The motherboard is possibly the single most important piece of equipment that you'll install on your computer, and also the most delicate. Choosing a motherboard can be difficult, as it will determine what other components may be necessary or compatible with its hardware. When browsing for a new board, there are several things you should keep a look out for. These include:
- Does it have on-board wi-fi (some low end board don't and may require you to use a cable)
- Is it DDR3 or DDR4 ( A motherboard with DDR4 is not backwards compatible with DDR3)
- What is the CPU socket type/size (Always buy a processor that will match the motherboard)
- How many PCI-E slots does it have ( Multiple PCI-E ports may allow Crossfire or SLI Configurations)
- Number of fan headers ( a case with multiple fan headers is recommended, especially for overclocking)
- Motherboard size ( Standard size is ATX but sizes may vary from nano ITX to WTX )
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| Gigabyte Z170X Gaming G1 |
