Motherboard Information
The choice of motherboard can be one of the most difficult decisions when building a custom computer, but because of the effect it has on the rest of the build process we present it first. There has always been a debate over whether Intel or AMD is the best CPU choice in different applications, and the selection of a motherboard determines which processors will be available to pick from; choices over memory type and other related things add to the confusion. Puget Custom Computers has many hardware articles that can help you get up to speed, and by taking the time to give them a look you can make a much more informed decision. In the event that you are uncertain, don't hesitate to contact us.
All of our motherboards have built in LAN support. Motherboards often have other built-in features as well, including USB, Firewire, and RAID controllers. Each of the desktop motherboards listed below has full audio support, and in some cases even 6-channel or 8-channel sound! Make sure to become familiar with what features your motherboard has so you don't waste any money adding controller cards for features you already have!
| MSI X299M Pro Carbon AC | ASUS WS C621E SAGE | Gigabyte X299 Designare EX | Asus WS C422 SAGE/10G | Gigabyte X399 AORUS Xtreme | MSI Z390M Edge AC | Gigabyte Z390 Designare | Gigabyte C246M-WU4 | Gigabyte X570 AORUS Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socket | 2066 | 3647 | 2066 | 2066 | TR4 | 1151 | 1151 | 1151 | AM4 |
| CPU Compatibility | SkyLake-X | Purley | SkyLake-X | Xeon W | Threadripper 2 | Intel Socket 1151 for 9th Generation Processors | Intel Socket 1151 for 9th Generation Core Processors | Intel Xeon E-21xx and E-22xx Processors | AMD Ryzen |
| Form Factor | MicroATX | SSI EEB | ATX | CEB | CEB | MicroATX | ATX | MicroATX | ATX |
| Chipset Manufacturer | Intel | Intel | Intel | Intel | AMD | Intel | Intel | Intel | AMD |
| Chipset | X299 | C620 | X299 | C422 | X399 | Z390 | Z390 | C246 | X570 |
| Network Connectivity | Dual Gigabit Networking + 802.11 A/B/G/N/AC | Dual Gigabit Networking | Dual Gigabit Networking + 802.11 A/B/G/N/AC | Dual 10G Networking | Dual Gigabit Networking + 10G + 802.11 A/B/G/N/AC | Gigabit Networking + 802.11 A/B/G/N/AC | Dual Gigabit Networking + 802.11 A/B/G/N/AC | Dual Gigabit Networking | Gigabit Networking + WiFi 6 |
| Network Controller | Intel I219-V / Intel I211AT | Intel / Intel | Intel | Intel X550-AT2 | Dual Intel i210AT + AQUANTIA 10G + Intel WiFi/Bluetooth | Intel | Intel | Intel I210 | Intel I211-AT + Intel AX200 |
| Audio Controller | Onboard Realtek ALC1220 HD Audio | Onboard Realtek S1220A HD Audio | Onboard Realtek ALC 1220 | Onboard Realtek ALC S1220A High Definition Audio | Onboard Realtek ALC 1220-VB High Definition Audio | Onboard Realtek ALC1220P 7.1 Channel HD Audio | Onboard Realtek ALC1220-VB HD Audio | Onboard Realtek ALC892 HD Audio | Onboard Realtek ALC1220-VB HD Audio |
| Cooling System | Heatsink | Heatsink | Heatsink and Fan | Heatsink | Heatsink | Heatsink | Heatsink | Heatsink | Heatsink and Fan |
| Color | Black | Black | Grey | Black | Black & White | Black | Black | Black | Black |
| Front Side Bus | DMI 3.0 | DMI 3.0 | DMI 3.0 | DMI 3.0 | DMI 3.0 | ||||
| Number of Fans | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Memory Support | |||||||||
| Type | DDR4 | DDR4 ECC Registered | DDR4 | DDR4 ECC Registered | DDR4 ECC | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 ECC | DDR4 ECC |
| Maximum Speed | 2666 MHz | 2933 MHz | 2666 MHz | 2666 MHz | 2993 MHz | 2666 MHz | 2666 MHz | 2666 MHz | 3200 MHz |
| Number of Slots | 4 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Maximum Size per Slot | 16 GB | 64 GB | 16 GB | 64 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| Maximum Amount Supported | 64 GB | 768 GB | 128 GB | 512 GB | 128 GB | 128 GB | 128 GB | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| External Connections | |||||||||
| USB 2.0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||
| USB 3.0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| USB 3.1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
| USB 3.1 Type C | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| Audio Out | Surround Sound (7.1) | Surround Sound (7.1) | Surround Sound (7.1) | Surround Sound (7.1) | Surround Sound (7.1) | Surround Sound (7.1) | Surround Sound (7.1) | Surround Sound (7.1) | Surround Sound (7.1) |
| Audio In | Line-In/Microphone | Line-In/Microphone | Line-In/Microphone | Line-In/Microphone | Line-In/Microphone | Line-In/Microphone | Line-In/Microphone | Line-In/Microphone | Line-In/Microphone |
| S/PDIF | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | |
| LAN (RJ45) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Wireless Antenna Port | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| PS/2 Keyboard | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | ||||
| PS/2 Mouse | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | ||||
| Thunderbolt Ports | 2 | 2 | |||||||
| Thunderbolt Version | 3 | 3 | |||||||
| Memory Card Reader | No | ||||||||
| Internal Connections | |||||||||
| USB 2.0 | 2 (providing 4 ports) | 1 (providing 2 ports) | 2 (providing 4 ports) | 2 (providing 4 ports) | 2 (providing 4 ports) | 1 (providing 2 ports) | 2 (providing 4 ports) | 2 (providing 4 ports) | |
| USB 3.0 | 1 (providing 2 ports) | 2 (providing 4 ports) | 2 (providing 4 ports) | 1 (providing 2 ports) | 2 (providing 4 ports) | 2 (providing 4 ports) | 1 (providing 2 ports) | 1 (providing 2 ports) | 2 (providing 4 ports) |
| USB 3.1 Type C | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| SATA III 6.0Gbps | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| M.2 Connector | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| M.2 Support | 1x 42/60/80mm, 1x 42/60/80/110mm | NVMe 80mm / 110mm | M Key x4 | x1 42-110mm NVMe, x1 42-80mm NVMe | 2x 60-110mm NVMe+SATA, 1x 42-80mm NVMe+SATA | x1 42-110mm NVMe & SATA, x1 42-80mm NVMe | x2 42-110mm NVMe + SATA | 1x 42-110mm NVMe, 1x 42-80mm NVMe & SATA | x1 42-80mm NVMe (Gen4) + SATA, x2 42-110mm NVMe (Gen4) + SATA |
| U.2 Connector | 4 | 2 | |||||||
| Serial (Com) | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| TPM (module sold separately) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| TPM Pinout | 14-1 | 12-1 | 14-1 | 12-1 | 14-1 | 12-1 | 12-1 | ||
| Expansion Slots | |||||||||
| Slot 1 | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | Slot not available on this board |
| Slot 2 | Slot not available on this board | PCI Express x8 or x16 in a x16 size | Slot not available on this board | PCI Express 3.0 x8 in a x16 size | Slot not available on this board | PCI Express 3.0 x1 | PCI Express 3.0 x1 | PCI Express 3.0 x1 | PCI Express 4.0 x16 |
| Slot 3 | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | PCI Express 3.0 x4 in a x16 size | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | PCI Express 3.0 x8 in a x16 size | PCI Express 3.0 x8 in a x16 size | Slot not available on this board | PCI Express 3.0 x1 | PCI Express 4.0 x1 |
| Slot 4 | PCI Express 3.0 x8 in a x16 size | PCI Express 3.0 x8 in a x16 size | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | PCI Express 3.0 x8 in a x16 size | PCI Express 3.0 x1 | PCI Express 3.0 x1 | PCI Express 3.0 x8 in a x16 size | PCI Express 3.0 x8 in a x16 size | Slot not available on this board |
| Slot 5 | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | PCI Express 3.0 x4 in a x16 size | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | Slot not available on this board | PCI Express 4.0 x8 in a x16 size | |||
| Slot 6 | PCI Express x8 or x16 in a x16 size | PCI Express 3.0 x8 in a x16 size | PCI Express 3.0 x8 in a x16 size | Slot not available on this board | PCI Express 3.0 x1 | PCI Express 4.0 x1 | |||
| Slot 7 | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | PCI Express 3.0 x16 | PCI Express 3.0 x8 in a x16 size | PCI Express 3.0 x4 in a x16 size | PCI Express 4.0 x4 in a x16 size | ||||
| Additional Information | |||||||||
| SLI Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Crossfire Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| RAID Support | 0/1/5/10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0/1/5/10 | 0,1,5,10 | 0,1,10 | 0,1,5,10 | 0,1,5,10 | 0,1,5,10 | 0,1,10 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No | Yes (4.2) | No | Yes (4.2) | Yes (5.0) | Yes (5.0) | No | Yes (5.0) |
| Dual GPU Slot Spacing | 2-Slot | 2-Slot | 3-Slot | 2-Slot | 4-Slot | 2-Slot | 3-Slot | 3-Slot | 3-Slot |
| BIOS Features | |||||||||
| UEFI BIOS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| EZ Flash | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| OC Profiles | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | |||||||||
| Height | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 305 mm (12.0 in) | 305 mm (12.0 in) | 305 mm (12.0 in) | 305 mm (12.0 in) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 305 mm (12.0 in) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 305 mm (12.0 in) |
| Width | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 330 mm (13.0 in) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 267 mm (10.5 in) | 267 mm (10.5 in) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 244 mm (9.6 in) |
| Net Weight | 4.28 kg (9.4 lbs) | ||||||||
| Onboard Video | |||||||||
| Chipset Manufacturer | ASpeed | Intel | Intel | Intel | AMD | ||||
| Processor Type | AST2500 | CPU Integrated Graphics | CPU Integrated Graphics | CPU Integrated Graphics | |||||
| Onboard Memory | 64 MB | ||||||||
| Maximum Resolution | 1920x1200 | 4096x2304 | |||||||
| VGA | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Notes: | Onboard video is via an included optional VGA bracket. | Onboard Graphics Requires Supported CPU | |||||||
| Maximum Shared Memory | 512 MB | 1024 MB | |||||||
| Maximum HDMI Resolution | 4096x2160 | 4096x2160 | 4096x2160 | ||||||
| Maximum DisplayPort Resolution | 4096x2160 | 4096x2304 | |||||||
| HDMI | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| HDMI Version | 1.4b | 1.4b | 2.0 | ||||||
| DisplayPort | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| DisplayPort Version | 1.4 | 1.2 | |||||||
| Maximum DVI Resolution | 1920x1200 | ||||||||
| DVI | 1 | ||||||||
| SATA Controllers | |||||||||
| SATA III 6.0Gbps Controller 1 | 8 | -Intel (6 Ports) | 4 port - Intel Z390 | 6 port - Intel Z390 | 8 port - Intel C246 | AMD X570 | |||
| SATA III 6.0Gbps Controller 2 | 2 | -ASMedia (2 Ports) |