Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
compatibility, and utility programs to help you monitor the condition of your system. In addition
to these online support features, make sure the vendor can be contacted through email and by
phone.
Most of the time I recommend purchasing boards from better-known motherboard manufacturers such
as GIGABYTE, Foxconn, and Intel. These boards might cost a little more, but there is some safety in
the more well-known brands. That is, the more boards they sell, the more likely that any problems
will have been discovered by others and solved long before you get yours. Also, if service or support
is necessary, the larger vendors are more likely to be around in the long run.
Chipset Documentation
As mentioned, documentation is an important factor to consider when you're planning to purchase a
motherboard. Most motherboard manufacturers design their boards around a particular chipset, which
actually counts as the bulk of the motherboard circuitry. I recommend downloading the chipset
datasheets or other technical documentation directly from the chipset manufacturer.
For example, one of the more common questions I hear about a system relates to the BIOS Setup
program. People want to know what the “Advanced Chipset Setup” features mean and what the
effects of changing them will be. Often they go to the BIOS manufacturer thinking that the BIOS
documentation will offer help. Usually, however, people find that there is no real coverage of what
the chipset setup features are in the BIOS documentation. You will find this information in the data
book provided by the chipset manufacturer. Although these topics are meant to be read by the
engineers who design the boards, they contain all the detailed information about the chipset's
features, especially those that might be adjustable. With the chipset data book, you will have an
explanation of all the controls in the Advanced Chipset Setup section of the BIOS Setup program.
Besides the main chipset datasheets, I recommend collecting any data topics on the other major chips
in the system. This includes Super I/O chips, SATA controllers, and of course the main processor.
You will find an incredible amount of information on these components in the datasheets.
