<short> I run a computer service from home, but I never get anything other then an amateur virus, fake spyware, *bleeped* HDD. No technical hardware probs. I want to move on to building computers. I plan to build my own computer as mine is highly out-dated and to get the ball rolling. I want to really get to know my shit before I start *bleeping* around with $2000 worth of hardware. Anyone got any links explaining the ins-and-outs of computer hardware? Differences between DDR2/DDR3 RAM. Why X CPU won't work with Y Motherboard. Why X GPU is best suited to Y Motherboard. Etc...
I don't have a link, but I can tell you the info easy enough: DDR2 is cheaper. It is faster with most processors where it is available (for instance, DDR2 is faster with a AM2 processor, but it is not even available with a 1156 processor) DDR3 is faster with newer processors, and it allows for tripple-channel mode where DDR2 only allows for twin-channel. This means that DDR2 can combine 2 sticks into one big, fast stick...and DDR3 can do the same, but with 3 sticks. Most any video card should work with most any mainboard that has a slot for it. Some mainboard support 2, 3, or more video cards. If you want all the power of all these cards put onto just one screen, then you either need SLI or Crossfire. Some boards support both, some boards support only one, and there are even a few boards that support multiple video cards, yet do no support either SLI or Crossfire. For the most part, CPUs and mainboard compatability is determined by the socket type. AMD uses AM2, AM2+ and AM3...intel uses 775, 1156, and 1366. There is no cross-support for the intel socket types. There is some cross-support for the AMD sockets...but you have to check the manual/Faq/bios update texts to see if the bios supports the processor...as many boards are technicaly capable of running chips from other sockets, but do not have the BIOS functions to work with these chips.
