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  1. #1
    Administrator Aristotle's Avatar
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    March 25th, 2001
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    Building a PC - Choosing a Motherboard

    I recently built new PCs for Dalaena and I when hers completely died and mine was on the way out. They lasted 4 years though, which was pretty darn good. I decided to go back to building my own, after a 15 year break from doing so. I learned a lot from the experience and have a couple articles coming up about some of the specific parts.

    Here's the first:

    Building a PC - Choosing a Motherboard

    Even if you don't plan on building your own PC, it is pretty useful to understand what role the motherboard plays should you ever have computer problems. Knowing this stuff is even handy when customizing a pre-built PC.

    I am not a computer hardware expert by any means. So the article is from the standpoint of someone just getting back into building his own PC. As a result, there is almost no major tech-jargon.
    Capitalization is the difference between "I had to help my Uncle Jack off a horse." and "I had to help my uncle jack off a horse."

    There is never a good time for lazy writing!

  2. #2
    Tree Frog
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    May 21st, 2003
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    Richmond, CA
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    We call them MoBos at work.

  3. #3
    Moderator
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    August 8th, 2003
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    Heh. Expansion slots. I can tell you a few lovely stories about that...... Hey, what, you mean I can't stick this ISA card into a PCI slot just by turning it 180 degrees? Darn.

    Good summary. Pity the text-to-surrounds ratio is low; it takes ages loading the page because of all the ads, navigation frames, etc, etc, but none of that is in your hands.

    Incidentally, for a non-gaming PC, all you need is mobo, CPU, power supply, and memory. Even a case is optional... it's perhaps awkward having to boot the computer by bridging the PW-SW pins on the mobo, but it works for testing! (By the way, don't complain that you have a faulty front panel when you're constantly pressing the Reset button and expecting it to be the power switch. You just feel really stupid when, an hour later, you realise what's wrong. Fortunately nobody else beat me to figuring that one out. )

    Hardware's fun stuff to play with. Just don't start using SCSI unless you have a lot of time to play with it.
    The man who gets angry at the right things and with the right people, and in the right way and at the right time and for the right length of time, is commended. - Aristotle (but not the Aristotle you're thinking of)

    The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. - Albert Einstein
    Mainly to keep a lid on the world's cat population. - Anon

    I pressed the Ctrl key, but I'm still not in control!

  4. #4
    Bullfrog
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    March 11th, 2004
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    calgary, alberta, canada
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    989
    We call them MoBos at work.
    Whatjoo call me, you SOB?
    I know you believe you understand what you think I said. But I am not sure you realise that what you heard is not what I meant.

    Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. -Dr. Suess


  5. #5
    Tree Frog
    Join Date
    May 21st, 2003
    Location
    Richmond IN
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    115
    I just bought parts and put together a pc for my partner. I basically followed the Hot Rod box recommendations at Ars Technica. Works great and is super fast.
    Salamae's do it in the mud!

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