- Does Your Motherboard Affect FPS?
- How Much Should You Spend on a Gaming Motherboard?
- Things to Look for in a Motherboard (For Gaming)
- Verdict: Do You Need a Good Motherboard for Gaming?
Wondering if your motherboard plays a crucial role in your gaming experience?
The short answer is yes, but not in the ways you might think.
Sure, the motherboard doesn’t directly boost your FPS. But you know what? It decides your rig’s compatibility with CPUs and GPUs. And even its upgrade potential.
With tech moving fast (hello, PCIe 5.0 and DDR5), making a smart choice matters more than ever.
This guide explains the impact of mobo on gaming setups and what to consider for optimal performance.
Does Motherboard Affect FPS?
Okay, so your motherboard won’t bump up your FPS or gaming performance by itself.
What your motherboard type will do, is allow your graphics card and processor to perform better (or worse).
But it’s still a big deal. Think of PCIe 5.0 as a super-fast lane that lets your CPU and GPU talk quicker.
This can help your games run smoother, especially the ones with lots of graphics.
It’s sort of similar to an SSD’s impact on FPS. It doesn’t directly affect framerate, but it definitely makes your PC more responsive overall and your games will load way faster as well.
CPU
On the processor side, it’s a lot more simple to explain.
The motherboard type will always affect how far you can overclock your processor and still maintain stability.
Not all games will benefit noticeably from processor overclocking, but it never hurts to do it.
On Intel’s side, only Z-series motherboards allow for overclocking (but you also need a K-series CPU) and for the most part are top-of-the-line in quality and feature set.
For AMD’s Ryzen platform, all of their chipsets besides the A320 budget chipset allow for overclocking with any Ryzen CPU.
Unlike Intel motherboards, however, these boards vary greatly in quality and capacity for overclocking. With the introduction of AM5 socket motherboards alongside Ryzen 7000 series CPUs, overclocking potential and system stability have seen wider improvements.
GPU
The gist of it is that the GPU is the main contributor to your games’ FPS. This is where the motherboard’s PCIe slot comes into play to read and transfer data.
Graphics cards today come with PCIe x16 ports, which have evolved over time:
- They started with PCIe 2.0 operating at a signaling rate of 5 GT/s.
- Then progressed to PCIe 3.0 with a signaling rate of 8 GT/s.
- Now, we’re seeing the emergence of PCIe 4.0, featured on motherboards like the Ryzen X570, signaling a rate of 16 GT/s.
- The latest advancement is PCIe 5.0. It promises even higher data transfer rates with a signaling rate of 32 GT/s.
How Much Should You Spend on a Gaming Motherboard?
You don’t have to empty your wallet for a mobo but don’t grab the cheapest one either.
With DDR5 memory, things just work faster, like loading games or switching between apps. It’s about getting what you pay for without going overboard.
But most motherboards offer very little in the way of difference in gaming performance between them, so it may not always be justifiable to drop a couple of hundred dollars on your next board for an extra 4FPS.
My suggestion is to always go for mid-range boards if possible but, of course, some people are on a tight budget, and others wish to make a contest out of spending the most possible dough on their rig.
The price for motherboards is tied to a couple of things:
- Looks
- Feature Set
Higher-end-looking motherboards with all the fancy LED lights will always be priced higher due to those features, but they are often only paired with high-performance motherboards so maybe you’re in luck there.
The feature set will undoubtedly always boost the price of a motherboard as well. For example, a motherboard with three USB 3.0 ports will cost more than one with three USB 2.0 ports.
A lower-end overclockable motherboard should only set you back around $70-$100 on AMD’s side depending on whether you go for B450 or B550, and for Intel, their Z470 and Z490 boards run you around $80-$110 for the lowest-end models.
Things to Look for in a Motherboard (For Gaming)
As you know by now — always look for its proficiency when overclocking, as this process gives your processor a major turbo boost in performance.
An essential component to consider here is the VRM (Voltage Regulator Module), which plays a critical role in stable power delivery during overclocking. To understand how the VRM impacts your motherboard’s performance, check out our detailed guide on What is VRM on a Motherboard?
Picking a motherboard is more than just matching names and numbers.
If you’re team AMD, B550 and X570 are solid high-end picks. On team blue? Z590 and Z690 have got you covered.
Why does it matter?
Well, these boards are ready for the latest CPUs and stuff like PCIe 5.0 and DDR5, which means quicker game loads and less waiting around. And don’t forget about good internet and fast data transfer with USB 3.2, USB4, and Wi-Fi 6/6E. It makes a difference in cutting down lag.
Chipsets often overclock at different levels. For instance, B550 motherboards tend to offer superior overclocking potential compared to their predecessors in the B450 series.
Then, the X570 and the latest X670 chipsets are designed specifically for overclocking, providing even greater performance enhancements over B-series chipsets.
One very important thing to note when choosing an AMD motherboard is that the chipsets will not always be out-of-the-box compatible with every CPU configuration.
You’ve got your chipsets and your CPUs, and they gotta match up, right?
For those first-gen Ryzen chips (think 1200, 1600, 1700), any AM4 motherboard will do.
Now, onto the second-gen Ryzen crew (like 2400G, 2600, 2700). They’re down with B450, X470, and X570 boards, but you might need to update an older B350 or X370 board’s BIOS.
The latest third-gen Ryzen chips? They’re sticking with X570 boards for now, no surprises there.
But check it, the new Ryzen 5000 series? They’re perfect with B550, X570, and the fresh X670 motherboards.
And if you’re debating between Z370 and Z390? No worries. They both handle overclocking like a boss, so just pick the one that fits your style.
Verdict: Do You Need a Good Motherboard for Gaming?
Not exactly. Your motherboard choice won’t ultimately affect your gaming experience too much.
But tech like PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 doesn’t just sound cool—it means your PC can handle the games of today and tomorrow. It’s about giving yourself room to grow.
Overclocking
This is always going to be a prominent topic, so buckle your seatbelts and sit tight for another ride on the gains train.
Overclocking just allows for too much of a performance boost, especially per dollar, to go ignored in any modern PC.
Increasing your overall CPU clock speed increases the general speed of your computer, contributing to much higher productivity and faster workload completion.
If you can do it, then do it! And if you have the choice to have the ability to do it… DO IT! Always overclock.
Your motherboard choice (specifically the chipset) will be important concerning how far you can push the limits of your CPU.
So make sure you choose the right chipset for the right CPUs, you don’t need an X670 motherboard for a Ryzen 3 3200G.
Longevity
The longevity of your motherboard is crucial to keeping your PC in perfect working condition for as long as possible, or at least until you upgrade.
Mobos don’t tend to be the first thing to go in a rig, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t still a possibility so always be prepared.
Make sure your board has ample warranty time and make sure to keep track of when your warranty ends.
Flair (if you’re into that kind of thing)
And most important of all… Get a board that you like the look of!
Not so important, I’ll be real with you, but hey it’s all about the aesthetic.
Even though sometimes it doesn’t matter at all since some you don’t even have side panel windows, (pathetic).
In all seriousness though, don’t buy a motherboard just because it looks cool.