microATX, also known as µATX (sometimes transliterated as mATX^[1] or uATX^[2][3] on online forums) is a small form factor standard for computer motherboards, with a maximum size of 244 mm × 244 mm (9.6 inches x 9.6 inches), but some uATX boards can be as small as 6.75 inches by 6.75 inches or 171.45 millimeters by 171.45 millimeters^[4]. The standard ATX size is 25% longer, at 305 mm × 244 mm (12″ wide x 9.6″ deep). Currently available microATX motherboards support CPUs from VIA, Intel or AMD. There are no known microATX motherboards for processor architectures other than x86 and x86-64. -Source

A typical motherboard of 2007 will have a different number of connections depending on its standard. A standard ATX motherboard will typically have 1x PCI-E 16x connection for a graphics card, 2x PCI slots for various expansion cards and 1x PCI-E 1x which will eventually supersede PCI.

A standard Super ATX motherboard will have 1x PCI-E 16x connection for a graphics card. It will also have a varying number of PCI and PCI-E 1x slots. It can sometimes also have a PCI-E 4x slot. This varies between brands and models.

Some motherboards have 2x PCI-E 16x slots to allow more than 2 monitors without special hardware or to allow use of a special graphics technology called SLI (for Nvidia) and Crossfire (for ATI). These allow 2 graphics cards to be linked together to allow better performance in intensive graphical computing tasks such as gaming and video editing. -Source

What’s your processor? It is very important for you to know what kind of CPU or processor you are using when buying your motherboard. For your information, motherboards are made differently. There is a tendency that the motherboard you bought will not support your CPU. You need to know what type of CPU you are using because this will determine the type of motherboard that you should purchase.

Let me give you an example, If you’re using Intel Pentium 4 CPU, you must select a motherboard that is capable of supporting that model of CPU. The speed of the processor is important. Motherboards are created to satisfy every need of the CPU.

A newbie in computer may intimated by the word overclocked. It is a free technique that can be done in tweaking the motherboard speed performance. It is all depend on the knowledge of the user on their motherboards. Overclocking tweaking or procedure may vary depending on the motherboard maker.

Overclocking is a process where the users try to alter the computer’s memory causing it to go faster than its default speed. As an example a 2.4GHz can be overclocked up to 2.5GHz or 2.6GHz higher. Thus the overall performance of the PC will increase and the additional speed will result more work done.

The motherboard or the mainboard is the core of the computer set, each part of the computer relies on the mainboard to work its part correctly. One of the main functions of motherboard is to maintain connection between each computer parts and make sure that components are working well between them.

Lots of signs of motherboard crashes are that the PC won’t boot up. It does not reach the POST test. It shows erratic behavior. Or something else of any combinations of components is not working. Because all parts in computer is associated to the motherboard a particular parts may or may not work properly if the motherboard is damaged

As everything you have on the PC sometime you need the motherboard, but you need to consider these components when buying a motherboard. If you have a lot of devices with a PCI interface that you wish to use, there is little point buying a motherboard that only offers you 3 PCI slots.

The features that have made PC’s so popular will never go away. Some people can live with a specialized appliance, and a lot of the PC market may shift to other products. However, many of us still want to have our own computer. The highest performance and newest software is likely to always be introduced first on the PC.

4.ISA

Nowadays, ISA or Industry Standard Architecture slot is becoming outdated and can not be found on all motherboard anymore., It is advisable to purchase a new motherboard with no ISA slots and additional PCI slots unless you have old ISA cards that need to be used

5.PCI
The PCI slot or Peripheral Component Interconnec, allows for all types of cards. This is also the most widely and commonly used slot today.

There are different types of slots in a motherboard.

Here are the definitions of the slots that are present in a PC motherboard:

1.AGP

The AGP, or Advanced Graphics Port, is used to contain video cards. It is highly recommended (and more practical) that only motherboards with AGP slots be considered to be bought.

2.AMR

The AMR, or Audio Modem Riser, is a type of slot that is utilized for Audio / Modem cards and is found on some motherboards. The Audi Modem Riser is not a very critical slot and has recently been replaced by the CNR (Communication and Network Riser).

To be Continued…