Upgrading and Repairing PCs
20th Edition
Published on 1. September 2011
Book
Mixed media product
1104 pages
978-0-7897-4710-5 (ISBN)
Description
"...a comprehensive resource for PC enthusiasts and professionals alike. Packed with the latest speeds and feeds, you'll want to keep this book on-hand as an authoritative technology reference."
-Chris Angelini, Managing Editor, Tom's Hardware
For 20 years, Upgrading and Repairing PCs has been the world's #1 guide to PC hardware: the single source for reliable information on troubleshooting and fixing problems, adding hardware, optimizing performance, and building new PCs. Now, better than ever, this 20th Edition offers beefed-up coverage of the newest hardware innovations and maintenance techniques, plus more than 90 minutes of new DVD video.
Scott Mueller delivers practical answers about PC processors, motherboards, buses, BIOSes, memory, storage, video, audio, I/O, input devices, networks, Internet connectivity, power, and much more. You'll find the industry's best coverage of diagnostics, testing, and repair-plus cutting-edge discussions of improving performance via overclocking and other techniques.
Mueller has taught thousands of professionals in person and millions more through his books and videos-nobody knows more about keeping PCs running perfectly. Whether you're a professional technician, a small business owner trying to save money, or a home PC enthusiast, this is the only PC hardware book you need!
NEW IN THIS EDITION
The newest processors, including Intel's 2nd generation Core i3, i5, i7 plus the Atom, and AMD's new VISION series CPUs
3TB (and larger) disks, 4K sectoring, partition alignment, faster SATA disk interfaces, and SSD (Solid State Drive) hard drive replacements
New firmware innovations, from full UEFI BIOS support to built-in motherboard flash BIOS upgrade utilities
Integrated video and audio, including 5.1/7.1 surround sound, HDMI, and DisplayPort connections
Updated PCI Express and Power Supply specifications for powering high-end video cards
Emerging interfaces such as USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt
Updated coverage of building PCs from scratch-from choosing and assembling hardware through BIOS setup and troubleshooting
ON THE DVD
Get more than 90 minutes of up-to-the minute, studio quality how-to videos-all playable on your DVD player or computer! In this edition, Scott Mueller offers true insider information about several of the key components in a PC, including hard disk drives, power supplies, motherboards, and more.
You will see hard drives completely dissected-even see an open hard drive in operation-so you can observe exactly what happens under the covers. One of the most common causes of failure in modern motherboards, power supplies, and many other PC components are bad capacitors-otherwise known as the capacitor plague. Mueller will show several real-world examples of this "disease," so you can easily identify and perhaps even repair the problem. Finally, because external hard drives are now commonly used for supplementary storage and backups, you'll find a complete discussion of several alternatives on the market. This includes tips and tricks for building or assembling your own flexible, high performance and highly reliable external storage drives, with several examples shown. This DVD also contains the complete 19th edition of this book in printable form, plus extensive technical reference material, a comprehensive glossary, and more!
-Chris Angelini, Managing Editor, Tom's Hardware
For 20 years, Upgrading and Repairing PCs has been the world's #1 guide to PC hardware: the single source for reliable information on troubleshooting and fixing problems, adding hardware, optimizing performance, and building new PCs. Now, better than ever, this 20th Edition offers beefed-up coverage of the newest hardware innovations and maintenance techniques, plus more than 90 minutes of new DVD video.
Scott Mueller delivers practical answers about PC processors, motherboards, buses, BIOSes, memory, storage, video, audio, I/O, input devices, networks, Internet connectivity, power, and much more. You'll find the industry's best coverage of diagnostics, testing, and repair-plus cutting-edge discussions of improving performance via overclocking and other techniques.
Mueller has taught thousands of professionals in person and millions more through his books and videos-nobody knows more about keeping PCs running perfectly. Whether you're a professional technician, a small business owner trying to save money, or a home PC enthusiast, this is the only PC hardware book you need!
NEW IN THIS EDITION
The newest processors, including Intel's 2nd generation Core i3, i5, i7 plus the Atom, and AMD's new VISION series CPUs
3TB (and larger) disks, 4K sectoring, partition alignment, faster SATA disk interfaces, and SSD (Solid State Drive) hard drive replacements
New firmware innovations, from full UEFI BIOS support to built-in motherboard flash BIOS upgrade utilities
Integrated video and audio, including 5.1/7.1 surround sound, HDMI, and DisplayPort connections
Updated PCI Express and Power Supply specifications for powering high-end video cards
Emerging interfaces such as USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt
Updated coverage of building PCs from scratch-from choosing and assembling hardware through BIOS setup and troubleshooting
ON THE DVD
Get more than 90 minutes of up-to-the minute, studio quality how-to videos-all playable on your DVD player or computer! In this edition, Scott Mueller offers true insider information about several of the key components in a PC, including hard disk drives, power supplies, motherboards, and more.
You will see hard drives completely dissected-even see an open hard drive in operation-so you can observe exactly what happens under the covers. One of the most common causes of failure in modern motherboards, power supplies, and many other PC components are bad capacitors-otherwise known as the capacitor plague. Mueller will show several real-world examples of this "disease," so you can easily identify and perhaps even repair the problem. Finally, because external hard drives are now commonly used for supplementary storage and backups, you'll find a complete discussion of several alternatives on the market. This includes tips and tricks for building or assembling your own flexible, high performance and highly reliable external storage drives, with several examples shown. This DVD also contains the complete 19th edition of this book in printable form, plus extensive technical reference material, a comprehensive glossary, and more!
More details
Edition
20th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Pearson Education (US)
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 238 mm
Width: 185 mm
Thickness: 63 mm
Weight
1904 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7897-4710-5 (9780789747105)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Scott Mueller
Upgrading and Repairing PCs
Book
04/2013
21st Edition
Que Corporation,U.S.
€64.89
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Previous edition
Scott Mueller
Upgrading and Repairing PCs
Book
12/2009
19th Edition
Que Corporation,U.S.
€64.89
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Scott Mueller is the president of Mueller Technical Research (MTR), an international research and corporate training firm. Since 1982, MTR has produced the industry's most in-depth, accurate, and effective seminars, books, articles, videos, and FAQs covering PC hardware and data recovery. MTR maintains a client list that includes Fortune 500 companies, the U.S. and foreign governments, major software and hardware corporations, as well as PC enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. Scott's seminars have been presented to several thousands of PC support professionals throughout the world.
Scott personally teaches seminars nationwide covering all aspects of PC hardware (including troubleshooting, maintenance, repair, and upgrade), A+ Certification, and data recovery/forensics. He has a knack for making technical topics not only understandable, but entertaining; his classes are never boring! If you have 10 or more people to train, Scott can design and present a custom seminar for your organization.
Although he has taught classes virtually nonstop since 1982, Scott is best known as the author of the longest-running, most popular, and most comprehensive PC hardware book in the world, Upgrading and Repairing PCs, which has become the core of an entire series of books, including Upgrading and Repairing PCs, Upgrading and Repairing Laptops, and Upgrading and Repairing Windows.
Scott's premiere work, Upgrading and Repairing PCs, has sold well over two million copies, making it by far the most popular and longest-running PC hardware book on the market today. Scott has been featured in Forbes magazine and has written several articles for PC World magazine, Maximum PC magazine, the Scott Mueller Forum, various computer and automotive newsletters, and the Upgrading and Repairing PCs website.
Scott personally teaches seminars nationwide covering all aspects of PC hardware (including troubleshooting, maintenance, repair, and upgrade), A+ Certification, and data recovery/forensics. He has a knack for making technical topics not only understandable, but entertaining; his classes are never boring! If you have 10 or more people to train, Scott can design and present a custom seminar for your organization.
Although he has taught classes virtually nonstop since 1982, Scott is best known as the author of the longest-running, most popular, and most comprehensive PC hardware book in the world, Upgrading and Repairing PCs, which has become the core of an entire series of books, including Upgrading and Repairing PCs, Upgrading and Repairing Laptops, and Upgrading and Repairing Windows.
Scott's premiere work, Upgrading and Repairing PCs, has sold well over two million copies, making it by far the most popular and longest-running PC hardware book on the market today. Scott has been featured in Forbes magazine and has written several articles for PC World magazine, Maximum PC magazine, the Scott Mueller Forum, various computer and automotive newsletters, and the Upgrading and Repairing PCs website.
Content
Introduction 1
Book Objectives 1
The 20th Edition DVD-ROM 2
My Website: informit.com/upgrading 2
A Personal Note 2
1 Development of the PC 5
Computer History: Before Personal Computers 5
Timeline 5
Electronic Computers 10
Modern Computers 11
From Tubes to Transistors 11
Integrated Circuits 13
History of the PC 13
Birth of the Personal Computer 13
The IBM Personal Computer 15
The PC Industry 30 Years Later 16
2 PC Components, Features, and System Design 19
What Is a PC? 19
Who Controls PC Software? 20
Who Controls PC Hardware? 23
White-Box Systems 25
PC Design Guides 26
System Types 27
System Components 28
3 Processor Types and Specifications 31
Microprocessor History 31
The First Microprocessor 31
PC Processor Evolution 34
16-Bit to 64-Bit Architecture Evolution 36
Processor Specifications 37
Data I/O Bus 42
Address Bus 43
Internal Registers (Internal Data Bus) 44
Processor Modes 45
Processor Benchmarks 49
Comparing Processor Performance 49
Cache Memory 54
Processor Features 60
System Management Mode (SMM) 60
Superscalar Execution 61
MMX Technology 62
Dynamic Execution 64
Dual Independent Bus Architecture 65
HT Technology 66
Multicore Technology 67
Processor Manufacturing 68
Processor Re-Marking 72
PGA Chip Packaging 72
Single Edge Contact and Single Edge Processor Packaging 73
Processor Socket and Slot Types 74
Socket 478 76
Socket LGA775 77
Socket LGA1156 78
Socket LGA1366 79
Socket LGA1155 80
Socket 939 and 940 80
Socket AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+ 81
Socket F (1207FX) 83
CPU Operating Voltages 83
Math Coprocessors (Floating-Point Units) 83
Processor Bugs and Steppings 84
Processor Code Names 85
P1 (086) Processors 85
P2 (286) Processors 86
P3 (386) Processors 87
P4 (486) Processors 88
P5 (586) Processors 90
A MD-K5 92
Intel P6 (686) Processors 92
Pentium Pro Processors 93
Pentium II Processors 93
Pentium III 95
Celeron 97
Intel Pentium 4 Processors 97
Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 100
Intel Pentium D and Pentium Extreme Edition 102
Intel Core Processors 104
Intel Core 2 Family 104
Intel (Nehalem) Core i Processors 106
AMD K6 Processors 110
NexGen Nx586 110
AMD-K6 Series 110
AMD K7 Processors 111
AMD Athlon 111
AMD Duron 113
AMD Athlon XP 113
Athlon MP 114
AMD K8 Processors 115
AMD Athlon 64 and 64 FX 115
AMD Sempron 118
AMD Athlon X2, 64 X2, and 64 FX 119
AMD K10 Processors (Phenom, Phenom II, Athlon II, Athlon X2, Sempron) 120
AMD Fusion Processors 122
Processor Upgrades 122
Overclocking 124
Quartz Crystals 124
Modern PC Clocks 126
Overclocking Tips 128
Unlocking Cores 129
Bus Speeds and Multipliers 130
Processor Cooling 132
Heatsinks 133
Liquid Cooling 138
Thermally Advantaged Chassis 138
Processor Troubleshooting Techniques 141
4 Motherboards and Buses 143
Motherboard Form Factors 143
Obsolete Form Factors 144
ATX and Other Modern Form Factors 155
Processor Sockets/Slots 167
Chipsets 169
Chipset Evolution 169
Intel Chipsets 171
Intel Chipset Model Numbers 172
Intel Integrated Graphics Architecture 173
AMD Integrated Graphics Architecture 173
Traditional North/South Bridge Architecture 174
Hub Architecture 175
Third-Party North-South Bridge Connections 177
HyperTransport 178
Intel's Early 386/486 Chipsets 178
Fifth-Generation (P5 Pentium Class) Chipsets 179
Sixth-Generation (P6 Pentium Pro/II/III Class) Chipsets 181
Seventh/Eighth-Generation (Pentium 4/D, Core 2, and Core i) Chipsets 185
Intel 915 Family 192
Intel 925X Family 193
Intel 945 Express Family 193
Intel 955X and 975X Family 194
Intel 96x Series 194
Intel 3x and 4x Series Chipsets 195
Intel 5x Series Chipsets 198
Intel 6x Series Chipsets 201
Third-Party Chipsets for Intel Processors 203
SiS Chipsets 203
ULi Electronics Chipsets 203
ATI Chipsets 203
VIA Chipsets 204
NVIDIA Chipsets for Intel Processors 204
Chipsets for AMD Processors 204
AMD Athlon Chipsets 205
AMD Athlon 64 Chipsets 206
AMD 8000 (8151) Chipset 206
AMD (Formerly ATI) Chipsets for Athlon 64, Sempron, Phenom 207
Third-Party Chipsets for AMD Processors 213
VIA Chipsets 213
SiS Chipsets 213
NVIDIA Chipsets 213
Super I/O Chips 214
Motherboard Connectors 214
System Bus Types, Functions, and Features 223
The Processor Bus (FSB) 229
Types of I/O Buses 229
The ISA Bus 230
The Micro Channel Bus 230
The EISA Bus 230
Local Buses (VESA, PCI, PCI Express, AGP) 231
System Resources 238
Interrupts 238
DMA Channels 243
I/O Port Addresses 243
Resolving Resource Conflicts 246
PnP 247
Motherboard Selection Criteria (Knowing What to Look For) 249
Chipset Documentation 250
5 BIOS 251
BIOS Basics 251
Motherboard ROM BIOS 255
ROM Hardware 256
ROM Shadowing 257
ROM Chip Types 258
ROM BIOS Manufacturers 262
BIOS Hardware/Software 264
Upgrading the BIOS 265
Where to Get Your BIOS Update 266
Determining Your BIOS Version 266
Checking the BIOS Date 266
Backing Up Your BIOS 267
Backing Up Your BIOS Setup (CMOS RAM) Settings 267
Upgrading a Flash BIOS 268
Motherboard CMOS RAM Addresses 276
Year 2000 BIOS Issues 278
Preboot Environment 278
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) 280
UEFI and BIOS Limitations 280
UEFI Support 282
CMOS Setup 282
Running or Accessing the CMOS Setup Program 282
BIOS Setup Menus 283
Maintenance Menu 283
Main Menu 285
Advanced Menus 286
Security Menu 300
Power Menu 301
Boot Menu (Boot Sequence, Order) 303
Exit Menu 305
Additional BIOS Setup Features 305
PnP BIOS 306
PnP Device IDs 307
ACPI 307
BIOS/MBR Error Messages 308
BIOS Boot Error Messages 309
MBR Boot Error Messages 312
6 Memory 315
Memory Basics 315
ROM 317
DRAM 317
Cache Memory: SRAM 319
Memory Standards 321
Speed and Performance 322
Fast Page Mode DRAM 324
Extended Data Out RAM 325
SDRAM 326
DDR SDRAM 328
DDR2 SDRAM 330
DDR3 SDRAM 332
RDRAM 333
Memory Modules 333
Registered Modules 338
SIMM Details 340
SDR DIMM Details 340
DDR DIMM Details 340
DDR2 DIMM Details 341
DDR3 DIMM Details 341
Determining a Memory Module's Size and Features 341
Memory Banks 343
Memory Module Speed 344
Parity and ECC 345
Parity Checking 347
How Parity Checking Works 347
ECC 350
RAM Upgrades 350
Upgrade Options and Strategies 351
Purchasing Memory 353
Replacing Modules with Higher-Capacity Versions 355
Installing Memory Modules 355
Troubleshooting Memory 358
Memory Defect Isolation Procedures 361
The System Logical Memory Layout 363
7 The ATA/IDE Interface 367
An Overview of the IDE Interface 367
Precursors to IDE 367
IDE Origins 368
Origins of ATA 369
ATA Standards 370
ATA-1 (ATA Interface for Disk Drives) 372
ATA-2 (ATA Interface with Extensions-2) 372
ATA-3 (ATA Interface-3) 373
ATA/ATAPI-4 (ATA with Packet Interface Extension-4) 373
ATA/ATAPI-5 (ATA with Packet Interface-5) 374
ATA/ATAPI-6 (ATA with Packet Interface-6) 375
ATA/ATAPI-7 (ATA with Packet Interface-7) 376
ATA/ATAPI-8 376
PATA 377
PATA I/O Connector 377
PATA I/O Cable 380
Longer or Rounded Cables 382
PATA Signals 382
PATA Dual-Drive Configurations 383
PATA PIO Transfer Modes 385
PATA DMA Transfer Modes 386
SATA 387
SATA Cables and Connectors 389
SATA Configuration 391
Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) 392
SATA Transfer Modes 393
ATA Features 394
ATA Commands 394
ATA Security Mode 395
Host Protected Area 396
ATAPI 397
ATA Drive Capacity Limitations 397
Prefixes for Decimal and Binary Multiples 398
BIOS Limitations 399
CHS Versus LBA 400
CHS/LBA and LBA/CHS Conversions 401
BIOS Commands Versus ATA Commands 402
CHS Limitations (the 528MB Barrier) 403
CHS Translation (Breaking the 528MB Barrier) 404
The 2.1GB and 4.2GB Barriers 406
LBA-Assist Translation 408
The 8.4GB Barrier 411
The 137GB Barrier and Beyond 412
Operating System and Other Software Limitations 413
GPT and the 2.2TB Barrier 415
PATA/SATA RAID 417
8 Magnetic Storage Principles 421
Magnetic Storage 421
History of Magnetic Storage 421
How Magnetic Fields Are Used to Store Data 422
Read/Write Head Designs 425
Ferrite 426
Metal-In-Gap 426
Thin-Film 427
Magneto-Resistive Heads 427
Giant Magneto-Resistive Heads 429
Head Sliders 430
Data-Encoding Schemes 432
Frequency Modulation Encoding 434
Modified FM Encoding 434
Run Length Limited Encoding 434
Encoding Scheme Comparisons 436
Partial-Response, Maximum-Likelihood Decoders 437
Capacity Measurements 437
Areal Density 438
PMR 441
9 Hard Disk Storage 445
Definition of a Hard Disk 445
Hard Drive Advancements 446
Form Factors 447
5 1/4-Inch Drive 448
3 1/2-Inch Drive 449
2 1/2-Inch Drive 449
1.8-inch Drive 449
1-Inch Drives 450
HDD Operation 450
The Ultimate HDD Analogy 452
Tracks and Sectors 453
ECC 456
Disk Formatting 461
Basic HDD Components 465
Hard Disk Platters (Disks) 466
Recording Media 467
Read/Write Heads 469
Head Actuator Mechanisms 470
Air Filters 477
Hard Disk Temperature Acclimation 479
Spindle Motors 479
Logic Boards 480
Cables and Connectors 481
Configuration Items 481
Hard Disk Features 482
Capacity 482
Performance 484
Reliability 488
10 Flash and Removable Storage 493
Alternative Storage Devices 493
Flash Memory Devices 493
CompactFlash 495
SmartMedia 496
MultiMediaCard 496
SecureDigital 496
Sony Memory Stick 496
ATA Flash PC Card 497
xD-Picture Card 497
SSD (Solid-State Drive) 498
Virtual SSD (RAMdisk) 498
Flash-Based SSDs 498
USB Flash Drives 501
Comparing Flash Memory Devices 502
Flash Card Readers 504
Card Readers 504
Type II PC Card Adapters 505
High-Capacity Removable Magnetic Storage Devices 505
Floppy Disk Drives 506
1.44MB 3 1/2-Inch Drives 507
Floppy Drive Interfaces 507
Drive Components 508
Read/Write Heads 508
The Floppy Controller 509
Power and Data Connectors 510
The Floppy Disk Controller Cable 510
How the OS Uses a Floppy Disk 512
Disk Change 513
Floppy Disk Media Types and Specifications 514
Density 514
Media Coercivity and Thickness 514
Floppy Disk Media 515
Tape Drives 516
11 Optical Storage 517
Optical Technology 517
CD-Based Optical Technology 518
CDs: A Brief History 518
CD Construction and Technology 519
Mass-Producing CDs 519
Writable CDs 531
MultiRead Specifications 538
DVD 539
DVD History 540
DVD Construction and Technology 541
DVD Tracks and Sectors 542
Handling DVD Errors 546
DVD Capacity (Sides and Layers) 547
Data Encoding on the DVD Disc 550
Recordable DVD Standards 551
Multiformat Rewritable DVD Drives 558
BD 559
HD-DVD 561
Optical Disc Formats 562
CD Formats 562
DVD Formats and Standards 570
Optical Disc File Systems 573
Ripping/Copying Discs 579
"For Music Use Only" CD-R/RW Discs 580
CD Copy Protection 580
CD Digital Rights Management 581
DVD Copy Protection 581
Optical Drive Performance Specifications 584
CD Data Transfer Rate 585
CD Drive Speed 585
DVD Drive Speed 588
Access Time 590
Buffer/Cache 590
Direct Memory Access and Ultra-DMA 590
Interface 590
Loading Mechanism 591
Other Drive Features 592
How to Reliably Record Optical Discs 592
Booting from a Floppy Disk with Optical Drive Support 593
Bootable Optical Discs-El Torito 594
LightScribe and LabelFlash 594
Troubleshooting Optical Drives 595
Caring for Optical Media 598
Updating the Firmware in an Optical Drive 599
12 Video Hardware 603
Display Adapters and Monitors 603
Video Display Adapters 604
Video Adapter Types 604
Integrated Video/Motherboard Chipsets 605
CPUs with Integrated Video 609
Video Adapter Components 609
Identifying the Video and System Chipsets 611
Video RAM 612
The DAC 615
Video Display Interfaces 616
The System Interface 616
The Display Interface 618
TV Display Interfaces 632
3D Graphics Accelerators 633
How 3D Accelerators Work 633
APIs 636
Dual-GPU Scene Rendering 637
Monitors 639
Display Specifications 639
LCD Technology 650
LED Backlit Technology 652
CRT Display Technology 652
Plasma Display Technology 654
LCD and DLP Projectors 654
Using Multiple Monitors 656
Dualview 656
Homogeneous Adapters 657
Heterogeneous Adapters 657
Video Troubleshooting and Maintenance 657
Troubleshooting Video Cards and Drivers 658
Video Drivers 660
Maintaining Monitors 660
Testing Monitors 661
Adjusting Monitors 662
Bad Pixels 663
Troubleshooting Monitors 664
Repairing Monitors 665
13 Audio Hardware 667
Audio Hardware Concepts and Terms 668
The Nature of Sound 668
Evaluating the Quality of Your Audio Hardware 668
Sampling 669
Early PC Sound Cards 670
Limitations of Sound Blaster Pro Compatibility 670
Microsoft Windows and Audio Support 670
DirectX and Audio Support Hardware 671
Core Audio APIs for Windows Vista and Windows 7 671
3D Gaming Audio Standards 672
Legacy Audio Support Through Virtualization 673
Audio Hardware Features 674
Basic Connectors 674
Advanced Audio Features 676
Volume Control 678
MIDI Support Features 678
Data Compression 679
Sound Drivers 680
Sound Cards for Sound Producers 680
Motherboard Chipsets with Integrated Audio 681
AC'97 Integrated Audio 682
Intel "Azalia" HD Audio 682
Troubleshooting PC Audio Problems 682
Sound Card and Onboard Audio Problems 682
Speakers 685
Speaker Selection Criteria 686
Theater and Surround Sound Considerations 687
Microphones 688
14 External I/O Interfaces 691
Introduction to Input/Output Ports 691
Serial Versus Parallel 691
Universal Serial Bus (USB) 692
IEEE 1394 (FireWire or i.LINK) 707
Comparing USB and IEEE 1394 (FireWire) 711
Hot-Plugging (and Unplugging) 714
Thunderbolt Technology 717
Low-Speed External Connections 719
Serial Ports 719
Parallel Ports 723
15 Input Devices 729
Keyboards 729
Enhanced 101-Key Keyboard 729
104-Key (Windows) Keyboard 731
Keyboard Technology 732
Keyswitch Design 732
The Keyboard Interface 737
Typematic Functions 739
Keyboard Key Numbers and Scan Codes 740
International Keyboard Layouts 741
Keyboard/Mouse Interface Connectors 742
USB Keyboards 743
Keyboards with Special Features 744
Keyboard Troubleshooting and Repair 745
Keyboard Disassembly 746
Cleaning a Keyboard 746
Keyboard Recommendations 747
Pointing Devices 748
Ball-Type Mice 749
Optical Mice 749
Pointing Device Interface Types 751
Mouse Troubleshooting 754
Scroll Wheels 755
TrackPoint II/III/IV 755
Alternative Pointing Devices 758
Wireless Input Devices 761
Power Management Features of Wireless Input Devices 762
Troubleshooting Wireless Input Devices 763
16 Internet Connectivity 765
Internet Connectivity Trends 765
Broadband Internet Access Types 765
Cable TV 766
Digital Subscriber Line 769
Wireless Broadband 773
Cellular Broadband 3G and 4G Services 773
Satellite Broadband 774
ISDN 777
Leased Lines 778
Comparing High-Speed Internet Access 779
Dial-Up Modems 780
56Kbps Modems 781
Internet Connection Security 784
Having a Backup Plan in Case of Service Interruptions 786
Sharing Your Internet Connection 786
Routers for Internet Sharing 787
Modem/Router Status LEDs 788
17 Local Area Networking 789
Defining a Network 789
Types of Networks 790
Requirements for a Network 790
Client/Server Versus Peer Networks 791
Client/Server Networks 791
Peer-to-Peer Networks 792
Comparing Client/Server and Peer-to-Peer Networks 793
Network Architecture Overview 794
Wired Ethernet 795
Wireless Ethernet 797
Bluetooth 802
Hardware Elements of Your Network 802
NICs for Wired Ethernet Networks 802
Network Cables for Wired Ethernet 804
Wired Network Topologies 813
Switches for Ethernet Networks 816
Wireless Ethernet Hardware 819
Network Protocols 825
IP and TCP/IP 825
IPX 826
NetBEUI 826
Other Home Networking Solutions 827
HomePNA 827
Power Line Networking 828
Putting Your Network Together 829
Network Adapters 829
Cables and Connections Between Computers 830
Switch/Access Point 831
18 Power Supplies 833
The Power Supply 833
Primary Function and Operation 833
Voltage Rails 834
The Power Good Signal 836
Power Supply Form Factors 837
Modern Form Factors 840
Power Switches 854
ATX and Newer 854
PC/XT/AT and LPX Power Switches 855
Motherboard Power Connectors 857
AT/LPX Power Supply Connectors 857
ATX and ATX12V Motherboard Power Connectors 859
Backward and Forward Compatibility 871
Dell Proprietary (Nonstandard) ATX Design 873
Additional Power Connectors 875
Peripheral Power Connectors 875
Floppy Power Connectors 876
Serial ATA Power Connectors 877
PCI Express Auxiliary Graphics Power Connectors 878
Power Supply Specifications 881
Power Supply Loading 881
Power Supply Ratings 883
Other Power Supply Specifications 884
Power Factor Correction 886
SLI-Ready and CrossfireX Certifications 888
Safety Certifications 888
Power-Use Calculations 889
Power Savings 891
80 Plus 891
ENERGY STAR 892
Advanced Power Management 892
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface 893
Power Cycling 896
Power Supply Troubleshooting 899
Overloaded Power Supplies 900
Inadequate Cooling 901
Using Digital Multimeters 901
Specialized Test Equipment 904
Power Supply Recommendations 906
Modular Cables 907
Sources for Replacement Power Supplies 907
Power-Protection Systems 908
Surge Suppressors (Protectors) 909
Network and Phone Line Surge Protectors 910
Line Conditioners 910
Backup Power 910
Real-Time Clock/Nonvolatile RAM (CMOS RAM) Batteries 913
Modern CMOS Batteries 914
Obsolete or Unique CMOS Batteries 915
CMOS Battery Troubleshooting 916
19 Building or Upgrading Systems 917
System Components 917
Case and Power Supply 919
Processor 920
Motherboard 921
Memory 923
Hard Disk/Solid-State Drives 925
Removable Storage 925
Input Devices 925
Video Card and Display 926
Audio Hardware 926
Accessories 927
Hardware and Software Resources 928
System Assembly and Disassembly 928
Assembly Preparation 929
Installing the CPU and Heatsink 932
Installing Memory Modules 937
Mounting the New Motherboard in the Case 938
Preparing a Modular Power Supply 942
Connecting the Power Supply 944
Connecting I/O and Other Cables to the Motherboard 946
Installing the Drives 948
Installing a Video Card 952
Installing Additional Expansion Cards 954
Replacing the Cover and Connecting External Cables 954
System Startup 954
Installing the OS 956
Troubleshooting New Installations 957
20 PC Diagnostics, Testing, and Maintenance 959
PC Diagnostics 959
Diagnostics Software 959
The POST 960
Peripheral Diagnostics 972
Operating System Diagnostics 973
Commercial Diagnostics Software 974
Free/User Supported Diagnostics 974
The Boot Process 975
The Hardware Boot Process: Operating System Independent 975
The DOS Boot Process 979
The Windows 9x/Me Boot Process 980
Windows 2000/XP Startup 980
Windows Vista/7 Startup 981
PC Maintenance Tools 982
Hand Tools 982
Safety 986
Test Equipment 987
Special Tools for the Enthusiast 992
Preventive Maintenance 993
Active Preventive Maintenance Procedures 994
Passive Preventive Maintenance Procedures 999
Troubleshooting Tips and Techniques 1003
Repair or Replace? 1003
Troubleshooting by Replacing Parts 1004
Troubleshooting by the Bootstrap Approach 1004
Problems During the POST 1006
Problems Running Software 1006
Problems with Adapter Cards 1007
Top Troubleshooting Problems 1007
Index 1019
Book Objectives 1
The 20th Edition DVD-ROM 2
My Website: informit.com/upgrading 2
A Personal Note 2
1 Development of the PC 5
Computer History: Before Personal Computers 5
Timeline 5
Electronic Computers 10
Modern Computers 11
From Tubes to Transistors 11
Integrated Circuits 13
History of the PC 13
Birth of the Personal Computer 13
The IBM Personal Computer 15
The PC Industry 30 Years Later 16
2 PC Components, Features, and System Design 19
What Is a PC? 19
Who Controls PC Software? 20
Who Controls PC Hardware? 23
White-Box Systems 25
PC Design Guides 26
System Types 27
System Components 28
3 Processor Types and Specifications 31
Microprocessor History 31
The First Microprocessor 31
PC Processor Evolution 34
16-Bit to 64-Bit Architecture Evolution 36
Processor Specifications 37
Data I/O Bus 42
Address Bus 43
Internal Registers (Internal Data Bus) 44
Processor Modes 45
Processor Benchmarks 49
Comparing Processor Performance 49
Cache Memory 54
Processor Features 60
System Management Mode (SMM) 60
Superscalar Execution 61
MMX Technology 62
Dynamic Execution 64
Dual Independent Bus Architecture 65
HT Technology 66
Multicore Technology 67
Processor Manufacturing 68
Processor Re-Marking 72
PGA Chip Packaging 72
Single Edge Contact and Single Edge Processor Packaging 73
Processor Socket and Slot Types 74
Socket 478 76
Socket LGA775 77
Socket LGA1156 78
Socket LGA1366 79
Socket LGA1155 80
Socket 939 and 940 80
Socket AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+ 81
Socket F (1207FX) 83
CPU Operating Voltages 83
Math Coprocessors (Floating-Point Units) 83
Processor Bugs and Steppings 84
Processor Code Names 85
P1 (086) Processors 85
P2 (286) Processors 86
P3 (386) Processors 87
P4 (486) Processors 88
P5 (586) Processors 90
A MD-K5 92
Intel P6 (686) Processors 92
Pentium Pro Processors 93
Pentium II Processors 93
Pentium III 95
Celeron 97
Intel Pentium 4 Processors 97
Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 100
Intel Pentium D and Pentium Extreme Edition 102
Intel Core Processors 104
Intel Core 2 Family 104
Intel (Nehalem) Core i Processors 106
AMD K6 Processors 110
NexGen Nx586 110
AMD-K6 Series 110
AMD K7 Processors 111
AMD Athlon 111
AMD Duron 113
AMD Athlon XP 113
Athlon MP 114
AMD K8 Processors 115
AMD Athlon 64 and 64 FX 115
AMD Sempron 118
AMD Athlon X2, 64 X2, and 64 FX 119
AMD K10 Processors (Phenom, Phenom II, Athlon II, Athlon X2, Sempron) 120
AMD Fusion Processors 122
Processor Upgrades 122
Overclocking 124
Quartz Crystals 124
Modern PC Clocks 126
Overclocking Tips 128
Unlocking Cores 129
Bus Speeds and Multipliers 130
Processor Cooling 132
Heatsinks 133
Liquid Cooling 138
Thermally Advantaged Chassis 138
Processor Troubleshooting Techniques 141
4 Motherboards and Buses 143
Motherboard Form Factors 143
Obsolete Form Factors 144
ATX and Other Modern Form Factors 155
Processor Sockets/Slots 167
Chipsets 169
Chipset Evolution 169
Intel Chipsets 171
Intel Chipset Model Numbers 172
Intel Integrated Graphics Architecture 173
AMD Integrated Graphics Architecture 173
Traditional North/South Bridge Architecture 174
Hub Architecture 175
Third-Party North-South Bridge Connections 177
HyperTransport 178
Intel's Early 386/486 Chipsets 178
Fifth-Generation (P5 Pentium Class) Chipsets 179
Sixth-Generation (P6 Pentium Pro/II/III Class) Chipsets 181
Seventh/Eighth-Generation (Pentium 4/D, Core 2, and Core i) Chipsets 185
Intel 915 Family 192
Intel 925X Family 193
Intel 945 Express Family 193
Intel 955X and 975X Family 194
Intel 96x Series 194
Intel 3x and 4x Series Chipsets 195
Intel 5x Series Chipsets 198
Intel 6x Series Chipsets 201
Third-Party Chipsets for Intel Processors 203
SiS Chipsets 203
ULi Electronics Chipsets 203
ATI Chipsets 203
VIA Chipsets 204
NVIDIA Chipsets for Intel Processors 204
Chipsets for AMD Processors 204
AMD Athlon Chipsets 205
AMD Athlon 64 Chipsets 206
AMD 8000 (8151) Chipset 206
AMD (Formerly ATI) Chipsets for Athlon 64, Sempron, Phenom 207
Third-Party Chipsets for AMD Processors 213
VIA Chipsets 213
SiS Chipsets 213
NVIDIA Chipsets 213
Super I/O Chips 214
Motherboard Connectors 214
System Bus Types, Functions, and Features 223
The Processor Bus (FSB) 229
Types of I/O Buses 229
The ISA Bus 230
The Micro Channel Bus 230
The EISA Bus 230
Local Buses (VESA, PCI, PCI Express, AGP) 231
System Resources 238
Interrupts 238
DMA Channels 243
I/O Port Addresses 243
Resolving Resource Conflicts 246
PnP 247
Motherboard Selection Criteria (Knowing What to Look For) 249
Chipset Documentation 250
5 BIOS 251
BIOS Basics 251
Motherboard ROM BIOS 255
ROM Hardware 256
ROM Shadowing 257
ROM Chip Types 258
ROM BIOS Manufacturers 262
BIOS Hardware/Software 264
Upgrading the BIOS 265
Where to Get Your BIOS Update 266
Determining Your BIOS Version 266
Checking the BIOS Date 266
Backing Up Your BIOS 267
Backing Up Your BIOS Setup (CMOS RAM) Settings 267
Upgrading a Flash BIOS 268
Motherboard CMOS RAM Addresses 276
Year 2000 BIOS Issues 278
Preboot Environment 278
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) 280
UEFI and BIOS Limitations 280
UEFI Support 282
CMOS Setup 282
Running or Accessing the CMOS Setup Program 282
BIOS Setup Menus 283
Maintenance Menu 283
Main Menu 285
Advanced Menus 286
Security Menu 300
Power Menu 301
Boot Menu (Boot Sequence, Order) 303
Exit Menu 305
Additional BIOS Setup Features 305
PnP BIOS 306
PnP Device IDs 307
ACPI 307
BIOS/MBR Error Messages 308
BIOS Boot Error Messages 309
MBR Boot Error Messages 312
6 Memory 315
Memory Basics 315
ROM 317
DRAM 317
Cache Memory: SRAM 319
Memory Standards 321
Speed and Performance 322
Fast Page Mode DRAM 324
Extended Data Out RAM 325
SDRAM 326
DDR SDRAM 328
DDR2 SDRAM 330
DDR3 SDRAM 332
RDRAM 333
Memory Modules 333
Registered Modules 338
SIMM Details 340
SDR DIMM Details 340
DDR DIMM Details 340
DDR2 DIMM Details 341
DDR3 DIMM Details 341
Determining a Memory Module's Size and Features 341
Memory Banks 343
Memory Module Speed 344
Parity and ECC 345
Parity Checking 347
How Parity Checking Works 347
ECC 350
RAM Upgrades 350
Upgrade Options and Strategies 351
Purchasing Memory 353
Replacing Modules with Higher-Capacity Versions 355
Installing Memory Modules 355
Troubleshooting Memory 358
Memory Defect Isolation Procedures 361
The System Logical Memory Layout 363
7 The ATA/IDE Interface 367
An Overview of the IDE Interface 367
Precursors to IDE 367
IDE Origins 368
Origins of ATA 369
ATA Standards 370
ATA-1 (ATA Interface for Disk Drives) 372
ATA-2 (ATA Interface with Extensions-2) 372
ATA-3 (ATA Interface-3) 373
ATA/ATAPI-4 (ATA with Packet Interface Extension-4) 373
ATA/ATAPI-5 (ATA with Packet Interface-5) 374
ATA/ATAPI-6 (ATA with Packet Interface-6) 375
ATA/ATAPI-7 (ATA with Packet Interface-7) 376
ATA/ATAPI-8 376
PATA 377
PATA I/O Connector 377
PATA I/O Cable 380
Longer or Rounded Cables 382
PATA Signals 382
PATA Dual-Drive Configurations 383
PATA PIO Transfer Modes 385
PATA DMA Transfer Modes 386
SATA 387
SATA Cables and Connectors 389
SATA Configuration 391
Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) 392
SATA Transfer Modes 393
ATA Features 394
ATA Commands 394
ATA Security Mode 395
Host Protected Area 396
ATAPI 397
ATA Drive Capacity Limitations 397
Prefixes for Decimal and Binary Multiples 398
BIOS Limitations 399
CHS Versus LBA 400
CHS/LBA and LBA/CHS Conversions 401
BIOS Commands Versus ATA Commands 402
CHS Limitations (the 528MB Barrier) 403
CHS Translation (Breaking the 528MB Barrier) 404
The 2.1GB and 4.2GB Barriers 406
LBA-Assist Translation 408
The 8.4GB Barrier 411
The 137GB Barrier and Beyond 412
Operating System and Other Software Limitations 413
GPT and the 2.2TB Barrier 415
PATA/SATA RAID 417
8 Magnetic Storage Principles 421
Magnetic Storage 421
History of Magnetic Storage 421
How Magnetic Fields Are Used to Store Data 422
Read/Write Head Designs 425
Ferrite 426
Metal-In-Gap 426
Thin-Film 427
Magneto-Resistive Heads 427
Giant Magneto-Resistive Heads 429
Head Sliders 430
Data-Encoding Schemes 432
Frequency Modulation Encoding 434
Modified FM Encoding 434
Run Length Limited Encoding 434
Encoding Scheme Comparisons 436
Partial-Response, Maximum-Likelihood Decoders 437
Capacity Measurements 437
Areal Density 438
PMR 441
9 Hard Disk Storage 445
Definition of a Hard Disk 445
Hard Drive Advancements 446
Form Factors 447
5 1/4-Inch Drive 448
3 1/2-Inch Drive 449
2 1/2-Inch Drive 449
1.8-inch Drive 449
1-Inch Drives 450
HDD Operation 450
The Ultimate HDD Analogy 452
Tracks and Sectors 453
ECC 456
Disk Formatting 461
Basic HDD Components 465
Hard Disk Platters (Disks) 466
Recording Media 467
Read/Write Heads 469
Head Actuator Mechanisms 470
Air Filters 477
Hard Disk Temperature Acclimation 479
Spindle Motors 479
Logic Boards 480
Cables and Connectors 481
Configuration Items 481
Hard Disk Features 482
Capacity 482
Performance 484
Reliability 488
10 Flash and Removable Storage 493
Alternative Storage Devices 493
Flash Memory Devices 493
CompactFlash 495
SmartMedia 496
MultiMediaCard 496
SecureDigital 496
Sony Memory Stick 496
ATA Flash PC Card 497
xD-Picture Card 497
SSD (Solid-State Drive) 498
Virtual SSD (RAMdisk) 498
Flash-Based SSDs 498
USB Flash Drives 501
Comparing Flash Memory Devices 502
Flash Card Readers 504
Card Readers 504
Type II PC Card Adapters 505
High-Capacity Removable Magnetic Storage Devices 505
Floppy Disk Drives 506
1.44MB 3 1/2-Inch Drives 507
Floppy Drive Interfaces 507
Drive Components 508
Read/Write Heads 508
The Floppy Controller 509
Power and Data Connectors 510
The Floppy Disk Controller Cable 510
How the OS Uses a Floppy Disk 512
Disk Change 513
Floppy Disk Media Types and Specifications 514
Density 514
Media Coercivity and Thickness 514
Floppy Disk Media 515
Tape Drives 516
11 Optical Storage 517
Optical Technology 517
CD-Based Optical Technology 518
CDs: A Brief History 518
CD Construction and Technology 519
Mass-Producing CDs 519
Writable CDs 531
MultiRead Specifications 538
DVD 539
DVD History 540
DVD Construction and Technology 541
DVD Tracks and Sectors 542
Handling DVD Errors 546
DVD Capacity (Sides and Layers) 547
Data Encoding on the DVD Disc 550
Recordable DVD Standards 551
Multiformat Rewritable DVD Drives 558
BD 559
HD-DVD 561
Optical Disc Formats 562
CD Formats 562
DVD Formats and Standards 570
Optical Disc File Systems 573
Ripping/Copying Discs 579
"For Music Use Only" CD-R/RW Discs 580
CD Copy Protection 580
CD Digital Rights Management 581
DVD Copy Protection 581
Optical Drive Performance Specifications 584
CD Data Transfer Rate 585
CD Drive Speed 585
DVD Drive Speed 588
Access Time 590
Buffer/Cache 590
Direct Memory Access and Ultra-DMA 590
Interface 590
Loading Mechanism 591
Other Drive Features 592
How to Reliably Record Optical Discs 592
Booting from a Floppy Disk with Optical Drive Support 593
Bootable Optical Discs-El Torito 594
LightScribe and LabelFlash 594
Troubleshooting Optical Drives 595
Caring for Optical Media 598
Updating the Firmware in an Optical Drive 599
12 Video Hardware 603
Display Adapters and Monitors 603
Video Display Adapters 604
Video Adapter Types 604
Integrated Video/Motherboard Chipsets 605
CPUs with Integrated Video 609
Video Adapter Components 609
Identifying the Video and System Chipsets 611
Video RAM 612
The DAC 615
Video Display Interfaces 616
The System Interface 616
The Display Interface 618
TV Display Interfaces 632
3D Graphics Accelerators 633
How 3D Accelerators Work 633
APIs 636
Dual-GPU Scene Rendering 637
Monitors 639
Display Specifications 639
LCD Technology 650
LED Backlit Technology 652
CRT Display Technology 652
Plasma Display Technology 654
LCD and DLP Projectors 654
Using Multiple Monitors 656
Dualview 656
Homogeneous Adapters 657
Heterogeneous Adapters 657
Video Troubleshooting and Maintenance 657
Troubleshooting Video Cards and Drivers 658
Video Drivers 660
Maintaining Monitors 660
Testing Monitors 661
Adjusting Monitors 662
Bad Pixels 663
Troubleshooting Monitors 664
Repairing Monitors 665
13 Audio Hardware 667
Audio Hardware Concepts and Terms 668
The Nature of Sound 668
Evaluating the Quality of Your Audio Hardware 668
Sampling 669
Early PC Sound Cards 670
Limitations of Sound Blaster Pro Compatibility 670
Microsoft Windows and Audio Support 670
DirectX and Audio Support Hardware 671
Core Audio APIs for Windows Vista and Windows 7 671
3D Gaming Audio Standards 672
Legacy Audio Support Through Virtualization 673
Audio Hardware Features 674
Basic Connectors 674
Advanced Audio Features 676
Volume Control 678
MIDI Support Features 678
Data Compression 679
Sound Drivers 680
Sound Cards for Sound Producers 680
Motherboard Chipsets with Integrated Audio 681
AC'97 Integrated Audio 682
Intel "Azalia" HD Audio 682
Troubleshooting PC Audio Problems 682
Sound Card and Onboard Audio Problems 682
Speakers 685
Speaker Selection Criteria 686
Theater and Surround Sound Considerations 687
Microphones 688
14 External I/O Interfaces 691
Introduction to Input/Output Ports 691
Serial Versus Parallel 691
Universal Serial Bus (USB) 692
IEEE 1394 (FireWire or i.LINK) 707
Comparing USB and IEEE 1394 (FireWire) 711
Hot-Plugging (and Unplugging) 714
Thunderbolt Technology 717
Low-Speed External Connections 719
Serial Ports 719
Parallel Ports 723
15 Input Devices 729
Keyboards 729
Enhanced 101-Key Keyboard 729
104-Key (Windows) Keyboard 731
Keyboard Technology 732
Keyswitch Design 732
The Keyboard Interface 737
Typematic Functions 739
Keyboard Key Numbers and Scan Codes 740
International Keyboard Layouts 741
Keyboard/Mouse Interface Connectors 742
USB Keyboards 743
Keyboards with Special Features 744
Keyboard Troubleshooting and Repair 745
Keyboard Disassembly 746
Cleaning a Keyboard 746
Keyboard Recommendations 747
Pointing Devices 748
Ball-Type Mice 749
Optical Mice 749
Pointing Device Interface Types 751
Mouse Troubleshooting 754
Scroll Wheels 755
TrackPoint II/III/IV 755
Alternative Pointing Devices 758
Wireless Input Devices 761
Power Management Features of Wireless Input Devices 762
Troubleshooting Wireless Input Devices 763
16 Internet Connectivity 765
Internet Connectivity Trends 765
Broadband Internet Access Types 765
Cable TV 766
Digital Subscriber Line 769
Wireless Broadband 773
Cellular Broadband 3G and 4G Services 773
Satellite Broadband 774
ISDN 777
Leased Lines 778
Comparing High-Speed Internet Access 779
Dial-Up Modems 780
56Kbps Modems 781
Internet Connection Security 784
Having a Backup Plan in Case of Service Interruptions 786
Sharing Your Internet Connection 786
Routers for Internet Sharing 787
Modem/Router Status LEDs 788
17 Local Area Networking 789
Defining a Network 789
Types of Networks 790
Requirements for a Network 790
Client/Server Versus Peer Networks 791
Client/Server Networks 791
Peer-to-Peer Networks 792
Comparing Client/Server and Peer-to-Peer Networks 793
Network Architecture Overview 794
Wired Ethernet 795
Wireless Ethernet 797
Bluetooth 802
Hardware Elements of Your Network 802
NICs for Wired Ethernet Networks 802
Network Cables for Wired Ethernet 804
Wired Network Topologies 813
Switches for Ethernet Networks 816
Wireless Ethernet Hardware 819
Network Protocols 825
IP and TCP/IP 825
IPX 826
NetBEUI 826
Other Home Networking Solutions 827
HomePNA 827
Power Line Networking 828
Putting Your Network Together 829
Network Adapters 829
Cables and Connections Between Computers 830
Switch/Access Point 831
18 Power Supplies 833
The Power Supply 833
Primary Function and Operation 833
Voltage Rails 834
The Power Good Signal 836
Power Supply Form Factors 837
Modern Form Factors 840
Power Switches 854
ATX and Newer 854
PC/XT/AT and LPX Power Switches 855
Motherboard Power Connectors 857
AT/LPX Power Supply Connectors 857
ATX and ATX12V Motherboard Power Connectors 859
Backward and Forward Compatibility 871
Dell Proprietary (Nonstandard) ATX Design 873
Additional Power Connectors 875
Peripheral Power Connectors 875
Floppy Power Connectors 876
Serial ATA Power Connectors 877
PCI Express Auxiliary Graphics Power Connectors 878
Power Supply Specifications 881
Power Supply Loading 881
Power Supply Ratings 883
Other Power Supply Specifications 884
Power Factor Correction 886
SLI-Ready and CrossfireX Certifications 888
Safety Certifications 888
Power-Use Calculations 889
Power Savings 891
80 Plus 891
ENERGY STAR 892
Advanced Power Management 892
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface 893
Power Cycling 896
Power Supply Troubleshooting 899
Overloaded Power Supplies 900
Inadequate Cooling 901
Using Digital Multimeters 901
Specialized Test Equipment 904
Power Supply Recommendations 906
Modular Cables 907
Sources for Replacement Power Supplies 907
Power-Protection Systems 908
Surge Suppressors (Protectors) 909
Network and Phone Line Surge Protectors 910
Line Conditioners 910
Backup Power 910
Real-Time Clock/Nonvolatile RAM (CMOS RAM) Batteries 913
Modern CMOS Batteries 914
Obsolete or Unique CMOS Batteries 915
CMOS Battery Troubleshooting 916
19 Building or Upgrading Systems 917
System Components 917
Case and Power Supply 919
Processor 920
Motherboard 921
Memory 923
Hard Disk/Solid-State Drives 925
Removable Storage 925
Input Devices 925
Video Card and Display 926
Audio Hardware 926
Accessories 927
Hardware and Software Resources 928
System Assembly and Disassembly 928
Assembly Preparation 929
Installing the CPU and Heatsink 932
Installing Memory Modules 937
Mounting the New Motherboard in the Case 938
Preparing a Modular Power Supply 942
Connecting the Power Supply 944
Connecting I/O and Other Cables to the Motherboard 946
Installing the Drives 948
Installing a Video Card 952
Installing Additional Expansion Cards 954
Replacing the Cover and Connecting External Cables 954
System Startup 954
Installing the OS 956
Troubleshooting New Installations 957
20 PC Diagnostics, Testing, and Maintenance 959
PC Diagnostics 959
Diagnostics Software 959
The POST 960
Peripheral Diagnostics 972
Operating System Diagnostics 973
Commercial Diagnostics Software 974
Free/User Supported Diagnostics 974
The Boot Process 975
The Hardware Boot Process: Operating System Independent 975
The DOS Boot Process 979
The Windows 9x/Me Boot Process 980
Windows 2000/XP Startup 980
Windows Vista/7 Startup 981
PC Maintenance Tools 982
Hand Tools 982
Safety 986
Test Equipment 987
Special Tools for the Enthusiast 992
Preventive Maintenance 993
Active Preventive Maintenance Procedures 994
Passive Preventive Maintenance Procedures 999
Troubleshooting Tips and Techniques 1003
Repair or Replace? 1003
Troubleshooting by Replacing Parts 1004
Troubleshooting by the Bootstrap Approach 1004
Problems During the POST 1006
Problems Running Software 1006
Problems with Adapter Cards 1007
Top Troubleshooting Problems 1007
Index 1019