Mobo = Motherboard?

[marky]

guys -

Mobo = Motherboard?

right?

lol

ive heard this a few times, and just a while ago got a thought about what it is lol


in the area of computers, im very nooby, but to be fair, i think im learning [:'(]

i mean, as ive said, and i think its fair to think that i know more now then i did before.

but of course, as someone once said=

"Much to learn you still have"

[:'(]

anyway

im a bit confused on motherboards

do u have to buy seperate parts, or do u get a whole motherboard?

(noob question?)

[rogueusmc]

You can buy motherboard/chipset bundles. They have the processors and such already there. just add RAM and periferals and you are good to go.

[marky]

hmm

they have those at newegg.com and comp usa?

[rogueusmc]

I got mine at Frys Electronics in Mesquite, Texas. It's a wholesale warehouse for electronics and such.

My motherboard and processor fried. I bought a generic motherboard and a 1.3GHz processor for about $50. That was about a year ago.

[marky]

hmmmm

a generic motherboard?

is that like a company name, or is it a motherboard that can handle both intel and amd?

speaking of which, i still havent been able to decide whether to get an intel or an amd processor...

[rogueusmc]

I am a solid AMD fan. The Athlon series is good.

A motherboard has a certain kind of processor socket. Gotta get a chipset that will fit the socket on your motherboard. Both AMD and Intel make chipsets for the same sockets.

A generic motherboard has a brand name but it's not a big name like Assus or anything....but it has worked fine for me.

[marky]

hmmm


ill have a look at generic mobos

[:D]

i wonder who came up with "Mobo"..............

[marky]

ok

first question

1. where do i look for generic mobos

2. i m thinking about building an intel based system, czu it seems that intel processors are cheaper than amds, even tho their aboiut as good


any thoughts on this thinking and approach?

[Oznoyng]

Idiots Guide to Computer Components, semi-Abridged Version

Building a computer from scratch is easier than it sounds. For UV, you do not need anything all that special since most basic systems that you can put together from new parts these days are more than sufficient to run it. I would recommend two places to get information on the pieces you combine to build a computer, www.tomshardware.com and www.pricewatch.com.

Components -

Case - The "box" that your computer goes in. Aside from cosmetic issues like windows and neon lights, the most important aspects of the case are 1) What kind of Powersupply it comes with, 2) How many and what kind of cooling fans it has built in, 3) What size and number of drive bays it has, and 4) What size motherboard it can accomodate (almost all cases and motherboards support the same size - also called "form factor"). Cases run anywhere from $20 up to $150 or more. For a PC that can run UV and WitP, you should be able to get by with a $20 case. Get one with as many fans in it that you can, and try to get a decent power supply. IF you are planning on putting a P4 or newer AMD in it, you need to make sure it is P4/AMD approved. In general, 250 watt power supplies are kinda weak, 300 and above are okay. The more fans built in, the better, but get at least two. If one dies, you have the second one to keep the insides cool.

Motherboard - This is the main piece of most systems, and determines what other pieces can be used to build your system. Each motherboard is used with a particular set of processors. Some will work with Intel's Pentiums, others with Intel's Celeron chips, still others work with only AMD's Athlons, etc. Each Motherboard accepts certain types of processors, memory, peripherals, etc. so buying the motherboard can be the most important part of your decision when building a computer. Asus, FIC, DFI, Abit, MSI, Intel come immediately to mind, but there are quite a few makers of boards. The aforementioned tom's hardware guide usually has reviews of the various boards available by type. I can open my local paper virtually every day and see some kind of Motherboard/processor combo available from Fry's electronics for $50 - $70 that will fit your needs.

Processor - The brain of the computer, there are lots of types you can get. Just remember to make sure the processor you are buying works with the Motherboard you are buying. Generally, you need to pay attention to the speed rating, bus speed, slot type (number of pins/mounting techinique) and type (p4 vs celeron vs athlon) to make sure that a processor fits into your motherboard. For simplicity sake, try to find a bundle that includes the Motherboard, Processor and fan. You can usually get a decent Athlon combo for 50-100.

Processor Fan - putting a processor onto a motherboard without an adequate cooling fan is like frying an egg without some kind of grease or teflon - you're gonna get burned. Don't do it. Especially with Athlons, which I am told run hot, you want to make sure you get one and mount it. They aren't too expensive, and they can save you wasting money. Getting a combo that includes the fan helps.

Memory - Memory comes in several types and different densities. Generally lower densities are cheaper and the type you buy is determined by the motherboard that you choose. 512 MB Memory modules run around 70 bucks and a lower density A 256 MB module was around $30 last I checked. You can probably get 256 MB and run UV/WitP just fine. Sometimes, memory modules have to be installed in pairs or in a sepcific slot on the motherboard, so check your motherboard manual.

Graphics card - Some Motherboards come with a graphics card built in. Unless you want to play first person shooters like Quake or Unreal Tournament, you can do just fine with on board graphics most of the time. You can check the specs on UV to see if it requires any special graphics capability. Almost all graphics cards are AGP cards and almost all motherboards these days come with an AGP slot. You can get a decent AGP card for $40 - you can also buy the top of the line for around $400... In general, unless you are spending lots of money on a high end board and processor, don't waste your money on a high end graphics card.

"floppy" disk - 3.5 inch "floppy" disks are not really floppy, but they are generally added to a computer. Given that most software comes on CD's these days, it might be a waste. On the other hand, you can get a floppy drive for 8 to 13 dollars, so having it around in case some idiot gives you a game file on a floppy is probably worth it.

Hard Disk - hard disks come in lots of types too, but the type you are most likely to get is IDE (other types include ATA and SCSI). Find a 20 to 40 GB IDE HD (SCSI drives almost always require SCSI controller cards so even if you get one cheap, don't buy it unless it comes with the card. The card can be more than the cost of the drive itself.) You can probably get smallish hard drives for around $50. If you are going to spend extra money, this is one place to do it, because smaller hard drives, while cheaper, don't save you alot of money. A 40 GB HD might cost you 50 bucks while a 80GB might only cost you 65 bucks. If you choose to upgrade your HD later, this is one of the components that can usually be used in the upgraded computer, so it is worth it to spend extra if you've got extra to spend.

CD ROM/ CDRW / DVD Drives - You can get a cheapo CD rom for 15 bucks. The only thing you need it for is loading the software and putting it in the drive. Just make sure that it is an IDE CD rom drive and it is set to Master for the IDE channel you connect it to. (Most motherboards have 2 IDE channels, each of which can have 2 devices connected to it as master or slave. Make sure the CDROM you put the UV disk into is the master on it's IDE Channel)

Keyboard - You can buy a keyboard for 6 bucks. If you want something extravagant, go for it, but you can get by just fine with the $5.95 specials. I have 4 of them I use with various computers I've built and they all work fine. If one doesn't, just go back and exchange it.

Mouse - I really recommend an optical Mouse, and a wireless one if you can get one cheap. I have corded opticals on three of my machines that cost me $7.95 apiece - and they work fine.

Monitor - I bought a 17" refrubished Dell monitor for $99 bucks. You can get a sufficient monitor for 75 to 150 bucks.

Operating System - when you buy a hard drive, processor, or motherboard, you are eligible to buy an OEM copy of Windows. The price is typically around 90 bucks for XP home and 190 for XP pro. XP home is fine for you. I do not recommend pirating it. As a software developer, I find it difficult to cheat anyone out of their livelihood - even if it is an ass like Bill Gates.

You might need an Ethernet card or modem depending upon your network connection. Neither should cost you over 15 bucks.

Putting it all together is fairly easy. It is mostly assembly work and the motherboards usually come with a manual that tells you what you need to know to put it all together. Then, you install XP (another easy step) and you are ready to install UV.