Selecting the best motherboard for your needs is one of the most important decisions you will make when building your own computer system. As a critical operating component in your system, the right choice of motherboard is important. There are a number of advantages of building a computer - the most important include being able to custom design and custom specify the system components.
The motherboard is a very key part of the overall system; a number of system components connect to the motherboard (mobo). In selecting the best motherboard for your computer build, you need to have a good understanding of your needs: what type of system you want; what kind of demand you will place on your computer (heavy use; heavy graphics; fast operating speed; etc.); and how what you choose affects the operation of your system.
Consider which CPU you will use in your computer build; it will have an effect on your mobo selection. For example, Intel CPUs require a different motherboard than AMD CPUs because each uses a different socket type. Your motherboard will need to support the chosen CPU; the processor speed will have an impact on your motherboard selection.
Computer component manufacturers are finding that technological advances are continuously improving and changing components, resulting in a large number of socket types to choose from, as well as improvements to the number of pins in the processors. This increase in the number of pins has driven motherboard sockets to require more pins, and has provided more features and benefits for the system user. Also, new process designs, that have put pins on the socket instead of the CPU, have provided easier system set-up configurations. Make sure that you do your homework and match the right socket type and CPU configuration to the right motherboard or your computer system will not operate (the CPU uses the socket to communicate through the chipset to the motherboard). A number of manufacturers offer CPU motherboard bundles which will assure you that they work together; make sure that you still review the bundle features and ensure that it is a match for your system design.
Other related-to-the-motherboard decisions are the chipset, the bus, and the RAM. You will need a fast chipset to allow efficient data transfers and power management. Bus size is important because the size or width of the bus circuit determines how much data can be transmitted. Bus speed, measured in MHz, is relevant when selecting a motherboard; it determines the communication speed of components and data transfer; therefore a fast bus speed allows fast data transfer and faster running applications. Speed is evolving and being upgraded with new technology, not just because faster is better but to synchronize with demand for speed from upgraded and new applications. As with most equipment and technology, the slowest component will be a speed bottleneck for the whole operating system - with a slow FSB speed; your computer will also operate at slow speed.
When selecting your motherboard, you need to consider memory and how much memory you want for your computer system. Unless you are a gamer, or do a lot of graphics or video work, 2 GB of RAM should be enough. Today, motherboards come with at least two memory slots, and most come with four. To ensure you have enough expandable memory capacity for the future (even if you start with 2 GB of RAM), buy a motherboard with four slots. Other considerations when selecting the motherboard for building your own computer are the peripherals, such as keyboard, mouse, printer, flash drive, external drive and digital camera. If you plan on adding additional cards (such as a graphics card, wireless network card, or sound card), you need enough PCI slots to handle the peripherals. Most motherboards have four USB slots and two more that connect to the USB ports on the case. Don't forget the battery (you'll likely need to change the battery in your motherboard every four to 5 years - if you keep your computer that long) and the preloaded BIOS which boots up your computer.
The most important aspect of selecting components for your computer system build is to ensure that you build not just a system for today's needs, but for your future needs. It is very rare for you to be satisfied with a basic, minimal system for more than a short (six months to one year) period of time. Specify and select your components to build your computer system to last you for a minimum three to five years (my last system worked very effectively and efficiently for seven years because I over-built for my needs at the time); in other words, buy as much speed, power, memory, and features and benefits as you can afford - even if you don't think you'll need it. As technology progresses and changes, you will find you need the advanced system to sustain your needs. - 29854
The motherboard is a very key part of the overall system; a number of system components connect to the motherboard (mobo). In selecting the best motherboard for your computer build, you need to have a good understanding of your needs: what type of system you want; what kind of demand you will place on your computer (heavy use; heavy graphics; fast operating speed; etc.); and how what you choose affects the operation of your system.
Consider which CPU you will use in your computer build; it will have an effect on your mobo selection. For example, Intel CPUs require a different motherboard than AMD CPUs because each uses a different socket type. Your motherboard will need to support the chosen CPU; the processor speed will have an impact on your motherboard selection.
Computer component manufacturers are finding that technological advances are continuously improving and changing components, resulting in a large number of socket types to choose from, as well as improvements to the number of pins in the processors. This increase in the number of pins has driven motherboard sockets to require more pins, and has provided more features and benefits for the system user. Also, new process designs, that have put pins on the socket instead of the CPU, have provided easier system set-up configurations. Make sure that you do your homework and match the right socket type and CPU configuration to the right motherboard or your computer system will not operate (the CPU uses the socket to communicate through the chipset to the motherboard). A number of manufacturers offer CPU motherboard bundles which will assure you that they work together; make sure that you still review the bundle features and ensure that it is a match for your system design.
Other related-to-the-motherboard decisions are the chipset, the bus, and the RAM. You will need a fast chipset to allow efficient data transfers and power management. Bus size is important because the size or width of the bus circuit determines how much data can be transmitted. Bus speed, measured in MHz, is relevant when selecting a motherboard; it determines the communication speed of components and data transfer; therefore a fast bus speed allows fast data transfer and faster running applications. Speed is evolving and being upgraded with new technology, not just because faster is better but to synchronize with demand for speed from upgraded and new applications. As with most equipment and technology, the slowest component will be a speed bottleneck for the whole operating system - with a slow FSB speed; your computer will also operate at slow speed.
When selecting your motherboard, you need to consider memory and how much memory you want for your computer system. Unless you are a gamer, or do a lot of graphics or video work, 2 GB of RAM should be enough. Today, motherboards come with at least two memory slots, and most come with four. To ensure you have enough expandable memory capacity for the future (even if you start with 2 GB of RAM), buy a motherboard with four slots. Other considerations when selecting the motherboard for building your own computer are the peripherals, such as keyboard, mouse, printer, flash drive, external drive and digital camera. If you plan on adding additional cards (such as a graphics card, wireless network card, or sound card), you need enough PCI slots to handle the peripherals. Most motherboards have four USB slots and two more that connect to the USB ports on the case. Don't forget the battery (you'll likely need to change the battery in your motherboard every four to 5 years - if you keep your computer that long) and the preloaded BIOS which boots up your computer.
The most important aspect of selecting components for your computer system build is to ensure that you build not just a system for today's needs, but for your future needs. It is very rare for you to be satisfied with a basic, minimal system for more than a short (six months to one year) period of time. Specify and select your components to build your computer system to last you for a minimum three to five years (my last system worked very effectively and efficiently for seven years because I over-built for my needs at the time); in other words, buy as much speed, power, memory, and features and benefits as you can afford - even if you don't think you'll need it. As technology progresses and changes, you will find you need the advanced system to sustain your needs. - 29854
About the Author:
Kris and Christian Bovay are co-owners of Build Your Own Computer; a resource guide for building your own computer system. Christian is an electronics technician with more than 30 years experience in computer building and troubleshooting with several telecommunications companies. Copyright 2008-2009 Voice Marketing Inc.
