[win2kpro]

Lol, I really didn't know where to post this, perhaps we need a "rant" forum.

First of all I want to say I'm not picking out a single reseller, or a single board manufacturer, but overall resellers and motherboard manufacturers advertising just aggravates the hell out of me. The items I chose in this rant were just chosen at random.

We see it time after time after time where purchasers purchase processors that are not compatible with their motherboards when picking out components for a new build. The fault is the purchasers, however the resellers and board manufacturers contribute greatly to the problem.

For the most part, 1st time builders are generally naive and confused about the components they need, but the resellers add nothing but confusion to the purchasers decisions.

For instance a purchaser may go to Newegg to compile their list of components. Let's suppose they have picked this motherboard as the board they would like to use.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131600

So they go to this page and look at the board specifications to choose a processor. Under the heading Supported CPU the following information is provided.

CPU Socket Type LGA 775
CPU Type Core 2 Quad/Core 2 Extreme/Core 2 Duo/Pentium dual-core/Celeron Dual-Core
FSB 1600/1333/1066/800 MHz

Being somewhat naive the purchaser believes since this is a Socket 775 board that it will support ALL the Type processors shown, i.e. Core 2 Quad/Core 2 Extreme/Core 2 Duo/Pentium dual-core/Celeron Dual-Core.

So now the builder purchases all of his or her components, puts the machine together, and they are ready for the big moment. They push the power button, and surprise, surprise, surprise the machine "no worky".

So now the builder "messes" with everything until they become completely frustrated because the machine still "no worky" then it's time to seek help at TSG or another support site.

So now they make a thread and post their problem (in most cases leaving out pertinent information) and seek help. After playing "20 questions" with the poster it's now determined that the processor they purchased is not supported by that particular motherboard which they don't understand since the resellers specs stated under the heading Supported CPU that Core 2 Quad/Core 2 Extreme/Core 2 Duo/Pentium dual-core/Celeron Dual-Core processors were supported.

What really aggravates me is why ALL resellers can't put an additional short paragraph under the heading Supported CPU something to the affect of "CHECK THE MOTHERBOARD MANUFACTURERS WEBSITE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF SUPPORTED PROCESSORS".

Newegg and other re-sellers do provide a link to the Manufacturers Product Page, but for some unknown reason 90% of the 1st time builders never go to the Manufacturers Product Page and if they did, they don't think about searching out the motherboard manufacturers supported processor list since the resellers have made a overly broad statement that the type processors they list are supported under the resellers Supported CPU list.

End of rant!

[Frank4d]

I built one of rhese systems several years ago. Fr'y had a MOBO/CPU combo deal on an Athlon XP 2400 CPU and I forget the exact MOBO. I figured it should work since they were selling it as a package.

Got it built and turned it on. Can't figure out why the MOBO is identifying the CPU as an Athlon XP 2000. Checked the CPU box (says its a 2400). Checked the numbers on the CPU (says its a 2400). Checked the clock settings in BIOS (clock and multiplier are for a 2000). Grrr!.

Went to the MOBO manufacturers website and found yes, the MOBO will work with a 2400... only if you have BIOS version 'X' or later. Unfortunately the MOBO Fry's was selling with the 2400 CPU combo deal did not have the required BIOS version. So I had to flash it.

So how many first time builders go to Fry's and buy a combo expecting it to not work as advertised?

[JohnWill]

Well, this is why building a system still requires some thought.

[win2kpro]

Frank, as to BIOS versions you know we see that all the time in hardware. It beats me why board manufacturers can't put a sticker with the BIOS version on the chip.

Processors are changing so rapidly when you order a board even if the board supports one stepping it may not support another. I know with Intel socket 775 boards I had to keep a couple of Celerons on hand that were supported by many of the initial BIOS's
so I could install the Celeron, get the machine running, then flash the BIOS for the processor that was going to be permanently installed.

[Stoner]

Actually....it's threads like this that made me extra careful I chose the correct parts for my first build.


So here's to rants, as frustrating as they may be....they do help some first time builders

[win2kpro]

Stoner, one of the big problem is simply people don't read. Here's a little story that happened to me a couple of years ago.

A guy builds his own machine and calls me to tell me the machine won't start. I asked him if he already installed the motherboard in the chasisis and he answered yes. I told him he should have tested the board to make sure it would POST before installing it in the chassis.

Since the board was in the chassis I asked him if he was sure he had the front panel power header pinned out correctly. He answered yes he was sure. I asked him again; Are you positive? He replied yes, he was positive because he had taken the front panel wiring loose twice from the header, and had jumped the POWER ON pins with a screwdriver and the machine still would not post. At that time I told him to bring it in so I could put it on the workbench.

I opened the chassis and the problem was immediately apparent. Although he had the diagram for the pinout he had pinned out the front panel header to the front USB connector. Both the front panel header and the USB header have 9 pins, however the "missing pin" is pin #9 on the USB header, and pin #10 on the front panel power connector. He had the pinout chart in his hand, and the headers were clearly marked.
All he was looking at one the board were the words "front panel" and never reading the rest.

You absolutely, positively cannot start a machine with the front panel power connectors connected to the front panel USB header.

[Stoner]

Originally Posted by win2kpro

Stoner, one of the big problem is simply people don't read. ..........................

Don't or can't.....coming from auto repair....I used to run into both.
There are people that will pound square pegs into round holes all day long.
I even knew a few mechanics guilty of that

[GTechWiz]

I have a better suggestions, why don't people go down to the local COMPUTER store and have the sales guys (geeks in disguise) help them construct a good comptuer, for what they can afford! NO KNOWLEGE NEEDED! Besides, it's not what you know, but WHO you know that matters!

[JohnWill]

Actually, many of the local computer store guys are not really geeks, but rather just clerks.

[Frank4d]

Slightly off topic, but I remember a long time ago I used to be able to go to Radio Shack and buy parts to build a power supply. And the guy who worked there actually knew how to design one! Now the guy working there doesn't know what a transistor is or even what it might look like.