Comparison MSI B560M PRO-E vs Gigabyte B560M H

The number of processor power phases provided on the motherboard.

Very simplistically, phases can be described as electronic blocks of a special design, through which power is supplied to the processor. The task of such blocks is to optimize this power, in particular, to minimize power surges when the load on the processor changes. In general, the more phases, the lower the load on each of them, the more stable the power supply and the more durable the electronics of the board. And the more powerful the CPU and the more cores it has, the more phases it needs; this number increases even more if the processor is planned to be overclocked. For example, for a conventional quad-core chip, only four phases are often enough, and for an overclocked one, at least eight may be needed. It is because of this that powerful processors can have problems when used on inexpensive low-phase motherboards.

Detailed recommendations on choosing the number of phases for specific CPU series and models can be found in special sources (including the documentation for CPU itself). Here we note that with numerous phases on the motherboard (more than 8), some of them can be virtual. To do this, real electronic blocks are supplemented with doublers or even triplers, which, formally, increases the number of phases: for example, 12 claimed phases can represent 6 physical blocks with doublers. However, virtual phases are much inferior to real ones in terms of capabilities — in fact, t...hey are just additions that slightly improve the characteristics of real phases. So, let's say, in our example, it is more correct to speak not about twelve, but only about six (though improved) phases. These nuances must be specified when choosing a motherboard.

Motherboard dimensions in height and width. It is assumed that the traditional placement of motherboards is vertical, so in this case one of the dimensions is called not the length, but the height.

Motherboard sizes are largely determined by their form factors (see above), however, the size of a particular motherboard may differ slightly from the standard adopted for this form factor. In addition, it is usually easier to clarify the dimensions according to the characteristics of a particular motherboard than to look for or remember general information on the form factor. Therefore, size data can be given even for models that fully comply with the standard.

The third dimension — thickness — is considered less important for a number of reasons, so it is often omitted.

The maximum RAM clock speed supported by the motherboard. The actual clock frequency of the installed RAM modules should not exceed this indicator — otherwise, malfunctions are possible, and the capabilities of the “RAM” cannot be used to the fullest.

For modern PCs, a RAM frequency of 1500 – 2000 MHz or less is considered very low, 2000 – 2500 MHz is modest, 2500 – 3000 MHz is average, 3000 – 3500 MHz is above average, and the most advanced boards can support frequencies of 3500 – 4000 MHz and even more than 4000 MHz.

Number of M.2 slots available in the design of the motherboard. You can find motherboards with 1 M.2 slot, with 2 slots, with 3 slots, and more.

The M.2 slot is created for connecting advanced internal devices in a miniature form factor—particularly high-speed SSD drives, as well as expansion cards like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules. However, slots intended solely for connecting peripherals (Key E) are not included in this count. Today, this is one of the most modern and advanced ways of connecting components. But it's worth noting that different interfaces can be implemented through this slot—SATA or PCI-E, and not necessarily both at once. For more details, see “M.2 interface”; here we'll note that SATA has low speed and is mainly used for budget drives, while PCI-E is used for advanced solid-state modules and is also suitable for other types of internal peripherals.

Accordingly, the number of M.2 slots represents how many components in this format can be simultaneously connected to the motherboard. Many modern boards, especially mid-range and high-end ones, are equipped with two or more M.2 slots, particularly with PCI-E support.

Electrical (logical) interfaces implemented through physical M.2 connectors on the motherboard.

For more details about such connectors, see above. Here, we note that they can work with two types of interfaces:

• SATA — a standard originally created for hard drives. Usually, the most recent version supported in M.2 is SATA 3; however, even it is significantly inferior to PCIe in terms of speed (600 MB/s) and functionality (only storage devices);
• PCIe — the most widespread modern interface for connecting internal peripherals (also known as NVMe). It is suitable for various expansion cards (such as wireless adapters) as well as storage devices, with PCIe speeds allowing for the full potential of modern SSDs to be realized. The maximum data transfer speed depends on the version of this interface and the number of lanes. In modern M.2 connectors, you can find PCIe versions 3.0 and 4.0, with speeds of approximately 1 GB/s and 2 GB/s per lane, respectively; and the number of lanes can be 1, 2, or 4 (PCIe 1x, 2x, and 4x, respectively)

Specifically, the M.2 interface in motherboard specifications is indicated by the number of connectors themselves and the type of interfaces provided in each of them. For example, the entry "3xSATA/PCIe 4x" means three connectors capable of operating in both SATA and PCIe 4x formats; and the designation "1xSATA/PCIe 4x, 1xPCIe 2x" means two connectors, one of which works as SATA or PCI...e 4x, and the other only as PCIe 2x.

The presence of reinforced steel PCIe connectors on the motherboard.

Such connectors are mainly found in gaming (see "By Direction") and other advanced types of motherboards designed for powerful graphics adapters. Typically, PCIe 16x slots are made of steel, specifically intended for such graphics cards; aside from the slot itself, the mounting to the board also features a reinforced design.

This feature offers two key advantages compared to traditional plastic connectors. Firstly, it allows for the installation of even large and heavy graphics cards with maximum reliability, without the risk of damaging the slot or the board. Secondly, the metal connector acts as a protective shield and reduces the likelihood of interference; this is especially useful when using multiple graphics cards installed side by side, "side-by-side."

The number of USB 2.0 connectors provided on the motherboard.

USB connectors (of all versions) are used to connect USB ports located on the front panel of the case to the "motherboard." A special cable connects such a port to the connector, with one connector typically working with just one port. In other words, the number of connectors on the motherboard corresponds to the maximum number of front-facing USB ports that can be used with it.

Specifically, USB-A 2.0 is the oldest version among those widely used today. It provides data transfer speeds up to 480 Mbps and is considered outdated, gradually being replaced by more advanced standards, primarily USB-A 5Gbps, 10Gbps. Nonetheless, quite a bit of peripheral equipment is still being produced for USB-A 2.0 ports: this interface's capabilities are quite sufficient for most devices that do not require high connection speeds.

Connector for connecting an ARGB LED strip as a decorative lighting for a computer case. This type of "smart" tape is based on special LEDs, each of which consists of an LED light and a built-in controller, which allows you to flexibly control the luminosity using a special digital protocol and create amazing effects.

Connector for connecting a decorative LED strip and other devices with LED indication. Allows you to control the backlight of the case through the motherboard and customize the glow for your tasks, including synchronize it with other components.