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Selecting A
Systemboard
Selecting the
systemboard is, therefore, a very important decision when you purchase a
computer or assemble one from parts, because the systemboard determines so
many of your computer’s features.
Depending on which
applications and peripheral devices you plan to use with the computer,
you can take one of
three different approaches to selecting a systemboard:
The first option is to
select the board that provides the most room for expansion so you can
upgrade and exchange components and add-on devices easily.
A second approach is to
select the board that best suits the needs of the computer’s current
configuration, knowing that when you need to upgrade, you will likely
switch to new technology and a new systemboard. The third approach is to
select a systemboard that meets your present needs with moderate room for
expansion.
Questions To Ask
When Purchasing A Systemboard
Ask the following
questions when selecting a systemboard:
Is the systemboard
designed so that long expansion cards don’t get in the way of the CPU or
other important devices you might want to access?
How many different CPUs
can the systemboard support—only those manufactured by Intel or also those
made by Intel’s competitors?
What bus speeds, type
of memory, and system BIOS does the board support?
Does the board use many
embedded devices?
Does the board fit the
case I plan to use?
Does the board support
my legacy cards?
What is the warranty on
the board?
How extensive and
user-friendly is the documentation?
How much support does
the manufacturer supply for the board?
Other Systemboard
Components
A
memory cache on the systemboard is a small amount of RAM
that is much faster than the rest of RAM. Both programming code and data
can be stored temporarily in this faster memory. The size of the cache a
CPU can support is a measure of its performance, especially during intense
calculations.
A
chip set is a set of chips on the
systemboard that collectively controls the memory cache, external buses,
and some peripherals.
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