multiple PCI slots so you can enhance your gaming rig much more. The motherboard for gaming also uses the Intel Gigabit Ethernet for lag-less gaming experiences.
As a budget motherboard, it also uses the latest 2603 UEFI BIOS onboard while it features protected networking with LANGuard. The motherboard for gaming can also recognize and boot from SSDs so you can use an SSD for super fast loading times. With a total of 8 USB 2.0 ports, it also has 6 SATA ports.
The motherboard for gaming also comes with 2 USB 3.1 Type A ports for your needs. It will definitely appeal to gamers as it is comparable with all SATA drives and it also has the newest M.2 with PCIe 2.0 (2). This is important for gamers who want to expand their computer system with more PCIe slots.
The whole system and BIOS is easy to manipulate and the VRM is heatsinked as well. This is important for gamers because it will help if you can setup the BIOS in the easiest was possible. There is also the Aura RGB LED lighting control for a lighting show depending on your needs.

Best Motherboard for Gaming with DDR4 RAM Slots

MSI Gaming Skylake Micro ATX Motherboard
The MSI Gaming Skylake Micro ATX Motherboard is a good choice if you want a DDR4 compatible motherboard for gaming for its RAM cards. It uses the Intel LGA1151 socket for your Intel chipsets. It is a good choice for a first build and will support 6th Generation i7, i5 and i3 and also Pentium/Celeron CPUs.
The aluminum core design for lower ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance) makes this motherboard for gaming a good gaming rig component. Moreover, the accent lighting is in red so you’ll find it a good match if you have a keyboard and mouse with lighting options. It accepts the Intel B150 chipset.
It has a special core design for a lower temperature so it will not overheat even if you play 24/7 of high-end graphics games. The motherboard for gaming has a total of four DDR4 slots at 2133 MHz which can take up to 64 GB. You can get into the BIOS easily due to the easy interface.
There are a total of 6 SATA3 ports and 1 eSATA port in this motherboard for gaming plus an HDMI port for your display needs. The RAM slots are ECC certified, dual channel and unbuffered. Moreover, the unit has a military spec motherboard layout for a full battle gear for gaming.
Using Steel Armor technology for the PCIe so it won’t easily break down, the motherboard for gaming has a total of 2 PCIe 3.0 slots (16) and 2 PCIe 3.0 slots (1). With a great graphics card embedded onto it, 2-way CrossFireX by AMD is supported for this motherboard for gaming.
It can work for Windows Media Center so it’s not just for gaming needs. There’s also a 6-channel audio system for its sound card using Audio Boost Technology. Moreover, with this motherboard for gaming, all you need is to get a wireless (WiFi/LAN) card for it, so that means you can upgrade the wireless card to whatever you like.

Best Motherboard for Gaming with an AMD CPU Socket

ASUS M5A78L-M Plus/USB3 DDR3 MicroATX Motherboard
If you want an AMD CPU or processor / chipset socket for a motherboard for gaming then you can try the ASUS M5A78L-M Plus/USB3 DDR3 MicroATX Motherboard which has AM3+ support for its socket. It is ideal for those on a budget, since AMD chipsets are generally cheaper than Intel chipsets.
It has the Core Unlocker for overclocking purposes and it has a Micro ATX form factor. Moreover, it holds DDR3 which can take up to 32 GB of RAM and it can take overclocking up to 4.5 GHz so it is pretty good for gaming. It also has HDMI and DVI ports for your display needs, such as for large LED TVs.
As a low EMI motherboard for gaming, it is easy to use such that Windows 10 is supported for the drivers. With USB 3.0 ports for faster data transfer, this is a Micro ATX form factor motherboard for gaming which also supports Windows 7 and the like. It has a total of 4 USB 2.0 ports in the system.
With blue heat sinks for added cooling power, the motherboard for gaming also has an anti-surge power guardian feature for your safety. It has a total of six 3Gb/s SATA3 headers and it can also take even the older AMD processors that you may have at home or at a local computer shop.
It is relatively easy to get to the BIOS menu so navigation is a breeze. The motherboard for gaming also has the system level energy saving feature for your needs. Contrary to popular belief, the motherboard for gaming can still run on older OS like Windows XP, provided you have the drivers and it also runs on Linux. Therefore, if you have older PCs that you want to turn into a makeshift gaming rig then this is a good motherboard for gaming to start with.

Best Motherboard for Gaming with an Intel CPU Socket

GIGABYTE GA-B250M-Gaming 3 LGA1151 B250 Motherboard
The GIGABYTE GA-B250M-Gaming 3 LGA1151 B250 Motherboard is a good choice if you want an Intel chipset socket motherboard for gaming. It supports both 7th and 6th Gen Intel Processors with its LGA 1151 socket. For the display options, it has the HDMI port for your LED TVs.
There are also hybrid fan headers for this motherboard for gaming to maximize your cooing experience for games. It also has a total of 4 DIMM slots for its DDR4 RAM part. With a PCIe x16 3.0 slot, the motherboard for gaming also has multi-GPU support for 2-Way CrossFire for your gaming needs.
With multiple temperature sensors from the Smart Fan 5 system, the motherboard for gaming has a ton of BIOS options for you to tweak. It also has the newest M.2 with PCIe Gen3 (4) and SATA for its inner conections. It can also take the Kaby Lake chipset and it also supports Intel Optane Memory.
Fitting the Intel B250 chipset, the included lights are not too bright for this motherboard for gaming so it won’t distract your gaming. It also supports Intel GbE LAN for your LAN game needs and it has a Micro ATX form factor. This motherboard for gaming is a good choice for a low end build for budget savers.
Likewise, the motherboard for gaming works with most NVIDIA cards and it has USB 3.0 for its ports to enhance the data transfer speeds. You can also add fan splitters to this motherboard for gaming. It also has a audio noise guard and ambient LED features.

Best Motherboard for Gaming with a Micro ATX Form Factor

ASUS B150M-A M.2 LGA1151 MicroATX Motherboard
The ASUS B150M-A M.2 LGA1151 MicroATX Motherboard is a good Micro ATX motherboard for gaming with an M.2 socket 3 for SSDs. Supporting i3, i5 or i7 cores, it has a PCIe x16 slot and has good hardware protection features to save your other expansion cards when the going gets tough.
With DDR4 DIMM slots up to 64 GB, it has a USB Type-C port and it takes the Intel B150 chipset. There is also the Fan Xpert 2+ for its fan controls for cooling. With a Micro ATX form factor, it has DP interfaces for your video display and the gaming audio is just right.
It has the LGA 1151 socket plus two USB 2.0 ports. It is a good choice for first time gaming builds and it is also LED illuminated. Moreover, the motherboard for gaming can also be for an office desktop for multitasking purposes.

Best Motherboard for Gaming for Video Streaming

ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Killer AM3+ Motherboard
The ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Killer AM3+ Motherboard is a good motherboard for gaming for those who want to maximize their video streaming on Twitch and the like. Its AM3+ socket supports AMD 990FX and you also get free XSplit 3 months premium license, which is a good thing for Twitch gamers.
This motherboard for gaming has 7.1 CH HD Realtek ALC1150 Audio for its sound card and it has DDR3 with 4 RAM slots. With good overclocking properties and a 8 + 2 power phase, it has Quad CrossFireX (AMD) and Quad SLI (NVIDIA) support.
In fact, DTS connect is supported for this motherboard for gaming and it also supports F-Stream, XFast RAM, X-Boost and many similar technologies. It has SATA3 ports and seven USB 3.0 ports and ten USB 2.0 ports. Moreover, it has a total of three PCIe x16 and two PCIe x 1 slots.
With USB 3.0 ports and a gold capacitor design to improve data transfer, the motherboard for gaming can support octa-core or 8-core CPUs and it has the A&GbE feature. You also get the Qualcomm Atheros Killer LAN for lag-less games online. The motherboard for gaming has a total of 5 SATA3 ports, one M.2 socket and one eSATA3 port. With an ATX form factor, this is a good motherboard for gaming for those who often use XSplit for broadcasting their games.

The Competition

Other motherboards for gaming that did not make it to our list had lower specs, such that they only used DDR1 for their memory card slot, and had reports of easily failing or overheating. The motherboards for gaming we picked in this article are the best so far because of their good specs and cooling technologies for the hardcore gamer in you.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the motherboard?
A: Contrary to belief, the “CPU” we know is not just the case, but what’s in the motherboard. The motherboard is the actual brain of the computer, which houses the CPU or the central processing unit, otherwise known as the processor.
Q: How is a gaming motherboard different from a regular PC motherboard?
A: The gaming motherboard is a specifically designed motherboard which can be overclocked. Overclocking is a way to exceed the standard clock rate or the speed of the processor, which can help gamers reduce lag on their PC games as much as possible. Overclocking is important and is what sets apart gaming motherboards and PC motherboards.
Q: What is a processor on a motherboard?
A: The processor , otherwise known as the central processing unit or the CPU, is the main brain or heart of the computer, which processes everything that the user inputs and brings an output through the appropriate device. Simply put, it turns what you type on the screen into readable text and so forth.
Q: What are the two most common processors that a motherboard will hold?
A: Most processors or the actual CPU (central processing unit) itself of a motherboard is either AMD or Intel, which require different sockets. Intel processors require LGA1155 or LGA2011 whilst AMD processors use FM1 or AM3 but can be backwards compatible with AM2 and AM2+ processors.
Q: What is the form factor of the motherboard?
A: The form factor dictates the size standard of your motherboard. The smallest form factor is mini-ITX and the largest is the E-ATX and can have an effect on its performance.
Q: How is an ATX motherboard different from a BTX motherboard?
A: The ATX form factor of a motherboard or the Advanced Technology Extended is the most common form factor, with a standard layout of the CPU or processor at the top and expansion slots at the bottom. The BTX or the Balanced Technology Extended has expansion slots at the top, the CPU and SATA/IDE slots at the middle and RAM card slots at the bottom. BTX form factors were supposed to be an alternative to ATX for a better airflow within the motherboard. However, BTX didn’t make it big in the market but are still used by Apple and other companies like Dell and HP.
Q: Which CPUs are ideal for a gaming motherboard, for AMD and Intel?
A: Choosing a CPU for your motherboard, which is usually between an Intel and an AMD CPU, can be a tough decision. If you have a motherboard that uses Intel for its CPU slot, you can try the H270 and the Z270 models while try the X370, A320, B350 and X300 CPUs for the AMD compatible motherboard.
Q: What is the memory type in a motherboard?
A: The memory slot is the slot set for your memory module, which should have a type. The most common and modern memory types out there are DDR3 and DDR2 and there are also old ones such as DDR1 or DDR.
Q: What’s the difference between an SDRAM and a DDR memory card?
A: The DDR or DRAM is a newer version or upgrade from the SDRAM, which is found on most older computers, especially desktops. SDRAM cards have 168 pins while DDR cards have 184 on DIMM, 172 on Micro DIMM and 200 on SODIMM versions. They also look physically different as SDRAM have notches while DDR doesn’t. DDR also consumes less power compared to SDRAM, yet it performs faster than the former technology.
Q: How do I know how many memory card slots are in my computer?
A: The first thing you can do is to look for your motherboard model and check how many slots does it have for its memory card portion. Otherwise, you can check the number of slots yourself by physically examining the motherboard with the computer off. This is a lot trickier if you have a laptop or notebook so make sure you know what you’re doing when disassembling the computer. Most motherboards have 2 to 4 slots for laptops and notebooks while higher-end computers and desktops can have up to 8 memory slots, especially those with gaming motherboards.
Q: How is DDR3 different from DDR2?
A: The DDR3 type of memory card for your motherboard or computer is the higher version of the DDR2. DDR3 type memory cards process faster than the DDR2 while expending less power. While both of them have 240 pins, the DDR3 DIMM has different locations for the key notch, and also have a different number of 204 pins for the SO-DIMM version. DDR3 can be expanded up to 16 GB because each card can be up to 8 GB in size or capacity.
Q: What are expansion slots?
A: The expansion slots of a motherboard include those ports that allow you to connect devices to the computer, such as the USB ports, HDMI, eSATA, Thunderbolt, PCI and the like. USB ports today have mostly USB 3.0 or 3.1 standards but they can also support USB 2.0 an older. HDMI ports are used for connecting to video output devices such as monitors, TVs and even to projectors. eSATA ports are used for disk drives while Thunderbolt is used for other devices but disk drives are also one of them, to improve the speed of transferring files.
Q: What is the graphics card on a motherboard?
A: The graphics card is also called the video card which powers up the graphics of your computer. Video cards can be built-in within the motherboard or you can expand the video card using the PCI express slots on the motherboard.
Q: What are socket types for a motherboard?
A: Motherboards are connected to a CPU using a socket, which varies depending on the CPU. The socket type of a motherboard depends on which manufacturer of chipset it is made from. Intel CPUs currently have the Socket 775 for Pentium 4 and the like while AMD has Socket 939 for their Athlon 64. Older sockets are 478 for Intel and 754 for AMD. The correct socket for a motherboard is usually found on the user’s manual or going for an internet search for the motherboard model.
Q: What does dual-core and quad-core mean in processors?
A: The core of the computer defines how fast it processes things. Back in the old days, all computers had only a single core, and the clock speed was the basis of all things. However, when Intel introduced dual-core, i3 and quad-core computers and processors, things became different, as the single core has been multiplied to process things faster than ever before, due to the growing demands of our modern websites, applications and much more.
Q: Are Intel processors significantly better than AMD processors?
A: It depends on your preferences but most people believe that Intel processors are better, hence there’s a bigger demand for them. However, AMD processors can be just as good with the right specs and are economical, but AMD processors aren’t as marketable as Intel processors.
Q: Why should I upgrade my graphics card for gaming?
A: The graphics card of a motherboard may be built-in, but you can by-pass that with a bigger graphics card for the PCI slots to enhance your gaming capabilities. Graphics card expansions are applicable for gamers and anyone who needs a lot of graphics and 3D rendering.
Q: Which is better to upgrade for gaming: my graphics card or my processor?
A: That depends on which is lower as some gaming motherboards already have both, while some regular motherboards are already at i5 or i7, which is pretty high end when it comes down to processing. This is when you’ll probably want to upgrade the graphics card. However, if you have a regular motherboard both with low specs (e.g. dual core or i3 for the processor and then a low graphics card capacity) then you might consider upgrading both.
Q: Should I upgrade my sound card?
A: That depends on your intended use , as some gamers do want to upgrade their sound card as well for a better gaming experience. Some music producers and DJs also upgrade their sound card as well. Sound cards are built-in with nearly every motherboard, but you can upgrade that.
Q: How many USB ports does a regular motherboard have?
A: The number of USB ports depends on whether you’re on a desktop, a laptop or a notebook. Most desktops can have up to 14 because they’re placed at the front and at the back of the CPU casing. However, laptops have a limited number, which is from 3 to 4, and the same is true for notebook PCs.

Wrapping It Up

As a whole, the ASUS ROG STRIX Z270F GAMING Motherboard is our best motherboard for gaming which has a a Dual M.2 socket for SSDs, supports i7 with its Intel socket and takes DDR4 RAM cards for more memory capacity.