Building a New PC for Windows 7?

[LarryFlowers]

If you are thinking about building a new PC for Windows 7 it is interesting to note that venerable Asus motherboards are the first to complete their WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs)certification testing. A list of qualifying motherboards can be found here (http://event.asus.com/mb/Windows_7/) and apparently all of these motherboards have all necessary Windows 7 drivers.

[phat78boy]

They were the first, but many others have also received WHQL certs for Windows 7 already too. Gigabyte, MSI, and Intel are others I know off the top of my head.

Complete list of WHQL certs given out. (only viewable in IE)

http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/Default.aspx?m=7

[BattleZone]

ASUS has been my primary motherboard brand for going on two decades. I have occasionally used something else, but for the most part, my ASUS machines have been bullet-proof.

[SayWhat?]

Great, but do any of them have more than 2 PCI expansion connectors?

[Marlin Guy]

Great, but do any of them have more than 2 PCI expansion connectors?

Yes, some do.

[ncxcstud]

I had to buy a DFI board to get more than two PCI slots...and it only has 3...

the biggest concern was getting a board that had sufficient space between the PCI-Xpress slot and the PCI slots. My current board (a gigabyte board) has no space to accommodate my video card (NVIDIA 8800GS) and anything in the 1st PCI slot...sucks.

So, the DFI board has plenty of space so I can have my video card, sound card, and tuner card all installed at the same time.

It stinks that most boards now only come with 2 pci slots...I remember when you'd get like 5 PCI slots...

But, I suppose since a lot of things are moving to USB and more stuff is 'on board' they don't think we need more than 2 or 3...

[Marlin Guy]

If you follow the link provided in the original post, you will find some boards with more than two PCI slots.

[SayWhat?]

So, the DFI board has plenty of space so I can have my video card, sound card, and tuner card all installed at the same time.

It stinks that most boards now only come with 2 pci slots...I remember when you'd get like 5 PCI slots...

But, I suppose since a lot of things are moving to USB and more stuff is 'on board' they don't think we need more than 2 or 3...

I had one with 5 at one time. I've seen some new ones with 3 PCI and 2 or 3 PCIExpress, but then there's the spacing issue between slots.

My issue is that I have lost the sound or video at one time or another in the past and it was easier to add a sound or video card than to replace the MoBo or entire PC.

[ncxcstud]

I had one with 5 at one time. I've seen some new ones with 3 PCI and 2 or 3 PCIExpress, but then there's the spacing issue between slots.

My issue is that I have lost the sound or video at one time or another in the past and it was easier to add a sound or video card than to replace the MoBo or entire PC.

That is why I got this motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?CurImage=13-136-044-S03&ISList=13-136-044-S01%2c13-136-044-S02%2c13-136-044-S03%2c13-136-044-S04%2c13-136-044-S05&S7ImageFlag=1&Item=N82E16813136044&Depa=0&WaterMark=1&Description=DFI%20LP%20DK%20790FX-M2RS%20AM2%2b%2fAM2%20AMD%20790FX%20ATX%20AMD%20Mo therboard). Plenty of space between the first PCI-E slot and the PCI slots... I had this board (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?CurImage=13-128-342-S03&ISList=13-128-342-S01%2c13-128-342-S02%2c13-128-342-S03%2c13-128-342-S04%2c13-128-342-S05&S7ImageFlag=1&Item=N82E16813128342&Depa=0&WaterMark=1&Description=GIGABYTE%20GA-MA74GM-S2%20AM3%2fAM2%2b%2fAM2%20AMD%20740G%20Micro%20ATX %20AMD%20Motherboard) and it just wasn't cutting it anymore....