Different Motherboard Question

[Jct]

So I was wondering what the difference between motherboards are that makes some so cheap and some so expensive. Is it mainly the better materials and extra stuff? Like the Asus Sabertooth that tomshardware just had a new article on has covers for the extra PCIe slots. I'm assuming theres more to it than this so what does a motherboard like a $200 Asus Sabertooth do that a $100 Asus z97 wouldn't?

 

[martinch]

It's generally a mixture of better materials (more/better VRM's, better heatsinks), and more features (e.g. PLX chip to "gain" PCI-E lanes, upgraded on-board audio, extra network/SATA/USB/M.2/SATA-Express ports, etc).

 

[smorizio]

also the thicknes of the mb...cheaper ones most times are only few layers thick and have a lot of flex. flexing mb can breack the traces inside.

 

[Jct]

so most of them don't improve the actual function of the pc, just add extra stuff and make them more durable? do some support overclocking/overclock better than others? Would an Asus Sabertooth ... help your pc run at all better than a Asus z97 ...?

 

[Tradesman1]

Yes, generally as the lines go up (generally pricewise) they add features (Like additional PCI-E slots, USB ports) SATA ports, etc. Also might add better components like a better sound CODEC, better ethernet controller etc. Then they generally get better with power phases and the various parts used in power control like caps, mosfets, chokes, etc which help for better OCing