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There are a number of components involved in a computer that determines its ultimate functionality. One of the most important components of these is the processor used. Regardless of the type of use required from the PC, the processor and its working play a key role in any computer. One of the most popular types of processors is the LGA 1150. If you too want to upgrade your computer’s functioning with this processor, then this article is just for you.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Lga 1150 Motherboard
- OUR TOP PICK: Asus Z97-A
- RUNNER-UP: Gigabyte GA-Z97X
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: ASUS Micro ATX B85M-G
Comparison of the Best LGA 1150 Motherboards
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What Does LGA 1150 Mean?
LGA 1150 is basically a socket that is compatible with Intel microprocessors. It is also generally known as Socket H4 and is available in two different versions. The first version is one that supports Intel’s Skylake as well as Kaby Lake CPUs. Meanwhile, the second version of this socket is exclusively designed to support only Coffee Lake CPUs.
This socket is designed with 1151 land contacts and also uses an Independent Loading Mechanism. Due to its construction, this socket is highly preferred for gaming.
How Do I Choose an LGA 1150 Motherboard
Getting a motherboard for your PC is a crucial task and one that must be done with great care. It will either allow your computer to perform considerably better or ruin it entirely. In order to ensure you pick nothing but the best, here are a few points to keep in mind:
Compatibility
The first thing that you need to look at while you are looking at an LGA 1150 Motherboard is its compatibility with your device. Investing in a unit that is not compatible with your device will only prove to be a waste of money. For this reason, one needs to be careful and ensure that the unit they are looking at will work with their PC.
Chipsets
The most recent chipsets put forth by Intel are the Z97 and the H97. While you are considering your options, you need to see what chipsets the motherboard features and if it the kind that you require based on your use. Older chipsets do not provide efficient functioning and are better avoided.
RAM Compatibility
The last thing that needs to be considered is the RAM compatibility of the given unit. There are different types of units that support different frequencies, but not one that supports all. This is why one needs to carefully determine what frequency they need their computer to work on and then choose a unit accordingly.
Review of the Best LGA 1150 Motherboards
Now that we know what features to concentrate on, we can finally get to find the perfect one. To save you from the worries of going through a large number of products, we have sorted and reviewed some of the best LGA 1150 motherboards. All you need to do is find one that fits your needs.
Best Overall:
Asus Z97-A
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
If you want to look at a motherboard that excels in its function so well that all its users sing its praises, then you may take a look at this one. It is a unit that has been highly appreciated by its users due to its outstanding performance and convenience. According to those that have recently invested in it, there is no other that matches its functionality.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Every feature provided by this motherboard is a winning one, but one that steals the show is the Remote Go feature. It is a highly unique feature that is rare in any other unit. It is also highly functional and useful with its remote controlling options that can be used from any location at any time.
Who Will Use This Most
From a long list of features to outstanding functionality that is second to no other, this unit has everything one could ask for. With the quality that it provides, there is nothing more that could be asked of it. This makes it ideal for all sorts of users with all sorts of requirements.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for the best possible investment for your computer, then this unit just might be the one for you. It not only delivers all that it promises its users, but it also provides a lot more than the standard features. All in all, it is one that will ensure no regrets for all those that invest in it.
Runner-up:
Gigabyte GA-Z97X
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Those who have invested in this unit recently have found it to be one of the best investments that they have made for their computers. It not only impressed users with its fast performance but also satisfied them with its outstanding functionality, which the users think is unmatched by any other.
Why it Stands Out to Us
There is a lot provided by this unit that one would consider, which needs to be taken a closer look at, but the most important of these features is the audio that it provided. The audio provided is not only clear and loud but also pretty intense to allow a better experience overall.
Who Will Use This Most
The BIOS features on this unit is one that is designed to perform better, rather than to provide easy functioning. This is why the unit may not be ideal for beginners. For that reason, it is ideal for those that have been using motherboards and know their way of working with the,
Bottom Line
This unit is very close to the top of the list, and that is all due to the high efficacy that it provides for almost all its tasks. Its enhanced performance and the secret of its great functionality lie in its construction and impressive design that is simply put together to impress.
Best for the Money:
ASUS Micro ATX B85M-G
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Going by the words of the recent buyers, you will find yourself sold to the idea of investing in this board. Users find it to be not only highly functional but also extremely easy to use as well as highly economical. And for such units, these three features together is how to spell perfect.
Why it Stands Out to Us
In case you are wondering what struck us about this unit that we decided to put it on the list, then let us tell you about its AI suite 3. This unique and outstanding feature allows the users simple one-stop access to all the innovative ASUS features so they can make the best out of it.
Who Will Use This Most
Motherboards can be quite expensive, especially the ones that come with a good set of features. But not everyone can afford such expenses. This unit is the perfect solution for such users. It allows them to enjoy the best of functionality there is without it costing them too much.
Bottom Line
Now you can save yourself some money without having to compromise on the features you get. This unit will allow you to experience the functionality of a high-end processor and allow you to enjoy the features of some of the best units out there without emptying your pockets.
Best LGA 1150 Motherboard for Gaming:
ASUS ROG MAXIMUS VII HERO
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Every user that has invested in this unit has found it to be absolutely worth the price for those who bought it for gaming, as well as those who used it for other purposes. It has not only impressed users with its neat look, making a good first impression, but also made that impression a lasting one with its high performance.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This unit comes with a number of flashy features, but the one that really catches our eye is the KeyBot that it comes with. The motherboard functions to instantly upgrade the keyboard of the device, allowing a more convenient method of input for the users. And isn’t that all that we want?
Who Will Use This Most
This unit is designed specifically for all those that want to experience gaming at its best. With its high-end features and its uncomparable efficacy, this unit makes itself to be a one of a kind motherboard that is perfect for not just gaming, but for any other use as well.
Bottom Line
Gaming is something that requires one to be completely immersed to enjoy the best of the experience. This unit is designed to provide avid gamers with such an experience. With all the exclusive features that it is geared with, users are likely to find themselves highly impressed by this unit and its functionality.
Best LGA 1150 Mini ITX Motherboard:
ASUS Mini ITX Motherboard Q87T/CSM
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
A number of users reported having used this motherboard to replace another unit, and they are all extremely satisfied with their choices. For them, switching to this LGA 1150 has been one of the best decisions they have made for their computer and would recommend it to others.
Why it Stands Out to Us
There is a lot that this unit has in store for its users, but what stands out to us the most is its fan and expert design. With such a construction, users no longer need to worry about overheating since the comprehensive controls allow the perfect cooling without any extra noises.
Who Will Use This Most
If you own a smaller case and are tired of only finding boards that are too big to fit, then you no longer need to worry. This unit right here is designed to fit in much smaller cases where standard ATX or even a micro ATX doesn’t fit. For all such cases, this board may prove to be the best choice.
Bottom Line
Who says the bigger, the better? This mini ITX motherboard is the small package which provides ideal functionality for your PC. It may be compact in size, but it provides a full set of features that is better than what a lot of standard-sized motherboards have to offer.
Best LGA 1150 Socket Motherboard:
MSI Intel Z97 PC Mate Motherboard
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This unit seems to have the users absolutely in love with it. They find managing the settings in the bios to be really easy and presents with no problems in accessing the board completely. This convenience, paired with high functionality, makes it a good choice for the users.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Of all the great features that this motherboard has to offer, the one that we like the most is the solid cap that comes with its military class 4. This aluminum core designed solid cap provides a high-end design, provide a lower ESR, and work firmly for a longer period of time.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit is one that is designed to provide users the best visual experience with multiple graphic cards. This makes it ideal for all those that are tired of insufficient graphic qualities. The PCI express 3.0 ensures a higher quality of graphics without any overheating.
Bottom Line
With this unit, you could finally end your search for the perfect LGA 1150 socket motherboard, since this could be the perfect one for you. It is geared with all the features to provide you with the kind of functionality that you are looking for, and a lot more.
Pros and Cons of LGA 1150 Motherboard
LGA 1150 is not the newest technology out there, but it is definitely one of the better functioning ones. This is enough to say that the LGA 1150 has its own set of pros and cons. In order to decide whether you want to get one or not, you need to weigh the two sides closely. Here are some of the advantages and drawbacks of investing in an LGA 1150 motherboard.
Pros
Let’s first look at all the pros that an LGA 1150 motherboard promises
Ideal For Gaming
The functionality of these units is ideal to be used for gaming. Not all processors are designed to be appropriate for gaming since they do not perform fast enough, but this is not one of those.
Compact
The LGA 1150 is compact and comes with smaller dimensions. Such a motherboard is easier to deal with and easier to fit into a greater number of cases, without any hassles.
Good as New
Despite there being the arrival of newer variables, the LGA 1150 still works as efficiently as the newer motherboards, with only slight variations. The advent of newer units does not render this one obsolete.
Cons
Like all things, these motherboards come with their set of limitations.
Expensive
The LGA 1150 is still considerably expensive. An estimate can be taken from the fact that the price of the older LGA 1150 is about the same as its newer variables.
Lesser RAM and Features
Unlike it’s newer likes, the LGA 1150 motherboard does not feature a greater RAM or a higher number of features that users now look up to.
What Do I Need to Know Before Buying
Just deciding on investing in an LGA 1150 and knowing the important features is not enough. In order to ensure what you are getting for yourself is what you need, there are other things that need to be considered as well. Here are a few things that you need to know before you invest in an LGA 1150 motherboard.
Newer Variables
Yes, the LGA 1150 features great performance, but if you are looking for the latest technology, then LGA 1150 may not be the answer. There are newer variables available in the market, and they offer some other features too. Their functioning may not be entirely better than LGA 1150, but they do have more to offer.
Expensive
Even though there has been the advent of newer variables, the LGA 1150 is still quite expensive. This is because the arrival of the other variables does not decrease the functionality of the previous processor, making it just as good as new. So it may be expensive, but it is also worth the price.
Is it What You Need
Sure, the LGA 1150 provides great functionality, and that makes it worth the price. But that is only true for the features that it offers, and those are not all that are out there. Before you invest in an expensive unit like this one, you need to ensure that it is what you need based on your requirements.
Conclusion
A processor of the computer serves to be its make-or-break feature, which is why it should not be chosen in haste without sufficient consideration. All the important features should be looked at, and compatibility should be ensured. And if the right choice is made, you will find yourself up for an impressive experience with the functioning of your PC.
People Also Ask
To make sure you have no ambiguities regarding your product, go through the following questions. Only then will you be able to make the best purchase.
Is LGA 1150 Outdated?
LGA 1150 may have been around for some time now, and there may be newer variables, but no, that does not mean it is outdated itself. It is also nowhere close to being obsolete. In fact, it is still highly functional and provides a performance that is similar to the new Ryzen 3 Quad-Core CPU model.
Is LGA1155 Compatible With LGA 1150?
Unfortunately, no, the LGA 1155 is not compatible with LGA 1150. The LG 1150 is only compatible with the 4th Gen Intel CPUs. In order to fit an LGA 1150 board, one needs an LGA 1150 CPU; other variables are not entirely compatible.
Is LGA 1150 and 1155 the Same?
The LGA 1150 and LGA 1155 are not the same. The two may look identical, but they are not interchangeable. If you try to fit an LGA 1150 where LGA 1155 belongs or vice versa, the unit may fit into place due to the similar dimensions, but the CPU will not work.