Build Your Computer: Select the Best Motherboard

When building your own computer, selecting the best motherboard for your computer system is one of the most important decisions you will make. Your motherboard is a critical operating component in your system. The advantages of building your own computer include selecting and building a custom-designed and -specified system and it can mean saving money to get the right system for your needs.

All computer components are necessary (the system needs most parts to run), but the motherboard is a key part of the system. In selecting the right motherboard, you need to have a good understanding of what type of system you want, what kind of demand you will place on your system, and how what you select affects the computer's operation once built. A number of system components connect to the motherboard (mobo); you need to understand the mobo.

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.

Once you've decided on your motherboard and CPU package, you will need to decide on your BUS, RAM and chipset. Your chipset needs to be fast for efficient data transfers and power management. BUS size is important because the BUS circuit width or size determines how much, and how efficiently, data can be transmitted. BUS speed is measured in MHz and it determines communication speed; with a fast speed allowing faster running applications and data transfer. The need for speed is driven by new, upgraded applications that typically demand more speed; luckily technology has evolved along with the speed demands. Make sure that your BUS speed is not a constraint issue in your system; you don't want it to become a bottleneck for your whole system.

You need to consider memory and the need for memory when you select your motherboard for building your own computer. 2 GB of RAM is enough unless you are a heavy user, such as a gamer, or someone who works a lot with graphics or videos. Motherboards today will come with at least two memory slots, and many come with four slots. Buy a motherboard with four slots to ensure you have enough expandable memory capacity for the future (even if you start with 2 GB of RAM). When selecting the motherboard for your system, don't forget other considerations such as, webcam, digital camera, external drive, flash drive, printer, keyboard and mouse. If you plan on adding additional cards (such as a wireless network card, graphics card, or sound card), the peripherals will require enough PCI slots. Most motherboards have four USB slots and two more that connect to the USB ports on the case. About every four to five years, it is likely that you will need to change the battery in your motherboard and don't forget 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.

Kris Bovay 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 computers and technology with telecommunication companies and the Canadian military. Copyright 2008-2009 Voice Marketing Inc.

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