SOVLED! Why buy an expensive motherboard?

Are you in search of a new motherboard? That too, an expensive one? If so, you’ve bumped into the right place. In case you’re a pro-Esports player, content creator, or video editor, it’s a no-brainer that you require expensive rigs to work with! Now, just going out there and randomly picking an expensive motherboard for your system is also a horrible idea.

Expensive motherboards generally come with latest chipsets along with other advanced features. They will have support for PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 expansion/graphics cards. They will have support for faster RAM. They will have more and faster USB slots. They will have good voltage regulators. They will have a better build quality. They will have more M.2 NVMe slots and what not. So, an expensive motherboard is definitely worth it when you are building a powerful PC.

Allow me to do the honors and break it down for you. I will tell you exactly why you need to pick a robust, expensive, and reliable motherboard for all your graphic-intense and heavy load needs. So, without any ado, let’s dig in…

Why should you invest in an expensive motherboard?

Right off the bat, a motherboard is the foundation of all computing systems. It is where you connect all other PC peripherals/components that will give you the output you desire. In case you didn’t know, motherboards are composed of PCB ( Printed Circuit Boards). To give your other components more stability and better headroom, it is crucial to pick a quality motherboard.

Now, there are hundreds of motherboard options in the market. With so many to choose from, picking the righ one can be rather daunting. In order to eliminate all possible confusions, let’s have a look at what special features you can expect from a top tier motherboard-

Also Read: Does Motherboard Impact PC Performance?

1. Ports and connectors with different varieties

You’ll pay a higher price for a motherboard with all the ports and connectors you require. Many motherboards will include more ports and specific features, along with the usual slots. These could be built-in WiFi adapters, Bluetooth support, multiple Ethernet ports, and onboard audio chipsets, or even Thunderbolt 3 ports, to name a few!

2. Advanced Technology

In case of top-tier motherboards, the price tag is usually dependent on development of technology. The more advanced technology a motherboard is, the greater the price and vice versa. Technology advancement is typically seen in the number of connectors and ports on the motherboard, followed by a plethora of other factors.

3. Support with Modern Processor Socket

In general, processors with higher performance require motherboards that have modern and versatile sockets. For instance, AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600 requires an AM4 socket motherboard. To put it simply, when you assemble a PC around one of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processors, you must buy an AM4 motherboard for your build.

4. Overclocking

As technology advances, gamers/video editors need to upgrade themselves accordingly to cope up. To achieve this, they will always attempt to increase the speed of their computer regardless of CPU or GPU for better performance. 

If you purchase a motherboard that can withstand the temperature and pressure of overclocking, your system is also at risk of being permanently damaged in the very near future. Sometimes, I do play games on PCs made 10 years ago, and I’m aware that old motherboards cannot handle this kind of pressure. I also burned my older motherboard while trying to boost its performance using and old Intel i7 processor (this was for testing purposes only, please do not replicate the same)

5. Advance Features

With each passing day, there are a ton of new features being added to the world of computers. As of today, USB 4.1, better CPU sockets, etc, are an added feature on all motherboards. Owing to that, the performance of the entire PC is increased. Additionally, there are two slots for a Graphics Card and 4-8 Slots of RAMs on an expensive gaming motherboard. If you purchase an older model, it won’t have these incredible features, and that’s a no-brainer.

If you’re looking to utlize the newer capabilities and play the most recent games, you should pick a high-end or expensive motherboard.

As we already know, a motherboard serves as the primary segement of computers. It houses all the required components that allow your system to function, like the processor and memory, the graphics card, and range of other vital parts. The cost of a motherboard may vary substantially based on its capabilities and functionalities.

Is a premium motherboard worth it?

Until now, I’ve constantly been stating that you should select a high-end motherboard for more excellent and future-proof performance. However, you might be wondering about the cost? A few other factors that determine the price tag of a premium motherboard-

RAM slots

Do make sure you have enough RAM slots (at least four spaces) in the motherboard that you are about to purchase.

The CPU socket is the most important thing to consider. Verify whether your motherboard can handle the processor you plan on connecting to.

Build Quality

This is most important, as you want your expensive motherboard to last at least 4-5 years. So, choose as build that is robust, and can give you a peace of mind in the long run.

Modern Features

You need to do a bit of research for this! Do verify the latest features, such as USB 3.1 slot, SSD, M.2 Slots, etc. are included in your motherboard.

What is the price of a top-of-the-line motherboard?

The cost of a motherboard differs depending on the features it has to offer you. The price of a premium motherboard could be as high as at least $650, while the entry-level, based on the features, will be lower than $250. How you intend to use your computer and the amount you’re willing to spend will solely determine which one is best suited to your requirements. The price will depend widely on the kind of chipset you are choosing.

For instance, if you want to build a system for gaming computer, it would certainly be different from those who are looking to build one only for productivity. If the work is graphic-intense, you require a system capable of handling multiple applications simultaneously and providing superior performance, endurance, and no throttling when overclocked.

On the flip side, if your daily activities are not that graphic intense and it mostly involves browsing the internet, attending zoom calls, occasional light gaming, and similar stuffs, an entry level $200 or below may be more than sufficient for you.

Final Words

It’s 2022, neither computers or their peripheral counterparts are cheap anymore. Owing to that, motherboards cost a lot of money for a plethora of reasons. One of the main reasons is the need for these devices. They’re also intricate technological devices. With that said, the more significant number of features they come with, the more expensive they become.

Furthermore, manufacturers must consider the costs of research and development, along with distribution and marketing costs of these motherboards. In the end, motherboards are well worth the price because they enable us to build robust and powerful computers.

Now it’s upto you to pick one. I hope piece helps you to make the most informed choice! Thanks for reading…