Help me to choose a mobo
Help me to choose a mobo
Hello, I'm looking for alternative motherboards that fit your needs. You mentioned a Ryzen 5 4500 and a budget of around 75 euros. I can check some options for you.
When picking a motherboard, I weigh several factors: brand, fan placement, rear connections, PCIe setup, M.2 support, cooler fit, and USB ports for front devices. For budget models, I also think about VRM cooling design, chipset efficiency, PCIe slot durability, CPU compatibility, and firmware updates. Ultimately, these decisions depend on your specific needs—unless you have a strong preference for rear I/O, it usually won’t be a big deal.
I need only a 1 m2 space. I’ll use two 8GB RAM modules. It doesn’t matter if the motherboard has two or four slots. I’m not sure what you mean by a plate around the USB ports (I don’t understand much, but is it an I/O shield?) Edit: I get what you’re saying. It doesn’t matter for me.
With a Ryzen 4500 processor, you won't have an integrated graphics card. This means the motherboard's display settings aren't a deciding factor, though they can matter on certain boards where the iGPU or APU actually sends visual data.
Unless you're aiming for a 4500 under $80, go all in. Ryzen 3600 will dominate and the 5500 series is about 100€ new, though you might spot a used 3600 at a better price. Consider a used motherboard if they're reasonable, since you'll likely get much better boards for the same budget. Both options are budget-friendly low-end choices that will work fine.
Personally, I prefer the Gigabyte model more due to its PCIe setup and cooler fit thanks to the extra room outside the CPU socket. Still, picking between a huge choice and something else feels tricky.
The ASUS Prime B450M-K II isn't ideal for future upgrades. It lacks heatsinks on the VRM, has a weak VRM, and its PCI-E layout is poor—video cards would block all slots. The Gigabyte B450M K version has better VRM heatsinks, more USB on the IO Shield, and four memory slots. It offers a decent PCI-E layout with one slot above the video card, allowing use with thicker cards. It includes two M.2 connectors, whereas others have only one. The ASRock B450M Pro4 2.0 has improved VRM heatsinks, more USB ports on the IO Shield, and two M.2 slots. It supports better audio and a more organized SATA layout. The Asrock B450M Pro4-F 2.0 is similar but has fewer ports and a slightly different IO Shield design. The B450 Pro4 R2.0 or Gigabyte Aorus Elite v2 are more suitable if you need a full ATX build. The B450 Plus at 162 is less valuable due to the IO Shield compromises. The Ryzen 4500 chipset is a poor choice. Ultimately, it depends on the seller and your budget.
Micro ATX Am4 socket works fine. HDMI is good too. USB 3 or 2 doesn't matter. I require at least three USB ports.
I'm getting the CPU for under 80 euros. The 3600 models cost more than brand new ones (I don't know why). I can't locate used mobos because they're almost as priced or even higher than new ones.