While building a desktop computer can be daunting, it's not really that hard of a process and with a little instruction most anyone can build a system. I have clients in their 80's that now build systems and my sons built their first PCs at ages 7 and 5 respectfully. Benchmark Reviews goes to great lengths to provide information that will help all builders, both first time builders and long time Professionals. There are however, things that can make the decision making process on what to use/buy more difficult. One of the biggest roadblocks (and one of my Pet Peeves) is advertising done by motherboard manufacturers as to DRAM compatibility.

Picking out components for a new system build can be fairly straightforward and simple; many often look first to the CPU, then to motherboard and DRAM as the primary components. There's one component in particular that really bothers me, and not so much the component itself - but the advertising that typically accompanies it, the Motherboard, in particular, the advertising concerning the DRAM. It's that advertising which leads to what I believe, are the most common problems that occur in new builds (and also in upgrades).

I get numerous calls from clients about DRAM/motherboard issues, and while hitting the various hardware and vendor forums I frequent, I see these issues on a daily basis. Another place to see where these problems occurred is in reviews on motherboards at a place like NewEgg or other large re/e-tailer that allows customers to post product reviews....people are always complaining about DRAM not working with their motherboard. And why is this?