Motherboard Buying Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Choosing the right motherboard isn't as complicated as it seems. You don't need to be a tech expert — you just need to understand which features matter based on how you'll use your PC. Whether you're customising a gaming setup, a work-from-home machine, or something for creative tasks, the motherboard is what ties everything together. 

It's where all your PC components meet: the processor, memory, storage, graphics, cooling, and more. If you pick the wrong board, you could run into issues with compatibility or future upgrades. Below, we'll go through what each part of the motherboard does and how to choose one that fits your build properly, without getting lost in tech jargon or fancy features you don't actually need. 

What Is a Motherboard? 

The motherboard is one of the most important components in any PC. The main circuit board connects all your other hardware, including CPU, RAM, graphics card, storage drives, fans, and more, to the power supply and each other.  

When you open up a PC, you see the motherboard laid out across the case. Every slot, port, and chip on it has a purpose. It's also the physical structure that everything else builds off. A motherboard PC build means every part of the system is selected with this component at the centre. Without it, your PC literally can't do anything. 

How a Motherboard Works? 

Modern motherboards use a UEFI (or older BIOS)—low-level firmware that controls the board's settings. This includes startup configuration, hardware control, and security features like Secure Boot. You access it during bootup to change settings, install updates, or tweak performance. 

Key components of a motherboard at a glance: 

Feature	What It Does	Why It Matters
Power Delivery	Includes VRMs (Voltage Regulator Modules), chokes, and capacitors that regulate and supply clean power to the CPU.	Essential for CPU stability, especially when using high-performance or overclocked processors.
Chipset	The board's secondary control centre that manages USB ports, PCIe lanes, storage, and other I/O features.	Determines how many drives you can connect, what overclocking options exist, and future upgrade paths.
Traces & Layers	Copper paths inside the board's multiple layers that connect components and carry data signals.	More layers = better signal integrity. Damaged traces can cause hardware failure or instability.

How Do I Know If a New Motherboard Will Fit? 

Before you buy a motherboard, make sure it will physically fit in your PC case. If you're reusing an existing case, check what form factor it supports. For example, ATX cases often also support Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX boards, but a Mini-ITX case won't fit anything larger. You can usually find your case size by looking it up by model online.

If you're doing a full rebuild, choose the motherboard size first, then get a case that matches.  

Important: larger motherboards usually mean more features, more slots, and better cooling layout. 

How to Check Which Motherboard You Currently Have 

You don't need to open your PC to find out what board is inside. Just use Windows: 

That'll give you your exact motherboard model, which you can look up online to find out its size, supported features, and upgrade options.

Common Motherboard Sizes and What They Mean 

Following are three main sizes most PC builders use: 

Form Factor	Dimensions (mm)	PCIe Expansion Slots	Ideal For
ATX	305 x 244	Up to 7	Full-featured gaming and workstation builds
Micro-ATX	244 x 244	Up to 4	Balanced builds in smaller cases
Mini-ITX	170 x 170	1	Ultra-compact setups
E-ATX SSI-EEB	305 x 330	Up to 7	High-end consumer desktop systems

If you go smaller, you get fewer expansion slots and often fewer ports overall. Micro-ATX offers a compact but practical middle ground for gaming or content creation. With a Mini-ITX motherboard, ensure you have excellent airflow and maybe a budget for additional cooling.  

Tip: ATX gives you room to expand. If you're short on space but still want good feature coverage, go Micro-ATX. For gaming PCs with multiple GPUs (SLI/CrossFire or NVLink for older and some pro cards), choose E-ATX SSI-EEB motherboards. 

Important Factors to Consider Before Buying a Motherboard  

Let's walk through some terms you'll encounter when exploring motherboards. 

CPU Socket Compatibility 

Every motherboard has a specific CPU socket type, which determines what kind of processor you can install, such as: 

When choosing your motherboard, check your CPU's documentation to ensure the board is compatible with your processor. For example, if you're using a Ryzen 5000 CPU, you'll need an AM4 motherboard. A mismatch here means nothing will work—physically or electrically. 

Motherboard Chipsets 

Once you've matched the CPU socket, the next thing to look at is the chipset. It defines the motherboard's actual capabilities. It determines what kind of memory you can use, how many expansion cards you can install, how many storage drives you can run, and even whether or not you can overclock your CPU. 

Not all chipsets offer the same level of functionality. Some are limited in terms of USB ports, PCIe lanes, or RAM capacity. On the other hand, higher-end chipsets allow for more performance tuning and connectivity. 

In some cases, a CPU will only work with one specific chipset. In others, you'll have options, which gives you the flexibility to choose between cost-effectiveness and advanced features like PCIe Gen 5 support or higher RAM speeds. Popular choices like the B550 motherboard balance affordability and features for AMD builds.  

Here are some of the best AMD and Intel motherboards with their supported socket types and CPU architecture: 

AMD Motherboards 

AMD Motherboard Chipsets	Socket Type	Latest Supported CPU Architecture
X870E, X670E, X870, X670, B650E, B850, B650, B840	AM5 Socket	Ryzen 9000-series, Zen 5
B550, B450, A520	AM4 Socket	Ryzen 5000-series, Zen 3 & Athlon 3000-series, Zen
X90, TRX50	TR5 Socket	Ryzen Threadripper PRO & Ryzen Threadripper 7000-series, Zen 4

Shop AMD Motherboards

Intel Motherboards 

Intel Motherboard Chipsets	Socket Type	Latest Supported CPU Architecture
Z890, B860, H810	Socket 1851	2nd Series Core Ultra CPUs based on the Arrow Lake
Z790, Z690, H770, B760, H610	Socket 1700	14th gen, Raptor Lake Refresh
C621, C622, C624, C625, C626, C627 and C628	Socket 3647	2nd gen, Cascade Lake SP
C621A, C627A, C629A	Socket 4189	3rd gen, Ice Lake SP

Shop Intel Motherboards

RAM Support  

RAM (Random Access Memory) is where your PC temporarily stores data it needs to access quickly—applications, files in use, and system processes all rely on it. Most standard ATX motherboards come with four RAM slots, while Micro-ATX boards usually include two or four. Mini-ITX boards almost always have two slots due to space constraints. E-ATX SSI-EEB motherboards can feature up to seven slots. 

Modern motherboards are built with dual-channel memory as standard. This allows the CPU to access two sticks of RAM simultaneously, effectively doubling bandwidth compared to single-channel setups. As long as you install matched memory (same speed, size, and brand) in the correct paired slots, your system will benefit from improved data transfer speeds. 

Note: DDR4 and DDR5 modules are not interchangeable. A motherboard will only support one or the other. DDR5 offers higher frequencies and bandwidth, but DDR4 remains cheaper and more than sufficient for most users in 2025. 

PCIe Lane Configuration 

Motherboards are equipped with PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) slots, which are used to connect high-performance add-on hardware like graphics cards, SSDs, network adapters, and capture cards. 

Things to Know About PCIe Slots: 

PCIe Generation	Per-lane Bandwidth (Each Direction)	Common Use
PCIe 3.0	~1 GB/s	Older GPUs, NVMe SSDs
PCIe 4.0	~2 GB/s	Current mid-range GPUs, Gen 4 SSDs
PCIe 5.0	~4 GB/s	High-end GPUs, Gen 5 SSDs

Many modern motherboards have multiple full-length x16 slots, but due to lane limitations from the CPU and chipset, not all slots operate at full bandwidth simultaneously. For example, installing two GPUs in two x16 slots may drop each to x8 mode.  

Storage  

M.2 Slots 

M.2 is the most common storage interface today. It allows you to install high-speed NVMe SSDs directly onto the board—no cables required. These drives are fast, compact, and ideal for boot drives or high-performance applications. 

Tip: M.2 drives generate heat. Many motherboards now include heatsinks to maintain performance under load. 

U.2 Connectors 

U.2 is less common in home PCs but still used in enterprise-grade machines. It uses cabled PCIe connections to connect to 2.5" NVMe SSDs and supports hot-swapping, which M.2 does not. U.2 also allows better power delivery options, but for most home users, M.2 remains the preferred choice due to convenience and availability. 

SATA Ports 

SATA is the older but still reliable method for connecting 2.5" and 3.5" drives—both HDDs and SSDs. SATA SSDs are significantly slower than NVMe drives but offer good value for mass storage.  

Most boards offer 4–8 SATA ports. However, due to bandwidth sharing, some ports may be disabled when using certain M.2 slots. 

BIOS/UEFI Features 

When you power on your PC, the first thing it interacts with is the motherboard's firmware. Traditionally known as BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), this firmware is responsible for checking all your connected hardware and handing off control to the operating system. On modern systems, though, this has largely been replaced by UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface), which offers a more flexible, modern environment. 

Motherboard brands usually add their own UEFI tools, ranging from preset overclocking profiles to system logging and screenshot functions. Some even allow BIOS updates directly over the internet or from a USB stick without installing a CPU (via BIOS Flashback). 

If you use older software or hardware, Legacy Boot Mode (CSM) is still available on many boards. It reverts to a classic BIOS interface for broader compatibility, though it disables some UEFI-specific benefits. 

External Connectivity Options 

The rear panel of your motherboard is where you connect external devices such as monitors, USB peripherals, speakers, Ethernet, and more. This is called the I/O (Input/Output) panel, and it's either built-in or paired with a separate shield for grounding. 

Key Ports to Know: 

Tip: Check for USB-C and DisplayPort support if you use modern monitors or devices with reversible cables. 

Manufacturer Extras 

Beyond the basic specs, motherboard manufacturers often include their own unique features and tweaks. These extras may not be the first thing you look at, but they can make a big difference in ease of use, system stability, cooling control, and future upgrades. 

Let's break down what you might see from popular brands and why it's worth paying attention to. 

Brand	Notable Features
ASUS	Q-Latch M.2, AI Overclocking, Reinforced PCIe, BIOS Flashback, Clear CMOS
MSI	Core Boost, Debug LEDs, Frozr Heatsinks, EZ Debug, Shield Frozr for M.2 SSDs
Gigabyte	Q-Flash Plus, RGB Fusion, Solid VRMs, Dual BIOS (on some models)
ASRock	Polychrome RGB, Surge Protection, BIOS Flashback, High-Density Power Connectors

Buying a Motherboard by User Type 

Gamers: Motherboard Buying Quick Checklist 

Content Creators & Designers: Motherboard Buying Quick Checklist 

Home User: Motherboard Buying Quick Checklist  

Office Workers: Motherboard Buying Quick Checklist 

Professional Workstations: Motherboard Buying Quick Checklist 

Ready to start your build? Box has a wide range of AMD and Intel motherboards to suit every type of setup. From compact and budget-friendly boards to high-end options with all the bells and whistles.

Motherboard Buying Guide: FAQs 

How do I choose the right motherboard? 

First, narrow down to the motherboard that is compatible with your CPU and that fits your case. Then look at features like USB ports, PCIe support, overclocking, RAM compatibility (DDR4/DDR5), form factor (ATX, mATX, ITX), and available expansion/storage options. 

How to match a CPU and motherboard? 

Check the CPU socket type and chipset compatibility. For example, Intel 14th Gen uses LGA1700 and works with Z690/Z790; AMD Ryzen 7000 uses AM5 with B650/X670 boards. Always check the motherboard's CPU support list and the manufacturer's website. Brands like Intel and AMD release new CPU models belonging to a specific generation and series. 

How to know if the motherboard needs a BIOS update? 

If your computer is facing random crashes, freezes, or other stability issues, it might be due to an outdated BIOS. Manufacturers often release updates to fix bugs, improve stability, and optimise performance. Check the CPU support page for that board. 

How do I figure out what motherboard I have? 

On Windows, press Win + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter. Look under BaseBoard Manufacturer and BaseBoard Product for your motherboard make and model. 

How do I know what motherboard will fit my PC? 

Check your case specifications. ATX cases support ATX, mATX, and ITX boards. mATX cases usually support mATX and ITX. Mini-ITX cases only fit ITX boards. You can also measure the mounting points or look up your current board's form factor.