The motherboard brings together the various components of a computer and allows them to communicate with each other. If you've never built a computer, it's the part that everything plugs into. For the average consumer purchasing a computer, picking out a motherboard is not an option. Motherboards are often manufactured for specific computer manufacturers to be reliable and cheap for a particular setup. These types of boards are usually not very customizable and have the bare minimum to maintain costs.
Motherboards for the computer builder come in almost every shape and size imaginable. There are multiple form factors (types) depending on the case type but for most people ATX is the standard size to worry about. Motherboards must be purchased based on the compatibility of all the other components.
While this might sound overwhelming at first, components from the same period generally work together. For example the most current motherboard purchased today will work with SATA hard drives and might have a legacy PATA hard drive slot. It will be compatible with the latest CPU generation and work with either DDR2 or DDR3 RAM.
Manufacturer
Supported CPU
Memory
Expansion Slots and Storage Devices
Integrated Video
Other Peripherials
About Me
Manufacturer
There are a large number of manufacturers ranging from giant companies like Intel and Samsung to tiny specialized companies like DFI and BFG. Unfortunately it is not safe to assume that a large company will create reliable motherboards. In fact no motherboard is released that doesn't need to be updated with a new set of instructions (basically updating its drivers).Supported CPU
To avoid buggy motherboards, never buy one that is just released. Wait for a few months so that you can do your research first and find a motherboard that is stable.
Bottom Line - Motherboards are a crap shoot, never buy one just released. Wait a few months and do your due diligence.
CPU's come in two flavors: Intel and AMD. You need to make sure the CPU you purchased to upgrade your old computer will fit in the slot. You can check this compatibility with either the CPU Socket Type or the CPU type. AMD socket examples include AM3/AM2+/AM2. Intel socket examples include P3, P4, LGA 1366 (what happened Intel it was so simple?).Memory
Bottom Line - Be careful to match your CPU to your motherboard, or vice versa.
Like with a CPU the motherboard will support a certain type of RAM. This means matching up the Memory Type. Generally a motherboard will specify the max memory speed i.e. DDR3 1333 and will support that speed and all speeds below it. Motherboards also support a max amount of RAM but this usually caps anywhere around 24GB to 32GB which is more than the average user will ever have.Expansion Slots and Storage Devices
Bottom line - Be careful to match your RAM to your motherboard, or vice versa. Remember to buy the fastest amount of RAM and as much as you can afford.
Motherboards come with a set number of expansion slots. There are currently three varieties of PCI slots: PCI Express x16, PCI Express x1 and PCI. The PCI Express x16 is used for the graphics card. The other two PCI slots support various add-ons like Firewire and additional Ethernet or SATA ports. When buying or building a computer try and plan ahead for what you want to use the computer for so you don't limit yourself in the future.Integrated Video
Current motherboards support multiple SATA drives and usually have a legacy PATA connector. Double check your board if you have old PATA hard drives you want to use.
Some boards may come with 2 PCI Express x16 boards, which are for running two graphic cards at the same time. This can be useful for trying to increase the graphic output of a computer or supporting multiple monitors.
Bottom Line - Make sure to think about what you'll want to use your computer for in the future. If you buy a motherboard without the expansion slots you'll be stuck.
Some motherboards come with an integrated graphics chip. These are less powerful than an add on graphics card and take up some of the system memory. These graphic chips are powerful enough for everyday tasks but may be to slow for the latest games and video processing applications.Other Peripherials
Bottom Line - If you're not a gamer and you have plenty of ram an integrated graphics card is the best and cheapest option. Just be warned when you're trying to create your family DVD it might take a while.
There are a large number of possible components that a motherboard will supply. Some of these will always come with the motherboard in varying amounts (USB ports for example). Some motherboards may support HDMI outputs or Firewire. Most motherboards have dedicated audio chips and will have various options for headphones and microphones. Some newer motherboards may not have any PS/2 plugs which are what non-USB keyboards and mice use.
Bottom Line - Read the box and make sure all the various ports you want are there.
Who am I to be telling you what to buy with your hard earned money? Check out the about page to decide for yourself.
Bottom Line - Check it out. I even talk about my own computer buying experience!
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