11/02/2005 Archived Entry: "Money"

Argh. I got home from work a couple of days ago and tried to do computer stuff, only to find that my computer had failed me again. After replacing both hard drives, I am once again experiencing hard drive errors--Error 51 in my System log. However, Error 51 is now preceeded by another error--error 9, which appears to be coming from my motherboard's SATA controller.

After chasing down both errors and reading about what it means when they occur back-to-back, I have come to the conclusion that my motherboard is broken. This would also explain its recent "I won't POST until you turn me on and then press the reset button" behavior, which is definitely weird. Then, shortly after reading that, the computer dropped a STOP error on me (0x00000023), and then upon reboot, started making a siren-like beep error code (low-high-low-high repeating without stopping) that isn't in the motherboard manual.

So, time to replace that sucker.

I went down to Fry's to peruse their collection of hardware. I am somewhat limited in my new motherboard choices because I own an AGP-flavored Geforce 6800GT, so no PCI Express for me. I also am totally done with VIA chipsetted motherboards (the SATA controller is VIA, and this is the third VIA-chipped motherboard that has given me some form of shit), so I needed a Socket 939 nForce 3 motherboard. This proved to be too tall an order for Fry's, and thier brain-deficient salespeople refused to believe such a beast existed, instead telling me that all nForce boards were Socket 754.

Screw them. I got home and ordered a new motherboard from Newegg, and then in a moment of insanity also ordered a dual core Athlon 64 X2 3800, because I can.

Plus, Fry's price for the processor was $359.99. Newegg has it for $322, and no tax. Even when I upgraded my order to overnight shipping, I still saved twenty bucks on the thing.

Parts should arrive tomorrow. w00t!

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