| Motherboard is the heart of the whole computer | | | | RAM so that you have the option to upgrade in the |
| system. It is the part that connects all the other parts | | | | future. |
| together and make sure they run smoothly. As such, | | | | SLI/ Crossfire ready |
| choosing the best gaming motherboard is the most | | | | SLI / Crossfire ready motherboard means that you |
| important task that you need to do when building a | | | | can make use of two identical high performing |
| gaming computer. This article will teach you how to | | | | graphics card to render the graphics, thus achieving a |
| choose the best gaming motherboard. | | | | faster and more realistic video effects. Not every |
| Decide which type of CPU to use | | | | motherboard supports this feature. As video effects |
| This may seem irrelevant to choosing a motherboard. | | | | getting more and more advanced, it will be soon that |
| In actual fact, this is the most important thing you need | | | | SLI or Crossfire technology becomes the standard for |
| to do before selecting a motherboard. The reason | | | | video display. Therefore, even if you are not using this |
| being that the type of CPU will determine the type of | | | | technology now, it is still advisable to get a gaming |
| motherboard you need. For example, if you choose an | | | | motherboard with SLI or Crossfire feature. |
| Intel CPU, then you have to get the socket 775 | | | | SATA 2 controller |
| motherboard or else the CPU won't fit into the | | | | SATA2 can transfer data at twice the speed of |
| motherboard. Deciding on the type of CPU will help | | | | SATA 1. When it comes to gaming, every single speed |
| you to make a better choice when choosing the best | | | | counts and that increase in speed might be the |
| gaming motherboard. | | | | deciding factor in your game. A SATA 2 port is |
| Determine if the motherboard supports the type of | | | | backward compatible with SATA 1 devices, but not |
| CPU you have chosen | | | | the other way round. It is better for you to get a |
| As mentioned before, if you are using an Intel CPU, | | | | motherboard that supports SATA 2 devices. In |
| you have to get a socket 775 motherboard whereas | | | | addition, if you are using RAID, then you have to get a |
| an AMD CPU requires a socket AM2 motherboard. In | | | | motherboard that has four SATA 2 ports. |
| addition, some of the older socket 775 motherboards | | | | Extra Features |
| do not support dual core processors (even though | | | | You might want to consider extra features such as |
| they use the same socket) or even quad-core | | | | extra USB2.0 ports, firewire, integrated LAN and |
| processors. Check out the manufacturer's website to | | | | front-panel LED when choosing a gaming |
| get confirmation before you buy the motherboard. | | | | motherboard. Some of the motherboards contain |
| Overclocking feature | | | | more features than the other and you have to |
| If you are overclocking your CPU, you have to get a | | | | compare around to see the differences. |
| motherboard that allows you to change the FSB | | | | Features such as integrated sound and video are not |
| speed and CPU voltage in small increments. | | | | as important in the best gaming motherboard since |
| RAM support and no of memory slot | | | | they could not contribute well to a good gaming |
| Your motherboard must be able to support DDR2 | | | | session. For a gaming computer, you have to get a |
| RAM, for a simple reason that DDR2 is currently the | | | | separate graphics card and sound card so as to play |
| fastest RAM in the market. Extra thing to take note is | | | | the latest game in the market. |
| the maximum speed of RAM that the motherboard | | | | Conclusion |
| supports. Some motherboards can support only up to | | | | When getting the best gaming motherboard, it is |
| DDR2 667MHz RAM while the latest ones can | | | | worthwhile to do some market research and compare |
| support up to DDR2 1066MHz. | | | | with various boards. Since it is the most important part |
| In addition, you may want to upgrade your RAM in the | | | | in the whole computer system, don't ever scrimp |
| future, therefore your current motherboard must have | | | | money on it. |
| at least 4 memory slots and can support up to 8GB | | | | |