Motherboards and expansion cards

Buying guide

The motherboard decides which processor you can fit and how long you'll be able to keep upgrading the system. The socket must match the processor exactly, while the chipset dictates whether you get overclocking, how many M.2 slots and what USB speeds. Form factor is a question for the case: ATX is the most common, micro-ATX is more compact and mini-ITX is for small cases – check which sizes your case supports beforehand. If you plan to expand later, look at the number of RAM slots and the maximum memory speed too. An expansion card needs a free PCIe slot and adds ports the motherboard lacks.