Motherboards are definitely the place to start when building a new system but if you are trying to save money you probably don't want a lot of features anyway. A difference of 50% in cost for a motherboard in not the same thing as 50% on a new RV (recreational vehicle).

One thing is for sure, while you might not need or want 5 or 6 expansion slots and want mATX with video, sound, LAN and modem onboard its going to cost you another 50%. The way to save money on a motherboard is to go to one of those online etailer sites that has everything DOWN and simply select the options you want and need. By simply selecting "any manufacturer" from the drop down menu you can find the criteria you need regardless of brand name.

The problem is that although there a good number of these sites there are very few that list each and every possible option. Aside from that even if the configuration you want is manufactured the best price is more dependent upon the number of sales which means the even though you don't need 5 or 6 expansion slots that is what you are going to have to take.

Sometimes you can compensate, however, if the site (or another site) does the same for cases and power supplies or other components. while an mATX motherboard may cost more the case and power supply may be less so in total the system cost will be the same.

In fact most etailer sites now have drop downs for every possible component which will allow you to do an "if then" based on any criteria you choose... low cost, number of CPUs, etc. Prices still vary widely depending on where you go.

What we need is a search engine that exhausts the possible criteria and which can go to all of these sites and present its findings to us in the morning...