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What Should I Look for in a Used Motherboard?

John Lister
John Lister

A motherboard is a printed circuit board that physically holds most of the main components of a computer and provides connections for other components. As a very crude analogy, it could be compared to the skeleton in a human being. Buying a used motherboard can cut PC costs, but can also be a complicated process.

The first thing to check with a used motherboard is the form factor. This is the shape and size of the motherboard. The form factor of the motherboard must be compatible with both the PC casing and the power unit. Fortunately, most modern PCs use the same type of motherboard, known as ATX.

Motherboard.
Motherboard.

A used motherboard will only be of use if it is compatible with your components. The component most likely to cause trouble here is the CPU or central processing unit. The simplest way round this is to use a motherboard manufactured by the same company as the CPU. Other combinations may also be compatible.

The motherboard must also be compatible with the memory in your PC. This is affected by both the number of pins on the memory unit and whether it uses single or dual in-line memory modules. This compatibility requirement is why most computers are limited in how much memory they can house.

A dual core CPU mounted to a motherboard.
A dual core CPU mounted to a motherboard.

It's also important that the motherboard has adequate connectors and slots. The connectors are there to hook up to the hard drive and there are several types of connection such as IDE and SCSI. If these don't match up to the drive, there will be no way to install and use it.

Some of the key slots to look for are PCI, which is compatible with many types of computer card, and AGP, which is used with most video cards. Other types of card, such as audio or network cards, usually connect to the modern CNR slot. It's also important to check there are USB ports: virtually all new motherboards have them, but some older used motherboards might not, and this would be a serious limitation for a computer.

The wide range of potential incompatibilities with a motherboard is why replacing it in an existing machine can be a troublesome and expensive process. When building a computer from scratch, the situation is slightly different. In this case, whether opting for a new or used motherboard, it's generally best to plan in advance before buying any equipment, making it easier to ensure the motherboard and components are compatible and that there is adequate scope for adding other common components later on.

Discussion Comments

Vincenzo

One of the most important things you can do when choosing a motherboard is to get one that has way more RAM than you'll ever think you need. Max out that RAM and you may have a motherboard that will last for years.

Why? As operating systems and programs get more sophisticated, more RAM is needed to keep everything running quickly. That motherboard that might be sufficient today might be junk down the road because it you won't be able to add enough RAM to it to meet the needs of the programs you will want to use.

Logicfest

Everyone has a preference, but I would avoid saving a few bucks by picking up a used motherboard. You really want a new one. Who knows what shape the components in a used one are in? Remember -- if a motherboard fails, figuring out what went wrong is a chore. If you get a new one, make sure it has been tested and burned in to make sure everything is in working order.

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    • Motherboard.
      By: VIA Gallery
      Motherboard.
    • A dual core CPU mounted to a motherboard.
      A dual core CPU mounted to a motherboard.