Yes, Server Motherboards are Good For Gaming. Servers are a type of computer which is different from the more common desktop or laptop computers, such as the ones that many gamers use for gaming. Servers are made to be able to run many tasks at once, and in some cases can have multiple users working on different aspects of the same project, using different programs. This is very different from a desktop computer which normally has only one user and is used primarily for gaming or entertainment.
If you are looking to buy a server motherboard for gaming, or the other way around (a “gamer” motherboard), then this article may help you in your decision. The topic of “gamer” motherboards is quite a controversial one, with many people swearing to the greatness of their own brands. However, it is my goal in this article to give you a brief overview of some of your options when it comes to buying either type of motherboard and to give you the pros and cons of each option so that you can make your own decision on which is best for you.
Major Differences Between Server and Gaming Motherboard
There are many differences between server motherboards and typical “gamer” motherboards. First off, typically a server motherboard will have more features than a gaming motherboard. For example, a gaming motherboard will usually only have one or two fan headers (fan headers allow you to connect fans directly to the motherboard for monitoring and/or controlling purposes), but servers often have at least three if not four fan headers allowing you to control many more fans if you choose to do so.
A gaming motherboard will often have fewer expansion slots (the places where you can plug in cards like video cards and sound cards) than a server board, allowing a certain amount of flexibility depending on what you are trying to set up.
Another difference is that gamer motherboards usually cost much more than servers because gamers buy the boards primarily for their good looks and reputation, rather than for any actual advantage in performance compared with server motherboards. Also, since they are built as being used by many people at once, servers are built around the idea of using multiple hard drives (which also adds expense), while this is not an issue for a single-user computer such as most gamers use. So if you are looking for a powerful motherboard, then you may want to consider a server motherboard as an option if you can find one which is compatible with your existing or desired hardware. For example, many servers use the E-ATX form factor (Intel makes the Xeon processors in this format), while gamers usually only purchase ATX motherboards since they are much cheaper and more readily available.
Features Of Each Type
There are many different features of both server motherboards and gaming motherboards, and it really comes down to what your personal preferences are as well as what computer you will be using the motherboard in. Some people say that there is no comparison between server motherboards and gamer’s boards, but I am here to say that that is not true.
The only difference between the two is the price, and really you get what you pay for in either case. Below are just a few of the features which may be more common on gaming motherboards or on server motherboards.
Power supply
A server motherboard will likely have more power phases (layers of circuitry inside the computer) to help distribute power equally throughout all parts of the computer, thereby increasing stability and overall performance (however this is controversial). Different numbers of power phases can make a big difference if you have overclocked your machine, so if stability is something that matters to you then your best bet is to buy a server board with as many power phases as possible.
On-board sound
Most server motherboards will offer some form of onboard sound, while gamers usually tend to purchase a separate sound card for themselves (however this is starting to change as the quality and price of onboard audio has improved greatly). If you want to use your motherboard’s onboard sound then you should buy a gaming board.
Ethernet
Gaming boards often have more than one Ethernet port available, but they are rarer in servers. This can be an important feature if you use your computer for work or have multiple networked computers (such as a home server), so it might be worth looking into if you require this kind of setup.
Expansion slots
Servers’ expansion slots are usually more “professional” looking than useful if you do not like the appearance of either type (and even then it is doubtful that you will be buying the computer for its looks).
RAID
If your motherboard supports a RAID card or module then this allows you to connect multiple hard drives together in order to increase space and speed by combining them into one larger drive. However, if you go with a gamer’s board instead make sure that whatever components are included will support RAID as well because some may not.
Older vs newer features
Server motherboards are often older models than what gamers use, so they may lack features that have been included in the newest gaming motherboards. For example, some gamers include USB 3.0 ports on their motherboards while this is not available on server models.
Processor
Often times the processors that are used in servers are only slightly different than those found in computers that people use at home (though there can be big differences between the two depending on your needs). While gamer’s boards will often support a processor from AMD and Intel for users who want to choose either one of these brands, servers must necessarily support both because they are very popular with all computer users and no one wants to buy a server motherboard which will not work with what they already own or plan to purchase.
Form Factor Server motherboards are much larger than the average motherboards, and this can be an important consideration if you have limited or very little space inside your computer case.
You will need to make sure that there is enough room to fit your motherboard of choice inside it, so measure the case first before purchasing a board (or vice versa). This is less of an issue for gamers as most cases do not limit the size of the motherboard which will go into them.
As you can see there are many differences between gaming and a server motherboard, but really they both offer necessary features that users want out of their machines. If you think about what kind of components your computer will contain and then compare it with what servers use then you should be able to figure out whether a gaming or server board will best suit your needs.