Motherboard Reviews

Here are some down and dirty motherboard reviews. These are boards that I have either used while building a computer, or that I have researched. I tried to list a few for both AMD and Intel CPU's, and to give some high end choices, and some practical choices. Also with each board is a link to the manufacturer's website with detailed information on that board.

The first thing to decide is which CPU you are planning to use, I'll start with AMD...

AMD Motherboards

If you are looking for the best motherboard that will allow you to use high end graphics cards, the fastest CPU's and Memory, then I would personally go with as Asus M3A32-MVP Deluxe board. I have used Asus motherboards for years and they always perform as promised. Look at any of the motherboard reviews on this board and you'll see that it shines. This board has a ton of features and will run you around $220:

• Dual PCI-E slots
• Up to 8GB DDR2-1066
• 6 PCI-E x1 ports
• 10 USB Ports
• HD Audio
• Details
  

Grab the Asus M3A32-MVP Deluxe Motherboard.

For a bit less, around $180, you can pick up the Gigabyte GA-MA790FX-DS5...

• Up to 16 GB DDR2 1066
• Dual PCI-E slots
• 6 SATA Ports
• 6 USB Ports
• Details

Pick up the GIGABYTE GA-MA790FX-DS5 ATX Ultra Durable II AMD Motherboard.

If you are looking for solid performance, but don't need the high end graphics and speed, then I would recommend another Asus board, the M2A-VM. This one will be quite a bit less. It is inexpensive, right around $70.00, and will allow you to still use a good AMD processor. This board does not support AMD's latest AM2+ chipset, but we're not looking here for the latest and greatest, just the best motherboard we can get for the money. In motherboard reviews, this board stands out from the crowd. The M2A-VM sports...

• Integrated ATI Radeon Allows Dual Monitors
• 6 Channel Audio Onboard
• 10 USB ports
• Up to 8GB DDR2-800
• Details
  

Grab the Asus M3A32-MVP Deluxe Motherboard.

Also for AMD is the Biostar TForce TF7050-M2. At around $80.00 it's a solid performing board...

• Up to 8GB DDR2 800 RAM
• Single PCI-E Slot
• 4 USB Ports (Additional 6 onboard)
• 4 SATA Ports
• Details

The BIOSTAR TForce TF7025-M2 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard can be found here.

Intel Motherboards

Ok, here again, if you are going for the best motherboard, I would personally go with the Asus Maximus Extreme. This board can handle the top end CPU's from Intel, as well as high speed DDR2 memory and is an overclocker's dream. It's not cheap, and will run you about $329.00, but if you want the best, it features...

• SLI capable
• 10 USB Ports
• 6 SATA Connections
• Up to 8GB DDR2-1333
• 6 USB Ports
• Supports Intel Extreme Processors
• Details
  

Get extreme with the Asus Maximus Extreme ATX Intel Motherboard.

That's a lot of money, so here's one that's a bit less, at $199.00, the Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6...

• Up to 8GB DDR2-1066
• 1600/1333 FSB
• 8 SATA Ports
• 8 USB Ports
• Details
  

Get the Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6 ATX Ultra Durable 2, Ultra Cooling Intel Motherboard here.

That's still a lot of money. For a nice motherboard that will cost significantly less, go with the Gigabyte Model GA-G31M-S2L. You can pick up this board for around $65, maybe less if you can find a deal on it. At this price you will still get the latest Intel processors and...

• Up to 4GB DDR2-800 RAM
• PCI-E 16X slot
• 4 SATA Connections
• Onboard 6 Channel Audio
• 4 USB Connections
• Details

Grab a Gigabyte GA-G31M-S2L Micro ATX Intel Motherboard.

Check out my computer builds for even more options.

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