A common issue with compatibility that I've seen arise when a beginner builder selects their list of parts, is the fact that they do not realize that not all motherboards fit into every case.
There are various sizes for cases and motherboard sizes . Prior to you making your final list of parts it is important to make sure that your motherboard is able to fit in the case you've selected.
Standard ATX
Micro-ATX
Mini-ITX
Read our guide on the differences between ATX Micro-ATX, ATX, and Mini-ITX for more details.
The memory of your computer will be placed in the motherboard's DIMM slots. Most mid-range motherboards have 4 DIMM slots.
But, some motherboards (especially smaller form factor boards such as mini-ITX and micro-ATX) have only just two DIMM slots. Naturally, less DIMM slots translate to a lower memory's capacity.
The good news, however, is that there are RAM sticks that are only that can be purchased with capacities of 16GB and even motherboards that contain just two DIMM slots can support up 32GB in RAM. In almost any scenario, 32GB is sufficient.
However, if you wish to operate your memory in the quad channel configuration (which means that all four slots are full of RAM) in the present or in the future two DIMM slots aren't going to suffice.
There are various motherboard form-factors however, the three mentioned in the above list are by far the most popular. The only other form-factor you may want to look at is Extended-ATX. E-ATX boards are more powerful than standard-ATX boards.
It is good to know that finding out if your Dell Inspiron 15 3521 motherboard matches with your case you wish to purchase is a simple process.
The majority of cases will specify the form factor they are able to accommodate. In addition, there are four major cases "sizes" to make note of:
It's essential to know that case sizes differ from the sizes of motherboards. A particular mini-ITX case could have totally different dimensions than other mini-ITX cases. One super tower case might be larger than a super tower or full tower case.
But, as the sizes of motherboards are standard and all cases are capable of accommodating any of the motherboard forms.
A mini-ITX case is able to fit any mini-ITX motherboard regardless of the size that the case has.
Furthermore, larger cases like full and mid tower cases , can take multiple dimensions of motherboards. In other words, in some full tower cases you might be able install any motherboard.
If aesthetics is important to you, then you might not want to put the mini-ITX motherboard into the full tower enclosure, because it could look sloppy.
In the end, determining whether your Dell 3521 motherboard can fit in the case you've selected is a relatively simple process. You only need to look up the case you're considering purchasing (whether it is listed on its product page through Amazon or Newegg or the website of the manufacturer) and review the specifications.
If you plan to make use of a dedicated graphics card then you do not need to note which display interface ports the motherboard has.
But, if you're going to be relying on your processor to handle graphics processing (via integrated graphics) You'll need to ensure your motherboard select is equipped with the right ports for connecting your monitor to.
Modern motherboards usually have at the very least the HDMI connection, as well as typically an DVI or DisplayPort also. Therefore the only scenario where the ports of the motherboard (or absence of them) could be a problem is when you need to set up multiple monitors.
In this instance for a Gigabyte B360M DS3H motherboard has an HDMI port as well as it also has a DVI port as well as an VGA port. If you already have two monitors and both monitors are only equipped with the DisplayPort and an HDMI ports, then you will not be able to utilize the B360M DS3H to connect both of your monitors unless you buy an adapter.
Although you could still use an adapter to connect two monitors to the same motherboard, if you fail to take note of the ports in advance and don't know that you'll need an adapter in order to connect to the second monitor until all the components arrive.
In the end, if you are creating an entire system but are not planning to use an integrated graphics card, it is important to ensure that your choice of motherboard pick includes the appropriate display interface ports to meet your requirements.
As I've mentioned earlier the three factors to think about when selecting the right motherboard for your computer aren't the only three factors one could need to think about. For the vast majority of people If you are aware of these three points mentioned above, you'll be able to select the best motherboard for your requirements.
