Beginner\'s Guide to Motherboard Selection

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Good guide. It sums up what I think are the only two things that you need to know to build a computer:

1) You know all the parts are compatible.
2) You know where everything plugs in.

In the article you mention
AMD improved the cooler retention module at the same time, but many coolers are cross-compatible.
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I was under the impression that most coolers were not cross-compatible.

A new AMD socket has been launched, and with it a new mounting bracket, it renders a lot of well known heatsinks useless, we’ve compiled an extensive list of those which still fit the new AM2 platform out of the box. Essential read for those looking to upgrade.
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LINKAGE

Also, the BTX compairson picture is either typed wrong or it has been deleted from your server.

Now to the good, 😀

I like how it explained the different sockets, though I wish you would have been a bit more forceful to say that you should *not* buy an old-socket motherboard as that severly limits the upgrade path, and not just of a CPU, but entire parts including the GPU (old sockets primarily used AGP) or the hard drive (IDE is dying).

A good clean layout and the transistions between different parts of the article were good.

I wish you expanded a bit more BTX, but most people don't buy it, and few motherboards are available. If any, they are the value-segment. Also on BTX motherboards: Beware, you cannot install a dual-slot coler as it will interfere with the I/O ports. I learned the hard way.

Great review and keep at it!

~Ibrahim~
 
SCSI devices are extinct? For the majority of users, yes (they never used SCSI anyway), but not for people who want and can afford to pay for the highest hard drive performance. My primary PC has a RAID 10 array of four 146GB Ultra360 15000 RPM drives on a hardware RAID controller with 256MB of cache -- that's for just the OS and apps, my data is on four 750GB SATA drives. Since I multitask to the extreme (regularly using about dozen big apps at once), graduating from P4's HT to Core 2 Duo is going to take even more advantage of my SCSI drives' performance.
 
They may not be extinct, but SATA is hot on it's heels. 256MB of cache? Nice. There are few SCSI devices available and the cable is fat and remind me of IDE.

The only thing that SCSI can do that SATA can't is get that massive cache, but that is right around the corner with those Hybrid drives. SATA has smaller cables and it is more widely accepted. Sure, there are people who will pay extra $$$ to get a performance boost, but the cash is too much for most users.

~Ibrahim~
 
SCSI devices are extinct? For the majority of users, yes (they never used SCSI anyway), but not for people who want and can afford to pay for the highest hard drive performance. My primary PC has a RAID 10 array of four 146GB Ultra360 15000 RPM drives on a hardware RAID controller with 256MB of cache -- that's for just the OS and apps, my data is on four 750GB SATA drives. Since I multitask to the extreme (regularly using about dozen big apps at once), graduating from P4's HT to Core 2 Duo is going to take even more advantage of my SCSI drives' performance.
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I have to ask, what could you possibly do that requires THAT much hard drive space/performance??

And if you're running a server of that size have you ever considered using a Dual Woodcrest system?
 
I found this article to be helpful to me. I have a few friends that are looking into computers that they want me to build, and I would much rather them learn something along the way than me just tell them this is what I think they will need, that’s it.

I am going to make a few of my friends read this so that maybe when I start to ask them some serious questions about what they want they can just tell me, not me spending hours on newegg bringing up dozens of possibilities for a build.

one thing I wanted to mention on the scsi thing I want to build a raid with scsi just because those things are reliable as the sun set. I’ve seen some that are close to 10 years old and they run perfect, no worry about a raid 0 doubling the chance of losing everything.
 
SCSI devices are extinct? For the majority of users, yes (they never used SCSI anyway), but not for people who want and can afford to pay for the highest hard drive performance. My primary PC has a RAID 10 array of four 146GB Ultra360 15000 RPM drives on a hardware RAID controller with 256MB of cache -- that's for just the OS and apps, my data is on four 750GB SATA drives. Since I multitask to the extreme (regularly using about dozen big apps at once), graduating from P4's HT to Core 2 Duo is going to take even more advantage of my SCSI drives' performance.
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I have to ask, what could you possibly do that requires THAT much hard drive space/performance??

And if you're running a server of that size have you ever considered using a Dual Woodcrest system?

My machine at work is similar. I guess you have never run multiple complex physics simulations in tandem before? (when I say complex, I mean complex for a PC, not an IBM SC)

Contrary to popular belief, games are not the only thing that can tax a computer.

On topic, this was one of the better Tom's articles to come out recently. Not much in terms of new info, but the old informative writing style is back. :)
 
Clip-on coolers for 939 fit AM2. The lever hook is not usually needed. As for bolt-on coolers, most newer ones support both bracket hole locations. What that leaves "not working" is almost exclusively big aftermarket coolers from yesteryear.

I haven't had time to read the entire article yet, but I did see the BTX comparison picture was now up.
 
Yes. The clip on ones are the ones that'll work. Wait, aren't the two screw holes on the 939 different from any two on the AM2? Yeah, a shame the Tuniq won't work, one of the best coolers.

~Ibrahim~
 
There is one thing that I do not understand. The article mentions:

"LGA775 is an excellent choice for performance enthusiasts. It will also host Intel's first quad core Kentsfield processor later this year, but a bus speed increase to 333 MHz (FSB1333) is likely, so you will need a new motherboard."

anandtech.com "Conroe Buying Guide: Feeding the Monster" article specs list only Intel BadAxe as capable of 1333 / 1067 / 800 / 533 MHz FSB. However, the same article lists ASUS P5W-DH Deluxe as capable of 100 to 500 base FSB in 1MHz Increments. Doesn't that mean that ASUS P5W-DH can be set to 333 base FSB, effectively to 1333 quad FSB, and work with quad core Kentsfield just fine? Does it make any difference whether BadAxe has an "official" 1333 FSB support, but ASUS has to be "overclocked" to achieve the same speed? What difference does it make?

As a side-question: the same article does not specify any Bus Speed adjustments for the BadAxe, but instead says "Host Burn-In Mode: 0 - 50% (in 1 percent increments)". Does that mean BadAxe FSB cannot be overclocked in increments to, say, 400Mhz base FSB exactly to run DDR2-800 at 1:1 multiplier (and X6800 CPU at 3.51 Ghz multiplied down to 9x)?

If someone can clarify this for me, I would appreciate it.

G.
 
Good idea: 6 mounting holes...

Well, yeah, that is correct. But when a board says it can do 1333 stock, it means it will always be STABLE at 1333. A board that does 1067 quite possibly can do 1333, but it might not be stable.

I'm not sure on the side question, though.

~Ibrahim~
 
When Intel releases new processors they often re-designate a pin so as to prevent it from functioning in previous boards. Nobody knows for sure yet if the 1333 processors will work on 1066 bus boards, but if they at least powered up, overclocking the board could become an option.
 
In the year or so I've been learning about PCs (necessary now that I own one in addition to two Macintoshi), I've read what I can find about all the different parts. This article is a good summation of what I've dug up from many sources.

I wish there were a more organized presentation, though, that gave the advantages of each chipset. Those who've been working with this for years know the ins and outs of various systems. My position, on the outside of the candy store trying to make a good purchase decision, is more difficult. There are so many options I don't know where to look, and this article didn't help much with that.

My next planned PC buy will be for a music server. I want a system that I can leave on all the time, so it needs to be silent, and I want it to use as little power as possible. The silent part is fairly easy, what with Zalman's TNN300 case, but the tough choice is which Micro-ATX motherboard to use. Pentium M? Turion? Core 2-whatever, as Apple uses in the new Powerbooks? Motherboards for these chips aren't that common, and Zalman contributes to the confusion by not updating their list of compatible motherboards.

I may end up doing it the simple way: go to the vendor that sold me the TNN500AF computer, and buy one of their small ones. The big one has done well for me... and I knew even less then than I do now. :)
 
this is only a beginners guide. the best thing would be to look for actual mobo reviews to get the sort of info you want.
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I understand. It is, however, somewhat confusing to see overclocking capabilities in motherboard reviews expressed sometimes as a range of base FSB, yet sometimes as a percentage of stock (quad) FSB.

Thanks for feedback, everyone. Seems like the BadAxe motherboard is the most likely bet for the upcoming quad-core compatibility, given the socket and voltages stay the same. Heck, it is even the only board officially supporting GeForce 7950 GX2. Now if only pricegrabber.com listed mobo revision numbers... :)

G.
 
I was hoping for some recommendations based on quality reliability too from the article. I ran into a customer who had me work on a ECS/Elitegroup board. I had to chase drivers and info on the board and it was pure hell. This was also the only board with socket 462 that wouldn't except a Zalman cooler (I made it fit anyways with clever use of the backplate for a different socket and a spare motherboard mounting hole) That one experience changed my opinion of my future purchases of Motherboards. I want boards that are reliable and well supported, in addition to good lay out. I have had good luck with Asus, Intel, MSI, & even Asrock...but lately my supplier has been trying to push Abit on me. I recall news that Abit was in financial trouble? Is that all done now?
 
Making blanket statements about brand quality is extremely problematic at best, as EVERY manufacturer I've delt with has had DESIGN defects on HIGH END products. Even the "best" from your list has denied responsibility, or failed to respond, to some issues.
 
Congrats on a nice review. 8)

I also like and use SCSI drives but only in machines at work, they are great for camera capture (several feeds at once) and other time critical applications. Also long life span, I still have 4 drives by Seagate in use for 6 yrs now (since spring 2000). I agree they are not for beginners, and students cannot afford them but IMO they are nowhere near extinction.

BTW, any pointers to a recent, up-to-date review/comparison of dual mobo's, specially dual for dual-core cpu's? Thanks.
 
Every SCSI device I can locate for the personal system market is old. Very old. Brand new scanners and cameras that are 6-years old, "new old stock".

Lots of SCSI stuff still in the server market, but PC peripherals were specified for a reason.
 
In the year or so I've been learning about PCs (necessary now that I own one in addition to two Macintoshi)
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Owning a PC doesn't require any knowledge of hardware. Hell, owning a PC doesn't require any knowledge at all. Just look at the people who buy Dells.
 
SCSI devices are extinct? For the majority of users, yes (they never used SCSI anyway), but not for people who want and can afford to pay for the highest hard drive performance. My primary PC has a RAID 10 array of four 146GB Ultra360 15000 RPM drives on a hardware RAID controller with 256MB of cache -- that's for just the OS and apps, my data is on four 750GB SATA drives. Since I multitask to the extreme (regularly using about dozen big apps at once), graduating from P4's HT to Core 2 Duo is going to take even more advantage of my SCSI drives' performance.
Click to expand...

Man, you must have a really tiny penis to make up for. I bet your Word and Excel apps open in a blink of an eye! I bet you can (and do), store a lot of porn on that system.

Idiot.
 
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