Description: This article contains some of the most frequently asked questions about Motherboards from Summer 2019.

Q: Do I have to use the exact type of RAM that a motherboard lists in its specifications?
A: Not necessarily - you will need to match the Memory Type such as DDR3 or DDR4, but you can usually use the listed speed as a guideline. In most cases within reasonable limits, higher or lower speed RAM will adapt to the specification that the motherboard supports.

Q: Does it matter what order I install the RAM onto my motherboard?
A: Yes - it can. Most motherboards will have memory slots matched in channel pairs of two. For example, if your motherboard has four slots you will want to have one dual channel matching pair inserted into slots 1 and 3 and then another dual channel matching pair into slots 2 and 4. Sometimes the RAM slots are color coded to match this approach, but even if they are not it is still recommended to follow this approach for best results.

Q: Do I have to get an AMD graphics card for AMD based motherboards?
A: No. Unlike CPUs, video cards are do not have to exactly match the chipset of the motherboard - you can for example use an NVIDIA video card with an AMD motherboard, as long as your motherboard otherwise meets the required specifications of the video card.

Q: What Intel CPUs can I install in my motherboard?
A: This is determined by the chipset of the motherboard. A Z390 motherboard is capable of handling 8th and 9th generation Intel CPUs. Other chipsets like the H310, B360, H370, Z370 or X299 can handle 8th generation CPUs out of the box, but would require a BIOS update if they are otherwise compatible with 9th generation Intel CPUs. The motherboard manufacturer support website typically has information about supported CPUs for further clarification.

Q: What AMD CPUs can my motherboard work with?
A: Like Intel, this is determined by the chipset of the motherboard. The new X570 chipset boards will work with AMD 3rd and 2nd generation Ryzen CPUs out of the box. If your motherboard is a B450 or X470, they will work with 1st and 2nd generation AMD CPUs out of the box, and might work with newer 3rd generation AMD CPUs with a manufacturer BIOS update. Older motherboard chipsets such as the A300, X300, A320, B350 and X370 will work with the 1st generation AMD CPUs out of the box but require a BIOS update to work with 2nd generation AMD CPUs - these usually cannot work with the newer AMD CPUs beyond generation 2. The motherboard manufacturer support website typically has information about supported CPUs for further clarification.

Q: Will my motherboard be able to connect to the internet wirelessly?
A: This depends on the hardware specifications of the motherboard. Check the hardware specifications of the motherboard on our website under Networking. Motherboard specifications are usually also available from the manufacturer's support website. WLAN Chipsets will indicate it comes with wireless networking. If you only see LAN information, then it will only have a physical Ethernet port and would require an additional wireless network card or USB wireless adapter.

Q: My motherboard has both an 8-pin and a 4-pin slot for the 12V ATX. Do I need to use them both?
A: No - always use the 8-pin by default if your power supply only gives that much. That 4-pin is available in addition to that in case you are looking to overclock your system. If you want to use the 4-pin but your power supply does not have this port, a new power supply with this specification will need to be purchased.

Q: What will happen to my software if I replace my motherboard?
A: If you are replacing a motherboard on an existing computer, your license for your Windows OS may be lost as the unique product activation is embedded in the BIOS of the specific motherboard. If you have either a digital license or a product key for Windows 10, you may be able to follow Microsoft’s article on how to properly reactivate your license. Otherwise, changing your motherboard could necessitate purchasing a new license for Windows.