Basically, you start with the motherboard and connect all the other pieces to that (a cpu and some memory, a video card, a hard drive, a keyboard, and a mouse). See, pretty simple.

Build A Computer - Motherboard CPU Combos

When you build a computer, you will have to chose a motherboard CPU combo that matches what you want the computer to do (video editing, gaming, or simple word processing). These are the three main choices (there are others) in motherboard CPU combos.

• Pentium 4 require a Socket 478 motherboard.
• Pentium III or Celeron require a Socket 370 motherboard.
• AMD's Athlon XP and Duron processors require Socket A motherboards.

When you purchase processors, you need to buy a compatible microprocessor cooler at the same time in order to preserve your warranty. Click here for instructions on how to properly install it. Or, you could also purchase a barebones box, which has all of these components already installed

One more thing, if you find processors advertised at a price that is too good to be true, be very cautious. There are some shady retailers who have even shadier sources. Be sure to buy from a reputable dealer. I recommend some below.

Pentium 4 and Socket 478 Motherboard

The fastest CPU is the Intel Pentium 4, and comes in 1.7 to 3.2 GHz. You would use this CPU for video editing or another processor hungry application. The Pentium 4 is the priciest, and so is its motherboard, a Socket 478. You will only be able to use a Socket 478 with a Pentium 4. You can check CPU prices here.

Before we go any further, I want to point out just how fast the Pentium 4 really is. While your computer will run faster with a $250 Pentium 4 processor, it'll run almost as fast with a $250 AMD Athlon XP processor. Legions of gamers use AMD computers for a reason.

If your goal is to build a cheap computer, a 370 Socket based Pentium III will probably do the job. If your kids are going to want to game on it also, spend a little extra on your video card instead of a Pentium 4 CPU.

370 Socket based Pentium III

The Intel Pentium III and the Celeron, both 370 Socket based, are the slowest CPUs. They can also be had for $30 in some cases. Although I do not recommend you get a CPU this cheap, I would recommend a moderately priced one. It should also be adequate for gaming with the right video card. This CPU motherboard combo will be more than suitable for web surfing and word processing. You can check CPU prices here.

Socket A Motherboards for the AMD Athlon XP Processors

The AMD Athlon XP and Duron processors are used with the Socket A Motherboard. These processors offer the best performance for your budget. By that I mean this CPU is fast enough for the serious video game player, and as long as you don't buy the high end processors you should still have money left for a better video card.

We don't want to void our warranty so we need a microprocessor cooler (a CPU heatsink/fan system) to keep our new processor running as fast as possible. The most significant improvement you can make to answer the age old question, "How Do I Speed Up My Computer?", is to choose a good CPU cooler.

Get a CPU Cooler to speed up an old computer. Or if you're buying a new CPU, choose a CPU cooler here.