SysOpt.com has chosen to divide the forums into a variety of grouped topics. By keeping similar discussions grouped together, the members will have a better chance to participate in the most recent discussions, and will be better able to keep track of the discussions in which they are interested. New forums may be added at a later date, but SysOpt.com feels that the current layout is effective for most posting situations.

General Tech allows members to post questions and comments on technical related topics not covered by the other forums. SysOpt.com realizes the current forum structure doesn't cover all topics within the computer realm. The General Tech group is for those discussions that just don't fit any of the other forum descriptions. Please do not abuse General Tech with unneeded posts, as members should always submit posts to the most relative forum group.

The SysOpt.community area allows members to discuss nearly anything. This does not mean a free-for-all environment, as all board Rules and Regulations are still enforced. Please use discretion when posting here, and as always, be respectful of your peers. This forum is a privilege, as many SysOpt.com members requested it. If control can not be maintained, then this forum group will be discontinued.

The Technical Support section is for posting any questions or problems that arise with computer usage. Tech Support is an extremely busy section, as the SysOpt.com forums are consistently regarded as having some of the greatest troubleshooting people available. Most posts are answered in a timely manner, but please be patient when posting. All members are also invited to help other members with problems, but don't post a reply unless the solution would prove to be useful. Computers create enough problems without the help of uninformed replies. But even if you don't know the answer, feel free to point the user in the right direction if you might know where they could find more help (from a particular site, etc.).

The Overclocking and CPU’s section allows for members to discuss the latest information regarding processors. The hottest and most controversial topic covered is overclocking, which describes the process of pushing a processor faster than its rated speed level (running an Athlon 700MHz CPU at 800MHz, for example). Many members have successfully overclocked their systems, and enjoy the benefits of more power for less money. SysOpt.com will, however, not be held accountable for any damages or losses related to overclocking.

The Video Cards and Monitors section is directly related to multimedia subsystems. Members commonly discuss video card performance, monitor selection, and post driver updates. Also expect posts regarding the latest in 3D rendering, as a large volume of software is moving towards 3D accelerated interfaces.

Brainstorming allows members to talk about a variety of topics. Many members use this forum as feedback for future product ideas, to discuss theoretical concepts, and even get help with a possible invention. Topics can be related to a variety of subjects, not just computer technologies. This forum also provides a great place to use those higher level critical thinking skills. If you need to pick the brains of thousands of computer gurus, this is the place.

The Motherboards forum group is for anything regarding the use, installation, and maintenance of the computer's main system board. Topics commonly covered include motherboard selection, comparison, and troubleshooting. This area is also of great interest as it provides an excellent environment for legacy support issues. One of the more common posts is how to obtain manuals for older boards. The odds are rather favorable that another member has a manual or direct experience, and he/she could prove extremely beneficial in configuring these older systems.

Networking provides a section for all your network-related questions. The frequently posting members provide concise, easy-to-understand information regarding network related topics. This grouping also deals with topics related to DSL and cable Internet connections, which are becoming extremely popular.

Distributed Computing is for members that participate in distributed computing efforts. The most common discussions are centered on RC5 Encryption and NASA's Seti@Home program. Distributed computing allows users to download segments of data, process them, and send the analyzed information back to a host. This, in effect, creates an extremely large computer from a base of several smaller systems. We have teams for both efforts, so join the SysOpt RC5 team, or the SysOpt SETI@Home team!

Gaming is currently a very popular section of SysOpt.com. The power offered by today's computers make them excellent platforms for playing games. Members commonly post tweaks, cheats, installation and configuration tips, and reviews of many popular games. Game comparisons are also frequently discussed, as gamers always want to have the latest in visuals or game play.

The Apps and Operating Systems forum is for discussing any information related to non-gaming software. The majority of topics deal with nontraditional operating systems, such as Linux and BeOS. Members also post frequent updates to the more common OS's, such as Win9x and WinNT.

The Steals and Deals forum is for members to post current sales and bargains on PC-related hardware/software. This forum is not intended for solicitation of any kind, whether personal or commercial. It is to simply let fellow members know where the best buys are, whether at online or traditional brick-and-mortar vendors.

The Exchange section is SysOpt.com's resident area of commerce. All members can post hardware/software for sale or trade. Many great deals on new and used items can be found here. All sales conducted in this area are not tied to SysOpt.com, and SysOpt.com will not be held responsible for any losses or problems encountered while buying or selling. It is up to the seller and buyer to determine the conditions of transaction.

Also, this forum is not to be used for auction purposes nor for commercial reselling. All items listed should have a clearly defined price that includes the cost of the item and any required shipping and/or handling. Members involved in a transaction should completely verify all transaction details and should request all available shipping information to aid in the tracking of the item(s) being purchased or traded. Also, most of the active members retain a rating database for viewing at Heatware, so be sure to view their status before negotiating a transaction.

This is directly tied to SysOpt.com's own reseller database, where more than 17,000 users have evaluated over 1,200 online hardware/software merchants. If a member wishes to lodge a comment about any business (good or bad), then this is the proper area to do so. This is the only forum where vendor/sales related comments are allowed. If one wishes to post about his/her experience with a particular company, then be as concise as possible. Provide clear reasons for your comments, and not just opinionated statements. Members are also invited to post any errors or possible improvements related to the rating database.

The Best of Tech is an archive area. When a post or thread has been deemed extremely useful for troubleshooting, then it may be moved to this grouping. Members can not post to this grouping, but are freely invited to read any material that might be present.