Motherboards with Price: $500.00 - $600.00; Form Factor: DIMM, Micro ATX
Whether you’ve got a laptop or desktop, the motherboard is the command centre of your computer. Held discreetly within the casing of your computer, it’s the main printed circuit board contained within a computer and is accordingly responsible for powering all of the other elements contained within — whether internal hardware like a graphics card or external peripherals like your keyboard. But they’re not pure hardware, either; they also contain firmware in order to effectively run all of these components.
Motherboards are remarkably durable and don’t need to be repaired or replaced very often — but when something does go wrong, it’s critical that you’re able to source a new one as soon as possible. Your computer can depend on it.
Selecting a new motherboard for your PC
One of the daunting aspects of motherboards for people who are new to constructing their own PCs is the fact that they’re not universal. Most other PC peripherals have their own quirks, eccentricities and power level according to model brand, but they functionally do the same thing; a keyboard is still a keyboard; a graphics card is still a graphics card.
Motherboards are more individualised and accordingly, your selection must be more careful; you want to be sure that you have enough slots to install your desired attachments, while still being able to keep it appropriately cool and ensure that it fits inside your intended computer case. But the key advantage that motherboards offer as a result of their individualised nature is their ability to customise and upgrade the peripherals which are attached to it. Sound card defunct? No problem. Pull it out and replace it with a newer, more up to date one. Require more RAM? Stick in a spare slot. You’re not tied to a series of preset devices in the same way that you might be if you had bought a computer off the shelf.
It won’t come as a surprise to know that the gaming community has given considerable thought to what sort of options are best when it comes to getting the most grunt out of your motherboard. But realistically, there are five main considerations when making a purchase
- Does it fit inside your preferred case? It’s an oft-overlooked factor, but it’s something that can cause a huge amount of nuisance if you don’t find out ahead of time.
- Does it contain enough expansion slots and ports to work with all of your add-ons? Don’t forget that you may wish to add more in the future, so having spare slots isn’t a bad idea.
- Do the CPU socket & MOBO chipset support your CPU? Will they be compatible with all of its features? If not, it won’t be able to connect to your preferred processor.
- Does it have adequate DIMM slots for the amount of RAM you’re looking to operate with?
- Will it provide all of the features you feel are necessary for your PC? (e.g. Wi-Fi, audio, high-end graphics cards)
Leading motherboard brands at Wireless 1
Looking to score a brand new gaming motherboard? After a replacement for the family PC? Shop online with Wireless 1 today for all of your motherboard needs — we’ve got a great range of brands and models, including Gigabyte Motherboards, Asus Motherboards and many more. And if you’re not sure what you’re after, get in touch with one of our team today — we’ll be more than happy to help you make the right selection.