Motherboard compatibility for a newb

[Jineus]

Hello, I'm a complete newb when it comes to computers. and I want to build a new computer.

I play a lot of Starcraft 2, but my sucky laptop can BARELY handle it on the LOWERST settings. It gets so annoying.
For educational, and financial purposes, I want to build my own computer, but how can I check if a motherboard is compatible with the CPU or GPU and everything else?

Also, what graphics card would be able to handle SC2 high or ultra settings without lag?

My budget isn't decided yet; it would depend on the price of the graphics card, since I don't want to bottleneck my computer.

Thank you

 

[Pengle]

To check if a mobo is compatible with a CPU, you check the socket, for an AMD CPU it's a Socket AMD3/AM2/AM2+, for a Intel CPU it should be LGA 1156. As for GPU compatibility, most graphics cards use the PCI-E 2.0/2.1.

I'd say the GTX 460 would be good

 

[Jineus]

oh! thank you, so I don't have to worry about GPU's compatibility since, they're mostly all same?

And what about this graphic's card? this is much cheaper than GTX 460.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102873&cm_mmc=SNC-YouTube-_-na-_-na-_-na

 

[T_T]

For budgeting purpose, i suggest you review these articles:

1. 4 cases...

2. Best gaming cpu's...

3. factory overclocked GPUs...

4. building a balanced gaming pc

5. best GPUs for the money

Tom's Hardware has done all the research for you, just review their results...

good luck