which motherboard

[mar1e]

My Husband is going to update his computer after christmas I think he is going to run Vista I know that he wants a new motherboard and processor (he also plays games on the pc). What motherboard can I buy which has a pretty high spec and rough cost.

marie

[Mattk]

not as simple as that im afraid !

is his pc amd or intel for starters ?

[mar1e]

How do I find that out

[vehelpfulguy]

Dont buy him a motherboard.

There are all sorts of things to consider when buying one, it is not a simple process.

I have worked in computers for 30 years and built a number of PCs but even I get confused about all the different motherboards and all the features on them.

If he buys a new motherboard, and a new processor, he will also need to buy new memory. He will also need to buy Vista.

By the time he has done all that he may as well have bought a new computer.

If he wants to use his existing screen, keyboard, mouse etc he can probably get a new "system unit" (the main box) for about 200 or 250 pounds.

This is a much better solution than trying to do an upgrade.

[vehelpfulguy]

Just an extra comment from me.

There are just so many things that can go wrong it would be a mistake to buy anyone else a motherboard.

They come in different sizes, so will it fit his PC case.

They take different processors, does it support the one he wants.

They take different memory, does it take the memory he wants.

Does it have the features he wants: does he want firewire, does he want two graphics cards, has he got ATA or SATA hard drives, how many USB ports does he want, does he want legacy connectors, will it work with his power supply?

These are just SOME of the questions that need to be asked when buying a motherboard.

As you can see, not an easy thing to buy.

[mattie]

Also, you are opening yourself up to being ripped off, unless you know exactly what you are buying.
Not everyone who sells PCs or components is honest, I'm afraid.

Custom building a games PC is expensive, it helps if you know someone, a friend perhaps, who can advise you.

I custom built mine with the intention of playing games -

motherboard and CPU �250
Case �40
PSU �40
RAM �120
Graphics Card �70

I reused my hard drives and DVD drives from my old PC but still spent in excess of �500 by the time I had finished

[fo3nix]

Just to add: I'd pesonally agree with the above. A new computer itself would be a better idea.

[mar1e]

My husband has his own business in building and repairing computers I sometimes fortunatley and times like now unfortunatley know nothing about the works of a computer. I have since posting found out that he intends to buy the new duel core processors that has been advertised on the tv (i presume thats what it is called). So knowing that does that narrow my choices of motherboard?

Marie

[vehelpfulguy]

Leave him to buy it.