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FAQ
Main »» General hardware
| What do you mean by "platform"? |
What a lot of people don't realise is that there are many different "types" of computer - much like there are different types of car - besides the Microsoft Windows/Intel Pentium ones we mostly see advertised on TV, etc.
Much like cars they may do the same basic job, but they all do it in a slightly different way; some are faster, some feel different, some are more efficient. Generally, you pick the computer platform that best fits the task at hand, much like you'd pick a different car to do a different task, for example, if you want to go off-roading you would choose a Range Rover or a Mitsubishi Shogun and not a Ferrari.
The "platform" we are dealing with on PC From Scratch is the "IBM compatible", which is the most commonly used platform - mainly due to supply and demand driving the component prices down, and because that is what the Microsoft Windows operating system is available for.
Computer platforms are also often distinguished by the operating system that is on it - on our IBM compatible, we can run MS Windows, Linux, Beos and a variety of other, less well known operating systems.
Other computer platforms include:
- Apple Macintosh: Manufactures of the iMac, G3, G4 and G5 range of desktop computers.
- Sun: Their offerings include the SPARC Station series.
- Cray: Best known for their "super computers".
- Amiga: (Formerly known as Commodore) Perhaps best known for the A500 and A1200 range.
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| What is "form factor"? |
The term "form factor" mainly applies to the motherboard and its size and shape. There are also often operational differences, as well as different connector types.
The main form factor we are dealing with is called "ATX" and "Baby ATX". The ATX form factor is the successor of "AT" - the main difference being the sockets for serial, USB, keyboard and mouse, etc., are already mounted to the rear of the motherboard - there is no need to plug in and connect seperate flyer leads to the rear of the case as you would with an AT form facter.
You will need to check that the case and PSU you buy are ATX compatible.
A Baby ATX motherboard will fit in an ATX case, but not vice versa, or extremely unlikely.
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