How to Build a Motherboard

The motherboard is your computer's central command. Everything is connected to it from your processor to your hard drives and other peripherals. Building your own motherboard allows you more freedom of choice and lets you customize your system to your specific needs.

Things You'll Need

• System board
• Processor
• Connector cables
• Memory chips
• Video card
• Cooling devices

Instructions

1. Select the right size motherboard. If you are upgrading your current motherboard, your primary concern is the power source. You need the pins on your power source to match the output on the motherboard. Keep in mind that even if you want to buy a much larger motherboard than your computer used previously, you can always upgrade the power source, too. Different kinds of motherboards include ATX and microATX. This is the base foundation for you creating your motherboard.

2. Install your processor. The documentation that comes with your processor gives you more detail, but this is generally pretty easy. You lift the lever that allows you to place your processor into its sockets, lower the processor into the sockets and replace the lever.

3. Connect the IDE or SATA cables to your internal hard drive and any other peripherals you are using. Be sure you're using the right ones. Look at the connector on your internal hard drive. IDE cables have 16 bits and are long ribbon-like cables. If the internal hard drive needs a long 16-bit connector, use this. An SATA cable is a serial cable that uses 1.5 or 3.0 Gbits. You need to use this cable if your internal hard drive has eight prongs that need connected.

4. Install the chipsets and memory chips by inserting them on the memory modules. This is one of the best parts of building your own hard drive. You get to decide how much memory you will have. Your computer runs faster with more memory. The more bits you install on your motherboard, the more RAM memory you can install on your motherboard. You do have to have built your motherboard to accommodate the amount of memory you need, so make sure you install a large enough system chipset to meet your needs.

5. Plug in your video card. These go into your PCI/PCI Express slots. Most really good motherboards have places for more than one video card. The better the video card you use, the better performance you'll get when playing games and using other graphics-intense programs.

6. Ensure your cooling devices are working, because motherboards get very hot. Cooling fans are very popular, but you may want to look into more complicated methods such as watercooling.

7. Slide your motherboard into your computer's case. Connect the power source to the motherboard via the pin outs.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many kinds of motherboards with many kinds of connectors and you may want to make sure that everything you purchase will work together. For example, processors come in a wide range of socket numbers, and you'll want to make sure you've chosen the right one.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish