Gigabyte Vs. Msi Vs. Asus Motherboards – FULL COMPARISON
Everyone is interested in building a gaming PC at home these days. While it is a good idea to get the best gaming PC that you can afford, however, inexperience can come with some serious consequences. For instance, choosing the right motherboard that supports all your PC components is the most crucial step in any build: many times, people pre-order all the parts before choosing a motherboard. As a result, people end up replacing several parts because their motherboard’s BIOS wasn’t compatible with them.
In this regard, Gigabyte, Msi, and Asus are the largest manufacturers of motherboards in the world. If you follow the latest trends, you will most probably end up buying a motherboard from one of these brands. Therefore, it is important that you first understand the best option in Gigabyte Vs. MSI Vs. Asus Motherboards. More importantly, you must also consider the difference between their BIOS so that you can make the right decision.
See Also: Best Motherboard for i7 4790k
What is BIOS?
Basic Input/Output System or BIOS is the basic firmware responsible for starting the various PC components. It also provides some basic sets of instructions as to how much power to deliver to each part, which drivers to allocate, and how to boot into the operating system. In other words, your PC is a lifeless piece of hardware without a BIOS in it.
The BIOS is also responsible for making your computer compatible with newer hardware.
For example, you expect it to work faster when you upgrade the system processor from i5 to i7. Well, here’s the tricky part, your PC will not understand the new changes right away unless you update the BIOS. So, it won’t be wrong to say that the BIOS tells your PC about the hardware installed in various slots and their requirements.
See Also: Difference between Micro ATX vs, Mini ATX vs, ATX
What is the Function of BIOS?
BIOS is responsible for putting life into your computer. It distributes the optimum amount of power among the various hardware components to turn them on. Moreover, the BIOS also keeps track of the computer state by running tests. So, it is a multifunctional system that ensures that your computer functions properly all the time. Some of the functions of BIOS are:
Bootstrap Loader
The Bootstrap loader is responsible for allowing the computer to boot into different operating systems. For instance, if you change the boot mode from Legacy to UEFI, the system first runs a few checks to ensure that your system is compatible. The most important step is that your HDD or SSD’s partition table must be GPT for UEFI.
BIOS Drivers
BIOS drivers are a unitary series of drivers that provide the bridge required for basic I/O hardware communication. Without these drivers, your PC won’t function, and you get the black screen of death problem. For instance, the BIOS drivers are responsible for telling the PC to turn on when you press the power button and so on.
POST
Power-On Self-Test or POST is the self-evaluation system of any BIOS. Have you ever wondered how your PC knows that the fan isn’t working properly, the battery is dead, or the installed PSU isn’t sufficient?The POST performs various tests on the different PC components to ensure that all of them are working properly. Moreover, the PC can only boot into the operating system once it passes the POST stage.
CMOS
Every motherboard, whether a PC or a laptop, has at least one CMOS battery. The CMOS chip is responsible for keeping your system alive even if you cut off the power supply. As a matter of fact, your PC’s BIOS remains active even after your cut off all sources of power.This battery helps in retaining the user data, hardware configuration, and other important instructions.
Top 3 Motherboards with the Best BIOS
By now, you must understand the importance of a powerful BIOS that suits your requirements. Generally, the BIOS comes pre-installed on the motherboard, and the only way to change it is through complex chip alteration. So, you are pretty much stuck with the company BIOS except for the time-to-time updates. Nowadays, tech-world giants like Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte offer the best and most user-friendly BIOS in their desktop and laptop motherboards. Here are the key factors that each of these brands has to offer in their products:
- MSI: Best BIOS for overclocking
- Asus: Best overall BIOS with automatic system optimization.
- Gigabyte: Best user-friendly and stable BIOS
MSI BIOS
MSI BIOS is well-known as the best BIOS for system tweaking and overclocking. Their boards are optimized for the latest Intel and AMD processors, GPUs, and other hardware components. So, feel free to experiment with your PC to unlock its true potential. Moreover, the BIOS is GUI-based and offers different skins that you can customize from the settings. The BIOS’s feel is very similar to MSI Afterburner for most experts.
However, the BIOS isn’t all advanced and complex unless you need it. For inexperienced users, the motherboard also offers an EZ mode that still offers some room for experimentation and customization while keeping your system safe from mishaps. Moreover, you can always shift from the EZ mode to the advanced setup by switching the settings. Another benefit of the MSI BIOS is that it offers updates and recovery from USB, Lan, and HDD. So, even if you mess up a few times, you don’t always end up with a black screen of death. Overall, it is the perfect BIOS that provides complete freedom of optimization, overclocking, and tweaking to both experts and beginners.
Pros
- Stylish BIOS skin.
- Hardware explorer
- System monitor
- EZ mode
- System optimizer
- Easy restore
- Advanced mode
- System logs
- Overclocking profiles
Cons
- The advanced mode turns on without any system warning, which can be misleading for beginners.
- The BIOS doesn’t automatically detect new hardware unless you manually install the updated BIOS drivers.
Asus BIOS
Asus provides the best BIOS system for both amateur and advanced users. Their Republic of Gamers or ROG motherboards has been ruling the laptop and desktop world for several years. The main reason is that, unlike MSI, Asus understands the user’s need to upgrade the PC over time. So, the BIOS automatically detects any hardware changes within a few seconds after startup and installs the updated BIOS drivers. Moreover, the system performance is automatically optimized according to the hardware without any user input.
Similarly, it is a user-friendly BIOS suitable for both experts and beginners. The latest BIOS update comes with the ROG-Pulse feedback. This update keeps a blinking logo even if the BIOS crashes so that you know it is time to recover. Furthermore, Asus is among the first brands to offer a smart erase feature, which cleans the SSD’s data and cache overtime to recover the speed and performance. Overall, it is a safe option for those who want to squeeze every drop of juice from their PC without messing it up.
Pros
- Extreme Tweaker
- Secure erase
- BIOS snapshot
- Auto CPU Level up
- GPU.DIMM
- Easy system restores
- UEFI/Legacy choice.
- ROG Pulse
- Last Modified Log
Cons
- It doesn’t allow safe hardware monitoring during tweaking.
- The saved overclocking profile is limited to only one.
Gigabyte BIOS
Gigabyte has emerged as the safe haven for beginners and people who like to keep it simple yet optimized. Their motherboards come with a powerful yet simple BIOS setup that doesn’t confuse even the first-timers. For instance, it offers a simple and advanced mode depending on your requirements. Moreover, the BIOS also shows safe hardware optimization during tweaking. So, you will always know when it is time to stop overclocking to prevent hardware damage.
Secondly, the Gigabyte’s BIOS also offers several features that benefit the modders. For instance, the 3D mode allows you to access the system condition in real-time, providing details about which settings will affect what hardware. Moreover, you can choose either UEFI or Legacy mode depending on your drive’s partition table. Last but not least, the digital power feature is a masterpiece for the overclockers. This feature allows you to understand the power consumption of individual hardware so that you can maximize the system performance within safety limits.
Pros
- Digital Power option
- Switchable graphics
- Lucid MVP support
- Easy to use GUI
- Advanced mode
- 3D modeling
- USB power boost
- Onboard acceleration
- UEFI Dual-BIOS technology
- Easy restore system
Cons
- You can’t save more than one hardware configuration profile.
- It is not suitable for advanced overclocking.
How to Enter BIOS?
Usually, the system directly boots into the operating system after 5-10 seconds. You can enter the BIOS setup by pressing the right key combination during this interval. However, the key combination depends on the motherboard’s manufacturer.
Asus BIOS
- Press the power button to turn on your PC.
- Alternatively, you could restart your system if it already booted into Windows.
- Press the Del key or F12 when the Asus logo appears after the restart.
- Similarly, you can also enter the BIOS by pressing the right mouse button at the Asus logo and choosing the desired option.
MSI BIOS
- Turn on your computer or restart it from Windows.
- Press the Del key when the MSI logo appears to enter BIOS.
- Press Cntrl + Alt + Del if you failed to enter the BIOS within a 5-seconds interval.
- Once the booting is paused on the MSI logo, press the F2 or F12 button to enter the BIOS setup.
Gigabyte BIOS
- Turn on your PC using the power button.
- Press the Del key when the Gigabyte logo appears to enter the BIOS.
- You can press the F8 button to enter the Dual BIOS setup.
- In some rare cases, F2 is the BIOS button for your PC.
HP BIOS
How can I forget about the all-powerful HP Omen motherboards? HP has its own BIOS setup for laptops and computers. To enter the BIOS:
- Turn on the system using the power button.
- Press the Esc key to hold the HP BIOS screen.
- You can also pause the BIOS screen by clicking the mouse buttons.
- Now enter the desired menu using:
- Esc = proceed with startup.
- F9 = Boot menu
- F8 = Startup options
- F10 = BIOS setup
How to Check if I Have Legacy or UEFI BIOS?
- Boot into the Windows system.
- Press Windows key + R on the desktop
- Type ‘msinfo32’ and press enter or click on OK.
- Search for BIOS mode on the screen, and your current BIOS mode will be listed as either UEFI or Legacy.
How to Update my BIOS?
- Download the latest BIOS version from the official website of the manufacturer.
- Usually, the BIOS update file is available from the software support section.
- Extract the file using WinRAR and insert a USB Flash drive. Select “make a flash disk.”
- HP and dell offer self-extracting update packages that don’t require unpacking.
- Restart the PC, enter BIOS setup, and choose Update or Flash BIOS from the options.
How to Shift from Legacy to UEFI BIOS?
- Create a bootable Windows Flash drive.
- Prepare your system by converting all your HDDs and SSDs into a GPT partition table.
- Right-click on This PC and select Manage.
- Choose Disk Management from the left screen menu.
- Right-click on the desired disk and choose to convert to GPT.
- Alternatively, you can use EaseUS Partition Master to convert the disks without losing data.
- Restart your PC, open BIOS, and change the boot option to UEFI (non-CSM)
- Save changes and install a fresh copy of Windows.
Gigabyte Vs. Msi Vs. Asus Motherboards – Conclusion
Motherboards are the first thing that you must consider when building a PC. It ensures that all your desired PC components are compatible with the system. However, choosing the right motherboard can be challenging as there are numerous options available in the market. In this regard, choosing the right BIOS for your needs can ease up the process. Therefore, this article discusses the difference between Gigabyte Vs. Msi Vs. Asus Motherboard BIOS.
Gaming Motherboards – Best Sellers
- Support for 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen processors and future AMD Ryzen processors with BIOS update.Audio ports (Rear): 5plus Optical S/PDIF (Realtek ALC1200 / ALC1220P Codec)
- Supports dual channel DDR4 memory up to 128 GB (4866 MHz)
- On-board dual LAN: 2.5G LAN plus Gigabit LAN
- AMD AM4 socket: Ready for 2nd and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen processors to maximize connectivity and speed with up to two M.2 Drives, USB 3.2 Gen2 and AMD StoreMI
- Enhanced power solution: Military-grade TUF components, Pro Cool socket and Digi plus VRM for maximum durability
- Comprehensive Cooling: Active PCH heatsink, VRM heatsink, M.2 heatsink, hybrid fan headers and Fan Xpert
- Socket LGA1700 for 12th Gen Intel Core, Pentium Gold and Celeron Processors. 11. Renowned Software: Bundled 1-year AIDA64 Extreme subscription and intuitive UEFI BIOS dashboard with integrated MemTest86.
- EVANGELION aesthetics: Co-branded with EVANGELION to feature the unique design of the EVA-01 displayed on the PCB, heatsink, nameplate and packaging.
- Intelligent Control: ASUS-exclusive tools including AI Overclocking, AI Cooling, AI Networking and Two-Way AI Noise-Cancelation for easy configuration.
FAQ
What are the different types of motherboards?
There are several types of motherboards based on their size and shape, including ATX, MicroATX, and Mini-ITX. The size and shape of the motherboard determine which type of case it can be installed in and the number and size of expansion slots and connectors it has.
What are the different components on a motherboard?
Some common components found on a motherboard include:CPU socket: This is where the central processing unit (CPU) is installed.
1- RAM slots: These are where memory (RAM) modules are installed.
2- Expansion slots: These are slots that allow you to add additional hardware, such as graphics cards or sound cards, to your computer.
3- Power connectors: These are used to connect the power supply to the motherboard and other components.
4- Data connectors: These are used to connect devices, such as hard drives and optical drives, to the motherboard.
5- BIOS chip: This is a chip that stores the system’s basic input/output system (BIOS) settings.
6- Fan headers: These are used to connect cooling fans to the motherboard.
What are the main points of differences between motherboards?
There are several key differences between motherboards, including:
1- CPU socket: Different motherboards are compatible with different types of CPUs. Make sure to check the motherboard’s specifications to ensure it is compatible with the CPU you want to use.
2- RAM support: Some motherboards support different types and speeds of RAM, so it’s important to check the motherboard’s specifications to ensure it is compatible with the RAM you want to use.
3- Expansion slots: The number and type of expansion slots on a motherboard can vary, which can affect your ability to add additional hardware to your computer.
4- Data connectors: The number and type of data connectors on a motherboard can vary, which can affect your ability to connect devices such as hard drives and optical drives.
5- BIOS version: The version of the BIOS on a motherboard can affect the system’s overall performance and compatibility with certain hardware and software.
6- Price: Motherboards can range in price from budget options to high-end models, so it’s important to consider your budget when selecting a motherboard.
7- Form factor: As mentioned above, the size and shape of the motherboard can vary, which can affect the types of components that can be installed and the overall layout of the motherboard.
Last update on 2023-05-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising APIGaming techies is supported by it's awesome community, using the amazon affiliate links on our website helps keeps the lights on! at no additional cost to you.