The motherboard is one of the most critical selections affecting the functionality of any build. So, why didn't we mention it first? Well, choosing your case, processor, and graphics solution first may narrow hundreds of possible models down to just a few best matches. Fortunately, our Beginner's Guide to Motherboard Selection contains most of the information needed to initiate first-time builders. In fact, the plethora of previously-published information available allows us to narrow motherboard selection down to a list of criteria:

- What form factor best matches the case you want to use? As seen above, smaller boards can be fit into larger cases, but not vice-versa.
- What interface does your CPU of choice use? Cross-compatibility is severely limited on AMD's sockets (such as AM3 processors in AM3+ motherboards), and Intel's LGA interfaces are exclusive (meaning no cross-compatibility).
- Has the board been approved to work with the processor you picked? In some cases, even if a CPU fits into a particular socket, it may not be supported by a given motherboard's most up-to-date firmware. CPU compatibility lists on each motherboard's website usually refer to specific BIOS versions, and you wouldn't want to end up with a board manufactured three months ago if the BIOS your CPU needs is only two months old.
- How many graphics cards will be installed? Most graphics cards use PCIe x16 slots, and many motherboards appear to have three of them, but the third slot is often impeded in some technical manner. It's important to read motherboard reviews to find out how this might affect your build.
- "Riser cards" allow case manufacturers to produce thinner cases by turning expansion cards sideways. If the case uses a riser card, does it match the motherboard’s slot?
- Non-graphics expansion cards usually fit into PCIe x8, x4, x1 or legacy PCI slots. How many do you plan to use, and what slot type is required for each? Shorter PCIe cards can be placed in longer PCIe slots, but the reverse isn't usually true. And some motherboards share resources between slots, making it necessary to read the board's specifications table or our motherboard reviews.
- If on-board graphics are used, which display outputs are required? Some motherboards give you VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort, and DVI connectors. Others don't give you any. Most on-board graphics processors support a maximum number of two or three displays, as discussed on the manufacturer's specifications table and in our chipset coverage.

- If on-board sound is used, what type of audio system connection is required? Audio over HDMI is nearly universal, but standalone digital audio systems typically use optical or coaxial cables. And live compression of 5.1-and-above sound streams to a digital output typically requires either DTS Connect or Dolby Digital Live (DDL), which is outlined both by the manufacturer and at the bottom of the features table in our motherboard reviews.
- How many network connections will be used?
- Will eSATA, Thunderbolt, or other specialized interfaces be useful?
- What other external connections might be required?
- How many Serial ATA, mSATA, M.2, or SATA Express drives will be installed?
- Will RAID be required? If so, what modes are needed?
- How many memory modules will be installed?
- Will the board be overclocked?
Once you know the answers to these questions, you're ready to take a closer look at our motherboard reviews!
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Summary
- Step One: Size Up A Case
- Step 2: Select Your CPU
- Step 3: Select Your Graphics
- Step 4: Select A Motherboard
- Step 5: Select Memory
- Step 6: Select Storage
- Step 7: Select A Power Supply
- Other Components
- Step 8: Choose Your Vendor
- Step 9: Preparing For Assembly
- Step 10: Build The Platform (CPU, Cooler, And DRAM)
- Step 11: Install Motherboard And Power Supply
- Step 12: Install Cables, Cards, And Drives
Ask a Category Expert
Cheers!
Cheers!
Wonderful as usual toms.. Appreciate it..
Great article! No doubt this is going to help a lot of folks.
Thanks, guys!
I think you missed a section for "SLI - XFire", but it's great overall. Since its a guide for folks with little to no knowledge, I think it would help them to dispel myths and get some facts over XFire and SLI.
Cheers!
First I put the motherboard into the PC (not fastened) to see where the standoffs are going to be placed onto the case. Also I note what routes I'm going use for my cabling. Then I take the motherboard out and insert the standoffs and port plate into the case. Also I take my case cables (power sw, reset sw, USB, front audio and mic cables and put a twist tie around them all and place them near where they are to be plugged into the motherboard. These cables are easy to lose track of.
Next I place the power supply, and "bay devices" (optical drives, non-removable storage, etc) into the case and have those cables attached and either hanging over the outside of the case or routed behind the motherboard tray. This obviously depends on how you determined the cables will be routed earlier.
Then I take my motherboard, put the CPU, RAM, and cooling system on as much as I can. Then I place the whole thing into the case - usually at an angle at first, leading with the side with the RAM (which is normally going behind the case bays in smaller cases) in first.
At this point it's just a matter of aligning the motherboard with the standoffs and port plate. Plug it all in (including the case plugs which are conveniently out of the way and together).
Power it all on and volia!
Otherwise, it was a good article. People who are uncertain of building their own PCs can learn a lot from it.
The 647W is measured at the wall socket, as the article mentions input power. After taking into account the 85% efficiency of their power supply in this example, the PSU is only outputting 549.95W to the PC components at max load. Adding some headroom they come to the 600W PSU recommendation.
Personally I'd like a little more headroom, but the calculations in the article are correct.
Building your own is great fun, and most serious users should probably give it a try at least once in their lives. Given that, I'd recommend an annual "refresh" of this article, with updated info and re-validated links to corresponding reference articles and resource forums.
A great service to your readers!
I wanted to comment on the power supply part of the article. One is the efficiency and the total cost to use versus the front end purchase cost. A less efficient system will obviously create more total heat as wasted energy. But aside from possibly making someones room rather uncomfortable, it also increases your airconditioning energy use. A good rule of thumb is that an AC system will use 50% of the heat energy. To add the total annual cost, multiply that times the percentage of the year that the AC is on. So your example of a 647W system with 85% PSU would give (550W used):
647W - 550W = 93W at plug
93W * 50% = 47W AC energy
Total Energy (summertime) = 93W + 47W = 140W
If the AC were on the while year and the PC were on continuously, this is about $140 annually, or almost $12 per month added electricity in the summer. If you did the same thing with a cheap 70% efficient system, you get $248 annual cost which is $20.63 per month summertime cost. At a difference of $8, it does not take many months (of continuous on!) to make the more efficient PSU make much more sense.
The other topic I wanted to comment on is ESD. I am an engineer and work with ESD issues everyday. It is a very real an poorly understood issue by many because of the often hidden or delayed failures that it causes. ESD many time causes walking wounded damage without an immediate failure, which finally fails several months later. And if you look at websites sell PC parts, many people complain of DOAs. Many, many DOAs are caused by ESD. Memory, CPUs, motherboards, HDDs, and other sensitive systems are often returned as DOA, driving up the cost of the PC enthusiast market and adding frustration. In research texts, they estimate the global electronic failures due to ESD to be 40-60% of the total failures over product life.
So that little $5 ESD wrist strap is money well spent. Buy one and reduce your heartburn.
Charles
So that little $5 ESD wrist strap is money well spent. Buy one and reduce your heartburn.
Charles
The only problem with wrist straps is that most people don't want to be "tied" to anything. They're a great idea that's really rarely needed. Feel free to say otherwise if you live in the desert.