computer question...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The motherboard cannot be affected by Windows. Windows needs certain BIOS values at start up so it can allocate memory space for the OS. The only way that you can change motherboard CMOS values only if you have a software from the motherboard that allows you to tweak values for different settings with the CMOS. Why does changing CMOS values have an effects? Well, you can change the voltage values, the multiplier values, and the FSB powering your mobo. And, depending on what values you may seriously do some damage.

I will tell you that Windows will not damage your motherboard. As a computer engineer, and an electrical engineer that is a garuntee! If you still think otherwise, I'm sorry.

Your friend probably did something or it might be that while he was using Windows 7, an electrical condition may cause the mobo to overload.

More likely to lose your Mobo through overheating than anything else.

[George&Hazel 1]

Not sure why people do not give linux a try since everything is going to the cloud. Honestly think it looks better than windows 7.. Free to boot. Here are a few screens of my desktop. Screens can not capture a good amount of the tweaks that have going on. FYI this is just ubuntu with 2 add ons. Nothing special.

Normal open window

Google chrome opening

Minimizing firefox.

[DeadPoolX 9]

The motherboard cannot be affected by Windows. Windows needs certain BIOS values at start up so it can allocate memory space for the OS. The only way that you can change motherboard CMOS values only if you have a software from the motherboard that allows you to tweak values for different settings with the CMOS. Why does changing CMOS values have an effects? Well, you can change the voltage values, the multiplier values, and the FSB powering your mobo. And, depending on what values you may seriously do some damage.

I will tell you that Windows will not damage your motherboard. As a computer engineer, and an electrical engineer that is a garuntee! If you still think otherwise, I'm sorry.

Your friend probably did something or it might be that while he was using Windows 7, an electrical condition may cause the mobo to overload.

More likely to lose your Mobo through overheating than anything else.

Or attempting to update it. If anything goes wrong while updating the BIOS, your computer might become a very expensive and large paperweight.

[Marilyn. 340]

nm

Edited November 2, 2009 by Marilyn.

[Niels Bohr 72]

If you're a guru like me, you have Linux on your machine as well.

[NickD 202]

The way consumer computers are designed, they work equally well as an air purifier gathering all the dust in your environment and depositing all the debris inside of your box, whether it would be a notebook or a desktop. Since the IC's used are mostly 0.3 micron technology with no current limiting technology, and unprotected with MFR, that moisture ladened dust leads to I/O failure coupled with the fact that any power surges as low as even of a fraction of volt on the Vss power lines leads to chip failure. Further coupled with the cheapest form of power supplies used, the switchmode that saves on using lots of copper and steel in the power transformer and high grade electrolytic capacitors. The components used in manufacturing are of the cheapest possible consumer grade.

Proper electrical surge protection is not built into computers, that has to be purchased externally, even a light electrical storm can cause failure, or a slightly loose electrical connection with another inductive load in the line like a refrigerator switching on and off can cause severe damage. Yet another cause of failure is thermal cycling, that static current of CMOS technology is next to zero, but that constant charging and discharging of field effect gate capacitance leads to high thermal cycling simply by running demanding programs, this current can be several amperes. The thermal cycling expands and contracts the intrinsic silicon host material that leads to impurity migration that can actually exceed the logic level current rendering all those internal chips as useless and is non-reversible if even minute extremes are exceeded.

Rather a sophisticated description for a piece of ####### you just purchased. But even if you kept your computer in a dust free dry environment with a well protected power source, the constant changes in software will render your computer obsolete in a very short period of time. One required accessory you should purchase with your new computer is a trash can, in a very short period of time, it will end up in it.

But not only with computers, add all electronic devices to that list, appliances, your vehicles, and even your home, it's all throwaway stuff, unrepairable with no replacement components even available. And be careful with buying anything on time, can still be making payments on that ####### when it's long been tossed in the trash can. Actually the trashcan is also obsolete, have to pay a stiff recycling charge as well to get rid of that #######. Followed by paying a premium for maintenance insurance they try to sell you on any piece of ####### you buy today.

[Niels Bohr 72]

ROFL! I like your statement about having a trash can nearby. CMOS uses FETs, the current drawn from them is not very high. BJTs are designed for that. Most recent BIOS has a thermal control feature that throttle the CPU when a certain temperature has been exceeded such as the Intel Core i7. This is a fail-safe way to ensure that damage to the CPU will not be happening.

The way consumer computers are designed, they work equally well as an air purifier gathering all the dust in your environment and depositing all the debris inside of your box, whether it would be a notebook or a desktop. Since the IC's used are mostly 0.3 micron technology with no current limiting technology, and unprotected with MFR, that moisture ladened dust leads to I/O failure coupled with the fact that any power surges as low as even of a fraction of volt on the Vss power lines leads to chip failure. Further coupled with the cheapest form of power supplies used, the switchmode that saves on using lots of copper and steel in the power transformer and high grade electrolytic capacitors. The components used in manufacturing are of the cheapest possible consumer grade.

Proper electrical surge protection is not built into computers, that has to be purchased externally, even a light electrical storm can cause failure, or a slightly loose electrical connection with another inductive load in the line like a refrigerator switching on and off can cause severe damage. Yet another cause of failure is thermal cycling, that static current of CMOS technology is next to zero, but that constant charging and discharging of field effect gate capacitance leads to high thermal cycling simply by running demanding programs, this current can be several amperes. The thermal cycling expands and contracts the intrinsic silicon host material that leads to impurity migration that can actually exceed the logic level current rendering all those internal chips as useless and is non-reversible if even minute extremes are exceeded.

Rather a sophisticated description for a piece of ####### you just purchased. But even if you kept your computer in a dust free dry environment with a well protected power source, the constant changes in software will render your computer obsolete in a very short period of time. One required accessory you should purchase with your new computer is a trash can, in a very short period of time, it will end up in it.

But not only with computers, add all electronic devices to that list, appliances, your vehicles, and even your home, it's all throwaway stuff, unrepairable with no replacement components even available. And be careful with buying anything on time, can still be making payments on that ####### when it's long been tossed in the trash can. Actually the trashcan is also obsolete, have to pay a stiff recycling charge as well to get rid of that #######. Followed by paying a premium for maintenance insurance they try to sell you on any piece of ####### you buy today.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The easy solution is to build the pc yourself, then its just a case of replacing parts if they wear out.

Oem PCs are better than they used to be, but they still have parts that aren't user replaceable.

Pretty much all laptops are disposable, unless you shell out a few grand on a high end rig, but even then you can only replace the parts up to a point. Damaged mobo is usually game over.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Plus, you have control on the different hardware customization. I find that complete build vendors such as Dell, HP, Compaq their hardware is very limited in terms of expandability. It's almost as if you need to buy proprietary components that cannot be changed to future models. And, they use a propritary mobo that is nearly impossible to reassemble again on a standard ATX size case.

The easy solution is to build the pc yourself, then its just a case of replacing parts if they wear out.

Oem PCs are better than they used to be, but they still have parts that aren't user replaceable.

Pretty much all laptops are disposable, unless you shell out a few grand on a high end rig, but even then you can only replace the parts up to a point. Damaged mobo is usually game over.

[George&Hazel 1]

I use to build all my own systems minus laptops. Now do not see the use for the most part. Will buy a mid line pc, and throw in a different vid card, and add some ram. When it dies buy another.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well I need to get myself a laptop - and have settled on this from amazon.

Didn't care for the reviews of the Dell Studio models - apparently flimsy build quality. Not too keen on the i7 processor in a laptop, but to get a cut down version with a core 2 duo and a single HDD would lower the price by only about $100.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Ok, thanks. i will mull it over some more... i can upgrade for free via the school that i work at, but it is not with a cd, it is from the faculty website...

honestly, i should have just gotten a Mac...

Definitely get a mac. Worth the extra dollars, 'cause the apple computer just plain works. Say goodbye to Winblows and all it's troubles.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I wouldn't mind a mac desktop - was in bestbuy the other day and saw a new flatpanel imac for about $1699 with a 3ghz processor. Very nice.

Wouldn't buy a mac laptop - they're horribly overpriced and you could get a much higher spec PC for the money (seriously - a laptop 160gb hard drive!? That's what they put in netbooks, not full size laptops).

[Niels Bohr 72]

Nope. Macs are not good for engineering or science applications, period.

Ok, thanks. i will mull it over some more... i can upgrade for free via the school that i work at, but it is not with a cd, it is from the faculty website...

honestly, i should have just gotten a Mac...

Definitely get a mac. Worth the extra dollars, 'cause the apple computer just plain works. Say goodbye to Winblows and all it's troubles.