Guides
The motherboard defines your CPU compatibility, memory support, expansion options, and feature set.
For Intel LGA1700: Z790 > B760 > H610. Z790 supports full overclocking and has more PCIe lanes. For AMD AM5: X670E > X670 > B650E > B650. X670E has PCIe 5.0 on both the primary GPU slot and M.2. For HEDT: TRX50 for Threadripper consumer, WRX90 for Threadripper Pro.
The Voltage Regulator Module feeds power to your CPU. High-TDP chips (i9-13900K, Ryzen 9 7950X, Threadripper) require robust VRM designs. Budget boards with inadequate VRMs will throttle or fail under sustained load. Match board quality to CPU TDP.
Count your expansion needs before choosing a board. If you're running two GPUs, ensure you have two full-bandwidth x16 slots. M.2 slots shared with SATA or other PCIe lanes may reduce bandwidth when populated.
WiFi 7, 2.5GbE or 10GbE LAN, USB4, Thunderbolt, robust BIOS with good OC tools, robust I/O panel, POST debug display. Budget boards cut corners on these first.
Tradecraft uses new Machinist X99 boards (sourced from eBay) paired with refurbished Xeon E5 v3/v4 processors. These boards are new-manufacture X99 chipset boards — not refurbished. This hybrid approach gives you server-grade CPU performance on a new motherboard with modern M.2 and SATA support.
Ready to put this knowledge to work? Configure your build → or call 888.273.2440 to talk to a specialist.