The Motherboard

The EPoX 8RDA+ retail box includes one IDE cable suitable for up to a Ultra ATA/133 hard drive and the ribbon cable for the floppy drive. The CD includes the motherboard chipset drivers, as any CD that comes with a retail packaged motherboard does. In the case of the EPoX 8RDA+ which is based on the nForce2 chipset, it also includes a version of drivers for an NVIDIA video card as well as drivers for the built-in sound.

Here are closeups of the motherboard and cables since we'll be working with them a lot more.

The EPoX 8RDA+ motherboard provides a vast assortment of connectors on the I/O panel. From left-to-right: the light-blue circled connector is a PS/2 mouse connector, the purple circled connector is a PS/2 keyboard connector, the two green circled connectors are USB 2.0 connectors, the red circled connector is a parallel port connector (LPT), the two yellow circled connectors are serial port connectors (COM1 and COM2), the orange circled connector is a RJ45 LAN connector, the two green circled connectors are two more USB 2.0 connectors, the pink circled connector is for a microphone, the blue circled connector is the built-in sound line-in, and the green circled connector is the built-in sound line-out.

It's becoming increasingly common to connect devices via the USB connectors for the ease of use and since the devices can be daisy chained together so you don't run out of USB connectors. But it's not uncommon to use a printer or tape drive backup system on the parallel port, or to use the PS/2 keyboard and mouse connectors for their intended purpose. The connectors on the I/O panel protrude from the back of the computer case once the motherboard is installed so that they are accessible without opening the computer case.

This isn't even counting the two FireWire (IEEE 1394) connectors which can be optionally installed. The cable providing external access to the built-in Firewire (IEEE 1394) is always included with the EPoX 8RDA+, but it's optional to install to actually connect it. The FireWire connectors are provided on a PCI slot cover, but you don't really lose a PCI slot to have FireWire since most AGP video cards make it difficult to use the adjacent PCI slot. In any event, there's six PCI slots, plus all the USB 2.0 and FireWire connectors, so I doubt that's much of an issue for anyone.

I'll be installing the DVD RW and the CD-RW on IDE 2. For best performance, the hard drive and optical drives should not be installed on the same IDE. The retail box of the motherboard includes one IDE cable so a second IDE cable may need to be purchased separately, although the retail box of the Sony DVD RW does include an IDE cable.

Next: Computer Assembly - Processor, CPU Cooler and Thermal Compound

My complete recommendations for building a computer with quality components at unbeatable prices is on my home page at Build A Computer Like My Super PC - Cost To Build A Computer. Here again are the recommendations for a motherboard! Description Where I Would Get It Today Today's Price Comments Motherboards - AMD Socket AM2 ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition Newegg $179.99 Clicking the link takes you directly to it. This socket AM2 motherboard is feature-rich with support for SLI to run two identical NVIDIA video cards in parallel, RAID, 8-channel on-board sound, and plenty of Serial ATA ports, USB 2.0 ports and IEEE 1394 Firewire ports. Be aware that this motherboard did not support the AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ processor until BIOS version 1201 which came out June 28, 2007. Although the one I purchased from Newegg in November 2007 came with this BIOS version, motherboards with older BIOS versions can still be found in the retail channel. If the motherboard has a previous BIOS, it can be flashed to a newer BIOS if it's booted with a slower processor. Otherwise, it will have to be sent to ASUS to be upgraded. Motherboards - Intel Socket LGA775 ASUS P5N-E SLI Newegg $119.99 Clicking the link takes you directly to it. ASUS has an outstanding reputation for making quality, feature-rich motherboards. This one packs in all the essential features with top-notch performance. ASUS P5N32-E SLI Newegg $199.99 Clicking the link takes you directly to it. This motherboard is the next step up, but most would probably find the ASUS P5N-E SLI a better buy. The ASUS P5N32-E SLI offers similar performance, and the feature differences would not be compelling for most, such as the improved audio, an extra Gigabit Ethernet port and an additional two USB 2.0 ports. Bundles, Barebone Kits AMD Bundles TigerDirect Varies Clicking the link takes you directly to the page for bundles and systems. All of the components in My Super PC were purchased separately so that I got exactly what I wanted. But if you come across a bundle you like then you can be sure that all of the components are compatible. Bundles typically include at least the processor and motherboard, but can include much more. Intel Bundles TigerDirect Varies Clicking the link takes you directly to Intel bundles and systems. Combo Deals Newegg Varies Clicking the link takes you directly to the combo deals page. Once there you can search by category, such as "AMD Motherboards" and brand, such as "ASUS".

Back to My Super PC - Home Page

How To Build A Computer. Step By Step Instructions To Assemble. Skip To Any Assembly Step.

	Parts List [go]
	Tools [go]
	Antistatic Wrist Strap [go]
	Computer Case and Power Supply [go]
	Motherboard [go]
	Processor, CPU Cooler and Thermal Compound [go]
	RAM - System Memory [go]
	Video Card [go]
	Monitor [go]
	Keyboard and Mouse [go]
	Floppy Drive [go]
	Hard Drive [go]
	CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD RW [go]
	Sound Card and Speakers [go]
	Modem [go]
	Install the Processor onto the Motherboard [go]
	Install the CPU Cooler [go]
	Install the RAM - System Memory [go]
	Install the Motherboard into the Computer Case [go]
	Install the Video Card [go]
	Connect the Power Supply to the Motherboard [20-pin Connector  or  24-pin Connector]
	Connect the PN1 and PN2 Indicators to the Motherboard [KS-282 to EPoX 8RDA+  or  Sonata to MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Ready the Monitor [go]
	Ready the Keyboard and Mouse [go]
	First Boot [go]
	First Boot Common Problems [go]
	Install the CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD RW Drives [go]
	Install the Hard Drive and Floppy Drive [PATA Hard Drive  or  SATA Hard Drive]
	Connect the Speakers (if using built-in sound) [go]
	Second Boot [PATA  or  SATA]
	Configure the BIOS Parameter Settings [EPoX 8RDA+  or  MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Test The Hard Drive [PATA  or  SATA]
	Install a Second SATA Hard Drive For RAID (optional) [go]
	Install the Operating System - Windows XP [on PATA hard drive  or  on SATA hard drive]
	Driver Installation [go]
	How To Copy Big Files From Another Computer Using Just a Floppy Drive [go]
	Install the Modem [go]
	Install the Motherboard Chipset Drivers [EPoX 8RDA+  or  MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Install the Monitor Driver [go]
	Install the Video Card Drivers [EPoX 8RDA+  or  MSI K8N Neo Platinum]
	Install the Sound Card and Speakers [go]
	Install System Information Utility - EVEREST [go]
	Diagnostic Test - DirectX [go]
	Speed Test - System Memory (RAM) Performance [go]
	Speed Test - Hard Drive Performance [PATA and SATA results]
	Speed Test - CD Performance [go]
	Speed Test - Total System Performance [go]
	Stress/Torture Tests [go]
	Connect Front Panel Ports For Audio, Firewire and USB 2.0 [go]
	Install Rear Panel Ports For Firewire And USB 2.0 [go]
	Install The Computer Case Fans [go]
	Post Assembly Needs [go]
	Graduation [go]
	Video Card Driver Settings [go]
	BIOS Flash Update [go]
	BIOS Settings [go]

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