Final Thoughts
Buying a motherboard shouldn't be difficult. Simply choose a processor, a chipset, your preferred form factor, and expansion devices, then pick the motherboard that most closely matches those needs. But even experts can stumble when a specific build requirement puts these decisions out of order, creating issues like "who makes a microATX board with the chipset I want?" In the end, buyers of all experience levels are often forced to modify their selection criteria.
If you've pre-selected anything other than a full-sized ATX case, be prepared to make compromises. Smaller boards required for use with smaller cases often have fully-integrated mainstream chipsets rather than top-performance parts. Be prepared to accept on-board devices you won't use, since these can be disabled anyway. And try not to be upset about paying for unwanted features, since a motherboard custom-produced to match your specific needs would be far more expensive than one designed for everyone whose needs are somewhat similar to yours.
Luckily, beginners have access to all the resources that professionals use to determine their needs, through review sites like ours and support communities such as our Community Forums.
