WiFi capabilities built into motherboards
WiFi capabilities built into motherboards
You’ll need an Ethernet connection to link to WiFi since the board only has a wired port. You can add a Wi-Fi adapter to make it work wirelessly if you prefer. A 1 Gb/s connection is solid for gaming, but if you want even faster speeds, consider upgrading the motherboard. It’s not too complicated—just follow the setup guides for your specific model.
You have several ways to connect to the internet: Wi-Fi adapter, Ethernet cable, phone tethering, built-in Wi-Fi card. Most boards with built-in Wi-Fi are reasonably priced, so adding a Wi-Fi adapter to a board without one would cost similar amounts. It makes sense to choose a board that already has Wi-Fi if you want convenience.
To connect to Wi-Fi, choose a motherboard that supports it. The cost difference between regular and Wi-Fi models is minimal. Running an Ethernet cable to your PC offers the most reliable connection. You can use a Wi-Fi adapter or a PCIe Wi-Fi card. A smartphone working in USB tethering mode works too. The price gap is similar to a built-in Wi-Fi, though Wi-Fi PCIe cards tend to perform better than USB adapters. PCIe Wi-Fi cards start around $40–50 and provide comparable speed. The boards you pick will have different Wi-Fi versions, but none are currently available. Popular options include the MSI PRO B660M-A WiFi DDR4 board, GIGABYTE B660M DS3H AX, and ASUS Prime B660M-A WiFi. For PCIe cards, consider TP-Link AX3000 or GIGABYTE GC-WBAX1200. Most USB-based solutions are less reliable, except for those with extra PCI slots.
Need minimal latency and dependable connection for gaming, Ethernet preferred over WiFi. During gameplay you typically won’t exceed a few Mb/s—far below 1 Gb/s. For streaming, you’ll usually need under 100 Mb/s. Only when downloading games is higher speed beneficial, but that’s rare. Even then, avoid frequent downloads followed by deletions and repeat downloads daily. If you do that, it will stress your SSD. You’ll need an ISP offering more than 1 Gb/s. Unless you have no choice—use Ethernet. Get a Cat5e or Cat6 cable if you don’t already—and connect it to your router. This setup ensures the best gaming performance.