Where Do I Start

Of all the different things that one has to choose in a PC, where do I actually start?

Normally, we start off by deciding on the CPU–PIII/550, AMD/700, Celeron/550… and then go about deciding the motherboard and the other components.

However, the motherboard is a better starting point. Depending on the motherboard you have, most of the other options become fixed. It decides, or rather limits your future choice of a CPU and its clock speed, the maximum amount of RAM, the number and type of add-on cards, and even the type of cabinet you can use.

The CPU is one of the costliest items that go into a PC, particularly in a high-end one. So, starting with the motherboard also lets you be flexible when it comes to selecting the clock speed of the CPU, without necessarily sacrificing on performance.

For example, if you choose a board with higher performance, you could probably save quite a bit by choosing a CPU that’s one step behind the fastest in the market. Also, if you see the possibility of using a lot of add-on cards later, choosing a board with insufficient expansion slots could be a real bottleneck, and you may even have to replace your motherboard in future.

So, start with the right motherboard.