ASUS Computer Motherboards

ASUS Computer Motherboards

If you are interested in building your own computer, then a motherboard is absolutely necessary. This is the hardware that holds and controls all of the other components. There are many to choose from, and each has a different purpose or number of expansions.

ASUS motherboards come in several sizes meant to accommodate different systems and can be used as laptop motherboards. You will have to choose between the size of your overall system and the number of expansion slots for your chipset.

• ATX: This is the largest ASUS motherboard size, and it offers seven slots with the most sockets for memory, processors, and other chips. It is commonly used with larger systems, but it can also be used as a large laptop motherboard.
• Micro ATX: Slightly smaller than the full ATX and with four expansion slots, this works well as a laptop motherboard. It can accommodate strong, mobile CPUs and other chips.
• Flex ATX: Meant as a laptop motherboard or for small systems, this unit offers three slots for RAM and can accommodate fairly strong CPUs.

ASUS offers a proprietary line of gaming motherboards branded as their ROG line. This includes laptop motherboards. The ROG units have some benefits that gamers will appreciate. The epoxy and materials used allow for fast data transfers, which translates to top frame rates. Included expansion slots in the ROG units are often made to accommodate strong RAM and heat sinks.

Regular motherboards can also be used for gaming. You just need to include strong processors and other chips for good performance. This is the same for either desktop or laptop motherboards.

There are two ways to connect to the internet: wireless or via a wired connection. Nearly every ASUS unit, including laptop motherboards, will come with an Ethernet port. This allows you to establish a wired connection to the internet. You can expect this with laptop units as well.

Wireless connections require a Wi-Fi card that can use signals from a router for the laptop or desktop. Some units have this pre-installed, but others may require installation. Be sure to check the features to see if a wireless card has been pre-installed or not.

• PCI slots: These are slots used to install additional boards. They come in sizes of x1, x4, x8, and x16. Higher numbers refer to larger and faster slots. Pay attention to the number of slots and their designation. Laptops typically have smaller slots.
• USB headers: USB slots are used for common attachments like keyboards and mice. The headers are used to attach USB connectors. Most units come with two or three headers.
• SATA interface: This interface is used to connect physical drives to the laptop or full system, like the hard drive. Speed is ranked as SATA, SATA2, and SATA3, with each providing faster gigabyte transfers.
• CPU connector: Every board comes with a connector meant for a specific type of processor. Be sure to get one that matches the hardware you would like to install on the board.