Comparing components

[Dreaming]

Sometimes it's easy I think, but with some I don't really know what the difference is except the name. Like hard drives, they all function pretty similar, there will be 4 or 5 that are 160gb with 2 80gb platters, 8mb buffer, sata-ii compatible etc. Which one do you go for

I've been looking at uATX AM2 motherboards for a new build and not really sure which one to go for.

I've seen this one: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=476333

+ Pros vs. others in the same 'area'

• SATA II compatible
• Has 4 ram slots
• Has 7.1 onboard sound which should be sufficient for a basic personal use computer
• gigabyte has a good reputation, i think

- Negatives vs. others in the same band

• only supports up to 800mhz speed DDR2 ram
• erm...

It seems that with some products (like DVD writers, too), all the products are the same. This can't be the case, I know with high end motherboards there is a big difference and this is compared in many places online, but with lower end products it's much harder to differentiate, and the price range is about £10 for 15 products in some cases. Going for the cheapest, you're not saving really any money at all, but trying to go for the best is impossible because they're all so similar! I've just tried to stick to good names (Asus and Gigabyte for motherboards, Hitachi and Western Digital for hard drives) but the others aren't bad at either. [except MSI, avoid like the plague )

I do build computers and help friends build computers but only as a pasttime and have done <10 in my life probably, though more than that with taking them apart and trying to fix them but I wondered how more seasoned builders chose the best products when they seem to be the same except for then name?

[BUFF]

for 1 that uses the nVidia 6100 rather than the 6150.
If you would use the additional features it seems pretty widely recognised that the best AM2 mATX currently is abit's nF-M2 nView & it's only ~&#163;15 more.

[Dreaming]

for 1 that uses the nVidia 6100 rather than the 6150.
If you would use the additional features it seems pretty widely recognised that the best AM2 mATX currently is abit's nF-M2 nView & it's only ~£15 more.

Widely recognised except for me!

Will that onboard vga run the Sims 2 and Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 . Heh that's a good motherboard, thanks. But I still can't work out stuff. What's the best 160gb / 250gb hard drive then.

That motherboard looks good though, was going to get wireless anyway!

[BUFF]

I really don't know how well it will run those games but you can always try it & if unhappy add a discrete gfx card.
oh well then the wireless version adds another &#163;10 or so.

imo WD WD2500KS Caviar SE16 or ST3250620AS Barracuda 7200.10 but the Samsung & HGST are fine too.