Something Need To Know Before Buy a New Motherboard

There is a lot of type & brands of motherboard in market. But most of you not really know how to choose what should you know before buy it. This is a simple list of motherboard which almost people buy in market

- ASROCK
- ASUS
- MSI
- GIGABYTE
- INTEL

1. Firstly you need to know which socket you should buy. If you using Intel cpu example Core 2 Duo, you need motherboard 775 socket.

2. If you plan to use memory which more powerful like example 800DDR2 PC6400, make sure you motherboard support for that

3. If you plan want use it for maximum memory, check the motherboard how much memory max it's can support. 2gb, 4gb or 8gb. My advise, 2gb better no need too much

4. Most of motherboard using chipset 7.1 channel audio, just double check before you buy it

5. Some of people using too much usb port, form me 6 port of usb is minimum, 6 usb port at back and 2 extra connection on board for front usb port

6. For gaming system, you need cooler (heatsink) at south bridge. It's doesnt matter if there is no fan out there, you can modify latter.

7. North bridge also same as part no.6

There is basic info you need to know. OK now this is part more difficult, which brand should we choose?? My opinion base on my experience. I have chit chat whit my friends who work as a technical department in computer accessories store some where in KL. There is 3 brand in top position. ASUS, MSI & GIGABYTE. ASROCK is a lower motherboard. INTEL motherboard having problem. How he knows? people who used Intel motherboard will having same problem. System cannot start.

How about ASUS, MSI & GIGABYTE and which one is better?? It's difficult to say but as we know ASUS has good motherboard. More stability and even Intel recommand ASUS. MSI have good configure which have max memory for display (onboard) without using memory as we attach on motherboard. You can get 380mb for display (onboard). GIGABYTE get credit from my friends who work as a technical department and he said he will choose GIGABYTE motherboard if want buy a new system for playing a games.

There is another tips. If you can see in price list, example MSI motherboard the code is MS-7529, G31M3-L. This motherboard have 3 years warranty from factory. How to know?? From the code. Can you see the code have G31 ?? That stand for 3 years warranty from factory.

MS-7529, G31M3-L

1 year warranty from the shop and 3 years warranty form factory. If you claim warranty in 1 years, you will get new motherboard without pay anythings but if after 1 year which you have 3 years warranty from factory, if you claim you need pay RM30 for transportation fee's.

Computer Power Supply

Many people don't know or not sure which one or how many watt of power supply should used for computer. In this scenario, depend on what you do. Each hardware we attach on motherboard using some voltage and watt. This value different with each hardware.

This is some list of hardware with watt usage:
- Intel cpu
-> Intel Celeron socket 478 = 35 watts - 78watts **
-> Intel Pentium 4 socket 478 = 58 watts - 103 watts **

- VGA card = 30watts - 70watts **
- Memory = 7watts - 40watts **
- HDD (PATA/SATA SCSI) =25watts / each
- PCI Modem = 4watts
- NIC = 4watts
- Sound Card = 7watts - 18watts **
- SCSI Controller Card = 25watts

- CD-ROM = 20watts
- DVD-ROM = 25watts
- CD-RW = 20watts
- DVD / CDRW COMBO = 30watts
- DVD-RW / DVD+RW = 25watts
- ZIP Drive = 10watts

- USB Port (1.1 / 2.0) = 5watts / each
- IEEE Fire Wire = 8watts
- Fan = 2watts - 3watts **
- Internal Multi Memory Card Reader = 10watts

** depend on model / type

Before you buy new power supply, please read carefully sticker on power supply which will tell you how many watts peak and so on. (Power supply calculator)

Streamyx Connection

Package	Download Speed	Upload Speed
Streamyx 384kbps	384kbps	128kbps
Streamyx 512kbps	512kbps	256kbps
Streamyx 1.0Mbps	1.0Mbps	384kbps
Streamyx 2.0Mbps	2.0Mbps	384kbps
Streamyx 4.0Mbps	4.0Mbps	512kbps

Having problem with connection? Many user don't know about connection and easy to blame ISP. But sometimes it's right, ISP problem but most of us don't know how to do it even don't know about it.

I will tell what should you know about internet connection. Example, my connection is 1.0mb download / 512kbps upload. Once I connect, I will check my connection. I'm using modem router which have web management features. How to do that?


1. Open IE & type modem IP. In this case, my modem IP is 192.168.1.1

2. login to web management (using username & password)

3. Connect the line

4. See the connection speed

More about Web management (Related Link)
More about Networking (Related Link)

Why need check connection speed? Ok I give 2 situation

Situation 1
Still remember my connection? 1.0mb/512kbps right? If connection show 1.0mb donwload & 128kbps upload. My internet connection is very slow.

Situation 2
My connection show 1.0mb download & 512kbps upload. That time I have good connection

So how to fix this problem if your connection should be 1.0mbps download & 512kbps upload but you have 1.0mbps / 128kbps? Just restart your modem. In this case my Aztech modem router have button in web management to restart. it's take about 30 seconds or more to restart and after that see is it 1.0mb / 512kb or still 1.0mb / 128kbps ? If still 128kbps, please do it again (restart). It's simple

Imagine that 1 building with 2 door. 1st door goto inside (download) & 2nd door goto outside (upload). The building can park 1000 a cars at 1 time. If the building can have 1000 cars and 512 cars go outside, the building can have more space for a new cars come to park inside the building. But if only 128 cars go outside, we will have traffic jam with cars try to go inside. Something like that