A motherboard is a vital part of any computer. As its name suggests, it serves as the basis for connecting the rest of the elements. In this comparison and buying guide, we bring you an analysis of the best Intel computer motherboards that you can find on the market today. This study has been carried out taking into account the opinions and product tests of our experts. Keep reading to compare and evaluate the different options with the best value for money!
A motherboard, also known as a motherboard or main board, is the fundamental element where all the other components of a computer connect and communicate so that they can function optimally. In it are the processor, the RAM, the hard drives and the graphics card , that is, all the primary hardware .
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Each of these items has its own slot on the motherboard for you to plug them into. Therefore, if there is no motherboard, there is also no computer. This comparison presents the best models of Intel computer motherboards that currently exist in the store according to the opinions of our experts, as well as their corresponding technical data sheets.
Advantages and fields of application of Intel computer motherboards
When you buy a desktop or laptop computer, it comes complete with all its components included. However, many computer-savvy people like to choose all the elements that go into their computer, in order to customize it to their liking. If this is your case, first of all you should select the most suitable motherboard and compare different options. In this review, we show you the different types of Intel computer motherboards that currently exist according to the opinions of our experts.
What types of Intel computer motherboards are there?
ATX
Intel computer motherboards, popularly known as ATX, were produced in the mid-1990s to add an upgrade to the old AT boards. Unlike the latter, ATX motherboards are smaller (305 mm × 244 mm) and have more additional slots to connect other elements. In addition, its elements are of better quality and, therefore, the ATX board offers much higher performance.
Its main advantages include its number of additional ports and a cheaper production cost, which translates into a better value for money in the market. They also offer better cooling, so they are less likely to experience heating issues. Finally, it has a greater space between components, which prevents cables from becoming easily tangled.
Micro-ATX
As its name indicates, the Intel Micro-ATX computer motherboards are the reduced version of the ATX. The maximum size of a Micro-ATX board is 244mm x 244mm, making them 25% smaller than ATX models. Even so, Micro-ATX were designed to be compatible with ATX, so they can be installed in the same cases. Also, the vast majority of Intel Micro-ATX computer motherboards use the same power connectors as ATX boards. In short, both can be used and connected equally.
One of its main advantages and differences compared to larger ATX motherboards is that Micro-ATX motherboards are better value for money and cheaper. Therefore, according to the opinions of our experts, if you have a reduced budget, Micro-ATX are the best option for an office configuration or gaming computers .
Mini-ITX
Intel Mini-ITX computer motherboards have dimensions of 170 x 170 mm, making them the smallest of all. Due to its compact form, this design is intended exclusively for desktops, laptops , or other small devices that do not require a fan. For example, they are often used in home theater systems.
Due to their architecture, Mini-ITX motherboards tend to cool easily and consume much less power. They have a slot for an expansion card and two slots for RAM memory. On the other hand, its four mounting holes are compatible with the four holes of ATX plates. This means they can be mounted in the same places as ATX and Micro-ATX motherboards. Its value for money is similar to Micro-ATX boards.
Purchase criteria
The first step when building a computer begins with finding the best motherboard for it. And for this, you need to take into account several important points. Here, we present some of the purchase criteria that you should review.
Processor compatibility
The main aspect that we must test and take into account is the compatibility of the motherboard with the processor that we are going to use. Today, there is a wide variety of processors and not all of them are compatible with all Intel computer motherboards. To do this, we must look at the specifications of the same motherboard and simply check that it is compatible with our type of processor.
Motherboard form factor
When talking about the different types of motherboards in our comparison, we have seen three of them: ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX. The classification of our three Intel computer motherboards is due to their format. This is also an important aspect for our purchase decision. Depending on the size of our equipment, we will choose one or the other: ATX (305 x 244 mm), Micro-ATX (244 x 244 mm) or Mini-ITX (170 x 170 mm).
Connectors and expansion possibilities
The motherboard is the place where all the connections of a computer are made. Therefore, we must choose one that has the number of connections we need, both for today and for the future. This means that the more slots our motherboard has, the more plates and connectors it will allow us to add in the future to increase the capacity of our equipment. However, this may not interest us if we only want a computer for basic and limited use.
Budget
Today, most Intel computer motherboards offer excellent value for money. However, the cheapest motherboards can cost around $50 or less, while premium motherboards can fetch $1,000 or more. This criterion depends, once again, on the use that we are going to give our computer. Using it to browse the Internet is not the same as using it to set up a server.
What alternatives are there to Intel computer motherboards? The main alternative to Intel computer motherboards are AMD computer motherboards. Both manufacturers are big reputable brands and also main rivals when it comes to motherboards and processors. While we can’t compare them, AMD is quite well known in the gaming world , while Intel stands out for its state-of-the-art specifications.
