Tag: Motherboards

Understanding Jumper Cable Settings

If you get the chance to view your motherboard, most probably you would see a complicated setup as to how the backbone of a PC would work. Just imagine one malfunctioning chip and the impact it can have on the whole hardware you have. It takes one simple chip or diode to wreck all of it.

The question of identifying which one it may be is a blackhole. Some technicians may be able to trace it but in most cases, such a scenario would lead to changing the whole motherboard to avoid the trouble. So what are the instances wherein you would consider replacing your motherboard rather than wait and have it repaired?

1. Don’t fool around with the jumper cables.
There are certain settings that jumpers in your motherboard have been programmed for. Some may point towards reading the right memory chips while others pertain to the overall health of you PC as far as plug and play features are concerned. There are some of us who see technicians tinker around with them but in reality, it may not be a wise one if you do not know what you are doing. Avoid being a professional technician if you don’t know the effects that such would have on your PC.

2. Avoid spilling liquids on motherboards.
Such is a similar thing in mobile phones. Ever wonder why some phones get busted after they are accidentally dropped with a single drop of water? The same holds for a PC motherboard. Just provide that extra understanding that you motherboard must be free from such inconsistencies and you will have less things to worry about.

Patch Up the Opened Back Slots of your PC

There will be cases where you may overdo it as far as wanting more peripherals installed on your motherboard as much as possible. In fact, you can fill up those slots as much as you can. But the problem starts to creep in when you feel that some parts are installed but not used. The normal thing a PC user would do is remove them but what about the slots or the holes that they would leave.

Normally, cases have a patched back where slots are opened without any provisions for patching them up. This is dangerous since rats or other forms of dust and objects may make their way into your computer. In the case of rats, if they should piss or bite some wires, you can expect some PC malfunctions to occur and that is entirely something uncomfortable.

As a precaution, it would be wise to perhaps tape them for now. Or better yet, if you can get hold of perfect fitted metal plates to shut them from intrusion of any sort, then the better. Some desktop manufacturers have this provision while others have the remove and then install only options. Maybe if you ask a friend or a technician who may have these metal blockers, then you can ask it from them since they usually throw them away if not used.

You may call it as a form of making your PC open to potential threats. Do not wait for it to happen. Use tape for now but if you can get good metal blocker plates, the better it is for you and your PC.

Counting the Slot Allocation of Motherboards

At times, we find ourselves wanting to install a lot of PCI slot enabled peripherals to our computer. The list includes separate network adapters, capture devices, additional USB cards or even PCI video cards. Other than these, you can also throw in an internal modem or even other external devices that any computer owner may want. In short, the type of motherboard you use for your computer should complement the user who needs it. But sometimes, the matching game for motherboards in computers is not easy.

For one, people have preferences as far as brand. Brands normally have different specs and for manufacturers such as MSI or ASUS, this is one reason why they manufacture motherboards with different model codes. In short, these codes stand for something and it is all about how complex as far as chip accommodation and slots for PCI, AGP and memory would be configured. These are done for the advanced PC users who will always go for the more features to get the most out of their computers today.

The logic behind this is that the more slots you have, the better it is for other add-ons. Technical people want to have a motherboard that can be open to anything. There are issues such as resources and compatibility for some and having excess slots, whether used or not is a privilege for them.

For the standard use however it will not matter. Just pick out the brand you want and operate a computer the standard way. If there would be add-ons, by the time this comes there will already be a new one in the market perhaps for upgrade purposes by that time.

Unplug A Powered Off Computer

When your computer is not in use, the normal understanding is that it is no longer running and is not in any manner threatened. As far as network connectivity, this is true. But as far as power surges or electric current threats are concerned, think again.

Once your computer or your automatic voltage regulator is switched off, it does not end there. The simple task of also making sure that the plug is not plugged in the outlet is another thing and apparently this is because power still runs on the sockets even if there is no power being taken from it. Especially if there are thunderstorms, be advised that a sudden electric current of any sort may affect your computer.

As it is, the plugged computer serves as a conductor to which sudden voltage surges can make its way to your computer. While not operational, it can fry your power supply, network cards or your motherboard without your knowledge. And how will you know that your motherboard has been fried? Well just switch it on and you will find no response. Chances are that at this stage, you will think that there is just some loose wires or connections somewhere. Sadly you are looking in the wrong direction.

That is why it is advisable that computer owners should be wary at times when there are storms in your area. Aside from the fluctuating current, your computer is a sitting duck and may eventually be a candidate for sudden bolts of electricity that can be a cause for computer wrecks. Take the initiative and unplug your computer from the socket. It doesn’t require much effort to do so.