Motherboards: What to Consider When Purchasing a New Computer

The Motherboard is literally the most important part of your computer, it contains the data buses necessary for all your parts to communicate, provides places for your parts to go, provides onboard sound in most cases, as well as sometimes even video. The motherboard needs to be the most carefully chosen piece of equipment in your computer. For a first time parts buyer, just go with a CPU/Motherboard deal where you get them both together, you're much less likely to have issues that way. There are a whole host of issues to consider. Due to there being so many, I'm going to split it up into groups of importance.

Most Important: CPU Type, CPU Socket, RAM Type/Speed, Video Card Slot Type, Form Factor.

The CPU type and socket need to match that of your CPU. That is why I recommend that you pick out your CPU first, so that you already know what kind of Motherboard you need. Narrows it down some. Anyway, if your processor is an Intel Core i7 Nehalem, you need an Intel Core i7 Nehalem motherboard. Ram type/speed should be apparent given my last article on RAM (given here). The Video Card Slot type is almost guaranteed to be PCI-E 16x, which is PCI-Express 16x. It's the best right now, get it. Your motherboard will normally also have either SLI or Crossfire capabilities. This is important when choosing your video card, and I will discuss it there. Pick the appropriate one for your video card type (if you have a preference), if not go for number of slots.

The Form Factor is extremely important too, because it determines size, and usually the amount of stuff you can put on there. ATX is the most common form factor, but if you want a smaller computer go with ITX or god-forbid Micro-ITX. Likewise, for larger computers go with ATX, or (if you know what you're doing, but then you wouldn't be reading this article would you?) a server form-factor. In any case, you'll need a case matching this size so pay attention to it.

Notice that all of those were mostly compatibility issues? That's because motherboards are usually almost identical when it comes to a given processor class, and if you narrow the motherboard down to what you need after choosing your CPU and RAM, you will pretty much have your decision made for you, after that it's just a matter of these:

Secondary Importance: USB Slots, PCI-(E 1x/4x slots), SATA slots, Onboard networking capabilities, other minor compatibilities.

USB Slots are important, because that is pretty much the only way your computer communicates with other devices, although wireless networking is also becoming more common. PCI slots are important if you need a sound-card, or other add-on capabilities such as more USB slots, Raid controllers, or all kinds of stuff. These will all be lumped in together at the end. Most motherboards come with at least 2-4 of them in varying capabilities, in most cases it will be fine.

SATA slots, and the speed of them, is very important because that is how many and what kind of HDD you put in them. Most motherboards come with 6, although I've seen both higher and lower. 6 will allow roughly 1.5x6TB(9TB) of storage if you need it and have the money for it, but you can always use external storage, or if you have that much money probably a server of some kind. In any case, it will more than likely be sufficient, but something to pay attention to if you're a storage nut(like me).

Onboard networking is VERY important in today's world. You need the internet to survive. Try and get 2 onboard network ports (at least one with gigabit capability) and wifi capabilities are definitely good if you dont like cables.

Other minor compatibilites include power supply requirements, any other little quirks your board may have. Just do a little reading before buying and you'll be fine.

Tertiary Importance:

These things should be kept at the back of your mind because really when it comes to motherboards you want slots and compatibilities with stuff you have/want, but they are nevertheless important.

Bus Speed. Higher the better, by far. If you have a choice between 2 identical motherboards, go with the one with the higher Bus Speeds.

Quality of on-board sound. Look for 7.1 output if you can with all the specifications, however you can always just get a sound card to handle all that. Regardless, if you're on a budget on-board sound is definitely good enough, if you get a motherboard with good on-board sound.

Software. Motherboard software all sucks usually, but some vendors have some cool tools like overclocking from your OS and stuff. Look around for it and you'll see it.

Ease of Use. Some motherboards have very whacked out locations for some things. Sometimes the video cards are positioned in a place where you can't plug in some of your SATA slots. This really shouldn't be an issue because that's a design thing, and the quality of your vendor will determine this. So go for name brand guys like asus, msi, gigabyte, or any of the other big-name brands.

Hopefully you now know enough about motherboards to make an informed decision about buying one. Stay tuned for part 4: Video Cards.