Intel Motherboards

Understanding a Designation

Intel motherboards feature a designation, such as Z790. These are there to make identifying the capabilities of a motherboard quick and simple. To help you understand these, we have broken this example up into its composite parts below:

• Zxxx The letter at the start of a motherboard's designation corresponds to the type of motherboard it is. There are several letters used, with some of the most common being H, B, and Z. H Series motherboards are suitable for entry level gaming, as they offer basic functionality. B Series motherboards are a mainstream motherboard for everyday gaming, with an excellent balance between price and performance. Meanwhile, Z Series are elite-tier motherboards, aimed at enthusiasts who want peak performance from their gaming PC.
• 7xx The first number in a motherboard’s name corresponds to the generation of the chipset. In our example, this is a 7th generation Intel chipset which is compatible with Intel LGA 1700 socket CPUs.
• x90 The final digits correspond to the feature set of a chipset. Generally, the higher the number, the more features the chipset can offer. This can include more PCIe lanes, better connectivity options, and increased memory support. As such, a Z790 motherboard has more features than a B760.