While the CPU seems to get all the attention when it comes to choosing parts for your computer, don’t overlook the importance of the motherboard. In fact, choosing the right motherboard is arguably one of the most important computer parts you’ll purchase, since it’s what determines whether you can use all those CPUs you wanted or if they’re just going to sit in your closet unused and collecting dust. Here are some tips on how to choose a motherboard that will work with your computer build effectively and efficiently without costing too much money or eating up too much power from your power supply.
Understanding the Parts of a Motherboard
In order to understand what type of motherboard you need, it’s important that you know the parts. The CPU is attached in a socket on the motherboard so the first thing you need is to know what kind of socket your processor has. Next, decide if you want a desktop or a laptop. If you’re looking for a desktop motherboard, then make sure there are ports on it that match up with your peripheral devices (such as USB, Ethernet and sound). For example, if you’re going to use a mouse and keyboard with this desktop computer, make sure those types of peripherals are plugged into ports that are close together near one end of your board. If not, your mouse will be awkward when typing and vice versa.
Buying Basics
A motherboard is the brains of your computer, containing all of its circuits. The motherboard sets boundaries for how big or small a case you can buy, how many drives you can install, what type of processors and memory it supports, as well as providing other features such as built-in Wi-Fi. A good motherboard will be able to handle future upgrades without being replaced and should work with most cases available on the market. If a new motherboard is needed but will not be compatible with an existing case, it’s often possible to replace just one part–the motherboard–while leaving other components untouched.
Compatibility
One of the more difficult parts of setting up a computer is picking out a motherboard. When you’re shopping, there are a lot of variables, such as chipset type and manufacturer. To help narrow down your choices and make this task easier, here are some questions to ask yourself. What’s my budget? Are AMD or Intel chipsets better suited for what I want my computer to do? Do I want an ATX form factor motherboard, mini-ATX form factor motherboard or micro ATX form factor motherboard? And finally, do I plan on adding any extras like graphics cards or sound cards in the future? Here are some recommended motherboards depending on what you’re looking for
Basic Level
Motherboards are essential to the operation of your computer. They work as an interface between your processor and all other parts of your system, so you need one that suits what you need it for. With that said, let’s take a look at some important aspects you should consider when looking to buy a motherboard.
Processor compatibility First off, before buying any board, you should confirm whether or not it will actually be compatible with your processors. This is relatively straightforward as motherboards don’t require much attention from this perspective but is still something worth taking note of. If there are multiple processors that you’re interested in using together then be sure to take measurements and do research on both motherboards before buying either one, just to make sure they’ll fit.
Size and Form Factor
Motherboards come in a variety of sizes and formats, but they’re all designed to be compatible with a specific type of CPU. For example, an Intel Core i5 CPU might work best with an ATX motherboard that has DDR4 memory and can support up to 32 GB of memory. On the other hand, if you have an AMD Ryzen 7 2700 processor, it would be best paired with a Micro ATX or Mini ITX board that has DDR4 RAM and can accommodate CPUs from 8-cores (16 threads) up through 12 cores (24 threads). Knowing your PC’s desired specs before you buy is important so that you know what size board will fit your needs.
Finding Creative Ways to Save Money
It’s always a good idea to spend your hard earned money wisely and find creative ways of doing so. Money doesn’t grow on trees, but it does fly through our wallets without much effort if we’re not careful. I think this is especially true with such huge price tags at many of these stores nowadays. Luckily, there are some very helpful sites out there that can guide you on saving money when buying that motherboard for your computer or buying any other parts for your computer in general. A great one to start with is PC Gamer. They have a Build Your Own PC tutorial that will walk you through what kind of things you need to know before making your purchase and they also have lots of information about prices, deals, and discounts that are available. If you don’t feel like reading all their advice, then check out their homepage where they list all the latest prices on new and refurbished products!
Understanding Form Factors
When choosing a motherboard, there are two main factors to consider: size and function. Form factors are what differentiate motherboards from each other; ATX and Micro ATX form factors have been around since 1995 and Mini ITX came in 2006. Most modern cases can house boards of different form factors so choose wisely! There are more considerations when buying a motherboard such as processor socket types, video card support, RAID support, etc.; they may seem daunting at first but I recommend using Youtube tutorials like this one as a guide.
Other Important Features of a Motherboard
When choosing a motherboard, there are three important features you should consider. First, is form factor? Is it small? In most cases, you’ll find that the form factor of your PC will be ATX, but there are other options as well. You’ll also need to consider how many slots you want in your motherboard? And lastly is what type of I/O will your motherboard have? Will it offer all internal I/O’s such as audio ports, Firewire and USB 3.0 connections or only select types of connections like just audio and 2 USB ports?
Tips and Suggestions For Buying A Motherboard
Not all motherboards are created equal. Some have special features that others don’t, so the one you should get depends on what you need it for. For example, if you’re building a custom computer and want to maximize its RAM potential then a motherboard with 4 RAM slots is important. If you’re using a GPU for heavy gaming, then look for motherboards with at least two PCI-e 16x slots. And if you’re more interested in performance over expansion options, a motherboard without any PCI slots is your best bet. The last thing to take into account when buying a motherboard is compatibility.
