Choosing A Good Motherboard

Purchasing your first motherboard can be confusing. Almost every other computer component is easier to research and buy than the motherboard. Since every other device will end up connecting to this component, it is important that you properly plan out what components you want to install into the system prior to buying.

Personally, I feel you should buy the best quality within your budget. Of all the computers I put together, the motherboard was always the most researched component.
 

Motherboard Form Factor

The form factor is basically a set of specifications that guarentee the motherboard can be screwed into the computer case properly. The most popular form factor is called ATX, but others do exist.

What's Your CPU?

Besides the form factor, the type of CPU your motherboard can take is vital in choosing your motherboard. Most motherboard manufacturers have to design for both Intel and AMD processors. So you can't buy an Intel processor and expect a motherboard that only accepts AMD CPU's to work.

Another issue to research is something called a "Socket Type". The socket is the CPU's "footprint". What this means is that if you bought an Intel processor, you can't install the CPU into the motherboard that uses an AMD socket.

Extra Features

Motherboards today have so many added features. Without just listing every feature a motherboard can have, I will just mention some of the big addons.

Motherboards can also include:

• Integrated sound card
• Integrated video card
• Integrated netword card
• Integrated USB

Expansion Slots

Motherboards come with a variety of extra slots (PCI slots)  where you can add all sorts of devices. Even though your motherboard may already have integrated components, you may want to further expand what your computer is capable of doing.

Graphic Cards typically use another slot besides PCI. The two big slot interfaces are: AGP and PCI-e (the 'e' stands for 'express'). PCI-e cards are not compatable with PCI slots.

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