Selecting a New Motherboard: A Beginner's Guide

Are you looking for a new motherboard? With so many models available, deciding which to buy can be difficult. However, if you use this checklist, considering each motherboard feature, you should be able to find one that's right for you.

1. Socket type: What socket type does your CPU require? A 775 for Intel Pentiums? Perhaps a 939 AMD. Start to narrow your selection with this most basic criteria, matching motherboard socket to CPU.

2. Form factor: The board has to fit your case. The size of the board is its "form factor". An ATX form factor case will accept 12x9.6 inch boards. But a microATX requires boards no larger than 9.6x9.6. Please note that any of the smaller boards can be mounted in an ATX case.

3. RAM: You'll probably buy a board that uses PC3200 RAM. But be aware that some older boards still on the market call themselves "PC3200 capable" but can only use it in up to two banks. Also, some boards only have two slots, rather than the more common number of three. If you need to run 3 GB of RAM, for extreme game play, you'll need a three-slot board.

4. Front Speed Bus: It's an oversimplification to say this number is the speed information passes through your motherboard, but it's a good enough definition for our purposes. Faster is better, but keep in mind that speed is money, if you're on a budget. The tops on AMD based systems is a whopping 2000MHz.

5. Video and sound on the motherboard: Do you want these two items built into the board, or would you rather buy cards and plug them in? Video on the motherboard is usually adequate, unless you're a gamer. In that case you'll want to forgo it in favor of the next feature.

6. AGP port: Gamers, video editors, 3-D animators, all want the best graphics card they can get, so they require an Accelerated Graphics Port. Most all boards have them, but make sure they will handle 8X or better speed, if you've got your heart set on a really fast card.

7. PCI slots: How many slots will you need for things like modems, capture cards, and the like? Some of the microATX boards come with only two, which may be inadequate. I favor boards with 4 or more slots, giving plenty of expansion capability.

8. Firewire: If you shoot and edit video, 1394 IEEE, otherwise known as firewire, is a necessity. If a board you're considering doesn't have it, figure on using one of your PCI slots for a card.

After you've gone through these eight items, you should be well on the way to making your selection.

Michael Quarles is the author of Building a PC for Beginners.

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Selecting a Motherboard

Ok we are talking about selecting a motherboard for your computer. And we shall discuss the thoughts you should have going through this process.

The simple stuff

· Number of USB ports you need

· Network speed 10/100/1000

· Number of network ports

· Built in soundcard

· How many hard drives do you have

This part is only a matter of counting your particular devices. Only the number of hard drives makes any real difference here. If you are building a performance PC for gaming you should go for a motherboard that supports raid0. Also keep in mind that a lot of USB devices that use power from the motherboard is not recommended. A better solution if this is the case for you is an externally powered USB hub, keep in mind the speed limitations this solution gives.

A bit more advanced

Chipset. The most overlooked and misunderstood part of the computer. The chipset basically dictates every detail about how fast your computer can be. For instance if you get a motherboard that only support x8 PCI Express then it's not going to help you getting the most advanced graphics card in the world at x16 PCI Express. Because your motherboard can't handle that speed, it will work sure, but at half speed. At this time the only one I would recommend is the Intel X58 chipset.

It supports Intel I7 CPU's and all the latest and fastest ram modules. The reason for this is simply its easier to swap out ram for raster ram. Or you're cpu for a faster cpu. Changing motherboard however is more complex and my suggestion is get the best you can afford right away. And build on that over time.

Remember also when you have built your new computer to install the chipset drivers for the motherboard BEFORE doing anything else. This is required for maximum performance.

To give a recommendation on a specific motherboard is hard because it depends on how you are going to use it. The one I'm using is ASUS Rampage II Extreme LGA1366 Intel X58, a good all-round performer well worth the cost.

Look for it in my web shop www.ram-zone.com there is also some COOL package deals on this motherboard including RAM and CPU.

Regards
Jan Christer Steinsvik
Norway

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Do You Want to Know the Best Approach in Selecting a Motherboard?

Configuring your own gaming computer is not always easy and is often a challenging task for many of us. After all; different components like memory modules, efficient processors and fast video cards need to be looked into and carefully chosen. But it is not just these components that have to be looked into detail, but also your motherboard that is responsible for ensuring that all these components perform at their best and as per the specifications to which they are built. It is not important to have one of these components working at its optimum level but all of them have to be in-sync with each other for the effective working of your computer.

Given below are few specifications that can be looked into while you are selecting a motherboard for your purpose.

Choosing a suitable processor is where it all has to start. After all; motherboard is the place where processors are stationed. The reason why this specification is given due importance can be related to fact that CPU socket is located on motherboard and it therefore presents a logical way of selecting the best board for your purpose. For example, if you are using Inter Core i7 processor with a motherboard that is fitted with a 775 socket it will make little sense. This is because the socket so chosen is suitable only for Quad Core or Core 2 Duo processors. Contrary, the i7 processor has to make use of a motherboard that is fitted with LGA 1366 socket or LGA 1156.

It is also worth understanding that the processor you choose will have an impact on the motherboard you purchase. Depending upon the processor you choose, motherboard has to be chosen accordingly. Memory modules too need to be looked into while you are selecting a motherboard for your computer. If you are using the computer solely for gaming purposes you will need to ensure that it's RAM is large enough to process data quickly and efficiently. An assessment for this can be made by checking out the number of slots that are available on the gaming motherboard.

Video cards themselves may not present a challenge while selecting motherboards, unless of course, multiple video cards are seriously considered for your purpose. In such a case, the compatibility of the video card has to be looked into. Also, they need to be checked if they are ready for CrossFire and SLI chip sets. A proper space has to be allocated for storing games in your computer. This space has to be large enough in your computer to make the games more accessible, especially in fast paced environments. Most of the gaming computers today are equipped with fast hard drives solely for these purposes. These hard drives, in turn, disk controllers that are placed on motherboards for their normal functioning.

While deciding on integrated components for your computer, it is better not to spend too much amount of time and money on sound controllers and on-board videos as they can be purchased separately and can give you more enjoyment and clarity while you are watching different scenes throughout your game.

Building your own computers will give you vastly increased flexibility and for a smaller price. Find motherboards and buy Intel online South Africa at the links.

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A Practical Approach to Selecting the Best Gaming Motherboard

When it comes to configuring your own gaming computer, most people emphasize on how you need fast video cards, an efficient processor, or extremely responsive memory modules. In order for these components to utilize all their core features, the motherboard they are situated with must be able to handle all these specifications accordingly. With that, all three of those components are actually directly connected to the motherboard and believe it or not, the system board is one of the least appreciated parts! Who would have thought?! Though we can't give all the credit to just a single components actions, as a gaming PC consists of multiple hardware parts working in an effective manner. To help you select one of the best gaming motherboards, we have compiled a few key specifications to help you decide on a candidate that meets your needs.

You should always begin this process by choosing a compatible processor. It seems somewhat odd, but the motherboard is where the processor is stationed. The reason this formal spec. is so crucial relates to the CPU socket located on the motherboard, which by default is the best way to selecting a suitable logic board. Let me give you an example. Say you have an Intel Core i7 processor and a motherboard with a 775 socket. This will not work because this particular socket was built for Intel Core 2 Duo and Quad Core gaming processors. A Core i7 processor must use an LGA 1156 (Socket H) or LGA 1366 (Socket B) socket.

Which brings us to another detail that is extremely important not to overlook. The type of processor you choose limits you to the motherboards you can purchase. There are two major processor manufacturers you have to choose from. Either Intel or AMD. Both use different sockets to house their processors, including the paired chipset that the processor was implemented to interact with. Just ensure that you check this specification before you make a purchase. If you have any questions, you can refer to the OEM or re-seller of that product.

Another important aspect that motherboards determine are the memory modules. Gaming computers require a large amount of RAM to help process data as quickly as possible. This can be figured by the amount of slots a gaming motherboard is equipped with, including each slots capacity and overall maximum capacity. This will also help you establish the type, speed (frequency), and an appropriate bandwidth, specifically relating to the operating frequency of the FSB. There are nice combinations for motherboards and memory modules featured on various sites across the web, its just a matter of deciding which set is right for you, thats if you go with this option, though we do recommend purchasing each component individually.

You may think that the video cards are the most relevant to this selection process, but they actually don't require you to select a specific card, unless you are considering multiple video cards. If you are going to install more than one video card, then you need to check the compatibility of that specific card and if it is SLI (Nvidia chipset) or CrossFire (AMD chipset) ready. These two technologies allow motherboards to recognize any additional graphic cards, which allows them to operate simultaneously. This is especially important for gaming computers, as vivid graphic quality is a tendency for these systems.

Your games obviously need a place to be stored and accessed as well, especially in fast paced environments. Gaming computers usually have a fast hard drive equipped, which requires that the disk controller on the motherboard complies with the SATA 2.0 standard at least, seeing how SATA 3.0 was recently introduced into the market. Majority of gaming motherboards and associated devices support the 2.0 standard, which is what we suggest you purchase regarding this specification. If you are considering a RAID setup, ensure that there are enough SATA interface connectors located on the motherboard.

Just to note, there is one more type of storage drive that is drawing considerable attention. Solid State drives are newer storage devices using a flash based memory, replacing any moving mechanisms that existed in previous devices, hard drives being a perfect example. The price is higher for these drives, but well worth it. If you can supply a gaming computer with this type of storage drive, then your system will load any form of program with ease, especially 3D games.

A few other important qualities not to bypass would be any additional peripherals, including 5+ USBs, 1-2 Firewire, built-in LAN connector, display ports, etc. Plus, since gaming computers typically need every last bit of performance, overclocking your processor should be taken seriously, in some instances. This can be done by manipulating the system BIOs, usually most gaming motherboards allow this behavior, in which changing the CPUs current voltage and adjusting the system bus to a faster operating frequency is a common practice.

When it comes to integrated components, do not waste your time with on-board video and sound controllers, as purchasing separate video cards and a sound card will provide your gaming computer with more clarity and enjoyment when encountering various scenes throughout the games you experience.

Well we are ending this short article after summarizing a few major details pertaining to qualities based off of the best gaming motherboards, though you can find more details about gaming motherboards on our best gaming motherboards page. For further discussions and articles about the best gaming computers configurations and hardware part specifications, you can refer to our home page at your leisure.

Chris Jones is an authoritative source for information pertaining to gaming computers and hardware configurations. For an abundant amount of resources about this criteria, visit http://iGamingComputer.com

Chris Jones Copyright © 2010 - You may redistribute this article if all links and content remain intact.

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