| The heart of any computer is the | | | | sound card or a wireless internet card. |
| motherboard. It is that big board inside | | | | The old standard is a PCI slot and these |
| the computer that everything is | | | | are appropriate for most expansion |
| connected to. It performs the role of | | | | cards, excepts new graphics cards. |
| traffic lights and policemen, directing | | | | The most simple of graphics cards are |
| flows of information to where they are | | | | sometimes available for PCI slots, but |
| needed, when they are needed. | | | | not too many. More common are AGP cards |
| Choosing the right motherboard does not | | | | and the newer PCI express (PCIe) cards. |
| have to be a huge issue, even though | | | | AGP slots come in speed variants up to |
| there is a lot to consider. I will start | | | | 8x, make sure the slot matches your |
| off with the most major parts and move | | | | card. PCI and PCIe are incompatible, so |
| onto the the things that are less | | | | don't be confused by that. The PCIe |
| important or non-essential. | | | | slots are much longer and have a |
| Firstly is the socket type. | | | | securing latch. If you want an SLI |
| The socket is the place where the | | | | graphics card setup with two PCIe cards |
| processor (CPU) connects to the | | | | with SLI attached together, make sure |
| motherboard. There is no compatiblility | | | | the motherboard specifically states that |
| between sockets, so it has to be the | | | | it supports SLI. |
| right one. The socket connection needs | | | | Fourth is hard drive and optical drive |
| to match the connection of the processor | | | | connections |
| you have or the one you intend to buy | | | | Two kinds are available, IDE and SATA, |
| for the computer. | | | | IDE is older with a thick cable and SATA |
| Most older Intel Pentium 4s utilise | | | | is newer with a thinner cable. SATA |
| socket 478. Newer ones use socket 775. | | | | capability is usually an add-on, you can |
| AMD chips utilised socket A for a long | | | | see a dedicated chip on the motherboard. |
| time, but now the AMD Athlon 64 series | | | | IDE is being phased out, but is still |
| and Semprons use socket 939. Just check | | | | used for many drives and all optical |
| with someone as to what yours or your | | | | devices like DVD and CD drives. IDE has |
| intended one will have. | | | | speeds of ATA66, ATA100 and ATA133, SATA |
| Your choice of chip will have a lot to | | | | has speeds of 150Mbps and 300Mbps the |
| do with your needs, but choosing one | | | | latter sometimes referred to as SATA2. |
| with an up to date socket type will | | | | Make sure your board supports as much or |
| ensure slightly longer motherboard life | | | | more than you intend to install. |
| as you can upgrade the chip for a while. | | | | Fifth is the extras |
| Second is the memory type | | | | The number of extras available on |
| DDR is the RAM of choice for most | | | | motherboard has increased greatly and so |
| systems, but some newer systems, which | | | | has the quality of the extras. Things to |
| includes all Pentiums with socket 775 | | | | be expected are USB 2.0, a sound card |
| use DDR2. These two kinds are not | | | | and network slot. Other things which it |
| interchangable and have a different | | | | may or may not have are firewire and |
| number of pins. Both DDR and DDR2 come | | | | extra USB slots. |
| in different speed ratings measured in | | | | So with all that in mind you should be |
| MHz. DDR has a usual 400MHz denoted as | | | | in good stead to make a good decision on |
| DDR400 or PC3200, while DDR2 can go a | | | | your purchase. Happy shopping. |
| little higher and comes in slightly | | | | Roundup |
| faster speeds. Just make it match what | | | | Socket type - A, 478, 775, 939 |
| the board needs. | | | | Memory (RAM) - DDR, DDR2 |
| Third is expansion slots | | | | Expansion slots - PCI and one of AGP or |
| The expansion slots are the places where | | | | PCIe |
| you put extra cards onto the | | | | ATA - ATA66, 100 or 133. |
| motherboard, like graphics cards, extra | | | | |