ath3na's talking points

Notice: For those of you who might be concerned... I will be returning to my series on the great Google, I've only temporarily diverged to rave about my recent quagmire.

I've built computers! Indeed, I have. Recently though, it would seem as if I know nothing about hardware, nor building computers at all. Maybe it's just bad luck, but I've never had so much bad luck at one time in my life.

So, I decided to build a new computer a couple of months ago. Now I say a couple of months ago, but it is only just now stable *hopefully*. So, 3 product returns and several 'expert opinions' (those of my co-workers I do consider expert) later, I have a working desktop. I might add that it looks pretty damn cool, if you ask me.

It has two vertical lines of red LEDs along the length on the front of the case. The side panel is transparent with a fan in the middle, that spins with red LEDs. There is also a fan on the backside of the case that spins with blue LEDs. I like it a lot!

It's not the fastest computer in the world, but it's significantly faster than my previous computer. This one has a dual core 3.2GHz Intel P4 processor, 1.5 GB of RAM, a Radeon X800 GTO 256MB graphic card, and a (finally) MSI motherboard (don't remember the spec right-off, I'll get back to you if you're that interested).

It now works, at least for the time being. I refuse to say that it is in full working condition until I pass the three week mark, seeing as that, that is the time in which the second motherboard stopped working.

Anywho, I tried today to install a heat-sinc today and I just couldn't get it to "snap" onto the motherboard like it's supposed to. I don't understand the problem, I tried and tried, and it just won't snap. WTF?!

All of these hardware problems have really depressed my confidence. I've never had such problems. And I, having gone to school for computers, built computers, and worked on and with computers for the majority of my life, shouldn't have such problems. Well, perhaps one-day I'll be worthy of being called the Computer and Internet Guru again, as titled by my co-worker.

EDIT -- I did not intend for it to seem as though my co-workers are not, in fact, experts. I only inserted the quotations marks because I did not, in fact, pay them, I only asked for their assistance. I didn't want the intention to be misconstrued. Said experts are, in fact, experts.