You could just buy something else, but a cheaper option may be to upgrade your existing system, and nothing delivers quite as many powerful possibilities as a new motherboard.

Choose the right motherboard and you'll be able to install more modern CPUs, for instance. Better design, enhancements like 6Gbps SATA ports, and support for new standards, such as USB 3, can help to make a major difference in performance (as long as you've devices to take advantage of them). And you could get a host of extras: more expansion slots, extra USB ports, embedded graphics maybe, better sound, Gigabit LAN ports and more.

Of course you'll have to find your dream motherboard, first, and with hundreds of models on the market that's no easy task. You'll need a way to cut the choice down to something more manageable, and the best way to start that process is by selecting a processor.

CPU options

Every motherboard provides a CPU socket, which holds your processor in place, connects it to the motherboard, supports a heat sink, and so on. Intel and AMD have different socket types, and also modify them over time, so there are plenty to choose from.

If you plan to use your old CPU with the new motherboard, of course, the decision is already made: you'll need to buy a motherboard with a compatible socket. (Not sure what you're using? Download and install HWiNFO32, run the program, select your CPU under Central Processors and check the "CPU Platform" entry.) Though beware: if this is an old motherboard type, buying something similar will seriously limit any opportunities for enhancing your PC in future.

Otherwise, though, you get to choose the CPU socket that best suits your needs. If you're thinking of buying a basic Intel CPU, a Core i3 or Core i5 processor, then a motherboard supporting the LGA1156 CPU socket would be a good choice.

If you're spending more money, buying a Core i7 CPU, then LGA1366 support is probably what you're after. And if you simply want the cheapest replacement possible, then an LGA775 motherboard will support Core 2 Duo and Celeron 1000 processors, but don't expect any new features: these boards are effectively obsolete.

Your AMD choices are a little simpler, fortunately. If you intend to use an up-to-date AMD CPU - the budget Sempron 140, mid-range Athlon II (after the 920/ 940) or high-end Phenom II - then you'll want a Socket AM3 motherboard. Older CPUs like the Athlon II 920/ 940 or Phenom will require a Socket AM2+, perhaps a Socket AM2, but again, these designs are discontinued and you should avoid them if at all possible.

AFFORDABLE POWER:AMD'sPhenom II X4 965 CPUdelivers decent performance for under £150

Wondering which CPU will suit you best, how much it might cost? Check our processor reviews to find the best deals

Chipset

The next step in choosing your motherboard is to select a chipset. This defines many of the features you'll get on a board - does it have integrated graphics, for instance? - and can seem very complicated. But don't get confused by the jargon, once you get down to the basics then it's quite simple.

If you opted earlier for an LGA1156 motherboard, for instance, then models based on the Intel H55 chipset generally deliver good performance and can be overclocked well. They also include integrated graphics, so you won't need a separate card (although you can add one later, which may be a good idea as the board's graphics aren't fast enough for serious gaming).

LGA1156 motherboards are also available using the Intel H57, Q57 and P55 chipsets. The H57 and P55 are notable as they support ATI CrossFire (you're able to install multiple graphics cards), though other limitations mean this won't necessarily offer great performance.

If you'd selected an LGA1366 motherboard previously, then it's an easier choice: the Intel X58 chipset is your only option.

AMD AM3 boards come in two main flavours. If you need onboard graphics, then select either the AMD 880G or 890GX chipsets (the latter is faster and offers more options); otherwise you can choose between the budget AMD870, and the high-end 890FX. Buy the best you can afford.

If you're a keen gamer and plan to install multiple graphics cards then you'll also need to make sure that your motherboard is up to the challenge. It should support CrossFire if you're aiming to use ATI graphics cards, SLI if you'll be buying Nvidia.

If you selected a more basic CPU socket, though, an LGA775 or AM2, then we wouldn't be too concerned about chipsets. What will matter to you are the features you get, and so that's what we'll look at next.

PRICEY: The Zotac GeForce GTX 460is a great graphics card, but it's £200. A board with integrated graphics could save you plenty of cash

Read our MSI 880GMA-E45 review

Read our Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R review

Read our AMD 890 FX-based ASRock 890FX Deluxe 3 review

Motherboard features

While chipsets provide a basic reference design for your motherboard, there's nothing to stop manufacturers playing around with this. And they do. All the time.

So knowing that a board has, say, an LGA1156 chipset, doesn't necessarily tell you how many ports it will have, how many expansion slots, which USB standards it supports, or anything else.

What you need to do, then, is decide the features you'll expect from your board, as well as the CPU and chipset, and that will help you pin your options down to just a few candidates.

If expansion really matters - you want to install a couple of NVIDIA graphics cards, say - then two PCI 16x slots will be required. But you should also read the small print to see how many "lanes" - electrical connections - each slot has. These are used to transfer data, so less lanes means reduced speed: you'll want both slots to have at least 8 lanes to get decent performance.

USB 3.0 support is something else to look out for, promising a theoretical 10x speed increase over USB 2.0. You'll need USB 3.0 peripherals to take advantage of it (though you can use USB 2.0 devices on a 3.0 PC), but they're already arriving. If you want to help future-proof your PC then this a feature worth having.

SATA 6Gbps looks similarly impressive, doubling the bandwidth you'll get from a standard 3Gbps SATA II connection. This doesn't mean your SATA hard drive will appear to double in speed, though - the benefits depend on the drive itself, its controller design, your applications and more. If your drive is old then it may offer little, if any advantage, but buy a new drive in the next few months and it'll be a very different story. Again, SATA 6Gbps is worth getting for future-proofing.

And don't forget the basics.

Like RAM, for instance. If you're upgrading from an old system then it'll probably use DDR2 memory. Modern boards require DDR3, though, so you'll need to account for that in your budget. And if you're planning to install a 64-bit operating system then (finally) you'll be able to access more than 4GB, so it may be worth looking at the RAM capacity of each board.

RAM CHECK:Make sure your chosen motherboard supports the type and capacity of RAM you want to fit

Next, think about how many regular PCI-E slots you need, how many USB or Ethernet ports. What about drive support? If you're planning to use old IDE drives then look for boards that can cater for that; otherwise check how many SATA ports are on offer.

Consider your audio needs: do you want a board with full 7.1 digital surround sound output, or will simple stereo be enough?

And, finally, don't forget the motherboard form factor, the motherboard size: it would be very useful if it actually fit in your old case. ATX (305x244mm) is the standard, but there's also Micro-ATX (170x170mm), Micro-ATX (244x244mm) and E-ATX (305x330mm).

Put this all together and you should have a lengthy list of requirements: now it's just a matter of finding some matches. Pay a visit to our motherboard reviews for in-depth coverage of the latest releases, easy product and price comparisons. Or simply search your favourite online store with keywords describing what you'd like - "LGA1366", "X58", "USB 3.0", say - to quickly highlight the motherboard that's right for you.

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Liked this? Then check out 8 of the best AM3 motherboards

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