Motherboards are the workhorses of computers, combining so many essential components like the processor, memory, video and sound cards, PCI devices and more. That's why it's important to find a motherboard that offers a flexible layout to accommodate customization and compatibility to let you use your preferred computer parts and upgrades.

Look for expansive memory capacity and PCI space to expand your personalization options.

Processor Type and Speed

The processor is the heart of your computer, so it's crucial to find a motherboard that supports the right types of processors to suit your needs. Whether you plan to use an Intel® 4th generation Core™ Pentium® or Celeron® processor or an AMD, Athlon™ II or Sempron™ processor, make sure your motherboard is compatible. Look out for the number of cores the motherboard supports; whether you plan to use a 4-core processor or an 8-core processor, we've got a solution for you.

Memory Bays

Multitasking is made easy by having the right amount of memory, so it's essential to ensure your motherboard has enough on-board memory plus enough expandable memory to suit your applications. If you anticipate the need to expand your computer's memory capacity in the future, consider an MSI motherboard with multiple memory bays that accommodate multiple modules to install up to 8GB or even 16GB of RAM. For other computer upgrades, consider computer parts and upgrades.

PCI

In order to install essential devices like a sound card, video card, network card, modem, drivers and more, you'll probably need to use a motherboard's PCI. Make sure a motherboard features a PCI that offers support for all of the devices and drives you plan to use, and look for special features, like PCI express controllers integrated that feature dedicated chipsets to help support onboard graphics output. Complete your PCI setup with PCI cards.

Desktop or Workstation?

Before deciding on a motherboard, consider your computer type. Are you buying a new motherboard for an individual desktop computer or for a workstation or server? Workstations and servers require more expansive motherboards and powerful processors that can easily handle multitasking activities.