Against the background of the rapid development of digital technologies, modern computer technology is quickly becoming obsolete. In this article, we will look at possible ways to upgrade your PC to increase its performance.

Introduction

In the modern world, the rapid development of digital technologies has led to the fact that a newly acquired computer, even the most productive at the time of purchase, becomes hopelessly outdated in a very short time. If the service life of ordinary household appliances is at least 10 years, then for computers it decreases 2-3 times.

When a computer is used for a narrow range of tasks, for example, to work with office applications and the Internet, the issue of updating is not as acute as in the case of universal use. If the computer is used as a gaming platform, video and photo processing, listening to music and watching movies, then the subsequent updating of components becomes desirable and necessary.

Determining when the time has come for such an upgrade-update (English Upgrade - improvement, modernization) is very simple even without complex measurements: if a new game does not start or runs too slowly, and new programs take a long time to load, then the computer needs an upgrade. Do not forget that the Internet is becoming more and more interactive every year, acquiring at the same time high-definition videos, high-resolution photos, high-quality on-line games and other content that places high demands on computer system resources.

Components affecting performance

Inside the computer system unit, the same metal case, which is usually located at the bottom of the computer desk or just on the floor, there is a number of components from which, like from children's blocks, the required functionality is assembled.

The basis of the entire system is the motherboard, into which the central processor, RAM and video card are connected. Replacing these components (all or selectively) can significantly increase the overall performance of the system.

Another component that has some effect on system performance is the hard drive. Despite the fact that its main function is to store information, the speed of its reading and writing strongly affects the launch of applications and the operating system as a whole.

Other components of the system unit do not affect performance and are replaced for other reasons.

Identifying installed components

Before going to the store for new components, you need to decide in advance what you can count on and whether it is advisable to update your computer at all. Moreover, in order to install a new processor, graphics card, or increase the amount of RAM, you need to make sure that the motherboard of your computer supports certain models of the new components. To understand all this, you need to understand what parts are currently in your car and, based on the information received, assess the prospects for a future upgrade.

There are several ways to determine the configuration of your computer, but the easiest of them is to use special utilities, which are not difficult to find. As part of this material, we will use the free Piriform Speccy program.

As you can see from the figure, after starting, the utility shows general information on system resources and the installed operating system. Also, with the help of it, you can easily get more detailed data about the installed processor and its characteristics, RAM, video card and other necessary components.

Now that we have a tool in our hands that allows us to determine all the necessary parameters of a computer, let's take a closer look at the main details that primarily affect the performance of a PC.

CPU

The central processor is a kind of computer brain and carries out all the mathematical calculations. Replacing this component with a faster model allows you to take your PC to a whole new level and generally improve its performance in all applications. For example, it will speed up video transcoding and editing, loading the operating system and many other programs, performing complex engineering calculations, and many other tasks.

In addition, new models, as a rule, have lower power consumption and, as a result, heat up less, which in turn makes it possible to install a quieter cooling system.

Physically, the central processing unit (CPU) is a large square-shaped microcircuit. It always has a heatsink for heat dissipation and a fan, the dimensions of which directly depend on its heat dissipation, which is the greater, the higher the clock frequency.

Central processing units for personal computers are manufactured by two companies - AMD and Intel. Intel products are characterized by support for the latest technologies and higher performance, but AMD attracts buyers with a more favorable price / performance ratio.

Now is the time to use the Speccy utility and find out the manufacturer of the processor installed in your system, as well as its main characteristics. We can see all this information in the main window of the program next to the item CPU.

Here we are interested in four main parameters, on the basis of which we will draw conclusions about the possibility of upgrading this component:

• Manufacturer ... In our example, this is Intel.
• Model and codename ... In our case, this is the Corei7 of the Lynnfield family.
• Connector design or type ... Here it is Socket 1156.
• Clock frequency ... In our example, 2.8 GHz.

Now what can we learn from this information? Firstly, processors from rival AMD are not good for us. Secondly, we can only install Intel processors designed for Socket 1156 into this motherboard. Thus, we have quite seriously narrowed down the range of searches for a possible contender for a future upgrade. By the way, you can always determine the manufacturer by the type of socket.

Now it remains to understand the feasibility of this update. For example, digging in search engines or in the same Wikipedia, you can find out that Intel has practically stopped producing processors for the Socket 1156 socket at the moment, which means that this platform has no future, and new generation processors are not being produced for it. Moreover, in our example, a processor of the Corei 7 family is installed, which is the most productive in the Intel lineup. And the oldest representative of the Lynnfield Corei 7 line in our design has a clock frequency of 3.07 GHz, which is only 207 MHz more than the existing copy.

After analyzing the information received, we can say with confidence that for our example, upgrading the processor without replacing the motherboard is impractical.

In general, for Intel processors, an upgrade should be done only if the board uses an LGA 775 socket or another, with a higher numerical index. Upgrading systems based on LGA 478 and others currently does not make any sense. The most promising connectors at the moment can be called LGA 1155 for LGA 2011 enthusiasts.

Likewise, for AMD products, the upgrade makes sense for AM2 + and higher sockets. The most promising connectors are AM3 and AM3 +.

Video card

The next component that affects performance is the graphics card. Its main task is to form an image on the monitor. In most cases, modernization is required only for fans of modern three-dimensional computer games. If the game runs slowly (slows down), then the main reason is the insufficient performance of the video card.

Modern video cards are complex computing devices and can perform many of the functions of the main computer: they have their own specialized graphics processor, a fan with a heatsink, and their own video memory chips. Physically, the graphics adapter is a fairly large board with electronic elements located on it and, if necessary, additional power connectors. It is inserted into a special connector on the computer motherboard. The wire from the monitor is connected to the video card.

In general, there are three types of connectors to which a video card is connected: a very old PCI, outdated and practically discontinued AGP, and a modern PCI-Express x16 (PCI-E X16). Upgrading your computer's graphics subsystem only makes sense if its motherboard has a modern PCIE connector. It is worth upgrading the video adapter by buying a board with a newer and more efficient graphics processor, but changing the video card just for the sake of increasing the amount of video memory is not worth it.

To determine the type of graphics connector in your system, let's again use the Speccy utility by selecting the item on the left Motherboard... Now find in the right part of the program window the item PCI data.

In our example, the motherboard is equipped with two PCIEX16 slots at once. This makes it possible, if desired and financially feasible, to install two video cards simultaneously in SLI (Nvidia) or CrossFire (AMD) modes, combining their computing power. If in your case there is no such connector, then upgrading the video card without replacing the motherboard makes no sense.

Despite the fact that there are many video cards from various manufacturers on the market (ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, Sapphire, Powercolo and others), in fact, the basis for these devices is graphics processors, produced by two American companies: AMD (ATI) and nVidia ...

All video cards based on AMD chips are named Radeon HD XXXX. XXXX is a four-digit number, the first digit of which indicates the generation to which the video card belongs. The higher it is, the more modern the map is. The second number indicates the adapter family. The higher it is, the more powerful and productive the graphic solution is, but also the more expensive. The third digit indicates the subfamily of the adapter. Here the principle is also preserved - the higher the better. At the moment, the latest generation of video cards with AMD chips is the Radeon HD 7xxx.

Video cards based on graphics solutions from nVidia are called GeForce GT / GTS / GTX XXX. As in the previous case, XXX is a number in which the first digit denotes the generation, the second is the family to which the graphics accelerator belongs. The higher these numbers are, the more modern and efficient the adapter is. The fastest products have a GTX prefix in front of the numeric index. Recent solutions on nVidia GPUs are indexed GTX 5xx. True, very soon new boards of the sixth generation will be available to users.

You need to know that all modern high-performance graphics solutions require additional power supply. This means that your PSU must have adequate free connectors and sufficient power headroom. Therefore, before buying a new video card, find out if it needs additional power and what is the minimum power that your computer's power supply should have. All this information can be found on the Internet or ask a sales assistant.

Unfortunately, within the framework of this material, we will not be able to get acquainted with the model lines of video cards in more detail due to the volume of this issue. If you want to study this issue in more detail on your own, then refer to our article ,. Otherwise, take a knowledgeable acquaintance with you to the store or seek help from a consultant who will tell you possible options.

At the end of this question, let's look at our example, the feasibility of upgrading a video card.

As you can see from the picture, our graphics adapter is named GeForce GTX 580. This means that the test computer is equipped with a graphics solution based on nVidia logic and belongs to the latest generation. Moreover, the number 8 in the index indicates that this is the most productive solution among the single-chip products of this company. At the moment, such a video card has no performance problems in all modern games and does not need to be upgraded.

RAM

The third key component is RAM. In most cases, the more memory the better. At the moment, its minimum volume, at which it is possible to work comfortably with programs, is 2 gigabytes (GB). Computers with 1 GB or even 512 MB significantly increase their performance when increasing the amount of RAM, since its amount affects the download speed and subsequent operation of programs and the operating system.

Physically, RAM is a narrow rectangular board (memory module) with microcircuits soldered to it. It is inserted into a special connector on the motherboard. The amount of memory depends on the number of soldered microcircuits on one module, therefore, with the same appearance, they can be of different sizes. Inexpensive motherboards allow you to connect only two memory modules, and more advanced ones - 4 or even 8.

Before increasing the amount of memory, you first need to determine its type, which can be SDRAM, DDR, DDR2 and DDR3. The first two varieties are already outdated and out of production, DDR2 is still widespread, but is being actively replaced by the new DDR3 standard. At the same time, the old memory standard costs almost twice as much as the modern one. Externally, the connectors of different types of memory differ in the number of contacts and their shape, so if your computer uses DDR2, then another type will not suit you.

Then you need to understand how many memory slots your motherboard has and the number of free slots. If there are only two connectors on the motherboard and both are occupied, then you will have to replace the old modules with new ones with a larger volume. If there are 4 slots and two of them are free, you can simply add new ones to the existing memory modules.

It should be remembered that the RAM strips should be installed in pairs to enable the dual-channel mode, which significantly increases its operation speed and bandwidth.

Now let's again use the already familiar utility to get all the necessary information about the RAM installed in the system. To do this, just click on the tab RAM and all the necessary parameters will appear in front of you.

From our example, you can see that the test system has 8 GB of DDR3 RAM. At the same time, the system board has 4 slots for installing modules, of which two are still free, which makes it possible to deliver additional modules at any time.

HDD

The final component that can increase the performance of your system is your hard drive. To a greater extent, replacing the hard drive with a faster drive will affect the speed of loading the operating system and launching applications. The hard disk has practically no effect on the performance itself within programs.

Modern data storage devices are of two types: magnetic (HDD) and solid-state (SSD). The first ones are the most common, voluminous and affordable. The latter are many times faster than the former, however, they have smaller data storage volumes and are many times more expensive.

Also, hard drives can have different interfaces for connecting to the motherboard. There are only two of them - a parallel interface (IDE, ATA, Ultra ATA) or a serial interface (SATA, SATA II or SATA III). It is the serial interface that is the modern standard for connecting drives. If your computer does not have such connectors, then it makes no sense to upgrade to increase performance, since now the developers no longer release new modern solutions with the IDE interface.

Undoubtedly, the most noticeable difference when upgrading a storage medium is after installing a solid-state drive. But as we said earlier, this is not a cheap pleasure. On the other hand, with the still high cost of an SSD, you can buy a small drive with an operating system and the necessary applications installed there. To store all other data, you can use a classic magnetic drive, since the cost of storing one megabyte of data on such a device is much lower.

Unfortunately, the Speccy utility does not show the number and availability of certain interfaces for connecting information storage devices on the motherboard. And yet, it is quite possible to get some useful information from it. First, in the section Hard drives, you can see what devices are already installed on your system. And even if there are no SATA hard drives among them, this does not mean at all that such connectors are absent on your motherboard.

If your computer is no more than five to six years old, then most likely they are. In order to nevertheless accurately establish their presence or absence, it is enough to open Device Manager Windows. To do this, on the icon My computer right click and select Properties, and then, in the window that opens, select the item Device Manager... In the list of devices, almost at the top, we find the line IDE ATA / ATAPI controllers... Opening it, you can see the presence of installed controllers on the motherboard.

As you can see from the figure, in our case the motherboard has 6 SATA ports and a dual-lane IDE connector with the ability to connect two devices to it at once.

Laptop upgrade

Unlike a classic desktop computer (system unit), laptop upgrade is very limited. In most cases, users can only increase the amount of RAM and replace the hard drive. At the same time, to install additional memory modules, as a rule, there is only one slot, at best two, which imposes restrictions on the maximum amount of "RAM".

As you can see, such key components as a processor and a video card cannot be upgraded in such devices. That is why when buying a laptop, you should immediately decide for what tasks it will be used, since it is practically impossible to increase its performance later.

Conclusion

When the performance of your own computer ceases to suit you, and you are thinking about upgrading it, first of all, evaluate the feasibility of replacing individual components. Under certain conditions, you run the risk of wasting your own money and not getting the expected productivity gains.

Remember the so-called "bottleneck" rule. Its essence is that the maximum performance of your computer depends on its weakest component. For example, having bought a productive video card and at the same time, leaving a low-power processor, you can be sure that your new product will not reveal its potential in such a bundle. That is, in this case, the maximum computing capacity will be limited by the capacity of the central processor.

Any of the components discussed in this material can become such a "bottleneck" in your computer, be it a processor, a video card, the amount of RAM or a slow hard drive. Consider this and do not overpay for components that will not be able to fulfill their potential in your system.

In general, your costs, as well as the complexity of upgrading your computer, will depend on what you expect from the future upgrade. As a rule, computer games are the most demanding on system resources, and if this factor became the reason for improvement, then the most serious financial investments await you. The least expensive option is to increase the amount of RAM.

In any case, if you are not too versed in the internal structure of the computer, before buying new parts, be sure to consult with knowledgeable acquaintances or sales consultants of the respective stores. Moreover, the quality of this consultation will directly depend on the completeness of the technical information that you provide them.

For all those who still want to completely control the process of choosing new components, not trusting the opinion of other people, we recommend that you familiarize yourself in more detail with the device of a personal computer and the characteristics of its key components.

It has long been known that the development of a child is influenced by nature and These factors are very important and complementary. Another important factor affecting child brain development, revealed by scientists of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States - this is maternal care... It contributes to the development of intelligence and an increase in the child's hippocampus by more than 2 times!

Hippocampus- the part of the brain that is responsible for transferring memories from short-term memory to long-term memory. Also for the regulation of stress and the ability to move around in three-dimensional space. The larger the hippocampus, the smarter the person is.

About research

To trace changes in this part of the brain, scientists monitored the neurological development of 127 children. Observation was carried out from their earliest years of life until puberty. During the research, experiments were carried out with children and their mothers. "This study shows that we are at a hypersensitive stage in childhood, where the brain responds more actively to maternal love," says Joan L. Loubi, psychiatrist at the St. Louis Children's Hospital and the University of Washington, and lead author of the study.

Children selected for the experiment underwent magnetic resonance imaging (a method of measuring the size of the organs of the brain and blood flow in them) three times: in the early years of their life and in the period from preschool age to the onset of puberty. During the same periods, the degree of maternal care was monitored. Caring for preschoolers was assessed based on the results of the patience task. Each child was given a gift that he could open only after 8 minutes.

The more the mother supported the child and took pictures, the higher the points were put.

Caring during school years was assessed by the results of playing a puzzle. Only the mother was shown the complete picture; she had to help the child assemble it. The more the mother supported her child during the game, the more points the family received.

Research results

As a result of the experiments, it became apparent that a high degree of maternal support - especially during the preschool period - increased hippocampal volumechildren 2.06 times compared to children from families with below average scores. Previously, it was assumed that the average size of the hippocampus differs between men and women, but scientists have denied this. Each person has a different size of the hippocampus, which forms in the early years of life. Including thanks to the mother's love and care for the child.

This increase in the size of the hippocampus independent of IQ, it is associated with favorable emotional development... At the same time, children who did not receive enough maternal love in preschool age, but had it in school years, still did not differ in the large size of the hippocampus.

"The relationship between mother and child inpreschool age is extremely significant, saysin conclusion, Dr. Looby. - We believe that thisassociated with a high degree of brain plasticity inearly age, that is, in these years of life, the brain is moresubject to the impact of the transferred experience. "

Although the research has focused on the mother-child relationship, there is no reason to believe that a father's concern will not produce the same results.

The system board bus speed does not affect the speed of the installed processor. In a computer, the motherboard and processor are two separate parts. However, the user experience of measurements is how well they work together.

CPU

The main processor of a computer has a certain speed. On some computers, the processor speed can be changed through the BIOS settings of the motherboard. Hardware compatibility errors towards processor speed are not affected by any other part of the computer. But the processor is the fastest part of the computer and often other hardware cannot keep up with it. The processor handles all the computational work of a computer outside of the massive graphics work that is done by the GPU.

Motherboard bus

A motherboard bus is the part of a device that transfers data between parts of a computer. The term "bus speed" refers to how quickly the system bus can move data from one component of a computer to another. The faster the bus, the more data it can move over a given amount of time. A processor for the computer is connected to the system bus through the north bridge, which organizes the exchange of data between the computer's RAM and the processor. It is the fastest part of the motherboard bus and handles the most vital load on the computer.

Getting started with a computer, the user should be aware of the intricacies of the software part. But when there is a need to repair or improve a working PC, there is a need for knowledge about the hardware component of the equipment. The most important element is the heart of the device, which is responsible for the correct functioning of the computer, this is the motherboard. What is its importance and what the motherboard does, let us consider in more detail.

Board concept

The motherboard is the base of absolutely any computer, it is the largest part in the system unit. Advanced users call it various terms: motherboard, mother, motherboard. It integrates all other components of the system, which are installed on it or connected using additional loops or cables.

It is not difficult to recognize it among the other components, opening the system unit you will see a plate with a large number of installed elements, slots and connectors - this is the motherboard. The available connectors are designed to connect peripheral components: monitor, input / output devices, flash drives, storage media. Visually, it is a plate with a variety of microcircuits and connectors. When choosing a computer and accessories, you need to pay special attention to the main characteristics of the motherboard. It is she who is responsible for the quality and speed of the entire device.

What is a motherboard for?

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the board in a computer. It organizes all the actions and functions of the constituent components. The main functions that this device performs are summarized below:

• It connects all the components of the system with each other, it has a socket for the processor, slots for operating memory, a graphics adapter and others.
• Combining a mouse, keyboard, monitor, processor, video card and other elements together creates a single working system capable of performing the most complex operations.
• Facilitates the control of the central processor of the execution of all processes in the system. Thus, the responsibilities of the board include not only connecting the elements, but also monitoring the correct functioning of it.
• With its help, the image, generated through the graphic card, is fed to the monitor and we can observe the picture.
• The sound is reproduced using a sound card built into the motherboard.
• It has a LAN connector for Internet access.

Varieties of boards

Today, various manufacturers offer a large number of all kinds of motherboard options. They can differ in the type of processor or RAM supported. But the most famous and oriented difference is considered to be the form factor, this is a special parameter that determines the overall dimensions of the board, how it is fastened in the system unit and sockets for power supply. Basic types: E-ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX, Mini-STX, Standard-ATX.

E-ATX

Ideal for fans of computer games. Assumes the installation of multiple graphics accelerators, if necessary, and some models can support two CPUs. Overall dimensions within 305/272 millimeters. These options are often used for server machines.

Micro-ATX

They are 244/244 mm in size. They differ in a smaller number of PCI slots compared to the standard version - Standard-ATX. The main purpose is simple work, some are suitable for games, but there are not many such models.

Mini-ITX

Refers to one of the most compact types of motherboards. Dimensions are only 170/170 millimeters. Suitable for work or multimedia solutions. Some models do not have a graphics card slot. Has one slot for RAM.

Mini-STX

Installed in a mini PC, they are not intended for games or complex graphic editors, but are a satisfactory option for work, study and simple tasks. There is no slot for installing a graphics accelerator, there are two slots for RAM. Average overall dimensions - 140/147 millimeters.

Standard-ATX

The most commonly used option, despite its rather impressive dimensions, is 305/244 millimeters. Perfect for both gaming tasks and workers. Compatible with a wide variety of enclosures. Due to the large area, overheating decreases, this is due to the fact that there is no large concentration of elements in a small space. It also has the advantage of supporting the installation of two video cards.

How to determine which continent is installed

When it becomes necessary to replace some PC components, it is imperative to know which model of the motherboard is installed in the computer. There are several ways to obtain this information.

You can use the system capabilities of your computer, refer to the accompanying documentation, check using the command line or by installing special programs.

CPU-Z is a reliable and common program for clarifying the necessary information. After installation, you need to run the program, and in the window that appears, find the mainboard tab. The motherboard model will be displayed there.

The main components of the board

All components affect the operation of the motherboard and computer. What does the fee include?

Chipset - organizes the transfer of data between the RAM and the processor, as well as peripheral devices. Structurally, it consists of a south and north bridge. Affects all the main characteristic features of the motherboard: operating speed, connected components, acceleration capability.

During operation, the elements overheat and require cooling. For this purpose, an active one is used - an air flow or a ventilated system, or passive cooling - a radiator that dissipates heat is less effective than the previous method.

The socket is designed for quick and convenient replacement of the central processor in case of such a need.

The most used types of RAM today are DDR2 and DDR3, which type is supported by the board, as well as the permissible installation amount, you can find out from the attached documentation.

PCI-E slots are for installing a video card. And PCI is still rarely used to enable peripherals.

The SATA interface assumes the connection of external drives.

USB is a universal interface to which a large number of different devices can be connected.

Bios is a microcircuit that is required to start and initialize the system. Contains special firmware.

Summing up, you can define a motherboard as a complex and multifunctional device, on which the entire operation of the computer directly depends. The characteristics and capabilities of your PC depend on it.

Last month we launched the Selection Rules series of materials dedicated to the main technical characteristics of computer hardware. Despite the general name, each article is completely independent and tells not only about what characteristics a certain type of piece of iron has, but also about which of them it is important to pay attention to, and which not so much.

In the last issue we dealt with processors in detail, today we will talk about the tricks of motherboards.

The basics

The motherboard is a very tricky thing. On the one hand, this is a set of ports for all our components and peripherals. But if you dig a little deeper - and this is already an intricate network of roads (buses), power circuits and data traffic control systems that connect disparate parts into a single whole. And although the role of the motherboard in the overall scheme is no longer as high as it used to be (see the sidebar "Overclocking Sadness"), it is it that determines what will eventually turn out - a simple office machine, an excellent gaming system or a multimedia center. Let's figure out what it depends on.

The AOpen AX4B-533 Tube was released eleven years ago and was one of the company's two motherboards to receive a tube audio amplifier. Such happiness cost indecently expensive, but surprisingly it sounded really good, giving out that very "warm" sound.

Our research object is divided into four main parts: the processor socket (socket), the power system, the chipset, and the set of ports. CPU socket - this is the first thing to pay attention to. It determines which stone will be placed on the board. It is possible, but not necessary, to read contacts and study electrical diagrams. It is enough to look at the corresponding line in the TTX, what is written must exactly match the one indicated on the crystal (for example, Socket LGA1155), if you miss - do not expect mercy, the computer will not start.

In 2003, QDI released the P4I875 motherboard for Pentium 4 processors. In addition to the unusually fast LAN port at that time, it emphasized its ability to transform from micro-ATX into full-fledged ATX, thereby adding two PCI ports and the same amount of SATA.

But worrying about the power system - the transistor / choke / capacitor chains - is generally not worth it. Each such set is called a phase, and for all processors there are at least six of them. Despite the fact that the correctness and stability of the power supply depends on them, as a rule, any, even the cheapest motherboard of a renowned manufacturer meets all norms and standards. This means that it can provide a regular mode of operation of any stone. We recommend chasing expensive elements with a powerful cooling system only if you are going to collect an unreal monster with an eye on overclocking. In other cases, it is better to spend money on something more useful - for example, an advanced one. chipset (logic set ).

This is a control microcircuit commonly called a "bridge". Previously, all boards had two such chips: south and north. The first was responsible for the operation of the processor, RAM and video cards. The second - for the number of available ports such as PS / 2, SATA, USB, PCI. Today everything has become a little easier. Intel threw out the south bridge and shifted its functions onto the chip (uncore). AMD still uses this chip, but it is only being blown away by the GPU.

In the race of multiprocessor motherboards, ECS surpassed everyone, introducing the PF88 Extreme Hybrid in 2005, which, at the request of the owner, could work either with an AMD or Intel crystal. For the second stone, an additional SIMA A9S board was sold, connected directly via PCIe x16 and PCIe x1.

There are some purely functional nuances associated with Intel chipsets. Some of its logic sets do not support the video core built into the processor (it does not work without a video card) or overclocking via an unlocked multiplier. Unfortunately, you can't guess this from the labeling, so you will have to torment Google with queries like "the name of the specs chipset". AMD is simpler in this sense. It does not add any special bonuses to its motherboards, and the cost of logic is determined only by the number of PCIe lanes: the older the model, the more there are.

Ports

Having decided on the processor and capabilities, let's move on to the most interesting thing - planning a PC, namely, a thorough selection of ports that will be needed in the future. Many people do not pay attention to this aspect and take the first thing that comes across, but in vain - in the future it promises a lot of trouble.

First you need to do not miss amount of supported RAM ... The overall responsiveness of the system will depend on it, as well as some games (for example, Battlefield 3). The main obstacle is that budget motherboards often accept only two memory sticks or cannot handle more than 16 GB - this is not enough. Celebrate and maximum possible frequency DDR3. Let it practically do not affect performance, but it will be a shame if you have fast bars, and you will not be able to unleash their potential.

Intel Z77 Express chipsets support SSD data caching technology (increases responsiveness and OS loading speed). In this regard, some boards are equipped with an mSATA slot, ready to accept a miniature 8/16 GB drive.

Another point is the location of the ports. Keep them at a respectful distance from the socket, otherwise, if you install a particularly large processor cooler, some of the slots will overlap. If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to ask the store for a cooler for fitting, there is nothing wrong with that.

The next item is graphics connectors for video cards ... They are designated as PCIe x16 or x8... The numbers in the title indicate the number of lines connected to the port, and theoretically should affect the performance of the newly bought GeForce. In fact, that sixteen, that eight channels - the number of fps remains the same. You need to know about this so as not to strain when buying a motherboard with multiple graphics connectors. Since the number of lines is strictly limited by the capabilities of the processor (Intel) or the south bridge (AMD), manufacturers often connect connectors in x16 + x8 or x8 + x8 schemes. This is normal, but the lack of support for technologies such as NVIDIA SLI or AMD CrossFireX, - already bad.

In 2008, Intel introduced the Skulltrail motherboard, ready to accept two crystals on the Core 2 architecture. At one time, such motherboards were produced almost all in a row, now they are being prepared only for server samples: modern Core i7s do not support multiprocessing.

They can make life a lot easier when Crysis 3 doesn't run at max settings on your GTX 660 Ti. In this case, it will be possible to put another GTX 660 Ti in the second PCIe x16 and combine the efforts of the video cards. Thinking that you would never dare to do such acrobatics and shy away from a motherboard with several PCIe x16s is a bad idea. Firstly, another GTX 660 Ti will be much cheaper than the top-end GTX 680. Secondly, you don't have to look for where to attach an old video card: different GPUs do not get along in tandem. Thirdly, the "extra" PCIe x16 can harbor any other PCIe device, since the same lines are used to operate almost all sound / Wi-Fi / TV cards.

As a rule, short ones are installed under them. PCIe x1 or PCIe x4... And if you intend to stuff your PC with additional cards, then make sure that there are more corresponding ports. Plus, consider how they are installed. The slot is located directly under the video card - it will be blocked by the GPU cooling system. Collectors of old hardware with an interface should also be attentive. PCI... Intel refused to support it, and its availability depends only on the manufacturer.

But what you can forget about is the PCIe version. Now manufacturers are promoting a third, faster generation of the bus, but it does not affect performance in any way and is backward compatible with the previous PCIe 2.0.

One of the manufacturers' tricks is the number of processor power phases (they regulate and smooth the voltage). While the crystal only needs six of them, some companies offer much more. For example, the photo shows Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP7 with 24 (!) Power phases. It's funny, but there is no sense from them at all - they are controlled according to a six-phase scheme.

And finally, the last important point - SATA for hard drives and USB for the periphery. Here we should be concerned about the number and versions of these connectors. SATA Rev. is in vogue now. 3 and USB 3.0. They are backward compatible with previous standards, but the transmission speed differs several times, so there is no need to save on this. Copying a 15 GB file via USB 2.0 takes about 10-11 minutes, with USB 3.0 it takes 3-4 minutes (provided that the fresh connector is also supported by the drive).

As for the quantity, as practice shows, in most cases, five to six SATA and six to eight USBs are enough. With the latter, however, you need to be on your guard. Reading the performance characteristics, keep in mind that manufacturers, and many magazines, sin by recording the maximum number of ports. For example, 14 or 16 pieces. Unfortunately, these are only the capabilities of the chipset (they are implemented via external expansion cards or the front panel of the case), but we are interested in the outputs on the rear panel. It is in them that we will stick our mice / keyboards, printers, flash drives. It is not advisable to compromise, hoping to then connect a USB hub and add contacts: the speed will be divided between new outputs and flash drives will be read very slowly.

In general, I must say, you need an eye and an eye behind the I / O panel. Place on it is strictly limited, and getting everything and more is unrealistic, you have to give up something.

Important little things

In gaming systems, the sacrificial list is headed by all sorts of DVI, D-sub (VGA), HDMI and DisplayPort. With a discrete graphics card, they only eat up precious space. They are backed by eSATA; If you don't have an appropriate drive lying around at home, forget about this connector: USB 3.0 is much more convenient to use, and it's easier to find it on someone else's computer.

As for FireWire (IEEE), it's worth thinking about. In principle, it is not that often found, but it can come in handy if a love for art awakens in you - the interface is ideal for working with music and video. For the rest, only make sure that there is a LAN and, possibly, PS / 2 if you have an old keyboard (we think everyone already has USB mice).

In 2010, the MSI Big Bang-Fuzion went on sale, perhaps the most ambitious motherboard in modern computer history. Thanks to the built-in chip from Lucidlogix, it used the resources of two video cards at once, and chips of different generations and even manufacturers (NVIDIA + AMD) could be combined. Unfortunately, it worked very badly and did not gain popularity.

Don't worry about the sound. Built-in audio codec today all motherboards are equipped. As a rule, this is a chip from Realtek or Creative/ASUS... The latter is preferable, but there is no point in chasing it on purpose, you need a good sound - to at drink a separate fee. Better keep an eye on how many audio outputs are located on the rear panel. Often in budget motherboards, they are limited to a couple of ports - for front speakers and a microphone, which means that you cannot connect multichannel acoustics to them.

Well, the last thing you should always remember is - motherboard dimensions ... Standard cases (Middle Tower) are designed for ATX(305x244 mm), micro-ATX(244x244 mm) and mini-ITX(170x170 mm). Take these form factors boldly, all sorts XL-ATX or CEB buy only if you are sure that they will fit in your "box".

As you can see, there is nothing tricky about motherboards. The most important rules for choosing are only two: decide on a socket and soberly assess what you will need in the future. Do not save too much - there is always a chance that you will want to install a sound card or a second video card. But at the same time, do not rush to buy the most expensive solutions: you will have to pay double the price for each extra port. The same applies to powerful cooling systems. For the most part, today they are needed only by those who are going to do overclocking, in other cases it is just a nice bonus.

Overclocker's sadness

If this article had been written about five years ago, it is unlikely that we would have made it into four pages. At least the same amount had to be devoted to his Majesty's acceleration. It's funny to remember now, but then it was a very relevant topic. Having bought a processor for 3000 rubles, with the help of simple manipulations it turned into a model for 5000 rubles. This was done very simply.

The operating frequency of the crystal is obtained by multiplying the bus speed by the processor multiplier (200 MHz x 15). By raising one of these indicators, you can really get a performance gain. In those days, the multipliers, as a rule, were blocked, but the bus remained free for experiments. Due to the fact that all actions were controlled by the south bridge, they were allowed to create whatever their heart desires. For example, by increasing the bus frequency from the standard 133 MHz to 150 MHz, it was possible to achieve an increase of 500 MHz from the stone, which was very sensitive at the standard 1.8 GHz.

Unfortunately, in the last generations of stones, this path was blocked. The speed of almost all computer ports, initially incapable of overclocking (like PCIe), was tied to the system bus frequency. This led to the fact that the old method stopped working, and those who cannot imagine themselves without overclocking were offered to pay extra for crystals with an unlocked multiplier. In such a situation, motherboard manufacturers are left to rely only on high-quality power supply, cooling and unusual overclocking methods, for example, via Bluetooth.

BIOS

For as long as we can remember, we are constantly asked what the BIOS is, what it is responsible for and whether it needs to be updated. Now we'll tell you about everything.

BIOS is the basic operating system that controls the computer before Windows starts. At the start, she explains to all devices what is required of them and according to what parameters they need to work. Through the management interface, you can interfere with these algorithms and try to increase the performance of the hardware. The problem is that without proper knowledge it is better not to do this. And although now it is difficult to spoil something - incorrect actions suppress the verification programs - it is still possible to cross the line and lose the guarantee.

As for the update, this is the situation. In theory, the native BIOS should ideally fit the motherboard. However, manufacturers still suggest updating the firmware from time to time to fix minor bugs. On the one hand, this is a good thing, on the other, we would not recommend doing it. You won't get additional fps in games, but accidentally ruining the board by canceling the warranty is quite possible.

It is worth flashing the BIOS only if the system is unstable, gives errors when loading, or the programmers added support you need new processors. However, if the need has arisen, there is no need to be afraid. You can rewrite the control program directly in Windows (every reputable manufacturer has the corresponding software) or from under the BIOS using a utility built into the motherboard. With old models, the last point can cause difficulties (you will have to study the manufacturer's website), but with the new UEFI everything will be simpler and clearer. Instead of dull yellow inscriptions on a blue background, you will expect an animated menu with mouse support and high resolutions.

Note that UEFI is not just a change of image, but a new operating system that supplanted BIOS. It has two main advantages. First: the ability to use all PC resources (even the Internet) even before the OS is loaded. Second: integrated support for new hardware standards - for example, volume drives with a capacity of more than 2 TB. Interestingly, although UEFI appeared only a few years ago, it was first talked about back in 1998, at the suggestion of Intel.