THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO BUYING A MOTHERBOARD

3 Motherboard Recommendations

Power on a Budget: ECS AMD690GM-M2
You rarely find the most exciting and up-to-date components for bargain-basement prices, and that goes for motherboards, too. But in terms of basic features, and with a $54.99 price (after a $10 mail-in rebate), the AMD690GM-M2 from ECS is a good deal. Capable of housing AMD's current powerful AM2 processors, supporting up to 16GB of RAM, and with a PCI Express x16 slot for a 3D-crunching graphics card, it offers more up-to-date options than many budget models. If integrated graphics are all you need, the onboard AMD 690 chip is among the best you'll find. The board even supplies integrated VGA and DVI ports.
Elitegroup Computer Systems

The Entertainer: Gigabyte GA-MA69GM-S2H
If you're looking to build a Media Center-style machine and want to make sure you don't miss anything, the $89 Gigabyte GA-MA69GM-S2H might be the Socket AM2 board for you. In addition to a VGA port for your monitor, it has optical S/PDIF in and out ports, eight-channel integrated sound, and a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector for high-definition (HD) video. If you want to upgrade your video later, you get a PCIe x16 slot, as well as a PCIe x4 slot and two PCI slots. The four SATA hard drive connections enable you to add enough drives to have plenty of room for recording (and watching) HDTV right away. Get the right case, and the MicroATX form factor could allow you to keep your computer right next to the television.
Gigabyte Technology

Game Winner: Asus Striker Extreme
Enthusiasts with a taste for Supreme Commander or World of Warcraft frequently push their PCs to the limits, and the Asus Striker Extreme is a great tool for that. It supports up to 8GB of DDR 800 RAM, three PCIe x16 cards (allowing for two graphics cards and a physics-acceleration card for top 3D performance), and Intel's newest, most powerful CPUs. It also features eight-channel audio, a rear-panel LCD screen for diagnosing errors, and enhanced overclocking features. At $349.99, though, the faint of heart (or wallet) need not apply. Buy Now
Asustek Computer

INSTALLING MOBO, CPU & MEMORY

Author: Eric Lexington
1. Before you begin…
First thing is first, make sure that you have everything you need to get started. What good is it to get started only to find you don’t have everything necessary? This can take quite a bit of time, but is well worth the effort. Once you have inventoried everything it is time to get started! In addition to all of your parts, you will need plenty of working space and two to three hours to focus on the task at hand. Be sure to remember that carpet, and/or static is your worst enemy. The static electricity can fry your components and sometimes void any warranties you may have (be sure to check those warranties as well...sometimes you just get bad components). A good accessory to have with you is an antistatic wrist strap – they are very inexpensive and can often be found at your local computer parts store for six dollar or less. A floor free of carpet is your best place to build. Get your screw drivers, anti-static strap (strap it on) and download the latest component drivers from the vendors’ websites and burn them to CD – often times the drivers that come with your product will be several versions out of date – this can help by reducing stress later on.

2. Installing the Mobo (motherboard)
Now we can begin with the good stuff: installing your mobo. Take the motherboard out of the anti-static packaging and place it on top of the same bag. Be careful to avoid creating any potentially “fatal” static electricity. Now, install the CPU, heat sink and memory modules. Do this before you screw in the motherboard. Since each motherboard is different, be sure to check your user manual as it will help guide you during the installation process. First, lift the lever on the processor socket so you can install the CPU. Carefully line up the pins and place the chip in its socket; do not force it, it will not fit unless it is orientated properly. An arrow or a missing pin on one corner of the chip will show you how to line things up. Lower the lever and lock the CPU into place.

Next, follow the manufacturer's directions to install the heat sink and the fan that will cool the processor. If you bought an OEM CPU and a separate heat sink, you may need to spread a thin layer of the thermal compound that came with the heat sink over the chip to ensure proper transfer of heat (some come with thermal compound already applied). Attaching the clip that holds the heat sink in place may require a fair amount of force. Plug the fan's power connector into the proper connector on the motherboard.

TIP: Choose the processor first: With the release of Intel’s new Conroe processors Intel has surpassed AMD as the leader in graphics processing. Not only that, they have also managed to be more energy efficient at it. Check the latest reviews...you will find this is not hype. Make sure you take extra time to choose the right processor – it is definitely the most important decision you will make.

TIP: Choose the motherboard after selecting the processor: Make sure, when selecting your CPU, that your processor is compatible with your motherboard. This is indicated by the “socket” of your process – check the detailed specs and you will find what processors your motherboard supports. Some only support AMD; while others only support Intel and certain types within each so be CERTAIN. Often times you can get both your process and your motherboard bundled – which means that your retailer has taken the time to ensure that both the mobo and processor are compatible – it is also a way to save a few bucks – not to mention saving time on the install. Socket A, Socket 939, and Socket 940 are designed to work with Athlon processors, while Socket 478 and the new LGA socket 775 are for Intel CPUs. The system chip set (the chips that pass data between the peripherals and the CPU) is the other component that differs among motherboards; it determines which integrated components (graphics, sound, Ethernet, etc.) will be included. I wouldn’t count on using your integrated chipset to run your games, but they are okay with the small things.

Eric owns Computer Secrets which helps others learn about how to build a computer.