Intel or AMD Motherboard: How to Choose the Right One?

The motherboard is the foundation of your setup — and it's often the most poorly chosen component: too low-end, too high-end, incompatible, wrong chipset. In this article, we clarify everything so you can choose the right motherboard in 2026, without getting ripped off.

Intel or AMD: which socket to choose?

First and foremost, the choice of motherboard depends on the processor you want to install. To understand the difference between modern CPUs: Intel 13th vs 14th Gen CPUs

• AMD AM5: DDR5 compatible only.
• Intel LGA1700: DDR4 or DDR5 compatible depending on the model.

Understanding chipsets

AMD AM5 Chipsets

• B650: ideal for gaming and versatile setups.
• X670: high-end, more ports, more VRMs.

Intel Chipsets

• B760: excellent price/performance ratio.
• Z790: overclocking + advanced options.

DDR4 or DDR5 depending on the motherboard

RAM directly depends on the motherboard: DDR4 vs DDR5 for gaming and How to choose your DDR5 in 2026?

VRM, M.2, PCIe: key points

• VRM: important for CPU stability and longevity.
• M.2 Ports: at least one PCIe 4.0 slot, ideally two.
• PCIe 5.0: useful if you plan on a PCIe 5.0 SSD (see our SSD guide).

Recommended motherboards on Showgiftprive

• ASUS ROG STRIX B650E-F – perfect for Ryzen AM5.
• MSI Z790 Gaming Plus – ideal for Intel 12th/13th/14th gen CPUs.

Our verdict

Choosing a motherboard means choosing a reliable foundation for several years. Don't over-invest in a high-end chipset if your CPU doesn't warrant it.

For a complete setup: Gaming PC €900, €1200, €1700: our 2026 configurations.

👉 See our selection of motherboards on Showgiftprive →