Several Aspects to Check before Choosing Motherboard

To upgrade motherboard is to match it with your entire computer parts specification installed before. It is a difficult choice between building a new computer and upgrading a motherboard. Of course if you want to upgrade your motherboard, you will need some time to check specification of your computer parts that connected into your old motherboard. Upgrading motherboard means possibility to get better computer system and possibility to upgrade all of your computer parts as well.

When you decide to upgrade your motherboard, it is a difficult choice. It is because motherboard is ground of all your computer system parts. Yes, all of your installed computer parts are connected together through motherboard.

Here, I will give several aspects to check before upgrading your motherboard. You should match your intended motherboard specification with these aspects.

Checking Form Factor

Form factor is a size, a dimension of your motherboard. Form factor is usually a size measured in millimeters that reflects the type of your motherboard and the appropriate computer case for your motherboard. The first step is to make sure that you check the form factor of your computer case or your old motherboard and match it with the new motherboard. You’ll find information like this, for example, micro ATX 123*231 mm, etc. If you can’t find it, go to the manufacturer’s website.

Checking Processor

In general, your motherboard must support your processor. In this check, you will check processor type and processor speed. Processor type is something like Intel Pentium 4, Intel Celeron D, AMD Athlon, etc, while processor speed is a value to determine how fast your processor, usually it will displayed in GHz unit. You should make sure that your new motherboard supports your processor type and speed and your future processor upgrade if you intend to upgrade processor later, because motherboard will support certain processor only.

Checking RAM or System Memory

RAM is your system memory. You should check your RAM type and size and make sure that your RAM type and size is supported by your motherboard. RAM type is something like DDR, DDR2, or DDR3, while RAM size is the amount of RAM your system has, displayed in MB or GB unit.

Checking Dedicated Graphic Card

Maybe you already have a dedicated graphic card. In this check you must know what type of your graphic card. The type is something like AGP or PCI Express. You must choose motherboard that supports your graphic card. I recommend choosing PCI Express motherboard, so that it will easier for you to do future upgrade for your graphic card, in case you don’t have dedicated graphic card.

Integrated Graphic and Sound

I guess almost all motherboard have an integrated sound, so choose motherboard with integrated sound. If you have a dedicated sound card, you can also place your dedicated sound card to the motherboard having integrated sound card. You can change which sound card you will use in Control Panel. The same thing goes for integrated graphic. If you already have a dedicated graphic card, it’s okay to choose a motherboard with integrated graphic. The most important thing is that you must make sure that your new motherboard have proper graphic card slot for your graphic card. If you don’t have dedicated graphic card, you don’t have another option except to choose motherboard with integrated graphic. I recommend choosing highest amount of shared memory available.

USB Connectivity and Other Connectors

Choose motherboard with your needed USB and other connectors such as FireWire, SATA, IDE, etc. You can find this information on the motherboard documentation.

Please note that when you upgrade your motherboard, in some cases, you will also need to upgrade your computer case.

Read more information on How to Upgrade Motherboard - Choosing the Right Motherboard for more information about how to choose motherboard in general.

How to Choose Mothernoard
More information about how to choose motherboard in general