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Are you confused by the vast array of motherboards out there?
Choosing a good motherboard is one of the most daunting tasks
when building your own computer. All your system's components
eventually connect back to the motherboard, so if you choose an
inappropriate board, your system is going to have problems.
I personally feel the motherboard is one component you shouldn't
scrimp on - buy the best you can afford. Seriously. I've seen
many otherwise good PCs bogged down by a bad motherboard.
This article will help you choose a good motherboard - read on
to learn about the various factors to consider when purchasing
one.
<b>What's Your Processor?</b>
First and most important
thing to consider when buying your motherboard - what CPU or
processor are you using? Motherboards are made differently, not
all motherboards will support all CPUs. What CPU you select will
determine the type of motherboard you get.
For example, if you want to use an Intel Pentium 4 CPU, the
motherboard you select must be able to support that brand and
model of CPU. The motherboards are also designed to support
specific speeds for a CPU, so make sure it can support the speed
of the processor as well.
<b>Choose Your Chipset</b>
What is a chipset? Well,
chipsets are the main controllers on the motherboard - they
allow the CPU to interface with the various components and
expansion cards installed.
When choosing your chipset, always bear in mind the type of
memory supported by the motherboard. Make sure that the board
supports the type and amount of RAM you need. Generally,
choosing a chipset that supports high speed memory will allow
your system to perform better.
<b>Expansions Slots and Connectors</b>
If you intend to
various peripherals to the computer, then the number and type of
expansion slots and connectors is important. By default, most
motherboards these days have USB 2.0 ports incorporated into
their design. If you do a lot of video capturing and editing,
you'll also want to have a Firewire (IEEE 1394) port. If you
intend to buy expansion cards, make sure the board comes with an
ample number of PCI slots.
<b>Do You Need to Overclock?</b>
If you want to
overclock your CPU (though I don't particularly encourage it) -
you should ensure you get a motherboard that supports
overclocking. You'll want a motherboard that has a wide range of
adjustments to CPU settings, including CPU voltage and bus
speeds.
<b>Other Features</b>
These days, most motherboards have
a whole host of extra features loaded into them. These can
include things such as on-board Ethernet, audio, a RAID
controller or even graphics. I find such features very handy as
they help you save money - you need not buy additional expansion
cards.
<b>Recommended Motherboards</b>
Now let's take a look at
some of the motherboards I recommend.
<b>ASUS A7N8X Deluxe</b>
This AMD Athlon motherboard is
a top seller in the market right now. It comes with all the
essential features of a top notch motherboard - AGP 8X, Serial
ATA RAID, dual Ethernet, 6-channel audio, IEEE 1394, USB2.0 and
a wide range of overclocking settings. Throw in the ability of
the motherboard to control case fan speeds based on internal
temperatures and you have a clear winner.
<b>ABIT IS7</b>
This top-notch Intel Pentium 4 motherboard
supports a host of features that guarantees great performance -
Hyper-Threading, 800 MHz bus CPUs, Dual DDR 400 memory, native
Serial ATA, 8 USB 2.0 ports, IEEE1394a, and AGP 8X. On the
whole, an excellent all-round board.
<b>MSI K7N2G-ILSR</b>
This AMD Athlon motherboard is another
possible choice if you're looking for an all-in-one package.
Everything you need is built-in: AGP 8X, Serial ATA RAID, dual
Ethernet, 6-channel audio, IEEE 1394, USB2.0 and the nForce2
integrated graphics processor. In short, an excellent product
from a quality motherboard manufacturer.
<b>Conclusion</b>
In short, make sure you do your
homework when purchasing a motherboard. Go to the motherboard
manufacturer's website and read about its products. Download the
motherboard manual and see if its well documented.
At the risk of sounding biased, I've always preferred ASUS
motherboards. However, its all up to you. Consider what features
are important to you and go get your motherboard. As I said
earlier, don't scrimp on the motherboard. Its one of the most
important PC components, so get the best you can afford.
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