Building Your Own Computer: Select Best Motherboard and CPU Bundles
When building your own computer, selecting the best motherboard for your computer system is one of the most important decisions you will make. Your motherboard is a critical operating component in your system. The advantages of building your own computer include selecting and building a custom-designed and -specified system and it can mean saving money to get the right system for your needs.
All computer components have a function; however the motherboard is a very key part of the overall system. To select the right motherboard for you, you need to have a clear understanding of the kind of demand you will place on your system, the type of system you will want to run and build, and a clear understanding of how your selection will affect the operations of the computer once built.
Which CPU will you use in your computer build? This decision will have an effect on your motherboard selection. For example, Intel CPUs and AMD CPUs each require a different motherboard because each processor uses, or needs, a different socket type. Your mobo selection needs to support the chosen CPU; additionally, processor speed has an impact on your motherboard choice.
Computer component manufacturers are finding that technological advances are continuously improving and changing components, resulting in a large number of socket types to choose from, as well as improvements to the number of pins in the processors. This increase in the number of pins has driven motherboard sockets to require more pins, and has provided more features and benefits for the system user. Also, new process designs, that have put pins on the socket instead of the CPU, have provided easier system set-up configurations. Make sure that you do your homework and match the right socket type and CPU configuration to the right motherboard or your computer system will not operate (the CPU uses the socket to communicate through the chipset to the motherboard). A number of manufacturers offer CPU motherboard bundles which will assure you that they work together; make sure that you still review the bundle features and ensure that it is a match for your system design.
Once you've selected your motherboard CPU bundle, you will need to decide on your chipset, BUS, and RAM. You need a fast chipset for efficient power management and data transfers. BUS size is important because the width or size of the circuit will determine how much data can be transmitted. When selecting a motherboard, BUS speed, which is measured in MHz, is important because it determines the components' communication speed and data transfer. A fast BUS speed will allow faster running applications and fast data transfer. Speed always seems to evolve with new technology - new and upgraded applications typically demand more speed. Don't let slow BUS speed become a bottleneck for your whole system; with a slow Front Side BUS (FSB), your computer will also run at slow speed.
You need to consider memory and the need for memory when you select your motherboard for building your own computer. 2 GB of RAM is enough unless you are a heavy user, such as a gamer, or someone who works a lot with graphics or videos. Motherboards today will come with at least two memory slots, and many come with four slots. Buy a motherboard with four slots to ensure you have enough expandable memory capacity for the future (even if you start with 2 GB of RAM). When selecting the motherboard for your system, don't forget other considerations such as, webcam, digital camera, external drive, flash drive, printer, keyboard and mouse. If you plan on adding additional cards (such as a wireless network card, graphics card, or sound card), the peripherals will require enough PCI slots. Most motherboards have four USB slots and two more that connect to the USB ports on the case. About every four to five years, it is likely that you will need to change the battery in your motherboard and don't forget the preloaded BIOS which boots up your computer.
Make sure that when selecting components for your computer system build you ensure that you build a system for your future needs, not just a system for today's needs. A basic, minimal system will satisfy your computing needs for a short period of time, but with every changing applications and technology you need to specify and select your components to build your computer system to last you for at least three to five years. My last system worked effectively and efficiently for seven years because I over-built for my needs at the time. In other words, buy as many features and benefits and as much speed, power and memory as you can afford at the time; otherwise you will have to continually invest and replace systems to keep pace. As technology progresses and changes, you will find you need an advanced and fully-loaded system to sustain your needs.
All computer components have a function; however the motherboard is a very key part of the overall system. To select the right motherboard for you, you need to have a clear understanding of the kind of demand you will place on your system, the type of system you will want to run and build, and a clear understanding of how your selection will affect the operations of the computer once built.
Which CPU will you use in your computer build? This decision will have an effect on your motherboard selection. For example, Intel CPUs and AMD CPUs each require a different motherboard because each processor uses, or needs, a different socket type. Your mobo selection needs to support the chosen CPU; additionally, processor speed has an impact on your motherboard choice.
Computer component manufacturers are finding that technological advances are continuously improving and changing components, resulting in a large number of socket types to choose from, as well as improvements to the number of pins in the processors. This increase in the number of pins has driven motherboard sockets to require more pins, and has provided more features and benefits for the system user. Also, new process designs, that have put pins on the socket instead of the CPU, have provided easier system set-up configurations. Make sure that you do your homework and match the right socket type and CPU configuration to the right motherboard or your computer system will not operate (the CPU uses the socket to communicate through the chipset to the motherboard). A number of manufacturers offer CPU motherboard bundles which will assure you that they work together; make sure that you still review the bundle features and ensure that it is a match for your system design.
Once you've selected your motherboard CPU bundle, you will need to decide on your chipset, BUS, and RAM. You need a fast chipset for efficient power management and data transfers. BUS size is important because the width or size of the circuit will determine how much data can be transmitted. When selecting a motherboard, BUS speed, which is measured in MHz, is important because it determines the components' communication speed and data transfer. A fast BUS speed will allow faster running applications and fast data transfer. Speed always seems to evolve with new technology - new and upgraded applications typically demand more speed. Don't let slow BUS speed become a bottleneck for your whole system; with a slow Front Side BUS (FSB), your computer will also run at slow speed.
You need to consider memory and the need for memory when you select your motherboard for building your own computer. 2 GB of RAM is enough unless you are a heavy user, such as a gamer, or someone who works a lot with graphics or videos. Motherboards today will come with at least two memory slots, and many come with four slots. Buy a motherboard with four slots to ensure you have enough expandable memory capacity for the future (even if you start with 2 GB of RAM). When selecting the motherboard for your system, don't forget other considerations such as, webcam, digital camera, external drive, flash drive, printer, keyboard and mouse. If you plan on adding additional cards (such as a wireless network card, graphics card, or sound card), the peripherals will require enough PCI slots. Most motherboards have four USB slots and two more that connect to the USB ports on the case. About every four to five years, it is likely that you will need to change the battery in your motherboard and don't forget the preloaded BIOS which boots up your computer.
Make sure that when selecting components for your computer system build you ensure that you build a system for your future needs, not just a system for today's needs. A basic, minimal system will satisfy your computing needs for a short period of time, but with every changing applications and technology you need to specify and select your components to build your computer system to last you for at least three to five years. My last system worked effectively and efficiently for seven years because I over-built for my needs at the time. In other words, buy as many features and benefits and as much speed, power and memory as you can afford at the time; otherwise you will have to continually invest and replace systems to keep pace. As technology progresses and changes, you will find you need an advanced and fully-loaded system to sustain your needs.
About the Author:
Kris and Christian Bovay are co-owners of Build Your Own Computer; a resource guide to learn to build a computer. Christian is an electronics technician with more than 30 years experience in computer building and troubleshooting with telecommunication companies and the Canadian military. Copyright 2008-2009 Voice Marketing Inc.
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