Technology

How to Pick a Motherboard? The Definitive Guide

A motherboard is a complex component to understand, and buying a new one is even more complicated but enormously important. However, if you are building your desktop or workstation, it means you’re definitely fulfilling a journey of saving money. Still, it is impossible to upgrade your PC until you’re aware of its components. One of the central components of a computer is the motherboard, also known as the “heart of the computer.”

 A motherboard is a circuit board that interlinks the processor to the hardware and circulates electricity from the power supply to another component to make them run. It also defines the memory modules, graphics cards, and types of storage devices that connect your PC.

Since a motherboard is designed to integrate all the components with each other, picking a high-class motherboard is very crucial. It does not mean picking an expensive one. If you experience computing errors, lagging, or delaying, the reason could be a failing motherboard; thus, upgrading it becomes essential.

When do you need to upgrade a Motherboard?

While picking the best motherboard for your PC, you need to first make sure whether it’s time to replace it or not. If you use your PC for web browsing or word processing, there could be no genuine reason to choose a fancy motherboard; you can still make it work with a simple one.

On the flip side, if you hold a gaming system and want to boost your setup to make it capable of running extravagant games smoothly with flourished graphics. It can be advised to pick a hi-tech motherboard. You may also be interested in using Virtual Reality goggles, so select a motherboard with multiple ports. Don’t forget to check out the best motherboard for i9 12900K that works best and you will enjoy the PCIe 5.0 slots.

Moreover, identify how many features are required, which one is the most useful, and what your budget is. Determining such factors makes it easier to decide several essential requirements. If you want a single monitor for your computer with bare essentials, there’s no need to buy a motherboard with extra USB ports. Similarly, there is no reason to buy a high-end graphics card if your computer is only used for basic word processing or browsing. 

Finally comes the space for your motherboard in the case. Bear in mind that all ATX motherboards can be compatible with any motherboard case. But some other options, such as Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX motherboards, have smaller form factors that only fit some specific computer cases.

Factors to Choose to Pick the Best Motherboard

If you have decided to invest in a reputed motherboard brand such as Asus, Gigabyte, AS Rock, or whatever, make sure to pick the one that fulfills your desires. That’s why I have broken down some internal and external components of a motherboard, which are necessary to consider before making a purchase.

CPU Type

This is a significant factor to consider. If a motherboard isn’t compatible with your CPU, it may lead your system to general issues such as instability and ultimate damage. Therefore, to find out the compatibility, you can conduct a short experiment. Remove the heatsink from the top of the processor and read out the printed text below it. There, you’ll find the processor name and its generation. By recognizing your processor, search for the motherboard that is specifically meant for it.

Computer Case

A computer case comes in multiple sizes and shapes, so you cannot just pick an all-in-one motherboard. Thus, it’s crucial to consider the available space in your PC and where your computer lives before deciding on a motherboard. Usually, if you want some improvement in your motherboard by adding more video cards or hard drives, an ATX motherboard should be the best choice. This motherboard has the capability to fit in every kind of computer case. Now, the market also offers some cases that already come with the most suitable motherboards; this option is the best if you want to save your time, effort, and money in purchasing both components separately.

System Speed

Well, it all depends on your budget; if budget isn’t a significant concern for you, then it is best to go with the combination of Intel Core-i along with the AMD Ryzen. But again, keep in mind, it fits your system and delivers high performance inside any case. Otherwise, you can make a better deal to get separate processors from different manufacturers.

Find an Ideal Motherboard for You

Other than the above factors, there are various other things to look at, such as the type of CPU, socket size and generation, use of computers for gaming or general browsing, AMD vs. Intel, and other features. Choosing the correct motherboard can also depend upon the case you select because some motherboards come with certain form factors. 

If your PC is used for gaming purposes as well as some other high-end tasks, pick a motherboard with more robust features such as Crossfire or SLI support. These features can be installed according to the graphics cards. Yet, it impacts directly on the type of CPU socket required to assure that the two components work together ideally. Hence, it is recommended to consider these aspects and narrow down different models that meet your requirements.

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