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Tables of Contents for Build Your Own Pentium III PC
Chapter/Section Title
Page #
Page Count
Preface
xxi
What's Inside
1
32
A Real Success Story
2
1
Competition
2
1
How Much Can You Save?
3
1
What Should You Build?
4
1
Tools You May Need
4
1
Major Computer Components
5
1
Minimum System Requirements
6
1
Case and Power Supply
7
2
The Power Supply
9
1
Transforming the Voltage
9
1
Power Strip
10
1
Power Distribution Panel
11
1
Surge Protection
11
1
The Need for Uninterruptible Power Supply
11
2
Motherboard
13
1
Cost of Components
14
1
Low-Cost Systems---White Boxes
15
1
Memory
16
1
Floppy Disk Drives
17
1
Hard Disk Drives
17
1
Backup
18
1
CD-ROM Drives
18
1
Monitors
19
1
Monitor Adapter
19
1
Keyboards
19
1
Modems, FAX Devices, and Communications
20
1
System Assembly
20
1
USB Components
20
1
Printers
21
1
The Internet
21
1
Other Peripheral Components
21
1
Software
21
1
Some Applications
22
1
Other Ways Your Computer Can Help You
22
1
Sound and Music
22
1
Sources
22
1
Troubleshooting
23
1
How Computers Work
24
1
Computers and Electricity
24
6
The ASCII Code
30
1
Software
30
1
Inputs
31
1
System Clock
31
1
Moore's Law
32
1
The Motherboard
33
54
The ATX Motherboard and Power Supply
34
2
Soft Power
36
1
Motherboard Variations
36
2
Jumpers
38
1
DRAM Bus Frequency
39
1
PC-133
39
1
ROM BIOS
39
1
Flash Memory
40
1
Some Basic Information about Motherboards
41
1
Motherboard Components
42
2
Expansion Slots
44
1
Expansion Bus
45
1
The CPU
46
1
Motherboard Memory
46
1
Cache SRAM
47
1
Not All Cache Is Equal
47
1
Other Motherboard Chips
47
4
UARTs and Serial Ports
51
1
Architecture
52
1
The Intel PCI Bus
53
1
PC Card Bus
53
4
Benchmarks
57
1
Motherboard Sources and Specs
57
3
External Fequency vs. External Frequency
60
1
Built-In Functions
61
1
Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)
62
2
Chipset Specifications
64
1
Motherobards with 440BX Chipsets
65
1
Unified System Diagnostic Management (USDM)
66
6
Super Socket 7
72
3
The Tyan S1571S Titan Turbo AT-2
75
2
Intel Pentium II Motherboards
77
1
Dual Pentium III Motherboards
78
1
Deciding What to Buy
78
1
Replacing a Motherboard
79
1
Ultra66---A New Motherboard Standard
79
1
Universal Serial Bus (USB) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
80
7
The CPU
87
34
CPU Variations
88
2
Intel Celeron CPU
90
1
The Single Edge Connector Cartridge
91
1
Intel 810 Chipset for Celeron CPUs
92
1
Meeting the Competition
92
1
Some Intel CPU Specifications
93
1
PR Hype
94
1
MMX and Pentium II
94
1
The Future
95
1
The AMD-K6
96
1
AMD Press Releases
96
3
K6-III vs. Pentium III
99
3
Some Alternatives
102
3
How CPUs Are Made
105
1
The Price of Speed
106
1
Overclocking
107
1
What's in a Number?
108
1
Basic Characteristics of CPUs
109
4
CPU Competition
113
1
CPU Sockets
114
4
Resources
118
1
Benchmarks
118
1
History
119
1
Upgrading
119
1
Which CPU System Should You Choose?
120
1
Memory
121
26
Types of Memory Modules
122
3
Memory Slots
125
1
How Much Memory Do You Need?
126
1
Basics
127
1
RAM Volatility
128
1
How RAM Is Addressed
128
1
The CPU and the RAM Bus
129
1
A Brief Explanation of Memory
130
1
Programs that Stay in RAM
130
1
Cost of Memory
131
1
Virtual Memory
132
1
How Memory Is Arranged
132
1
Memory Problems
133
1
Parity
134
1
Flash Memory
134
1
Video RAM
135
1
Printer Memory
135
1
Memory Chip Capacity
135
1
The Need for More Memory
136
1
Things to Consider before You Buy Memory
137
1
Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
137
1
Refreshment and Wait States
138
1
A Waste of Time
138
1
Interleaved Memory
138
1
State RAM (SRAM)
139
1
Cache Memory
139
1
Hit Rate
140
1
Level 1 and Level 2 Caches
140
1
Write-Through and Write-Back
141
1
CMOS
141
1
Why the 640KB Limit?
142
1
Flash Memory
143
1
PC Card
143
1
Video RAM (VRAM)
144
1
Printer Memory
144
1
Buying Chips
144
1
Installing the Chips
145
2
Floppy Drives and Disks
147
28
The Floppy Evolution
148
1
1.44MB Floppy
149
1
The LS-120 SuperDisk
150
7
Hi-FD Problems
157
1
Obsolete Drives
158
1
How Floppy Drives Operate
158
3
The All-Media or Combination Floppy Drive
161
1
Disk Drive Motors
161
2
Cost of 1.44MB Drives
163
1
Floppy Controllers
163
1
Drive Select Jumpers
164
1
Data Compression
165
1
Differences between Floppy Disks
165
3
Disk Format Structure
168
4
Formatting
172
1
Cost of Disks
173
2
Choosing a Hard Disk Drive
175
36
What Should You Buy?
176
1
Ultra DMA/66
177
1
Ultra DMA/66 Promise Controller Cards
178
1
Promise Low-Cost RAID
179
1
Capacity
180
1
Cost
181
1
IDE- or ATA-Type Drives
181
1
SCSI
181
2
Removable Disk Drives
183
3
IBM Microdrive
186
1
Parallel Port Hard Drives
186
1
Magneto-Optical Drives
187
2
Recordable CD-ROMs (CD-Rs)
189
3
Advantages of Removable Disk Drives
192
2
Some Disadvantages of Removable Disk Drives
194
1
Data Compression
195
1
Floppy and Hard Drive Similarities
196
1
Formatting
196
1
Tracks and Sectors
196
1
Clusters and Allocation Units
197
1
File Allocation Table
197
2
Cylinders
199
1
Head Actuators or Positioners
199
2
Speed of Rotation and Density
201
1
Timing
201
1
Head Spacing
202
1
Speed or Access Time
203
1
Disk Platters
203
1
Physical Sizes
204
1
Zone Bit Recording
204
1
Rotational Speed and Recording Density
205
1
Near Field Technology (NFR)
206
1
IBM's GMR Read Head
206
1
Cables and Connectors
206
1
Installation Configuration
207
2
Sources
209
2
Backup: Disaster Prevention
211
22
Write-Protect Your Software
212
1
.BAK Files
212
1
Unerase Software
213
1
Delete Protection
213
1
Jumbled FAT
214
1
The Reasons for Smaller Logical Hard Disks
214
1
Partition Magic and Partition-It
215
1
Head Crash
215
1
Crash Recovery
216
4
Cost of Recovery
220
1
Preventing Hard Disk Failures
220
1
A Few Reasons Why People Don't Back Up and Why They Should
220
2
Theft and Burglary
222
1
Archival Reasons
222
1
Data Transfer
223
1
Types of Backup
223
1
Windows 95 Backup Accessory
224
1
Backup Software
224
1
Tape
224
1
Removable Disks
225
1
Magneto-Optical Drives
226
1
Recordable CD-ROM (CD-Rs)
227
1
DVD
228
1
WORM
228
1
Second Hard Disk
229
1
Ultra DMA/66 Promise Controller Cards
229
1
RAID Systems
230
1
Promise Low-Cost RAID
230
1
LapLink
231
1
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
231
2
CD-ROM and DVD-ROM
233
32
CD-ROM Drives
234
1
CD-R Drives
234
1
CD-RW
234
1
DVD Drives
234
1
DVD-RAM
235
1
Sample Specification
236
1
Creative Labs
237
2
Some Definitions
239
1
Toshiba
240
1
MPEG-2 Decoders
241
1
DVD Players
242
1
What Should You Buy?
242
1
CD-ROM Titles
242
1
Home Entertainment
243
1
Home Library
243
1
An Easier Way to Learn
244
1
How CD-ROM Works
245
1
High Sierra/ISO 9660
245
1
How the Discs Are Made
246
1
Laser Color
247
2
Rotational Speed
249
1
The Speed Limit
250
1
Transfer Speed
251
1
Data Buffers
251
1
Access or Seek Time
251
1
CD-ROM Differences
252
1
Interface Systems
252
1
Enhanced IDE Interfaces
252
1
SCSI Interfaces
253
1
Parallel Printer Port
253
1
Multidisc Systems
253
1
Multidrive Systems
254
1
Build Your Own Multidrive/Multidisc System
255
1
Tray Load
255
1
CD-ROM Recorders (CD-R)
256
2
Organizing Data
258
2
Installing CD-ROM Drives
260
4
Sources
264
1
Monitors and Adapters
265
36
Flat-Panel LCD Monitors
266
3
USB Monitors
269
1
Choosing a Monitor
269
2
What to Look For
271
1
Controls
271
1
Glare
271
1
Cleaning the Screens
272
1
Monitor Radiation
272
1
Green Monitors
272
1
Software for Monitor Testing
273
4
3D Video Cards
277
2
PCI Bus Adapters
279
1
AGP Adapters
279
1
Video Accelerator Boards
280
1
Video Memory
280
2
MPEG Boards
282
1
Using a TV as a Monitor
282
1
Wireless Keyboards
283
1
Monitor Basics
283
1
The CRT
283
2
Monochrome vs. Color
285
1
Dot Pitch
286
1
Pixels
286
1
Painting the Screen
287
1
Scan Rate
287
1
The Vertical Scan Rate
288
1
Multiscan
288
1
Adapter Basics
288
1
Depth
289
1
Dithering
290
1
Anti-aliasing
290
1
Installation
290
1
Glossary of Monitor Terms from Princeton Graphics
291
3
ViewSonic Information
294
5
Other Resources
299
2
Input Devices
301
38
Keyboards
302
2
Ergonomic Keyboards
304
4
Mouse Systems and Other Pointing Devices
308
7
Digital Cameras and Products
315
4
Scanners and Scanner Products
319
9
Voice Recognition Input
328
3
Digital Voice Recorders
331
2
Computers and Devices for the Disabled
333
6
Communications
339
32
Telephones
340
1
Reaching Out
340
1
The Internet and World Wide Web
341
1
Modems
341
1
Transmission Difficulties
342
1
Baud Rate
342
1
56K Modems
343
2
Double the Speed
345
1
How to Estimate Connect Time
345
1
Protocols
346
1
ITU Recommended Standards
346
1
Low-Cost Communication Software
347
1
Basic Types of Modems
347
1
Hayes Compatibility
348
1
Installing a Modem
348
2
Plug and Play (PnP)
350
2
Connecting to the Line
352
1
Fax/Modem Software
352
1
Viruses
353
2
Virus Hoaxes
355
1
Online Services
355
1
Banking by Modem
356
1
Facsimile (Fax) Machines
356
4
Telephone Outlets for Extensions
360
1
Combination Devices and Voice Mail
361
1
Telecommuting
361
1
Remote Control Software
362
1
LapLink
363
1
Telephony
364
1
Telephone Conference
365
1
Fax Conferences
365
1
Modem Teleconferences
365
1
Education by Modem
366
1
National Telephone Directories
366
1
ISDN
367
1
Cable Modems
367
1
Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
368
1
Sources
368
3
Upgrading an Older PC
371
24
Why You Should Do It Yourself
372
1
What If It Is Too Old to Upgrade?
372
1
Upgrading to a New Hard Disk
373
1
Parallel Printer Port Drives
373
1
IDE Drives
374
1
SCSI Drives
375
1
Formatting and Transferring Files
376
1
LapLink
376
1
DriveCopy
377
1
Buying a Used Computer
377
1
Buying a Bare-Bones System
377
1
Upgrading to a New Computer
378
2
Minor Upgrades
380
1
Memory Upgrade
380
2
Upgrading the CPU
382
1
CPU Sockets
383
1
Replacing the Motherboard
383
2
Pentium III Motherboard or AMD Athlon
385
1
A Bit of History
385
1
Back to Reality
386
1
Steps to Replace a Motherboard
387
6
There Is No End to Upgrade Possibilities
393
2
Assembling Your Computer
395
34
Needed Components
396
1
Tools
396
1
Static Electricity Warning
396
1
Discharging Yourself
397
1
Assembly Steps
398
1
Motherboards, Case, and Power Supply
398
1
Benchtop Assembly
399
1
Configuring the Motherboard
400
1
Installing a CPU in Socket 7
401
1
Memory Installation
402
1
Motherboard Stand-offs
403
1
Installing the Drives
403
4
Bench Test
407
1
Install in the Case
407
1
Install the Plug-in Boards
407
2
Connecting the Wires for the Front-Panel LEDs
409
1
Turn on the Power and Boot Up
410
1
Formatting a Hard Disk
410
1
The Purpose of Formatting
411
1
The First Step
412
1
FDISK Options
412
2
Installing a Second Hard Disk
414
1
High-Level Format
415
1
Helpful Utilities for Transferring Files and Increasing Disk Space
416
1
Install in Case
417
1
Installing an AMD Athlon CPU on a Motherboard
417
12
The Internet
429
24
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
430
1
Voice and Video on the Internet
431
1
Browsers
431
2
Free ISP
433
1
Services
433
1
Search Engines
434
1
Help Wanted Ads
434
1
Shopping on the Internet
435
1
Major ISPs
436
2
Internet Addiction
438
1
E-Mail
438
1
E-Mail, Privacy, and Internet Crime
439
1
J-Mail and Spamming
440
1
Connections
441
2
Distance Learning
443
1
Online Catalogs and Bookstores
444
1
Internet Magazines
444
1
Your Own Web Page
445
1
Web Hosting
446
1
Sex on the Web
446
1
Emoticons and Abbreviations
447
1
Some Shorthand Acronyms
447
1
Another Side of the Net
448
2
Viruses, Chain Letters, and Hoaxes
450
1
The Future
451
2
Printers
453
24
Printer Life Expectancy
454
1
Ink-Jets
454
2
Ink-jet Resolution
456
1
Cartridge Refills
456
1
Transparencies for Presentations
457
1
Color Ink-Jet Manufacturers
457
1
Multifunction Ink-Jet Machines
458
3
Multifunction Laser Machines
461
1
Wide-Format Printers
461
2
Laser Printers
463
3
Color Laser Printers
466
3
Color Photo Printers
469
1
Plotters
469
1
Dot-Matrix Printers
470
2
Installing a Printer or Plotter
472
1
Printer Sharing
473
2
Green Printers
475
1
Progress
476
1
Essential Software: Why Bill Gates Is a Billionaire
477
28
Off-the-Shelf and Ready-to-Use Software
478
1
Cost of Software
478
1
Surplus Software
479
1
Live Upgrades
479
1
Competitive Upgrades
480
1
Proof of Purchase for Upgrade Discount
480
1
End of a Very Good Thing
481
1
Current Upgrade Practices
481
1
Microsoft Office 2000
481
2
WordPerfect Office 2000
483
1
Competitive Discounts
484
1
Shareware and Public-Domain Software
485
1
Software Catalogs
485
1
Essential Software Needed
486
8
Miscellaneous Software Programs
494
4
Software Training
498
1
LapLink for Windows
499
1
EULA---One Reason Bill Gates Is a Multibillionaire
500
3
Summary
503
2
How Your Computer Can Help You
505
26
Some Uses and Applications
507
1
Preparing Resumes
507
1
Distance Learning
508
1
Setting Up a Home Office
508
2
Quicken
510
1
Accounting
510
1
Preparing Taxes
510
2
Other Tools of The Trade
512
3
Networks
515
7
Desktop Publishing
522
1
Presentations
523
4
FireWire
527
1
Another Resource
528
1
For the Kids
529
1
Summary
529
2
Computer Sound and Music
531
20
What Sound Board Should You Buy?
532
1
Speakers
532
1
Microphones
533
1
Music
534
1
Internet Telephone and Video
535
1
Teleconferencing
535
1
Sound, Microphones, and Speakers
536
1
Digital Sampling
536
1
Sampling Rates and Bits
537
1
Why the 44.1kHz Sample Rate?
538
1
Resolution
538
1
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)
538
1
Digital Signal Processors (DSP)
539
1
Installing a Sound Board
540
1
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)
541
2
Synthesizers
543
1
Harmonics
543
1
Envelope Generator
544
1
Wave Tables
544
1
Sequencers
545
1
Software for Making Music
546
2
Catalogs
548
1
Musician Trade Shows
549
2
Component Sources
551
18
Computer Shows and Swap Meets
552
1
The Lure of Las Vegas
553
1
Your Local Store
553
1
Magazines and Mail Order
554
2
Honest Ads
556
1
Ordering by Mail
556
1
Ten Rules for Ordering By Mail
556
3
Federal Trade Commission Rules
559
1
Sources of Knowledge
559
1
Recommended Computer Magazines
560
2
Free Magazines for Qualified Subscribers
562
3
Component and Software Catalogs
565
2
Public Domain and Shareware Software
567
1
Computer Books
568
1
Troubleshooting and Repairing Your PC
569
28
Computer Basics
571
1
Electrostatic Voltage
572
1
Document the Problem
572
1
Instruments and Tools
573
1
Solving Common Problems
574
1
The Number-One Cause of Problems
575
1
The Importance of Documentation
576
1
What to Do If Your Computer Is Completely Dead
576
1
Memory Problems
577
1
Cables
577
1
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT
577
1
Clearing TSRs from Memory
578
1
Windows Start
579
1
Drive C:
579
1
Beep Error Codes
580
1
Displayed POST Codes
581
1
POST Cards
582
1
Diagnostic and Utility Software
583
3
First Aid for Windows Users and PC 911
586
1
Which One Should You Buy?
586
1
Spares
587
1
DOS Error Messages
587
1
Some Common DOS Error Messages
588
1
Software Error Messages
589
1
Glitches
589
1
Power Supply
590
1
Intermittent Problems
591
2
Serial Ports
593
1
Software Problems
593
2
Stupid Problems
595
1
User Groups
595
2
Glossary
597
18
Index
615