A motherboard is the one component that has to agree with everything else in the machine. Get it wrong and nothing else you bought will work together.
The socket must match the processor
The socket is the physical and electrical interface for the CPU. A processor made for one socket will not fit another, and there is no adapter. Confirm the exact socket your chosen processor uses before looking at anything else on the board.
The chipset decides what the board can do
Two boards with the same socket can differ considerably. The chipset governs how many fast storage and expansion lanes you get, whether the board supports overclocking, and how many USB ports it can drive.
Form factor has to fit the case
- ATX: the standard size, most expansion slots
- Micro-ATX: shorter, fits more cases, fewer slots
- Mini-ITX: the smallest, usually one expansion slot
Check the case specification for the sizes it accepts. A smaller board always fits a larger case; the reverse is not true.
Memory support
Boards support a specific memory generation, a maximum capacity and a list of validated speeds. Memory faster than the board supports will run slower, not faster, so paying for it gains nothing.
The things people forget
- How many M.2 slots there are, and whether using one disables a SATA port
- Whether the rear panel has the ports you need, since these cannot be added later
- Whether the board needs a firmware update to accept a newer processor
Bring us your processor and memory choice and we will confirm the board matches before you order.