When you're considering necessary motherboard features, you might think about the number of expansion slots, debug LEDs, Wi-Fi, and fan & ARGB headers. However, there's a rarely discussed aspect that you might want to include in your research: Windows load time. The time it takes from the moment you press the power button to when you reach the desktop can differ significantly between different motherboard models. Boot time might feel like the firstest of first-world problems, but not everyone likes to use Sleep mode eternally. Cold boot times can matter to some users, especially those on DDR5 systems.
DDR5 PCs have longer boot times
It's the nature of DDR5 memory
On every PC, whether it's DDR4 or DDR5, the initial phase of the boot involves memory training by the motherboard. This process sees your motherboard dial in specific timings and voltages for the RAM to ensure maximum stability. On AMD systems, where the Infinity Fabric Clock (FCLK) needs to be coupled with the memory clock (MCLK) to minimize latency, memory training can take even longer. The reason DDR5 systems are generally slower than DDR4 ones has to do with the sensitivity of the DDR5 modules.
DDR5 memory is more sensitive to minor voltage differences, which can often make your PC unstable, leading to BSODs and crashes. Memory training on every single cold boot is used to avoid this behavior, but that inevitably increases the overall boot time. Although there is a way to bypass memory training (after the motherboard has already done it once) by enabling Memory Context Restore in the UEFI, this runs the risk of using "outdated" RAM settings over time.
The RAM settings that worked during the initial memory training might not work after several power cycles. So, you could end up with "inaccurate" memory settings (which is what mandatory memory training seeks to avoid) that introduce system instability. This is why, when comparing motherboard models that are nearly similar in specs and features, you might want to compare them in terms of boot time.
The motherboard model can affect the boot time
Even models from the same brand
The reason there are differences in boot times between motherboards from Gigabyte, Asus, MSI, and ASRock is because of minor differences in their firmware. These UEFI differences affect the speed and efficiency of memory training, fast boot implementation, and the way the motherboard initializes integrated devices. The resultant difference between the boot time on different motherboard models is not always drastic, but some motherboards can take almost a minute to reach the desktop, whereas others can do it in under 25 seconds (on a clean Windows install).
Reaching the desktop in half the time is certainly an advantage to users who don't like to see their PC waking up from sleep on its own. Hibernating the system is also an option, but some users report problems with it as well, such as the PC failing to revert from a hibernated state. So, including the average time in your motherboard purchase decision might actually be worthwhile. Remember, though, more expensive motherboards aren't always faster. You need to check reviews from channels like Hardware Unboxed to find out the boot time for popular motherboard models.
What else can you do to speed up the boot time?
Instead of buying the fastest booting motherboard
What if you don't want to buy the motherboard that boots the fastest because you don't like one of its features, its looks, or simply the brand? In that case, there are still steps you can take to minimize the Windows load time. First, enable Fast Boot in your BIOS/UEFI settings, so your PC skips the traditional boot process, instead using settings from a saved file on your disk. Next, you should update your BIOS to the latest version, since your motherboard manufacturer might have improved boot times in the newer versions.
You should also disable unused controllers like SATA if none of your components use them. Memory Context Restore might work flawlessly for you, but disable it if you find your PC experiencing more crashes than usual. Lastly, if Sleep and Hibernate modes work just fine for you, you can choose to use them perennially without ever shutting down your PC. That's what I do, and I haven't seen any ill effects on my system. I inevitably shut down my system once in a while after updates or new drivers, so power cycling is also taken care of.
Slashing the boot time might matter to some users
Those of you who are in the habit of shutting down your PC after every use might appreciate a shorter boot time. If the motherboards you're comparing are essentially the same, a better boot time might be the feature that pushes you one way or the other. Most people might not care about waiting slightly longer to reach their desktop, but if you ask me, I appreciate a snappy boot. My Windows 10 PC takes a heck of a time doing a cold boot, so the next time I'm buying a motherboard, I'm certainly checking the boot times of all the boards on my shortlist.