Many people know what a motherboard is, but some people don’t. A motherboard is a device inside any computer that interacts with your programs and services. Without a motherboard, you wouldn’t be able to operate your computer. There are three main types of motherboards. Knowing the difference between these three types can help you purchase the best motherboard for your computer.
Regular & Ordinary
The first type of motherboard is regular and ordinary. This motherboard connects to your computer through a USB port or parallel port. These motherboards are most often used by PCs that relate to their computers through ports on their front. These are also the most expensive and are typically only available in white. They can also have extra features like sound and video cards.
PCI Slot
The second type of motherboard is the unique one. It connects to your computer via a PCI slot. Although this is one of the rare types of motherboards, it is one of the most influential and most expensive.
Finally, the third type of motherboard is the one that is available with three different options. One is a desktop with a standard type of PCI slot. Another is the one with an ATX form factor that allows the industrial motherboard to use all the extra slots on your computer.
Features & Price Tags
So now that you know the three main types of motherboards, what should you look for when shopping for one? The price should be your number one consideration. There are many different manufacturers of motherboards. Each one seems to produce motherboards with other features and price tags. Your final decision on which one you want will be influenced heavily by the amount of space you have to work with. If you have ample motherboard space, then you want to consider spending more for one with all of the bells and whistles.
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Optimal Performance
Now that you know the three types of motherboards, what should you look for in a motherboard to ensure optimal performance? First off, you need to make sure that the motherboard can support all the different types of hardware you want to put on it. Some motherboards only have one PCI slot. Ensure that you get the motherboard with the most slots possible so that you do not have to start over again replacing all of the other PCI cards you may have added on.
Power Supply
Something else to consider about motherboards is their power supply. Some of the older motherboards may not have a proper power supply plugged into them. If this is the case, you need to make sure that you find a motherboard that uses a regular power supply. This will save you some time and money if something goes wrong with your power supply.
Now that you understand what the three types of motherboards are, you are ready to look at your new computer. Just remember what kind of motherboard you have and how they work. It should only take you a few minutes. Once you have done that, you can start to compare motherboards and see which ones will be the best fit for you. Good luck!
Motherboard Spec Sheet
One of the first things you should do before buying a new computer is to download a motherboard spec sheet from many websites with information about motherboards. This will give you the basic specs of each motherboard that you are considering, along with the best price that you can buy it in. Be sure to check this out, even after you find the motherboard that you want. You never know when there will be better deals out there.
Expansion Slots
Another thing to keep in mind when choosing a motherboard is the expansion slots. The motherboard will usually come with all of the necessary places to allow you to plug in a mouse, a keyboard, and a monitor. Make sure that you understand what those extra slots are for so that you do not end up buying a more expensive computer just because you decided to go with an expensive motherboard. You will probably need six to eight extra slots for whatever you will be doing on the computer. You should check each of these out before you buy the motherboard.
Last Word:
These are just some of the things to keep in mind when looking at the three types of motherboards? There is more to learn, but you will have a general idea of what to look for. If you want to learn more about computers and their inner workings, you might consider taking an online computer class. You will learn about the parts and how they work on your computer, along with the proper maintenance procedures. It is worth taking a course to understand more about your computer.