What is the chipset
Other than the CPU socket, the other component of the motherboard that will affect what components that can be chosen
for compatibility purposes is the chipset of the motherboard. The chipset is the backbone of the motherboard
made of silicon; therefore, unlike many of the components in a computer, the chipset CANNOT be upgraded.
Again, this is because the chipset is physically integrated with the motherboard, which is why it is important to choose
the right chipset, because it affects compatibility and the specs of the motherboard. The chipset of the motherboard
determines what generation of CPUs it can support, which goes back to the chipset affecting the capabilities of the motherboard.
When a chipset is no longer able to handle the capabilities of a CPU, a newer more powerful chipset is needed.
What does the chipset do
The chipset plays a passive role in the system by determining the limits of what the motherboard can handle,
but this limitation exists due to the active role that the chipset has in motherboard function. The chipset
is responsible for managing the communications between the all the subsystems of the computer which include
the CPU, RAM, Storage, all the devices connected to the PCI expansion slots, and the peripherals. Because it manages
the communications between all components of the computer it can only handle so much communication before it starts falling behind;
it is this limitation that puts a hard cap on the amount of RAM, power of the CPU, number of USB ports, etc. that the motherboard supports.
How to select a chipset
So, if the chipset is so important in what the motherboard can support, the choosing the right chipset must be difficult
and prone to choosing the wrong one, right? You see, that's where you would be mistaken, the process of choosing
the right chipset is quite simple. The best way to approach this process is to:
- First choose the CPU you are going to want. While the process is still simple if you choose the motherboard first,
you would be limiting the pool of CPUs you can choose from. This can be a problem when the market for CPUs is dominated
by Intel and AMD, which further limits your options and could prevent you from choosing the CPU your heart desires.
Going the other way is more suitable as there are more options available to you when choosing the motherboard for the CPU
rather than choosing a CPU for the motherboard.
- After selecting the CPU that you desire, next you want to research the specs of the CPU. In the specifications of the CPU,
you'll find the chipset that it supports. Once you have obtained that piece of information, simply filter your search
of motherboards to only include motherboards with that chipset.
That is all there is to it when it comes to deciding on a chipset, if you follow these two steps when making your decision
the process should be straight forward and stress-free.