The backbone of any computer is the Motherboard. All other components are influenced by the type of motherboard you choose. What you need to look for when choosing a Motherboard:
a) Platform or Chipset: The chipset your Motherboard will use (Intel or AMD).
Most opinions are that the Intel Processors provide better performances in applications while AMD Processors provide better performances in games. However most new games are optimized for the Intel Dual Core and Intel Quad Core Processors. Also Intel Processors are known for there reliability while AMD Processors are known for there good Performance To Price Ratio.
b) Socket: The socket will influence the type of Processors you can accommodate on the Motherboard.
The most common Sockets are:
-LGA 775, LGA 1156, LGA 1155 and LGA 1366 – for Intel Processors
-AM2 and AM3 – for AMD Processors
If you can’t afford a Quad Core Processor now, you can choose a Motherboard
that can accommodate both Dual Core and Quad Core Processors and upgrade yourprocessor later.
c) FSB: The speed at which the Processor communicates with the Northbridge of the Motherboard.
A Motherboard with a high FSB (Front Side Bus) will provide a better data transfer between you Processor and the North Bridge of the Motherboard thus increasing overall performance.
In order to save money you should choose a Motherboard with a higher FSB than the Processor only if you plan on upgrading it later.
d) Video and PCI slots: The type and quantity of Video, Sound and Network cards that can be accommodated on the Motherboard.
New video cards have a PCI-Express slot (16x) while old video cards have an AGP slot (1x, 2x, 4x or 8x). If you wish to use two or more video cards with a SLI connection you should choose a motherboard with two or more PCI-E slots. Modern Motherboards also have several PCI-E 1X or 2X along the old PCI slots for accommodating sound cards, network cards, TV-Tuners etc. The PCI Express X1, X4, X8 offer a better transfer rate between the Expansion Cards and the Motherboard. So choose a Motherboard with enough PCI slots to suit your needs. You can also choose a Motherboard with integrated Video, Sound and Network cards to reduce costs given the fact that some motherboards even have 5.1 Sound Cards and 1.000 MB/Sec Network Cards. However an integrated video card will have very low performances if you wish to build your computer for gaming purposes.
e) RAM Memory: The type and quantity of slots used to accommodate RAM Memory.
Currently there are three types of RAM available: DDR1 (up to 400 MHz) DDR2 (up to 1066 MHZ) and DDR3 (up to 2333 MHz). The higher the speed and amount of RAM memory, the better the performances in games. Most motherboards have 2-4 Slots for accommodating RAM and some support both DDR 1 and DDR2 or DDR 2 and DDR 3, however you can’t use both at the same time so choose such a Motherboard only if you plan on upgrading the RAM later. If you choose to buy 4 GB of RAM or more but your budget doesn’t allow it for the moment or you wish to spend more on another component, just buy a 2 GB RAM card for now and buy the other one later, don't buy two 1 GB RAM cards as it would not save your a great deal of money. Also make sure the Motherboard supports Dual or Triple Channel Technology if you plan on using these technologies.
f) Dual Channel Technology: A technology developed to double the communication speed between the memory controller and the RAM memory in order to improve the system performance.
g) Triple Channel Technology: A brand new technology developed to further increase the communication speed between the memory controller and the RAM memory. This technology was specially developed for the new i7 Core Processors and ensure an optimal performance at low voltage.
h) HDD, CD-ROM/DVD-ROM and FDD connectors: The type and quantity of connectors used to accommodate HDDs, CD/DVD-ROMs and FDD.
Old motherboards have an IDE/ATA interface for connecting HDDs (Hard Disk Drive), CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs and FDDs (Floppy Disk Drive), with a bandwidth of 16, 33, 66, 100 and 133 MB/s. New motherboards have a SATA and SATA II interface with a bandwidth of 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 GB/s. Most motherboards have 2-4 IDE/ATA and 4-8 SATA and SATA II connectors, so choose a Motherboard with the number of connectors that suit your needs.
i) USB slots: The type and quantity of USB (Universal Serial Bus) slots on the Motherboard.
USB slots are used to connect all sorts peripherals like mices, keyboards, digital cameras, printers, personal media players, flash drives, Network Adapters and external hard drives. The more USB slots you motherboard has the more peripherals you can connect at the same time, so choose a Motherboard with the number of slots that suit your needs best.
There are currently three types of USB connectors:
-USB 1.0 – with a transfer speed of 12MB/sec
-USB 2.0 - with a transfer speed of 480MB/sec
-USB 3.0 - with a transfer speed of 3.2 GB/sec
-LGA 775, LGA 1156, LGA 1155 and LGA 1366 – for Intel Processors
-AM2 and AM3 – for AMD Processors
If you can’t afford a Quad Core Processor now, you can choose a Motherboard
that can accommodate both Dual Core and Quad Core Processors and upgrade yourprocessor later.
c) FSB: The speed at which the Processor communicates with the Northbridge of the Motherboard.
A Motherboard with a high FSB (Front Side Bus) will provide a better data transfer between you Processor and the North Bridge of the Motherboard thus increasing overall performance.
In order to save money you should choose a Motherboard with a higher FSB than the Processor only if you plan on upgrading it later.
d) Video and PCI slots: The type and quantity of Video, Sound and Network cards that can be accommodated on the Motherboard.
New video cards have a PCI-Express slot (16x) while old video cards have an AGP slot (1x, 2x, 4x or 8x). If you wish to use two or more video cards with a SLI connection you should choose a motherboard with two or more PCI-E slots. Modern Motherboards also have several PCI-E 1X or 2X along the old PCI slots for accommodating sound cards, network cards, TV-Tuners etc. The PCI Express X1, X4, X8 offer a better transfer rate between the Expansion Cards and the Motherboard. So choose a Motherboard with enough PCI slots to suit your needs. You can also choose a Motherboard with integrated Video, Sound and Network cards to reduce costs given the fact that some motherboards even have 5.1 Sound Cards and 1.000 MB/Sec Network Cards. However an integrated video card will have very low performances if you wish to build your computer for gaming purposes.
e) RAM Memory: The type and quantity of slots used to accommodate RAM Memory.
Currently there are three types of RAM available: DDR1 (up to 400 MHz) DDR2 (up to 1066 MHZ) and DDR3 (up to 2333 MHz). The higher the speed and amount of RAM memory, the better the performances in games. Most motherboards have 2-4 Slots for accommodating RAM and some support both DDR 1 and DDR2 or DDR 2 and DDR 3, however you can’t use both at the same time so choose such a Motherboard only if you plan on upgrading the RAM later. If you choose to buy 4 GB of RAM or more but your budget doesn’t allow it for the moment or you wish to spend more on another component, just buy a 2 GB RAM card for now and buy the other one later, don't buy two 1 GB RAM cards as it would not save your a great deal of money. Also make sure the Motherboard supports Dual or Triple Channel Technology if you plan on using these technologies.
f) Dual Channel Technology: A technology developed to double the communication speed between the memory controller and the RAM memory in order to improve the system performance.
g) Triple Channel Technology: A brand new technology developed to further increase the communication speed between the memory controller and the RAM memory. This technology was specially developed for the new i7 Core Processors and ensure an optimal performance at low voltage.
h) HDD, CD-ROM/DVD-ROM and FDD connectors: The type and quantity of connectors used to accommodate HDDs, CD/DVD-ROMs and FDD.
Old motherboards have an IDE/ATA interface for connecting HDDs (Hard Disk Drive), CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs and FDDs (Floppy Disk Drive), with a bandwidth of 16, 33, 66, 100 and 133 MB/s. New motherboards have a SATA and SATA II interface with a bandwidth of 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 GB/s. Most motherboards have 2-4 IDE/ATA and 4-8 SATA and SATA II connectors, so choose a Motherboard with the number of connectors that suit your needs.
i) USB slots: The type and quantity of USB (Universal Serial Bus) slots on the Motherboard.
USB slots are used to connect all sorts peripherals like mices, keyboards, digital cameras, printers, personal media players, flash drives, Network Adapters and external hard drives. The more USB slots you motherboard has the more peripherals you can connect at the same time, so choose a Motherboard with the number of slots that suit your needs best.
There are currently three types of USB connectors:
-USB 1.0 – with a transfer speed of 12MB/sec
-USB 2.0 - with a transfer speed of 480MB/sec
-USB 3.0 - with a transfer speed of 3.2 GB/sec
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How to choose a Motherboard
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