Overview
"...perhaps the most comprehensive book on the subject we've
ever seen. It's incredibly well researched, well written, and jam
packed with useful information."
--Josh Norem, Reviews Editor, Maximum PC
Upgrading and Repairing PCs is the definitive guide to the
inner workings of your PC. Whether you're adding a faster processor
or bigger hard drive, tracking down a problem, or just want to
understand how the components of your computer work together, this
book explains everything you need to know. Trust the one book that
has become the de facto standard among PC professionals and
enthusiasts around the world.
World-renowned PC hardware expert Scott Mueller has taught
thousands in his week-long seminars and millions through his books,
videos, and magazine articles. Major changes in the PC hardware
industry--including coverage of new Core 2 processors from Intel,
Socket AM2 processors from AMD, and significant advances in
motherboard chipsets, Blu-ray, and HD-DVD--make Upgrading and
Repairing PCs, 18th Edition, an indispensable addition to every
serious computer user's bookshelf...that is, if it ever leaves
their desks. Readers from around the world trust their computers to
Scott. Upgrading and Repairing PCs is found on the desks of
teachers, students, hobbyists, repair technicians, and even law
enforcement agencies that use this book to aid them in tracking
criminals.
New in This Book
Deep coverage of the new Core 2 (8th gen or "886") processors, featuring the new "Core Microarchitecture"
Cutting edge coverage of quad-core desktop (Kentsfield) processor versions
Detailed coverage of AMD’s Socket AM2 processors
Coverage of evolutionary changes in chipsets, including new versions of Intel's 9xx series chipsets and new 3x series Intel chipsets; coverage of new chipsets from Nvidia, VIA, and SiS has also been added
Coverage of the new DTX and Mini-DTX motherboard form factors from the newly formed alliance between AMD and ATI
Beefed-up coverage of Blu-ray and HD-DVD drives/players
Extensive coverage of new GPUs in addition to heavy-duty coverage of SLI and Crossfire
Building a PC from scratch--from assembling the hardware to BIOS setup and installing Microsoft Windows XP or Vista
On the DVD
DVD contains 2 hours of all new, studio-quality video--playable in
your set-top DVD player and your computer! Scott digs deep into
networking, showing all the components needed to build a SOHO
(Small Office Home Office) network. Coverage includes network
adapters, routers, switches, access points, cable/DSL modems, and
cabling. Upgrading an existing network to gigabit speeds is also
covered, as well as the latest wireless network technology. The DVD
also contains a previously published edition of the book as well as
technical reference material, a glossary, and an acronym index.
Whether you’re building a hot new PC for home or work, or
nursing an aging and ailing PC back to health, these materials
prove to be worth their weight in gold to the serious PC technician
or hobbyist.
www.upgradingandrepairingpcs.com
If you don’t have a DVD player or only have a set-top DVD,
visit www.upgradingandrepairingpcs.com to download all the video
from the DVD in Windows Media Player format as well as the PDFs and
other materials on the DVD! Plus, check out monthly articles, FAQs,
and video from earlier editions you might have missed!
Introduction 1
1 Development of the PC 7
2 PC Components, Features and System Design
25
3 Microprocessor Types and Specifications
39
4 Motherboards and Buses 235
5 BIOS 441
6 Memory 509
7 The ATA/IDE Interface 581
8 Magnetic Storage Principles 637
9 Hard Disk Storage 663
10 Removable Storage 707
11 Optical Storage 747
12 Physical Drive Installation and Configuration
851
13 Video Hardware 885
14 Audio Hardware 987
15 I/O Interfaces from Serial and Parallel to
IEEE-1394 and USB 1025
16 Input Devices 1059
17 Internet Connectivity 1103
18 Local Area Networking 1151
19 Power Supplies 1207
20 Building or Upgrading Systems 1295
21 PC Mods: Overclocking and Cooling 1335
22 PC Diagnostics, Testing and Maintenance
1367
ON THE DVD:
A Glossary
B List of Acronyms and Abbreviations