Everything inside your computer connects to the motherboard.
If you are upgrading or building a computer, the motherboard will be an essential part of the process. This is because it is the part of your computer to which every other part connects; the processor, hard drive, RAM and everything else will eventually go through the motherboard.
What this means is that it is important to understand your motherboard's specifications in relation to your personal needs.
Processing Power
The processor, or CPU, is the part of your computer that interprets all incoming and outgoing data. If your computer's speed is your greatest concern, then the processor is the most important component. The faster and higher quality your CPU, the faster and generally more efficient your computer.
Processing power is measured in hertz, which is the same as one cycle of electromagnetic waves per second. Modern processors tend to come in megahertz (MHz) and gigahertz (GHz)--thousands and millions of hertz, respectively. This means that a 3Ghz processor will have three billion electromagnetic cycles passing through it every second.
Chipset
The chipset is just as important as the processor, because it is the means through which the processor conveys information. For example, data needs to be delivered efficiently from your keyboard or to your monitor. If it cannot, the speed at which it was processed is irrelevant.
Chip set quality is more binary than processor quality; some varieties work well, whereas others are not. This means you're better off just buying a reputable brand of motherboard like AMD, Intel or nVidia to ensure your computer runs smoothly.
Interface Ability
The motherboard is the part of your computer into which every other part must plug. Your graphics card, extra RAM, USB connectors and any other input or output port or device you can imagine all ultimately go through the motherboard.
This means a key specification of a motherboard is how much it can handle. If you intend to plug in an extra graphics card, higher-end sound card and so forth, you'll need a motherboard that can handle everything. There is substantial variance between motherboards in this regard, so choose carefully.
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