How to Choose a Motherboard for Your Computer

As with all other PC components, there are an awful lot of motherboards out there to choose from.  A good motherboard is crucial to a computer.  The motherboard is called that for a reason; it's your PC's main source of information and control.  The motherboard is where all your system components connect back to, so choosing the wrong board is a fatal mistake.

If you have money to spare or just want to know which component you should really not scrimp on, get the best motherboard you can afford.

There are a few things to consider when you're looking to purchase a motherboard.  First, processor speed.  What processor have you selected?  Will your chosen motherboard support it?  Not all motherboards support certain CPUs, so make sure you select ones that are compatible.

Then there's the chipset.  The chipset is the main control board of the motherboard that allows the CPU to work with each component.  Make sure you know what type of memory is supported by your motherboard and that it supports the amount/type of RAM you want.  Usually, chipsets that support high speed memory will give you a better, faster system performance.

If you want to include different peripherals for your computer, consider the type and number of expansion slots/connectors.  Most motherboards have USB ports in their original design, but you may want to select a motherboard with more ports - or less, if you don't need as many.

One thing to keep in mind is that most integrated graphics cards will not give you the best visual performance if you intend to use your PC for gaming and video watching.  Consider getting a separate graphics card if you intend to do much of these activities.