Choosing the Right Motherboard: What to Check?

Two basic characteristics determine If a motherboard is Acceptable for updating a Specific system:

Form Element A microATX motherboard matches a microATX case or a ATX case; an ATX motherboard matches just an ATX case. Figure 4-2 shows a normal microATX motherboard onto the left, using a bigger ATX motherboard on the rightside.

In case your present case takes ATX or microATX motherboards and contains a compatible power source, updating the motherboard is a very simple matter of removing the old motherboard and substituting it with the new one.

 Regrettably, some systems mostly inexpensive, mass-market units utilize nonstandard proprietary motherboards and/or electricity supplies. If the motherboard inside this system fails, then that system is excellent for little more than the garbage heap. You could have the ability to salvage the chip, memory, drives, and other peripherals, but the motherboard and case are unworthy.

In 2004, Intel started shipping motherboards according to a new form variable, known as BTX (Balanced Technology eXtended). Intel had expected that BTX could take the marketplace by storm, but instead of early 2006 BTX had produced only minimal inroads in the PC marketplace.

BTX might be a solution seeking an issue. The initial aim of BTX was going to enhance cooling at a lower sound level: a essential improvement, given that the rather large heat creation of Intel Pentium 4 chips, a few of which absorb 130W. Now that Intel is altering chip production to low-power cores which have as little as 20W, there isn't any longer a true demand for BTX.

For most practical purposes, a chip that's intended to match 1 socket can't be installed in a different kind of socket. Socket adapters are readily available to shoehorn 1 kind of chip into a different kind of socket e.g., a Socket 479 Pentium M chip into a Socket 478 motherboard but such adapters frequently have compatibility difficulties. We advise that you stay away from socket adapters. Look these up to get the best motherboard.

Chip socket type

Modern chips connect to the motherboard using a chip socket. The chip has a range of hundreds of hooks which fit into matching holes on the chip socket. Sockets made to take different kinds of chips are alike in look, but with a distinct number and arrangement of pockets. The lever, visible on the perfect border of the socket, is increased to put in the chip. Raising the lever eliminates the clamping pressure within the socket, and allows the chip to be dumped into position without using pressure. After the chip is seated at the socket, then lowering the ZIF lever moves the chip into position and ensures good electrical contact between the chip pins and the socket connections.

Picking a motherboard

Since the motherboard controls the machine, it is worth it to choose one carefully. The motherboard you select determines which chips are supported, just how much and which kind of memory the machine can use, which sort of video adapters may be set up, the rate of the communication interfaces, and several other key system attributes. Along with choosing the Right form factor and chip socket, which can be essential, use these guidelines when Picking a motherboard:

Choose the Best chipset. It manages what happens and what's out and takes care of all of the ancillary functions which make it easy for the processor to calculate.

The chipset determines which chips and forms of memory are encouraged, in addition to which of both video adapter criteria, AGP or PCI Express, the motherboard supports. The chipset also decides which embedded features like USB 2.0, Serial ATA, FireWire, video, sound, and media are readily available.

If you're replacing a failed motherboard and intend to utilize your existing chip, select a motherboard with the proper socket type and utilizes one of the suggested chipsets. If your present memory or video adapter are worth salvaging, additionally take into consideration their compatibility with the replacement motherboards you're thinking about.

If you're getting brand new AMD processor, select a Socket 939 nForce3 motherboard (such as AGP movie ) or nForce4 motherboard (such as PCI Express movie ).

If you're getting brand new Intel processor, select a Socket 775 motherboard which uses an Intel 945- or 955-series chipset that supports the sort of video card you intend to install.

Chipsets for AMD and Intel chips are created by a lot of different businesses, such as VIA and SiS, but we've discovered that the compatibility and performance of the choice chipsets leaves something to be wanted. Motherboards based on Intel and NVIDIA chipsets are somewhat more costly than those based on other chipsets, but the tiny extra cost is worth.