Extremely simple question about motherboard choice..

[OscarWilde]

I'll apologize for my ignorance up front.. working on my first computer build (or at least choosing the components for my first build) and I have a question which I'm sure has a very simple answer.

When choosing the Mobo/ CPU I know that you need to match the socket type (in this case LGA 1155) What I can't remember is what the north bridge chipset type pertains to. I'm looking at a Mobo that has the "Intel Z77" chipset. Does this pertain to my CPU? I can't find any specification on my CPU that says anything about Z77. Is this just something integrated into the Mobo itself that I don't need to "match" with my other components?

So far this seems to be the hardest thing; making sure all my components are compatible with each other. Does anyone know of a resource out there where I can put in components and it will tell me if they are compatible?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[tylerjrb]

I'll apologize for my ignorance up front.. working on my first computer build (or at least choosing the components for my first build) and I have a question which I'm sure has a very simple answer.

When choosing the Mobo/ CPU I know that you need to match the socket type (in this case LGA 1155) What I can't remember is what the north bridge chipset type pertains to. I'm looking at a Mobo that has the "Intel Z77" chipset. Does this pertain to my CPU? I can't find any specification on my CPU that says anything about Z77. Is this just something integrated into the Mobo itself that I don't need to "match" with my other components?

So far this seems to be the hardest thing; making sure all my components are compatible with each other. Does anyone know of a resource out there where I can put in components and it will tell me if they are compatible?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Z77 is just the name and chipset contained, plus socket type, any lga 1155 socket cpu bqsically. The only other component containing this is the motherboard, hense what the cpu fits into. The motherboard socket.

In this case z77 is the lga1155 socket meaning it has 1155 pins and therefore this will only work with a lga 1155 socket cpu, which has pads to correctly connect to each pin

You would need a lga 1155 socket cpu and nothing else even a 1156 socket cpu in a 1155 mobo socket will not work.

With regards to components it will have no effect on any other components it being z77 other than the mobo socket and cpu socket.

Even the bridges would not matter, intel z77 chipset is only specified to what ever mobo its on and the cpu installed, as long as the cpu and mobo sockets match its fine.

Hope this helped, tyler.b

 

[Darren]

That's partially right. ^^

As far as CPU matching, as long as the socket is the same you should be good to go.

The chipset does have an effect on the rest. Generally from what I understand it also tends to have a specific set of features on the board like USB 3.0 or a certain type of PCI Express lanes. I wouldn't worry to much about it except figure out what the newest chipset is and go with that as it will generally have the most updated features.