Can anybody give me a brief summarization of the motherboard?

Geeksire · April 2nd, 2009, 11:07 PM

Hello everybody. I've been wondering on building me my own desktop but the thing is...I don't know how. The motherboard is the only thing that is making my day look awful. I would just like to know some of the chips that are on the motherboard and plugs that go to each one; for example: what is the CPU Socket Type, North Bridge, South Bridge, PCI Express, Onboard Video Chipset, and many others.
Thanks for any replies.

Atomic Rooster · April 2nd, 2009, 11:15 PM

This should help you out: AMD Compatible Motherboard Buying Guide

Geeksire · April 3rd, 2009, 12:05 AM

Cool! Thanks Atomic! That really help me out a bit, but now...the PCI slots and PCI Express Slots are confusing me, also the RAID, and the SLI graphic card and ATI Crossfire?

The PCI slots are used for connecting additional accessories???

The SLI only accepts Nvidia while Crossfire accepts only ATI???

P.S: I'm looking for a motherboard that can be for a gamer, but when they mean SLI or Crossfire, does it mean they can handle two graphic cards???

Thanks! For replies!

Oh and I almost forgot. The Optical Drive should be IDE while the Hard Drive should be SATA 3.0 right???

Atomic Rooster · April 3rd, 2009, 12:27 AM

PCI slots are for things like soundcards, network interface cards, etc.

SLI is Nvidia's dual card technology and Crossfire is ATI's. You may use a single card of either brand on both types of motherboard.

Yes, SLI and Crossfire means that you can run two cards as one, increasing your video gaming performance.

Your optical drive can be either IDE or SATA. They sell them in both flavors.

zepper · April 3rd, 2009, 01:02 AM

Here is another site that may help: mechBgon's guide for first-time newbie computer builders, and stuff - it has a nice system builders' guide for newbies. Wikipedia.com often has good entries on various computer features, parts, etc.

.bh.

Geeksire · April 3rd, 2009, 09:07 PM

Awsome!! Thanks a lot for the replies. I want to get me a motherboard that can support a high-end graphic, just one, so I can play some games like: Dawn of War II, Call of Duty 4 or 5, Crysis, or Left 4 Dead. I found a motherboard from AMD since AMD is pretty cheap while Intel is pretty off the charts with price, and it seems I got the Quad-Core for a good price (most of the shopping I do is from Newegg).

I also was wondering about the graphic card, forgot to mention that. Since PCI 2.0 x16 is for--graphic cards (I think) I was wondering if the Geforce GTX 260 is able to connect to the motherboard and...fit in a mid-tower.
Would there be any better graphic card better than Geforce GTX 260 because I'll look for anything that's below $200 and better.

Motherboard:
Newegg.com - ASUS M3A78-EM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - AMD Motherboards

Graphic Card:
Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

CPU:
Newegg.com - AMD Phenom 9600 Agena 2.3GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 95W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

P.S: Is the Geforce GTX 260 better than ATI's 4670 HD???

Sincerely,
Geeksire

thephilosophizer · April 3rd, 2009, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geeksire

AMD is pretty cheap while Intel is pretty off the charts with price, and it seems I got the Quad-Core for a good price

If intel is off the charts with price, they are also off the charts with performance. Granted the amd you picked is probably one of the cheapest quads to be found, but as the saying goes, there is a reason it is cheap. An intel dual core will out perform that amd in most cases (except maybe for programs writen to use multi-core), and if gaming is the goal, then quad isn't going to make such a huge leap.
This motherboard (Gigabyte EP45 UD3L) and this cpu (E7400) will give a good boost in games over the amd ($214 plus shipping).
The other thing is that you haven't mentioned case, psu, optical and hard drives, or memory, as well as overall budget. I noticed you had picked a micro board, I wouldn't recommend micro specifically unless you have a particular to fit in a small space.
Oh, and the 260 will slap the pants off the 4670.

Geeksire · April 3rd, 2009, 10:37 PM

Awsome! Thanks for reply! Well, I am a cheep-scape when it gets to CPU's, but then...(dealing with graphic cards) the graphic card wouldn't be able to fit in the motherboard I picked?? I have a mid-Tower to put the microATX mobo, but what you gave me. I'll look into it. Anyways, the CPU (quad-core) isn't recommended for gaming...you got me in a state of vertigo philosophizer ha. Wouldn't quad be like...I don't know...four CPU's together, and duo would be two CPU's??? [4:2 ratio] I did pass Math and I do think there would be a difference...should be.

Oh I should also tell you that I'm using an ancient tower, so many things like the PSU, or the optical drives I don't really know of. But I can tell you this! I have two optical drives that are "Double Layer 8x DvD+/-RW & 48x CD-ROM Drives". I may have to get a better PSU because the Wattage of that...THING should be like 300W, which is nothing right? The hard drive is also something I need to add.

P.S: Can a ATX motherboard fit in a mid-tower????

Another P.S: The PCI Express 2.0 x16 is suppose to be only for graphic cards? And what is the difference between a PCI Express 2.0 x16 and a PCI Express x16??? Is it the speed?

Sincerely,
Geeksire