With each new generation of motherboards , we are seeing that the average price is increasing, and this occurs for both Intel and AMD motherboards. Everything has a justification -beyond the manufacturer wanting to make money-, so in this article we are going to explain why the price of motherboards increases from generation to generation.
It goes without saying that, of course, in all new generations we will find motherboards for all segments and in all prices , so do not despair since you will surely find a motherboard that fits your budget for the new generation of processors.
However, it must be said that it is true that if we compare the plates of the current generation with those of a couple of generations ago, we can see that both the average and maximum prices , that of the most expensive model, are considerably higher . Also, the price difference between the lowest-end models and the highest-end models can have an abysmal difference, up to 10 times more expensive, why is this happening?
Why does the price of motherboards rise?
Right now, what type of motherboard to buy has become a problem. If you already know which generation you want to buy, it is easy to choose a processor and then the options will be limited to the compatible chipsets; For example, if you choose an Intel platform you know that the H series is the most basic, the B series is the mid-range and the Z series is the highest range . But with everything and with that, what motherboard should you buy? Why is there so much difference in price?
Richer interface and more expansion options
The motherboard is like the nervous system of the PC: it is where everything is connected and therefore what communicates all the components with each other, so it has a rather great importance in terms of the performance of the computer.
The number of interfaces you have directly influences how much hardware can be connected to it, and we are no longer talking only about the number of PCI-Express sockets or the number of USB ports you have, but their generation and speed . This is one of the most obvious differences between an entry-level motherboard and a high-end one, for example.
PCI-Express ports are mainly used to connect graphics cards, but also for sound cards and, in general, all kinds of expansion cards, so they are a point to consider depending on the use that you are going to give to the equipment. The same goes for the number of SATA and even USB ports, but there is another factor to consider here and that is the controller.
In the same way, connectivity and expansion options also influence, for example, the amount of RAM and the speed with which the motherboard is compatible, whether or not it supports the new M.2 format of SSDs, as well as if it supports that they are PCIe NVMe or just SATA.
The speed and generation of all these ports will determine the performance , both in absolute value and in terms of bandwidth to connect as many devices as we need. In other words, higher-end motherboards have more and better connectivity, and this is a factor that influences the price of the motherboard.
Better materials and more quality in general
A higher-end motherboard usually has a better choice of materials, such as 10-layer PCB to have better stability in terms of electrical connections or to integrate insulation for the audio chip, it has more and better VRM for the processor and / or RAM, and in this regard there are manufacturers who even say that they select the components by hand to make sure they have the best quality.
This also influences performance indirectly, as a motherboard with better VRMs can support a higher level of overclocking in both processor and memory. For example, it wouldn’t make much sense to buy a high-end motherboard with great overclocking capabilities and use a processor that doesn’t support overclocking, right?
Likewise, higher-end motherboards often offer better heatsinks for VRMs and / or chipsets, something that also influences the overall performance of the equipment as well as its longevity by maintaining better operating temperatures.
Logically, the use of better materials also increases the manufacturing cost, both in terms of raw materials and in the construction of the plate itself since it will need to use more complex and complete systems.
The characteristics of the brands
The most recognized manufacturers such as ASUS or Gigabyte usually have their own characteristics to differentiate themselves from the competition and in order to increase the incentives for their purchase. For example, RGB lighting in your logos, your own software for overclocking or monitoring (for which you must also integrate sensors), LED / OLED panels or direct compatibility with custom liquid cooling systems.
The development of all this also has a certain cost that logically they seek to amortize when they sell their products, and obviously this is something that they gradually incorporate the greater the range of the motherboard.
The price of motherboards is justified with more and better features
The summary of all this is that as generations of PC hardware advance, technologies also advance. The manufacturers of motherboards are always going to seek to offer the largest cast of possible features, although in the end ordinary users do not use even half of them. In any case, each generation is increasingly expensive because it incorporates more and better features.
However, as we mentioned before, we will always be able to find suitable motherboards for the processor we want, even if we have to settle for boards that do not have LEDs or that are not overclocked, or that do not have the latest connectivity.
