PC builders who want to install multiple
GPUs and add-on cards need to select
motherboards with enough expansion slots. Many motherboards only offer two or three slots, but gaming, entertainment, and image editing computers can easily require four or five.
Peripheral Component Interconnect
The PCI standard was first released in 1992 and allowed PC builders to easily install video, audio, network, USB, and other add-on cards in their computers. With a maximum transfer rate of 533 MB/s, it quickly became commonplace in the computer world just like the USB standard beginning in 1996.
However, PCI was replaced by PCI Express, or PCIe, in 2004. Most video cards produced today use the PCIe 3.0 standard with a maximum transfer rate of 15.75 GB/s, about 30 times as fast as PCI. PCIe 4.0 cards are expected to hit the market in the next year with twice the maximum transfer rate. Most other expansion cards use the PCIe x1 standard.
However, PCI was replaced by PCI Express, or PCIe, in 2004. Most video cards produced today use the PCIe 3.0 standard with a maximum transfer rate of 15.75 GB/s, about 30 times as fast as PCI. PCIe 4.0 cards are expected to hit the market in the next year with twice the maximum transfer rate. Most other expansion cards use the PCIe x1 standard.
Other Motherboard Standards
When shopping for a motherboard, make sure that the motherboard and CPU share a common socket type.
Intel CPUs typically fit LGA 1155 or LGA 2011 sockets, and
AMD CPUs typically fit AM3+ or FM2 sockets. When choosing
memory, make sure that the DDR3 speed is supported by both the motherboard and CPU to avoid running into compatibility issues.
SATA II or SATA 3.0 Gb/s slots offer reasonable transfer rates for DVD, Blu-ray, and hard disk drives, but PC builders who want to use newer solid state drives will want to upgrade to SATA III instead. With 6.0 Gb/s transfer speeds, SATA III connections are the only way to take full advantage of new SSDs
SATA II or SATA 3.0 Gb/s slots offer reasonable transfer rates for DVD, Blu-ray, and hard disk drives, but PC builders who want to use newer solid state drives will want to upgrade to SATA III instead. With 6.0 Gb/s transfer speeds, SATA III connections are the only way to take full advantage of new SSDs
| 1 | ASRock Z77 and Intel Core i7-3770K |
At 3.5 GHz, the Core i7-3770K quad-core CPU burns through games, video encoding, and other demanding tasks. The Core i7-3770K uses 256 KB of L2 cache per core and 8 MB of L3 cache, which is standard for the Core i7 line of CPUs. With integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics, users can boot up their computers, access the Web, and perform other essential tasks without a dedicated video card, and the Core i7-3770K's TDP of 77 watts is about 20 watts better than Intel's previous generation of quad-core processors.
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| 2 | ASUS Sabertooth 990FX Gen3 and AMD FX-8320 |
Based on the Vishera core, the FX-8320 packs eight cores onto a single CPU. Eight-core CPUs outperform quad-core processors in heavily threaded tasks such as image editing in Photoshop or updating huge documents in Microsoft Office. Most software applications can only use one or two cores at most, but computer users who can make use of eight cores should upgrade immediately for nearly double the performance.
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| 3 | Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H and Intel Core i7-2600K |
The
Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H and Intel Core i7-2600K are a good combination for entry-level computers. The GA-Z77X-D3H features an HDMI output for use with Intel HD integrated graphics, and integrated audio, PS/2, D-sub, DVI, and USB ports allow users to connect older peripherals to their PCs. However, the GA-Z77X-D3H also has some features that make it useful in newer machines. While it only has a single PCIe 3.0 port, it has three PCI x1 ports, allowing builders to install dedicated audio processors or other expansion cards. With support for up to 32 GB of DDR3 memory, the GA-Z77X-D3H is a highly versatile motherboard that will perform superbly in many different types of computers.
The Core i7-2600K clocks in at 3.4 GHz and features 256 KB of L2 cache per core. Although it is based on the older Sandy Bridge architecture, it performs nearly as well as newer Ivy Bridge variants, and the i7-2600K's integrated HD 3000 graphics hold up well enough for basic tasks.
The Core i7-2600K clocks in at 3.4 GHz and features 256 KB of L2 cache per core. Although it is based on the older Sandy Bridge architecture, it performs nearly as well as newer Ivy Bridge variants, and the i7-2600K's integrated HD 3000 graphics hold up well enough for basic tasks.
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| 4 | MSI FM2-A85XA-G65 and AMD A10-5800K |
The AMD A10-5800K is an APU instead of a CPU, so it can perform both CPU and GPU calculations on the same chip. The quad-core 3.8 GHz CPU keeps pace with dedicated CPUs, and the integrated Radeon HD 7660D graphics allow users to play new PC games without expensive GPUs. While the A10-5800K's TDP is a little high at 100 watts, a discrete GPU will use 50 to 150 watts by itself and require extra PSU connectors to supply enough power.
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| 5 | ASUS Sabertooth X79 and Intel Core i7-3970X Extreme |
The ASUS Sabertooth X79 and Intel Core i7-3970X Extreme are designed for PC builders who are concerned only with performance. Unlike most motherboards, the Sabertooth X79 supports 64 GB of quad-channel memory for faster transfer speeds, and it has four SATA II and four SATA III ports for a mixture of storage drives.
Intel's Core i7-3970X Extreme CPU has six cores running at 3.5 GHz. The L2 cache remains unchanged at 256 KB per core, but the L3 cache has been ramped up to 15 MB, nearly twice the standard size. Because the Core i7-3970X Extreme has a TDP of 150 watts, PC builders will want to install liquid cooling or an improved heatsink and fan to keep the processor cool.
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Included Parts
Most motherboard and CPU combos typically include extra components that PC builders require to get their computers up and running. Motherboards usually come with SATA cables so that users can hook up their optical and storage drives. SLI and CrossFireX connectors often come with motherboards sporting two or more PCIe x16 slots.Because CPUs will overheat without some type of cooler, they usually come packaged with heatsink and fan units. There are exceptions to this rule for example, the Core i7-3970X does not come bundled with a heatsink and fan by default. Specific combos might include an aftermarket cooler, but PC builders will have to purchase a separate cooling device to keep their CPUs from overheating if one is not included.

Top 5 Motherboard and CPU Combos Image