Motherboard
The main circuit board connecting all PC components — CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, and peripherals. Determines which components are compatible with your build.
What does a motherboard do?
The motherboard is the central circuit board that connects every component in your PC. The CPU plugs into its socket, RAM slots into DIMM slots, GPUs connect via PCIe x16 slots, and NVMe SSDs plug into M.2 slots. The motherboard distributes power, manages data flow between components, and provides I/O connections (USB, audio, ethernet, display outputs).
The motherboard determines compatibility: which CPU socket it supports (AM5, LGA 1851), how many RAM slots and their type (DDR5), how many GPU and M.2 slots, and which chipset features are available (PCIe lanes, USB ports, overclocking support).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which motherboard to buy?
Start with your CPU — that determines the socket (AM5 for Ryzen 9000, LGA 1851 for Intel Arrow Lake). Then pick a chipset tier: budget (B650/B860), mid-range (X670/Z890), or high-end (X870E/Z890). Mid-range covers most gaming builds. Match the form factor to your case (ATX, mATX, ITX).