The motherboard is equivalent to a platform, and it carries all the important hardware, just like a human body. It is conceivable that the motherboard is important. There are many motherboard models on the market. When we choose a motherboard, it is often determined by the CPU, which is compatible with the motherboard interface. After the CPU is finalized, the motherboard can be selected. So how do we buy computer motherboards? Let’s share the easy-to-understand knowledge guide for purchasing computer motherboards from Xiaobai’s installation home, and interested installation users may wish to take a look.

Like the CPU, the motherboard needs to distinguish between intel and AMD chips. Intel processors can only be matched with intel motherboard chips, and AMD is no exception. AMD processors can only be matched with AMD motherboard chips. For novice users, let’s start with the appearance. Look at the difference between the two major platform motherboards.

Of course, when choosing a motherboard, such as intel, not all intel motherboards are compatible with intel CPUs, but also need to look at the interface, such as some old computer motherboards, such as B85 motherboards, if you want to upgrade the latest nine-generation processors, you will definitely not be able to upgrade. Yes, a new motherboard must be replaced to support it. Although the motherboard and CPU are both intel, there will be compatibility with an interface, and different interfaces cannot be compatible.

Every time when Intel and AMD release new CPUs, they will provide major motherboard manufacturers with motherboard chipsets suitable for their own CPUs, which means, “I have made this CPU, but your motherboard manufacturers need to follow my standards. , The motherboards are compatible with each other”, so when purchasing a CPU, it must be consistent with the motherboard interface. In most cases, different generations of processors are matched with different series of motherboards.

1. About the motherboard level

Let’s talk about the Intel motherboard chipset first. The chipset is also classified into grades, and the letter at the beginning represents the grade of the chipset. Different grades of chipsets match the CPU differently. Let’s classify them for everyone. At present, Intel’s chipsets have 4 levels, X, Z, B, and H are adapted to different installed users.

Intel motherboard grade classification:

X: It is the highest level and is positioned as a fever level. Generally, the CPU is also very high. For example, the X299 motherboard currently on sale has 2066 pins and is equipped with an LGA2066 interface processor, such as i7 7820X, i9 7900X, i9 7920X, i9- Processors such as 7980XE, this kind of motherboards and CPUs are very scary.

Z: Positioning the high-end level, the highest grade in the ordinary civilian level, can support overclocking, this kind of motherboard usually supports higher memory frequency, such as the current Z390 motherboard, the general best match is the Intel processor model with K (supporting overclocking ) Processors with suffixes, such as i9-9900K, i7-9700K, i5-9600K, etc.

B: Positioning the mid-end mainstream level, the most cost-effective, and does not support overclocking. Generally, the core processors without K are on the B series motherboards, such as the i3-8100, i5-8400/8500, i5-9400F, i7 currently on sale -8700 and other processors, matched with the B360 motherboard.

H: Positioning entry-level, cheaper, and also does not support overclocking. Generally, it is recommended to match Intel Celeron and Pentium-level processors, such as the H310 motherboard currently on sale, with low-end and entry-level processors such as G4900 and G5400.

Let’s talk about the classification of AMD motherboards, let’s take a look.

AMD motherboard grade classification:

The naming rules for motherboard chipsets on AMD platforms are similar to those of Intel, with three grades of X, B, and A.

X: High-end series, support overclocking. For example, the X370 motherboards currently on sale are generally equipped with processors such as Ryzen R7 2700X.

B: Positioning the mid-end mainstream level. AMD is more conscientious than Intel. Almost all Ryzen processors support overclocking, and mainstream motherboards can also support overclocking. For example, B450 motherboards are generally matched with Ryzen R5 2600 and R7 2700. Such processors.

A: Positioning at entry-level, does not support overclocking, generally suitable for more entry-level processors, such as the A320 motherboards currently on sale, generally with entry-level processors such as Athlon 200GE.

2. Motherboard size:

There are also sizes for the motherboard. The common board types of the motherboard are

After knowing which chipset motherboard to choose, we also need to look at the motherboard size: E-ATX enhanced, ATX standard, M-ATX compact, MINI-ITX mini.

E-ATX motherboards are high-performance motherboards. Generally, there are 8 memory slots. The motherboard chipset is basically X-level, and household-level motherboards do not need to be considered.

ATX motherboards are commonly known as “big boards”. These motherboards are slightly larger, have strong scalability, and have rich interfaces. Generally, they are equipped with 4 memory slots, such as Z370 and Z390 motherboards, most of which are ATX boards. .