Building a PC from scratch should start with choosing a motherboard. It is a basic component and determines the further potential for using more powerful equipment if the user plans to upgrade in the future.
Most users mistakenly believe that the most difficult stage in the assembly process is connecting all the components into one whole. Making the right choice out of dozens of proposed models is a much more difficult task.
What characteristics to look for when choosing a motherboard
It is necessary to decide in advance which processor of which manufacturer will be used in the assembly. Fortunately, the choice is limited and limited to two competing firms: Intel and AMD. The most important of the characteristics of a motherboard is the presence of a specific socket. In order not to get confused and make the right choice, you need to remember the basic concepts: LGA - socket for Intel processors; AM3, AM4, FM2 - socket for AMD processors.
The more connectors, the more RAM strips you can put in them. The ideal solution is motherboards that have four slots. Modern technologies are moving towards minimizing the used space and increasing the increase in functionality. In other words, two slots for RAM are quite enough if you install two large-volume RAM bars in them.
It is important to pay attention to the frequency of the RAM that the motherboard supports. High frequency memory strips will improve the performance of the integrated graphics adapter. This is "the more, the better" business.
Don't overlook the type of RAM. At the time of this writing, DDR4 is exactly what you need.
This item indicates the size of the motherboard, and, therefore, the choice of the case of the system unit will depend on this. There are several short designations: Mini-ATX, Micro-ATX, ATX, the dimensions of which correspond to 170 x 170 mm, 244 x 244 mm, 305 x 244 mm.
External ports of the motherboard are used to connect peripheral devices to the system unit, such as a mouse, keyboard, audio speakers. It is necessary to decide in advance which of the interfaces must be present on the motherboard and in what quantity. An example would be the USB 3.0 port, which is a must on a modern computer. If the motherboard does not have this interface in its arsenal, then it will no longer be suitable for purchase.
A big plus will be the presence of built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adapters. Their integration into the motherboard will affect the price, but the functionality of a home PC will significantly increase.
At a cost, 10-20% of the total budget for assembling a system unit should be the motherboard.
