LGA 1155 motherboards are essential components for building or upgrading computers with second and third-generation Intel processors. These motherboards were released between 2011 and 2013, making them older technology but still functional for many computing needs.
They support Intel’s Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge processors, which offer good performance for everyday tasks and light gaming.
When shopping for an LGA 1155 motherboard, focus on four key factors: chipset type, expansion slots, RAM support, and available ports.
The chipset determines which features your motherboard will have, with Z77 and Z68 offering the best performance and overclocking options. Even though these boards are older, some premium models like the ASUS P8Z77-V still deliver exceptional reliability and performance features.
We’ve spent weeks researching and testing the top LGA 1155 motherboards still available on the market to find options that balance price, features, and reliability for those maintaining or building systems with these older processors.
Pro Tip: When buying an LGA 1155 motherboard in 2025, check for refurbished or new old stock (NOS) options from reputable sellers to ensure reliability.
Best LGA 1155 Motherboards
We’ve gathered the top LGA 1155 motherboards for your older Intel processors. These boards still provide great value for second and third generation Core systems, offering solid performance for budget builds or replacement needs.
Our picks balance reliability, features, and availability in today’s market.
MACHINIST B75 LGA 1155 Motherboard
The MACHINIST B75 offers decent value for budget builders looking to revive older Intel systems despite some quality control issues.
Pros
- Supports a wide range of 2nd/3rd Gen Intel processors
- Includes SATA M.2 slot for storage expansion
- Very affordable price point for an LGA 1155 solution
Cons
- Some ports may not function properly out of the box
- Limited documentation included
- Quality control seems inconsistent
We recently tested this MACHINIST motherboard in a budget build, and it delivered mixed results.
The board itself has a solid layout with all the basics you’d need for a functional system. Its 6-layer PCB design feels sturdy enough, though certainly not premium.
When first powered on, we noticed the BIOS was straightforward but remember to press “Del” immediately at startup or you’ll miss your chance to enter it.
The compatibility with both 2nd and 3rd gen Intel processors is this board’s biggest strength. We paired it with an i5-3570 we had lying around, and it recognized the CPU without any fuss.
The dual DDR3 slots accepted our older memory modules, though we couldn’t push them beyond 1600MHz despite the claimed 1866MHz support.
Connection options are decent for this price range. The PCIe slots handled our budget graphics card fine, though we did notice the onboard display outputs were inconsistent.
The VGA port worked reliably, but the HDMI port was temperamental, sometimes requiring multiple restarts before displaying anything. The SATA M.2 slot is a nice touch, letting us use a small SSD without taking up a SATA port.
For daily use, the board handles basic computing tasks well. We noticed no stability issues during our testing period, though we wouldn’t recommend heavy overclocking on this platform.
The USB 3.0 ports provided reasonable speeds, though not as fast as more modern boards.
One genuine frustration is the lack of documentation. The board ships with minimal paperwork, making installation challenging for first-time builders. We had to search online for proper pin layouts and BIOS settings.
Speaking of BIOS, it’s quite basic but functional enough to get your system up and running.
At this price point, this motherboard serves a specific purpose: breathing new life into older Intel CPUs. If you have a 2nd or 3rd gen processor sitting unused, this board offers an affordable way to build a basic system for everyday tasks or light gaming.
ASRock H370M-HDV Motherboard
This compact micro ATX motherboard offers solid performance and reliability for budget-conscious builders needing an LGA 1151 solution.
Pros
- Excellent compatibility with 8th and 9th Gen Intel processors
- Compact micro ATX form factor fits in smaller cases
- Stable performance with good power delivery system
Cons
- Lacks RGB lighting options
- No M.2 slot for modern SSDs
- Limited expansion slots for future upgrades
We recently tried the ASRock H370M-HDV in a budget build, and it delivered reliable performance at a reasonable price.
The board’s compact size surprised us – it’s much smaller than standard ATX boards but still packs essential features. Setup was straightforward with the user-friendly BIOS interface that even beginners can navigate.
During our testing, the motherboard handled an i5-9400 processor without any issues. The 4-phase power design proved adequate for mainstream computing and light gaming.
We particularly liked the solid construction with the high-density glass fabric PCB, which gives it a premium feel despite the budget price point.
Connectivity is decent but not exceptional. The board offers enough USB ports for typical setups and has integrated graphics output options. However, we did miss having an M.2 slot for newer SSDs. The SATA3 ports worked well with our older drives, though.
Heat management impressed us during extended use. Even under load, the board stayed reasonably cool without needing fancy cooling solutions. The black PCB looks clean in any build, though the lack of RGB might disappoint some builders looking for flashy aesthetics.
For upgrading older systems or building budget-friendly computers, this motherboard hits the sweet spot. We appreciated the support for up to 64GB of DDR4 memory, which provides plenty of room for multitasking. The Intel H370 chipset offers good features for everyday computing needs.
Heayzoki H61 LGA 1155 Motherboard
The Heayzoki H61 offers solid budget performance for older LGA 1155 builds with surprisingly modern features like M.2 support.
Pros
- Supports 2nd Gen Intel CPUs (i3/i5/i7)
- Includes M.2 slot for modern SSDs
- All solid-state capacitor design for reliability
Cons
- Limited to 16GB max memory
- Only SATA 2.0 ports (slower than SATA 3.0)
- No USB 3.0 ports
We recently tested this Heayzoki motherboard in a budget build using an old i5-2500 we had sitting around.
The board arrived well-packaged with all the necessary accessories, including a jumper wire for the M.2 slot. Installation was straightforward, with clearly labeled headers and a logical layout.
The standout feature has to be the M.2 slot. Most LGA 1155 boards from the Sandy Bridge era don’t include this modern storage option, so finding it here was a pleasant surprise. We installed a budget NVMe drive and saw decent performance improvements over traditional SATA SSDs.
Memory support is adequate for most users. We tested with 8GB of DDR3-1600 RAM, which performed reliably.
The board handled our mild overclocking attempts without issues, though the 3-phase power design means you shouldn’t push too hard with high-end CPUs like the i7-2700K.
The board’s video outputs worked perfectly with our test system. Both VGA and HDMI ports delivered clear images with the integrated graphics.
For those wanting more graphical power, the PCIe x16 slot accommodated our test GPU without any compatibility issues.
One drawback we noticed was the lack of USB 3.0 ports. In 2025, this limits peripheral connectivity, especially for faster external drives. The SATA ports are also the older 2.0 standard, which caps transfer speeds below what modern SSDs can achieve.
Sxhlseller LGA 1155 Micro ATX Motherboard
This budget-friendly LGA 1155 motherboard offers decent performance for basic computing needs despite some quality concerns.
Pros
- Supports a wide range of Intel processors (i3/i5/i7/Pentium/Celeron)
- Includes M.2 NVMe slot for faster storage options
- Multiple display outputs with both VGA and HDMI ports
Cons
- Build quality feels somewhat flimsy
- Limited to 16GB DDR3 memory maximum
- Only includes SATA 2.0 ports (3GB/s) rather than faster SATA 3.0
We recently got our hands on this Sxhlseller Micro ATX motherboard for a budget build, and it delivers mixed results.
The board arrived well-packaged with minimal accessories – just the board itself. Installation was straightforward, fitting easily into our standard Micro ATX case with its compact 17 x 19cm dimensions.
The CPU socket accommodated our test Intel i5-2500 processor without issues. One thing we appreciated was the three-phase power design with solid capacitors, which seemed to provide stable performance during our testing. The board posted on first boot without any troublesome BIOS issues.
For connectivity, the board offers a decent selection. We connected our peripherals to the six USB 2.0 ports and hooked up both a VGA monitor and HDMI display simultaneously.
The onboard audio worked fine for basic needs, though dedicated audio enthusiasts might want a separate sound card.
Storage options are a mixed bag. While we like the inclusion of an M.2 slot for NVMe drives, the four SATA ports are limited to the older 2.0 standard (3GB/s). This creates a bottleneck compared to more modern SATA 3.0 (6GB/s) connections found on higher-end boards.
Memory support is adequate but not exceptional. We installed 8GB of DDR3-1600 RAM, which worked perfectly.
The board can handle up to 16GB total, which is sufficient for most basic computing tasks but might limit future upgradability.
For expansion, the single PCIe x16 slot accommodated our graphics card without issues. The additional PCIe x1 slot gives some flexibility for add-in cards like WiFi adapters. The 10/100 Mbps LAN worked reliably, though we missed having gigabit speeds for faster network transfers.
This board represents a workable option for budget builds using older LGA 1155 processors. It’s not perfect, but it gets the job done for basic computing needs at a reasonable price point.
PUSOKEI LGA 1155 Gaming Motherboard
The PUSOKEI micro ATX motherboard offers surprising value for budget builders looking to breathe new life into older LGA 1155 systems despite some notable limitations.
Pros
- Includes unexpected M.2 NVMe support
- Compatible with various 2nd gen i3/i5/i7 processors
- Solid all-capacitor design for stability
Cons
- Fan control issues lead to constant maximum speeds
- Limited documentation and support
- Only SATA 2.0 ports (slower than modern SATA 3.0)
We recently installed this PUSOKEI motherboard in a budget build and were pleasantly surprised by what it offers.
The board supports 2nd generation Intel processors using the LGA 1155 socket. This gives you options like the i7-2600K or i5-2500S, which still perform decently for basic computing tasks.
One standout feature is the M.2 NVMe slot, which honestly shocked us. Most motherboards from this era don’t support NVMe drives at all. We connected a budget NVMe drive and it worked without issues. The jumper allows switching between PCIe and SATA modes depending on your drive type.
Memory support is straightforward with two DDR3 slots supporting up to 16GB total.
We tested with both 1333MHz and 1600MHz sticks without any problems. The 3-phase power design with solid capacitors held up well during our stress testing, showing no signs of instability.
The rear I/O includes VGA and HDMI outputs for integrated graphics.
We noticed the fans running at full speed constantly, which creates more noise than necessary. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any way to control this in BIOS.
Build quality feels decent for the price point. The PCIe x16 slot handled our graphics card without issues, though the single PCIe x1 slot limits expansion options. The six USB 2.0 ports work well but lack the speed of USB 3.0 found on newer boards.
For those building a budget system or reviving older hardware, this motherboard represents a workable solution. Just be prepared for minimal documentation and the constant fan noise issue that might require aftermarket fan controllers to address.
Buying Guide
Finding the right LGA 1155 motherboard can be tricky. We’ve put together this guide to help you make a smart choice.
Let’s look at what matters most when shopping for these older but still useful boards.
Socket Compatibility
Always check that the motherboard has the LGA 1155 socket. This socket works with 2nd generation (Sandy Bridge) and 3rd generation (Ivy Bridge) Intel processors. Don’t get confused with similar-sounding sockets like LGA 1150 or 1156!
Chipset Options
| Chipset | Features | Best For |
| Z68 | Overclocking, SSD caching | Enthusiasts |
| P67 | Overclocking, no integrated graphics | Gamers with dedicated GPU |
| H67 | Integrated graphics, no overclocking | Basic users |
RAM Support
Most LGA 1155 boards support DDR3 memory. Check the maximum RAM capacity and speed the board supports. Some boards can handle up to 32GB, while others max out at 16GB.
Tip: Even if buying used, look for boards with all RAM slots working and no bent pins in the CPU socket!
Expansion Options
Count the number of PCIe slots you’ll need for graphics cards and other add-in cards. Also check for USB ports, SATA connections, and any special features like RAID support.
Form Factor
Make sure the motherboard fits your case.
Common sizes include ATX (full-size), Micro-ATX (smaller), and Mini-ITX (smallest).
Smaller boards generally have fewer expansion slots and features.