PC Motherboards At A Glance

The motherboard is the main circuit board inside your PC. Every components at same points communicates through the motherboard , either by directly plugging into it or by communicating through one of the motherboards parts. The motherboard is one big communication highway. Its purpose inside your PC is to provide a platform for all the other components & peripheral to talk to each other.

A motherboard is also known as a main board, system board and logic board. A common abbreviation is ‘mobo'. They can be found in a variety of electrical devices, ranging from a TV to a computer. The central processing unit (CPU), Random Access Memory (RAM), hard drive(s), disk drives and optical drives are all plugged into interfaces on the motherboard.

How to Choose the Right Motherboard for You
1. Socket Type
The socket is where the processor (CPU) connects to the motherboard. There is no compatibility between sockets, so it has to be the right one. The socket connection needs to match the connection of the processor you have or the one you intend to buy for the computer.
2. Processor
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.
The terms processor, central processor or CPU refers to the central processing unit, the most important element of your computer. Any action performed by your PC depends on interaction with the CPU. Without a processor your PC does not know how to work!
3. Chipset
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. How to determine the motherboards chipset? The manual is always going to be the quickest and easiest way to determine what chipset your motherboard uses. If you have any documentation that came with your motherboard it is recommended you first refer to that documentation.
Some boards just may have an FCC ID number on the board/slot, in the motherboard book, or elsewhere on the computer if the same manufacturer made more than just the motherboard. That number can usually be matched to the manufacture's name, etc. Run the number through some of the Internet search engines.
4. RAM Compatibility
There are various types of RAM these days, which are described here, but to note them quickly, they are SDRAM, DDR and RDRAM. They all serve the same basic purpose, just in a slightly different way and speed. It is important to know what type of RAM your motherboard takes and the maximum amount you can have in it at one time, which is usually noted in the description of the motherboard.
5. Expansions Slots and Connectors
The expansion slots are the places where you put extra cards onto the motherboard, like graphics cards, extra sound card or a wireless internet card. The old standard is a PCI slot and these are appropriate for most expansion cards, excepts new graphics cards.
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.

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PC Motherboards At A Glance