Motherboard Selection Criteria's

I am often asked to make recommendations for purchases. Without guidance, many individuals have no rhyme or reason for their selections and instead base their choices solely on magazine reviews or, even worse, on some personal bias. To help eliminate this haphazard selection process, I have developed a simple motherboard selection checklist.
It helps to think like an engineer when you make your selection. Consider every aspect and detail of the motherboards in question. For instance, you should consider present usage as well as future uses and upgrades. Technical support at a professional (as opposed to a user) level is extremely important.
The following list includes some of the most important criteria to consider when selecting a motherboard:

1. Motherboard chipset—The motherboard chipset is the backbone of a system and it affects and influences virtually every other component in the system. So Before buying, compare the features of the available chipsets to ensure that the board will do what you want. For example, some chipsets include support for faster memory, PCIe 2.x cards, SATA 6Gbps drives, and optional RAID capabilities.
2. Processor socket—The processor socket on a motherboard dictates about the processor models you will be able to install. In most cases you will have a processor in mind, so choose a motherboard with a socket that supports the processor you want to use. Check the motherboard specifications for what specific processors are supported by a given motherboard.
3. Memory—The type and amount of memory compatible with a system depends on the motherboard you choose. Most motherboards today support either DDR2 or DDR3 memory, in either single-, dual-, or triple-channel operation. The number of memory sockets, supported speeds, and other variables also depend on the motherboard, so check the board specifications to see exactly what is supported.
4. Form factor—The form factor indicates the size and shape of the board and must be compatible with the chassis or case and power supply. For maximum flexibility, performance, reliability, and ease of use, motherboards based on the ATX and microATX form factors are recommended. Larger form factors such as ATX offer more slots and room for additional integrated components and features. Smaller variations on ATX are also available, but in the end you need to be sure that the motherboard is compatible with the case and power supply you have chosen.
5. Bus slots—Current systems offer one to five or more PCI and PCI Express slots (depending on the form factor). Some boards have more than one PCIe x16 (video card) slot, which you may want if you are running multiple video cards in an SLI or Crossfire X arrangement. Make sure the board you choose has the number and types of slots you require. Keep in mind that PCI is fading away on the latest motherboards, so if you want to use existing PCI cards, make sure you choose a motherboard that has enough PCI slots or has integrated ports that replace the functionality of your PCI cards.
6. Onboard ATA interfaces—All motherboards on the market have included onboard Serial and Parallel ATA interfaces for some time now, but not all are equal. Look for boards that include at least four to six SATA connectors, with support for 6Gbps operation as well as optional RAID functionality (if desired).
7. Other built-in interfaces—Ideally, a motherboard should contain as many built-in standard controllers and interfaces as possible. Most boards feature integrated USB, sound, and LAN (look for those offering gigabit Ethernet), whereas others also have integrated video, FireWire, eSATA, dual LAN adapters, and more. Motherboards with the latest generation of USB (USB 3.0) and SATA (6Gbps) are likely to cost more than boards using USB 2.0 and SATA 3Gbps, but by the time you add expansion cards to gain these features, the total cost of upgrading a board lacking these features added to the original motherboard cost usually makes the board with faster ports a better buy.
8. Documentation—Good technical documentation is important. Documents should be easy to download from the manufacturer’s site and should include information on any and all jumpers and switches found on the board, connector pinouts for all connectors, specifications for other plug-in components, and any other applicable technical information. Most vendors provide this information in electronic form ( PDF format) on their websites, so you can preview the information available for a given motherboard before you buy.
9. Technical support—Good online technical support goes beyond documentation. It includes easily downloadable driver and BIOS updates, FAQs, updated tables of processor and memory compatibility, and utility programs to help you monitor the condition of your system. In addition to these online support features, make sure the vendor can be contacted through email and by phone.Purchasing boards from better-known motherboard manufacturers such as GIGABYTE, Foxconn, and Intel is recommended. These boards might cost a little more, but there is some safety in the more well-known brands. That is, the more boards they sell, the more likely that any problems will have been discovered by others and solved long before you get yours. Also, if service or support is necessary, the larger vendors are more likely to be around in the long run.