In this buying guide we will see which are the best motherboards with LGA 1200 socket, looking for the famous quality/price ratio
Il socket LGA 1200at the base of the Comet Lake CPUs, can be an excellent consideration for the creation of a Build, for several reasons, although it is not the most recent that we know is the LGA 1700 socket which is no longer compatible with previous CPUs, it still remains present on the market with more availability (albeit slightly) than what happens with the new Gen. Another reason could be to update a current Build, or try to save on the final price.
In this buying guide to the best LGA 1200 motherboards we will try to group all the most interesting models from the point of view of quality and price that we can currently find on the market. We will draw up the guide by first trying to list the main features and points to consider when purchasing a motherboard, and then the recommended models.
Best LGA 1200 motherboards to buy
Socket LGA 1200 can accommodate Comet Lake and Rocket Lake CPUstherefore respectively 10th and 11th Gen. Obviously to opt on Alder Lakelast gen or the 12thand you will need the socket LGA 1700 always talking about desktops. Returning to Socket LGA 1200 in terms of motherboards, there is ample room for buying series models Z/400 e 500. Although, there is a but. Opting for the latest Z590, H570, B560 and H510, compatibility is full with 10th and 11th Genin the case of Z490, Q470 and H470 chipsets to have Rocket Lake CPUs work 100% you will need to do a bios update, otherwise the Direct Media Interface (DMI) bandwidth between chipset and CPU will be halved. In fact, it will go from x8 to x4.
With the purchase of an LGA 1200 motherboard you can enter the world of Wi-Fi 6, especially the version 802.11axtake advantage of the Intel Platform Trust Technology chipset security to protect BIOS boot, but above all have access to USB 3.2 Gen 2 connections (10 Gbps), and take advantage of more bandwidth-efficient connections for CPUs and GPUs, such as PCI Express connectivity. Which now offers lines PCI Express 3.0. Intel doubled the link speed again, switching from PCIe 3.0 x4 to x8, doubling the effective amount of bandwidth available to any device connected to the chipset.
From storage to network connections. For the Z590 platforms, for example, you will have support for the following configurations; 1×16+1×4, 2×8+1×4 or 1×8+3×4. For comparison, the Z490 solutions support 1×16, 2×8, or 1×8+2×4 configurations. So, Rocket Lake chips offer 4 more lanes (PCIe 4.0) than Comet Lake solutions.
Specifications aside, a user looking to buy a motherboard, also due to the difficult market situation, certainly does not find himself in an easy choice, which is why we will now recommend some models that we consider interesting in terms of quality/price ratio.
Recommended models | Best LGA 1200 motherboards
Chipset serie Z590
ASUS ROG Strix Z590-E Gaming – Z590
If the budget is not a problem, this is a decidedly complete and performing motherboard, at 360 degrees. With support for PCIe 4.0, and with the excellent ASUS UEFI BIOS. Then there’s Wi-Fi 6E, 14+2 power stage design for guaranteed overclocking, DDR4-5333+ RAM support, dual Intel 2.5Gb LAN, Thunderbolt 4, and four drive slots. M.2 SSDs. In short, definitely complete from every point of view.
Gigabyte Z590 AORUS ELITE AX – Z590
Let’s go down with the budget, for a model that represents a constant on the market. The AORUS ELITE family has always accustomed us to an excellent quality/price ratio, and in this case, with the Z590 model it does not disappoint. Excellent from the VRM profile, it is able to fully support important operational loads. Quite complete equipment from every point of view, especially for the fans.
MSI MPG Z590 GAMING PLUS
In this case MSI captures our attention thanks to a GAMING PLUS model. Comprehensive on the profile of I/O equipment and with its reliable MSI BIOS. There is also attention to design, thanks to a very pleasant RGB LED game, and M.2 SSD slot, and a good supply in terms of power phases.
ASUS PRIME Z590M-PLUS – Z590 micro ATX
If you want to build compact SSF machines, in the micro ATX sector the Asus PRIME PLUS offers the right compromise between size and power. Clever placement of fan slots and connector, and good support for even heavy CPU activity.
Chipset serie H570 – B560 – H510
ASRock H570M PRO4
ASRock PRO4 takes care of the business, and it will definitely save you a lot. In this format you will find the essentials to build a machine that has no demanding gaming or computing needs. But you will find an endowment to build PCs that mainly use Office packages for office work or use of multimedia content.
MSI B560M Pro-VDH WiFi
With the MSI Pro VDH, on the other hand, you can indulge yourself more, as the power phases have been adequately designed for higher loads. It also has a good number of I/O ports, and for the price it is offered at, it is certainly worth considering.
ASUS PRIME H510M-R
In this case we have a model of the H510 Chipset, which represents the basis for the minimum functioning of a machine. Excellent for making machines that consume little, for undemanding and long-lasting jobs. Especially if coupled with low energy CPUs.
Best LGA 1200 motherboards, happy shopping!
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